[System Feature Unlocked]
[???? → Hunter's Pact]
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Hunter's Pact
A connection formed between the Host and suitable partners, granting shared benefits.
• The Host may draw upon bonded partners' mana for crafting and system-related functions.
• Bonded partners gain access to the Host's Soul-bound Firearm systems.
• Physical intimacy gradually restores HP and Mana for both parties (this effect improves with deeper emotional connection and the intensity of the act).
Requirements to form a bond:
• Mutual consent
• Intimate contact
Warning!: Breaking a bond will result in severe backlash to both parties.
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Ah… so the mysterious, question-marked system feature was this…
Nathan stared in silence. then blinked once.
Twice.
Why does this suddenly sound both romantic and threatening at the same time?!
His brain short-circuited for a solid two seconds.
Shared mana? Sure, okay.
Weapon access? Fine. That's useful.
But then it just—
Intimacy equals healing???
And it scales with feelings and intensity?!
What is this feature? Some kind of dual-cultivation art?
He dragged a hand down his face.
This system really said: "You want power? Go get emotionally involved — and don't forget to get horny."
He exhaled slowly.
…Also — plural.
His eye twitched slightly.
Plural partners.
Of course it's plural.
Of course this thing supports… that.
Because I was the one who asked it in my dying breath…
I knew it was called 'Deranged-Hunter System,' but this is a whole different genre shift.
Then he paused.
His gaze drifted very slowly toward Natsu.
She was still holding the pistol, frowning at it in mild frustration, completely unaware of the existential crisis happening three feet away from her.
Wait…?
He blinked.
Okay, hold on. Let's… think about this rationally.
Hypothetically speaking.
If—
This was a Big if—
If I were to consider this…
He crossed his arms unconsciously.
I mean… it's not like I hate the idea.
She's cute, and somewhat innocent — totally my type.
She was very honest about her vulnerability and didn't abandon me,
She didn't kill me when she absolutely had the chance.
She's actually a girl — confirmed.
And the tail… the ears…
He glanced at her face — then looked away way too quickly.
Focus!
This is not the time.
There are zombies.
ZOMBIES, NATHAN!
"…Nathan?"
Her voice snapped him out of it.
He blinked and looked back at her. "…Yeah?"
"What's wrong?" Natsu asked, tilting her head — Nathan suddenly found that gesture very endearing. "You've been standing there making weird faces for a while."
"…I-it's nothing," he said quickly. "Just… having some internal debate."
"…About what?"
"You don't want to know."
"…Now I do."
"You really don't."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…You're suspicious."
"I am," he said flatly.
Deciding that continue arguing wouldn't result a thing, Natsu looked back at the pistol, frowning again.
"…I still can't use this thing."
"Ah… right." Nathan cleared his throat, forcing himself back into the present. "Yeah, uh… turns out — only I can use it."
"…What?"
"It's… complicated," he said, waving a hand vaguely.
Natsu's ears drooped slightly. "…Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Her lips formed a small pout. "You got my hopes up… and then crushed them."
Nathan winced slightly. "…Sorry. I just found out too."
"…Tch."
She handed the pistol back to him, looking mildly disappointed.
And for some reason — that expression hit way harder than it should have.
Why does she suddenly look that cute when she's annoyed—
No! Stop that.
Focus!
Nathan took the pistol back.
This is your fault, he mentally glared upward. Now I can't see Natsu the normal way anymore.
Take responsibility, System.
As if on cue — another notification appeared.
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Bond Progress — Miyuki Natsukawa
• Consent: ✗
• Intimate Contact: ✓
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Nathan's brain stopped processing for exactly two seconds.
…Oh. So her real name was Miyuki. Natsukawa was probably her family name.
Not gonna lie, Miyuki fits her more than Natsu… it means 'beautiful snow,' right? And it matches her long, snowy-white hair.
Then slowly—
…But excuse me?
His eye twitched.
Intimate contact… completed?! WHEN?!
A horrifying realization crept in.
A certain memory — no, memories — replayed.
And two particular incident.
…The relentless, kiss-of-gratitude incident.
…The breast-grabbing accident.
Nathan's face went completely still. Then—
What kind of scumbag completes the intimate requirement before getting consent…?
…
…Me!
He internally screamed into the void.
Meanwhile—
"Are you okay?" Natsu asked, eyeing him strangely.
"…Yeah," Nathan replied weakly.
No. No, I am not okay.
He slowly lifted the pistol again, aiming toward the approaching Walkers.
"…Let's just… focus on not dying for now."
Because that was another problem for future Nathan to solve.
To distract his spiraling thoughts, Nathan moved. He exhaled slowly, and let instinct take over.
A Walker stumbled into range.
He marked it with Hunter's Mark.
A holographic pointer appeared above his target, followed by the Walker's tiny status bar at the corner of his vision.
He squeezed the trigger.
*Phew…*
The Walker's head snapped back following the suppressed sounds from Nathan's pistol, its body collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.
Nathan didn't pause.
He fired another round.
Another one died.
Mark. Aim. Fire — he made the entire process look automatic… controlled.
He fired again.
And again.
And again.
Each shot was clean — efficient, final.
The new laser sight painted a thin red dot across unsuspecting foreheads, and within thirty meters (33 yd), it felt almost unfair. Like he wasn't aiming anymore — he was just deciding.
His breathing steadied, thoughts quieted, and the chaos in his mind — System, bonds, questionable mechanics, existential embarrassment — were drowned out by the rhythm.
Beside him, Natsu slowly lowered her guard.
At some point, she had stopped preparing to strike — because there was nothing for her to strike.
"Holy…" she murmured under her breath.
A Walker lurched forward.
*Phew…*
Dead.
"…Every time…" she whispered, eyes widening slightly.
Nathan didn't respond.
Didn't even look at her.
He just kept shooting.
The pile of bodies grew.
Rotting limbs, cracked skulls, and unmoving husks formed a grotesque carpet beyond the wooden wall.
Time seemed to blur. And at some point—
*Click.*
Nathan paused.
Silence… only the low growls of approaching Walkers filled the air.
He blinked once, lowering the pistol slightly.
"…Huh. I'm out of ammo."
He stared at the empty weapon for a second, as if mildly surprised that reality had finally decided to impose limits.
Then he loosened his posture slightly. "…Alright."
Just like that, the storm in his head was gone.
No more spiraling thoughts. No more internal screaming about intimacy requirements. Just… calm.
He let out a slow breath and sat down on the wooden platform, pulling out a handful of 9mm rounds.
One by one, he began loading the magazine.
*Click. Click. Click.*
The repetitive motion was… somewhat satisfying. Then notifications flickered in his peripheral vision.
[Walker Kill Count: 11/11]
[Kill quota fulfilled — Vitality 2.8 → 3.2]
"…Nice." He gave a small, satisfied nod.
Progress — something he really liked about this current life. Linear, tangible, and not emotionally complicated.
Unlike certain system features.
"You're killing them like they're a joke."
Nathan glanced up.
Natsu was staring at him, genuinely impressed.
"And thanks to this imposing wall you built in just under two hours," she continued, gesturing around them, "Walkers aren't a threat at all… the river also helped limit their spawn areas."
Her gaze drifted toward the field of corpses — dozens of them.
Then back to him.
"But why kill so many of them?"
Nathan resumed loading bullets without missing a beat.
"With only two of us," she added, "only six of them would coexist at a time, nothing dangerous."
"I need the EXP," he replied simply.
Natsu blinked. "Walkers only give very little EXP…"
So EXP is a normal term in this world… good to know.
Natsu sighed softly, crossing her arms. Then, after a brief pause—
"Does your weapon could fire indefinitely?"
Nathan shook his head. "Nope. Very limited."
"How many?"
"Under 120 left."
Her ears twitched again, this time more sharply.
"…Then why waste them on Walkers?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"What if Jumpers — or flying, insect-type monsters — show up?" she continued, her tone growing more serious. "I can handle them, sure — but I'd appreciate some backup. Especially from a ranged attacker like you."
Nathan slid the final round into the magazine with a soft click, then inserted it back into the pistol.
Fair point.
Very fair point, if this were normal logic. But—
"Don't worry," he said, glancing at her with a small, confident smirk. "I have enough."
Also, he really wanted to test his newly upgraded gun.
And the results?
He was very satisfied.
Natsu frowned slightly.
"…You don't sound convincing."
"Trust me."
"…That makes it even worse."
Nathan chuckled under his breath. "I already killed enough to calm my mind, I'll leave them on their own — at least for now. So don't worry."
Yeah. From her perspective, this probably looks like I'm speedrunning poor life decisions.
But the reality was — he wasn't wasting ammo.
He was… investing.
At first, he had assumed crafting a 9mm round would be a strict one-to-one trade — one Walker's Runestone equals one bullet.
Simple and pedictable.
But turns out — the system had other ideas.
Because of course it did.
There was a random chance each time he crafted one… a very suspiciously gacha-like, RNG mechanic:
1 bullet — 70%
2 bullets — 20%
3 bullets — 7%
4 bullets — 2.5%
5 bullets — 0.5%
After crafting a few rounds, he received a notification explaining the mechanic.
And the conclusion?
He wasn't just breaking even.
He was profiting.
From thirty-two F-Rank Runestones he'd used as crafting material, he got thirty-eight 9mm rounds.
Not a massive profit — but consistent enough that killing Walkers actually generated more ammo over time, as long as he kept feeding runestones into crafting.
Which meant — it wasn't wasteful.
It was farming.
Efficient, controlled, and slightly unhinged farming method.
The only problem was he have to wait untill morning before he could harvest their runestone.
He glanced at the field again.
Yeah… definitely unhinged from an outside perspective.
"You're thinking something weird again," Natsu said suddenly.
"…Am I that obvious?"
"Yes."