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

Chapter222，Part1: 1 - Fan Club ②

Chapter 222 Fan Club ②

Part 1

What is this man talking about……?

Gaff frowned under his mask as the Boss was saying some crazy things. The other members of the group, who were each wearing a fox mask, also looked puzzled and confused.

It was a custom for each member of the 『Nine-Tails Shadow Fox (Kyubi no Kage Kitsune)』 to wear a fox mask at meetings. It was true that the masks worn by Gaff and his group were imitations, but they had never been ridiculed as a Fox Mask Fan Club.

The man, who was raising his shoulders, didn’t show any signs of dreadfulness, but only his mask emitted an out-of-ordinary presence.

The reason why those who are gathered here do not speak up even when they were ridiculed was probably due to the genuine dreadfulness of his mask.

In the organization, what higher-ranked members say is absolute. If higher-ranked members say that they are a Fox Mask Fan Club, then the Gaff and the others must indubitably become a Fox Mask Fan Club with an iron will.

“Ah……………… Can I take a picture?” (Cry)

The man with a fox mask took a board out of his pocket. I have heard rumors about it, it was a Relic called smartphone. It was rare and expensive, so it was not an item that an ordinary person can possess.

His attitude wasn’t very boss worthy, but it wasn’t for Gaff to judge whether he was the Boss or not.

To get things going, Gaff looked at the Fox-God “Miko (Priestess)” who accompanied him.

The Fox-God “Miko (Priestess)” is someone with a special role in the organization. They are those who worshipped the Fox-God, the one who inspired the creation of this organization, and due to the secrecy of the organization, they are the ones who can accurately judge with their eyes the authenticity of the person’s identity.

The “Miko (Priestess)”, who did a great job and had brought him here with a method that I do not know, closed her eyes.

Gaff has seen many Fox-God “Miko (Priestess)”, but the one in front of him was clearly younger than the others. The “Miko’s (Priestess)” attitude confused the other members of the group so they were standing still but it was because she was supposed to make an immediate decision about his identity.

It is a rule of the organization to pay close attention and to be respectful to the “Miko (Priestess)”. That rule remains the same even when you are a Seventh Tail.

However――I didn’t say it because it would be too disrespectful, but after all, should I have called a more experienced “Miko (Priestess)”? Initially, I didn’t think that the situation would turn out like this, so I didn’t even think of calling a high-ranking “Miko (Priestess)”. In the first place, there are only a few of them.

The “Miko (Priestess)” opened her eyes in front of Gaff who had a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.

Then, as if to announce something sacred, she declared.

“Kneel. You are in the presence of a “Byakko (White Fox)“.” (Miko)

At her declaration, Gaff immediately knelt down. The rest of the people did the same.

Byakko is a title. It is a title associated with the top executives who had been given a fox mask.

As long as the “Miko (Priestess)” made such judgment, there is no need to be suspicious of all his previous actions. Even Gaff, who is quite high up in the organization, has never been this close to a top executive.

He does not seem to be the person Gaff once met before, but it was known that there are several top executives called Byakko.

To Gaff and all the others members who were waiting for him, the top executive made a voice that seemed overly confused.

“!? What? Why are you suddenly on your knees!?” (Cry)

“Please forgive me for the rudeness I showed up until now, “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”.” (Miko)

“By “Byakko (White Fox)”, do you mean this mask? No way, was it something so rare that people would kneel in front of it?” (Cry)

The air was tense. He sounded seriously curious, but there was no way he could be serious.

He was angry. There was no doubt about it.

He was probably annoyed by the fact that Gaff and the others took so long to understand. It was a bad idea to doubt the authenticity of the mask. But “Byakko-sama’s (White Fox)” attitude was fearless enough to make even Gaff, who had seen the real deal, doubt him.

In the organization, incompetent people are cut down. It was not such a rare story that a person who was well-known in the public but was recognized as incompetent in the organization.

Even the expression of the Fox-God “Miko (Priestess)” seemed a bit tense, even though they should always be composed.

“Well, of course, they would be rare. However, I am stumped. I have no idea what is going on, I am not a member of the Fox Mask Fan Club…… And I have to go to the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, you know?” (Cry)

My heart hurts as if it were being squeezed.

We don’t need people who can’t even understand the boss’ identity. The poignant irony was killing everyone’s breath.

Gaff who has the most tails in this group must speak up. He desperately moved his mouth and suggested.

“Boss, we, the 『Fox Mask Fan Club (Kitsune Aikokai)』, are already making plans for the Supreme Martial Arts Festival. If you like, we can guide you around.” (Gaff)

“Boss……? Aaaah, that’s right. I appreciate the courtesy, but I am here with my friends.” (Cry)

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Infiltration success! Such a smooth infiltration, taking pictures of every member, telling that he ain’t a member of the Fox Mask Fan Club!

Now how is he gonna destroy the Kitsune from the inside!? Or is he gonna wring the Kitsune dry before throwing them away!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Byakko: unlike the Byakko (白虎) from one of the four guardian beasts in Taoism, here the Kanji is (白狐) which translate as White Fox but is also read as Byakko. They are associated with Shinto shrine.