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

Chapter96，Part1: 1 - Gratitude

Chapter 96 Gratitude

Part 1

While humming and heading for the Clan Master room, I encounter Eva who was just walking in the corridor.

It has been a long time since I felt so fine and clear. Right now, I have forgotten all the stress and anxiety about the future I had always felt as the Clan Master.

Now, I am… Yes, I feel like singing and dancing alone. But I am not going to do it as I am someone badass.

I try to not show too much of my emotions but maybe Eva feels that my usual poker face is different, she surprisingly asks me.

“Did something happen? It looks like you are in a very good mood.”

“Eh…? Oh yeah? Does it look like I am in a good mood? Really? Well what should I do…”

As expect of someone I am together since a long time ago, I can’t hide it from Eva.

When Eva is looking at me with an annoying gaze, I show the black bracelet on my right arm… The 『Mirage Form (Dancing Glow) 』 I just received.

After all, no slice of cake entered my mouth, but this level of things is now at a Level where I can forgive and laugh about.

It seems that it was really a good timing that I went to Tino’s house.

Eva’s expression changes completely, raises the corner of her eyes and get closer to me.

“… Haa!? Did you buy another new Relic again!?”

“Eh? N, no, you are wrong. Tino found it and gave it to me. My debt didn’t increase.”

“… Haa… What should I think of this, this is, on its own way…”

Well, I am also wandering about that, but I don’t have a say about Tino and Liz’s teacher-student relation… Even if I softly bring up the subject, Liz don’t listen at all. All I can do is keep an eye on them and check the situation that is happening from time to time.

But now, that doesn’t matter. What is great is the power of this Relic.

There are innumerable bracelet-type Relic but the ability of 『Mirage Form (Dancing Glow) 』is very unique. I likey.

These kinds of Relics with specific features are really difficult to judge in term of market price as their price can greatly fluctuate depending on the offer and the demand, but it is definitively not something that can be obtained in a Level 1 Shrine.

Since the magic power was already charged inside, I show off the wonderful power of this Relic to Eva who is still having an unconvinced expression.

I have many bracelet-type Relics, so I know the knack to activate them. I extend my sense on my arm, I firmly feel the 『Mirage Form』 on my wrist, and carefully. The bracelet emits a slight heat and on the palm of my hand a glow of light is dancing.

“Here, look, Eva! It is a cake!”

“Huh, haah… It is a cake…”

The illusion I show was the cake I brought to Tino’s house.

It was a cake with, on top of it, a light-yellow special cream and rare fruits collected from a forest with thick Mana Material around.

『Mirage Form (Dancing Glow) 』 is a Relic that projects an illusion of a three-dimensional image. It is difficult to use and training seems to be necessary as to use it effectively but there are many ways to use it.

Eva looks at the cake on the palm of my hand with a somewhat inconspicuous expression, touches it and confirms that her finger pass through the image and makes a delicate expression.

Certainly, there is something that is different from the cake that I brought to Tino. It is an illusion so it can’t be help that there is no smell, nor taste nor texture but the appearance is different. That cake was made with the skill of a master who went through trial and error for ten years since I came to the Imperial Capital, it looked like a piece of art but the illusionary cake I created was something that was just similar in color and shape. If you place it next to the real thing, all the imperfection would have been noticeable.

It is because I couldn’t perfectly imagine the shape. I was addicted to the taste, so I didn’t really remember its appearance.

I want to believe that if I practice on it, I will get better.

“… Look, don’t look like that… Look, I can even create Eva! Eva!”

The effective range is one meter… To be precise, it seems to be one meter and twenty centimeters. This is a distance at which you can create an illusion but it is at the same time also the upper limit on the size of the illusion you can create.

In other words, you can use this Relic to approximatively make a human on a one-on-one scale. Since it is one meter and twenty centimeters around the bracelet, by adding up and down, it can go up to two meters and forty centimeters, and you are free to make whatever you want!

About half of Anthem will be cut off, but if it is Gark-san then I can easily do it. There is a disadvantage that it can only be use when it is put on you but if I use it properly, it may even become a threat or a diversion in Shines!?

The only problem is that among the magic that the Mage can use, there are various magic spell with an easier and wider range to create illusions.

The Eva I created is just like the real thing if you put them side by side. They are like two peas in a pod, from her slim glasses to her glaring eyes. If you look closely, the details will be different, but they are similar enough to be called twins.

… It is only from the top of her neck though.

Eva expressionlessly hits the head floating in the middle of the air and glares at me just like how the illusion was.

“… Please don’t play around.”

“I am not good with the body… If I don’t get a good look at it, I don’t know how it looks like but if I hide it with a cloak then I can do it though…”

Looking at my illusion dressed like a Teruteru Bozu[efn]Teruteru Bozu: A small handmade doll made of paper or cloth that Japanese hang outside of their window so that it won’t rain tomorrow.[/efn], Eva once again clearly says.

“Please, stop, doing, that!”

§

I return to my room and add 『Mirage Form (Dancing Glow) 』 in the catalog of my collection.

There are flaws, but if I mastered it, I may be able to use it as a substitution for the 『Reverse Face (Facial Transformation) 』 as a disguise. Its possibilities are endless.

I feel like I want to start training right now, but since Lucia hasn’t return, it will be quite tough to recharge it.

As a try I make Ark’s face over my own face and check the mirror, I laugh at how bad it was.

From every corner of Ark’s blond hair, I could see my black hair over them, it is really weird.

Unlike 『Reverse Face』, 『Mirage Form』 creates an illusion without any substance so if I use it for disguise, I need to be careful about it. I may need to wear a hat to keep my hair from sticking out.

Speaking of which, Sytry said she had short hair because it was easier for her to make a disguise…

In order to confirm the time duration, I continue to check the catalog in Ark form.

My purpose is… To find a suitable Relic for Tino.

I have got something so good. I need to give her something back.

Originally, the main Relic that Liz and Sytry are using right now, are one I had gave them by personally hand picking it. I am a Relic collector but I am not the type to decorate them and look at it, but I am the type to find joy in being useful for my friends as they use it.

When Tino can start using a Relic will depend on her Shisho, Liz’s decision but it would be a waste to wait for the day she enters our party to choose which one to give her.

As it has been a while since I did that, I smile and have some fun while thinking of each and every single one of my Relic in my collection.

Tino is a Thief so should I give her the same type of Relic as Liz? Or a different type of Relic as she will be in the same Party?

My collection is enormous. I have confirmed how easy it is to use it but even if some are powerful, some of its effect can be replicate with magic.

The selection of the main Relic to use is an important matter for Hunters as it will probably affects their lives. Tino is a serious girl so if I am going to take a Relic from my collection then I would love it if she can manage it use it well. I can’t randomly give her one.

When I was rolling on my bed while browsing the catalog, there is a small knock on the door.

It is Tino, the one I called. When I reply, the door narrowly open and a pair of dark eyes peek over here.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

I remember someone saying that Cry gave to the member of his party defective Relic but they succeeded to make it work. So, either he thought about it really thorough or he just got lucky as always XD

So tomorrow will be the extra part and last part of the 3rd arc! I will probably take a break before starting arc 4 and also change the release schedule a little bit because 2 release in 3 days is a little overtaxing…

Tchao à plus!