Meanwhile...

The market ran as it usually did, alive and full of profit. Anyone who didn't have enough in their pocket would find other means to get by. You got yourself a skill? Exploit it for profit. Good at fishing? Start selling salmon. Got a thing for knitting? Clothes might be a good way for you to manage. Got a body you're proud of and good at nothing else? Well, what city is without its block of whores to enjoy?

Along came the customers, the consumers, the clients of all ages, race and sex. You got your locals, humble people who've been around for gods know how long, maybe they were born and raised here or maybe the moved in young enough to see the plants sprout into trees. You have your travelers, people coming and going about their business doing who knows what and who cares to even ask. You have your younglings, adolescent kids old enough to have a mind of their own and full of dreams and promises. But sometimes, in this small city that gets by with not much to gossip about, sometimes you get something good.

So it was early in the morning that we find ourselves a traveler unlike the usual, someone special and someone with a goal in mind. You see, this certain individual has come a long way searching for something, something he specializes in finding. This person was a rare breed, unlike your usual brute or hunter or politician. They say it is a small world we live in, well I never believed in that nonsense. The world is large and far, full of many lives carrying so many unique stories with them.

True, this isn't any average world and it was no secret that there are monsters among us, some just happen to hide better than others. See that's a problem for some people in this world, you don't feel safe if you don't see the danger you're in. Now, you can live your life in blissful ignorance and make along your merry way, find yourself a good wife, settle down and have a family. Sounds like the good life, right?

What would you say if that wife of yours was a succubus in disguise, and that the reason you can't seem to have an heir is because Monster girls can't give birth to baby boys? After all, it's only the girls that are cursed, so why would a Monster girl not want a baby girl to carry on through genetic immortality? After all, they want to survive just like us, can't fault them for living like we do.

Now here's a small question, who do you ask when you have a monster girl problem?

You call a Monster Hunter.

Monster Hunters have been a thing for decades now ever since the political fiasco of King James went haywire, gotta make sure no monster reaches that high up the chain again. These boys became known world wide, and I admit they have quite the advertising gimmick on their hands. Want to live in a safer world where you can trust all women are monster-free? They're your boys. Oh yes, you can bet your ass every village, city and country knew how to call for these boys right away if a monstergirl was caught.

Wouldn't you know it, on this sunny day where the sky shined bright and the market kept busy, that one lone man on horseback stopped in his tracks and dismounted. Everyone kept to themselves, they didn't care what you were doing with your life as long as it wasn't their business. But this man cares, and you'd be surprised how a bit of coin can cure the worst case of dementia if it weighed enough.

A lone saleswoman noticed him walk by, feeling lucky she may have caught herself a new customer. "Excuse me sir, may I say that is a lovely cloak you got yourself 'ere? If I may, I happen to sell a variety of cloth in this 'ere store, and I am certain any one of these fine cloaks 'ere may catch your eye?"

Her smile widened once it seemed she indeed caught his interest, just not for the reason she had hoped for.

"Actually, you may be able to help me here. I'm searching for a group of woman, one in her middle age and three daughters. One nearing the decline of her adolescence, the other two in early adulthood. Bright skin, white or brown hair, awful curious eyes to them?"

The woman frowned, believing him to be a waste if he did not desire to purchase from her. Still, something else did catch her eye. "That symbol on your chest, I take it that mean you're a hunter?"

He nodded. "You can say that, yes."

"I don't know much about no women, white hair you say? I don't suppose these women are relatives of yours?"

He chuckled before combing through his silver hair. "No ma'am, just a coincidence I assure you."

"What will there be for me if I say I do know them?"

"Well," He paused, eyes focused on the material behind her. "I would say that is one nice looking cloak there. Black ones are rare to find, so why not help me help you?"

"I can do that. Whatcha looking for if I may ask?"

He leaned onto the counter, closing the gap between them so that words may only pass through in privacy.

"Nekomata's, miss."