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

Chapter86，Part2: 2 - Interesting Man

Chapter 86 Interesting Man

Part 2

An interesting man.

For Ark Rodin, if he had to describe “Infinite Variety” with one word it will be that.

Every year in Zebrudia, the holy land of Treasure Hunters, a large number of Hunters or aspiring Hunters comes here from the outside.

And most of them will retire before they even become successful. Some people failed when exploring Shrines and dies. Some have to stop their Hunter activities because they received a serious injury. Some also can’t ever get out of the city due to a mental traumatism.

And finally, even the luckiest one of them who escaped those, change their base to another city because most of them can’t stay in the Imperial Capital because of their lack of ability.

Cry Andrich was also one of those very ordinary countryside bumpkins.

Initially, he wasn’t someone who had experience being a Treasure Hunter outside. He was an aspiring Hunter who had never engaged in a Shrine expedition until he came to this Imperial Capital.

The potential of Treasure Hunters in the Imperial Capital is quite high. Only a handful of talented people can become a Treasure Hunter in that city.

Even if I had some training in advance, the environment next to the Imperial Capital isn’t so easy to go in headfirst.

There are too many Shrines. Too many rivals who are looking for a fight just because you touch them and some unruly Hunters who even aim for broken Hunters to devour them.

The more kind and gentle they are, the more villains aim at them. The Imperial Capital is easy to live only because there are only skilled Hunters who are able to fight off those foreign enemies.

It is a baptism for the na?ve Hunters who came to the Imperial Capital due to their naive illusions.

However, “Strange Grief” have repelled all of them. Shrines, Senpai Hunters who target talented youth to crush them, criminal parties who like to destroy newcomer Hunters. They defeated all of them and had increased their fame at a tremendous speed.

It was inevitable that their figure caught Ark’s eyes.

“Strange Grief” is always covered in blood.

For Hunters, Mana Material is the core of their power. An average man who has accumulated Mana Material for decades is stronger than a Hunter with a potential that only appear once every hundred year.

And that fact spurred into action those who are trying to pick the buds of talented newcomer before they bloom.

Every single one in “Strange Grief” was filled with glowing potential. That brought the jealousy of their surroundings.

There were numerous interferences. Their life was also targeted, and I also heard many bad rumors. However, those have significantly strengthened their Party.

Before they knew it, the one who was eating becomes the eaten.

From countryside bumpkin who was aiming for a na?ve dream to a fearful party with terrifying potential that wouldn’t forgive any enemy.

Ark Rodin is also a man who became a Hunter in the Imperial Capital, but the foundation was different.

The Rodin House had know-how. They had fame. From the oldest days, I worked and trained hard to become a Hunter and had capture many Shrines before becoming a Hunter. I also had the help of noblemen, so it was easy to gather companion.

They were exactly… My exact opposite. At least, that is how Ark think of “Strange Grief”, as his Party complete opposite.

… And finally, the quality for being the Leader.

As always, he is an interesting man.

The black-haired man who sit down in front of me, haven’t change from the first time I met him a few year ago, he is the 『Weakest』.

I know that some people called him the god’s daredevil. And I also know some people call him seer because his words boast the power to predict any and every kind of possible future.

But even considering all those… It doesn’t fit.

Ark knows some Hunters with a higher Level than himself. If you speak of fighting abilities, among them “Infinite Variety” and a few others are far below Ark.

But this is wrong. All High-Level Hunters had powers. When you see them, you will be convinced of their strength.

However, the man in front of me, who supposedly have a higher level than me, this man who should have left a track record, don’t have it.

An interesting man. A man who is far too weak to be the Leader of a Party that is far too strong.

This has strongly stimulated my curiosity. That is also the reason why Ark decided to join Footprint while his party was scouted by a large number of long-established and powerful Clan.

And now, his true nature is still unknown.

Many people often compared Ark with Infinite Variety but the comparison itself is a mistake.

There is no sense in comparing us with numbers. “Infinite Silver Thunder” and “Infinite Variety” can’t be simply compared to each other.

For example, if you add or subtract each of our strength, it will never be equal.

It is probably not the 『Length』 but the path we are walking on… That is too different.

People around me are jealous of his existence. Some are longing for it and some are hostile to it.

Ark Rodin was born to win. He was born to walk a lonely path. Therefore, I don’t get jealous.

There is only an insatiable spirit of adventure that has been passed down from the first Rodin.

Therefore, if we have to put into words to describe the relationship between Ark Rodin and Cry Andrich… isn’t 『Rival』 nor 『Strong Enemy』 but the word 『Friend』 is better suit for them.

The man who suddenly called Ark when he went back due to an issue in the Rodin House doesn’t have a slight expression of being sorry and bossily crossed his arm.

As usual, his clothes are all black and he wears on all his finger ring type Relic. He doesn’t care at all about Ark’s Party Members grumpy look toward him.

“I will be straight to you. I want you to go see éclair-jou, right now. If you go, you will understand everything. You know that I and éclair-jou were competing for a Relic and éclair-jou won, right?”

“Aaah, I have been busy for the last few days, but I was listening. I will tell you so there is no misunderstanding but that is what éclair-sama did by herself and it has nothing to do with me. She is smart for her age and isn’t someone bad, but it looks like she is sometime stormy.”

Ark isn’t free. As a member of the Rodin House, even if he isn’t exploring a Shrine, he has so many things to do that he might be biting off more than what he can chew.

While the Imperial Capital was celebrating with the auction, he wasn’t free and was called to go everywhere all the time.

When I heard “Infinite Variety” had raise the value of the Relic because he wanted it, I unintentionally laugh. When I heard that éclair-jou had enter the competition for some reason, I was surprised but that was it.

Liz who is next to Cry and has her back stretched and her leg crossed, raises a high-pitched voice to protest.

“Eeeeh!? I was thinking of going there but you are going to let Ark-chan go…?”

“Haaa!?? Are you going to make Ark-san run your errand again!? Ark-san is already very busy, so you should go by yourself!”

Ark sincerely sighs when his Party Member Isabella immediately tries to bite him.

Isabella is an excellent Mage. She is doing well, but she is weak against provocations making Ark looks weak, so for Ark, this is her only flaw.

“Aaaaaah!? You bastard, while you are only Ark-chan’s waist wallet, don’t you dare underestimate Cry-chan, I will f*cking kill you! The only word you bastards are allowed is 『YES』 and that’s it.

“Waist wallet!? Grr… If you want it like this…”

When the two people looks like they are going to stand up, Sytry claps her hand.

“Well, well, Onee-chan and Isabella-san should calm down. You are making trouble for Ark-san and Cry-san.”

“… Tsk.”

“Strange Grief” and “Ark Brave”. Some Members of each Party are like cats and dogs, so this is the usual.

If we need to stop because you are like this every single time, the story won’t proceed.

Compare to Cry’s usual expression, he looks very serious. When facing his expression Ark straighten himself up.

“I told her, but she didn’t listen. Ark, that Relic is… in a sense dangerous. Ark, if it is you, you can do it. Probably. I think if you go right now, you will be on time.”

As usual, his words don’t say anything specific. However, I know that Cry’s words always anticipate a major event.

Fortunately, Ark is confident in his fighting strength. I don’t know what will happen, but this isn’t the first time he called me.

I put all my questions aside and ask him back.

“… Do I need weapons?”

“Eh…? Aaah, you don’t need it. I think it would be better if you don’t bring any.”

I don’t need any weapon…? That is unusual. It isn’t a battle?

However, he said it should be dangerous. It is dangerous… But you don’t need a weapon?

“… What if I don’t make it on time?”

Cry squinted his eyes when Ark asks him this question, Cry tilts his head and answer with a trouble look.

“I will be sad.”

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Some insight of what Ark think of Cry. Good for you Cry, Ark also think of you as a friend.

And you are still saying cryptic word. And because of that Ark is so confused. How would he react if he knew it was to get a mask XD

And you will be sad if he is not on time, now he must be super confused XD

Tchao à plus!

Senpai: Honorific use when someone has more experience than you.