A Hunter's Story Before He Dies

[A note before you begin]

The story's opening was written in 2016. Back then, I wanted to tell the story from the male lead's perspective, so this is not a female-led story. Please don't read it if that's not what you want.

[Spoiler warning] Although this is not a female-led story, the heroine is not weaker than the hero. Her overall abilities are greater than his. The hero is strong, but the heroine is stronger!

Also: The male and female leads are not a couple!

Please be sure to read the [Reminder] below. Thank you!

[Serious blurb]

The year after our father died, I thought my brother would give up our tradition of climbing mountains in winter, just as I had.

But he didn't. He even tried to persuade me to go with him.

We had a huge argument over it.

No matter how my mother and I tried to stop him, my brother, who had complained countless times that "climbing mountains and crossing rivers is such a pain," was determined to go.

He set off in a sulk.

After he stormed out, I regretted it.

I worried he might run into danger alone on the mountain.

I worried hunters or wild beasts might attack him.

I worried that the sight of his back might be the last time I ever saw him.

Brother, come back safe.

I prayed day and night.

When the first light of sunrise broke through the darkness, I heard someone open the door.

I rushed out. My footsteps echoed through every corner in the dead silence.

"Brother!" I cried, hugging him as if I had finally found a precious treasure I'd lost.

He smiled and stroked my head, then softly said to me in Tamrielic, "Momo, kani." (Little sister, I'm sorry.)

I looked up at him.

He looked exhausted, but his eyes shone with excitement.

He said, "I encountered a miracle."

[Parody blurb]

"Hey, mister, I want to go home!"

"What a coincidence, miss. I want to go home too!"

Note: The younger sister isn't the protagonist.

Well, actually, the older brother isn't either.

I dedicate this story to Qiaozhen, Ronghe, and Jinlai.

May we all become a source of pride to those we love.

May every year and every month be filled with boundless joy.

[Reminder]

1. The first-person narration is only used in the blurb. The story itself is told in third person.

2. There is no romance in the main story. If you insist on counting it, there is some in a side plot.

3. The male and female leads are not a couple.

4. The main story is 30,000 characters, and the extras are 40,000 characters. Don't ask. I'm baffled too. There are four extra stories, and the main story's protagonists appear as supporting characters.

5. The Moonlight extra focuses on the plot and includes an element of a supporting male character's unrequited love.

6. The Liyou extra focuses on romance. Skip it if that's not your thing. (But if you click, you'll meet Liyou, who charges boldly ahead and loves and hates without reservation.)

7. [Major spoilers and serious warnings] This is an early work. At the time, I wanted to tell the story from the male lead's perspective, so I'm ashamed to say it isn't a female-led story. Even so, the heroine is more capable overall than the hero. The hero is strong, but the heroine is stronger. (Though the leads aren't a couple anyway.) As for the language, I'm also ashamed to say that I didn't write with women as the default gender. To be honest, there are few female characters in the main story, though they aren't just props. There are many more female characters in the extras. If any of this bothers you, please don't read it.

8. I won't delete this story because it represents the person I used to be, who wrote from a perspective that didn't center women. I'll acknowledge it, and I accept all criticism. Even though I now write stories from women's perspectives, I wouldn't dare claim that I'm truly an author who loves women. "Loving women" isn't a fashionable label you can give yourself, so I hope I can work hard to become someone others see that way!

9. Screenshotted on 2021.04.17.

Theme: Life is full of hardships. Keep your composure when circumstances change.