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

Chapter99，Part2: 2 - Shared Responsibility

Chapter 99 Shared Responsibility

Part 2

Despite my anxiety, Aarun guided me to an ordinary coffee shop.

I have also been there several times and this shop black tea and pound cake are delicious. For the time being, I am relieved that I am not in a closed room surrounded by four walls.

It seems like their treat so without hesitation I order cakes and tea. I have to eat some sweets to make my useless brain work even if it is just a little bit.

As I sat down, Aarun narrowed his eyes, sharpened his cold blade like gaze and said.

“With you, there is no need for small tricks. So, I will say it directly, We want you to withdraw.”

“???”

“Indeed, with the capture of Noto Cochlear, you are one step closer to being Level 9. You also have a favor from Gladys-kyo. If you destroy their remnants, then you will be one step ahead than the other Level 8. However, you will be too ―― Hasty. Don’t you think so?”

“???”

“Initially, Akasha was our prey. Branch Manager Gark may be thinking of a change in generation. However, in terms of experience, Cry-san, you are inferior to others Level 8. I have heard 《StranGri’s》 progress, but even with that in mind, you still don’t have ―― The ability of a Level 9. From your point of view, this shouldn’t probably be something to be pointed out by someone outside of your Clan. But this is our consensus.”

“… Un, un, you are right.”

The black tea is delicious.

Marie hurriedly stops Aarun in front of me who had completely entered into reality escape mode.

“Aarun, that is too sudden ―― “

“Marie, that is something that would be said at one point or another. Initially, with Infinite Variety as our opponent, I don’t think we will be able to deal with him even if we use petty tricks.”

Marie scaredly checks my expression. But I don’t understand anything at all.

The tension of the conversation is well transmitted from Aarun’s expression. I smile and wait for his next words, but no matter how long I waited no word came out.

Well, now what? Actually, I didn’t even understand half of Aarun’s story, you know. No, I understand the words he used but there seems to have a big discrepancy with what I understood.

Well, now what? If I am a normal person, I will check each thing I didn’t understand and solve the discrepancy.

However, with all the conversation I had until now, I learned the skill to evade the subject.

“So, what you want to say, Aarun, is ――“

.

“Uh!?”

Aarun’s expression hardens and his eyelids tighten.

Eh? I haven’t said anything yet but did I make a mistake?

Marie’s mouth trembles next to him as if she was holding back her laughter.

“… What Aarun wants to say is for me to withdraw.”

“… Yes. As I said in the beginning…”

First of all, I don’t remember getting involved in something but let’s leave that aside.

According to my experience so far, when something like this happens, it is because Liz did something on her own. And because of the chain of command, I am responsible for it.

“C, Cry-san! In, indeed, it is true that we didn’t do, anything. However, I think it is, unreasonable to hop in from the side. That’s what we think. … What do you think about that?”

Marie says this with a shaky voice.

I cross my leg and nod while stabbing the pound cake with my fork.

“Un, un, you are right. I will withdraw.”

“Eh!? Re, really!? Thank you very much!”

Aarun and Marie opened their eyes widely and hurriedly bowed their heads.

Since I didn’t get involved in something, I don’t need to withdraw or anything though. I just need to apologize to Liz or Sytry later on.

I have already done it many times before.

I am not sure but I want to quickly go home.

“No, I am sorry that you have to come all the way here to talk about this. I am not interested about the remnants or Level 9 at all. I am still more interested in this pound cake here.”

I am tired of being taken for a ride without knowing anything.

From what Aarun said, it is either about bounty criminals or Hunters stuff, I am only Leader in name, so I am not aware of the action of my Members. If you want to complain, just go to the concerned perso ―― No, it is fine if you tell it to me, yes.

Perhaps because they achieved their goal, the atmosphere around Aarun and Marie is somewhat more relaxed compared to earlier.

I immediately put a harmless appeal.

“In the first place, Branch Manager Gark called me because I didn’t reach my quota, so I don’t think what we discussed was the serious content Aarun thought to be.”

“Quota…?”

“N, no. I wasn’t doing nothing. I just didn’t have a good feeling.”

I wish I could achieve my quota by just collecting herbs.

Aarun and Marie were astonished by my words. I don’t know where they knew my face or my name, but I am not the kind of person you think I am.

Finally, the jabber on the auction settled down, so I want you to let me rest for a while, please.

After I made a big yawn, Aarun suddenly stood up with a steep look. And at the same time, a shadow is casted on my view.

“… Do you want something?”

“… Shut up. You are not the one I am looking for.”

There was a very familiar voice right behind me. It was the same when Aarun touched my shoulder but apparently my ability to detect others’ presence is below garbage level.

With familiar movement, the table we were sitting on is surrounded by strong men. Unlike Aarun and Marie, they have armors and weapons, they are fully armed.

Because of the sudden intruders, the other guests in the coffee shop gasped.

A deep threatening voice is heard over my head.

“It has been a while, 《Infinite Variety》. You really underestimated us a lot, the other day.”

“… Who am I talking to?”

“Tsk…… Level, 8. Damn, looks like you are, showing a lot of composure in front of us… ”

Level 7. It was 《Fallen Mist (Thunder Dragon’s Mist)》, among other things, we negotiated with them during the auction and now they were all around the small shop.

At the end, the negotiation should have ended without any trouble so why is everyone looking down at me while feeling a mixture of subtle fear and strong anger.

Is there a reason that I am being stared at?

I only raise my head up and look at the owner of that voice.

Arnold’s face was bright red. His murky eyes were lit by a raging flame and his thick arms which are likely to be several times bigger than mine, are quivering as if it was waiting for the moment when it would release its power.

This is dangerous. It is a dangerous pattern.

“Level 8. I will check if your power really matches your reputation.”

It is the pattern where no matter what I say he won’t listen. It doesn’t match my reputation at all, if you are a Level 7, then you should be able to estimate my ability from my appearance though. But it seems that he doesn’t even notice that.

Arnold asks while leaking a rough breath.

“The women aren’t here today?”

“… Will you wait until I call them?”

“I will half-kill you and roll you in front of those women.”

Ah, enough. I wonder if Liz and Sytry did something again?

Despite being inside a shop, all of Arnold’s subordinates draw their weapons all at once. It is an excessive action to take against me and Aarun who are clearly unarmed.

My heart screams to the point where it hurts. It is bad, I am completely raising the white flag. I can’t think of any way to recover from this hopeless situation.

I am surrounded by Arnold’s subordinates and I don’t have a Relic allowing me to fly. There are the Barrier Rings, so I can take a few hits but I can’t do anything beyond that. I can’t even beat one of Arnold’s subordinates by myself.

… It can’t be helped. Is my only way out to try and get rid of his anger by doing a dogeza (Version pitiful)? Will he forgive me?

I scold my limbs which are rigid because of the tension to stand up. However, before I can open my mouth, Aarun takes a step toward Arnold and says in a sharp voice.

“Oi, you. Right now, did you say that you were going to half-kill our guest?”

“… Get lost. I don’t know who you are but our purpose is only 《Infinite Variety》.”

Compared to the slender Aarun, Arnold’s body is one head taller than him. Arnold emits a terrible pressure but there is no fear in Aarun’s eyes. He is looking up at Arnold with a derogatory look.

“… A countryside bumpkin, ah. Ha, is that why you thought you could challenge a Level 8, ah. Cry-san, we will take charge of this. We suddenly started to negotiate and you accepted it ―― Please think of it as our thanks.”

“Uuuun…”

I am a little tempted by his appealing proposal but I hurriedly reconsider.

No, no, it is wrong. Aarun may not know it but the man in front of you is a genuine Level 7. Besides, Arnold’s side also has the numerical advantage. No matter how you do, there is no way you can win.

Well, there is nothing I could do though.

When I was hesitating, Aarun smiled a little and pointed at Arnold.

At that moment, I noticed his plain silver-white bracelet on his wrist.

An emblem with three wands.

Aarun shouts.

“Don’t worry. We are newcomers but ―― Oi, bumpkins. Carve this in your small brain, my name is ―― Altobaran. Someone from 《Hidden Curse (Magic Wands)》.”

“Aarun!? We have been told to not create any quarrel……. Similarly, Marie from 《Hidden Curse (Magic Wands)》. However, we are in a different Party than 《Abyssal Fire of Annihilation》……”

At the moment I heard them, a flash ran through me.

When I finally remember Aarun ―― Altobaran and Marie, I spontaneously hit my hand *pon*.

Perhaps I had a very stupid face, everyone’s eyes were gathering here.

I take a deep breath, I look at Arnold and at Aarun and the others in turn and make an apologetic look and say.

“Sorry, can I go to the toilet…?”

Maybe because he knows who they were, Arnold’s rugged gaze is switching from me to Aarun.

I have been caught up in something dangerous.

《Hidden Curse (Magic Wands)》 is a Clan with a small number of elite that has been known for a long time in the Imperial Capital.

And their Clan Master, 《Abyssal Fire of Annihilation》, is one of the greatest Mages in the Imperial Capital. And at the same time, she is like me, one of the three Level? 8 Hunters in this Imperial Capital.

I’m gonna puke.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

So Aarun was a member of an Elite Clan!

Go beat the crap out of Arnold while Cry is hiding in the toilet XD

And that Chuuni name “Abyssal Fire of Annihilation”, except there is magic so that Hunter can probably create that kind of spell!

Tchao à plus!