Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 234

Chapter 234 The You Know What ②
Part 1
　Cleat, the city of swords and battles. More than ten men were gathered in a room in the town, which was in the midst of the excitement for the Supreme Martial Arts Festival.
　There are people that smile. Some that frowned. Some that do not hide their irritation. They vary in age and appearance, but the only thing they have in common is the atmosphere they had on them.

　It was an atmosphere of a cannibal beast. The characteristic vigilance of those who have always lived by eating and not trusting other people is something that can be recognized at a glance even by ordinary people who are not involved in warfare.

　In fact, those gathered in that room were exactly those cannibalistic beasts.

　The Supreme Martial Arts Festival is a festival where warriors gather. And it is never just the good guys who gathered there.
　It takes a suitably skilled person to capture a bandit who has absorbed Mana Material. In this era, many renowned warriors are bounty Hunters on the side. That is why there are also many who hold grudges against them.

　A secret society that plots to overthrow a country out of its own desire. A band of thieves who mainly attack merchant fleets crossing the country, and Red Hunters who specialize in assassinations.
　Even if they don’t have any personal grudge, killing a renowned warrior provides notoriety. Or some would pay them in order to undertake a retaliation.
　It could even be said that it was a tradition at this time of the year for contestants to die outside of the tournament.

　But even so, it is normally impossible for people like them to gather in one place.

　Of course, those people who live on the dark side of society are not allied with each other.
　Sometimes they even scramble for profit and kill each other. An implicit truce is agreed upon during the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, but most people consider that killing each other is acceptable as long as they did not get caught.

　It is not for nothing that these people had been able to escape the authorities and Hunters. Even if at this time of year, Cleat is on the lookout for marauders.

　The reason why these people, who are by nature very cautious, decided to gather like this was because the person who contacted them was so important.

　There is no one who doesn’t know the name of the organization, but there is also no one who knows who they are.

　A secret society that lurks in the shadows and has long been hostile to all nations and organizations, and has always surpassed them.
　Its members, its exact size and influence, and even its leader are unknown. However, it is said that the organization is always behind major events and wars that shake a country, the dark sovereign.

　『Nine-Tails Shadow Fox (Kyubi no Kage Kitsune)』.

　And those men who lived on the same side knew that their reach was much wider than their reputation said.

　The 『Fox (Kitsune)』 is a huge organization. It is a terrifying opponent that has made many countries its enemy, yet those countries still haven’t managed to grab its tail. There are probably many of its members who are influential people in the public world.
　Its power is now equal to that of a nation. In fact, there are rumors that the organization originated from a once destroyed country.

　Therefore, even if they belonged to different organizations, they could not refuse the call.
　There is no way they would send a low-level subordinate as their representative.

　As long as they live in the darkness, they cannot escape the influence of a stronger darkness.

　In the midst of the tense atmosphere, one of the men speaks out as if he couldn’t stand the silence.

“But, what could have happened in order for the 『Fox (Kitsune)』 to call us? Have you heard anything?” (Man)

“No idea. They have gathered many different organizations. They must have a good reason.” (Man 2)

“Maybe a warning or a job for us. But typical of the 『Fox (Kitsune)』, they didn’t even communicate the purpose of the meeting, they are way too cautious or paranoid though――” (Man 3)

　They observed and kept each other in check. This convocation was quite different, considering the “Fox’s (Kitsune)” previous tactics.

　Some of the members here had made deals with the “Fox (Kitsune)” as their organization representative, but their usual communication was by letter or if it had to be face-to-face, only one-on-one.
　The 『Fox (Kitsune)』 hates leaving traces behind. If it was a warning or a job, a one-on-one would have been enough.

　There must be a big reason for gathering so many people that are not their members in one place.

　In the underground, respect is primordial. No matter how powerful the opponent is, there is no way that an organization will remain silent if one of them is killed here.
　However, there was no way that the “Fox (Kitsune)” didn’t know that.

　And then, an old man sitting in the far back――An executive from a certain organization opened his mouth gravely.

“It might be related to 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》” (Old man)

“!!” (Man 1)

“If you’re here, then you already know. The story about how that man foiled the 『Fox’s (Kitsune)』 plan.” (Old man)

　Just a few days ago, a Conference took place in Toizant, the country of sand.
　The memory of a Level 8 Hunter being selected as the escort of the Emperor of Zebrudia was still fresh.

　And although it is not information that has been spread publicly, anyone with an acute ear knows that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 prevented the attack on the Emperor that had occurred.

　And hear that the assailant was the 『Fox (Kitsune)』 too.

　It is hard to imagine that someone could survive an attack from the “Fox (Kitsune)” which has many high-level hunter-class members.
　Zebrudia Empire’s knights are said to be well trained, but that alone would not be enough to escape the “Fox’s (Kitsune)” evil clutches. Although the details of the situation have not been reported, it is not difficult to imagine that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was active in the fight against the “Fox (Kitsune)”.

　And, it is said that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 will participate in this year’s Supreme Martial Arts Festival on the recommendation of the Emperor of Zebrudia.
　So if you consider all this, there was only one conclusion.

“Retaliation, huh.” (Man 1)

　The word that was said by one of them caused the others to gasp.
　The “Fox (Kitsune)” will not tolerate those who dare to stand against them. Even if the opponent is a Level 8, someone who is above that Ark Rodan, there is no stopping them. It is because of its thoroughness that this organization is been feared.

　《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 the one who defended the Emperor of Zebrudia and threw dirt on the “Fox’s (Kitsune)” face will be crushed during this Supreme Martial Arts Festival, in which he will compete on the Emperor’s recommendation. There will be no more effective retaliation than that.

　No one can imagine how he managed to survive an attack from the “Fox (Kitsune)”, but now, the story about 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is already over.
　No matter how monstrous he is, as long as he is a human, there are limits to his vigilance. 《First Step (Hajimari no Ashiato)》, the Clan that this man manages is a powerful Clan, but the size of his organization is too different compared to the “Fox (Kitsune)”.

　Silence filled the room again.
　No one said anything more. But their eyes shone with darkness.

　One feels his blood tingling at the hint of war, another instantly calculates the benefits of aiding the organization called “Fox (Kitsune)” in order to defeat 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》.
　Others are afraid and excited by the opportunity to retaliate for what was once done to their friends.

　If the 《Fox (Kitsune)》 are going to start a war, there is no question about not participating. 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 who has completely crushed all those who stood against him, is the natural enemy of all those who lives on the dark side of the society.
　There is a possibility that they will be discarded pieces, but this kind of thing happens everywhere. They just have to get their landing well.

　And at that moment, the only door that was in the room opened.

　The heat that was trapped inside escaped through the wide-open door.
　The one who entered was a slender man wearing a crimson fox mask. The way he stood there took their breath away.

　He was dressed in a kimono-like outfit with no unnecessary ornaments and had a sword at his waist.
　His face was hidden by a mask, but his flaming crimson hair, which extends from the back of his head, was tied back, and although he was not dressed in an intimidating manner, the aura of the Mana Material quietly rising from his body was so thick that it took the breath away of men who have lived in the dark side of the society until now.

　It was the first time they had seen him. They had heard that the members of the “Fox (Kitsune)” were all skilled, but he would undoubtedly be a renowned swordsman in the public world.

　The man entered the room without hesitation, not caring about the countless stares he received, looked around at the men gathered there, and said as if it were nothing.

“Oooooh, they are all gathered here. I don’t know why, but…… For now, die.” (Crimson Mask)

§　§　§