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

Chapter103，Part1: 1 - Vacation Begins

Chapter 103 Vacation Begins

Part 1

When the sun set and the Imperial Capital was wrapped in the darkness, one horse-drawn carriage was parked in front of the Clan House.

It was an inconspicuous box-shaped carriage pulled by two horses.

There wasn’t any evidence of the carriage belonging to a Clan nor was there an emblem proving the carriage belonging to Footprint.

With this, at first glance, it wouldn’t seem that people from Footprint were using it.

Eva, who had prepared the carriage for a non-business purpose, turned her eyes to me.

“As you had said that it would be better if it doesn’t stand out……”

“Un, un, it has a good feeling.”

As expected of her. Originally, a carriage can’t be rented unless you made a reservation in advance.

A carriage owned by the Explorer Association may offer some flexibility but the carriage in front of me didn’t feel like belonging to them.

To prepare for it even though one day hasn’t passed yet, it really showed how shining Eva’s skill was.

“It is a rental, so if you break it, then you need to reimburse it. Even if it doesn’t cost a lot……”

“…… I won’t break it.”

“…… How many times have you said that and broke it?”

Behind her glasses, her eyes were staring at me.

It can’t be helped but it seemed that I was not trusted at all. I cleared my throat a little and said.

“I didn’t break it. It broke.”

It wasn’t my fault, you know. There was nothing I could do.

I used to think that carriages were sturdy things. Now, I know very well how brittle it is. If you were attacked by a flock of Monsters or Phantoms, then there won’t be any remains left even if the carriage had metal armor on it.

Of course, I wasn’t intentionally doing it, I wasn’t intentionally plunging head first into a Monster’s den, but it was just that Hunter was a very dangerous job.

Nowadays, I have even been banned by carriage insurances for Hunters. It is so strange……

Eva looked down at me who was fully armed with Relics and spoke in a clerical tone.

“………… I would really appreciate it if you could come back as soon as possible.”

“Aaah, of course I know.”

Eva may not have heard about it being a vacation by Liz yet. Her sight didn’t include any thorns on it.

Coming back as soon as possible. Ah, I will be back as soon as possible. However I didn’t say when I would return. Even the shortest time for me to return is only after the 『White Sword Gathering』 were over.

“By the way, when is the 『White Sword Gathering』?”

“Eh? …… It is the same day every year…… Exactly three weeks later.”

Three weeks later, huh…… It is surprisingly long. This is going to be a long vacation.

I will probably still have a lot of time left if I just went and picked up Luke and the others. It may not be so bad to go sightsee outside of the Imperial Capital after a long while.

In the end, I couldn’t find any other Clan Members to accompany me. Some had administrative businesses, weddings or felt sick. Well, it was also my fault to suddenly call out to them but the timing was too bad.

However, depending on how I think about it, I think that it was all good because the number of people had been narrowed down. Because having only one carriage was enough.

In the first place, I haven’t decided where to go yet…… I am really sorry for this random occasion.

“Cry-san, thank you for waiting.”

And at that time, I suddenly saw Sytry coming here from the other side of the road.

A deep gray robe with a large gray bag on her. On her hand, there was a sturdy trunk case where at first glance, looked like a travel suit. The impact is lighter because Kilkill-kun wasn’t here as she was always taking it when going out for a hunt.

The preparation for the trip ―― It has always been Sytry’s role to prepare foods, potions, Shrine information and countermeasure tools. Especially for Luke and Liz who always forget things they need, so she had taken the role to support them.

The bag on her back shouldn’t be a “Magic Bag (Space-Time Bag)” with an infinite capacity but it was a very mysterious bag that contains everything you need. Her ability as a rear guard was truly outstanding.

As I squinted at my nostalgia, Sytry came in front of me and lightly looked back.

“Cry-san, let me introduce them. They are my new collaborators.”

“…… Eh?”

There were three big men with hooligan faces looking down on me with piercing eyes.

They were in my line of sight but I never thought that they were with Sytry. All three of them are larger than me and their hair and eye colors are all different but they generally have a villain appearance.With suntan dark skin and hairy beard, one had an old scar on his cheek and another had a large tattoo on most of his bare shoulder. The last one had no scars or tattoos on him but have a fox-like cunning eyesight.

Their choker, made of common metal, worn around their neck stands out a lot.

It was at the level that if you encounter them while walking along the road then you should immediately avoid them. I definitely? don’t want to ride the same carriage as them.

The three men looked at me and said nothing. Just a heavy silence and pressure. Eva was also frowning her eyebrows.

Sytry *nikoniko* smiles and says. You have a lot of courage to smile so much while being surrounded by three villainous face men.

“Etto………… They are Black, White and Gray.”

“…… Is that, their real name?”

“It is more something like a codename.”

Codename…… Are they using it based on their hair color?

I don’t know what kind of relation you have with them but were they okay with that?

The three men behind you had a clear dissatisfied expression when you said that. A blue streak appeared on their forehead and there was also the sound of teeth clenching. Their hands were also trembling like crazy. Why are you staying silent?

It is the clever Sytry. There shouldn’t be a problem, but just in case, I quietly check something with Sytry.

“Uuuun…… You say collaborators, but were they okay with it?”

“Of course. As they owe me something.”

It didn’t look like it at all. Black, White and Gray’s stare were ones that were sent toward their enemies. You can even feel their murderous intent.

I didn’t know what they owed you but it didn’t look like someone who would follow you for a fun vacation. Or rather, I want you to not take them if you can.

“Are you going to take all three of them?”

“Etto…… I was thinking of taking them for a test ―― “

Sytry once again turned around, looked up at the three men and clapped her hands as if she had come up with a good idea.

“If, there is a member that Cry-san doesn’t like, then I will dispose of him immediately. I think I can do it…… Before Onee-chan comes here.”

Dispose of him, that is a very peculiar way of saying it.

Those three were probably Sytry’s subordinates. Sytry’s words completely changed the three men’s expression into a tensed one.

They have probably been hired for a job. If they think that it might end up in a failure then it is unavoidable that their expression will change.

I also had to do some unpleasant work. Living is such a difficult thing.

And, I am very sorry but three of them is way too many. Liz and Tino are coming, so the carriage was already full.

Sytry makes a light smile.

“Please don’t hesitate to say it. You don’t need to worry about them holding a grudge.”

“Right……”

While crossing my arms, I check Black, the one with black hair. His tight body looks like a fierce warrior who has gone through numerous battlefields.

Black raised his voice for the first time with a tensed expression.

“Bl, Black. I have confidence, in killing.”

Killing…… Did you have an opportunity to use that kind of skill? Well, he seems to have enough ability to be an escort.

Then, I check White, the one who has properly tied his long white hair behind. Although not as big as Black, the tattoo on his shoulder was obviously showing that he was not an ordinary citizen.

White says in a dry out voice.

“Wh, White. It, it is an honor to meet you. I, I will do anything.”

“Anything?”

“Uh…… Anything!”

Fumu…… Motivated enough. Does it mean that you are willing to carry our luggage or be our escort? Was he a nice person despite having a face like his?

The last one ―― I look at Gray, the one with gray hair. Gray looked at me as if he was checking me in return.

All three of them were recommended by Sytry and seem to be very strong. But you know. If you calmly think about it, wasn’t Liz and Tino good enough to be my escort? I don’t care if it was a Clan Member, but I doubt I can rest if I am with a stranger.

I return my line of sight back to Sytry and do a half-baked smile.

“I am sorry but, I don’t think I need the three of them……”

“!!”

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Here’s an extra chapter for the week!

Should I leave Black, White, Gray or change to Kuro, Shiro Haiiro? Leave a comment to make me know.

Aaah Cry just sent the three of them to their death sentence! Well that was nice knowing you XD

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Etto: Japanese for “Erm…”Black, White, Gray: Should I change to Kuro, Shiro, Haiiro or leave Black, White, Gray?