I looked at the hunters and then at the paper in my hand
Grey glanced between the Hunters and the paper in her hand, her expression caught somewhere between amusement and resignation.
[Grey]: Alright then… Hunter One, you're going with Alpha. Two wants Douplo... and Three is now Tri. Fine by me. But just so you know, we're going to have to update a lot of records at the Guild.
Hunter 1 straightens up proudly at the name "Alpha," their grin widening as their shadow twitches in anticipation. Hunter 2—now Douplo—snickers and spins around in place with chaotic energy, clearly amused by their new identity. Hunter 3 nods solemnly, accepting the name Tri like a knight receiving a title, their hair swaying with dignity.
They all look down at the paper in Grey's hand, nodding like children who just finished scribbling on a school form… with blood.
[Alpha]: A strong name... befitting a firstborn terror.
[Douplo]: Two minds in one, double the trouble, double the confusion~!
[Tri]: Three points of balance… triangle of death…
She exhaled through her nose, flicking the paper to the side.
[Grey]: Didn't Bell head out this morning to buy gear and supplies? Figures. Well, now that we've got some new... assets, we'll stop by the Guild later to handle everything.
With a dramatic sigh, Grey leaned back in a velvet-lined monstrosity of a chair—part coral, part gilded horror—and lit a cigar. The smoke curled lazily around her face, adding a layer of villainous mystique to her already overwhelming aura.
After a few quiet moments, she raised one hand, opening her translucent menu with a flick of her fingers. Her gaze hovered over a certain tab—Personnel Purchase—before she tapped it.
Three flashes of light flared in front of her, and with a sound like warped glass shattering, three figures appeared—new recruits, summoned straight from the system itself.
Grey exhaled another puff of smoke, her grin widening.
[Grey]: Welcome to the madhouse.
Three figures emerged from the flickering light of Grey's summon, each one radiating a unique and unmistakable aura.
The first was a towering man clad in sleek modern combat armor, matte black with crimson etchings. A massive, dark lion's mane framed his face like a war crown, and sharp feline ears twitched atop his head. His long lion's tail swayed with predatory calm. His golden eyes locked onto Grey with the weight of a king who feared nothing and bowed to no one.
[Grey]: So you're the Dark Lion Emperor... Alexander, huh?
She smirked, taking a slow drag of her cigar.
[Grey]: You look like someone who breaks bones before breakfast.
Beside him stood a striking elf woman—tall, slim, and wrapped in arcane robes laced with veins of silver. Twin glowing eyes, one violet and the other teal, pierced through the air like enchanted lanterns. A small horn spiraled from her forehead, faintly glowing with latent mana. Magic clung to her like perfume, thick and ancient.
[Grey]: Glares Pinewood... a glowing, horned elf wizard? I love it already. Just try not to level the castle without warning.
The last to arrive was a lean, battle-hardened man with icy blue wolf ears poking through silver hair, a matching tail flicking behind him with restrained energy. He wore light, tactical armor—built for speed—and had a long halberd slung across his back. A polished firearm rested on his waist like a sidearm of judgment.
[Grey]: Frostbite Howl. You've got the look of someone who hunts in silence and ends fights in a single strike.
She leaned forward, peering at the trio with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
[Grey]: Alexander, Glares, Frostbite… Welcome to the Hestia Familia, or, as I like to call it, 'Hestia's Divine Palace of Doom and Hope.'
She gestured dramatically to the chaos-mansion behind her, glitter still faintly raining down from some previous magical mishap.
[Grey]: Things here are... unconventional. Try not to die. Or do. I can fix it.
She stood up, dusting ash from her lap.
[Grey]: We'll head to the Guild soon to register your sorry but powerful faces. Until then, explore, settle in, and don't eat the sentient plants.
After giving the newcomers a quick tour of the palace, avoiding the glitter-swamp bathroom and the room that occasionally meowe, —Grey left the new recruits alone for a moment to enjoy her cigar on the balcony. She expected the usual: awkward tension, flexing egos, maybe even a casual death threat or two.
Instead, when she glanced back through the window… she froze.
Hunter Alpha was already arm-wrestling Dark Lion Emperor Alexander, both growling and laughing like old war buddies. The table beneath them cracked loudly.
Hunter Douplo was sitting cross-legged with Glares Pinewood, the two of them exchanging enchanted stones and debating spell theory with rapid, excited hand gestures. Occasionally, glowing runes spiraled above them before exploding into harmless butterflies.
Hunter Tri, meanwhile, was tossing throwing knives back and forth with Frostbite Howl, who caught each one between two fingers without blinking. Every now and then, Frostbite would give Tri a pointer, and Tri would nod like a diligent student.
Grey blinked. Then blinked again. She even took off her glasses to rub her eyes, despite not actually needing glasses.
[Grey]: ...What the hell.
She stepped into the room, crossing her arms.
[Grey]: You guys met, what, two minutes ago? What is this? A childhood reunion? Are you secretly from the same cursed orphanage or something?
Alpha shrugged, tail flicking.
[Alpha]: He's got strong vibes. Strong guys respect strong guys.
[Douplo]: She understands the art of unstable mana crystals. A kindred spirit!
Glares giggled and raised a peace sign glowing with fire.
[Tri]: He has a cool weapon and throws like a wolf assassin. I respect that.
Frostbite nodded silently, flipping a knife mid-air and catching it without looking.
Grey stared at them, then sighed dramatically.
[Grey]: Great. Now the murder squad has a brainy support division and an animal theme.
Still, a smirk tugged at her lips. Maybe chaos attracting chaos wasn't always a bad thing.
[Grey]: Fine. Friendship earned. Guild registration later. But if you all hug and start singing, I'm feeding you to the sentient couch.
[Couch]: Mmm... friends…
After officially adding the new trio to the Familia—Alexander, Glares, and Frostbite—we made our way to the Guild to get their registrations sorted. The air buzzed with the usual chaos of adventurers coming and going, people shouting about quests, and merchants haggling over prices for monster drops.
Then we saw them.
Bell Cranel, decked out in a brand-new set of armor—still silver and light, but now with a more fitted and heroic design. He stood near one of the reception counters, clearly nervous. And right beside him was her—Ais, the Sword Princess herself, calm as ever, speaking softly.
From our distance, they looked like they were on a date. Bell was blushing so hard I was amazed he wasn't combusting. Ais had her usual unreadable expression, but she wasn't walking away, so that said enough.
We watched them silently.
[Grey]: So, Training or courting?
Alpha crossed his arms, smirking.
[Alpha]: Boy's got guts, I'll give him that.
Douplo giggled.
[Douplo]: It's always the red ones.
Tri just whispered, "Cute," and kept watching like this was prime entertainment.
I let them have their moment. No need to interrupt. We had business to handle.
We slipped past the scene quietly and moved toward the guild registration counter. On the way, people began to notice us.
The demi-humans and werefolk in the crowd turned to stare—then their eyes settled on Alexander.
A ripple of awe spread as they took in his towering form, lion's mane, ears twitching, and tail swaying behind his jet-black combat armor. Several lowered their heads slightly in silent respect. A few younger beastkin just stared with wide, shining eyes.
[Random werewolf]: That's... the Dark Lion Emperor?
[Another]: He's real?
Meanwhile, on the other side of the lobby, a very different reaction stirred.
The elves glanced at Glares Pinewood with sharp eyes and stiffened backs. Their gazes weren't openly hostile, but definitely wary. A few stepped aside without a word, lips pressed thin. One even muttered, "Darkhorn…"
Glares didn't react. She simply glided forward like none of it mattered, twin glowing eyes focused, her little horn catching the light like a blade's edge.
[Grey]: Is she hated or feared?
[Douplo]: Why not both?
We reached the counter without incident. The poor receptionist flinched when she saw our entire group, probably sensing the weight of mana, weapons, and unnatural auras pressing in like a storm front.
[Grey]: Hi. We're here to register three new members under the Hestia Familia. I'll handle the paperwork. Just don't question the details, and nobody explodes.
The receptionist gulped and nodded.
[Half an hour later]
With the paperwork finally done—signed, sealed, and only mildly burned by an accidental spark from Glares' fingertips—we exited the registration area. The guild staff looked visibly relieved as we left, and honestly? I didn't blame them. Our group looked more like a war council than a Familia.
The Hunters chatted idly with the new trio—Alpha sharing combat strategies with Frostbite, Tri asking Glares questions about her "glow eyes," and Douplo trying to braid Alexander's tail. Somehow, they were already acting like they'd known each other for years.
I watched them from the back, puffing calmly on a cigar.
[Grey]: I thought they'd need a week to adjust… they synced in thirty minutes. Should I be proud or scared?
As we stepped back into the main hall, I spotted Bell again. He wasn't alone anymore. Ais was still beside him, and… now they were both staring at us.
Correction: staring at Alexander.
Bell's eyes were wide with awe, the kind he usually reserves for heroes out of fairy tales. Ais? Her gaze locked on the lion warrior like she was assessing a potential sparring partner.
Then her eyes slid to me. Briefly.
A beat passed.
She gave a small, respectful nod.
I returned it.
Bell's mouth opened like he was about to say something… then Ais grabbed his sleeve and led him out before he could.
[Douplo]: Huh. So much for love at first roar.
We all shared a chuckle.
[Grey]: Alright, misfits. Time to head back to Hestia's Divine Palace of Doom and Hope. Let's give the new recruits a proper welcome—and maybe not blow up any more fountains this time.
[Alpha]: No promises.
[Later that evening – Hostess of Fertility Tavern]
[Time: Roughly Potato O'Clock (meaning: after too many meals of potatoes)]
I was going to scream if I saw another boiled, mashed, fried, buttered, or honey-glazed potato.
So I didn't. I just ordered the squad to move out—with a dramatic finger point—and marched them down the street to the Hostess of Fertility like I was leading a battalion into war.
We burst into the tavern like a multi-species storm.
And froze.
Because Mama Mia was already standing there.
Arms crossed.
Eyebrow twitching.
Aura like a final boss from an old war story.
[Mama Mia]: Grey. Brats. Hunters. Lion man. Glow eyes. Blue wolf. Don't. Break. Anything.
She stepped forward like a predator sizing up prey.
[Mama Mia]: I don't care if you pay double. I don't care if you pay in diamonds, monsters, or divine blessings. Last time you broke three chairs, two tables, and a chandelier. And Tri cooked a glass of wine with lightning.
Tri shrank behind Douplo. Douplo tried to smile. Alpha gave a stiff military nod like a good soldier accepting a scolding.
I gave a short puff of my cigar and raised my hand in a totally-not-a-salute.
[Grey]: You have my word, Mama Mia. We shall consume meat, drink juice, and cause only minimal psychological damage to the staff.
She sighed like she'd aged five years just from hearing me talk.
[Mama Mia]: One chance. Sit. Eat. Behave.
We obeyed like well-trained goblins and claimed a table near the back—far away from windows, decorations, and anything fragile.
Surprisingly, the new trio blended right in. Alexander helped pass plates, Frostbite Howl was swapping recipes with Runoa, and Glares Pinewood? She had already won over Anya with glowing light tricks.
As for me?
I sat back, legs crossed, cigar burning gently, while watching my Familia laugh, tease, and chow down on actual food.
[Grey]: Maybe they're not so chaotic after all.
Then Tri tried to toast with soup.
It spilled.
On Douplo.
Who panicked.
And slapped Alpha with a fish.
...Okay. Maybe a little chaotic.
[Chapter end]