The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

Chapter 46 She Deserved to Know

Buji followed Instructor sheepishly behind as they traveled the path of the dimly lit corridors that led to a large building. Buji couldn't tell what it was with Instructor Hay's demeanor tonight. Unlike other times, it felt different, serious, and almost... purposeful.

They got to a door etched with faint symbols. Instructor Hay pulled out the key to the door's lock from his pocket and unlocked the door, allow it to swing open silently. Buji hesitated, but Hay's hand gesticulation urged him to move forward.

Buji came into the office to observe that it was surprisingly orderly, not like he had expected for a personality like Instructor Hay. Shelves lined by the corner of the walls were stacked with books. The books were comparatively in order.

'Maybe chronological order,' Buji thought recklessly. He thought that Instructor Hay can easily dictate that any of his was missing from its arrangement.

At the center of the office was a large desk, with a neatly arranged stack of parchment and a glowing orb that seemed to hum faintly.

By the side of the window was another desk, with a single chair facing the desk. Instructor Hay sat on the chair and gestured for Buji to take a seat.

"Sit," Hay said curtly.

Buji obeyed his instruction and sat on a seat beside the desk at the center of the office.

Instructor Hay lowered himself onto his desk, rubbing his fingers on his two hands against each other as he studied the young man in front.

"Now," he began. "I've been so curious as to how you alone were able to survive that dungeon raid when I heard Kirex was there. If it were to be Tyga, that wouldn't be a case of surprise for me. So tell me, what happened? How did you survive that dungeon raid?"

Buji felt uneasy with the question. It was getting him annoyed as days passed, with everyone seeming to be interested with what had happened. Even Kira, he was on different term with Kira moments ago because of it. What's happening?

He raised his lowered hair, and looked up at Instructor Hay. The question now, seemed to him like a trap, with his opponents trying to get information they will use against him. But still, he was going to tell Instructor Hay what happened, but he will do like he did to others.

"You're not saying anything," Instructor Hay called Buji back.

"It started when we were about to enter the dungeon. There was a whirling circle in space that shimmered with intense energy. Leader Kirex called it a portal, the entrance to the dungeon. After..." Buji got interrupted.

"I didn't ask you to narrate everything. Just tell me how you survived," Hay barked with a serious voice.

'Woah woah woah. Is this the same man who always moderated events? Or, is he not?'

Instead of continuing, Buji asked. "Is this the first time something like that is happening?"

Instructor Hay glanced at him. His question had come unexpectedly. Noticing the surprise in his face, Buji continued.

"Just... I was thinking why my own incident has to be the most important. Why do everybody want to know?"

Instructor Hay smiled at the boy's show of smartness. Joining his two hands together and placing them on his desk to allow him to come closer, he said. "Now I think about it... you're right."

Buji's eyes widened. Just that statement alone meant a lot of things. It probably meant that Instructor Hay was trying to get information from him for a third party. Could the third party be the Hunter's Association or Mr. Zin? If that was the case, was Kira also doing the same job? Was she going to betray him? But Instructor Hay was distracted.

"...only that those who survived were strong enough and had compatible talents that could leave them beyond doubt. It would have been my pleasure to let you know of some things, but I will leave it for you to find out yourself."

Buji wanted to talk but he was cut short. "Buji, please tell me what happened."

"Anything you want to say, or any questions?" Instructor Hay asked.

"No, sir," Buji replied but his thought had a lot to say, only that they might not be of concern to Hay.

First, he was going for that raid tomorrow. How can he not go? When it would only make him become richer, especially now he was still under the school's care. It will also be of betterment for him soon when they go on holiday. He was not returning to that compound for sure, he needed to keep his distance.

On a second note, he must go for the raid. He needed to prepare himself through it for the quest from the system. And then, the thought of raiding a dungeon alone reappeared in his memory.

If he was going to be involved in the raid tomorrow, how prepared was he even? Was he sure of survival? He only hoped the raid would be as he expected. The dungeon they were hunting was A-rank, and he wished it was not going to be as difficult as the Bat Dome.

"Mister Buji!" Instructor Hay's voice brought him back to reality. "I wonder what it is that is eating your memory at this age."

"Nothing," Buji replied.

"I expected that as an answer from you though," Hay said and drew some books closer to the edge of the desk where Buji could collect them. "Use these books for study until next week."

Buji collected one of the books that were on the desk and studied its cover. The title on it read "Dungeon Strategies" and his mind drifted to Kira.

Kira was only trying to help him with the book since then, he had no tutor. His mind settled. He was able to find a good reason that warranted Kira to lend him her Dungeon Strategies book.

To avoid any more suspicion from Instructor Hay, he bowed slightly to him in thanks before leaving the office. As he walked back through the corridors, he thought about Kira again.

During their earlier conversation, he had acted in a way that only made him feel guilty now, and he couldn't shake it off. Then he remembered the last statement Kira made before leaving him.

...I have your book.

Buji thought hardly. He had no other book, except... yes, except the SEA book. Apart from being among his acquisitions of the system, his hardcopy was missing. It only meant Kira had read something from it, and that was why she was demanding the truth from him.

'She deserved to know the truth.'

His thoughts betrayed his reality. He didn't want her to know anything about it. Rather, he didn't want any other person to know anything about what's happened to him. Higher hunters, Emra and her father, or even the hunter's association might have a hint, but that's only subdued by their suspicion of him. He only wanted it to end up being a suspicion, and not a reality.

Not this current time he's still weak. The system promised to make him stronger, only then. Then... will he make them know something about his new person. Plus, he also needed to be careful with Emra.

Kira.

He still had the strong involuntary urge to let her know about his new self. Is she not going to do like Emra had done? He trusted no one after what Emra and her father had done.

Then, he realized he had reached the path junction where he was to decide which place he wanted to go. He took the left path which led to the dorms and after a short while, he arrived at the dorm's door and was on its doorway alone. Lights were off already except for the dim light rays of the moon which lighted his ways.

He already made his decision for that night. He needed someone by his side, so, he had resolved. "Tonight, I am visiting her and at least if for nothing else, attempting to mend our friendship."

He glanced at his wristwatch, it read 22:24 hrs [10:24 P.M.] and he shrugged and continued his movements up the stairs.

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