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

Chapter86，Part1: 1 - Interesting Man

Chapter 86 Interesting Man

Part 1

“It is awesome, Cry-san. I checked it lightly but there isn’t any noticeable failure, so it can already be put to use.”

“Eeeeh, good for you.”

Sytry who was visiting the Clan Master room for the first time in a few days, was in a rarely seen, good mood. She is always smiling on the surface but now she can’t even hide her inner joy.

As usual, the loose khaki robe she is wearing is hiding her bodylines, but the quality of her expression is different.

“I was able to collect it safely because we left the venue quickly. As you may already know, there seems to be evidence of a trespassing at the auction warehouse. But It hasn’t been made public because nothing was stolen…”

“Trespassing…? … It isn’t Liz, right?”

I don’t know where the auction lot were stored but the Zebrudia Auction is a country-led event. The security is also appropriate as the prestige of the Empire is on the line. I can only think that someone crazy can try to break into it.

When I half-jokingly, half-seriously ask Sytry, she says with a shimmer in her eyes.

“It isn’t Onee-chan. Cry-san, we have destroyed Noto Cochlear, but he was just the director of only one research center. In other words, their roots still remain in this country. Akasha’s organizational structure is that each research department is independent so if one of them collapses, there will be no effect on other department. Only through rumors, I could hear about other laboratories. However, Noto Cochlear was an excellent Teacher. With the collapse of his research department, movement to get his heritage has emerged! We can take this chance and may be able to get information about other laboratories!”

To be honest, I am not interest in it. I don’t care.

While appropriately answering Sytry who is speaking with excitement, I am heading to Lounge where the meeting place is at.

I am happy that Sytry is happy about that matter but what is in my head right now, is what can I do to get my hand on that mask.

According to my instructions, Eva did her best and has managed to deliver my message to Ark.

The meeting place is at the Lounge. From now on, everything rests on my skills.

Sytry walks next to me, make a full turn, hug my right arm and makes a cheerful voice.

Has your excitement gone crazy? Now, I am going to start a negotiation, but you are kind of distracting me, you know?

“Everything is thanks to Cry-san! Not only you obtained Akasha, the project which was eating up all the research center fund for only one billion, you also opened up new ways for me to go… Aaah, should I try to infiltrate inside once again or should I smash them and only take their research result…… However, the opponent is a huge organization, next time they will be wary of Cry-san and the Empire is also on the lookout. I also have my main job. I am really struggling to decide.”

Apparently, Sytry is really eager to fight against a secret society even though they have a wanted poster on them.

It seems that initially, Sytry was tracking Akasha from the beginning, I wonder if people called Hunters are all like that. I seriously don’t belong there.

Perhaps she notices that it is hard to walk like this, Sytry release my arm.

It is my personal opinion but… I don’t want Sytry to do anything too dangerous. Her job isn’t one of a fighters.

“Weeell, calm down Sytry. We got what we wanted so it is better to take our time and let thing calm down first.”

We are a big Clan fighting against a secret organization. They will probably not purposely start a fight with us.

And if possible, I want you to forget about Akasha, please…

Sytry regain her composure when she hears my words and make a small cough.

“I see… You open a hole and wave it in front of the opponent. At first glance, it seems that you can crush the hole if you do a full front assault but at the same time, it will have less defense when you are going to attack. I feel that it will be a little too cautious… As there is Cry-san.”

Sytry glances over and look at me. I feel that only half of what I wanted to convey was understood, but I plausibly nod.

“If you are a Hunter, I think the right point is to always be a little bit too careful. Or rather, I would like you to help me here. Well, even if I say that I will need your help, it is only about the issue about money.”

Even if the Ojou-sama gives the mask to Ark, I don’t think that Ark will give it to me for free.

The principle for Hunters is equivalent exchange. If you have been given something freely… Then it will just mean that you have made a huge loan.

It is all about creating some debt in different kind of way, but I want to avoid that.

To my completely unmotivated voice, Sytry says without showing any sign of unhappiness.

“Yes. It will be my pleasure. Regarding money issue, I was going to proceed even if Cry-san didn’t tell me anything.”

That’s right… I even spend up all your marriage funds.

Sytry and I are in the same situation, we are penniless now. You would have been better if I didn’t owe you any debt. I am really sorry about that.

Please forgive me as I will definitively repay you everything someday.

Sytry suddenly takes my hand and hold it. She was politely touching my hand as if it was a work of art.

She let out a hot sigh while her cheeks were red and look up at me.

“So… Cry-san. To thank you this time… I have thought about it a little bit but how about coming and staying at my house tonight? I also have some time, so let me entertain you.”

“Uuuun… Maybe next time.”

“…… Too bad.”

While looking really regretful, Sytry lower her eyes down. It is very painful to turn down her invitation when she is smiling so brightly but if I take Sytry’s invitation, I will become a useless person, so that couldn’t be help.

I live in the Clan House, but everyone from Strange Grief have a house in the Imperial Capital.

Her sister, Liz is rootless, so she doesn’t have a house but Sytry has bought a reasonably large house near the border of the Imperial Capital from the beginning. It seems it double as a laboratory and a residence, but it is by no means gorgeous or spacious. It is a quiet and cozy house with a comfortable environment to live in, it is Sytry’s proud house.

And although, I have been invited several times over there, Sytry’s 『Hospitality』 is a machine that can completely turn a human into a useless human.

Over there I don’t need to do anything at all. I am relieved of all of my obligation and responsibilities and Sytry will do everything that needs to be done. All my desire is fulfilled, and my sense of time is completely numbed, I don’t even need to think or put up with anything at all.

First of all, if Liz didn’t notice that something strange was happening in the middle of it and came to pulled me out of it, I would still have been happily living in that hellish heaven. It is like a bottomless swamp for a man with a weak will.

Un. It sounds like I am blaming Sytry but the one who is completely in the wrong is me. She hasn’t done anything wrong at all.

Now, I recognize her hospitality as some kind of training for my mind and will. Even though I have been idling around for the past few days, if I go to her place now, I will just become a cripple person.

Ark and his companion were already waiting in the Lounge.

Buried deep in her but at the same time being her true core strength, a Level 5 “Saint (Shinkan: Priestess)”, Yu Shiiragi.

A little bit too headstrong against me, a “Magi (Madoushi: Mage)” coming from the far north and Level 6, Isabella Merles.

The ones who are always asking for trouble against Liz, so they are always looking at us badly, Armelle Hellstrom, a Level 6 “Warrior (Musha)” and Benetta a level 6 “Thief (Tozoku)”.

And the only one black point among this magnificent Party Members… The strongest person in the Imperial Capital. The Leader of “Ark Brave (Holy Spirit’s Son)” who is also Level 7, Ark Rodin the “Infinite Silver Thunder”.

Bright personalities, well-organized appearance, and finally, powerful. A man who is born with everything and will one day become a hero.

Today, Ark is wearing his everyday clothes, rather than his usual adventurer style which is the uniform of “Footprint”. However, there is no opening in his appearance. His face has a cheerful smile, but he has a mysterious dignity on it. He must be busy, but his expression doesn’t show any sign of fatigue.

And then, there is Liz bossily sitting face-to-face with them even though I don’t recall calling her. When she finds me, she waves her hand and give me a big smile.

“Cry-chaaan, over here. Isn’t it awful to not call me when you are doing something so funny?”

Except Ark, the look on his companion eyes doesn’t look favorable. They might have something planned, but they were suddenly called by me and had to face Liz who had a communication disorder so there is no helping it.

“This is… Right. It isn’t like we will be talking about something funny.”

“Please, leave it to me.”

“At least, I know how to negotiate on my own. The opposite side is Ark, so I can do it one way or another.”

It seems that Ark’s meticulous personality backfired, even though I came early so they wouldn’t have to wait.

If it were my party then it would have been good if half of my members were on time, but it is different for “Ark Brave (Holy Spirit’s Son)”.

I make at least a smile and raise my hand. As usual Ark also cheerfully laugh.

“I am sorry about calling you so suddenly, Ark. Forgive me, it is an emergency. It shouldn’t be a bad story for you either, Ark.

§　§　§

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Woooh Cry that was clearly an invitation to sleep with Sytry!

And will Ark accept Cry’s plead to get the mask? Watch out in the next part!

Tchao à plus!

This sentence was super ambiguous as there wasn’t any subject at all, I don’t know who is attacking or the one who is baiting, so I also tried to make it as ambiguous as possible. I think that the one who has a hole is Akasha, so Sytry think that if they attack now, they will be defenseless in case of a counter attack.

Isabella Merles (イザベラ?メルネス): Don’t know how to translate Merles, what is better? Merles or Melnes