"You have spatial abilities now? What else are you hiding in there, huh?"
Hana stepped closer with a pout, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned in, clearly not letting this go so easily. Haruto instinctively looked away, his composure cracking just enough for the faintest hint of embarrassment to show. A slight redness crept across his face as she closed the distance.
"Well, I… I kinda just discovered it and—"
"Oh really?" she cut in immediately, her tone laced with suspicion.
He flinched before nodding awkwardly. "Yeah…?"
Hana let out a soft sigh, as if accepting it on the surface.
But beneath that calm reaction, something else stirred.
Excitement.
A quiet, growing thrill she couldn't quite suppress. This wasn't just survival anymore. This was something entirely new. A different world. Real power. Real possibilities. The thought of discovering her own ability, something unique to her, sent a subtle spark through her chest.
Haruki, meanwhile, remained silent.
Tucked within Hana's hold, the mask gave no sign of life. It wasn't that she had nothing to say, but rather that she chose not to. Her voice wasn't meant for the world. Only a select few could hear her thoughts, and speaking out loud would only draw unnecessary attention. To anyone else, it would look like madness—talking to an object as if it were alive.
Haruto's gaze drifted toward the mask for a brief moment before something clicked in his mind.
Right.
There were priorities.
He turned toward Haruna.
"So…" he began, shifting his tone slightly, "…can I count on you to harvest the meat, blood, and leather?"
Haruna blinked, caught off guard. "M-me?"
"Is there a problem?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "You… do know how to handle it, right?"
It wasn't mockery.
If anything, there was uncertainty in his voice. Butchery, especially at this scale, wasn't something just anyone could do. It required precision, knowledge, and experience.
Before Haruna could respond—
"I will do it."
The voice came from behind them.
Haruto turned.
Venora approached, staff in hand, her presence calm yet unmistakably imposing. The wooden mask still covered her face, its carved expression radiating an unspoken authority.
The moment she stepped closer, Haruto's perception sharpened.
His appraisal activated instinctively.
And the results were… interesting.
Among everyone present, aside from himself, she possessed the highest concentration of Astrons. Her energy wasn't just abundant—it was refined, controlled, disciplined. Her physique didn't match that of a fragile mage either. There was strength there. Structure. Training.
Everything about her pointed toward one conclusion.
A goblin shaman.
And not just any.
A dangerous one.
A fighter who had mastered both body and magic.
A genius.
Haruto didn't look intimidated.
If anything, his confidence remained unchanged. But he understood one thing clearly.
She wasn't someone to take lightly.
Venora stepped forward, raising the blood-stained flint knife slightly.
"I have some experience," she said calmly. "A skill I picked up from a friend. I believe I can handle this properly."
Haruto studied her for a moment… then smiled.
"Great," he replied. "I'll leave it to you."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"So, what do you want?"
The question landed without warning.
Venora froze slightly. "…What do you mean?"
"What do you want in return?" Haruto clarified, his tone calm but direct. "I doubt you're offering help out of pure generosity."
The bluntness caught her off guard.
But only for a moment.
She straightened slightly, clearing her throat. "Very well. You're correct. I do have a condition."
Haruto's smirk deepened just a little.
As expected.
Now the real conversation begins.
Venora snapped her fingers.
From her shadow, something stirred.
A massive wolf emerged, its form towering behind her, radiating a quiet dominance. Its glowing fur shimmered faintly under the dim light, its presence alone enough to make the surrounding goblins tense.
She handed her staff to it without hesitation. The creature took it gently into its jaws, standing still like a silent guardian.
Then—
She reached up.
Her hands grasped the wooden mask.
And slowly, she removed it.
The reveal was… unexpected.
Her face was soft. Gentle. Almost serene. Pale skin contrasted with her striking purple eyes, while her white hair framed her features like falling snow.
Nothing about her appearance matched the overwhelming presence she carried.
Venora placed a hand over her chest and bowed her head slightly.
"I would like to propose a deal," she said. "One that I believe will benefit both of us."
Haruto let out a quiet chuckle.
"So that was your plan from the start," he replied. "Not bad. Pretty calculated."
Hana, watching from the side, folded her arms with a small grin. "That was actually kinda smooth, not gonna lie."
Venora allowed herself a faint smile. "I appreciate the compliment. Shall I take that as agreement?"
Haruto raised a hand slightly.
"Don't rush it."
His gaze shifted toward the pile of carcasses before returning to her.
"These resources are for us first. Anything extra… you can have."
The response stunned her.
"W-wait… how did you know I was after the Sabertusks?"
"Sabertusks, huh…" he noted quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
Then he shrugged.
"No offense, but it was obvious. Your clothing gave it away. You're using multiple heat-based enchantments just to maintain your body temperature. That kind of setup screams desperation for proper materials."
Silence fell.
Venora's expression froze.
How?
How could he see that?
Those enchantments weren't crude. They were layered, refined, carefully constructed. Not something that could be casually observed—let alone analyzed to that level.
A flicker of unease crept into her thoughts.
Who exactly… is this man?
Her mind raced, trying to piece together his identity, but nothing fit. No known mage. No known Majin. No known entity matched what she was seeing.
Haruto, noticing her expression, decided to push further.
"You clearly understand their value," he continued. "So I doubt you expected me to hand over half the haul just for butchery. If you want a real deal… offer something worth trading."
Venora exhaled slowly.
Then smiled.
Fair enough.
She raised her hand.
"This… is my true offer."
Astrons surged.
A massive magic circle unfolded high above them, intricate layers forming one over another in perfect alignment. Symbols rotated, glowing with a deep violet light, each ring more complex than the last. The air grew heavy as energy condensed, the surrounding space reacting violently to its presence.
The sky darkened.
Clouds twisted unnaturally, spiraling inward as if drawn by an unseen force. Wind howled through the clearing, whipping snow into the air and bending nearby trees under its pressure. Static crackled violently, electricity dancing between branches and across the surface of the forming array.
The entire atmosphere shifted.
Oppressive.
Unstable.
Alive.
Venora lowered her arm and pointed toward a massive boulder in the distance.
The magic circle flared.
The sky roared.
A blinding bolt of lightning tore through the heavens, descending with terrifying speed. It shattered through the layered circles as if they were gateways, amplifying its force before crashing directly into its target.
The explosion was instantaneous.
The boulder didn't just break—it disintegrated, reduced to fragments so fine they scattered like dust across the snow.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Awed.
Haruto watched it all… and smiled.
Not impressed.
Interested.
Venora turned back to him, confidence clear in her eyes.
"This is my ultimate technique," she said. "Refined over decades. Its speed and precision can decide most battles instantly."
She paused.
Then added with a slight smirk, "I'm willing to pass this technique to you through a high-grade rune… in exchange for the agreed portion of meat and leather."
Murmurs spread instantly among the goblins.
Shock.
Disbelief.
A technique like that… traded for resources?
It was absurd.
Venora wasn't just any shaman. In the Forest of Lunar, her name carried weight. Even the Ogre Prince avoided unnecessary conflict with her.
And yet—
Even she knew her limits.
Against the Crimson Battalion, power like this wasn't enough. A single ant general could recover from such a strike. And with limited uses, it was a weapon with clear boundaries.
This wasn't just a trade.
It was insurance.
A calculated attempt to secure a powerful ally.
But all of that—
Came crashing down with a single sentence.
"No."
Haruto didn't hesitate.
"I don't need it."
Silence.
Complete.
Venora's composure cracked for the first time.
"W-what?" she stammered. "You're… refusing?"
"Who said that?" he replied casually.
Hope flickered—
Then shifted again as he continued.
"I just said I want something else. Something more practical."
Her focus snapped back instantly.
"…Like what?"
Haruto's smile sharpened slightly.
"Do you know anything about golem crafting?"
...