MA: 99. The Black Widows and Huntsmen of The Green Rangers

< See their stats. The blue box doesn’t lie >

It was enough to calm Red down, but not enough to keep a blade held close to her chest.

“Easy, Adventurer. We’re only here for them.”

“And not the Scarlet Logic guys that were here before?” Red blurted out.

Her words only confused them as they turned to one another, murmuring.

“Scarlet Logic was here?” The man questioned, but his train of thought was quickly broken as another member announced from the mound of bandits: “Trakk Syndicate members confirmed! Beginning arrests! Woah – H-Holy Gods of Elysia! He’s missing half his face.”

That same Huntsman recoiled when they lifted the head of one. Then, they noticed the carnage left behind by Red, which had killed at least a dozen of them.

“… T-They fucked with what, a Gold Ranked Adventurer?”

“Keep to yourself.” Another said, clasping the head of the young Huntsman and bringing it down. “Their deaths make it easier for us. Less to keep in the cells. Less to feed.”

“Heh. If only the knew who they were dealing with.” Red smirked. “No one answered my question! Why aren’t you after Scarlet Logic– mmmph!?”

“Sorry, my sister is a bit of a special case.”

Snow gagged her mouth and pulled her into her chest, silencing her protests.

“Visual hallucinations, auditory distortion. My dear sister is a Thrum.”

Huh. I thought Healers can’t lie. Agate, what’s a ‘Thrum’?

Thrum

< A psychologically unstable subject. They are typically assigned a Handler to control their psyche or are given objects to control unhealable conditions of the mind >

“So they fucked with a Thrum…” The rattling Huntsman turned pale.

Hey! My legacy isn’t going to start with me being a weirdo!

Red glared at Snow for daring to suggest this, but Snow dragged a finger along her back. She wrote: “Play along,” under the guide of patting her back.

“… Getting calmer. So much calmer…”

Red begrudgingly groaned through clenched teeth. When she brought her knife down, Snow clasped her wrist, and wrote: “No Dimensional Storage.”

“… So very calm. Very nice…”

“A sister as a Handler, for an Adventurer Thrum. At least the walking lunatic is under control.” A Huntsman said.

Thrums were universally despised, but also tiptoed around due to their mental instability. It was the easiest way to explain Red’s actions, and to ensure that they could not be separated under any circumstances.

Her strength to take on over thirty bandits was proof of her strength.

Still…

They totally think I’m crazy! Damn you Snow!

A vein popped on Red’s forehead.

“Ahaha. She’s a lot kinder than you think.”

Snow’s words and motherly smile were laced with venom.

“Isn’t that right, sis?”

“Big cushions make me calm.” Red murmured.

Suddenly, a young woman approached Red. Her heavy steps announced her presence, and there was the sound of scrunching, followed by the scent of something irresistibly sweet.

“She’s cute~!” A woman wearing a black bodysuit with a red stripe along her back hummed as she held out a treat towards Red. “Awww! Did you take on all of bandits with your sister! You’re so cool!”

Hatchling Black Widow

< Specialist Arachnida >

Soul Rank: Blue | Branch: Green Rangers

LEVEL : 50     ORIGIN : Human     HP : 350

ATT : 130     MAG ATT : 40     AGI : 15

A Black Widow…? Hatchling!? But she’s an adult, right!?

Indeed she was. Red was under the assumption that ‘hatchling’ meant infant in a literal sense. Though that term would not have made much sense for a human.

That said, she found herself drawn to that saccharine voice. Though they weren’t that different height wise, she treated her like a child.

Then, once Red turned to face her, she reflexively munched on whatever was in her hand.

“Ooooh! A sandwich!” Her eyes lit up. “Lettuce. Tomato. I taste eggs too! Delish!”

“Homemade special~!” The Black Widow hummed with delight. “What’s your names?”

“Fledgling Red!”

“So little Red~ And, oh! I’m so sorry! Um… I should’ve asked before approaching, yes. Dumb Arachni…” The woman recoiled backwards. Once she regained her balance, she slammed her heels together and saluted. “Arachni! Black Widow! Hatchling designation!”

“Snow, the Handler of my sister Red. It’s fine. You arrived at a good time. We were wondering how to bring them back to Aire. That saves us the headache.”

“Oh really!? Aire’s always welcome to visitors, yup!”

The woman’s purple eyes beamed, and her hips began to wave from side to side like the tail of an enthusiastic puppy.

I wanna dance like that too… Looks fun. Might be a good exercise to loosen up the hips. Wait, could it be that she’s warming up to fight!? Then… did I just eat poison!?

“Heh…” Red smirked devilishly in an attempt to intimidate the woman.

This only caused imaginary love hearts to burst above her head.

She really wants to fight!

But before things could escalate for the wrong reasons, a commanding voice sapped the air of its warmth. Everything went cold, and the woman’s demeanor instantly hardened.

“Trakk Syndicate. The buffoons chose to patrol during the hours of the Gravity Train. Their desperation shall be written down.”

Another woman, this time, wearing a black coat with six red stripes along her chest emerged from the tree lines. Her presence demanded attention, one from the Huntsmen who regarded her as their Captain, and the other from men from the way her breasts were almost laid bare from her unzipped bodysuit.

Black Widow

< Specialist Arachnida >

Soul Rank: Blue | Branch: Green Rangers

LEVEL : 55     ORIGIN : Human     HP : 550

ATT : 180     MAG ATT : 70     AGI : 18

She passed Red and Snow without even so much as giving them a single glance. Her attention was solely directed to the bandits, where she pulled out a vial of green liquid and dipped a sharpened nail into it.

“Arachni. Compensate these ones well. Do escort them to town while we deal with the…”

Her voice was coated in poison, much like her nail.

“… Prey.”

She dragged it along the face of one of the bandits. Then, she pricked their throat, and they awoke with a painful howl.

“Who – Where am I – Wait… You… You are–!”

Slash

She carved their throat open and left them to bleed out as she wore a tired expression.

“Useless. But not entirely. Huntsmen. Take them to the cells. Keep them alive, if possible.”

“Captain! Wouldn’t it be better to kill them off now? Aren’t they the bad guys?”

Arachni asked.

“Do as I say.”

The woman didn’t elaborate further.

Her orders were absolute.

“Yes Ma’am!” Arachni saluted. “Snow, Red. Should we get going? It’s about a few hours that-a-way. Not that long at all! But uh, your names… they’re a bit familiar.”

Snow reached towards her book.

Her grip on Red tightened like a vice. Even Red found herself unable to believe how strong her strength was.

Isn’t her ATT at 0?

“Really? We’re not that famous. Where did you hear us from?”

Snow casually asked, hiding her suspicion.

Arachnia placed a hand on her chin as she gazed up past the canopies.

Then, her eyes dazzled.

“Oh yeah! There was a group that came by Aire um, er… I think… A month or two ago. Big group, on two wagons I think? They had a lovely wide old lady! RIGHT! She’s the one who mentioned your names!”

Snow’s grip loosened.

Her eyes widened as her breath hitched.

“Elda…?” She murmured in disbelief. “That means…!”

The realization caused a wave of relief to relinquish her worries.

She finally had confirmation that her family – the entire Village of Hearth – had safely made it to Aire.