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

Chapter221，Part1: 1 - Fan Club

Chapter 221 Fan Club

Part 1

After all, there is a difference in the sense of security when Luke and the others are with me. Kicking off the usual troubles, such as Monsters attacking us, we headed for your destination.

As I also had an excellent encounter last time, maybe this time…… I will be lucky.

Luke, who had slain with a wooden sword a magical beast that had attacked us and looked several times the size of a wolf, says sincerely.

Although I cannot see his expression because of his mask, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that his mouth was smiling.

“After all, it is different when Cry is here……” (Luke)

“!? What is different?” (Cry)

“They aren’t much of an opponent, but they are not bad for warming up before the Supreme Martial Arts Festival.” (Luke)

“…… Umu.” (Anthem)

At the words of our not-Kool 《Thousands Sword (Senken)》, Anthem nodded his head in his usual dignified manner. Heyyy, what is different?

I am a little curious about how Luke and the others are doing when I am not around, but…… Luke and the others come to see me and ask if I wanted to go with them every time they go on an adventure, so they shouldn’t be that much of a nuisance to the others.

Then Lucia, who was reading a book I didn’t even know what language it was written in, looked up as if she had read my mind and looked at me with a stern expression. Sytry *pon* hit her hands to make the situation more comfortable.

“Well, Eliza-san might not be here, but――If we are this many, we will be able to handle most situations. As, you know, we have already been through most of it already.” (Sytry)

“I should have brought Tiii with me~…… Because Cry-chan said he was in a hurry, y’know~. I’m so bored~.” (Liz)

Liz lazily rolled over and said in a sloppy tone. Today, Liz lost in Janken, so she was not allowed to participate in the fight. We are probably the only party that fights over Monsters.

I wonder how the Members of 《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》 split their fights?

§

The Supreme Martial Arts Festival is a well-known festival. In this heyday of Treasure Hunters, people from all disciplines are looking up to Treasure Hunters――Or more precisely, to powerful warriors who can bring back Relics from Treasure Shrines and fight off powerful Phantoms and magical beasts. Naturally, the crowds here would surpass the Imperial Capital’s one, even when there are auctions.

As we traveled along the road, we encountered more and more carriages that were probably going to the same destination as us.

Hunters aren’t the only ones who go to the Supreme Martial Arts Festival. Nobles and merchants are easy to recognize, but when you see unidentified groups of people who have Hunters-like physiognomy, or reckless carriages that look like only ordinary civilians are on them but do not have a single escort, you feel like you are peering into the chaos of this world.

And then, I asked Anthem who was walking next to the carriage.

“Come to think of it, will you also participate in the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, Anthem?” (Cry)

“………… Umu.” (Anthem)

The dependable holy knight in his full-body armor Relic made a small nod.

There are many carriages, but the current Anthem was inconspicuous.

Anthem Smart had now shrunk to less than half his usual height――About two meters high. He looks extremely cramped, but being the most sensible person in 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》, he doesn’t want to cause any unnecessary confusion to the people around him.

The full-body armor-type Relic that Anthem possesses――The ability of 『Foreigner Mail (Transformable Fortress)』 is to adjust its size.

The 『Foreigner Mail (Transformable Fortress)』 can be transformed into a size suitable for any owner, regardless of the owner’s age, gender, or physique.

Thanks to its power fueled by Mana Material, it was the perfect Relic for Anthem, who, for a long time, had always been inconvenienced by the inability to fit into most equipment due to his large size. The Empire church that presented this Relic to Anthem must have thought the same thing.

And when Anthem showed me the armor, I had a thought.

――What would happen if you made it smaller while wearing it, was what I said.

If you normally think about it, you would be compressed to death. But Relics are existences that are outside common sense.

As a result of repeatedly play…… Verifying the Relics, we found out that there was a hidden ability in the 『Foreigner Mail (Transformable Fortress)』.

The power of the 『Foreigner Mail (Transformable Fortress)』 was certainly size-adjustment. Anyone can equip this Relic. Regardless of gender, age, or physique――And in the unlikely event that it can no longer fit, the Relic will adjust the size of its contents.

Thus, Anthem could walk down the main street without attracting attention, provided that he did not take off his armor.

Even if I say that he was just a little bit bigger, but he is a Paladin, one of the strongest job classes with nothing to be sneered at, and he is famous in the Imperial City, so it is not often that he needs to make his body smaller (By the way, this Relic can only show its power if he wears it with the helmet on), but it is useful in cases like now. Note that while the size can be adjusted, his weight does not change.

Anthem is a Paladin. The role of a Paladin is to step forward and protect people in times of need, and he is highly trusted in the Imperial City for his outstanding skills in healing magic. He is serious and does not stand out, so there is no doubt that he will be the next Level 8 in the party.

“Even if they aren’t contestants, there’s going to be a lot of strong guys, isn’t it?” (Luke)

“It is because if you leave a good track record, you might get noticed.” (Sytry)

Sytry said something that added fuel to the fire of the bloodthirsty Luke. Is it the end of the century?

I was the one who suggested that we go and watch the tournament, but if it was like that, isn’t the Supreme Martial Arts Festival dangerous? I know from seeing Ark and his friends that high-level hunters are not always belligerent, but if you calmly think about it…… It is a gathering of people who want to compete for supremacy on their own.

I must tell Anthem and the others to be careful not to take the initiative and start a fight. I don’t want to spread any more bad publicity. This time, I will hide my face as much as possible.

There are a few who wear masks, so it wasn’t like there were none at all. I don’t want to stand out, but I don’t want my face to be known even more.

As if to prove the legitimacy of Sytry’s words, the city we arrived in was covered in a strange heat that covered the entire city.

Surrounded by Luke and others, I walked around the street while wearing a mask. Leading the way was Anthem. Even though he was smaller, he was still as tall as a large Hunter, and his intimidating presence in full body armor was so out-of-ordinary that few people approached him.

I, who is always *bikubiku* nervous when walking outside, can behave with confidence when I am protected by Anthem.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Another Eliza name drop! In case you forgot, she is the latest member of Strange Grief. Cry recruited her when they were both stranded in a desert.

And Cry using some loophole on a Relic to change Anthem size. As expected of the mind of a Level 8 XD

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Not-Kool: Because remember Luke copycat is called Kool SaikoJanken: It is rock-paper-scissorsEnd of the century: A reference to The fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken).