Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ Chapter 445.2: Spirited Away ②

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It seems that this prison is quite large. The stone interior is as complicated as a labyrinth, and the cold air and darkness are slowly draining my strength. Phantoms haven’t appeared since the first one. This is another unnatural point that is different from the Treasure Shrines I have explored so far. Sotis I can hear footsteps or other sounds from afar, but the echoes make it impossible to determine where the sound is coming from. It seems that I have been trapped much deeper than I have imagined.

“Hh………… Another trap. What a pain in the ass.” (Hugh)

The stone pavent beneath my feet caves in, and a black-painted arrow cos flying from behind . I twist my body to avoid the arrow. I am not a Thief, so I cannot avoid the traps, but a mber of the Royal Guards is not weak enough to fail to avoid arrows that fly towards them. If it had been a little faster, I would have had a hard ti, but it seems that the traps in this Treasure Shrine are not strong enough to deal with humans from the modern era.

Or maybe it has no intention of hitting the target. I don’t know why, but I can sense so kind of consideration in this Treasure Shrine. Consideration that makes think that it is trying to test .

No matter how far I go, the scenery never changes. There are a fair number of rooms, but the interior design hasn’t changed at all, and I have no idea which civilization this Treasure Shrine is based on. As I walk like this, I begin to wonder if I am even making any progress. To the point that I feel like praising Hunters who are exploring unknown Treasure Shrines, where there is barely any information.

As I am thinking about this, I co across another prison-like area. It seems that this Treasure Shrine is made up of dark corridors and prison cells.

Maybe other people have been captured besides .

I open the tal door while being careful not to make any noise and check inside.

I check the countless small rooms separated by iron bars one by one. There is no sign of any presence in any of the rooms, but as I peek into one of the rooms, I open my eyes.

I open the unlocked door and carefully enter. What I find there is――A corpse. It is already completely skeletal, it is probably the remains of a human corpse. The victim’s body is leaning against the wall. Judging from their appearance, they were probably a Hunter. A completely rusted knife and a broken lantern, which were probably their belongings, are lying nearby.window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "67b6a3f059969b0665825541", id: "pf-13793-1"})

However, what catches my eye is the notebook lying in front of their limp right hand.

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Unlike the other tools, the notebook seems to be less deteriorated. I pick up the leather-bound notebook and *parapara* flip through it, searching for the information I am looking for. Fortunately, I am able to read the characters written in the notebook. Moreover, for so reason…… I feel like I have seen this handwriting sowhere before.

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『This is their testing ground. Those bastards kidnap people, observe them, and experint on them. To fulfill the mission given to them by a faraway god.』 (Notebook)

A testing ground? Those bastards……? A mission given to them by a faraway god?

I frown at those multiple ominous words. When people in Zebrudia hear the word “god” the first thing that cos to mind is the one who ruled over the Temple-type Treasure Shrine that once stood where the Imperial Capital was. However, it has been a thousand years since the Temple-type Treasure Shrine was captured. And more than anything, this place doesn’t look like a temple.

The notes written in the notebook appeared to be a diary. A diary of their investigations on this place. I would love to read it carefully, but I don’t have the ti for that. I skip over the unnecessary parts and quickly look for a clue to get out of this place.

『There is no way out of this place. There is only fear. I have nad this hidden prison, which has summoned fearso beings from the mories of the past, the 【Star God’s Miniature Garden】. Surely, all who co here will be helpless and exhausted. No help will co. No light will be found. They will be left behind in the abyss, forever.』 (Notebook)

【Star God’s Miniature Garden】. After all, is this Treasure Shrine really related to the 【Star Temple】?

However, I still don’t understand. It says here that they were the ones to na it. The word “Star God” would not co up if they randomly nad it. I absentmindedly turn the pages.

It is on the last page that it is written.

The mont I read that sentence, written in shaky letters, I stop breathing. My eyes widen and I re-read the sentence over and over again. I couldn’t understand it.

『My na is Hugh LeGrand, a mber of the Zeroth Knight Order. In the end, I never made my mark in Zebrudia, I was never rembered by 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, and I was not recognized by anyone. It’s just a sha.』 (Notebook)

The writing was ssy as if it was written with a trembling hand.

Then, I, finally, realized.

The handwriting written in this notebook――No wonder they look familiar.

This is――My handwriting.

“Hh!?” (Hugh)

Suddenly, the corpse that has been on the ground rises and raises its arm to grab my wrist. I hurriedly shake it off and step back. The skull *ketaketa* laughs loudly. Before I know it, the corpse’s equipnt has changed from that of a Hunter to an armor. There are black burn spots and countless scratches, but there is no doubt about it. That armor is only given to knights of the prestigious Zeroth Knight Order. Nearby lies the sa decaying sword of the Zeroth Knight Order.

I feel dizzy. My heart is beating so fast. Is this what I would look like in the future?

There is no way. There is only here. I quickly yell.

“The notebook, is, signed, huh! No wonder it’s written in the official language of Zebrudia! 【Star God’s Miniature Garden】………… If I can get this information out, it’ll be a big achievent for !” (Hugh)

I notice that sothing is wrong. Even though the Hunter equipnt was in tatters, the notebook was still in good enough shape to be read without any problems. The corpse is probably not that of a real person. And then――There is what was written inside.

A content that stirs up your fear. Monsters that appear along the way but attack that cannot get through. The seemingly endless interior of a prison.

“It’s an illusion! Everything! You’re reading my mind! If I think about it that way, it explains all the phenona that have occurred so far!” (Hugh)

A Treasure Shrine that kidnaps people and reads their minds. There are Treasure Shrines that have special properties and this is probably one of those. It is unheard of for a Treasure Shrine to na itself, but there are many things that are still unknown about Temple-type Treasure Shrines. If it is connected to sothing like that, then anything could happen.

Suddenly, I feel countless eyes on . They are watching . Sothing invisible is observing .

I put my back against the wall and ready my sword. However, I am not even confident if I am really putting my back against the wall. I cannot believe everything I am seeing.

My corpse, which I shook off, is also gone before I know it. It is as if nothing has been there from the beginning, including all of its belongings.

I repeatedly take deep breaths and sohow manage to calm my agitation down. Even though I have discovered the nature of the Treasure Shrine, the situation has not been solved. I still haven’t found anyone to defeat, anyone to save, or even a ans of escape.

I am breathing heavily and desperately searching for a way out. At that mont, I hear a whispering voice from the depths of the darkness.

“Are all the knights in this world, this strong?” (?)

“Hh…… Who is there!!” (Hugh)

I hold my sword ready to strike at any mont.

What appears from the depths of the darkness is a single girl with black hair. She has short, straight hair and a beautiful, doll-like appearance. She doesn’t have a staff, but she is wearing a uniform bearing Zebrudia Magic Academy’s seal.

Seeing that face suddenly brings back my mories.

The face in the darkness is that of the citizen who has brought the information that has led to this situation.

Was it all a trap? From the mont she asked for help?

What a terrifying ability to camouflage. Is it a Phantom? Even when she is in front of my eyes, the girl still looks like a human being.

“To think that, instead of being scared at the sight of Monster Diggy, you would go and attack it with your sword――He was a monster who slaughters people of all ages and genders without discrimination, and plunges major cities into terror…… To think that he failed as a Monster, I am completely losing confidence in myself.” (Girl)

“Ha! It’s just another common monster! But more importantly, if I defeat you, will I be able to escape from here!?” (Hugh)

I shout with all my might, threatening the unidentified monster. Do not be afraid. There have been precedents of Phantoms that understand human language. They should only appear in High-level Treasure Shrines, but it is clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary Treasure Shrine.

I will not beco frightened, even when I encounter unknown Phantoms.

“…… What’s going on in this world? And don’t say such scary things. I’ll end up crying, won’t I? Uh…… Fufuuu……” (Girl)

A single black tear flows from her eyes. A tear of blood. A suspicious presence I have never encountered before. The girl lowers her head and her shoulders tremble. And then――.

“Fufuuu………… Fufufuh………… Ahahahahahahahaha!” (Girl)

“Hh!!” (Hugh)

Her neck stretches out. While having black tears flowing down, her head, which is the size of a ball, cos flying towards . I gasp.

That is ridiculous. A monster that looks just like a human that can stretch its neck out. There is no doubt that she is a unique presence among the many monsters out there, but what can she possibly do coming at with just her head? And most importantly, I am carrying a sword.

“Uh………… Oooooooooooooooooooooh!!” (Hugh)

I roar as if to erase my vulnerability and step forward. I step just in ti to avoid the head coming towards and raise my sword.

“Your outstretched neck is completely exposed! How foolish of you to expose your weak spot! If only your head can move, then a Dullahan would be stronger!” (Hugh)

“There are, really, too many things in this world. I hate it. Because there’s no place for .” (Girl)

Just before chopping off her head, she leaves behind a few words and disappears like an illusion. Silence returns to the corridor.

I feel like I now understand my opponent’s abilities and the nature of this Treasure Shrine.

It is, fear. A terrifying monster coming out of the darkness. My own corpse, rotting away in the prison cell. This Treasure Shrine is trying to use illusions to frighten . A tactic used by so fiends.

I can win. I can conquer it. Hugh LeGrand――Can take on these remains that are probably left by a god!

As I sigh with my shoulders, a voice cos out of nowhere.

“But you can’t. I already know what you’re afraid of. I don’t know what makes it different from us tho’――” (Girl)

“What!?” (Hugh)

I turn around in a panic, searching for the source of the voice. At that mont, a shock hit as if the blood flowing through my entire body freezes.

The shock is far greater than any I have experienced before. My breathing stops and all strength leaves my hands. The sound of my sword falling echoes throughout the room. But I no longer care that I have dropped my weapon.

My eyes open as wide as possible.

In front of , a small wooden box is floating in the air. A beautifully decorated box.

“Im-Impossible…… Why, is this………… This, should have been, already resolved――Hh” (Hugh)

A traumatic mory that cannot be forgotten. The legendary curse that destroyed the country, finally released during the uproar around the prophecy. A cursed item that was handed to by a mysterious being as if they pushed it onto , and was supposed to have been dealt with by 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka) 》.

The 『Cursed Spirit Stone』.

A thick presence of death. This presence is not sothing that could be conceived from a re illusion. The lid slides silently and falls to the floor.

The 『Curse』 that was once impossible to even see now erupts from the forbidden box.

And then my consciousness is swallowed by darkness.

Thanks for reading! Did not expect Strange Grief to go into spooky Treasure Shrine… RIP Hugh o7, you will be briefly rembered And who knows, maybe if you survive long enough, Cry would save you. But I wonder what Cry’s fear will be… No, Cry is afraid of nothing, so that girl is the one who will be afraid of him

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