Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ Chapter 5: Imperial Capital

Chapter 5

Imperial Capital

It’s impossible. I’m out of my depth.

To the mbers of Strange Grief – my childhood friends, I appealed in a sorrowful voice.

“With you guys... I just can’t keep up. You get it don’t you, this tis shrine capture... it was my fault we took so long.”

Treasure Hunter parties have assigned roles.

Attackers that drive back monsters. Swordsn and Mages.

Supporters that track enemies and solve Gimmicks. Thieves and Alchemists. Healers that cure injuries and are in charge of protecting the party. Paladins.

Without those skills I was just a lump of extra baggage.

I worked hard. But out of soone with talent and soone without, it is self evident which one will beco stronger.

And my friends – Luke and the others were hard working to an amazing degree. Every human is only given 24 hours in a day each, so it’s impossible to catch up with them.

A general party is made up of five or six people.

If I wasn’t there – and one or two others instead, Luke and my friends could proceed with greater ease.

Listening to my words, Luke Sycor nodded his head sadly. “Aah... certainly Cry, as you say we don’t have enough power.”

“...?”

“Sorry Cry-chan. We’ll get even stronger so you don’t have to worry...” The person sitting next to . Liz Smart gives her agreent.

“No, I didn’t an...”

They are strong. Already at the level of too strong.

The reason they can keep capturing higher and higher level shrines even with weighing them down, is because they are strong.

If I wasn’t with them, the five of them would have it easier.

Warding off my persuasion as if it was a breeze, Luke talked with a distant look. “It won’t be good enough like this... haha...

If things stay the sa, being the strongest hunters will just remain a dream within

a dream.

Thanks, because of you I was able to wake up.

I’m going to retrain myself from the start, by becoming the pupil of a master swordsman...”

Luke went for a stroll, and beca the pupil of a swordsman whose na was roared throughout the capital.

Each of the others as well, left to raise their power.

I don’t think they heard the sa thing as I said.

Those guys are hopeless. They think everything will be solved if they themselves are stronger.

No matter how strong you are I will remain weak. And so, I was struck by an idea.

Lets make a clan. Right now things aren’t good. I’m gonna get killed. Even if I don’t die, I’m going to suffer.

Lets make a clan. Make a clan with other talented parties.

For the express purpose of getting a new strong mber to join 『Strange Grief』. A new wind is needed. For the sake of taking a fresh step forward.

In this way I founded 『First Step』, and with the pretext of managing it I was able to successfully escape from Shrine hunting.

That was three years ago.

§ § §

There exists a substance called Mana Material.

I’m not fully knowledgable on the intricate details, but it seems to be the fundantal force this world is built from.

It’s a substance invisible to the naked eye, but exists everywhere. It’s fine to just imagine it as an invisible fog.

Naturally it exist in equal amounts all over the world, but it can beco concentrated due to Earth Veins or other influences.

At that ti, the power that is normally invisible, creates an extrely limited miniature world based on information it extracts from the worlds root.

Those are Treasure Shrines. They are the reason why Treasure Hunters have been around since ancient tis.

The form of a Treasure Shrine varies. For example, Towers, Castles, Forests, Deserts, Underground Labyrinths, oddly placed boats in the sky, waterfalls and so on.

A different plane that exists based on information randomly extracted from all over the world.

The aim of Hunters, and the reason the shrines are called Treasure shrines – is because at the ti the new world is created there is a high likelihood that a unique item called a Relic (Kanji – Treasure Tool) will manifest.

For instance, a canteen that never runs out of water. For instance, a ring that will protect you once only. For instance, a cloak that will let you fly when worn.

Occasionally treasure shrines are like that, they’ll produce an item that cannot be recreated in modern civilisation.

According to its strength you may be able to sell one that gets you enough money to play around with your whole life, genuine treasure.

Of course there are also risks.

In places thick with Mana Material you will encounter tough life-forms – monsters. And through the sa concept, a treasure shrine can manifest a living apparition – a Phantom.

There can also be traps, and the terrain itself can be no small obstacle.

You could also lose your life getting into an argunt with a fellow Hunter.

However, even in the face of direct threats to their life, Hunters never stop exploring Treasure Shrines.

Wealth, prestige, and, through conquest of atmosphere dense with Mana Material, you can obtain『power』.

The Treasure Shrines are too enticing to give up on.

The Imperial Capital Zebrudia was, at least for Treasure Hunters, a first rate location.

Convenience of transport. Town developnt. The Country’s power. Security. Above all that, nurous earth veins thick with Mana Material.

The existence of various Treasure Shrines of differing difficulty made the Imperial Capital the holy land for Treasure Hunters.

Innurable Relics gathered together, Monster materials sought after by rchants – these collected supplies attracting more hunters.

If famous Hunters gathered together, the security of the city is assured.

It was this cycle that made the Zebrudia Empire into a major world power, and gave it the greatest national influence.

From the remote town where we first decided to beco Treasure Hunters, we had to travel by transferring over several different horse drawn carriages.

The distance to the Imperial Capital was slightly absurd. We treated it as environntal training and thought of it as a shortcut to glory.

In actuality we did get a little experience, and even now I don’t think it was the wrong decision.

The Imperial Capital... Zebrudia is a country developed by hunters.

Empire laws are favorable to Treasure Hunters, in terms of taxes, in the sense of facilities, everything is convenient in various ways.

The clan headquarters of First Step was in the heart of the Imperial Capital. It stood in a good location on the main street.

The headquarters were also known as the clan house, so with the mbership fee that was cheated out of Footprints mbers, a five storey tower was built.

On the top floor. Bright light was shining into the clan-masters office as I nodded off, when the Deputy clan-master Eva ripped open the door forcibly and rushed into the room.

Confirming from my surprise that I was awake, she breathed out a deep sigh. “Cry-san, you’ve been exposed.”

“Ah-... really?”

The clan’s deputy master Eva Renfeed and the staff below her that do administrative work are not Hunters.

Different from those monsters, a purely grown delicate body.

Slim red rimd glasses, and behind them radiant eyes like athysts. Her brown hair is also nice and well ordered.

Unlike the crude hunters, she has a suitable appearance for work.

There are about ten other people below her, but without them Footprints would collapse.

I gathered them here and there from the shadows of Footprints in order to retire. I tried to act in secret, because the priority of not getting beaten to death was high.

With a grumpy expression she places a newspaper on my desk.

It was the one that boasted of being the number one shared newspaper in the Empire, Zebrudia Days.

One page features a large photo of the building from yesterdays mber recruitnt.

However the signboard that was usually above the entrance was missing, the wall had a huge hole in it, and here and there it was burning.

Through the big hole in the wall you could see the figures of hunters brawling. The title was “Major Clan ‘Arch Brave’ Recruitnt Outbreaks in Brawl”

I may have made a serious mistake. I feel like throwing up.

I yawn widely as I read through the paper. The first thing I need to make sure of... “Were there any civilian casualties?”

“Fortunately, it seems like there weren’t any.”

“Then we’re good. If a civilian was injured it would be terrible.”

It was good to evacuate the pub owner beforehand. Only hunters were involved.

First class hunters can kill people with one finger. But, our clan motto is to not harm citizens.

A destroyed building can be repaired, but a person that has died can not be brought back.

I briefly read the article, fortunately the na Strange Grief didn’t co up. Thanks to Zelbrudia Days our mbers are only seen as idiots.

They still have so wiggle room.

But those monsters. We’re in trouble because they don’t understand moderation. Destroying a building over a re low class, little fingers worth of Relic.

Eva who doesn’t know the full details, glasses shimr as she glares at . “Cry-san, you poured fuel on the fire didn’t you?.”

“No- I hadn’t planned on pouring anything, actually I didn’t pour anything – you’re being a little too cruel aren’t you?”

After all that the mber recruitnt ended in a vague manner.

I didn’t know the results because I ran away around the ti tables started flying about. It looks like things got pretty heated.

That Gilbert boy was targeted by Tino early on. That’s why she’s a muscle brain. Everyone there had such a fiery nature, once a fire started it spread quickly.

Ah- ...I want to move to sowhere far away... “What did Ark have to say?”

“I t him in the lounge earlier, but he was roaring with laughter as he read the news. I don’t think it bothered him”

That guy, he has a big heart. With the caliber of a hero, I guessed he’d be that way. Having his party ‘Arch Brave’ as the number two in Footprints is sothing I’m truly thankful for.

Honestly, they’ve saved us a lot.

Flinging aside the Newspaper and putting my legs up on the table, I start to carefully wipe down the Ring relics I always wear on my fingers.

Eva puts her palm on her forehead.

The silver chains I had scattered about made a shrill sound. “What’s the paynt amount for the destroyed pub?”

“The invoice was sent to Ark. You should compensate for our opportunity loss. I made that sort of argunt.”

“Complaints are coming in from Explorers.” “Deal with it appropriately.”

I’m used to complaints. At first I felt like throwing up every ti I got one, but since our mbers are our mbers, the complaints ca all year round.

I can’t throw up over every single one.

To who can’t relax, Eva added.

“Don’t be troubleso, go over and give a proper explanation.” “ah- ...I hear soone calling for I want to throw up.”

My stomach lets out a pained sound.

The Imperial Capital is a city of Treasure Hunters.

The largest managent organisation is the 『Explorers Association』, which holds a great amount of political influence.

On paper ‘First Step’ is also underneath them, so there’s no right to veto their summons.

With a distorted expression Eva amazed with her true feelings. “You should be used to it by now. How many tis does this make it?”

“It doesn’t matter how many tis they summon , I’ll never get used to it.

The Imperial branch chief Gark-san is super scary ok. He has definitely killed so people.”

“Again with this...”

The head of the Imperial Capital branch of Explorers, Gark-san is a forr hunter.

When he started his retirent, he beca a staff mber of Explorers. He’s a forr monster.

It’s been a while since he started his retirent but his health is still going strong. He’s a manly person that intervenes in hunter brawls without batting an eyelid.

Additionally, around the ti we first ca to the capital we beca indebted to him, so I can’t raise my head to him.

I’m at a loss.

“Really though... If you ignore it, that person will co over here on their own.”

On one occasion I carelessly disregarded a problem and it beca troubleso. Now they’re the person at the top of my list of those who you shouldn’t go up against.

Above all else, the assistant branch head is a good natured person, so it’s actually easier to go straight to Explorers so I can et them.

I wish soone else could go instead of but... yeah, Eva who administrates all of the clan operations is a regular person. I can’t bring myself to send her into the thick of all those hunters.

“I wonder if Ark would go instead?”

“Cry-san, don’t you rely on Ark too much?”

Because there isn’t anyone else decent enough. Great power doesn’t co with great personality.

For a mont I frantically mulled it over, but in the end nothing good ca to mind.

“....Can’t be helped. I don’t want to go, but I will. I really don’t want to go. There’s no one to guard . And my disguise Relic was broken the other day.”

If everyone from Strange Grief was here, soone would follow as an escort. But since they’re challenging a shrine with a high degree of difficulty I don’t know when they will be back.

“It’ll be ok. It’s the Imperial Capital you know?”

“You can’t say there won’t be an attack in the whole city.

Well, there hasn’t been any recently because we crushed everything though.”

I put my most well polished ring on my index finger.

I placed the other rings in my pouch, fastened the chains to my belt, and stood up.

Now it’s ti for to get serious, and display my magnificent skill in prostrating myself on the floor.

Translator Notes

-This chapter had a lot of exposition (info dumping)

if there’s anything unclear, leave a comnt and I’ll try answer.

-The translated line that sounds like a spiderman reference is coincidence,

if you absolutely hate that kind of thing showing up even coincidently let know.

-If I have made any errors feel free to point them out.