They ventured into the woods, slowly leaving Henkei Forest, walking to the path that should lead to Zen Highway. The two learned that the woman's name was Hoshina and that she was a 15th rank hunter. A strong rank for the 1st zone yet ultimately not impressive.

Shinichi and Irish followed her at the back. Hoshina moved with confidence, her stance strict and unyielding. Typical for a soldier. Shinichi couldn't spot any weapons in her person and thus he concluded that she must be in possession of a very dangerous mana ability. Though she could very well conceal a small knife in her garments.

Irish was following idly, lips uncharacteristically quirked that revealed his pensive mood. He had tied up his bangs, wrapping them up in a way that the hair resembled a palm tree. Shinichi flicked it.

He pulled Irish to his side. "You done making it?" Irish shook his head as a reply. "Well then, I'll delay the inevitable as much as I could. She keeps looking at you. Do you know her?"

"Her attitude feels familiar," whispered Irish. "Or maybe it's the hair, but it is a common hair colour."

Shinichi nodded. "The Takamura Family can be found anywhere. At the very least, she doesn't seem to be with those sharks. Question is if she knows us."

Irish snorted. "The answer's pretty obvious."

They eventually reached a clearing that revealed a gravelled path. The sun beat down on them, its heat unrelenting. Shinichi wiped the sweat that collected on his forehead.

"It's my first time seeing a patrol happening in this part of the danger zone," started Shinichi with a smile. Glancing at Hoshina, her expression remained unchanging.

"Henkei Forest may just be part of Zone 1 but powerful devourers can still set foot in here," answered Hoshina. She raised a hand, index finger pointing vaguely to her left. "Luckily for us, there should be a Devourer Party in that direction. They should be attracting devourers away from us."

"A party? How come you're not part of it?" Shinichi gave her a sidelong glance. "You're still 15th rank yet you're patrolling alone. That must mean you're pretty capable."

"I guess so. I was born in a family well known for producing hunters," she answered, gaze trained on Irish. Irish's head snapped up and his eyes seemed to twist. "So stuff like this has been the norm for me since I was a child. It's our family's tradition. Then again, this is Zone 1. Nothing too dangerous should be lurking here. No instances or dungeons, little devourer population. Even common civilians like you two can occupy this area without falling into danger."

Shinichi frowned at her response and ignored her contradiction.

They stopped on a fork. There was a wooden directional sign planted in the middle, showing that the path to Zen Highway was to the right.

"Tradition, huh?" Shinichi snorted. "Nobody really gave me a path to walk for as long as I could remember. Hm, going through life using a path paved by your ancestors. Maybe life would have fared better for me like that."

"But that gave you the opportunity to choose your own path, didn't it?" Hoshina's face was contemplative as her eyes swept their surroundings. "Even if it was a disruptive path, it was chosen through your own will."

Shinichi sucked in a breath. "If that's what you think."

"All my life, I've followed my family's tradition," she said. She chuckled to herself. "This might be the first time I've taken a path of my own."

She turned to them. Her green hair swayed with an elegance that reminded Shinichi of grass blown by the wind. The sunlight and its heat didn't seem to bother her, it only added to her radiance, giving her the image of nature's personification. Hoshina gave Irish a soft smile. Something sparked inside Irish's eyes.

"Are you still going to treat us to a meal?" Irish finally broke his silence.

"I will treat you to a meal," answered Hoshina. When her gaze moved to Shinichi, it seemed to narrow.

"Never mind that. We'll be fine once we reach the highway. We don't want to intrude your patrol any further," said Shinichi.

"Hm, you don't have to worry about that. The patrol has already ended."

Each word spoken only made Shinichi's already pressed nerves more frantic.

"There's also a troublesome MN Field near here." 

"Troublesome?" 

"Oh. I misspoke," she paused.

Her eyes connected with Shinichi.

With a hand on his arm, Shinichi pulled Irish forward as Hoshina swung a punch. It landed straight to his cheek. The force knocked Irish skidding into the gravelled road. The back of his shirt slitted open yet his skin remained unharmed, as though the rock fragments made contact with hard iron.

Irish sat up and wiped the blood off his lip. He spat out some fallen teeth and glared at Hoshina.

"As expected, you're very good at sacrificing your companions." Her voice was solemn but when she looked at Shinichi, her eyes showed only contempt. She flexed her fingers, the knuckles flushing a bright red.

A slow smile rose on Shinichi's lips. "I wouldn't go as far as to say this was a sacrifice. I'm pretty fragile. It was simply self preservation."

"Heh, using my cousin as a human shield. I didn't want to resort to this yet you were too perceptive," Hoshina tilted her head. "Or maybe I was too obvious?"

"A bit of both but," Shinichi tapped his temple. "You definitely could have used some more brain power with your plans."

Hoshina dashed to Shinichi and Irish sprang up. Irish slid in front of Shinichi just as Hoshina pulled back her arm. This time Irish was prepared for the blow. He blocked and countered, sending a jab to Hoshina's neck. She grabbed it before it could reach her. With stony eyes, her true strength was revealed as she easily crushed Irish's wrist.

Irish twisted away with a low groan and desperately brought his knee up in an attempt to hit Hoshina. She only reeled back and quickly took out a pocket knife, slashing a long tear on Irish's thigh.

With a hiss through gritted teeth, Irish's uninjured hand instinctively shot down and covered the wound. Hoshina swung her leg and delivered a blow to his side.

"Stop. The difference between you and me is too different." Hoshina kicked him, sending him crashing on the ground. "Stay down. I'm not here to fight you. I'll take care of that man and after that, I'll take you back home."

Her foot was heavy on his chest. Irish's fingers curled on the skin of her ankle and he gave her a sardonic grin.

A rush of heat greeted them both. Reds and oranges blossomed on Irish's palm.

Flames engulfed Irish's hands and the foot connected to it. Hoshina pulled back with a shriek and Irish joined her, his grip ironclad. Their skin began to sizzle fast and the smell of burning meat flooded their noses. With her other foot, Hoshina dealt a crushing strike on Irish's head. Irish's nose broke, blood flowing freely through his nostrils. Irish licked his lips as the flames grew, his eyes shining.

Hoshina groaned as her clothes succumbed and her skin gave way to the fire. Irish clung to her waist and Hoshina's punches became half-hearted as her mind focused on her smoldering flesh. The flames only grew stronger and stronger as Irish poured all his strength into flourishing it.

The putrid stench was unbearable, almost as though she could taste it. Hoshina felt herself go into shock from the sheer pain.

Their features were no longer recognisable, skin charred black and red, hair and clothes burnt to the ground.

If not for her ample mana aura and ability, she would be dead.

"Get out of the way, Irish!"

Her sensations were too numb to feel the weight on her waist disappear.

Hoshina spun on her heel only to witness Shinichi throwing a bomb to her head.

Shinichi ducked down as it exploded.

"Irish! Come on," shouted Shinichi. He ran to the path leading to the highway and gestured wildly to the injured man.

Irish's ability gifted him high resistance against heat but it didn't mean that he was immune to it. Burn marks and injuries littered his body. Blood rolled down his charred skin.

He hugged his stomach when he felt it rumbling. Ah, his free meal was gone.