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

Chapter 280，Part1: 1 - Jet-Black Staff ②

Chapter 280 Jet-Black Staff ②

Part 1

A magical device that makes objects float and displays them. The Magi of the academy were gathered in front of the jet-black staff set there.

You can distinguish two types of Magi. The research group who stay indoors and conduct research with the goal of establishing Magic theories, and the practical group who want to master magic and use its power, regardless of the theory.

The majority of the Magi fall into the latter category. The knights and Magi Treasure Hunter are the best examples.

And yet, most of the Magi who remained in the academy for a long time were the former.

Hearing about the new research material brought by Lucia, the gathered Magi observe the staff and whisper to each other.

“Hoh…… So this is the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 treasure item…… I have never seen a staff like this one before.” (Magi 1)

“I heard that Thawne Rowell once traveled around the world during his martial arts training and conquered several Treasure Shrines. If we can confirm where he got it from, then its abilities can be confirmed too――” (Magi 2)

“Is it a botanical magic staff? But this color and this shape――” (Magi 3)

“To be able to snatch something that the straight-laced 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 had kept all this time, as expected of 《Unrestricted Creation’s (Bansho Jizai)》 brother――” (Magi 4)

One of the young assembled female Magi grumbled to Lucia who had her arms crossed and a glint in her eyes.

“But how can you check something without touching it――Can’t we just wear gloves or something?” (Young Magi)

“No. You never know what might happen, so don’t do anything unwarranted!” (Lucia)

A large group of Magi who love research more than three meals a day gathered, but no one touched that staff because Lucia blew away all the non-compliant Magi who tried to touch it.

Research-oriented Magi lacks practical skills. Few would be able to find an opening against Lucia, who regularly absorbs plenty of Mana Material and is accustomed to troubles caused by her Party Members.

After making sure there are no more non-compliant people, Lucia stares at Anna.

“Anna-san? What part of this is keeping it secure!” (Lucia)

“Aaahahaha, it can’t be helped. There is no way the Magi in this tower wouldn’t gather after hearing about the 《Sword Saint’s (Kensei)》 precious item. Moreover, it is not like a Relic is often brought to us.” (Anna)

A Staff Relic is not only valuable research material but also a powerful weapon. And most of them, which are found very rarely in Treasure Shrines, do not make it to the academy due to financial problems.

The fact that a new Staff Relic has been brought in is such great news that Magi from other laboratories are gathering around.

“Besides, if we hide it, it will attract even more people. Wouldn’t it be safer to keep it like this, under everyone’s watch, until the professor returns?” (Anna)

“Well………… That may be true, but……” (Lucia)

Do not underestimate these researchers, who are more fascinated by theory than by the great power of magic. They are passionate about their own research, but at the same time, they are always on the lookout for the research of their peers. In this academy, which advocates friendly competition, every action is permitted for the sake of research. The law is only half-working here. Some of them even break into locked rooms with impunity, and some of them conduct human experiments with their fellow laboratory colleagues. It is nearly impossible to control all of them.

“Especially Lucia――You are a Hunter, so everyone’s attention is turned towards you. You even have your proud Onii-san who is a famous Relic Collector――” (Anna)

“……………… Muuuh…………” (Lucia)

Apparently, Lucia is not very comfortable when her Onii-san is being praised. At Anna’s tease, Lucia’s eyebrows *pikupiku* twitch and she gave a small groan in resignation.

It seems a bit odd, she should be proud of her brother being a Level 8 Hunter, so what is she dissatisfied about? Don’t tell me she is really wary of someone taking him away?

That is…… A futile effort. Although his face is not yet widely known, just because he is a Level 8, he is a celebrity. The status of Hunters is especially high in this country, so it is not surprising that at Level 8, there are offers of matchmaking from the upper echelons of the Empire noblemen.

But even so, Lucia seems to be too nervous when it comes to her brother. She says things like the 《Sword Saint’s (Kensei)》 precious staff is cursed or her brother is after the academy’s treasure which is something you wouldn’t expect from the normally clever Lucia.

“If anything I think it is more likely that he sent this precious staff he got from the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 as an apology gift for making the professor angry when he made Lucia skip the exam.” (Anna)

I was quite surprised when Lucia missed the exam for the qualification to possess an Advanced Compound Spirit Staff, which she had been studying for a long time. That exam is one of the most difficult among the qualifications for Magi as it requires research experience at the academy and a professor’s recommendation as a prerequisite.

Although there were apparently various reasons for this, it would be one thing if she took the exam and failed, but missing it is the same as throwing dirt at the professor’s face.

“Ni-Nii-san is not the kind of person who would do such a normal thing!” (Lucia)

“But I am sure the professor would be in a better mood if he/she received the 《Sword Saint’s (Kensei)》 precious treasure. That person is a researcher too, and he/she just wanted a staff, so isn’t it the best timing?” (Anna)

In the first place, there is no way that a bad person like the one Lucia described would pass the Hunter High-Level certification exam. As the Hunter High-Level certification exam also checks your personality.

Besides, magic research and danger are inseparable. Like the lightning-specific Staff Relic that Lucia brought with her, some risks are already factored in.

“……………… Mooooh!” (Lucia)

Lucia’s unusually puffed her cheeks when Anna *niconico* smiled at her.

If you think about how many all-nighters she has pulled off in order to create a new technique, there’s something cute about it.? Anyone would want to tease her even if it wasn’t Anna.

A girl from another laboratory talked to Lucia, maybe because she gave up to get a good look at the staff as she came late.

“Neeeh, Lucia-san. Is your Onii-san not coming?” (Girl)

“He is not. He is busy………… Because he is a Level 8!” (Lucia)

“Eeeeh, it is said that last time you were sticking to him――” (Girl)

“I wasn’t sticking to him!” (Lucia)

At the girl’s disgruntled voice, Lucia cast an icy gaze.

It is well known that Lucia brought her brother with her when she took up her apprenticeship. And now that she said it, I am curious about it. She says she was forced to follow him in everything, but at this rate, we won’t know how much of it is true.

Her cold voice and air of rejection attract the gazes of the Magi who have lost interest in the Magic Staff they cannot touch.

――At that moment, a short scream came out unexpectedly.

Lucia hurriedly looks toward the scream.

A jet-black staff floated above the display table. Part of the ivy that made up the staff had grown long and was entangled around one person’s arm.

“I-I told you to not touch it――What did you do!?” (Lucia)

“…… Nothing, I didn’t touch――” (Magi)

Her voice was lost before she could finish. The tangled ivy grows silently and climbs up from her arm to the upper half of her body.

Blood was drained from her astonished face. The jet-black staff was bloating up. The length and thickness of the staff were nothing compared to when it was first brought in.

During the commotion, part of the ivy grows and attacks another Magi who was frozen and standing still. It moves with an agility reminiscent of a serpent catching its prey.

The Magi who was caught first was thrown away, so I rushed over to her.

There were no noticeable wounds on her body. Her heart was still beating, but her face was pale and she was completely unconscious.

She was sweating like an overflowing waterfall. Those symptoms――It is from a deficiency of Magic power.

“Don’t tell me…… It is sucking…… Your magic power!? Wh-What is this staff!?” (Anna)

The lower part of the staff splits into two halves and slithers down from the display device as if those were legs. The Magi, who had been observing the staff with shining eyes, took a step back at the creature-like gesture.

The ivy that makes up the staff became even longer and thicker. It no longer looked like a staff, but more like a plant Monster.

While screaming, one of the Magi attacked the staff. As if on cue, blasts of fire, blades of wind, and bullets of ice were launched from all directions――And the staff trembled violently.

The wounds caused by the spell instantly healed and it grew even larger. It was as if――As if it had absorbed the magical energy of the spells.

When she begins to have an idea of what it was, Anna stepped back.

“Don’t tell me…… it is an Anti-Magic…… Creature? What… Is this!?” (Anna)

“See! I told you so! Seeee! Nii-san, you idiot! You are treating me like Luke-san even though I never ask for this! I didn’t even touch it!” (Lucia)

“Do you think it is the time for this!?” (Anna)

The gathered Magi scatter like spiderlings. The former staff casually tosses away the Magi who had all their Magic power absorbed as if it had been done with it, and checks Anna and Lucia in turn and turns its body towards Lucia.

Lucia’s lips tightened, picked up a long staff that someone had dropped and pointed the tip of the staff at it, and said.

“All right. Come on――I won’t let you do what you want, Nii-san!” (Lucia)

“Lucia! Against an opponent where Magic doesn’t work, even you will――” (Anna)

“Grr…… I will bash it…… With the staff――Ah…………” (Lucia)

The former staff looked at Lucia for a while (Although it didn’t have eyes) but it quickly changed its stance. It turned around and dexterously used both of its newly formed legs and ran off.

The ivy that seemed to be its hand spread widely and engulfed the Magi who had failed to escape. I don’t even want to think about how far this mysterious staff will grow as it continues to absorb magic power. This academy is the best Magic Academy in the Empire, and there are hundreds of Magi, from masters to novices.

The former staff destroyed the exit which was smaller than it was and ran into the corridor.

“Hey! Where are you going!” (Lucia)

Lucia followed in hot pursuit. She is indeed a level 6 hunter, chasing after a monster without hesitation.

Anna checked the warehouse that had been destroyed to its limit and the fellow students who had collapsed due to a lack of magic power and thought about what would happen when the professor returned and put her head in her hands.

“What do I do……” (Anna)

§　§　§

TL notes:

Thanks for reading! And thank you Chulbom for the ko-fi!

Sasuga a member of Strange Grief. If your Magic is not working bash the monster with your staff!

Lucia comparing herself to Luke and saying I told you so was so funny

Tchao à plus!