Hunter

Floating above the Empty Sea in Gravity Falls, Inae, the City of Promise, is known for having the largest trading port in Seon. On any given day, hundreds of airships and even more people come and go, with shops and workshops catering to them. A hub of trade and commerce, a mecca for inventors. Inae has developed greatly and is known as the place where the most money flows in Seon. The uncontrollable flow of wealth attracted pirates, and the massive traffic of airships and people attracted the Maleficents and Malefic Beasts. The damage mounted day by day, until one day a Malefic Beast attack called the "Fall of the Void" put the entire city in grave danger. At this point, Iwun, the largest trading company in Seon, Haesang Gongguk, the transportation union, and the Cog Workshop, an invention company, joined forces to form a squadron. The private squadron, the Maleficience Raiders. Armed with their own arbalests and combat airships ranging in size from the Namdal to the Mucheok class, they're comprised of Chakyo, the Colossus Squadron, which organizes attacks on giant Malefic Beasts, and Pohwa, the Combat Squadron, which is said to be the most spectacular squadron, flying in small numbers. Led by famous Hunters from all over Seon, they respect each other's personalities, abilities, and even fighting styles, as long as they follow the three instructions of Harmony, Recognition, and Understanding. Basically, once the objective is set, a strategy is created, and everyone does their part to fulfill it. Of course, accidents happen, but the mission success rate is generally high. In addition to the Malefic Beasts and Maleficents, they also keep watch for evil people, which is why they often face off against the "Bluehawks," the righteous pirates of the Empty Sea. The Hunter is a member of the Malefic Hunters, an organization of monster hunters that eradicate monsters that threaten the commercial city of Inae, which resides in the Sunken Depths. Wielding a heavy Arbalest and her falcon shaped Sacred Beast companion, Falke, the Hunter assails her targets with heavy offensive stopping power. "Phew, it's done, Falke. It's okay to move now - hmm? Falke?" Falke must have gotten tired of waiting, because he was asleep. Despite the aids on his wings, which were quite heavy even for human hands to hold, Falke's body rose and fell in a small puff, as if to demonstrate the will of life. Falke, my companion, my Sacred Beast, who traveled with me from Seon through the malefic energy of the Empty Sea to Arad. I closed my eyes quietly, listening to the sound of Falke's beating heart, and the memories of the day we first met came naturally to me. * A misty breeze rushed across my cheeks. I was on patrol near a floating island in my personal airship. Pohwa, the Combat Squadron and the smaller of the Maleficience Raiders squadrons, was often tasked with solo missions, but lately, with the more frequent outbreaks of Maleficents in Gravity Falls, we'd been called upon to assist the Vigilantes in their patrols. "Wait, there's a thick layer of malefic energy nearby." I quickly turned the airship around and scanned the area. There was no sign of Maleficents. Just as I was about to turn back after confirming that everything was okay, I heard a faint sound. I went over and found a Sacred Beast lying wounded on the ground. Luckily, it was safe, but its wings were badly injured and it couldn't move. "What am I going to do with this...? Ah, I have an idea! Just wait a minute." I attached an improvised device to its wings. The Sacred Beast slowly adjusted, and soon it was flying. I said goodbye and boarded my airship to return to Inae. But I was surrounded by Maleficents and Malefic Beasts, the masters of the dense malefic energy. I fought doggedly, but I hadn't done much actual combat yet. I wasn't strong enough to take them all on. Just when it looked like it was all over, the Sacred Beast that I'd left behind flew in and joined the fight. By now, Sacred Beast had gotten pretty good at using the aids. Together, we managed to defeat the Maleficents and Malefic Beasts and escape. "You're pretty good. I like the way you fly." We've been together ever since, all the way to Arad. I opened my eyes. Falke was awake, too. We looked at each other. "I've made the perfect modifications, Falke. You'll fly more powerfully and freely than ever before." Falke spread his wings and hopped onto my shoulder. "Huh? Wait..." Falke lifted my shoulders and began to fly. "Whoa! That's a lot faster than I expected!" It turned out I wasn't the only one who grew up adventuring. "We were always together." From up in the sky, I wondered if Falke was looking at the same place as I was. Maybe we were both looking at the same place, I thought to myself. "Huh? Well, yes, I don't want to be bothered, but... Oh, okay." Melvin straightened up and flipped through the notes he'd been handed. She just came to me and asked me to look at her ideas... Well, she helped me before, so I'll give her a pass this time. "But this bolt that pierces through anything. It'll take a lot more than the bolt you have now. It won't hold the force, and this... I like the idea, but it seems to have a few too many variables..." Improvements to the existing large and small bolts. Add to that a secondary scope to increase the tension of the arbalest and make it more deadly. If it stopped there, I could have understood how she would use these technologies, but she also wanted to upgrade her shoes. How the hell is she going to manage all of this on her own? And yet... I think she can. Okay, you win. "I guess this is how you do it." Looking at her confident expression, Melvin couldn't argue. "But you'd better make sure you get better bolts, if you want to turn this fantasy into reality." "So, in other words, everything else is fine, right? Okay, then shall we go, Falke?" "Honestly, I don't think an expert of your caliber would need to come to me anymore." Melvin muttered behind her as she left, saying she had another great new combat skill idea in mind. She had been adventuring many places, looking at and absorbing everything without prejudice, building her own skills. One day, she came from another world and showed him new things. Melvin suddenly wondered what other whimsical and imaginative creations were out there, materialized in the world beyond. What I held in her hand was a very old memory. And a homework assignment that I still haven't gotten around to, an unexpected thank you, and someone's support for me. The Veteran Hunter's Medal. A token of recognition from both the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Inae, the City of Promise, and the Maleficence Raiders, the private squadron they created to protect Gravity Falls. I turned it down because I couldn't handle it, but it was already in my hand. Even now, I still couldn't let go of it, or even wear it. I once dreamed of spreading my wings and soaring like a bird. I wanted to be free, to follow my own path, untethered. But I now know that true freedom is tied to someone, to a world, and only when I realize that all beings in this world are connected to me. Falke had been hovering around me, wings outstretched. The aids attached to his wings had been made for him by me long ago. He can't live without me. He's my responsibility. When I was willing to admit that I was responsible for someone, I was able to be more free. Together, we depend on each other, and we can do anything. I will no longer turn away from my responsibilities in the name of freedom. I pinned the old medal to my chest. I signaled to Falke. "I've got something pretty cool in mind for this one. Are you ready, Falke?" It was time for a new flight.