X-Rank Hunter

Chapter 118: Do Not Avoid, Face It!

"What's happening, guild master Laude?"

Meanwhile...

As Charley and Laude were still lamenting the fate they needed to accept and overcome, Jason suddenly appeared with a mist just near them.

Jason, who was worried about the situation, went there to see what was going on. Although those Hunters who surrounded the house thought that it was dangerous, Jason still decided to go there alone so that they could lower the risk and casualties in case that it was really a trap.

Besides, everyone in the village trusted the capabilities of Jason. His escaping capabilities were too good to be worthy of trust. That being said, even if there was a Knights of Hell inside the house, they thought that it would be hard for them to catch Jason.

Both Laude and Charley stared at the other party as only then they had noticed the many auras of Hunters surrounding the house.

"This..." Laude didn't know what to say. He should be the one who should ask what was going on.

"What's this thing?" However, before Laude could even say any more words, Jason suddenly spoke up again when he saw the blue light floating just in front of Charley, "Is it a lost soul?"

"This..." Laude didn't know what to say again. Should he reveal the identity of this entity before them?

"I am one of the Four Greatest Hunters, The Life." Seeing that Laude was having trouble introducing him, The Life then introduced himself on the other party's behalf.

"Huh?" All three of them, Charley, Laude, and Jason were shocked.

Jason was shocked because the other party was still sentient and was actually using the name of the Four Greatest Hunters. That was some guts the other party had there!

On the other hand, Charley and Laude were shocked because they just heard that the other party didn't even hesitate to reveal his identity. Was the other party taking this too lightly, or he had trust in Jason? But that was nonsense, they had just met so how could it be?!

Laude then shifted his gaze to Jason as he saw the other party staring at him as well with a frown. Laude could even imagine that three question marks were floating above the other party's head.

"He is saying the truth..." Laude confirmed it. He was helpless. After all, The Life had just revealed his identity.

"?" Jason tilted his head. He found it hard to believe. He was even thinking that Laude was being brainwashed! That moment, Jason put his guard on as he made a couple of step-backs to put some distance to Laude. He even held the hilt of his sword ready to defend himself at any moment in case that the other party attacked him suddenly.

Laude slapped his forehead. With twitching eyebrows, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was the other party suspicious of him for being controlled or sort of? Besides, why did the other party even went here with that reactions? Just what the hell was going on?!

Pfft...

On the other hand, Charley couldn't suppress her laugh any longer as she chuckled softly. Amidst her burdens, she finally found a way to let out a smile enabling her to lower the weight of her burdens at least a little or somehow.

"He really is The Life, why are you acting like that?!" Laude suddenly realized that it was much harder to prove one's identity rather than believing in someone who was trying to prove their identity.

"Then what's that hostile aura you unleashed earlier?" Jason narrowed his eyes. He was just been fooled by one of the Knights of Hell just a little while ago so he wouldn't be so careless just to believe the other party immediately.

Only then did Laude recalled what he had done earlier. Did he cause such a big ruckus just because of that? Laude thought that it might be the case.

Sigh.

Laude didn't bother himself explaining what he had done earlier. But instead, he drew a circle in the midair using his index finger. And the golden emblem of the Burning Legion guild had appeared!

It was drawn using Laude's signature aura as a guild master of Burning Legion. Everyone knew that no one in the world could copy this even if a person was possessed or controlled.

Jason on the other hand, widened his eyes for a moment before he finally believed the other party, "I'm sorry for doubting you, guild master Laude."

No matter what, Jason had done such a shameful act. Nevertheless, it didn't change the fact that he still found it hard to believe that the lost soul in front of him was actually one of the Four Greatest Hunters! Just what was going on here?!

"!"

However, at that time as well, Jason had just noticed the baby carried by Charley. And as if the baby reacted from his gaze, the baby cried.

"This... You have given birth to a twin?" Jason asked Charley.

"Yes," Charley responded. Her eyes suddenly turned sad for a moment before she revealed a beautiful smile. "His name is Jim, and he is chosen by The Life."

Charley trusted Jason so saying something like this wouldn't cause harm. Besides, The Life had just revealed his identity to Jason. With that, Charley thought that The Life had also trusted Jason.

"C-chosen?" Jason widened his eyes in shock. He was having a hard time believing it. He stared at Charley in incredulity as he asked, "You mean, your son is one of the Dominator's Vessel? The promised savior?"

"Yes," Charley nodded slowly with a smile. She was just forcing herself to become happy with this blessing.

But Jason saw through this. He could see that even though Charley was letting out a smile, he could see sorrows trying to hide behind her eyes. He narrowed his eyes towards Charley while asking, "Then... Why are you being like that?"

Charley widened her eyes for a moment as her smile disappeared and was replaced by a suppressed cry. He knew what the other party meant by his words. She was trying her best to hide her sadness but it seemed like she was not good at it. Or perhaps, the other party was just too good at observing one's emotions.

Still, she stared at Jason while forcing her smile to come out as she said, "Don't worry about it, Kuya Jason."

"..." Jason didn't know what to say. He felt that there was really something that the other party trying to hide. Whatever was it, he felt that he should not dig any deeper into it.

Instead, he shifted his gaze to the blue light as he asked politely, "Will you help us to take back Charley's other son?"

Jason was more concerned about it. Although it was not exactly, he felt that the reason why Charley was sad was that her other son being taken away by a demon.

But instead of a reply, what he received was a pat on his shoulder coming from behind him. He looked to who was it and there he saw Laude shaking his head. Jason was confused. Just what was going on here? He felt that there was something that he really needed to know.

Amidst his confusion, Jason finally heard a reply. And it actually came from Charley!

"My other son, Jin, is..." Charley said as she paused for a good while, hesitant to speak any more words. But still, she managed to add few more words as she said nonchalantly, "He is a devil's minion."

How hard was it for a mother to say something like that to her own son?! Even Charley felt her back burning after saying such words.

On the other hand, Jason widened his eyes in astonishment. Charley wouldn't say something like that if it was not the truth. Or even if it was the truth, knowing the other party's personality, she wouldn't dare to say such words. Not unless if the other party turned back to what she was used to be, a cold-blooded princess that couldn't be moved by feelings, Sweetdeath!

Jason took a clearer look at Charley and indeed, as he had expected, he immediately found the emotionless eyes of the other party. Jason shook his head as he sighed deeply, "Are you trying to become indifferent again?"

Charley suddenly turned her gaze to Jason, but before she could even speak any words, she heard the other party speaking again.

"So you wish to avoid the challenges again rather than facing them? Do you think you will become strong with just that? Don't be stupid. Indifferent people are not strong but contrary, they are all weak! Instead of overcoming the challenges by facing them, they will rather avoid them as if they don't care. But deep inside their hearts, they are all too weak and they care much of it!

"Indifferent people are afraid of the world and the repercussions of their own choices. That's why they don't make any meaningful choices. They hide in a gray, emotionless pit of their own making, self-absorbed and self-pitying, perpetually distracting themselves from this unfortunate thing demanding their time and energy called life. [1]

"Can't you still learn it? The only way to overcome pain is to first learn how to bear it. If you're trying to avoid it, how can you overcome pain?

"I don't know what exactly had happened to you, and why do you call your child a devil's minion. Whether it is the truth or not, why are you trying to avoid it? Charley, be strong! Whatever you are suffering, don't try to avoid it. Face it!"

Jason's voice echoed to Charley's ears as she came into her right mind. She stared at Jason and smiled for real before she said, "Yes!"

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[1] reference: The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*CK written by Mark Manson.