Becoming a Hunter in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 3: Fall

Elwin Krieger had a secret no one knew.

The truth was—he was a reincarnator.

The moment he became aware of his previous life, Elwin also realized another truth: the world he had been reborn into… was actually inside a game!

A game he had been completely obsessed with in his previous life.

「LAMPAS」

An SRPG (Simulation Role-Playing Game) based on dark fantasy, infamous for its bleak and hopeless worldbuilding.

And there was an even more shocking fact.

In this game, 「LAMPAS」, there was no such character as Elwin Krieger.

Most likely just an extra. Or a piece of background.

Or perhaps a speck of dust floating through the void.

—……

It was the kind of realization that would leave anyone stunned for a while. But Elwin’s reaction had been different.

—…Dark fantasy. Ah, that’s why everything’s so gloomy.

He had been only ten at the time, but Elwin accepted it immediately. So quickly that he almost seemed emotionally detached.

With a stronger sense of self in this life than the one from his past, Elwin, like most people of LAMPAS, chose to accept rather than resist the things he could not change.

—In that case, joining the main story will be easiest. A supporting ally to the protagonist… no, better to become a companion.

And he resolved to exploit it thoroughly. The advantage only he possessed in this world.

—If it serves my purpose, I’ll use it 100%. No matter what it is.

Of course, Elwin’s purpose was revenge. There was nothing else.

Every game has a protagonist. And where there’s a protagonist, there’s an archenemy.

Naturally, there were villains.

Among them, the massive villain organization—

「Familia (FAMIGLIA)」

Being the main antagonists, the protagonists frequently clashed with Familia throughout each chapter.

And… Familia was Elwin’s mortal enemy.

The one who killed Noel.

To Elwin, Noel had been special.

The only person who shone in a world that felt completely grey.

The one who took him in after even his birth parents abandoned him, and raised him with unwavering care.

The one who showed Elwin—who had been like a blank white canvas—how to walk forward.

—Noel could’ve been my savior, my mentor, maybe even my family… perhaps.

But Elwin couldn’t define what Noel was to him. That moment had already been stolen away.

And going forward, he never would.

Not ever.

Truly, Elwin didn’t care if this world was a game, or if he was just an extra or dust.

The protagonist and party members he had admired in his past life. The wild and fantastical events. The great wealth and honor that would be gained in the end…

None of it mattered to him.

By nature, Elwin had never been someone with strong desires for wealth or fame.

But Familia—that, he could never compromise on.

—They’re mine. I can’t let anyone else take them.

The one who destroyed Familia had to be Elwin.

The one who killed those responsible for Noel’s death had to be him.

Not even the protagonist could be allowed to take that goal away.

—And for that, I need strength. Power so overwhelming that no one dares to challenge me…

Fortunately, Elwin was gifted. He could understand ten things before he was even taught one.

A prodigy so exceptional that even the title didn’t do him justice.

He was also lucky with people.

—Hey, kid. Are you Noel’s son or something?

The one who took him in after he became an orphan was someone who willingly extended a hand to support Elwin’s ambition.

—From now on, I’m your teacher. Pick up that sword. You’re ready, aren’t you?

Elwin woke earlier than birds and went to bed later than rats, pouring everything into his training.

A fish returned to water. His growth was so remarkable, it left even veterans speechless.

Eventually, Elwin proved the results of his hard work.

During a Hunter exam he only attended out of curiosity, he scored S-rank across every category. And then—

—G-Good heavens! Everyone, we are witnessing something unprecedented! A new Special-Class Hunter has been born!

The impact was massive. The entire world stirred.

Until then, it was rare to see even one Special-Class Hunter in an entire generation.

And this era already had four—a golden age, people had said. They believed there would be no more.

A perfectly reasonable assumption.

But it was shattered with the arrival of a fifth Special-Class Hunter!

A wonderfully unexpected twist.

Special-Class Hunters were symbolic figures—just their existence alone inspired hope.

—Who could it be?

People were full of curiosity about this new Special-Class and eagerly awaited their next steps.

But the World Hunter Association only announced the emergence of a new Special-Class Hunter and remained silent afterward. No name, no gender, no age… nothing.

And Elwin, the new Special-Class, betrayed their expectations by choosing to vanish.

—Elwin, why not at least show your face?

—No. That would be bad. If they find out about me… not yet. The time hasn’t come.

Elwin buried himself in training. So intense, even the most ambitious Hunters balked at the regimen.

—Still not enough. I can’t kill them all like this!

Everything was for a perfect revenge.

And so, five years passed.

—Finally… It's time.

The year Elwin turned twenty and became an adult.

The day when all the events began. The day the original story started!

Elwin had finally arrived at the moment to carry out the revenge he had so longed for.

So what was he doing right now?

Was he sharpening his eyes with determination at the dawn of his decade-long plan? Was he already moving in secret?

…Unfortunately, neither.

“Mmmmnngh…”

The first-ever fifth Special-Class Hunter. A genius beyond compare.

Elwin Krieger was currently—

“Five more minutes… Zzz…”

Wearing fluffy pajamas and completely at ease, he was floundering in the depths of sleep.

On the very first day of his historic revenge… he overslept(?).

Elwin sluggishly emerged into the central hall, his hair sticking out in all directions.

At the long dining table at the center of the hall,

A man who had been setting out the food noticed him and smiled softly.

“You’re late, Master.”

“...Ugh, Nahr.”

The man in a black formal tailcoat was none other than Elwin’s butler and assistant, Nahrhan Ferdic.

True to his role, he wore a butler’s tailcoat with elegance.

“The sun’s already high in the sky, you know? Now, who was it again that said they’d get up early?”

As Nahr’s playful voice teased him, Elwin averted his eyes.

“Haha, sorry. I didn’t mean to. That wasn’t meant as a scolding.”

“I know. But still, oversleeping’s my fault.”

Elwin scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“I even asked you to get everything ready early for me… Sorry about that.”

“You have no need to apologize to me, Lord Elwin. Please, have a seat.”

With a smile on his lips, Nahrhan politely pulled back the head chair. Elwin, as if it were second nature, took the seat.

“Strange. I always seem to sleep really well when I’m here.”

“Perhaps the environment suits you. Considering how little rest you usually get, this is a good thing. I’ll keep it in mind for future living arrangements.”

Nahrhan placed a plate before Elwin.

“Here you are. I prepared a light breakfast today.”

“As expected of you, Nahr. It looks delicious.”

A steaming corn soup, a sandwich packed with ham, and a fresh herb salad.

Elwin practically inhaled the food and stood up, not even a full minute after sitting down.

“Thanks for the meal, Nahr!”

“Hm. Eating slowly is better for your health, you know… Please savor the taste once in a while.”

“I’ll do that next time! I’m on a tight schedule today.”

Nahrhan gave a bitter smile. He knew all too well his young master wasn’t going to take that advice.

With the well-practiced composure of a seasoned butler, Nahrhan asked,

“Shall we depart immediately, then? Should I initiate the descent?”

Elwin, stretching his limbs, looked over at him.

“No, there’s no need.”

Shouldering a pre-packed bag and fastening his sword to his belt, Elwin shook his head decisively.

The place where Elwin and Nahrhan currently were—was above the skies.

More precisely, inside an airship gliding leisurely through the clouds.

“It’s too eye-catching.”

The airship wasn’t just large—it was extravagant. And the bigger problem was, there were only a handful of people in the world who could pilot an airship alone.

The deafening noise during landing, and the sheer presence of an airship, would draw too much attention.

Only the supreme authorities of nations or the World Hunter Association had rights to operate such vessels in the sky.

Even the wealthiest tycoon held no legal claim to own an airship.

But there was one exceptional case of individual ownership—

Special-Class Hunters only.

However, such distinctions meant little to the average person.

Anyone who owned an airship was lumped together and regarded simply as someone important.

That would be a problem.

Elwin didn’t normally care much about how people viewed him, but this time, he needed to be cautious.

He didn’t want to leave a bad impression on the protagonist, who was known for being extremely wary.

Elwin wasn’t fond of those types of people either.

If it comes to it, I’ll just kidnap him… but it’d be better if we get along.

Elwin was determined to make the protagonist his companion—no matter what.

“So then, how do you intend to reach the destination…?”

“Hm? Nahr, you know the faster way. We’re right above the target, aren’t we?”

Elwin grinned mischievously, and Nahrhan, understanding the implication, let out a small sigh.

“Reckless or bold… I can never quite tell. Serving you truly is a remarkable experience. Here—take this.”

“Ooh, thanks. As expected of you, Nahr—you always know.”

Nahrhan quickly retrieved a golden cloak from somewhere aboard the airship.

“I’ll contact you once the job’s done. Might take a few days. But I’ll be back within two weeks. After switching the airship to stealth mode, stay on standby nearby.”

“As you command.”

Elwin draped the golden cloak over his shoulders and secured it tightly so it wouldn’t fall off.

The moment his hand touched it, the cloak glimmered with a radiant light.

Without hesitation, he approached the left wall of the airship and said,

“Open it.”

As if responding to his voice, the magical seal drawn on the wall began to pulse violently.

Vrrrmmmm.

With mechanical clanking, the hatch door of the airship opened. The warm midday sunlight briefly fell across Elwin’s hair.

Nahrhan smiled gently as he saw him off.

“May you return safely. I’ll be awaiting your triumphant news.”

Elwin simply gave a small nod—then leapt out.

As he plummeted, the vast blue sky stretched beyond the horizon, filling his vision.

Fwhoooosh—!

The sharp wind tore past his body. Suspended between gravity and the pressure of air, a sensation of floating took hold.

Elwin was falling now.

And at extreme speed—!

Plummeting from thousands of meters above, with no safety equipment whatsoever—yet Elwin’s face showed no fear.

Only a smile.

He looked so at peace, it was as if the sky were his home.

His eyes locked onto the distant ground—his destination far below.

Narrowing his eyes in brief concentration, Elwin grinned.

“...There it is.”

Virga Village.

The site of the very first event in LAMPAS. A landmark incident. And there—was the person Elwin had been searching for.

“Let’s go find the protagonist.”

His golden cloak billowed magnificently behind him.

—

Virga Village, at a worn-down tavern near the outskirts.

“Ugh, why are there so many customers first thing in the morning?”

Grumbling, a boy stepped outside and sat on a wooden crate. He casually tilted his head back to gaze at the sky.

“…Huh? What’s that?”

Mouth agape, the boy blinked in a daze. His eyes widened in disbelief, then he rubbed them hard.

He looked up at the sky again.

“Nothing…? Must’ve imagined it…”

Even after coming to that conclusion, the boy stood there awkwardly, a lingering unease remaining.

“…Hey! What are you doing out there? Didn’t you hear the customer asking for more drinks?!”

“Ah, sorry! I’m coming!”

Flinching at the tavern owner’s scolding, the boy hurriedly ran back inside.

Under his breath, he muttered,

“Yeah… no way a cloak could be flying around…”