Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 256 p2

Chapter 256 Supreme Martial Arts Festival ⑧
Part 2
　For once, I think I might be done for.

　In the middle of the dangerous arena, I stood there only because of my feeling of obligation to apologize.

　Number of Barrier Rings left――Zero.

　Kryhi, who launched his final lightning attack from behind me that caused my last Barrier Ring to be used, was apparently completely knocked out.
　For him to do something uncalled for or something like this, did he have a grudge against me or what?

　But not yet. I have not apologized yet. I don’t have any more Barrier Ring, but I am not here to fight.

　I came here――To do a Dogeza! I am here to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology!
　Few people have seen my miserable Dogeza and still wanted to attack me――Nop, quite a lot wanted to in fact……

　But even if I ran away, I was bound to be shot from behind anyway. There is no one better than me when it comes to getting shot from behind.

　The higher-up fox mask guy said in a shaky voice to me, who was willing to show my apology with my whole body but was still not able to do a Dogeza due to not finding the correct timing.

“I, see…… You certainly, are different, compared to, the fake. However――Can you still remain calm, after seeing this!?” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　The fox mask guy pulled out a sword from his waist.

　――The fox mask guy only did that. And it was all it took for the atmosphere to change.

　Instantly――The air swirled. I instinctively covered my eyes and retreated from the powerful wind and sand cloud that occurred.

　The fox mask guy held the sword in a reverse grip and raised it in front of him.

　A familiar geometric pattern was running across his blade.
　A powerful Relic, a hidden treasure that the Emperor mentioned――The 『Key of the Earth』.

“This country will perish. It is sheer stupidity to assume that no one can charge it.” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　Only I and my fox mask guy stood in the center of the tornado of sand created by the sword. The sand, wind, and force completely blocked out the sounds and scenery of the outside world, it was as if we were trapped in another world.

　However, I get it. I have played with many different kinds of Relics. Among them, there are many sword-type Relics.

　The fox mask guy in front of me――Still hasn’t used 1% of the power of the Key of the Earth.

“Apparently, you know a thing or two. Indeed, I have not yet――Activated the power of this key.” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　The amount of charge required for the Key of the Earth was so high that Lucia, who had increased her total amount of Magic power due to the super recovery method many times, reached her limit multiple times.

　And the power of the Relic is almost always proportional to the amount of Magic power required.

　There are several Relics that could cause massive destruction in this world. Many of them were owned by the state, as they were beyond the control of a single individual.
　Of course, even I, a Relic Collector, have never seen the moment when one of those Relics is activated.

“The Key of the Earth once destroyed many civilizations. Even if I release a tiny fraction of its power, it would be easy to destroy this tiny city!” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　What…… Did you say?

　Why do you want to destroy the city!? What kind of organizations are you guys?!

　Sure, Sora failed. She failed and thought I was the Boss and we did various things.
　Well, I may be a little responsible for causing all this confusion, but that should have nothing to do with this city.

“Stop doing something so futile! I’m sorry, I am sorry, okay. I apologize, so let’s make up, I didn’t mean to offend you! Sorry――No, please accept my sincere apologies!” (Cry)

“Kuh――How far, are you going to mock――” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　Why? Why won’t you forgive me when I apologize? Hmph, I knew it.

　But even I am proud of having come this far with nothing but apologies.

　I don’t know where he got it, but he has a Key of the Earth. Then all I have to do is to counter it.

　I don’t mean to threaten him, but if my opponent’s destructive impulse is based on a powerful Relic, then showing him the same thing should change his reaction a little bit――.

　I pulled the Key of the Earth from my waist and thrust it out in front of him. The fox mask guy completely stopped moving.

“What a coincidence, I also have the same Relic. And of course, it is already charged.” (Cry)

　The change in the fox mask guy was obvious. His limbs, his shoulders, were trembling. And he muttered in astonishment.

“What…… Impo… Ssible. Bastard, why――Do you have it――” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　It is not impossible, I really have it. This is reality.
　It is quite common for two identical Relics to appear. When it is a super-powerful Relic, the probability drops significantly, but it is still not zero.

　Apparently, my plan worked, which is unusual. But even so, I am not completely calm.

　The stress from the fact that my Barrier Rings have been reduced to zero is steadily accumulating. Even my limbs are shaking right now. If I were allowed to, I would like to sit down right away.

　Isn’t it enough? I hope you will forgive me as we both possess the same rare Relic. I didn’t come here to fight, and of course, I didn’t come here to complain.

　The fox mask guy was alternately comparing my key and his own Key of the Earth. Even if you check it so much, there is no difference. They seem to have the same name, so it is the same Relic, you know. Yup, there is no doubt about it.

When I was thinking about this, the fox mask guy muttered in a shaky voice.

“This, is――?” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　I opened my eyes in surprise. The Key of the Earth, which the fox mask guy was holding, disappeared.
　I am sure I didn’t blink once――So it is not like the problem was because I have a bad dynamic vision.

　At the same time, I reflexively moved my nose to smell the aroma that filled the air. I kinda have smelled this smell a lot recently.

　The fox mask guy opens his hand. A golden square object falls to the ground.

　I double-check, frown, doubt my eyes, and doubt my own mind.

　It was――An Aburaage. A delicious-looking Aburaage that has been fried into a golden brown color.

　The fox mask guy looks down at the Aburaage while being stunned.

　He was completely stunned. The anger I had certainly felt earlier was gone.

　What? What the hell is this situation? What am I supposed to do? What happened? How do I follow this up?

“Uhm…… Looks like you dropped something tasty on the ground?” (Cry)

“…………” (Kitsune’s Boss)

“N-No, I am sure――It is that kind of Relic. It is not your fault. I am sure the Key of the Earth is a Relic that transforms into an Aburaage! I bet my key will transform into an Aburaage too!” (Cry)

“Grrrrh――” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　The fox mask guy let out a short growl and slowly raised his head.
　A fox mask that hid half of his face. I could hardly make out his expressions, but I instinctively understood them.

　It’s bad, he is angry. He is totally pissed off.

　Because, see, it can’t be helped, couldn’t it? My brain is not fast enough to make a good answer in an emergency situation like this one. In a situation like this――I gotta do a Dogeza!

　――That was almost a reflexive decision.

　I am incompetent. But so far, I have made up many of my mistakes by doing a Dogeza. I have almost no instantaneous strength, but only when it comes to doing a Dogeza, I have sharpened it.

　Bend your knees, put your hands in front of you, lower your hips, and prostrate yourself on the ground.
　I have repeated it dozens of times, hundreds of times, and sometimes even practiced doing it, and it has now become a routine.

　Originally, the most beautiful Dogeza on earth would have been displayed. But in the middle of it――My knees collapsed.

“Haaa――” (Cry)

“!?” (Kitsune’s Boss)

　This was probably the consequence of the extreme stress caused by losing all of my Barrier Rings.
　When I almost fell over, I closed my eyes from the approaching ground and quickly stretched both of my hands in front of me.

　However, I was holding the 『Key of the Earth』 in my right hand.

　The 『Key of the Earth』 was, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, sucked by the ground.

　And then, an impact blew out on all sides.