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

Chapter273，Part2: 2 - Root of All Evil

Chapter 273 Root of All Evil

Part 2

It was pathetic. As one of only a handful of direct disciples of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》, Nadori felt compelled to apologize immediately by opening his stomach for his disgraceful behavior.

My right arm that was cut off, the creaking pain in my flesh that rushes through my body, and the pain of my broken bones are nothing compared to my urge to do so.

The one who barely stopped me from committing suicide was――.

“Wooow………… That was a great night. It’s a common theory that a swordsman controlled by a magic sword would get stronger, but I never thought it would enhance you up to that level――” (Luke)

“Guuuh…………” (Nadori)

Because there is a man in front of me who laughs hysterically while having his whole body covered in dust and sand.

There was no way I could cut off my stomach in front of Luke Psykol, who seemed to be in a great mood and did not seem to have any bad intentions at all despite being the cause of this situation.

The honorable dojo with countless disciples was half destroyed.

The gates, walls, and houses, which had been so rugged and sobering to look at, were collapsed, and there is probably no one who will look at this scene and believe that this scene was created by a single sword.

Even after wiping it off, the hall was still filled with the smell of blood lingering in the air.

Originally, it would be difficult to cause this much destruction with just one sword. However, the sword sent by 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was not just any sword.

There are several types of magic swords. Some give power in exchange for a certain price, some change performance depending on the wielder’s talent, and some swords select their wielder and raise the wielder to be a first-rate swordsman. The weapons created during the Advanced Magic Weapon Civilization are full of things that can’t be understood by modern common sense.

It was only after everything was over that Nadori realized that the sword that had been brought in was the worst of all magic swords.

At the moment when Nadori grasped the sword which captivates your heart just by looking at it, he was overcome with a terrible feeling of all-powerfulness, as if he owned everything in the world, and had an irresistible desire to wield it.

It was as if that strange elation that every swordsman has experienced at least once when first grasping a sword was multiplied by tens of thousands of times and took everything else away from Nadori.

In general, a Swordsman is required not only to be skilled with a sword but also to have mental fortitude. This is in order to learn to use your great power correctly――This is one of the reasons why Luke, who has a kind of paranoid passion for swordsmanship, is still not called the strongest swordsman.

Nadori should have noticed it first. He should have felt the incongruity of his impulse swelling up the moment he saw the blade, and he should have been strongly wary of it.

He should have disciplined himself to suppress his impulses of wanting to wield this sword. He should have set an example for his younger fellow disciples.

A desire for strength. Jealousy. Hatred. Self-esteem. A magic sword that lures its wielder into madness. A magic sword that latched itself into the weakness of a person’s heart.

Although magic swords are often so sharp that they make you feel scared, this sword also boasted a terrifying sharpness that belied its exterior beauty.

With a light swing, the world was cut. With the lightness of a feather, it cut through the air and everyone with no resistance at all.

Among Magic Swords the sharpness of this one is probably――One of the best.

It stuck to the palm of your hand like a part of your body, and just like a part of your body, there was no uncomfortable feeling when wielding it. No――At that moment, Nadori was indeed part of the sword, slashing living beings was his raison d’être.

If there hadn’t been a crazy Luke who wouldn’t bat an eye even if he was suddenly attacked by a fellow senior disciple but would instead try to take his life, the other disciples would probably have been annihilated.

Of course, if Luke didn’t bring the magic sword in the first place, we wouldn’t have been in that situation.

Luke Psykol is a problem child. He is a genuine manslayer who has slain quite a few people, including his fellow disciple, but he has never been known to destroy buildings.

It is unprecedented that the dojo has been half destroyed and that the commotion is known to the public. The Knights Order have already come to ask about the situation, and there is no room for deceiving them.

And the disgraceful behavior of a direct disciple of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 will lead to the reputation of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 taking a hit. I am responsible for this incident. “Master (Shisho)” will probably forgive me, but that is irrelevant.

“Yooo, sooo strong, sooo strong, as expected of Cry, he knows what I am talking about. That’s what I wanted! Although the only failure was that “Master (Shisho)” wasn’t here, so I couldn’t fight him――” (Luke)

“Y-You…… Moron! There is no way that the “Master (Shisho)” will get possessed by a Magic Sword!!” (Nadori)

By the time dawn came, the other disciplines, who were lying down like a heap of corpses, had already been carried out for treatment. The only people gathered here now are those who came after everything was over.

Several pools of blood have been wiped away and human body parts that were lying around have been removed.

The people who were at the dojo last night were all strong disciples who put a lot of effort into their training among all the disciples.

――However, the fact that there were so many victims wasn’t because of Nadori slashing them.

The magic sword that had created this tragedy is already gone. It has been removed after being wrapped in the cloth Luke brought with him. But its danger will become clear as the experts investigate further.

Also, it would also be clear what 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 intention was when sending that sword.

Luke crosses his arms, looks down at Nadori, who was sitting and breathing heavily, and says in a high voice. Luke should have been wounded, but there was no pain in his expression.

“You don’t need to make a face like that, it’s gonna be ok ’cause if it’s just an arm, Anthem can heal it! He’s good at that kind of thing! And this time we have a lot of injured people, so it’ll be good practice.” (Luke)

“That’s not a problem!” (Nadori)

He is so easygoing. He is so easygoing that it is hard to believe that he has slashed dozens of people. He is so easygoing that it is hard to believe that he almost killed several people.

And even after being scolded by Nadori, he didn’t even bat an eye.

The disciples who were gathered there looked at Luke and Nadori with grim expressions.

The reason why they don’t complain openly is because they are leaving it to “Master’s (Shisho)” discretion, but it is also because Luke is in a special position among the disciples.

After all, he does not understand. Despite his inability to communicate, he is full of talent, loves the sword more than anyone else, and does not hesitate to cut or be cut.

Without yielding to authority and greedily seeking strength has made him many enemies and allies, but the biggest problem is――From the beginning, he had such an unpredictable nature that it wouldn’t be strange if he cut down all of his fellow disciples and destroy the dojo, regardless of the magic sword.

If Nadori had been in the position of listening to what happened after the fact instead of being directly responsible, it is highly likely that he would have just dismissed it as another outrageous thing he had done.

I have known Luke for a few years now so I already know his personality. He is a swordsman from planet swords. How can I continue to be angry from the bottom of my heart at someone who does not understand words?

Recently, even my “Master (Shisho)” has started talking to the Leader of his Party, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 instead of Luke himself――.

It was Nadori’s inexperience that got him taken by the sword. He cannot face his family, his friends, or his “Master (Shisho)”.

However, it is not possible to let it end just like that. I cannot let this go without a single word of complaint.? No matter how shameful it may be――.

“Call 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. Let me tell you this, I am not going to talk to you anymore. Call 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. I will speak with your Leader! I will ask him to properly explain what he intended to do by sending that sword! Listen to me, Luke! You may not know this, but in this country, sending a dangerous magic sword without saying anything is against the law!! Don’t say you didn’t know, I won’t let you say that you didn’t know! No matter what our “Master (Shisho)” says, I am going to say it!” (Nadori)

“Eeeeeh, calm down, Nadori. It’s not Cry’s fault. I asked him if there was anyone I could cut. So he gave this to me.” (Luke)

In what world does someone send a magic sword that erodes your mind when asked for an opponent you can cut? In the first place, you are asking that of everyone!

My wound opened up probably due to my excitement, and a dull pain in my abdomen made me press it strongly. My consciousness is hazy, but not yet. I can’t even go to the doctor until I see how it all ends.

At the very least, I must endure until “Master (Shisho)”, who was summoned due to this incident, returns――.

At that moment, Luke, who suddenly threw his gaze up into the air, shouted loudly and waved his hand.

“Ah, it’s Cry! Oiii, over here, over here!” (Luke)

“!? Wh-What!?” (Nadori)

Even if you are a Level 8 Hunter, there are things you are allowed to do and things you are not allowed to do. What do Luke and 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 think the law and common sense are for!

At the moment when I whipped my heavy body and tried to stand up with all my strength, a strong wind suddenly blew. The wind pressure broke my posture, which I had managed to move with all my strength, and fell to my butt.

The other disciple quickly moved to open some space.

The one who came down in front of Nadori, who screamed silently at the numbing pain rushing from his butt, was――――It was a beautiful black-haired girl who looked out of this world, straddling a broom.

She has straight black hair that reaches her waist and white skin without a single flaw.? Her well-groomed, but somewhat unsociable appearance convinced me that the girl had a sharp mind.

Her all-black Magi robe is not glamorous, but the mysterious atmosphere suits her appearance perfectly.

No one flies on a broom. Unless in a fairy tale.

I unintentionally forgot to breathe, forgot my pain, forgot my anger. The disciples who had gathered at the dojo were probably also the same, speechless at the sight of the unidentified girl who had suddenly descended upon them.

In the sudden silence, Luke, the only one who had not changed, called out to her somewhat happily.

“What… Cry, you came! It was the beeest. After I cut one guy down, the next guy picked up the sword and attacked me, and the sword was also dangerously sharp――” (Luke)

“!? Lu-Luke!? What are you talking about, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is a man――” (Nadori)

It is impossible. Nadori is also acquainted with 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. He accompanied Luke when he joined this dojo, and Nadori has also met him several times since then.

He is a dark-haired, dark-eyed man with a face that can be described as gentle at best and plain at worst. In the first place, their gender is different. 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is a man! He is not such a beautiful girl. The only thing they have in common is the color of their eyes and hair, and even saying that they have something in common is an insult to her.

The disciples who had undergone intensive training under the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 in order to train their mind, body, and spirit were completely dumbstruck. Some of them were even openly staring at her.

Some abilities need an aptitude for it. There are also female disciples of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》, but they are few in number, and most of them are blessed with a physique that fits them and is as strong as Nadori and the other disciplines.

And, sadly, protecting a frail and pretty girl Magi was a 『Dream』 that many swordsmen couldn’t tell to others.

When Luke blinked in front of the disciples who were completely captivated, he frowned and said.

“Hmm? Aaaaah, Lucia is Cry’s Imouto. Although it’s rare to see her riding a broom…… What’s up, Lucia? Are you training?” (Luke)

“………… That’s right.” (Lucia)

………… His Imouto, you say!? Impossible.

In front of Nadori, who couldn’t believe his ears, the girl answered in a voice that sounded like tinkling bells.

And then, the root of all evil came down from behind the broom.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

And the root of all evil descent!

Now, what could Cry genius masterplan involving a cursed sword be?

Tchao à plus!