“Mama!”
“Oh...! Mina! Thank god you’re safe! When the Magic Armor Beast attacked the train, I thought it was all over...!”
“...I’m so glad. I’m so happy Mina could find her mother again!”
A short while later, Hugo—who had led the captives out of the tunnel and handed them over to the rescue squad—stood with Melt, watching Mina as she clung to her mother.
As Hugo nodded, moved by the sight of the tearful reunion, Melt turned to him with a warm smile.
“The rescue squad said it was a miracle that not a single life was lost, considering how many people were taken. It’s all thanks to you, Hugo!”
“It wasn't just me. You were the one who lit up that cave, Melt. And you saved me when those Arachlaws had me cornered, didn't you? We prevented a disaster because we worked together. Thank you.”
“Ehehe! I told you I had your back, didn't I? We make a pretty good team!”
“Yeah, the best. There were moments I wasn't sure how it would go, but I'm glad you were my partner.”
Hugo and Melt bumped their fists together, offering each other a silent word of praise.
As they basked in the satisfaction of a job well done, Mina approached them with her mother in tow.
“Big brother, big sister! Thank you for saving Mama!”
“I should be the one thanking you, Mina. If you hadn't told us about the Magic Armor Beasts, we wouldn't have been able to act so quickly. You helped save your mother, too.”
“Then Mina’s a Hero just like you!”
“That's right! You did a great job, Mina!”
Hugo gave her a firm thumbs-up.
As he watched her, he reflected on how wonderful a child's smile truly was. He felt a swell of pride in knowing he had protected that happiness. Amidst their exchange, Melt spoke up.
“Say, Hugo. Would you want to keep taking on Requests together like this? I know I can trust you, and I feel like the two of us can handle anything that comes our way!”
“Sure! I need to make a living anyway, and with you as my partner, I won't have anything to worry about.”
“Alright! Then the Strongest Duo stays together! I’m looking forward to working with you, Hugo!”
“Likewise, Melt!”
Having deepened their bond and forged a new sense of trust through the ordeal, the two shared a firm handshake.
To any observer, the pair looked like the protagonists of a heartwarming buddy movie as they stood among the people they had saved. However, there was one person present who watched them with eyes full of resentment.
“Damn it...! Hugo Clay... how dare you steal my glory...!”
Though he had charged into the Arachlaw's Nest alongside them, Marcos had achieved nothing because he had prioritized his own pride and desire for fame. Now, he muttered to himself, his voice thick with humiliation.
His lackeys watched him with uneasy eyes, too afraid to even speak to him.
“I should have been the one! If he hadn't been there, the praise would have been mine...!”
Deep down, he knew he had bungled the mission. Yet, the sight of the crowd's gratitude toward Hugo fueled a jealousy he couldn't suppress.
He convinced himself he could have succeeded. If Hugo could defeat those beasts, then surely he could have too.
If only he’d had both his subordinates. If only they’d coordinated properly so he could show his true strength. He never would have suffered such a pathetic defeat at the hands of an Arachlaw.
It was a fluke. A total coincidence. The guy just got lucky. As these bitter thoughts swirled, a dark, toxic resentment filled his heart, even as a small part of him recognized Hugo's strength.
He refused to acknowledge that part of himself, however. He continued to glare at Hugo, spewing words of envy and malice.
“Just you wait, Hugo Clay. Next time, I’ll be the one to humiliate you...!”
Hatred blazed in Marcos's gleaming eyes as they locked onto the man he loathed. But as he stood there consumed by spite, he remained entirely unaware of the mysterious figure watching him with a predatory, unsettling gaze.