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

Chapter278，Part1: 1 - The Zero Knight Order ②

Chapter 278 The Zero Knight Order ②

Part 1

His whole body received a strong shock, and his consciousness slowly resurfaced. As soon as his thoughts returned, Hugh did not scream or open his eyes.

With his eyes closed, he checked around while making sure that they didn’t notice that he was awake. The Zero Knights Order is the elite and is subjected to a variety of training. Leaving aside the difference in the amount of Mana Materials absorbed, their ability to deal with incidents should be on par with those of Treasure Hunters.

Taking a deep breath, he tries to grasp the situation. He can move his arms and legs. It doesn’t seems like he was particularly restrained. There is still a dull pain in his neck, which is probably the main reason why he lost consciousness.

He wasn’t caught off guard. Nevertheless, he didn’t even have time to fight back. It was needless to guess who did this. There are only a few people who would attack a knight without hesitation in public.

I heard that they were brutal and quick to resort to hands, but 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》――I never expected them to go this far…… My understanding of them was too naive.

I adjust my breathing.? There is still a pain in my neck, but it doesn’t seem to be bleeding.? My fingertips can also move as I wish.? It seems that even 《Absolute Shadow (Zetsu Ei)》, would not kill someone who approached her with a smile.

The situation shouldn’t be too bad. Hugh can withstand even the most barbaric treatment that an ordinary knight would not be able to endure. But it is only natural to imagine this level of obstacles as there has never been a nobleman who has been able to successfully interact with 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》――.

I can do it. As he was telling himself that, a conversation came into Hugh’s ear.

“Cry-chan, y’know that guy…… He was looking at me with evil eyes! Cry-chan, I’m sure he is your enemy, right? Riiiight?” (Liz)

“!?? Eh?? Looking? He was looking at you?” (Cry)

“F-Fake Ikemen…… Number 2…………” (Tino)

It was Liz Smart squeaky voice. A faint-hearted man’s voice and a girl’s voice that sounded like she was stunned.

I was kicked vigorously, rolled on the floor, and was stomped on as hard as possible with her feet with her cold Relic shoes on. The armor made of a special alloy that only the Zero Knights Order is allowed to wear makes a creaking sound. She looks slender, but she has tremendous power. Even among the Zero Knights Order, who are considered to be the highest level of knighthood, there are only a few who can crush that armor with simple raw strength.

Hugh, who continues to pretend to be unconscious while enduring the pain, hears a voice full of passion.

“Neee? If he is dressed as an Imperial Guard, it means he is not a random guy, right~? It’s not like he was showing killing intent or anything, but he had a weird look in his eyes, so I’m pretty sure he’s an enemy, right~?” (Liz)

“Onee-sama, c-calm, calm down――” (Tino)

What…… Is she talking about?

I was just looking at her. It is true that I cannot say that I didn’t have an ulterior motive, but let alone killing intent, I wasn’t even directing any hostility towards her. Are you telling me this is all because………… Of a weird look in my eyes?

Just when I was thinking she had a reason to attack me, I can’t understand it at all. In the first place, there are plenty of people who would look at you, so are you telling me you do that all the time?

I quickly suppress the questions coming up from my mind. It is not good, I must deliver some results no matter what. “Franz-Dancho (Commander Franz)” certainly did not have any expectations of me, but it is precisely because he does not that it makes sense to deliver some results here.

Think. You can’t just make excuses, you have to find a way to get past this Berserker――.

“Shut up, Ti! Neee~! Cry-chan, I did a good job, right~? And here, look, Cry-chan~! He’s already awake, but he’s pretending to be out cold, so he’s definitely up to something~!” (Liz)

“!?” (Hugh)

She found out!?

Hugh’s eyelids fluttered open as the force of the stomp became even stronger. He quickly tried to change his position, but the vise-like force on top of him did not allow him to move even a little.

I cannot breathe properly. A painful exhalation escaped from my open lips. In my vision, I see Liz with *kirakira* sparkling eyes, a dark-haired girl who claims to be her apprentice, and――A dark-haired young man with a somewhat goofy look sitting deeply on the sofa.

For a moment, I forget the pain. At first glance, he does not appear to be strong, a dull man with dark hair. He fits the characteristics of 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 that “Franz-Dancho (Commander Franz)” had told me about, but even after knowing that, this young man does not look like a Level 8.

This guy――I can’t flatter him. Even Hugh, who has come here with the intention of throwing away his pride and flatter him, even him, who has flattered all kinds of fools until now――Can’t find any merit to flatter at all!

It is the perfect camouflage…… No, is this really…… A camouflage?

The information on 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 that is available in public is much less than that of other high-level Hunters. In particular, very little has been said about his appearance, and I can understand why now. There is nothing to tell.

After all, no one would believe that a Level 8 Hunter would be a dull, dark-haired, dark-eyed young man, it would be more probable that people would doubt the person who said that.

《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 eyes turned towards Hugh, but they were not looking at him.

He was looking at me philosophically, or to put it in a bad way, looking at me while thinking of nothing at all, it was kind of unsettling to look at.

An overwhelmingly talentless face that any kind of child can understand.

What do I do? What should I do? How do I get this man in a good mood, get out of this predicament and achieve my goal?

In the first place, why is this man not saying anything when one of his party members is stepping on an innocent knight!?

I managed to slightly lift my trembling, powerless fingertips and tapped the floor. There, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 finally began to move.

He looked at Liz with a dumb smile that seemed to not think about anything.

“Go-Good, good, you did a good job. You did a great job, Liz. Good girl, good girl.” (Cry)

“Eeeeh~? Reaaally~? I did a good job~?” (Liz)

“…… Un, un, that’s right.” (Cry)

It was a scene that Hugh, who had seen many Party before, had never seen before.

Treasure Hunters have an image of being rough around the edges, but this is not the case when it comes to high-level Hunters. The certification level granted by the Explorers Association guarantees the power of the Treasure Hunters, but it is also the foundation of the Explorers Association. Generally, the Explorer Association does not grant higher levels to members with problematic personalities. There are many high-level Hunters who are solo, but if they are leading a Party, most of them are charismatic and lead that Party perfectly.

And he answered her with a…… Good girl, good girl? Un, un, that’s right?

This is――This is not what you can call leadership.

.

“Gooood, good, good, Liz is great, great. Good, good, good.” (Cry)

“Hehehe. You know what, I was thinking that Cry-chan would definitely want me to bring this.” (Liz)

“Here, here, good girl, good girl………… You can let him go, you know.” (Cry)

“Then, can you give me a Cursed Item like Luke-chan and Lucia-chan~?” (Liz)

“Good girl, good girl…… Bad girl, good girl…… Good, good, good……” (Cry)

The oppressive feeling disappears. Hugh, who was trying to look up while having his chest trampled, sees Cry who was stroking Liz’ head incessantly with dead eyes.

At that moment, Hugh certainly received a shock as if he had been struck by lightning.

While Cry patted her head somewhat mechanically with a smile on his mouth, Liz’s eyes were shining and full of life. It is impossible that a Thief, who is skilled enough to read Hugh’s true intention (Although it is doubtful if she had read him correctly) is completely unaware of Cry’s state of mind.

Nevertheless, this reaction――What power… To be able to change the attitude of a battle maniac who would suddenly knock out Hugh despite wearing his formal attire of the Zero Knights Order!

Hugh, too, has risen through the ranks by putting on many masks. That is why he understands. It is difficult to manipulate people through acting, but to manipulate them without acting is on a different level of difficulty, and to manipulate them at will with such random responses――.

How in the world did he train 《Absolute Shadow (Zetsu Ei)》 to this point!

I don’t care about the mission of getting information out of him anymore. At that moment, Hugh felt as if he understood why 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, the Divine Strategist, is said to be so incomprehensible. Hugh had been praised for his abilities, but how in the world did he get her to be so fond of him! What does 《Absolute Shadow (Zetsu Ei)》 like about him!

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

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And can you see it? A new believer is getting converted right now!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Ikemen: It means good looking man. By the way Fake Ikemen number 1 is Ark.Here in the raw Cry is talking in hiragana, you can think of him talking robotically or talking like a child.