Chapter 15: Welcome to the Group, You Crazy Bitch...

Audrey jumped down from the tree.

Snow exploded beneath her boots as she landed in front of the inquisitor.

Without wasting a second, she pulled back the string of her bow.

A regular arrow pointed directly between Tessa’s eyes.

The inquisitor didn’t even blink.

She kept crawling forward slowly.

As if only having half a body was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Audrey frowned.

"...Nox."

The demon was still watching the absurd scene.

"Yeah?"

"What do we do with her?"

Claws growled from the side.

A deep, threatening growl.

Audrey glanced at the bear.

"Claws says he wants to eat her alive."

Tessa’s smile widened.

"Oh."

Her eyes shifted toward Audrey.

"I bet you’d love to watch that." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The hunter didn’t respond.

The inquisitor let out a small laugh.

"Although..."

Her gaze became more provocative.

"...wouldn’t it be more satisfying to kill me with your own hands?"

The woman smiled.

"After all..."

Her eyes gleamed.

"I’m the one who murdered your sisters."

Audrey’s expression changed.

Dark energy slowly began to flow through the arrow.

Small black sparks crackled around its tip.

Tessa kept smiling.

"Come on. Shoot. You’ll feel better."

The bowstring tightened even further.

Then...

Nox appeared beside her.

And placed a hand on the bow.

"Easy, Audrey."

Audrey turned toward him.

Her eyes were still filled with anger.

"Nox."

"She’s more useful alive."

The hunter stared at him as if he had completely lost his mind.

"...What?"

Nox pointed at Tessa.

"We can use her as a hostage."

Audrey thought for a few seconds.

"You want us to travel with this bitch?"

The inquisitor raised a hand.

"I vote no."

Nox ignored her.

"Think about it."

Audrey crossed her arms.

"I’m listening."

The demon smiled.

"Remember the inquisitor with the gauntlets?"

The hunter nodded slowly.

"She seemed pretty upset."

"Exactly."

Nox pointed at Tessa.

"Because she thought we’d killed this woman."

The inquisitor looked at them in confusion.

"And if the Church’s so-called saints care that much about their inquisitors..."

Nox continued.

"...then dragging around an annoying half-inquisitor might be useful for negotiations."

Audrey fell silent in thought.

The idea made sense.

Enough to make her smile.

"...I like the way you think."

Nox gave her a thumbs-up.

"I know."

But Audrey’s smile quickly disappeared.

"...Although honestly, I don’t think I can stand listening to her voice for days."

She looked at the woman who had murdered her sisters.

"I’m going to end up killing her myself."

The woman looked thoroughly amused.

"Probably."

Nox smiled.

"That’s why I’ve already come up with a solution."

He stepped forward.

Pulled a rope from his bag.

And before the inquisitor could react...

He started tying her arms together.

The inquisitor raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing?"

"It’s for safety."

"For whose safety?"

"Ours."

He finished tightening the knots.

Then he started rummaging through his clothes.

Audrey watched him in confusion.

"...What are you looking for?"

Nox found what he wanted.

And smiled.

"This."

Tessa looked at the item.

A pair of dirty underwear.

Then she looked at him.

Then back at the underwear.

"...No."

"Yes."

"Don’t you dare."

Nox’s smile widened.

"I think your name is Tessa, right?"

The inquisitor narrowed her eyes.

"None of your business."

Nox ignored the response.

"I don’t know how you’re still alive after losing half your waist and all that blood..."

Then he shoved his old dirty underwear into her mouth.

"MMPH?!"

Nox nodded in satisfaction.

"Much better."

Tessa tried to spit them out.

Without success.

The demon stood up.

And smiled.

"Now you’re going to be our new traveling companion."

He pointed at the group.

"Welcome."

Then he pointed at Tessa.

"...You crazy bitch."

"MMPHHH!!"

Audrey burst out laughing.

Even Claws seemed amused, lightly wagging his tail.

The hunter wiped away a tear caused by laughter.

"...You really are a demon."

Nox gave a small bow.

"Thank you."

"MMPH!"

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

The wind began blowing through the trees once again.

And then...

Nox’s stomach growled.

"...I’m still hungry."

Audrey sighed.

"Me too."

Claws let out a small growl of agreement.

Nox pointed at the bear.

"See? He gets it."

The bear nodded.

Or at least it looked like he did.

Tessa continued struggling against the ropes.

"MMPH!"

Nox pointed at her.

"And she looks delicious."

Claws growled again, much more interested this time.

Tessa’s eyes widened.

"MMPHHHH?!"

Audrey started laughing again.

"I don’t think eating an inquisitor is a good idea."

Nox sighed.

"What a shame."

He looked around once more.

Nothing but snow, trees, and forest.

"Then we need food."

Audrey nodded.

Then she closed her eyes.

Her new senses began to spread outward.

Listening, smelling, searching.

Several seconds passed.

And finally, she opened her eyes.

"I can hear animals."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Nearby?"

"Close enough."

The hunter looked toward several points between the trees.

"I can set some traps."

Nox smiled.

"That sounds a lot better than chasing them."

Audrey was already pulling out ropes and knives.

"We’ll just have to wait."

Nox raised both hands.

"Perfect."

Then he pointed at the traps.

"Because I have absolutely no idea how to make those."

Audrey smiled proudly.

"Don’t worry."

She spun one of the knives between her fingers.

"There’s a reason I’m a hunter."

Dark energy briefly flowed through her body.

And Nox smiled as he watched her.

She looked stronger than before.

Then the demon turned back toward the gagged inquisitor.

Tessa was staring at him as well, clearly suspicious.

Nox smiled.

A smile the gagged woman absolutely did not like.

"Mmph..."

The demon crouched in front of her.

Folded his hands together.

And smiled even wider.

"Well."

Tessa swallowed.

"Now that we have some time..."

Nox rested his elbows on his knees.

"...let’s get some information out of you."

The inquisitor’s eyes slowly widened.

For the first time, she looked genuinely worried.