Teostra

Personal Info

An Explorer who calls himself a Monster Hunter with the sole aim of slaying monsters.
His strength is formidable, yet he never initiates violence against humans. Even when attacked, he only retaliates defensively, never taking a life.
Research suggests Monster Hunter may be an ancient profession, but little is known (as the name implies) beyond their mission to eradicate monsters.

A man of few words, Teostra often plays solo.
He doesn't dislike teamwork; he simply has different goals than exploration teams, so he quietly leaves once the mission is completed.
After defeating a notorious monster, he always leaves his Monster Hunter's mark at the scene as proof.
Over time, his title has been known among Explorers.

Chronicles

That Monster Hunter? Yeah, I've teamed up with that guy before. Absolute beast in the field!
We ran into him in the wilderness, and, luckily, we were after the same monster. Boss invited him to join. We didn't hold out much hope for it, yet he actually agreed!
After that, we basically just followed him while he did all the work. Easiest hunt ever!
When boss split the earnings, he offered that Monster Hunter the lion's share, but the guy only took his fair cut. Weirdo.
— An Explorer

When I first met him, he couldn't even handle a few street thugs. I stepped in, you know, like what every meddlesome old man would do. And he wouldn't leave me alone ever since.
I told him to get lost, but the kid just wouldn't quit. Followed me from town to town like a shadow.
Week in physique, but has a heart of iron. I'll give him that. So, I taught him a trick or two.
And the Monster Hunter title? He earned that through real blood. Recognition doesn't come easy. Took me half a lifetime to manage that back in my day.
— A Meddlesome Old Man

That kid... Oh! You mean the boy from the corner alley? He's still alive? Wait, did he cross you? We had nothing to do with it!
His father was a gambler who used to beat him and his mother black and blue after every loss. Tch, the whole street could hear their screams.
Then one day, the bastard fled from debt collectors. His mother now worked as some rich man's servant, from what I heard. Left the boy to fend for himself in these streets.
When did he disappear? Who knows? In this district, people come and go like the tide. Disappearance of a scrawny kid like him happens all the time.
— A Man from Slums

Record

In battle, Teostra strikes where it hurts with deadly precision.
Even against an unrecorded kind, he identifies vulnerabilities faster and more accurately than most dedicated monster researchers.
When asked how, he would simply say that his sword tells him everything he needs to know.
Naturally, no one buys it. Some speculate his supernatural insight is a blessing of his Monster Hunter identity.
But since it's his secret—and poses no threat to the team—there's no need to pry further.

Still, Teostra's sword and his identity do raise questions.
For instance, after any battle where he fails to make a kill, he cuts his palm with his blade...
He calls this a Monster Hunter's ritual.
Whatever its purpose, slicing open one's skin in the Abyss is dangerously reckless. Hope it doesn't cause infection.

Anecdote

"One last time. Do you want to become a Monster Hunter?"
"Yes, I do!"
The voice held a trace of youth and innocence, yet with a determined tone. Beside him, the old man's expression darkened with unspoken conflict. After a brief silence, he exhaled sharply. Looked like he made up his mind.
He took the boy's hand and slit his palm open.
"Go. Grip the hilt."
Without hesitation, the youth stepped toward the sword right in a beast's skull and closed his bleeding hand around its grip.
Instantly, he felt his blood surge through the wound, pulled into the blade like a torrent. His fingers twitched subconsciously to let go, yet the sword held him firmly.
Teeth gritted, he clenched tighter instead.

"Gram has a will of its own. If it rejects you, it will drain you dry. If it accepts you, you'll know."
"After years of training, you're skilled enough to find a job anywhere. Yet you chose to take on the mantle of Monster Hunter..."
"When you can't hold on any longer, I'll cut your hand free. You'll be crippled, but alive..."
The old man's words reached the boy as his vision blurred. He shook his head, forcing clarity back into his mind.
He groaned inwardly: I can do this. I MUST. I started with nothing. Persistence brought me this far!

"This blade is a weapon forged for kill. Its full power requires unsealing, but once released, it must taste blood. If not your enemy's, then yours."
"Now, I pass Gram to you. From this moment, you are the Monster Hunter of this generation."
"I shall uphold the oath as a Monster Hunter. To hunt monsters, to shield mankind, now and always."