Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 240

Chapter 240 Byakko ②
Part 1
“Eh? Retire from the Supreme Martial Arts Festival and leave the city? Why…………? No…… Kool, I am sure you must have a good reason to say that.” (Kryhi)

　After hearing what Kool said, Kryhi, the Leader of the group, widened his eyes for a moment, but immediately made a serious expression.

　Inside a cramped inn, the members of 《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》 was gathered together.

　《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》 is a Party built around its leader, Kryhi Andrichhi.
　The members assembled, including Kool Saiko, are by no means big-time villains, and the only real coincidence is Kryhi’s strength. As for Kool and the others, they are at best second-rate in terms of ability, and none of them has an Alias.

　One of the reasons why Kool and the others have been overlooked so far is probably because, with the exception of Kryhi, their Leader, they do not have that much ability.
　And as for Kryhi, no one was sure that he was really a fake because he has a noble spirit befitting a Treasure Hunter.

　Until now, 《Strange Freak’s (Nageki no Akuryo)》 scope of activities had not been covered by 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》. They had never intentionally participated in large-scale joint operations, and when they were discovered, they just cover it up by saying that they were mere look-alikes. However, once they came face to face with the real thing, there was nothing they could do about it anymore.

　《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 apparently has no strong feelings against Kool and the others. But they know that they exist.
　There is no telling what they will do to them if they commit any more outrage by using a name that looks exactly like theirs. For Treasure Hunters, reputation sometimes precedes even the law.

　If this happens, they have no choice but to run away.

　A woman Alchemist with a terrible glazed look in her eyes. Thata woman had red-haired and had her legs crossed wildly on the table.
　Kutry Smyart, the 《Lowest Mountains (Saitei Sanmyaku)》, who has a poor, barely bulging chest, smoked a cigar and sighed deeply.

　Apparently, business was good in Cleat. Kutry, who fattened her own pockets by selling diluted and inferior Potions, is probably the worst member of this Party. Clutching a bottle of cheap liquor in her left hand and a cigar in her right, she looks like a thug no matter how you look at her.
　She is a rare member that probably surpasses the original 《Worst of the Worst (Saitei Saiyaku)》 in terms of infamy, including the fact that she is the stingiest even though she earns the most money.

“That’s because, Kool………… You are a scaredy-cat. But even if you weren’t, there’s no way we could beat the real deal.” (Kutry)

“Haaaaah!? What are you saying about my Onii-chan!? If it is Onii-chan, then he will absolutely definitely beat the real deal!” (Rusha)

“Are you stupid? Besides, even if this guy is good, the rest of our Party members are too weak. We didn’t even find an Anthem, and I’ve made a lot of money. It’s time to end this.” (Kutry)

　What Kutry said was very direct, but in a way she was right. If there is one biggest difference between the real and the fake thing, it would be the weakness of the Party members.

　The most inexperienced of them all is Rusha. In a Party with a powerful Magi named Kryhi, Rusha, an inexperienced magician, is a complete dead weight. According to Kryhi, she is talented, but even that is a far cry from Kryhi’s talent, who despite having no master, fought alone, and succeeded in what he does.

　Rusha yelled with tears in her eyes, shaking *iyaiya* horizontally her head.

“Shutup, shutup, shutup! You small boobs! Even though we finally got an entry ticket, the Supreme Martial Arts Festival is the perfect opportunity for Onii-chan to show his power, you know!?” (Rusha)

“…………” (Kutry)

　Zuri had an uninterested look on her face like she didn’t care if he can make himself known or not. In the first place, overall, Kool and the others were not too keen on that idea.
　Neither Kool nor Zuri nor Kutry was particularly obsessed with being a Treasure Hunter. They just went with the flow as there was someone who looked like the original so they started to pose as look-alikes.

　No, like us, Rusha is probably not interested in being a Hunter either. She is just longing for Kryhi.

　Kryhi thought for a while with a serious expression on his face, but eventually, he opened his eyes thinly and said with a badass expression.

“I see…… I understand your point. But, still――even if defeat awaits me, the Supreme Martial Arts Festival is a great opportunity. I want to challenge the real deal.” (Kryhi)

“Real deal?” (Zuri)

　At Zuri’s questioning look, Kryhi said in a cheerful voice as if he was singing.

“Aaah. All the warriors gathered here are the real deal. And there will be even stronger ones in the main tournament! If I retreat here, I’ll feel sorry for all the powerful opponents I’ve beaten so far! Now, I may be a fake――But I’ll fight here――And prove my power and pride! My soul as a Hunter demands it!” (Kryhi)

“That’s just in your head, man.” (Kutry)

　Kryhi does not seem to be offended at all by Kutry’s exasperated voice.

　I don’t understand how he can interact so much with the Clan Members that the real deal created and not notice it at all. I don’t understand how he could be working with the real deal to fight criminals at the request of the real deal and not notice. Even though, people would normally immediately realize that it is impossible that he is just a look-alike……

　I don’t know what the real deal is thinking. But apparently, it seemed that this time as well we couldn’t stop Kryhi.

　With his stomach *kirikiri* stirring up, Kool reflexively held his stomach.

　Kool Saiko is the brains of the Party. But Kryhi Andrichhi always pretends to listen to Kool, but never really listens.
　Zuri, who as a Thief, was sensitive to danger like this, asked Kool in a whisper.

“What do we do? Run away?” (Zuri)

“Hmmm……” (Kool)

　What do we do…… Kool frowned, crossed his arms, and groaned.
　It would be easy to just run away. We do not have any strong attachment to the Party, and if we run away, Kryhi will probably accept it with an excuse that he will make up on his own.

　But Kryhi Andrichhi is a man who is hard to leave by himself.

§　§　§

”
”

　It was a mysterious forest.
　The trees planted at equal intervals *potsupostu* spread out in all directions, but unlike an ordinary forest, you could not find any sign of life in it.
　There was no sound of birds, no sign of beasts, or even insects, and what was extremely mysterious was――The soil.

　The soil of this forest consisted of fine grains of sand that would flow easily if scooped up. It was a land poor in nutrients which would make it very difficult for plants to grow.
　And indeed, numerous attempts to plant trees in that location had all failed.

　Until that day when a high-level Hunter visited.

　【Toizant】. A land that was called the Land of Sand until just a few days ago.

　In the center of the forest, there was a small village.
　It was a strange village, where there was a mix of houses made of brick and houses made of wood.

　A tanned man with a thick turban wrapped around his head noticed that something was wrong and shouted in a panic.

“Oi, Kitsune-sama isn’t here!? Does anyone know what happened!?” (Man)

“What!?” (Man 2)

“Isn’t she just taking a nap somewhere?” (Man 3)