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

"It's great. Mr. Klee, I checked lightly, but there's no noticeable malfunction, and it's ready to use."

"Heh, good for you."

For the first time in a few days I visited the Clanmaster Room, Citrie was in a rare mood to see it. Always generally smiling, but now she hasn't been able to hide her inner joy.

Loose khaki-colored robes that hide the lines of your body are as usual, but the quality of your expression is different.

"Thanks to just exiting the venue, we were able to collect it safely. As you may know, there appears to have been signs of an intrusion into the auction's warehouse. Nothing was stolen, so it's not public..."

"Intrusion...?... It wouldn't be Liz, would it?

I don't know where the auction items are stored, but Zebuldia Auctions is a nationally led event. Security will be worthy, and it puts on the prestige of the Empire. I just think he's crazy that it's an intrusion there.

Half my joke, half my seriousness, says Citrie with a sparkling eye.

"I'm not your sister. Mr Klee, Noto Coclair has crushed, but he is only the head of one research department. I mean, this country still has its roots. As an organizational form, Akasha, each research department is independent and has no impact where one collapses. I've only heard rumors about other labs, too. But Noto Coclair was an excellent mentor. The crushing of the research department has led to a move around its legacy! You might be able to get information about other laboratories in this gap. Huh!

Honestly, you're not interested. I don't care.

Head to the lounge of the rendezvous, appropriately gaveling at Citrie, who speaks as excited as he is.

I'm also happy about what makes Citrie seem happy, but what's in my head right now is how to get a mask.

Eva managed to deliver the message to Ark, as I instructed.

The meeting place is the lounge. From here on out lies my arm. [M]

Citrine spins as she walks next door, hugging her lustrous voice in my right arm.

Tension, have you gone crazy? I'm going to negotiate now, and I'm distracted?

"Thanks to Mr. Klee for everything! I can't believe Akasha, who was a laboratory goldeater, just got it for a billion, or even paved the way for a new one - oh, should we try to infiltrate it again, or smash it down and just take away the fruits - but his opponents are wary of the giant organization, Mr. Klee next, and the empire is blinding itself. I have a main business, and it's very troubling."

Apparently, Citrie is motivated against a secret society that has even been nominated.

Seems like Citrie was originally after Akasha, and is this what all the hunters are all about? I have no idea.

You realize you're trying to keep me from walking, Citrie lets my body go.

In my personal opinion... I don't want Citrie to be too dangerous. She is not in a combat position.

"Well, calm down, Citrie. I've got what I want, and I'd rather not put time on it."

The opponent is a secret society, and this is a big clan. You won't be getting your hands on the detour.

And if possible, keep forgetting about Akasha...

Citrine coughed up my words as small as she had regained her calm.

"I see... you open up between them and scorch them. Attack all at once and it's going to collapse, but at the same time, protection can be sweeter when attacking. I also feel a little too cautious... and there's Mr. Klee."

Citries that I will see with a proper upward look. I don't think it conveyed half of what I was trying to say, but I snorted most of the time.

"I think hunters would be just fine enough to be too cautious. More than that, I want you to help me out here. Well, even if you help me out, I only have about as much money to do anymore."

Ark wouldn't just give it to me if the lady gave him the mask. [M]

The basis of the hunter is an equivalent replacement. If it was just for me, it would be - I would have made a pretty big debt.

I already owe you a lot of money, but I want to avoid that.

Citrine said to my utterly unmotivated voice without one disgusting face.

"Yes. Pleasure. As for the money, I was going to move even if I couldn't tell you from Mr. Klee"

That's right... you even spent your marriage money.

It's the same for me and Citrie who are poor now. I'm so sorry it would have been better if I hadn't been in debt.

I'll definitely give it back one day, so forgive me.

Citrine gives me her arm and holds my hand. It's as polite as touching a piece of art.

He leaks a hot exhale, his cheeks are red and he looks up at me.

"So... Mr. Klee. I just wanted to thank you for this one - I was just thinking, why don't you come stay at my house? I have time, too, and let me entertain you."

"Hmmm............... see you next time"

".................. too bad"

Citrie lowered her eyes with sincere regret. It's very painful to refuse an invitation sent out with a swinging grin, but when you get on Citrie's invitation, you won't be a bad person.

I live in a clanhouse, but every face of the mourning ghost has its base in Imperial Capital.

My sister Liz is rootless, but Citrie had a reasonably large house on the edge of the Empire City. Looks like a lab and residence, but it's not luxurious or spacious to jump through, it's a cozy city-proud home in a calm atmosphere.

And I've invited you a few times before, but Citrine's "hospitality" was a complete no-good human-making machine.

I don't need to do anything there. It frees me from all duties and responsibilities, and Citrine does everything around me. Every desire is fulfilled, the feeling of time is completely paralyzed, and I don't even have to think or put up with anything.

First of all, if Liz hadn't come and pulled me off, I would still be living happily in that hellish heaven. For a weak man, it's like a bottomless marsh.

Yeah. This sounds like Citrie's bad, but it's totally my fault. No offense to her.

Now I recognized her hospitality like a kind of spiritual workout. It's just that even the last few days have been a mess, but if I was in a place like that, this time I'd be an abandoned man.

Ark and his crew were already waiting in the lounge.

A cleric (saint) with an itchy but simultaneous core strength, level 5 Yu Shiiragi.

Isabella Mernes, a Magic Master (Magi) from far north, with a slightly stronger impact on me.

Warrior, to level six Almel Hellstrem, Benetta, a level six bandit who is always tangled up from Liz and not comfortable here.

And the black dot among the glorious party members - one of the most powerful in the Empire. Level 7, Arch Rodin of Silver Star Thunder, leader of Son of the Holy Spirit (Arc Brave).

Bright personality in neat appearance. And power. A man who was born with everything, who would be as brave as possible.

Unlike the usual adventurer style and "Footprints" uniform, today's arc was a personal outfit. But there's nothing like a gap in that position. The expression has a flamboyant smile, but indescribable majesty. I'm supposed to be busy, but there's nothing like fatigue on that look.

And Liz, who I don't remember calling face-to-face, looked great and flustered. When he finds me, he wakes up and waves loudly with a full grin.

"Klee, over here, over here. Isn't it awful that you wouldn't call me such a fun thing?

Ark, anyway, the sight of the fellow isn't very favorable. There would have been plans, but suddenly he was called up, besides being the wingman facing Liz the Communist, so it was also unavoidable.

"This... sounds rough. There's nothing fun about it."

"I'll take care of it."

"I can negotiate on my own. The other guy's an arc, and I can handle it."

I came early so I wouldn't have to wait, but the arcs got behind me.

The Son of the Holy Spirit (Arc Brave) is different, even though our party would have liked to have half come on time.

I at least make a smile and raise my hand. [M] Ark also laughed furiously, as usual.

"I'm sorry to call you out of the blue, Ark. Forgive me, it was an emergency. It shouldn't be a bad story for Ark either."

§ § §

Funny man.

For Ark Rodin, that's what happens if you describe The Thousand Changes in a nutshell.

Every year, a large number of hunters and hunter aspirants come from outside to Zebuldia, the Imperial City, the sanctuary of treasure hunters.

And the vast majority of those will retire before they achieve much. Some have failed to search for the treasure hall and died, others have suffered major injuries that could interfere with hunter activity, or have never been able to leave the city again due to mental wounds.

And even the lucky ones who spared them, most of them will not be able to do it in Imperial Capital due to lack of strength, turning their bases into other cities.

Klee Andrich was also only one of those very common countrymen.

That, too, is not an experienced treasure hunter originally outside, but a hunter aspirant who never engaged in the search for a treasure hall until he came to this imperial capital.

The quality of treasure hunters in Teito is quite high. Only a handful of truly talented poles can become treasure hunters in such an imperial capital.

The environment in Teito is not so sweet as to be able to do it where some training was done beforehand.

A treasure palace that exists too much. Reliable man looking to feed the heartbroken hunters to a large number of rivals rubbed and refined by them.

If there are many supplies and people, there are more villains after it. Only for hunters who possess some skill and are able to repel such external enemies can the Imperial Capital live easily.

It could be described as a baptism against the hunters who came to the Empire attracted by their sweet fantasies.

But the Ghost of Mourning withdrew. The treasure hall was defeated by criminals who preferred new hunters and targeted the very unpopular senior hunters who saw talented young people as their enemies, increasing their fame at a tremendous rate.

It was half inevitable that the figure stopped in Ark's eyes.

The Ghost of Mourning was constantly painted with blood.

For hunters, the element that underlies that power is Mana Material. A talented man who has accumulated this and Mana Materials for decades is stronger than a man who has one talented hunter a hundred years.

And that fact is applauding the movement of those who seek to pick up the buds of talented newcomers.

All the faces of The Mourning Ghost were filled with talent that was just glowing. That's what bought the envy around me.

There were numerous disruptions. My life was targeted, and I heard a bunch of disgusting rumors. But that significantly enhanced the party.

Soon I was on the eating side from the eating side.

It had changed from a country man with an unworthy dream to a frightening party with talent up to tough and no mercy for all enemies.

Ark Rodin is also the man who became a hunter in the Imperial Capital, but the ground was different.

The Rodin family had know-how. There was fame. I've been a hunter for as long as I can for a tough workout, attacking several treasure palaces before I became a hunter. There was noble cooperation, and it was easy to gather your people.

Exactly - the opposite. At least, Ark thinks his party is the opposite of The Mourning Ghost.

- And also the quality of those who are leaders.

As always, he's an interesting man.

The dark-haired man with his hips down face-to-face was' weakest ', no different from when we first met a few years ago.

I know it's called a divine conspiracy. And the fact that the word boasts a median rate and range that can even be called futuristic.

But even considering that element - too little.

Ark knows a few hunters who are higher than he is. Some of them, like The Thousand Changes, are far below the arc, only in terms of combat capability.

But no. The high level hunters had the strength to see and be convinced.

But to the man in front of you, who is certainly supposed to be of a higher level than himself, the man who is supposed to have a track record, he doesn't have it.

An interesting man. Too weak a man to take on the leader of a party that's too strong.

It inspired strong curiosity. That's also why Ark's party, which had numerous scouts from established and mighty clans, was to participate in The Footprints of the Beginning.

And its essence is yet to be foreseen.

Arc is often compared to a thousand changes, but comparing itself is an error in the first place.

There is no point in comparing them in numbers. Silver Star Lightning and Thousand Changes are not simply comparable.

For example, where the force is added or pulled, both of them will never be equals.

It's probably not a 'grid', it's a different path - it's a different dimension.

I am jealous of its existence around me. Some have aspirations, others are hostile.

Ark Rodin was born to win. I was born to walk alone. Therefore, I am not jealous.

All I have is a tireless exploratory mind inherited from the first Rodin.

Therefore, if we were to show in words the relationship between Ark Rodin and Klee Andrich - we would settle for the term 'friend', not 'competitor' or 'strong enemy'.

The man who suddenly summoned Ark, who was flying around on a Rodin family errand, did not have a look of sorry for the dust, either, and was greatly armed.

A treasure tool ring embedded in all your fingers in your usual black based clothes. Ark's party members don't look at each other in a bad mood.

"I'll tell you straight in. I want you to go to Miss Eclair's now. If you go, you'll know everything. You know me and Miss Ecclair are competing in a treasure trove bid and Miss Ecclair won, right?

"Yeah, I've been busy the last few days, but I'm listening. I'll tell you for once there's no misunderstanding, but that was done on my own by Master Ecclair and has nothing to do with me. She's intelligent at her age, she's not a bad person, but she seems to tend to run wild."

Ark is not free. There's so much to do when you're not exploring the treasure hall as part of the Rodin family that it rots.

I was called all over the place to get out while the Empire was gushing at the auction and without time to get involved with it.

I laughed unexpectedly when I heard about the treasure gear that Thousand Changes wanted being up in price because of it, and when I heard Miss Eclair somehow broke into that competition, I was surprised, but that's all.

Liz, who was stretching her spine and legging next to Klee, protests with a tall voice.

"Yeah!? I was gonna go, but you're gonna let Ark go?

"Huh!? Are you going to parsley Mr. Ark again!? But even Mr. Ark is busy, go yourself!

Ark sighs deeply at party member Isabella, who bites instantly.

Isabella is a brilliant magician. He has done well, but the only thing that flawed the balls was his vulnerability to provocation and his unbearability when he could lighten the arc.

"Ahhh!? Hey, it's just Arc's hipster wipes, and I'm gonna smash your mouth off Klee!" YES "is the only word I've been allowed to say!

"Hip towel huh!? Heh... heh..."

To the two about to rise, Citrie slapped her hand as she grinned.

"Well, well, calm down, sister and Isabella. Mr. Ark and Mr. Klee are in trouble, aren't they?

"... chip"

Ghost of Mourning and Son of the Holy Spirit. It is usual for some of its members to be friends with dog monkeys.

I can't tell you how much I stopped talking about this.

Klee's expression was unusual and terribly serious. Ark also squeezes himself into that look.

"I told you, I didn't ask. Ark, that treasure trove - it's dangerous in a way. Ark, you can handle this. Maybe. I think if we go now, we'll make it."

As usual, it's a nonspecific word. But I know Klee's words always anticipate a major incident.

Fortunately, Ark is confident in his ability to fight. I don't know what's going to happen, but this isn't the first time I've been able to speak up.

Put all questions aside once and ask back.

"... do you have a weapon?

"Huh...? Oh, I don't need it. I'd rather not take it"

I don't need a weapon...? That's unusual. Isn't that a fight?

But it should be dangerous. Even though it's dangerous... don't you want a weapon?

"... what if we don't make it?

Asking Ark with a frown, Klee tilted her neck and replied with a troubled look.

"I'm sad."