MHGA Chapter 152: The Existence of the Hunters
The Hunters first followed Thistle's guidance and made their way to the Golden Country to assess the situation.
But clearly, they had arrived too late.
The residents of the Golden Country had already been taken away.
"Looks like we'll have to head to the deepest part of the Dungeon," Kairo Retsu said. "The people of the Golden Country are probably imprisoned with Marcille and the others."
"Guess we'll have to meet the Winged Lion face-to-face,"
Laios said, resolutely.
The Hunters then mounted their wyverns and began moving deeper into the Dungeon.
The further in they went, the more Laios and Thistle noticed the Dungeon itself changing.
And the magical energy around them was growing heavier and denser—even Thistle began to struggle under its pressure.
Before long, the group spotted, from a considerable distance, a vast area of prison cells. Though they couldn't make out the details from where they stood, they could vaguely see numerous figures trapped inside.
"Winged Lion!"
Laios shouted, "We're here!!!!"
"…Ha."
After Laios, Kairo Retsu, and the others came to a halt, the Winged Lion appeared before them.
"So you actually came. I thought you would've run away in fear."
"Winged Lion, you summoned me here—was it because you wanted to talk?" Laios asked. "Well, I'm here now."
"And you brought Thistle… You've ruined all my plans."
The Winged Lion glared at the Hunters.
"Originally, once I left the Dungeon, I could've taken all the humans and given them the eternal banquet that never ends… But now I can't go to the human world, and I can't take a single human."
"You really did build quite the fortress," the Winged Lion said, tinged with anger. "Even though I fulfilled the desires of every one of you—why, after regaining your senses, would you still come to stop me?"
"To reunite with family." The Winged Lion pointed at Tanjiro.
"Revenge." It pointed at Naofumi Iwatani.
"To change fate." It pointed at Joseph.
"To become a wealthy man surrounded by beautiful women." It pointed at Kazuma.
"And finally… I even answered your desire and created Shah Dalamadur."
The Winged Lion stared at them. "So why do you all want to stop my wish?"
"My desire wasn't fulfilled though…" Laios muttered.
"You want it fulfilled? I can do that." The Winged Lion turned to Laios. "Free me from this strange barrier, and I'll grant your wish. You want to become a monster? I can turn you into any kind you desire!"
"I've been meaning to say this…" Kairo Retsu rubbed his temples. "The way you go about fulfilling desires is honestly… pretty crude."
"Crude…?"
The Winged Lion paused in confusion.
"That's right," Kairo Retsu said. "If the previous Dungeon Lords could give you a rating afterward, I'm sure you'd get flooded with negative reviews."
"To be honest, the rest of us are all thinking of giving you one too," Kairo continued. "I felt something was off while observing all this. Looking back, it makes sense: the Dungeon Lords became obsessed because the Dungeon awakens their subconscious desires, which spiral out of control. That's how they lose themselves."
"Think about it. Take those who wished to have loved ones by their side—like Mithrun…"
"You didn't bring back the real person. You created a monster that merely resembled them."
"The truth is, the Dungeon's power isn't omnipotent."
Kairo spread his hands. "Otherwise, things wouldn't be the way they are now. It's all too hollow."
"So that's how you see it?" The Winged Lion looked at him. "But what's so bad about that? Even knowing it's not real, weren't you all satisfied just seeing your desires realized?"
"In the end, why are you even helping this world?" the Winged Lion asked. "Even the only one among you truly tied to this world—Laios—has already grown disgusted with the human world."
The Winged Lion continued, "Humans are too boring. Monsters are far more interesting… Isn't that what he's always been thinking?"
"And you too." The Winged Lion turned to Kairo Retsu. "When I devoured your desire, I sensed it. You don't care what becomes of this world. This place isn't your home."
"There's no real conflict of interest between us."
"Then why," the Winged Lion asked, "do you all stand in my way like a swarm of insects, constantly blocking my path?"
"You telling me all this is really…"
"Pointless."
Kairo Retsu grinned. "Among all of us, the only person you should be trying to persuade is Laios."
"He's the only true Hunter of this world, and the only one qualified to decide its future."
"The rest of us are merely… Hunters."
"We are Monster Hunters."
Kairo stepped forward. "I'm the Guildmaster of the Hunters. We all came from different walks of life, different goals, but we gathered here for one reason—hunting."
"Being a Hunter represents glory and strength."
"And… once we became Hunters, our fates inevitably changed."
Kairo swept his arm back toward the Hunters behind him. "Even though I was suddenly appointed Guildmaster, now that I hold that title, I have a duty to those who've chosen this path. Even if I fall short in many ways, that's what it means to lead!"
"To become a Hunter is to accept that your life, your future, and your strength will change drastically!"
"We may have diverged from the natural order—but precisely because of that, we must safeguard that very balance! That is my duty as Guildmaster!"
"Our job is to hunt down the abnormal—but we must also be vigilant not to become the kind of monster that destroys the natural world."
"You've gone too far, Winged Lion."
Kairo Retsu beamed brightly. "Because you lost your balance, it was inevitable that something would come to put an end to your abnormality. We're just carrying out what was bound to happen."
"But… the rest of us are not Hunters of this world."
Kairo said, and pushed Laios forward. "In the end, what to do next—it's up to Laios to decide."
"Demon… no—Winged Lion."
Laios removed the helmet he wore.
"We need to have a proper talk."
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