Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~

Chapter202，Part1: 1 - Living Calamity ⑤

Chapter 202 Living Calamity ⑤

Part 1

My body was *biribiri* quivering and my soul was screaming.

God is an existence that is too far apart from humans. Leaving aside the question of the real one existing or not, even if it is a 『Phantom』――The being I have encountered in the past had the majesty that made it recognizable as a god at a glance.

The reason why I was able to endure being in front of it at that time, even though I was not in a comfortable state, and the reason why I was able to keep my sanity even as small fry, was because I was used to the fear of death.

For me, whose status was crawling at the bottom feeds, there was not a lot of difference between a god and a demi-god, a dragon and a half-dragon.

Treasure Shrines in general, and not just the 【Lost Inn】, are terrifying. That is why I wasn’t especially hostile to the god.

And now, unlike before, I can stand before a god because I am in a comfortable state.

It took the form of a shining white fox. The size of the entity was far too small for the enormity of its presence. It is probably as big as a Dragon, but everything is probably…… Compacted inside its body. There were several shining thick tails stretching out behind it.

A beast. A beast, but a god. Its appearance was all but too unrealistic.

It is impossible to beat it. Even with Luke and the others here, it will be impossible. This is not a being that mankind can defeat.

『Ooooh…… Greedy one…… So you are going to challenge me again……』 (Fox god)

Will my Barrier Rings really work against a god? I have never been attacked by it before, so I don’t know, but there is no point in thinking about it. If I am attacked, I will die anyway.

I am not proud of it, but the number of landmines I have stepped on is second to none.

Its eyes were shining. I felt like I was going to lose my mind if I stared at it, so I quickly looked away and felt it was rude to just do that, so I boldly got down on my knees and did a Dogeza right there.

The god *pachin* slaps its tail on the floor. That was enough to make the air tremble.

“I didn’t mean to come back……” (Cry)

『Nonsense……』 (Fox God)

Really, it is such nonsense. A Treasure Shrine flying in the sky is not something you usually encounter by chance.

But, in reality, we did encounter it. Where would you find someone who would once again visit this deadly place? However, there was no way I could say that to a transcendent being. This is not the time to flip things over like I did with Gark-san. Please help me.

The fox god says to me as I prostrate. It was a grave voice.

『Do you remember my words?』 (Fox God)

I couldn’t remember it at all, but the tall fox-mask man had said it. I fished through my memory and answered in a mysterious voice.

“You said, we will never see each other again.” (Cry)

『We would never encounter each other again in your lifetime』 (Fox God)

…… Hey, it’s the same. What is the difference? I want to complain but I can’t because I am in a lower position, and god told me.

Its voice was mysteriously soothing and permeated my heart.

『This is…… No encounter.』 (Fox God)

? Not an encounter? No, it is totally an encounter. What are you talking about……?

No, wait…… Right, I see.

I raised my face while doing my Dogeza. Today I am――Brilliant.

In this Treasure Shrine, a Phantom cannot lie. But unfortunately, the Phantom in front of me has lied. So, it is trying to recover somehow.

In other words, to get it in a good mood, I just have to agree with it.

To show that I was not hostile I smiled and clearly said.

“Yeah, you are right, this isn’t an encounter. I am here to see you!” (Cry)

§

“Ah………… He is coming out, desu.” (Kruz)

The door opens. While staggering I went outside.

Even though we just parted ways a few minutes ago, for some reason, I feel like it has been a long time since I have heard Kruz’s voice. After all, humans are good. I can’t deal with a god. The power of my Relic makes me comfortable now, but it doesn’t make me feel any less tense.

Kruz supported me by the shoulder when I was staggering. And then she opened her eyes widely when she noticed what I was holding in my hand.

“O-Oi, what is that, desu?” (Kruz)

“Aaah………… Want it?” (Cry)

What I was holding was a shining white tail. It was genuinely something that came out of the boss. It shrunk the moment it had been pulled out, so it was much smaller than when it was coming out of it……

It looks just like the one I got last time. I said that I didn’t want it, but it forced it on me again. The last time, I had attached the tail to the end of a stick and gave it to Lucia as a broom, but what should I do with this one? I want to throw it away somewhere.

“I-I don’t want it, desu! Stop, don’t put it close to me, desu!” (Kruz)

Apparently, for Kruz, it doesn’t look like a mere tail, and she lets out a high-pitched scream.

Who gives a tail as a present?

It is said that this tail is a mass of power. But I had no idea what to do about it.

The tall fox-mask man bent his mouth for a moment and said unhappily.

“After all, “Haha (Mother)” lost……” (Kitsune Onii-san)

“No, I don’t think that’s the case. But I don’t know what is in god’s mind though……” (Cry)

I surrendered. I got down on my knees and did a Dogeza. There was no way I could win from the start.

I have always been the type of person who gets dragged in for an extended period of time. I played by their rules and followed what it said.

But yet, for some reason, the god was in a bad mood.

Apparently…… It seemed to have bothered it that it was being put up by a helpless bottom feeder like me. I wonder what I should have done.

“…… This is her life. No matter the circumstances, Kikkikan-san won.” (Fox Onii-san)

Life……? This tail is her life? The number of tails on the back of the boss was twelve. One of them is here now, so there are eleven left.

“…… You mean if I do this eleven more times, I can beat her?” (Cry)

“………… Would you like to try?” (Kitsune Onii-san)

The fox-mask man laughs. At the look on his face, Kruz, who was supporting my shoulders, quickly hid behind my back making me almost fall.

…… It is just a question that came out of my mouth.

“I am not planning to come back here. Anyway, what about the airship?” (Cry)

Last time, we were released on the spot, but this time there was an airship with us.

The fox mask sighed at my question.

“We have a rule that says that Kikkikan-san must be released safely. We will also release the airship in the same state as it is. If it were up to me, I would destroy the vehicle that can chase us in the sky, but I cannot do that.” (Kitsune Onii-san)

Oh? Ooooh?

Apparently, it looks like we are going to make it. The Phantoms in this Treasure Shrine do not lie.

I had a lot of trouble because of it, but I am lucky in a weird way for encountering the 【Lost Inn】 and getting away with only this much.

I breathed a sigh of relief. The next moment, the fox-mask man smiled cruelly.

“However, the only one we will release safely is you, Kikkikan-san. We have no intention of releasing the others.” (Kitsune Onii-san)

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Hahahaha Cry beat a god on a technicality!!

Now he got another tail! Who from Strange Grief do you want to see use the fox tail? Or maybe Lucia dual-wielding two broom XD

Also only Cry would think about throwing something that will power you up like crazy XD

Another cliff-chan! Now it’s Kruz and the others that will face the trial!

How will that happen!?

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Kikkikan-san: In case you don’t remember Kikkikan-san means “Sense of Danger-san”