Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 242

Chapter 242 Help
Part 1
“………… Really, what is he doing……” (Eva)

　Eva put her fingers on her forehead and sighed deeply.
　The Vice-Clan Master of 《First Step (Hajimari no Ashiato)》 has a wide network of contacts. In particular, her merchants’ network includes not only those in Zebrudia, but also Cleat.

　Only a few days after coming to Cleat.
　According to the information I gathered as a matter of habit, the Clan Master was apparently very active since his arrival in the city.

　The number of crimes has been reduced and well-known bandits have been captured. There is also information about Gark, Rosemary Puropos, the 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 in the mix.
　Although the name of 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is not clearly mentioned, there is no longer any room for doubt when 《Torch Knights (Touka Kish-Dan)》 are involved, in addition to the aforementioned information.

　To pull off such a feat in front of such a big stage, should I say that he is as bold as ever――.

　Is there anything I can do? Such thoughts crossed my mind, but Eva has never been able to keep up with the Master’s scheming.
　Eva’s involvement is usually after all is said and done. This time too, the fact that it was caught in Eva’s information network suggests that it was already over.

　In the first place, if he needed help, he would be the one who would ask for it. As a Vice-Clan Master, all I can do is clean up afterward.

　It wasn’t like he wasn’t trusting us. The young man called 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 has always been a man who could handle an infinite variety of situations even from Eva’s perspective, who had known him for some time.

　With a difficult look on my face, I was checking the newspapers of various companies that had been brought to me when I suddenly heard the sound of *dondon* banging on the door.

“Help, Eva!!” (Cry)

“Wh-What is it, so suddenly――” (Eva)

　Sure, I thought that if he needed help, he would be the one who would ask for it, but it was too fast. My heart wasn’t ready at all.

　When I unlocked the door, the Clan Master jumped in, looking as relaxed as usual.
　Behind him was Sytry and something small (Perhaps a child), covered and hidden by a cloth.

　When he looked around the room and saw that Eva was alone, Cry expired a deep breath.

“…… So, what happened, for you to ask for help?” (Eva)

　This was not the first time Cry had asked Eva for help. Most of it was cleanup tasks and not much about helping him.
　Apparently, this Clan Master was not good at the tedious part of cleaning up and dealing with people, even though he solved incidents without a hitch.

　It would probably be the same this time too. We are right before the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, and as one would expect, even Cry could not afford to settle everything on his own.

“You will help me?” (Cry)

“………… Well, if it is something I can help with――” (Eva)

　The Clan Master, who always looks unsure of himself despite his abilities, expired another breath as if relieved when he heard Eva’s words, raised his index finger, and said in a hushed voice.

“First, I want you to look at this.” (Cry)

　Cry gently peeled off the cloth covering the child. Eva’s thoughts completely froze as its face appeared from underneath.

　What appeared beneath it was Zebrudia Imperial Highness――Princess Murina Atrum Zebrudia.
　I have seen her in pictures and I have seen her disguised as a maid at the White Sword Gathering with my own eyes. There is no way I could be mistaken.

“!? Wai… Wh… Wh-What does that mea――” (Eva)

“Actually, she is――A fake.” (Cry)

“!???” (Eva)

　I couldn’t understand anything anymore. Her Imperial Princess didn’t move in the slightest even when she met Eva’s gaze, she just blinked slowly.

　My thoughts that were once frozen gradually started to work.

　No matter how you look at her, (except for her clothes) you can only see her as Her Imperial Princess, but at the same time, Her Imperial Princess cannot be in a place like this.
　The Princess of the great nation of Zebrudia is an important figure in her own right. She is always protected by her Imperial Guards when she travels, and to begin with, she has no freedom to move.

　The fact that I was able to adapt so quickly to this ridiculous situation was probably because I had adapted myself to this as I have been involved in ridiculous situations like this one before.
　As I was calming down my breath that was almost hyperventilating, I asked with a voice as low as Cry’s.

“By that………… What do you mean?” (Eva)

“She has been artificially created. It’s bad.” (Cry)

“Artificially, created……?” (Eva)

I slowly chew on those words.

　That is――Bad. This Clan Master often says it is bad for trivial things, but this time it is really bad.

　I look again at the fake Imperial Princess in front of me. Her hair color, eye color, height, body, and everything else is just like Her Imperial Princess. I think the only difference is the expression on her face.
　Her Imperial Princess, known for her gentle temperament, always looked like she was about to cry or had an anxious expression on her face, but the fake one in front of me had an expression with a lot of leeways that did not indicate what she was thinking at all.

　But this is not at the level of a body double. It is neither at the level of a disguise. Neither at the level of a twin.
　Eva is good at remembering people’s faces. She can spot even a minor disguise, but she was so real that even Eva couldn’t tell them apart.