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

Chapter273，Part1: 1 - Root of All Evil

Chapter 273 Root of All Evil

Part 1

Flying magic lacks stability. There are several types of flying magic, but it is said that it is very difficult to achieve balance, whether it is by manipulating wind or gravity.

Leaving aside the fact of just making your body float, it seems difficult to move freely in the air and even first-rate Magi are not good at flight magic as they can crash if they fail.

This is also the reason why flying Relics and magical beasts with wings that can be ridden are traded at high prices. It is already difficult enough to fly by yourself, but when you have to fly a large number of people by yourself, the level of difficulty jumps even higher and in some countries, there are Magi that are trained exclusively in flight magic.

On the other hand, our Lucia has acquired several magic skills that can be used for flight.

It is said that controlling your posture and staying stable in the air are closely related to a Magi’s motor nerves, but there is nothing impossible for Lucia Roger, the 《Unrestricted Creation (Bansho Jizai)》, who has trained extensively with a grimoire that reflects my longing for the sky. Maybe.

“Do you understand, hold on tight, Leader. Even though I got the hang of it thanks to the “Flying kite (Soraton)”, it is really, really hard to maintain your balance.” (Lucia)

“…… Aaaah, that kite you were flying on, right? Lucia, you think of interesting things, don’t you?” (Cry)

“Huh!? Moooh!” (Lucia)

Come to think of it, I feel like there was a scene in a story I read a long time ago where people were flying on a kite. Perhaps her inspiration was stimulated from there to develop this technique?

Pfff………… She is indeed my Imouto.

I waited for Lucia to straddle it and I rode on the back of her staff――Her broom. But how can you be fine riding on such a thin broom……

I can count the number of times I have ridden a broom, but every time, my butt hurts. Flying in the sky doesn’t mean that your body is getting lighter.

“…… Wouldn’t it be better to ride a kite?” (Cry)

“Kuh!! Come on, hurry up and grab it!” (Lucia)

Well, it certainly looks like it would stand out if we were riding a kite.? Since I was scolded, I had no choice but to hold onto Lucia tightly, and her broom slowly floated up.

I soon lost my footing. After all, the surface area is so small that the center of gravity is unstable even if you hold on tightly to her body. Seriously who is the guy who thought that riding a broom was a good idea, but this was not something that I could say to Lucia, who worked really hard to recreate it.

From my arms that were firmly wrapped around her body, I could feel Lucia taking a deep breath. And then, her broom suddenly accelerated. In an instant, we leaped out of the opened Clan Master office’s window.

All I could do was cling tightly to Lucia’s body. When I was escorting the Emperor, I had a hard time riding on Kruz iron horse, but the speed of Lucia’s broom was in a different league compared to that.

Mages who can run freely in the sky are so powerful that some countries have created a special group for them in the military. Accelerating at once, the broom changes direction just before it hits the building in front of it and soars. With the powerful G force that hit my body, I involuntarily let out a voice sounding like a crushed frog.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I am riding a broom in the city……

“Ugeh, your control――” (Cry)

Lucia, who was controlling her broom, shouted at me as I just clung to her helplessly.

“Don’t let out such strange voiiiiiiice! I am already doing it! Because of you, Leader, the precision of my control is――” (Lucia)

“Too much, speed.” (Cry)

My vision rotated greatly. My senses are not quite keeping up with the movement. I should have worn my Comfortable Vacation.

The reason why I can’t block the G force with my Barrier Ring is probably because I haven’t reached the activation conditions. Probably just barely. But well, there doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense even if it activates.

My vision *guruguru* spins around. I look down and see countless tiny people pointing and murmuring at the witch Lucia, which suddenly came into view and was flying in the sky on a broom.

In front of the Clan House is a big street, and carriages come and go frequently during the day, but now most of them stopped and were paying attention to us.

No matter how rich in human resources the Imperial Capital is, there aren’t that many people who fly in the sky……

The broom accelerates further, leaving all attention behind at once. And Lucia shouts through the roaring wind.

“If I slow down! It would be unstable! Do you! Know! How hard! It is to not be! Upside down! In this unstable! Position!” (Lucia)

The wind is too strong. I feel like it is faster than before. Or maybe I got duller? …… There was a recoil when I used 『Dark Wings of the Night Sky』 but apparently that Relic had mitigated those inconveniences to some extent. It is a new discovery. But to think we would keep on being below the Barrier Ring’s threshold――.

The wind pressure makes it difficult to even breathe. I talked to her, not knowing what was going on.

“Lucia, not bad, not bad at all………… Huh!?” (Cry)

And then Lucia disappeared in an instant. No――It was me who was gone.

My arms had lost their strength. By the time I realized this, I had already started to fall.

My body tilts downwards. My body is pulled to the ground in place of the wind that had just been crushing me. I am――Helpless.

However, I was at peace. I am used to falling, and I even have a Barrier Ring.

“!? Whyyy!? Nii-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!” (Lucia)

§

Lucia, who is always calm and collected, screams breathlessly with a face devoid of any blood.

.

“It doesn’t make! Any sense!” (Lucia)

“…… Nice catch!” (Cry)

“Please, stop messing around! Nii-san!” (Lucia)

I can’t say anything. I don’t mean to mess around, tho’…… I still fell even though I was just clinging to my Imouto in such an ugly way, I am utterly amazed at my own lack of power.

But that was obvious. I mean, I also fell from the Iron Horse…… Of course, if you go this fast my hand will let go.

But after all, Lucia is still reliable. Kruz was also reliable, but this sister of mine is even more so. As her brother, I am proud of her.

“To think you can turn around and catch me as I fall…… Not bad, not bad at all.” (Cry)

…… Isn’t acrobatics already? The way Lucia let out a tremendous yell, caught up with me in my free fall, and then released her right arm from her broom and caught me in mid-air, may possibly go down in legend.

I am getting used to the broom’s speed. The cityscape of the Imperial Capital seen from above is so beautiful that I might unintentionally let go.

“Once again, I just got a new skill that can be used nowhere――” (Lucia)

“Well…… Growth is the product of accumulations.” (Cry)

“!? Reflect on what you just did!” (Lucia)

Well, even if you tell me that――Maybe I was too accustomed to walking over life and death situations. Nay, I never walked towards that situation tho’.

In order not to fall again, I put more strength into the arm I put around her.? I have to be careful not to pull her hair……

“Heyyyy, you really saved me. Hahahahaha……” (Cry)

“………… Next time, I will abandon you.” (Lucia)

After all, what you should have is a solid and reliable Imouto who is a Magi. She also recharges my Relic, so I would have been useless a long time ago if she hadn’t been there. Well, I would have been useless normally without Luke and the others――No, maybe it is possible that I would have retired by now and lived in peace?

………… Let’s not think about this any further.

What is important is not the past but the future. As I looked ahead while enduring the wind that was facing me, I saw something unbelievable.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. At the direction of our destination――At the place where the dojo managed by the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 should be.

“………… That’s strange.? Wasn’t there a bigger building over there?” (Cry)

“………………” (Lucia)

Thawne Rowell, the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 is said to be the strongest swordsman in the Imperial Capital. He is not a Treasure Hunter, but his skills, cultivated over a lifetime, far surpass those of even High-level Hunters, and he is considered one of the best swordsmen of all time.

Naturally, his reputation is highly respected in Zebrudia, where martial arts are held in high esteem, and his authority is said to be comparable to that of a high-ranking nobleman.

If I remember correctly, there should have been a dojo that was donated by the nobles under his tutelage as a sign of respect for the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》, the largest dojo――The largest training ground even in the surrounding countries. I remember that when I had just arrived in the Imperial Capital, Luke and I came to see it together and were so moved by the burning passion coming out of it that we shouted in joy.

Now, there aren’t even shadows or remnants of it――No, there are still shadows and remnants of it.

“…………………… Did they demolish it? Even though it was pretty new.” (Cry)

“…………” (Lucia)

What should have been a huge training ground was now a pile of rubble. A lot of onlookers and knights maintaining order surrounded the area and were making a fuss.

Although it has not completely collapsed and there are still some pillars and walls here and there, it will probably take a considerable amount of time to repair them. However, the most notable thing is the disappearance of the tower that used to stand tall in the center of the training ground, which used to be a landmark of the training ground.

No, it hasn’t disappeared. It hasn’t disappeared, but――It is about one-third smaller by eye estimation. It is not my imagination. I can’t help but laugh as the roof is gone.

“Haha, hahahahahaha, did they remodel it? Lucia, isn’t it shorter than before? Hahahahahahahaha.” (Cry)

“………………” (Lucia)

My dry laughter disappears with the sound of the wind.

You are kidding me, right!? How? How can anything shorten the tower? Huh? Why isn’t this big incident in the newspaper?

Clearly, the destruction is on a catastrophic scale. What is strange is that the other buildings are intact.

You probably wouldn’t have noticed it if you were watching it from the ground, but the shortened section looks like――.

I put my hand around Lucia’s stomach, who had completely stopped talking a little while ago.

“………………” (Lucia)

“Look, Lucia.? It looks like it was cut by a sword. That’s so stupid! What size can that sword be!? Hey, Lucia, say something. Lucia?” (Cry)

“Nii-san………… You idiot…” (Lucia)

Lucia finally answered in a small voice.? That’s bad…… If this was my fault, they might not forgive me.

Were there any victims? Who did it? Was it Luke? Can you solve this with money or doing a Dogeza? I never expected something like this to happen but is it going to be alright?

Or rather, why would a training ground be dismantled by a sword? Isn’t that strange?

………… I-I want to run away…… But I can’t. It would be fine if I was alone, but I can’t do that in front of my Imouto.

She has already seen a lot of my disappointing parts, but I still have my pride.

“I see people are gathering at the dojo. It looks like Luke-san is there too, so let’s land down there.” (Lucia)

While holding onto Lucia tightly, I only moved my head and looked at the center of the half-destroyed dojo she was pointing at. Just as Lucia had said, I could see several shadows around the debris.

“………… Lucia is so brave.” (Cry)

The training ground given by high-ranking nobility should be a source of pride for the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 disciples. Even if the one who had been given it was the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》, it had been destroyed, so I have no idea what they will do to me.

What’s more, Luke is always causing trouble for them. Luke is serious about swordsmanship and strengthening himself, but he knows no etiquette and shows no interest in money or authority.

Some of the disciples of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》, which is said to include many nobles, might not like it. This incident was like pouring oil on a fire.

Besides, there are an insane number of disciples of the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》. I know some of them, but none of them are that close to me. Even if the 《Sword Saint (Kensei)》 himself forgives me, I don’t know if the others will――.

“!? Whose fault do you think this is, whose!” (Lucia)

“………… N-No, no, no? No way…… Right! You wouldn’t think that the man who is called the strongest swordsman in Zebrudia, with all his skill and mental strength, would be defeated by a magic sword, do you?” (Cry)

“…………” (Lucia)

Well, I didn’t know that it was a magic sword in the first place…… It certainly looked pretty ominous, but Luke and I were fine with it………… That Eliza, she is always in a daze, but this time she has brought something very nasty with her.

Lucia said nothing to me as I quickly found a new excuse, changed our direction of travel, and increased her speed.

§　§　§

TL notes:

Thanks for reading! Here’s an extra chapter thanks to Austen and Chulbom ko-fi!

Cry falling from the broom was just him training Lucia, sasuga Cry!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Here Cry is talking about Kruz Iron Horse but there wasn’t any in the Web so I think this is Light content.