Chapter 326 (2/2)

Then he turned to regard them, his eyes strangely bright and green in the darkness. His gaze was intense, and curious, but overall weary. Simon tensed up, mirroring the Ghosthound’s stance, but without any of his confidence.

This… why was it like this…?

“So… you were Randidly Ghosthound… the whole time.” Thea said, breaking the awkward silence. Simon just stood there, clenching and unclenching his hands. He had wanted to say that, but more, but more…. something. Just a certainty that he held in his heart that he wanted to include in the question, but his mouth…

His tongue flopped back and forth like an awkward slug.

The Ghosthound nodded slowly, and as he did so, his giant bone wurm appeared, sliding across the ground like it was grease. The wurm flailed, trying to stop itself, but then it just began to roll forward, carried by its momentum towards the house. With a sigh, the Ghosthound stepped forward, stopping the wurm with a dull bang.

Even that casual action…! Simon squinted his eyes together.

The wurm righted itself. “Thank, fast is hard.”

Shaking his head, the Ghosthound said. “It’s thank you. But at least you are making progress.”

The wurm nodded happily as the Ghosthound turned to Thea and Simon. “...Yes, I am the Ghosthound. I guess… you’ve heard of me.”

If anything, his hesitation only served to make the ball of emotions in Simon’s chest more tight. Almost unable to control himself, Simon took a step forward, and said. “But… why….”

The Ghosthound tilted his head to the side, and Simon continued, as if a balloon in his chest popped. “Why lie? Why hide it? Was it because you were injured, in a strange place? Was it because of my age? My skills? Did you just not… connect with me? I thought… we spent all that time together, just trying to get you better…”

Trailing off, Simon couldn’t find the words to continue. Every single trick that the fake person David had taught him, every edible plant and way to start a fire. Every way of tracking monsters, every gesture and mannerism that Simon had only been happy to adopt, finally learning from another man he admired… it was fake.

What was worse was that it wasn’t a betrayal, really. After all, the true person under the mask was the Ghosthound: probably the most powerful person in all of their Zone. So he couldn’t be angry that he had imitated him. But… it felt dirty.

Was this really the way the people at the top behaved…? Was this just the way the world was…?

In a corner of his mind, Simon knew he was being melodramatic, but… after those weeks together… after being finally convinced to leave his spring, where he was safe… after forsaking a powerful sounding Class at his direction….

Wasn’t Simon owed some honesty…?

The Ghosthound scratched his neck. His lips were pursed, not in annoyance, but rather as if he was weighing two options. Finally, after several long seconds, he said. “It was because… I was afraid. I’m strong, but… my enemies are stronger.”

After a moment of stillness, the Ghosthound moved, and now that Simon was aware of it, he could see, in the strange unnatural smoothness of his movements that this man was not truly human, not all the way. He had improved himself, becoming more than that. Very quickly, the Ghosthound returned, holding a small object.

His eyes were bright and sad as he looked at Simon, then he offered Simon a glove. “An apology. For all the trouble I’ve caused you… and the fact I lied.”

Simon just felt everything drain away, leaving a wariness. Because he felt something more difficult to bear, in a completely different way; the Ghosthound was running from something, some powerful enemy, something worse, far worse, than a Tier III Raid Boss.

“M.r Ghosthound-” Thea began, but the Ghosthound interrupted her.

“Call me Randidly. Or even David, if you’d prefer.”

“Alright… Randidly.” Thea said, her voice high and nervous. “I just want to know… what kind of enemies do you have to run from?”