Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ Chapter 4: member recruitment 4

Chapter 4

mber recruitnt 4

When we ca of age at 15 years old, as planned we ford a group of six. We challenged several level 1 shrines to test our abilities.

They are all called Treasure shrines, but they are ranked according to location, gimmick difficulty, threats, and the obtainable treasures.

Level 1 shrines were popular with novice hunters and were quite simple.

For us that went through grueling training and held inexhaustable enthusiasm, they weren’t a challenge.

Within our generation of novice hunters we were the fastest at capturing shrines. The future of Treasure Hunters.

While having that kind of reaction, I beca convinced my ability was one or two tis beneath the others.

While I had so awareness while we were training, when I was thrown into the thick of it, it was like I had fallen into an abyss.

The difference in ability wasn’t too severe for the mont, but in a few years I wouldn’t be able to keep up on their hunts.

While they were geniuses, I only had talent within the range of ordinary Treasure Hunters.

An excessive hindrance.

At that ti, in that mont, for the first ti I understood it from the bottom of my heart.

We, were not equal.

The sa age, raised in the sa environnt, but we were not born equal. A person with more magic power, soone that’s physically stronger.

Even though we were siblings, my younger sister had talent in magic, while I had none.

It was such a frustrating thing.

Well, my sister wasn’t blood related though.

We were best friends that grew up together.

Before making the decision to beco hunters, we were always together in the sa group.

Sotis we had a difference in opinion, and sotis we fought, but it always ca good in the end.

My hotown was a tiny neighbourhood, so we were like half family.

I truly was the weakest one.

Everyone probably noticed my lack of talent and slow growth, but they didn’t say anything about it out of kindness.

And so the night we first captured a shrine, at the inn we were staying at – for the first ti in my life I cried into a pillow by myself.

I worried all night long, and then finally ca to the decision to give up on everything.

Treasure shrines store up on dangers and riches.

Dense concentrations of Mana Material create Relics, but at the sa ti give birth to Phantoms – to reject intruders.

If we were to continue hunting together, one day I would get in the way and put the whole party at risk.

If I were to make an error and get abandoned I’d just die. But that’s not the problem (well, it is a problem though).

They definitely wouldn’t make that choice. Besides I don’t want to die either.

It’s shaful to give up on your dreams, but it’s a better choice than putting your friends in danger.

My adventure ended with the capture of a beginner shrine.

Depending how you view it, I could at least boast that I had been a part of the sa group as those guys.

The next day I assembled them all in one room of the inn, and told everyone I was giving up on being a treasure hunter.

Tears had already been shed the previous night, so that’s probably why I didn’t cry.

And then, the friend that first brought up becoming Treasure Hunters way back at the start, later on the disciple of a sword master and becoming widely known for his

phantasmagoric (ever changing) sword – Luke Sycor spoke up with an undefeatably earnest expression.

“I also spent the night thinking about it, but Cry, you don’t have a particular role so beco our leader.”

“.....Hey now, did you not listen to anything I just said?” That was the begining of everything, and the end.

My friends talent exceeded my expectations by far, and the level of the Shrines we captured quickly rose.

After just one year I couldn’t keep up with them, but I always remained as the leader. Because they were a bunch of idiots.

Stupidest, but the strongest. My enthusiasm quickly dried up as I alone was swallowed by the fear of death.

Ever since that point I have felt like retiring as a hunter, but I stayed on as the leader.

And several years down the line till now, the outco is that I still carry the burden of being the leader of ever increasing monsters.

§ § §

“Is that the rumoured guy from Strangry? Isn’t he kinda weak? He can’t even stand up.”

“What has he been doing until now? He’s caused an uproar.”

“...A little while ago that guy, he was lined up behind outside...” Gossip starts up. I’m paying for my mistakes.

I absentmindedly run my gaze across the table of 『Strange Grief』.

Since the party mbers apart from rarely attend, we’re monopolising a vacant table.

More precisely the others left the Imperial Capital to capture a shrine, so they aren’t here.

The convergence of everyones line of sight feels awful. I have the the attention of every single person.

But nobody cos closer.

What have I done... All I did was sleep in a bit late. This is why I wanted to go ho so bad!

This wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t here right?! “So this... is loneliness, huh...”

I give a nihilistic smile, and utter a soliloquy.

My stomach cramped so much it hurt. I am definitely the one with the weakest body in the room.

Trying to escape from this wasn’t a trifling joke. It scared .

What kind of reaction would these pepole have if they knew I wasn’t just a mber of Strange Grief, but it’s leader?

Tino who was pulling over to the table looked like her head would explode from wanting to keep them all in check. She had a dangerous look in her eyes.

“Master, don’t mind them please. The magnificence of Master, I’m the one who knows it best.”

“It’s your fault that I am suffering from this ntal anguish in the first place.”

Tino Shade is my childhood friend’s, the Genocidal Monster 『Peerless Shadow』Liz-chan’s apprentice.

Back then, I recalled the circumstances just after I ca to the Imperial Capital.

A few years after she beca Liz Smarts apprentice, I along with Arch Brave and a few other parties ford the clan First Step, and that girl was also there with us.

She adores Liz as her Onee-sama, and from that connection she calls Master. She’s not a party mber of Strange Grief, sothing more like a half mascot.

Before long it wasn’t really appropriate to call her a mascot, and she beca another monster with crazy prospects.

By the way, I’m referred to as master while being the leader of Strange Grief, because I’m also the clan master of First Step.

In other words I’m at the top of the monsters. At the ti it was being decided everyone was just going along with things because no one wanted the position, so before I knew it I was the one in the seat. Just rembering it makes want to throw up.

“What are you here for? A Hunt?”

To my question Tino held my arm, got closer to my body and looked at with upturned eyes.

The cutesy act and short temper is surely from her teacher’s bad influence.

“......because, today, Master’s Strange Grief was, was searching... for party mbers, I heard...”

“......I didn’t say so. I would tell you that face to face....”

It’s because of the deputy clan leader, who was angry that the creator of this event never showed up to it.

More or less, I show up everyti but disguised as a guest.

In the first place, I think it’s strange for people to make so much noise over such vague gossip.

However since it draws so many people, we should leak rumours next ti too. The mbers of Strange Grief are already solidified, but there are still parties searching for excellent mbers.

I don’t think I should co anymore. Next ti... or rather, I’m never coming again.

Please just get along without fighting each other.

My dramatic appearance had thrown everyone off their bearings, and it was nice that nobody was approaching while I was chatting to Tino.

Then from the next table over a handso guy started coming.

The people in the surroundings broke apart creating a fissure to let him pass.

A man that looks better than any one else here in that white uniform created in the style of the Imperial military.

Silky smooth golden hair, friendly blue eyes.

Born and raised in the empire, and undoubtedly one of the strongest hunters in it.

Lion. Hero. Arch Brave’s leader.

『Silver Star Heavy Thunder』is his alias, one of the five people in the Empire given a level 7 hunter ranking.

Ark Rodin.

He’s also the rival of my childhood friends.

A guy that gets to party up with cute girls, quite an unpleasant person. Furthermore he’s freaking strong but isn’t self obsessed about it, he’s so wonderful that it grates on your nerves.

And the fact that he sees right through my petty jealousy just makes more annoyed.

It’s a negative chain.

“Cry, you’re late. Sothing happen?” “...Not really. I just overslept.”

“Ahahahahaha, your jokes are as funny as ever.”

Ark laughs cheerfully, saying I was being funny. It wasn’t a joke though. “Don’t get any closer to Master. You faker.”

“Ahahahahahahahaha”

Tino tried intimidating the handso guy.

For so reason he’s not mad about it and starts pounding the table while laughing.

It’s terrifying.

We’re not in private so I don’t think it’s a good idea to snap at each other. It’s a mistake in education.

“You were thinking about the fun you would have today, so you couldn’t sleep right?”

I was so full of anxiety I laid awake until dawn. That’s the reason I slept in.

Appearing before a bunch of quick tempered and strange monsters, I would never do so if I wasn’t so afraid of the clan deputy.

The hunters have superior abilities, so even though I’m the master my position is at the bottom.

“I see... so you were hiding in the shadows as a participant so you could judge from there.

...Quite underhanded isn’t it? There was that big rule of having to wear a uniform, yet you aren’t wearing one, and you’re not displaying your mark.”

“I just said I overslept didn’t I? Listen to people.” I didn’t have any ti to prepare.

Ark narrows his eyes and gives a scrutinising look.

Even if he’s a handso genius, he’s still a hunter and doesn’t listen to people when they are talking.

There was no judging going on. Whoever other parties recruit isn’t my concern, and no one was being invited to my party.

Todays participation was just so window dressing.

“Master, this man is too impolite. He should be expelled from the clan.” “Ahahahahahahahaha, Tino you’re the sa as ever, so hilarious!”

“I’d be happy if everyone was as broad minded as Ark though.”

Ark, Greg-sama, Tino and that boy from before, a fight has nearly broken out three tis now.

Ark reaches out to stroke Tino’s head, and she avoids it like a threat.

You have courage to touch the small monster. You can stroke it but be careful if it bites you.

I don’t want to get in fights so I rarely go outside, if I do I wear a disguise. The most well known face here is probably Ark’s.

A number of hunters are peeking this way.

Ark was being reserved, but there was no sign of any one coming forward to get between us.

Before the mber recruitnt is over, by all ans please co have a chat with him.

“So, did you find a good mber?”

To my question, Ark collects his attention on .

Even now Arch Brave is screening prospective applicants.

He’s their leader, so a new mber could be decided once he says a na. Even if it’s not an invitation, other parties would scramble to recieve soone that gained the attention of a super celebrity like Ark.

Ark furrowed his eyebrows for a mont, then let out a small groan and shook his head.

“Frankly, it’s difficult. There are so great people here, but would they keep up with if we went to capture a shrine?”

His words made widen my eyes unintentionally. That’s exactly it. Monsters are born within monsters.

The strength of a hunter for so reason, is proportional to how many shrines they have captured.

Arch Brave is continually capturing higher difficulty shrines, there’s no easy way for soone to catch up and be ready to join a party like that.

If you had that much power, you would already be flourishing.

This is an event to find people with good future prospects.

The applicants that have been given an infinitely high hurdle seem a bit pitiable. Arks eyes shine with a montary glimr of light. He asks in a calm tone of voice.

“Speaking of, has Cry found anyone?”

I don’t know since I haven’t been searching at all. I raise my head and take a look around.

Whenever my line of sight ets with a hunter, their face freezes from the tension.

Standing next to the wall looking uncomfortable, my line of sight ets with Ruda. Next to her with his eyes wide open was Greg-sama, wearing an indescribable facial expression.

The red headed boy that was trying to pick a fight with everyone had his arms restrained behind his back by mbers of Footprints. His teeth were bared even so.

Looking at Tino as he struggled and shook his shoulders.

“Hm-? We have enough mbers already. If I nad soone, would you take them in?”

Ark shut his eyes and ditated on the words I said as a joke. “......Yes. I trust in your words Cry.”

Everyone in the room beca noisy.

While we were in the sa clan, which party leaves the choosing of its mbers up to soone else?

Furthermore it’s one the top parties in the empire, that gets competitive over a single spot.

“Wha-, Ark!?”

One of his party – a priest girl raises her voice in panic.

I raise myself up, fold my arms, and lean back with my legs crossed. I smile. “......Oh. Interesting. Anything goes?”

“...Just one person. I don’t have the surplus to raise more than that.” Ark gulps back saliva. This guy is really tolerant.

But a reccondation, huh? Interesting. An interesting thing to think about, Ark.

This is a good opportunity. It’ll beco a hot topic.

People will talk about it, and then even more people will co to the next recruitnt.

I’ll need to rent an even bigger room.

The problem is, I haven’t been able to pick any one out.

From what I’ve seen, there’s so trash with a small amount of talent, a hunter with so experience that’s a slightly amusing piece of trash, and a passably strong piece of trash that doesn’t know it’s own place.

Not exactly the kind of lineup you would recomnd to Arch Brave, and I have no special ability to understand soone’s latent potential.

No matter what I say, if I can’t produce a suitable applicant it’s going to create so friction.

The quickest way would be to recomnd this solo girl here from Footprints. Our clan is excellent so a certain amount of ability will be guaranteed.

Our eyes casually et, and she blushes as she speaks.

“Master, how wonderful. But I’ve decided to go to the sa places as Master, to be able to choose you is an honor.

I refuse to enter into this faker’s party. Please choose soone apart from .” “I really need to check on what Liz has been teaching you.”

My friends have been long ti rivals of Arch Brave.

Different from the tolerant 『Holy Spirit』 here, my party was extrely narrow minded.

For a mont I check again to see if I can find soone good, but I can’t.

Maybe it’s better just to keep the cocky smile I have going and just say there isn’t anyone.

But, there’s so monsters peeking this way with a serious look that might take an issue with that.

I knit my brows together and put on a face like I had done a lot of thinking as I speak.

Although I had given up on my past motivation, my current goal was to at least look like a hardboiled cool and strong guy.

“Hmm, yeah... there is soone, it’s just. I was waiting to bring them over to ours at the the right ti.”

“Oi!”

A voice filled with hostility. The boy that had been restrained had forcibly shaken off the mbers of Footprints.

He’s thrusting his finger towards in a grand gesture.

As expected of soone who was granted level 4, it seems like they have so power.

“No matter what, you owe an apology! If you want to nominate soone, make it !”

He shouted so hard he’s left gasping for breath. The nerves on this guy. Anyway to Arch Brave a level 4 hunter may as well be an ordinary person.

“You, are you already in a party?” “...That type of thing, is unrelated!!” No, it’s related though.

I put my hand on my chin, and give the boy a serious look over.

He must have talent. He has courage. His sharp toungue and rudeness is sothing Arks team could discipline him on.

Comparing all rounders to single minded types, statistics point to one being stronger.

I’d be worried he might get soone killed if I entered him into Strange Grief, but if he’s in Holy Spirit it becos Arks problem so I don’t care.

I put my hands together in a loud clap and grinned at the boy. “Your na is?”

“...Gilbert Bush. Gilbert, of the 『Sword of Purgatory』!”

He was excited for a mont, but managed to control his shouting voice in the last mont.

I guess that Sword of Purgatory refers to the Relic he carries on his back.

Probably isn’t an actual alias. There are only a few hunters in the capital that are known by one.

Ark is looking over Gilbert seriously. Even with a reassessnt he will still look like a brat.

I clapped my hands and spoke condescendingly.

“Alright then Gilbert. I’ll recomnd you to Ark. But there’s just one condition. “There’s...a condition!?”

I can’t get a good judgent. Ruda seems like slightly talented trash, Greg-sama looks like amusing trash, and Gilbert looks like trash that doesn’t know it’s place. But nothing is certain.

I can’t be a good judge, so whoever I choose will co down to luck anyway.

“Yeah. Just one condition... 『Don’t lose』. What’s the most necessary thing for a hunter? 『Victory』”

Gilbert is looking over with a puzzled expression. No, everyone in the clan is quietly listening to .

I’m just spouting out a bunch of random words, don’t take it so seriously... I want to throw up.

“If you don’t have that ability you will expose your party to danger. For this reason show that you 『Don’t lose』.

By the way ever since I beca a hunter... I have never been defeated.” “What!?”

I haven’t fought anyone. It’s because I never fight. I use any asures to run away from a battle.

Sotis I use my friends as a shield, sotis my influence, at others wealth. That’s why I’ll play the sa hand in this battle.

From the little finger on my left hand I pull out a gold ring, I fling it at Gilbert.

That ring is the 『Bullet Finger』. It’s quite a common thing, but it’s a Relic from a shrine.

It has a trivial amount of power, but it has value if you want to sell it. Catching it with his right hand, the boy Gilbert frowns.

I smile and loudly shout.

“Every mber here listen up. I plan on giving Gilbert a recomndation.

But if soone knocks him down and takes that ring, I’ll recomnd them to Arch Brave.

Incidentally, that ring is a Relic, so if you don’t want a recomndation, I’ll just give you that instead.

Ark lets out a short whistle.

Tino understands the situation imdiately, and in an instant closes the distance on Gilbert and gives him a hard kick to the face.

My smile is cramping up, so before any one notices I quietly stand up. “...Now then, lets escape.”

§ § §

This is the story of a hero.

The Golden Age of treasure hunters.

n and won search for wealth, honor, power – an era where people wish for glory.

The story of the childhood friends with brilliant talents aiming to beco the strongest,

The clan that aims for the sa,

And one person, the one concerned thats consigned to be a bystander watching over it all,

My story, the tale of Strange Grief.

Translator Notes

Again Holy Spirit refers to Arch Brave here. Ark’s main descriptor is Ikeman – basically as cool and good looking as a movie star.

Tino often calls him a false Ikeman or calls him shallow, but it was hard for to translate it in.

Cry is an unreliable narrator – he misrepresents the truth to the reader, and his own narrated opinions can be incorrect. Hopefully I can get this across accurately.