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

Chapter?30: A?Separate?Matter

Chapter 30

A Separate Matter

The Explorers Association was a huge organization.

Managing the inhuman hunters, many of the staff were former hunters themselves. The Zebrudia branch chief Gark Welter was also originally a first-rate Hunter.

He had been a level 7 hunter. Using a somewhat large halberd as his main weapon, and rampaging through any Shrine, people murmured his second name 『War Ogre』 in awe.

It had been a long time since he had retired, and his power had declined since his heyday, but his ability wouldn’t be outdone by the average hunter.

To speak of how strong he was, when the six of us along with Liz first came to the Capital, Gark-san who had already been sitting in the Chiefs chair was so strong that we couldn’t do anything.

Because of that, I came to know the level of hunters in the Imperial Capital.

Luke and Liz both got along well enough with the branch chief due to that incident. Basically, the people that thought with their muscles liked the strong.

However, all that was from nearly five years ago.

“The main thing is, you bastards rely on Cry-chan too much! What do you think you’re being paid for, you solve it you dumbass!”

Liz intimidates Gark who stood three heads higher than her.

A girl that clearly wasn’t dressed to fight threatening a well built man could only be seen as an obnoxious child, but the reality was anything but.

The power absorbed in Shrines over a long period – Mana Material, was released over time.

The speed varied between each person, but no matter how gifted you were it won’t stop completely.

Gark had already mostly retreated from battle.

His power was clearly weaker than five years ago, perhaps not even half of when he was in his prime.

And Liz’s power wasn’t the same as when she first came to the Capital either. Well, Liz never thinks about the difference in power when she picks fights anyway.

As Liz picked a fight first thing without listening to his situation, Gark-san remained calm.

He vigilantly glared at her as if he was looking at a low-grade monster. If I was in his position I would definitely be shaking, but as expected Gark’s courage was different.

“Wait, so if you’ve come back, then is Sytry also here?” “Who cares! You’re in the way of our date. Disappear!”

Gark-san mercilessly flew through the air. Liz had kicked him.

The huge body close to two meters slid across the marble floor that had been expensive, a decorative plant alongside the wall was blown away.

There was no choice but to smile at how quickly the blow had come out. Gark who had crossed his arms to receive the kick, stood up slowly.

His actions were slow, but that look was reminiscent of the ogre from his second

name.

Still being lively after being hit by a blow that was used against monsters in a Level 8 shrine, as expected of Gark-san.

And, he’d become fully motivated. Someone that was hit and stayed silent wasn’t fit to be the branch chief of the Explorers.

From his waist he pulled out a small knife that was probably for self defence. Even though it was small, in proportion to their body size it may as well have been a short sword to Liz.

“...Liz, you little, do you know what you’ve done...? There are limits to how gentle I can be...”

Who was gentle?

Seeing the Branch Chief prepare for battle, Liz’s lips warped into a smile. Her white skin quickly became flushed and her eyes were blazing.

After getting her settled with great trouble, it seemed like her engines had started up again.

Hey, can we stop? Why are you guys always so violent?

The clan house will get destroyed again. And I’ll be the one that Eva scolds.

Kaina and the others were at a loss at how to stop them. But I thought it was already too late.

.

The non-hunter girls wouldn’t be able to stop a fight between monsters.

I stopped looking at the two that were locked against each other in a blazing match of glares, and made a proposal to the poor Kaina-san and the two Explorers staff who had a quarrelsome superior.

“.........For the time being, should we go up and drink some tea?”

Liz who had wanted to go see the Capital today wasn’t equipped with any weapons. They probably weren’t trying to kill each other, so they might not die.

§

The sounds ringing out from downstairs didn’t stop. The glass was shaking.

I enjoyed small talk with Kaina-san and the others while thinking that there were a lot of earthquakes recently.

In fact I felt strong sympathy for Kaina-san who had to suffer through the same hardships as me as the right hand of the Branch Chief with the frightening face. My tone naturally became lighter.

“Isn’t the young girl at the Explorers reception desk incredibly cute? How did you hire her? I want to employ her over here.”

『Footprints』 used the Explorers as a reference.

When I discovered Eva, I was looking for someone like Kaina-san and knelt on the ground in order to hire them.

Next what was needed was a beautiful receptionist.

The girl at the Explorers Zebrudia branch was a draw for customers.

Bright and spirited, and didn’t make a single displeased face at dealing with fierce and dirty Hunters. Each and every time I was summoned miserably her attitude didn’t change.

I figured the girl I didn’t know the name of influenced the smooth running of the organisation.

Since time existed, men have been weak to cute girls. The same was true even for Hunters.

To my half serious half joking talk, Kaina-san made a bitter smile. “Are you talking about Chloe? She’s... chief Gark’s niece.”

“Those genes aren’t working.”

Why is such a good kid related to that 『War Ogre』? No, it was since she was used to Gark that she developed that kind of personality.

And it was that connection....?

Anyway there was no way the quarrel was going to end peacefully.

While Gark-san and Liz-chan had their fist fight, I’d hear out why Kaina-san had come here.

And I was amazed by what she and the other two told me. It seemed like Gark was making a big misunderstanding.

I didn’t know anything about the White Wolves Den. I didn’t have any predictions, and I hadn’t made any preparations.

Just that, the reason it was abnormal wasn’t my fault. The punishment game I was unfortunately dragged into was safely cleared, but after that was a job for the Explorers and the country.

I entered perfectly into my ‘not my problem’ mode.

It wasn’t just restricted to Gark-san, everyone had a tendency to rate my ability way too highly.

I reached Level 8 through luck only. With no knowledge or skills, it was unthinkable that I could get greater results than the Explorers or the country’s experts.

“Oh-, sounds bad. It’s not the Earth Veins, huh...”

To my carefree opinion, Kaina looked like she had been thrown to the ground.

Earth Veins were so to speak, blood vessels that ran underground. With a single look I’d be able tell there was a problem, but I wouldn’t know anything further.

This type of thing was what Sytry was familiar with I suppose. Liz’s younger sister, Sytry Smart was an alchemist.

Learning the truth of the world and studying the laws behind phenomena, it was an occupation that crossed magi and scholar.

Their bodies didn’t hold the vast amounts of mana that could be used as a weapon,

so generally their attack power was inferior compared to magi.

Their true strength was in their abundant knowledge and experience. Requiring rare tools, it was not a job seen often in Treasure Hunters.

For situations like this, they were extremely dependable.

Particularly, unlike most of her peers Sytry often went to shrines as a hunter. So she seemed to hold more practical knowledge.

Incidentally, creating magical creatures such as slimes was a skill alchemists took pride in.

Please take greater care with the creatures you create.

With a few peculiar points, Sytry belonged to the Empire Institution of Academics, and was the brains of Strange Grief.

Well she unfortunately hadn’t returned yet.

“Wasn’t there anything you noticed, even something small?”

Kaina-san kept pushing for something, but at that time I was full to the limit from the fear of my first shrine in a long time and Liz’s unexpected appearance, so everything was muddled.

I sat back into my chair and closed my eyes, but I didn’t know things that I didn’t know. The main point was that if something unnatural occurred a memory should remain of it.

“Hmm. There wasn’t anything in particular. To begin with, what I’m worried about is a separate matter.”

“...A separate matter?” Damn. I let it slip.

I grimaced but it was too late. Kaina-san’s brown eyes examined me inquisitively.

At that time I was more concerned about the whereabouts of the slime over the shrines abnormality.

It was the same now. Last nights nightmare was still flickering in my mind so I couldn’t help it.

I didn’t think I would understand anything if I checked the shrine for abnormalities, but if I had the time to check for that, I’d search for the slime instead.

“......Are you able to tell me?”

Kaina-san looked at me with serious eyes, but no matter what I couldn’t tell her that a slime created by Sytry was set free.

It was all my imagination. It was surely all my imagination. That’s what I decided.

I put my hands together and lowered my head making a grave expression. Confuse with suggestive words. Level 8 hunters have many secrets.

I’m sorryyy.

“Sorry but, I still can’t tell you. ......Because I still haven’t heard anything.”

At the vague words put up as a front, the expressions of the staff members behind Kaina-san went stiff.

Unable to bear it, I stood up. Lets go in a positive direction.

If I think it over my slip of the tongue might be correct. This could be a reason to refuse Gark-san’s request for cooperation.

Of course, shrine abnormalities would also influence the actions of hunters. I planned to do my best to cooperate as 『Footprints』, but this could be my reason to not make any moves personally.

Since I didn’t have to suffer through anything dangerous or have my mind exhausted I was lucky.

Gark-san and the rest won’t have to be manipulated by my words, and Liz will be docile so it was lucky.

Was this that win-win relationship?

“I can’t make any moves, but the clan will help as much as possible. That’s right, when Ark returns I’ll ask him to help out ok.”

“......for your cooperation, you have our thanks.” Kaina-san hung her head and gave thanks.

Forgive me, Kaina-san. I’m in the wrong. I can’t do anything. All I know is where to go in the Capital to eat delicious ice-cream.

I’m sorry I’m this kind of level 8. But it was you guys that made me level 8.

I’ll lend you Ark so forgive me. An all purpose intelligent guy that can solve most things.

You need to return him later though.

I offered some words of comfort to Kaina-san and the others that seemed disheartened.

The accumulation of Mana Material and the evolution of phantoms was a natural phenomenon.

It wasn’t something we small humans could do.

“I don’t think you need to worry too much. If it wasn’t the Earth Veins influence, then everything should soon return to normal.”

§ § §

It was like magic. Maximum concentration after a long time made his consciousness stretch.

One second felt like two or three seconds. However going that far his judgement couldn’t keep up.

He also couldn’t evade, he had to give his all just to manage by guarding.

Liz Smart didn’t use mana, she also wasn’t using a weapon.

She attacked with simple thrusting kicks. However they were simply 『fast』.

Thieves held confidence in their agility. However while he was active he had met a great amount of hunters, and after his retirement acting as the Explorers Zebrudia branch chief he had interacted with even more hunters.

From Gark’s point of view, that agility was extraordinary.

Metal grazed against the floor, and smoke rose from the friction.

Liz stopped in an instant from top speed, and spoke with a light voice without the rage from before.

“Hmmm? Gark-chan, hasn’t your skill fallen? Since you’re only doing desk work.” “...Shut it.”

I haven’t gotten weak. You became stronger.

He wanted to say so, but somehow stopped himself.

His body wanted fresh air.

Masking his breathing that was on the verge of getting rough, Gark glared at Liz that had taken a superior attitude.

Although it wasn’t a weapon he was accustomed to, he had learned some dagger techniques to an extent.

But, the drawn knife couldn’t graze her.

The blows that landed on his guard ached with pain. It wouldn’t seem like it from those thin arms, but their power surpassed bulky muscles, and gave blows that reverberated to the bone.

If she reached a vital area then he might faint.

If the branch chief that supervised all the treasure hunters was made to faint so unsightly, Gark would be disgraced. No matter what, he had to avoid that much at all cost.

There was a hopeless difference in fighting power.

Liz was small. Compared to Gark she was like a child.

His arms and legs were longer, after all Gark’s reach was much wider.

However, her body gave off the characteristic energy of a diligent hunter that didn’t avoid entering shrines.

The level 8 shrine 『Myriad Demon Castle』.

Liz had only just returned from a shrine dense with Mana Material, barely any would have been released yet making her at her most strongest.

It was the opposite of Gark that had been away from shrines for such a long time. Compared to Gark that was prepared for war, Liz was completely natural.

From just a moment of battle, he had understood.

Even if he resolved himself to take a blow so he could counter, his knife still wouldn’t graze her.

Liz could move out the way faster than Gark could swing the knife down.

In front of the former 『War Ogre』, the girl tapped her eccentric glimmering black boots on the floor while she spoke as if to make fun of him.

“It’s not good if Gark-chan doesn’t get out and exercise sometimes don’t you think? Ah, you got fatter? Hunters you find scattered around are stronger you know?”

“So noisy!”

Where can you find so many hunters like that!

He had certainly dulled. But even being dulled, he was still around level 5!

As Liz looked at him as if looking at the elderly, he was grinding his teeth so hard they might shatter.

This bitch grew more than expected. To silence this cheeky shit of a hunter, he might have to make some adjustments!

He was aware he had weakened, but to have it pointed out like this, even the gentle Gark would lose his cool.

This little, should he bring down her level? Those kinds of childish thoughts went through his mind.

Of course, it wasn’t permitted for a branch chief to lower someones level certification over a personal grudge.

Without knowing his inner thoughts, Liz spoke while smiling in satisfaction.

“This takes me back. It’s a little pitiful you’ve gotten so weak, but I’ll overlook it because of the good old days. I’m soo kind.”

He didn’t understand what was said for a moment, then his eyes were dyed a deep red.

Anger boiling from the depths of his belly came frothing out. It had been a long time since he had felt this sensation.

He gripped the knife with too much force and it cracked.

By nature, Gark was a warrior that could handle all kinds of weapons. Among his skills, he could make his anger explode and convert it into power.

That was the reason why the level 7 hunter Gark obtained his second name.

Recently he hadn’t had the chance to put it to use, but apparently his own body still knew how to use it.

“Apparently, someone needs to be punished... you stupid brat.”

“Ah-, that’s not good. I’m bad at nursing, so that means you’re going to have Kaina- chan take care of you after?”

His voice resounded as if from the depths of hell, and Liz made fun of it like a spoiled child.

The Hunters of footprints observed Gark and Liz with great interest.

Outside, curious people that had caught onto the noise cautiously peered inside.

The difference in ability was fatal. But he couldn’t end it like this after being looked down on.

He needed at least one point of retribution.

The knife shattered and then his sole weapon was gone.

But as he stepped forward without a care, at that moment as if choosing the timing, a spirited voice was heard.

“You guys were still going at it. Making such a big mess, and we already finished talking.”

He didn’t notice when he had disappeared.

With Kaina and the two staff members, Cry descended the stairs. Seeing the disastrous scene he breathed out a sigh.

Liz who until now hadn’t released her tension while throwing out insults, nimbly jumped over that way and the air around her body dispersed.

“Cry-chan welcome back. Gark-chan won’t listen to me...”

“This is, not relying on the people in the same trade isn’t good you know.”

While Kaina’s cheek twitched, she approached Gark who was ready for war. Seeing her expression, Gark finally released his posture.

After taking a deep breath, the numbed pain was resurrected. There were no fatal injuries but there would be bruises and splits.

Apparently, he had been able to achieve his goal while fighting.

Gark frowned while thinking of scolding in the future, he decided to reforge himself so he would never be made light of again.

a

Translator Notes

-Garks name (war ogre) is war oni. Traditionally they are kind of troll like monsters/youkai. Ogre seemed fine to me, but think monster-ogre not Shrek.

-As always the dialogue is a continual compromise. Not the worst, not completely inaccurate.