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

Chapter232，Part2: 2 - Strange Freak ③

Chapter 232 Strange Freak ③

Part 2

I had never heard of a base like this one in Cleat before, but the kitchens furnished there look brand new.

There is no doubt that the organization used their fund to invest in those, including the ingredients.

That’s when Sora fearfully asked me.

“By the way, Gaff. I am just asking out of curiosity, but………… Why are you here?” (Sora)

“Hmph…… Do you think I am stupid. We have eyes everywhere.” (Gaff)

“Why choose a place so obviou――N-Nothing.” (Sora)

Sora *bunbun* shakes her head widely and begins to fry the tofu that had been drained of its water in a frying pan.

“Everything, everything is according to “Byakko-sama’s (White Fox)” will. Look at this, Gaff. Aburaage are――Made with tofu. Right now the tofu are store-bought, but it will eventually be made from scratch. Everything I am doing is according to “Byakko-sama’s (White Fox)” order, so――Ouchhh………… I’ve, never cooked before.” (Sora)

Why aren’t they hiring someone else? Why would they let a “Miko (Shrine Maiden)”, someone who holds a sacred and special position in the organization, make Aburaage?

One can only wonder, but Gaff gave up thinking about it further.

If she said that it is the Boss’s order, then there is nothing that Gaff, a subordinate, can say. This too has probably a noble purpose behind it.

As I looked at Sora, who was struggling to get by, there was suddenly a knock at the front door.

This is one of the organization’s hideouts. There is no way that a customer would come to the organization’s hideout. The door opened in front of Gaff, who smoothly took a position.

“Soraaa, can you do me a favor……?” (Cry)

My thoughts froze up.

The one who entered was a young man with dark hair. However, that was not the reason Gaff froze.

It was because that voice――Belong to the Boss.

“!? !??? Bo……ss?” (Gaff)

All the eyes turned toward Gaff when he made that stifling sound.

Sora, who was making Aburaage, was also completely frozen.

The Boss blinked his eyes a few times and opened his mouth as if nothing happened.

“Hm…… Aaaah, that’s perfect. I had some things for you.” (Cry)

“Boss, your mask! What happened to your mask!?” (Gaff)

That can’t be. “Fox (Kitsune)” is a secret organization, so the bosses hide their true identities. In fact, every executive that Gaff has met was also wearing a mask.

It wasn’t like it was a written rule, but the Boss has many enemies. There are not many people in the organization who know their true faces.

The Boss smiled bitterly at Gaff’s *pokan* shocked expression.

“Ah, aaah…… No, well, it’s hot today and that mask is stuffy. You will have to forgive me. It is not like I can wear it all the time.” (Cry)

“!? ???” (Gaff)

His appearance was so natural.

He didn’t even have the slightest fear of being betrayed by his subordinates, he had a transcendental attitude.

All the executives I have encountered up to this point have been clad in an unidentifiable sense of intimidation, but the Boss in front of me was wearing a very different kind of intimidation.

The Boss exposed his back full of openings and walked past next to Gaff, and looked into the frying pan.

“It smells good……. So, you can do it.” (Cry)

“Y-Yess. “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”! Everything is done according to “Byakko-sama’s (White Fox)” will! “Byakko-sama’s (White Fox)” will!” (Sora)

Sora straightened her posture, *daradara* sweated profusely, and shouted in a hoarse voice.

The Boss examined the pan with a serious expression and frowned.

“No, Sora. With this kind of Aburaage――Fufu…… you can’t, conquer the world.” (Cry)

“!?” (Gaff)

Gaff just barely stopped his voice from unintentionally coming out at the shocking truth.

After all, you are planning to conquer the world by using Aburaage!? How?

“I-I am sorry, I will remake them!” (Sora)

“No, it’s okay. Just do it slowly. It’s okay, no one can get it right the first time.” (Cry)

“Y-Yess……” (Sora)

I would like to confirm with him how it is possible, but there is no way I can.

The identity of the Boss is the organization’s top secret. Gaff understands that.

The fact that the Boss exposes his face so openly, but is still unknown to the public is probably due to him completely controlling the information circulating around it.

It didn’t matter if I saw his true face, if I carelessly changed my attitude because of that, I might be silenced.

Gaff is a Thief. He is confident in his fighting ability, but there is no way he can compete with the Boss who is equivalent to a Level 10.

The Boss took a plate Relic (Didn’t he say that it was a smartphone?) from his pocket, took a few pictures of the Aburaage, and then turned toward Gaff.

“Oh right, this is perfect. About that subject…… It is though, isn’t it? I brought in new reinforcement.” (Cry)

“Huh…… As you wish.” (Gaff)

I kneel down on the spot. I think frantically, while careful to keep my gaze low in order to now look at the Boss’s face.

Is he not trusting me? It is certainly a difficult operation if you take into account the main mission, but so far we haven’t made any major mistakes.

They are subordinates that answer directly to the Boss, so there is no way that I can make any rash movement.

“…… You don’t have to be so formal. Oiiii, come on in.” (Cry)

The Boss called out in a light voice. A group of several people comes in succession through the entrance.

The people that came in were a group of people without masks.

A dark-haired young man with a sophisticated air around him, a dark-haired Magi. A pink-blonde Thief and a red-haired Swordsman. All of them have an atmosphere characteristic of those who have absorbed a large quantity of Mana Material.

Reflexively, he searched through the database of strongmen in his head. And this time, Gaff felt his heart-stopping.

The red-haired Swordsman looked around the room and narrowed his eyes which contained the brilliance of a strongly developed sword.

“So, where’s the guy I’m supposed to cut? Is it the girl over there?” (Luke)

“”Strange…… Grief (Nageki no Borei)”……?” (Gaff)

There is no doubt. Gaff’s head is filled with information about powerful men from all around the world and from all ages.

《Absolute Shadow (Zetsu Ei)》, 《Thousand Swords (Senken)》, 《Unrestricted Creation (Bansho Jizai)》 .

And then, the black-haired young man in front of me must be the same young man who met the Boss in the town where we switched the 『Key of the Earth』――No doubt, he is the renowned 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》.

The Boss opened his eyes in wonder.

“Aaaah………… You already know about them!?” (Cry)

“Y-Yes. Of course……” (Gaff)

I can’t believe it. It’s impossible. But, although I blinked my eyes a few times, the reality before me remains the same.

《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 is the Party that the organization is the wariest of. As a matter of fact, several sub-organizations have already been destroyed by them.

In the first place, Hanemann, Gaff’s subordinate who had escaped with a replica of the Key of the Earth as a diversion――Had been done in by this guy.

But, having said that, even the Torch were definitely enemies of the organization.

To deceive your enemies, you must first start with your allies. How far――Does his deceiving go?

I don’t know. There was nothing suspicious at all about 《Strange Grief’s (Nageki no Borei)》 actions. Indeed, their actions were too radical, but that’s why I didn’t suspect it.

Their cover-up is too perfect.

They are able to do anything. Even the Explorer Association would not think that 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 are traitors.

The Boss chuckled and said something even more unbelievable.

“Then, I am counting on you to take care of them. ………… Aaah, right. If things work out, I will give you that mask in return.” (Cry)

TL notes:

Thanks for reading and sorry, I couldn’t post it yesterday.

What are you doing Cry don’t give the mask! Keep being the Boss!

Especially now that even Gaff thinks that Strange Grief are in fact Kitsune!

Or maybe Cry’s just like you have achieved your purpose, now die.

Tchao à plus!