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

Chapter211，Part1: 1 - A Reliable Man ④

Chapter 211 A Reliable Man ④

Part 1

Ghost Sytry, who came with a lot of enthusiasm, took Her Imperial Princess and her attendants.

We don’t have the time to strengthen her skills. Training is a process of accumulation. Even the ever so handy Sytry Ghost would not be able to strengthen her a lot, but in terms of protection, it would be better to leave Her Imperial Princess by her side than to leave Her Imperial Princess by Kruz and my side (and Kilknight).

Her Imperial Princess’ attendants (guards and servants) protested vehemently against my decision to throw her aside, but when I told them that they could go with her, they agreed. With their watchful eyes, Liz and the others would not be so reckless, it was the perfect plan.

I am afraid of my own brilliance. Maybe this is also the power of a smartphone?

As she was leaving, Sytry asked me with an expression as if she was peeking at me.

“Cry-san…… About Murina Imperial Princess…… How far am I allowed to go?” (Sytry)

“I will send her home as soon as the Conference is over, so… In moderation.” (Cry)

“…… Is a blood test good?” (Sytry)

What does a blood test have to do with training? I have no idea, but judging by the twinkle in Sytry’s eyes, I am sure she will do just fine. Well, even if she doesn’t get stronger, at worst, they won’t complain too much if the escort is successful. Her Imperial Princess seems to be a wee bit unlucky, so it is possible that her talent is as empty as mine.

When the Ghost was gone and I had thrown everything away, the only one left, Kruz, said while holding her mouth.

“Yowaningen, you’re really unbelievable, desu.” (Kruz)

“That is what is called having the right person at the right place. Because I am still the Leader, you know.” (Cry)

“Then what is the Leader-kind of Yowaningen going to do, desu?” (Kruz)

Kruz’s argumental power is one of the highest of any human being I have ever met. I avert my gaze and pull my latest smartphone out of my pocket and change the subject.

“Speaking of which, what are they going to talk about at this Conference?” (Cry)

“You don’t even know that, desu? It’s hard to put into words, but…… It’s about a lot of things between nations, desu.” (Kruz)

I see…… A lot of things between nations, huh.

Her words are too vague, but there’s no sign of Kruz lying on her expression. Unlike me, she often knows what she is talking about…… But you…… You know exactly what they are going to talk about at this Conference, don’t you?

Apparently, even though she is a Spirit People, she knows more about human society common sense than I do. If I am suddenly asked to talk about the Conference, I can without worry throw it at Kruz. So, I *pachin* snapped my fingers.

“Yosh, I have done all I can do. The rest is free time. Dismissed!” (Cry)

“What are you going to do after we split up, desu?” (Kruz)

“Eh……?” (Cry)

What, you say? …… Maybe sightseeing or playing with my smartphone. And it might not be that bad to ride my carpet and fly in the sky.

We looked at each other. Even though I didn’t say anything, Kruz’s expression became intense.

“Get to work, desu! The Conference hasn’t even started yet, desu!” (Kruz)

“I have heard that Franz-san and the others will be in charge of the escort, and it is part of our job to rest so we can be ready to move at any time.” (Cry)

“No excuses, desu! Come on, properly show me what a Level 8 can do, desu! What am I supposed to say when I report to Lapis, desu?” (Kruz)

Kruz is soooo serious. And apparently, Kruz has the duty to report to Lapis. Could it be that I was being graded for my qualities as a Hunter?

I think back on what I did this time. I was in a comfortable state the whole time, and all I remembered was playing with the carpet. Even when we were attacked by Chill Dragons, when Term and Kechakchakka betrayed me, and when I faced the Phantoms from the Lost Inn, I did not take any decent action. This is…… If this is reported to 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》, they might leave the Clan.

“………… I covered for you once, didn’t I?” (Cry)

When I was terrified of saying something so shameless, Kruz’s lips were quivering and she said.

“Yowaningen, I covered for you, too, desu. We’re even, desu.” (Kruz)

“…………” (Cry)

“What’s more, it was when you had the rug pulled under you, desu.” (Kruz)

I don’t remember any of this, but if that’s what Kruz says, then that is probably the case. I don’t mind that 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》 leaves because it is not like we are parting forever, but I am seriously scratching my head.

I also need to be able to give an easy achievement to Eva and Tino when they ask me how the escort went.

“R-Right, I helped with their tree plantation.” (Cry)

“Tree plantation……? In this country? Desu. There is no way that tree planting can be successful in Toizant, desu. It’s a project that several Spirit People Magi tried and failed at, desu. Probably no one even expects that it will succeed, desu.” (Kruz)

Kruz’s face became even steeper. Apparently, it was not to her liking. Well, I just pushed the Imouto Kitsune on them, so it shouldn’t yield any results.

But I crossed my arms, sighed a little, and said badassly.

“For tree plantation, you have to look in the long term, Kruz. How can you expect to see results in just a day? Besides, it’s a terrible thing to say that people don’t expect them to succeed, they have been working really hard in this harsh environment. They will have to wait for at least ten years.” (Cry)

“Or rather, when did you do that, desu! You should have called me, desu! Yowaningen! I am one of the forest people, desu!” (Kruz)

That’s true. But the tree planting was just an extra bonus, so it isn’t my fault.

I had to appease Kruz who was angry. Since she was born from the beautiful race known as Spirit People, it is a shame she doesn’t smile more.

“Is there a man called 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 here?” (Man)

That’s when I heard a loud, shouting voice. It was from outside my room. I quickly looked down from the window and saw that a large number of men were also crowded in front of the inn.

They had brown skin and were wearing turbans on their heads. A curved sword was hanging at their waist, and their clothes weren’t poor, but they were crude.

They were clearly not someone respectable. They don’t seem to mind at all even though it was still broad daylight and the fact that this inn was supposed to be a high-class inn where guests from other countries stayed. What is the security doing in Toizant? And what had I done this time?

I have to get away. I hurriedly checked my left and right. The voices were coming from the corridor, which meant that the inside of the inn was probably already under their control. The only way to escape was to go outside. This is the second floor, so jumping down will probably reduce my Barrier Rings, but I have my carpet.

Don’t underestimate my escape skills. I grinned and whistled.

I exchanged a contract with the carpet. We promised that it will come to me when I whistle.

“…………” (Cry)

………… It isn’t coming. No, not yet. It is possible it didn’t hear me.

The carpet is staying in the room right next to mine. So there was no way it could not have heard my signal, but the possibility that it didn’t hear it is not zero.

“What are you doing, Yowaningen?” (Kruz)

I whistled several times, but there was no sign of the carpet coming. Now then, it is flirting with the female carpet, isn’t it? It really is free-minded.

In the meantime, the commotion downstairs grows louder and louder.

What do I do?

Kruz frowned her well-shaped eyebrows and said in a whisper.

“Yowaningen, those guys are Toizant’s Desert Soldiers――They are Toizant’s national army, desu. You did something again, didn’t you, desu?” (Kruz)

“Eh? I gotta run.” (Cry)

“!?” (Kruz)

If you look closely, you can see the Toizant’s crest on the soldier’s clothing, just as Kruz had said.

They looked like bandits or something alike, but they seemed to be regular soldiers. Now it made sense that they would appear so brazenly in the city. But there was no doubt that I had to escape.

Not that I am familiar with them, but it has never been a good thing to be involved with another country’s military.

As long as I can’t fly, I can’t escape from the window. The inn is surrounded. So, should I put on a disguise and go out into the hallway?

I am sure they don’t intend to subdue me by force. If their goal was to subdue me, they wouldn’t have made such a blatantly obvious move here. If I do well, I can escape…… Maybe?

Then, Kruz silently grabbed my arm. Her beautiful eyes that seem to be sucking me in are looking at me.

……?

I tried to take a step back, but there was no sign of her letting me go.

“…… What are you doing?” (Cry)

“I’m holding on to you so you don’t escape, desu.” (Kruz)

“!? Why!?” (Cry)

What an unexpected betrayal. Kruz didn’t say anything but somewhat smiled proudly.

I pull my arm, but it seems that Kruz, who is a Magi but a hard-working Hunter, is stronger than me, who has barely absorbed any Mana Material. She doesn’t seem to be putting much effort into it, but I can’t escape. She is perfectly exploiting the Barrier Rings’ weaknesses.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading! And thanks Henry for the Ko-fi! There will be an extra chapter tomorrow!

I wonder what “in moderation” will sound for Sytry because clearly Strange Grief common sense is not like normal people common sense!

I can so see Cry whistling but then 3 seconds of blank with “…” appearing on the screen! XD

But Toizant soldiers coming for Cry… It’s definitely because of what he did in the tree plantation village.

What happened with the Imouto Kitsune?!

Next chapter is the final chapter of this arc! See you tomorrow!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Hoshi no Seirai: Literally translated to Holy Lightning Star