Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 233

Chapter 233 Real Boss
Part 1
　Gaff-san looked as if he was absent-minded from the beginning to the end. Just like this, he nodded to my command and left the room.

　Apparently…… He wanted that rare mask really badly.

　Luke and Liz, followed by Kryhi, followed him. The only one left was Lucia, who was my escort, and me.
　Sora was single-mindedly moving the pan as if she were escaping reality, but when the Aburaage were fried, she finally turned off the fire and approached me.

　If you look closely, you can see that her face was pale.

“Wh-What, are you thinking!? You are letting him inherit that sacred mask!?” (Sora)

“Because, it is not like I needed it……” (Cry)

“Kuh…… No, way…… Are you going to betray me!? After, going so far, are you going to betray me !?” (Sora)

　…… I don’t need you to tell me that. It is not like I am forcing Sora to do anything and also I don’t need a mask that would cause me trouble.
　That is, after all, just a memento for me. It is better if someone who understands its value keeps it.

　There will be a feud with the real “Byakko (White Fox)” if I hand it over to him? ……. I miss the part where this is my problem1.
　The reason why the situation got so complicated in the first place is because of the (Temporary) Fox Mask Fan Club’s system.

　I don’t want to be told that I can’t, by coincidence, have the same mask as them as if possessing one was a crime. And it was Sora who rejected my suggestion to apologize honestly.

　Lucia, who had her arms crossed and was looking at Sora with her (usual) dissatisfied expression, sighed a little.

“Leader, what did you do this time?” (Lucia)

“Nothing yet……” (Cry)

“Is it from now on!? What are you going to do from now on!? “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”!! You are, a god! A God! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” (Sora)

“She is kind of saying the same thing as Ti, though……” (Lucia)

　Lucia did not even change her expression when she saw Sora fussing like a child with her head in her hands. She had been in the midst of trouble for so long that she was completely immune to this.

　If it was just the nerve, then 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 is probably top-class among Hunters.

　I don’t mean to brag, but I am unrivaled in being in situations where I don’t know what is going on at all. And Lucia and others who are close to me are second only to me in being accustomed to such situations.

　Sora *bishito* strongly pointed at me.

“I have made up my mind!　If “Byakko-sama (White Fox)” says so, then I will bring the other “Miko (Shrine Maidens)” to my sideee!” (Sora)

“U-Un, un, that’s right?” (Cry)

“Now that’s like this, I’ll drag everyone with me desuu! I won’t let you escape! I won’t let you get away by bequeathing the mask! No matter what the others say, you are the real thing desu! I did exactly what I was taught desu! That’s why, what is wrong is――This world!” (Sora)

“Religion is seriously scary……” (Cry)

　She knows she is wrong, but the way she coverts it is crazy.
　Or rather, by “Miko (Shrine Maiden)” does she mean those “Miko (Shrine Maidens)”? She is so different from the Miko I know about, tho’…… Is she gonna be alright?

　The one who is wrong is you, you know. And the one who is not wrong is me. How can I keep the situation from escalating?

“Watch me, “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”! For I, Sora Zoro, will increase your faction! At your command, I will make everyone make Aburaage!” (Sora)

　Sora ran out with teary eyes. Lucia *bishito* strongly thrust her index at her defenseless back and said.

“『Become a frog』!” (Lucia)

§

　As things got out of control, I called all my friends.
　I can’t do anything about it, but I have reassuring friends with me. I am sorry for calling them when they are so busy right before the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, but it is more likely that it will become a problem if I keep quiet.

　Luke and Liz are off to hunt criminals, so there were only four of us gathered: Anthem, Lucia, Sytry, and myself.
　However, they are enough. I sat back on the couch with my arms crossed and made a badass smile.

“The Thirty-eighth StranGri meeting. Liz and Luke are absentees. I asked you to gather here today to discuss how we can break out of the situation we are in.” (Cry)

“…… Umu.” (Anthem)

　Anthem’s “Umu” is reassuring. I placed a large jar on the table.

　Inside it, there was a light blue Sora-kaeru2. She was *petapeta* hitting the jar from the inside and *kerokero* crying. Poor thing……

　However, we couldn’t let her escalate the situation any further. I was surprised that Lucia had suddenly unleashed her Magic, but everything turned out okay.

　With apology, I cleared my throat with a small cough.

“First let me explain the situation. I am currently being followed by a group of fox-loving people whom I don’t know very well, and for some reason, they have mistaken me for their leader, so I am in a bind. I wanted to do something to clear up the misunderstanding, but they told me to give them any order, so I inadvertently gave them one. And at the same time, people will be furious at this Sora here when the misunderstanding gets cleared up, so she doesn’t want to clear the misunderstanding. What should I do?” (Cry)

“*Kerokero* Croak croak!” (Sora-kaeru)

“???? How, did you get into that situation?” (Sytry)

　The quick-witted Sytry was confused and blinked her eyes. How did I get into that situation? Well………… I have no idea.
　What did I do? I just put on a fox mask and walked around the city.

　Sytry crossed her arms for a moment, then clasped her hands together in a small gesture.

“Hmmm………… If you want a quick solution, how about we kill all of them or pay them off?” (Sytry)

　What a straight answer…… Kill them all or pay them off, huh……

　Well, killing them is out of questions, altho’――.

“It’s not a bad idea.” (Cry)

　It is not like we had any bad intentions. As for Sora’s attempt to cover up her mistake, she only did it because she is still a child.

　If I show how sincere I am, they will probably forgive us. The problem is just that my debt will increase.

”
”
“*Kerooo* Croaaak!?” (Sora-kaeru)

“Right? I am a little bit tied up at this time of the year, so let’s get this sorted out quickly!” (Sytry)

“*Kerokero* Croak, croak! *Keroooo* Croaaaak!” (Sora-kaeru)

　Sora wanted to say something, so I turned the jar over and took her out of the jar. Even though Sora was the size of the palm of my hand, her eyes were still *guruguru* rolling around.
　I put her down on the floor and asked Lucia to turn her back to normal.

　No matter how many times I see it, it is so weird to see a frog change to the size of a person.
　Sora looked like she was about to die. Her breathing was ragged and she looked as if she had seen the end of the world. If anything, the damages were probably greater to her mental state than to her physical state.

“Haaa, haaa, I-I thought I was going to die……” (Sora)

“Sorry, sorry. But…… You were trying to run, so…” (Cry)

“O-On what world do you transform someone who is trying to run away into a frog――” (Sora)

　She was catching her breath on top of the carpet for a while but quickly stood up and puffed out her chest.

“M-More than that, killing us is outrageous, desu! You are underestimating us! Do you know how many people we are!” (Sora)

“No, I wasn’t thinking about killing all of you.” (Cry)

　Or rather…… You make it sound like it is only a matter of numbers, but will it be possible if you are not many?
　Even though she said she serves a god, she was quite tough. She flipped her attitude really quickly.

“Like money will solve anything! We are a secret society, you know! We are something sacred!” (Sora)

“…… Theeeen, what am I supposed to do?” (Cry)