Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 249

Chapter 249 Supreme Martial Arts Festival
Part 1
　Then came the fateful day.

　My stomach has been hurting since the morning, but Lucia knocked me up.

“Come on, pull yourself together! Leader! Are you going to fight like that? Your opponent is also a skilled fighter, you know?” (Lucia)

“………… I can’t because my Relics aren’t charged.” (Cry)

　I was completely sleep-deprived.
　As I tried my best to make excuses, my excellent Imouto looked down at me and said.

“I charged them.” (Lucia)

　My stomach really hurts. I want to go back to the Imperial Capital right now.

　Liz, who had apparently been engaged in a mock battle with Luke since early in the morning, blinked at me, and *jirojiro* looked at me strangely.

“Cry-chan, you look like you feel really bad. Even tho’ you always seem to be fine no matter what’s going on……” (Liz)

　I always feel bad!

　Apparently, I couldn’t stay in bed all the time. I had no choice but to get up.

　Today too, Sytry put her hands together and was *niconico* smiling.

“Well, well, Cry-san. If the Cry-san in the tournament match-up is not Cry-san, then Cry-san is Cry-san, Cry-san, Cry-san……” (Sytry)

　Sytry is bugged…… Is it because I hit her head too many times?
　Apparently, she liked the tsukkomi a lot. Sytry just *niconico* smiled and started arranging the potions in front of me.

“This is smoke, this is explosion, this is poison, this is paralysis, this is sleep, this is scratch medicine, this is Mana Potion――” (Sytry)

　Even if there is a bug in her head, her function remains, huh……

　No, not yet. You don’t know yet. There is still a possibility that the me on the contestant list is not me.

　There are look-alikes, so it wouldn’t be strange if there was a real one (No idea what this means, tho’).

　I feel like I’m going to throw up from the inevitable tension and frustration I am feeling right now.
　And then Lucia said dismissively.

“Haaaaah………… Why did you get a ticket if you didn’t want to be in the Supreme Martial Arts Festival……” (Lucia)

“Because I wanted to watch it.” (Cry)

　To put it more simply, I thought Luke and the others would want to watch the game, but I never thought it would become like this.

　And then, Luke, who had been *mogumogu* gulping down a long piece of bread with his mouth full, swallowed it firmly and shouted loudly despite being in the early hours of the morning.

“I see, so you’re saying――The battlefield is the best seat around!!” (Luke)

　This is not watching the game anymore. That’s not watching the game anymore, you know. I’m gonna die, you know. It’s not just stray bullets that will fly at me, you know.

　No, it’s okay. It’s okay, I’m not gonna participate. I’m not gonna participate. So there’s nothing to be afraid of.
　I check with Sytry, who seems to still have a bit of a loose screw that hasn’t been screwed back yet.

“By the way, just to make sure I’m clear, can you surrender at the Supreme Martial Arts Festival?” (Cry)

“Uhm…… I believe there was a system like this in place.” (Sytry)

“What!? I won’t let something so boring happen! If there’s anyone like that, I’ll turn him into rust for my sword before he can surrender!” (Luke)

“Luke-chan, I don’t know if you know this, but――Wooden swords don’t rust, okay?” (Liz)

“………… Umu.” (Anthem)

“………… Haah.” (Lucia)

　Lucia sighed deeply at the usual exchange between Luke and Liz.
　It’s bad. Luke’s wooden sword will turn me into rust.

　It’s okay, it’s okay. It isn’t me. I don’t remember ever saying I would participate, and this tournament match-up is just because of someone with the same name as mine.

　And if by any chance, by one in a million chances, I am going to participate, my opponent is not Luke, so it’s okay. I am sure he will at least give me time to surrender.

　After I took a deep breath, I smiled.
　Humans have no choice but to laugh when they are helpless.

“Well………… (In a certain sense) Let’s create a legend.” (Cry)

“Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!” (Luke)

§

　The venue of the Supreme Martial Arts Festival. The Coliseum, located in the middle of Cleat, was filled with enthusiasm even though the doors had not been opened yet.
　There were cheers and angry shouts. The atmosphere of a battlefield made your skin crawl. As if it were right before a war, the place was full of people with all sorts of weapons.

　And indeed, the Supreme Martial Arts Festival is a war.
　Sometimes, for Hunters, pride is worth more than their life. This tournament not only decides the best of the best but also results in more than a few deaths each year.

“Ooooh, what’s the matter, Cry? You don’t look so good today!” (Sven)

“I am always like this.” (Cry)

“Are you really okay, desu!? Yowaningen, you are in the first match, right, desu!?” (Kruz)

　We joined 《Iron Cross (Kurogane Juuji)》, 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》, and other members of 《First Step (Hajimari no Ashiato)》 who were here to support us.

　Apparently, my complexion was so bad that Sven and Kruz could clearly see it.
　I am not going to clear up their misunderstandings anymore, but apparently, everyone assumed that I was going to fight. Tell me earlier! If you thought that, you should have just told me a little earlier!

　I suppressed my desire to run away right now and said badassly.

“This is a warrior’s pale face.” (Cry)

“What? What are you talking about? Desu?” (Kruz)

　Not good, it isn’t just Sytry. My thinking is also a little buggy today.

“I was thinking a little too much last night, so I didn’t sleep a lot.” (Cry)

　I wasn’t lying. It has been a long time since I have had trouble sleeping because of overthinking. Even though being able to sleep was one of my few good qualities――.

“Oh, I know what you mean Cry! I was so excited that I was swinging my sword all night!” (Luke)

　Luke, who was obviously in high spirits, roared despite the crowd.

　Hey, stop, Luke. Don’t put me in the same basket as you!