Taking Orion out of his depressing thoughts, Maya walked toward the bathroom door, only to furtively glance at him before attempting a sneaky escape. "D-Don't mention this to anyone, okay?" she tried to demand with her usual fierceness, yet found it tough to hold his intense gaze. "And about the hospital... Thank you... I mean it... If you weren't there, I would have..."Orion waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, then. And try not to get chewed out too hard by your mother," he chuckled softly, causing her heart rate to quicken. She scuttered out of his room while furiously blushing. "I-I will repay the favor...!" she promised before her cute, bouncy tushy vanished from view."You don't have to..." Orion attempted to say, yet realized that she could no longer hear him.He heaved a breath of tired air before putting on a pair of underwear and finding himself sprawled out on his bed. Even though his Fatigue was not very high, the mental waves of exhaustion weighing on his mind had stacke

However, before he could enter a very deep state of sleep that could leave him unconscious for an unknown period of time, he drowsily pulled up his long list of Level-up rewards. Then, with a single click that used up strength he didn't have, a bright golden light flashed and enveloped his body.[Status Recovered!]"Huff...!" Orion felt like a new life had been granted to him as he shot up and returned oxygen to his lungs. "I hate to have to waste one of my limited Status Recoveries on something like this, but it was necessary if I want to avoid suspicions."After feeling a tinge of regret over the loss he incurred, Orion finally got around to putting on his clothes. Strangely, with them on, he appeared very sharp. His slightly chiseled facial features did the black dress shirt and shorts some justice. Yet, just when he was beginning to appreciate how handsome he had become, the system made him scrunch his face.Ding![The Host seems a bit narcissistic to me—]"That isn't it..."[—See

Grace giggled, the earlier incident already forgotten, and practically skipped ahead of him. She paused a few steps later and turned back, her cheeks pink. "By the way... thanks for helping me back there. You were... really cool." She stumbled over the last part, turning redder by the second. Orion chuckled, jogging to catch up. "I didn't get the chance earlier, but you look lovely today," he said. "Though, honestly, you didn't need to dress up for someone like me." Grace nearly tripped over her own feet. "Wha—this? It's nothing special!" she sputtered, staring at her shoes as if they were suddenly fascinating. Then her gaze darted to the wooden sword strapped to his back. "Uh... about the sword. Why are you carrying that around? It's kind of... unique." Orion glanced at it and shrugged, shifting its weight on his shoulder. "I've been getting into a new hobby. Hope you don't mind me bringing it." Grace waved her hands frantically. "No, no! It's cool—really cool! Like... like you're so

Maya leapt out of the abused bush and sprinted away like a true criminal, which only further solidified the mother’s suspicions. After another series of chases by the local police, she eventually made her way just outside the massive Hunter’s Association building, where the adulterers had just ascended a flight of marbled stairs to enter.She once again entered incognito stalker mode and did what she did best—stalking."You seemed interested in the Magic Shard discussion earlier," Grace said in a soft voice. "Is that why we’re here right now? Are you planning to become… a Hunter…?"As much as Orion wanted to do just that, he knew that only death flags awaited him if he became a Hunter with what little strength he currently had. No, rather than make a fool of himself and possibly raise suspicion when he came back stronger after each raid, he wanted something else."I want information on the locations of Gates," replied Orion, his tone laced with a gentleness that made Grace feel warm i

"That is…" the classy man’s mouth moved around, yet no more words came out. "It seems he is past the age for awakening and is not an Awakened… Sir, he doesn’t have the aura that a powerful Awakener should have. He doesn’t even have an aura to begin with…"The old man’s brows furrowed, putting him in deep thought. 'I have been in the Hunter business for more than 40 years, yet I have never heard of a case like this one. Just what sort of secrets is that boy hiding to be capable of rivaling a D-Rank Hunter without being an Awakened…? Was the Awakening Tester Equipment simply faulty, or is it something… else?'"Hmm?" Orion glanced behind him after leaving the Hunter’s Association. 'I felt someone… analyzing me.'His eyes narrowed dangerously, as he had a bad feeling about something.Yet, when Grace nudged him and grabbed his hand, he left his vicious thoughts. If someone was plotting something behind his back, then he would just deal with it when it came around."Orion…" Grace’s eyes gla