Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 236

Chapter 236 Oracle
Part 1
　Explorer Association, Cleat branch. In a room of an inn where he has a business relationship, Gark Welter frowned as he looked at the newspaper.

“Muh…… Incidents are down 80 percent from previous years………… How did he do that?” (Gark)

　Every year, Cleat turns into a devil’s den at this time of the year. The newspapers published in Cleat are usually filled with disturbing articles, like criminal groups that are trying to make a name for themselves by beating up those who come from outside, and those who want to retaliate in the midst of the chaos.

　Naturally, many strong Hunters from the Explorer Association received many requests, but this year the situation was clearly different.

　There were only a handful of incidents that should have been caused by those criminal organizations that were covered in the newspapers.

　It is unlikely that the “Fox (Kitsune)” retreated because they know that we will do something against them.
　It is hard to imagine that information that could hardly be grasped by the information broker from the Explorer Association would be widely known among criminal organizations.

　A quick glance at the newspapers revealed that, instead of incidents involving attacking a participant of the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, there were several articles reporting that 《Torch Knights (Touka Kish-Dan)》 had destroyed several prominent criminal organizations.

　There is no doubt. 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 did something.

　The opponents are, to a greater or lesser extent, elite individuals who have long survived on the dark side. Aside from their strength, they are especially good at hiding.
　《Torch Knights (Touka Kish-Dan)》 is certainly a Party that specializes in chasing after bounty hunters, but the most troublesome part of bounty hunting is locating the bounty hunter. It is difficult to imagine that they have obtained information on so many different organizations and then moved to attack them.

　In the first place, 《Torch Knights (Touka Kish-Dan)》 belong to 《First Step (Hajimari no Ashiato)》, so it is natural to assume that some sort of communication took place between them.

　Cry is fearless, but there is a part of him that keeps him from doing too much.
　Is the reason why he started to destroy those organizations because it would lead to the eradication of the “Fox (Kitsune)”, or because it would be bad if they were to come to aid the “Fox (Kitsune)” in the event that they were cornered?

　Other organizations and the “Fox (Kitsune)” are not necessarily allies, but 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is definitely a common enemy for them. If push comes to shove, it is possible that they would band together and fight back.

　Gark has also been involved in large-scale organization annihilation operations before, but as this newspaper confirms, this one seems to be on a different scale.

　I groaned and thought a little, but I couldn’t see the full picture of Cry’s strategy at all.

　The only thing I can tell you is that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is doing something ridiculously bold.
　After all, while fighting the “Fox (Kitsune)” head-on, there was no trace of tension in his expression, nor did he ask for Gark’s cooperation.

　Haah, that’s right. Sure indeed, you have been a guy like that from the very beginning.

　Ark as an individual and Cry as a group. Ark stands out but Cry is surprisingly inconspicuous in relation to their activities.
　If Ikkitousen1 members gather together, harder it is for them to stand out. From the very beginning, everything must have been in the palm of 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 hand.

　There is apparently a reason why 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 has a mask with a blind laughing skeleton as their symbol and a terrifying Party name.

　The skeleton is said to be ridiculing you so much that it is grieving.

　――You can see less than us even though we have no eye holes, you trash.

　Cry himself said he forgot to put eyeholes on it, but how could anyone be that stupid?
　Gark’s smile deepened as he recalled the scene when he said that aloof remark.
　Even if he is faking it, he is doing it so poorly, so that is why people say that he has a high provocation power. In addition, he gives the impression that he really means what he says, even when people recognize what he does, he does not change, so his nature is really bad.

　And there, without knocking, the door opened vigorously.

　Tall and slender, with a form like a candle. 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》, whose appearance has hardly changed since Gark was a newcomer, stood there for a moment with a posture of kicking the door and stepped majestically inside.

　Rosemary Puropos. She should have already retired from the front lines, but the presence of Mana Material that could be felt in her body is still active.
　Although she had become softer than in the past, the witch in front of me was the kind of person who would be dismissed as a Youkai2 by anyone who looked at her.

”
”
　《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 *zukazuka* crept inside, snorted once, and lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile.

“Branch Manager, apparently the 『Hellgate』 is going to have a secret meeting. I am going to burn them down.” (Rosemary)

“…… Where is this information coming from?” (Gark)

　Hellgate is a well-known organization in the nearby country.
　Of course, they can’t be compared to the “Fox (Kitsune)”, which hands reach all around the world, but it is unmistakably A-Class organization that is known for being a small group of elite.
　It seems likely that only a group of this class would join hands with the secretive “Fox (Kitsune)” or at least have information on them.

　Gark, however, frowned. This time, Gark and his team were a small group of elite. Even including Gark and Rosemary, they could only count on one hand the number of people they had on their side.
　There was the fear of them being alerted if too many people gathered, and in the first place, if we were going to have an all-out war with the “Fox (Kitsune)”, gathering all the Hunters in the Imperial Capital Branch would not be enough.

　Hellgate is a formidable organization. They are reasonably powerful, but unlike the “Fox (Kitsune)”, they are not as secretive.
　If we attacked, a battle would be inevitable. However, Rosemary’s expression showed no sign of concern.

“I burned the information broker. I taught you long ago, Gark. Burn them slowly…… Only what they say before turning into ashes are valuable.” (Rosemary)

　It is believed that information brokers will sell any information they can get for money, but not if it puts them in danger.
　But apparently, the information broker decided that 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 was more frightening than Hellgate. Gark sighed deeply, imagining her figure in the corner of his mind.

　But if you burned him, there is probably nothing left.

　However, it is certainly true that it would be a disgrace to just sit back and wait.

　Perhaps she feels the same way, Rosemary says in a voice that chills people’s heart.

“I am going to show that kid, that I am still active.” (Rosemary)

　Did her old age not diminish her temperament as a Hunter at all?
　But the same is true of Gark, when a talented young man shows up, their blood can’t help but boil.

§

　Apparently, 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 has become much quieter.
　In her heyday, the building would have burned like a candle, but this attack was as quiet as a creeping fire.

　The location of the secret meeting was at the edge of the city of Cleat. It looked like an old building.

　Immediately, she burned down the first floor moderately, and Rosemary stepped into the enemy’s territory.
　There was a terrible smell. The walls and ceilings of the building were supposed to be burning hot, but only the inside was burning.

　Maybe they were on guard duty, a few armed men were lying on the ground. They seemed to be alive, but they couldn’t move. Then Rosemary raised her shoulders.

“You are going to interrogate them, aren’t you? As expected, even I can behave.” (Rosemary)

“…… That’s natural. In every branch, public opinion will become noisy when you have dead people. Even if they are criminals.” (Gark)

“That is just how they do it.” (Rosemary)

　I can’t believe that this is the same person who once insisted that if she doesn’t turn them into ashes, she won’t be able to sleep. I can’t say anything because I also used to have similar principles――But anyway, the years go by so fast.

　I intended to work with 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》, but the way she does things didn’t really change.
　Overwhelming chanting speed, overwhelming magical power, and overwhelming destructive power. Fascinated by fire Magic and having reached the abyss of it, Rosemary can hardly use any Magic other than Fire Magic. For a Magi, whose strength lies in their versatility, what she did is a heresy.

　But in other words――She became a Level 8 with just that one thing alone.