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

Only the sound of pouring tea called Kopokopo resonated in the room where it was cleaned up and nothing but the table was gone.

You understand that it's an emergency, but Sophia's expression remains the same as usual. It keeps calm, at least on the surface.

Try to be pulled by it. Noto regains his cool too.

You must always keep your cool thoughts with the Magic Master. The power of witchcraft depends on the mental state. Sometimes it does not activate in extreme excitement.

When you take a deep, deep breath, you notice that your whole body is heavier firmly. Did you forget it for excitement and anger, or were you afraid of a thousand changes yourself?

At least, she had a terrible look on her face to the extent that Sophia was tired at first glance.

Place the cup with tea in front of the noto and the beautifully boxed chocolate where you bought it.

Where the hell have you been... frowning, but no one could have imagined what was going on right now. Instead, you might say you're lucky to have left the Imperial Capital for the clearing up of insiders' suspicions.

We didn't talk about it in detail in the consonant stone. to avoid leakage of information.

Briefly explain to Sophia who sat face to face.

"A hunter was sent to the 'White Wolf's Nest' with the intention above. Our presence was found out. We're in a position to be chased now."

It's the worst thing I've ever imagined until a month ago.

The Tower of Akasha is a large organization. There is power, money and power. but this experiment was something that should never be put on the table.

No, there was no way you'd find out in the first place. The technique of disrupting parts of the earth's pulse and generating bias in Mana Materials is a collection of studies by Noto Coclair. I don't normally think it's artificial where a suddenly powerful phantom appears.

No one has ever sniffed around about the Notos before. In retrospect now, we should have suspected the existence of insiders at the time when the first thousand changes came to the 'White Wolf's Nest'.

But it's no longer a meaningful assumption. Since the end of all of his disciples except Sophia, there have been no signs of a thousand changes moving. An insider should see it done.

Sophia doesn't change one complexion when she hears Noto's words.

Compared to the appearance of his former disciples, who were hesitantly frightened, Noto sighed small.

"Is everything okay here?

"It's still okay. but I don't know when the raid will come. I think we need to change our base. You may leave the capital."

To that word, for the first time, Sophia slightly changes her expression. He opens his eyes, puts his hand on his mouth and gives him an inventive look.

Imperial capital was convenient for the study of Noto in every sense. Arrangements surrounded by countless treasure palaces. Powerful hunters for gathering wealth.

Even customers have as much money. Slam - The Knights are not even within reach of the district known as the 'Decadent City District', and if you are a little careful, it is essential to gather the primitive bodies of human experimentation. Even a large city of a similar size would not do so well.

Sophia opens those little lips and raises a trembling voice.

"..." The Tower of Akasha "or nothing?

"Golem for interception - 'Akasha' lost"

"Huh!?

Now it's time for Sophia's expression to clearly change.

Look wide open into your eyes and make sure you see the look on Noto's face.

"Akasha" is another masterpiece of different research than the manipulation of Mana Materials produced by all the notos.

Sofia is also deeply involved in its production. No other alchemist has produced that powerful golem.

I guess that defeat is a shock because it's Sophia who understands performance.

Sophia asks Noto, relieved at the bottom of his heart that his expression has changed.

"... that should have just had the power to kick any knighthood in the Imperial City against it"

"The opponents... are not the Knights. Hunter."

"Even hunters."

Sophia responds instantly.

To that word, which has no shards of suspicion either, Fukunoto remembered the words he had said when he manufactured 'Akasha'.

"... Speaking of which, it was you. He said he could defeat the Mourning Ghost."

"... Yes"

"... can you still assure me?

'Akasha' is not the kind of performance that humans can defeat by themselves. Even high-level hunters have the power to be easily tapped down from the front.

If only Akasha had been there at that time when Noto and the others had been found in the thousands of changes, the outcome of the battle would have been a little different.

But in reality, the Golem couldn't finish the shadow. It wasn't even destroyed, but it bought me time, and one magic of change overshadowed everything.

To the Master's inquiry, Sophia says with an imaginative look.

"... it was almost a year ago that created that one. High level hunters are growing day and night................ but still, if handled well, you should have had as much power as you could with your opponent. Whether it's" The Ghost of Mourning (Strange Grief) "or" Son of Holy Heaven (Arc Brave) ". I packed it with the best I could think of."

"... the operator was incompetent..."

".................. Still, most opponents should be able to smash it"

Sophia with an amazing look. I don't see any lies there.

In the first place, Noto also had absolute confidence in that golem. It is a substitute created over a long period of time using the best materials that you can think of to hang a lot of gold.

But I lost. We must accept more than we have its consequences as a reality.

Besides, I just couldn't afford to retrieve 'Akasha'. I can't even go back and get it now. You can't count on that one now.

"... well. I have blueprints. I can make as much as I want, such as a golem, as long as I have time and money. Now we have to do something about this situation."

"Calm down, please. Master, it is not the equipment that counts. As long as you're alive, you can start all over again."

"Is there any way?

Sophia smiles softly to confirm the noto. The agitation that existed from that expression until earlier had disappeared.

"If hunters are opponents, there are a few… a little, I think.... Master, if you don't want to eat it, may I have one? Sweet stuff is the best thing to think about."

Sophia's eyes were pointed at the box placed on the table.

I don't know where the souvenir is, but it looks like luxury chocolate. Beautifully arranged.

When the noto nods, Sophia pinches one up with her thin fingers and puts it in her mouth and breaks her expression. Pinch up one noto the same way and put it in your mouth.

A good sweetness and cocoa aroma spreads through your mouth. The sugar seemed to stain my tired body.

Now I remember that I had barely eaten anything in the last few days.

Reaching for the second, Sophia, who was nagging and thinking, raised her face.

Deep blue eyes like the bottom of the ocean look at the noto.

"I called you an insider earlier...... who was that? When I used to look into it, no one was suspicious."

"I don't know. I had to dispose of them all with circumstantial evidence.... Noticed it after the raid."

"... It's an English break. I think it was a hard decision...... hurry back - I'm so glad I made it"

Sophia narrows her eyes and strokes her chest down with a relieved look.

I can still win. There's no rush or fear in Sophia's expression. Probably assumed these things originally.

Sophia is very similar to Noto. Desire for knowledge. Lack of ethics to break the law. And - depth of care.

The skill of witchcraft is not even at Noto's feet, but what we need now is not the ability to fight as individuals.

Sophia looks up at Noto with her peeping eyes.

"… so may I ask the name of that enemy?

"Oh... hadn't I told you yet"

In retrospect, Sophia had 'Mourning Ghost' as her enemy.

When Akasha was created, the name was brought out to attract him and the performance was improved.

It seems to me that this most disciple imagined that The Mourning Ghost would sooner or later poke at Akasha.

Speak its name with hatred.

"You've been hunting us down this time... and you know it well too -" The Ghost of Mourning (Strange Grief). "Um," Thousands of Changes. "

……

Nothing was said, but the change in expression was dramatic.

The serene grin that has been floating disappears and gives me a serious look.

I glance at Noto's face as if his sharp gaze could bark and even reveal lies. But I don't see fright or fear there.

This would not slow the movement down. Absurd voice. Noto slaps the table. Tea spills and stains the table.

"The purpose… is unknown at all. Since when have you been exploring us - and even though you defeated Akasha, why have you missed us? But I know only one thing! Unless you defeat that man, we have no future!

"Right..."

Sophia returned a small voice to the rough words with anger.

There was not much power there. Sophia breaks down her posture. Put your hands on your forehead and elbow.

Until now, a girl named Sophia Black has not always broken her courteous standing.

Sophia squeaks more bumps in front of the noto who looks at it for the first time.

"... what's wrong? We should have accomplished Mr. Noto's research a little later..."

"?? Sofi, a...? What's wrong with you!?

"Oh, excuse me. Master, a little unexpected..."

Sophia looks up and puts her posture right in embarrassment. At that time, the unusual reaction earlier had disappeared.

Refresh your mind, cough it up once and continue.

"Don't worry. I still have my hands. Tools remain, as well as handouts to the top. … I made some plans"

The lab outside of Teito would already be crushed. However, equipment, items, etc. have been placed in "space-time bags" and evacuated.

Materials summarizing research results, as well as rare catalysts in the use of witchcraft and treasure tools. Some hideouts the disciples do not know.

If you use them well and prepare well enough, you have plenty of chances that a level 8 hunter will be your opponent.

Neither the magic nor the physical attack worked, but then there's something we can do. You can try an assassination. You can hang it in a trap.

Hand over the plan. Sophia takes it, but puts it on the table without checking it.

And I sighed small, bowing my head deep enough that my hair was going to be in the teacup.

"I'm sorry, Master. It's all because of me."

"... what... are you saying?

"The purpose of a thousand changes - 'I', I'm saying. But I swear I didn't betray you."

Sophia lifts her head and sees Noto who doesn't understand the situation.

Tears were twitching and accumulating in his eyes. Continue as if to beg even with forgiveness.

"I respect my master. I admire everything about the skill and knowledge of witchcraft that was once known as the Wise Man (Master Maygas), his tireless exploration, his obsession and prudence that pushed him out for forbidden knowledge even though he was in a high position, and his immunity from death even in such a situation. The study of mystery requires a different talent than witchcraft, the master who combines the two at a high level is' genius'. Everyone but me was brilliant... and my master had everything I didn't have."

The trembling voice is fine and weak. If there had been a shape in the voice, it would have been shaped as beautiful as snow.

Calm your breath and move your jaw.

"... go on"

"Both 'Akasha' and 'Mana Material's Stirrer' are brilliant achievements. There would have been a huge amount of time, money, and risk to make it by myself. Everything is here with expensive equipment, rare catalysts and materials, and good researchers. Besides, my master - newcomer and immature - had enough weight to listen to my words. It was very fortunate for me that my master, who was supposed to have been banished, was still in the capital."

It was a word like penance.

There is no such thing as content. If that voice color was ordinary, I wouldn't have wondered anything.

Sneak a grip on the cane that was standing. Sophia says without even realizing it.

"Hopefully - we wanted to continue our research together for a bit more"

"... you just have to keep going. It's not over yet."

"No...... I'm done. The Master... was caught after committing contraindications, being hunted down by thousands of changes and killing all his disciples... and will be imprisoned by the Empire as the worst magician of all time. Perhaps… we will never see each other again"

The tone was too natural. Check Sophia's appearance.

Eyebrows dropped by the letter (c). Sadly distorted eyes are like tragic heroines or something just because they look neat. You look sad from the bottom of your heart.

"Sofia! You, I'm the one! You mean lose to that guy!?

Sophia was a researcher. Excellent, but capable as a magician - attack magic arms are a few steps inferior to Noto's.

Now Sophia doesn't have a cane, and even if she did, she can't pull out the resistance of her superficial noto with Sophia's sorcery.

Standing up, Sophia showed no resistance to the noto pulling and yelling her cheeks.

Just grip my hair for a long time and pull hard down. And I went on.

"The purpose of a thousand changes is… a warning. Not to my master, but to me, I'm telling you." Don't go back there anymore because it's dangerous, "he said."

"Huh!?

Long, burning bright red hair falls off as it is pulled.

For a moment I wondered if my scalp had peeled off, but it wasn't.

In front of a stunned noto, a chunk of hair fell on the table.

It was thin pink blonde hair that came out of the bottom. It had been cut short and had flashy red hair. I had a different impression as if I were someone else earlier.

Sophia lifts her fallen hair and tells her to hang on to a notebook that pulls her face off.

"Truth is, I don't want to show you... I've been a mentor for years and that's so 'dishonest'..."

"For years... I've been hiding... why did you do that?"

"Yeah... 'cause if you find out... it's gonna be a big deal. If you get a second' penalty ', Mr. Klee won't allow exploration even if he does. Maybe I won't be the only hunter this time... and I don't want to."

Sophia blinks her eyes and gives her a troubled look.

To the words, Noto rose up with a reflexive momentum. Point it at Sofia so she can poke the wand she had hidden.

It was a shock as if it had been lightning.

My cheeks, my hands and feet tremble. I don't even know if I'm angry or afraid of being deceived, Noto himself.

Until now all the disciples of Noto were exorcised magicians. They are a kind of madmen who have chosen to seek the truth by abandoning secularism because of their desires and unfortunate circumstances.

I thought this disciple was the same kind. I haven't been a superficial criminal yet, but that's because I lurked behind meeting myself before that, he said. Obviously, Sofia's sensibilities are not of the kind acceptable in the world of men.

Noto also knows more about the famous hunter than he is moving behind the imperial capital.

Among them, there was an international presence of different colors.

In certain major cases, a high level hunter was considered the biggest suspect in circumstantial evidence only. A person who has been penalized for a level down and forced to have dishonorable 'two names' such that criminals are given.

Level down is the heaviest penalty prescribed by the expedition that the level indicating the position of the hunter is dropped to the unlikely 'negative'.

If you commit a serious crime, you will be removed from the Seekers Association. I don't take a level down about a failed request. It rarely occurs because of this, it was also a testament to a cautious person.

The decline of young geniuses was the subject of much discussion in Imperial Capital at the time. In the end, the name was weathered without sufficient evidence to be guilty, but those who still remember it will remember.

"Penalties...... Hunter - The Mage - Is Sophia a Fake Name!? I know, I remember - three years ago, a mass escape in the South Isteria Grand Prison - charged with aiding and dropping the level to the negative -"

"Master, that's knowledge. See, after all, keep it hidden, good..."

Sophia smiles lonely. It doesn't look like they're given those two names because of their appearance.

But Sophia's actions and her name coincide perfectly with those we've seen so far.

"You -" The Worst (Deep Black) "huh!?

"The way I call it -- I hate it."

One who was a former Sofia flaunts his shoulder at a noto who spits and screams.

The casual tricks and words affirmed Noto's doubts.

"The Worst (Deep Black)".

One of the members of The Mourning Ghost (Strange Grief).

"Citrie Smartott... you were... an insider!?

"No... so no. I only did it for me... I apprenticed to my master. The Klees have nothing to do with it, and I didn't say anything. And... two terrible names until today."

Citrie told him to put his hands together, as if he were a blessing.

"'The worst' is you from today on, Master."