Chapter 2

## Chapter Guide

**Dodou and Naraoia** (ドドーとナラオイア, *Dodō to Naraoia*?) is the second chapter of Yuki Kawaguchi's *The Hunters Guild: Red Hood* series.

## Summary

After their fierce battle against the werewolf, Grimm inquires of Velou if he wants to join her and become a hunter. Velou declines, choosing instead to stay behind and protect his village, much to Grimm's chagrin. As she attempts to change his mind, two werewolf brothers, Dodou and Naraoia, begin their assault on Kasoka Village.

## Plot Details

Having triumphed over the mayor's wife, an old lady who became a werewolf, Velou and Grimm stand together on a hill, overlooking Kasoka Village. Grimm asks Velou if he wants to become a hunter; she says that the Hunters Guild has put a plan in motion, to eliminate the werewolves once and for all. She explains that they need all the help they can get, old and young, male and female; the guild isn't picky.

The huntress kneels down before the young boy and asks if he is willing to dedicate his life to this; which leads Velou to contemplate for a moment. If he decides to become a hunter and kills off all the werewolves, he thinks to himself, he'll be able to prevent tragedies like what happened to his parents and the mayor from happening again. These thoughts aside however, he ultimately ends up declining Grimm's offer.

Grimm pouts and begins to shake Velou, asking him why and saying that if he defeats all the werewolves his village will be safe. He manages to get in - amidst Grimm's violent shaking - that he has too many concerns, and that it doesn't matter how many werewolves the hunters kill; they were originally humans, so as long as there are people, there will always be more werewolves.

She replies that the guild has a plan in motion, but it is a secret, to which Velou says that he can't just leave his home and blindly follow her to become a hunter. His village barely had enough money to hire her, where would they be able to find the funds to hire a hunter that will protect the hamlet full-time? Velou doesn't back down, stating that he is going to take up the mayor's mantel now that he's gone, and that he will be the one to protect Kasoka Village. The boy also asks her how she could turn into an adult, and adds that she's just as suspicious as the werewolves.

At that, the huntress rises to her feet, saying that she understands now. Velou's major concerns are his village's safety, and also whether or not he can trust her; so, she explains, all she has to do is prove herself to him and guarantee the hamlet's safety, then he won't have anything holding him back. Grimm says that they now have a course of action, and tells Velou to hold on to the mayor's ax, because it is precious - surprising him in the process, since he didn't think she could actually say stuff like that.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest, two werewolf brothers Dodou and Naraoia watch on. Naraoia wails in sadness, mourning the death of Granny Mialli and reminiscing about how she would share her food with them. Dodou chocks her defeat up to her old age, and that she wasn't in fighting shape anymore. His brother, with tears in his eyes, replies that this means that it is time for the younger generation of werewolves to step up.

Dodou, from their vantage point in the brush, points out Grimm and Velou to his brother. He explains that the two hunters are completely off guard, so this is the perfect opportunity for them to attack the hamlet. He says that with Mialli gone, the hunters distracted and no other werewolves interested in the area, they'll get to have it all to themselves.

He proposes their usual plan, with Naraoia working as the muscle and him as the brain in the operation. He tells Naraoia that he's dumb, but that he's strong; so if he can, he should kill a hunter or two while they're attacking the village. Together, he says, they're an invincible pair, which sends Naraoia into another crying fit.

Dodou proclaims that they will strike while the iron is hot, and that their new lives begin today, all while Naraoia bobs up and down in excitement. With their plan set, the two brothers proudly set out to devour some villagers.

Back in Kasoka Village, all seems calm and quiet, when something suddenly catches the eye of the hamlet's lookout. Rampaging up through the pastures is none other than Naraoia, chasing a flock of sheep into the village. The lookout rings the alarm bell, crying out to the villagers to seek shelter, all while Naraoia happily scoffs down some sheep.

A few moments later, the villagers have all gathered together, piling into the Kasoka Village meeting house. The villagers chatter worriedly amongst themselves, having no idea that Dodou is there with them in his human form. He laughs to himself, for when a werewolf goes crazy in a town or village, the residents all seek shelter in an enclosed space; and become unsuspecting meals for another werewolf hiding in their midst.

Dodou reckons that if he leads away 20 or so villagers, using some excuse like "The forest is safer", or "Let's look for family", he and Naraoia will be able to preserve the meat and make it through the coming winter. Naraoia is just the distraction, Dodou thinks to himself, *he* is the real deal; and this is how smart werewolves work.

Back outside, Naraoia continues wrecking havoc, all while the lookout rings the village bell furiously. He's being quite noisy, Naraoia thinks to himself, before screaming at the lookout to quiet down. As Naraoia begins to climb the tower, the lookout contemplates whether or not he should run; he's the village's lookout, he *has* to ring the bell, he *can't* stop ringing the bell.

Just then, Grimm suddenly appears next to him, and asks him if she can borrow the bell. The lookout replies with a confused "No?", before she says that everyone is evacuated and he did a good job. At that, Grimm picks up the bell and jumps off the tower, making a straight dive down toward Naraoia. The bell is good and weighty, she thinks to herself, before promptly slamming it down into the werewolf's face.

Inside the meeting house, meanwhile, Dodou notices Velou among the crowd of villagers. Velou seems to be looking for someone, while Dodou questions whether or not the young boy knows he's here. Dodou attempts to calm himself down, thinking about how Grimm isn't with Velou, which means that they've split themselves up. He considers this a good thing, since the boy doesn't know what he looks like at all, he surmises that Velou won't be able to find him.

Immediately after thinking this however, Velou vanishes from Dodou's sight, and reappears right behind him; his shotgun pointed straight to the werewolf's back. Dodou hurriedly asks what the young boy is doing, and Velou thinks back to earlier, just after his conversation with Grimm.

Grimm had known the two werewolf brothers were watching them, and instructed Velou to pretend not to notice them. She then asked him to show her a quick way to the village, one that Dodou and Naraoia wouldn't notice. While on their way down the hill, Grimm told Velou that werewolves are not unlike wolves themselves. She explained that a village a werewolf claims becomes its territory, and other werewolves won't impede on that territory. However, she said, sometimes when a werewolf dies, other werewolves will be waiting in the wings, ready to take over that territory and make it their own. With all that being said, Grimm is confident that Velou can find the werewolf.

Back in the present, Dodou curses out in his mind, shocked that Velou was able to find him. The boy explains that after his parents died, it was the village that raised him, and everyone in the hamlet is his family now. He doesn't recognize Dodou, not his face or his clothes. Velou declares that when someone he don't know tries to pretend to be his family, there's no way he won't notice.

Dodou can't believe that Velou remembers the face of everyone in his village, as he becomes visibly more agitated. Velou, holding his weapon up at the ready, says that Kasoka Village doesn't need any more werewolves. Meanwhile, outside, Grimm looks over Naraoia's body. The two of them, Velou thinks to himself, will hunt down the werewolves and protect the hamlet.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Velou
* Grimm
* Hech Horlock (Mentioned)
* Naraoia
* Dodou
* Mialli (Mentioned)

## Locations

* Kasoka Village
	+ Meeting House

## Battles & Events

* Velou & Grimm vs. Dodou & Naraoia (Started)