Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Volume 1 - Chapter Pr

Prologue: A Short-Lived Dream

It all started with one unforgettable proposal:

Let’s be treasure hunters.

The story began when I was a child not even ten years of age. The one who’d suggested it was a member of my group of childhood friends.

“Let’s be treasure hunters. We’ll find all the treasure vaults out there and claim the wealth and glory for ourselves.”

Our goal was to be the strongest heroes in the world. If anyone could do it, the six of us could.

The guy who’d brought up the idea was reckless and had more brawn than brains, but he was also full of courage.

First to agree to this baseless yet attractive proposal was our particularly dexterous friend, who was quick in more ways than one.

Our resident bookworm nervously agreed in turn, and our quiet but reliable friend nodded deeply.

My little sister, who always tagged along behind me, glanced my way. Naturally, I agreed to the idea as well.

Treasure hunters, who trekked through ruins all over the world in search of treasure, had been stars all throughout history.

Wealth, fame, power.

There was no faster way to gain access to your heart’s desire and become a hero. Of course, there was also a great deal of risk involved.

We had all heard countless stories of hunters who’d fallen victim to devious traps, terrifying monsters, and ethereal phantoms. Even the hunters’ tales of adventure that had inspired my friend’s proposal were full of such gruesome anecdotes.

But the risks could not hope to extinguish the flames of adventure in our hearts. The very day we embraced that dream, our journey had already begun.

To prepare ourselves for this occupation, we began by identifying and honing our individual strengths. Once we had decided on our roles, we devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to improving on the relevant skills.

The bravest one among us became a peerless Swordsman while our nimble friend became a Thief, one who disarmed traps and led the party through peril. Note that there was no actual stealing involved; people just tended to call them Thieves.

For better or for worse, every other one of my friends had an all-important talent required to become hunters.

Something had already become clear, however, at the point where we were training at our respective roles:

I was the only one who had no talent. The only one who, no matter how hard I tried, couldn’t even be considered average.

Out of the six of us—my four friends, my sister, and myself—I alone was incapable of doing anything useful.

I alone had lost sight of the path to heroism. That was five years ago.

I woke up in the worst of moods.

The sky was filled with thick, black clouds. If you closed your eyes, you would hear only the sound of raindrops smacking against the ground.

A fetid bouquet of mud and water filled the air. After three consecutive days of stormy weather, the ground was complete muck. Although it was noon, the world was dark.

Before a sturdy, stone building stood men and women of all ages. Some stood there with lifeless eyes, while others were screaming in rage. Some weren’t even pureblooded humans, instead displaying physical traits of other species.

Their garb came in all varieties: dirty armor made from some unknown sort of leather, long overcoats that hid their whole bodies, and even full suits of armor like knights would wear. Many of them wielded weapons such as swords and firearms.

The one commonality they shared was that they were imposing.

The street was nearly empty due to the poor weather, but one corner was caught up in unusual enthusiasm. Everyone had gathered there in search of the most meager of chances: the opportunity to display their strength to famous treasure hunters and to be accepted into their parties.

Throughout time, treasure hunters had always had the most coveted of occupations. They traveled across the world in search of ruins—treasure vaults modeled after ancient civilizations—to obtain the riches within.

Despite the major risks, those with talent could have wealth, fame, and power in the palm of their hand. They could also have glory the likes of which famous merchants and even royalty could never hope to attain.

Hunters often formed groups of several people, called parties, to act together. If a newbie could find their way into a party of multiple experienced hunters, the risk was far lower than working alone. On the other hand, established hunters were always looking for skilled allies. The event being held here today was intended for just that.

I assumed not many people would come today due to the rain, but come they did. After letting out a sigh, I stood at the far back of the line. Because of the lack of shelter, every single person in line was soaked.

I flipped the hood of my overcoat up and shrank down, waiting. There was nobody here I knew, and standing in line alone was disheartening to say the least.

“Aaargh! What’s with all the damn people?! You can’t even get inside!” There was an annoyed yell from up ahead, prompting me to shrink down even more.

Not only was the wait long, but it was cold and rainy. It was unfair, yes, and I understood why he would be angry. But everyone else had to deal with it, too. There were many hunters out there who were strong but short-tempered. I really didn’t want to get caught up in any fights.

Among a hunter’s attributes and abilities was something called physique. I had an average physique, but all of the men around me were at least a head taller. These beasts in human clothing had the power and courage to coolly fight monsters whose strength far surpassed those of normal humans.

All I could do was to pray that this would go peacefully. Fortunately, it seemed that one of my prayers had actually worked this time, as there was no further commotion after that.

The line moved forward a little. As I crouched low and did my best to avoid eye contact, the person in front of me abruptly turned around. I saw myself reflected in her beautiful blue eyes.

“Hey there! You looking for a party, too?”

“Oh? Um, yeah.”

Her voice was cheerful, a poor match for the gloomy weather. Ignoring her seemed like trouble, though, so I looked vaguely in her direction.

The one who had accosted me was a female hunter who looked to be in her mid-twenties. Well-kempt brown hair and big, blue eyes. Long coat, big pouch attached to her stout belt. Her outfit was standard hunter fare, but her pristine hair and affable features didn’t seem like they belonged to someone who trawled dangerous treasure vaults. Heck, her gear was hardly even soiled.

In the era where treasure hunters were celebrated, female hunters weren’t especially rare. But in my experience, hunters like her could be divided into one of two groups. The first group included people who were just about to become or had just become hunters, their hearts still filled with hope.

The other group consisted of those who had experienced countless adventures but never lost that sparkle in their eye. These hunters had such outstanding talent that they could be heroes—true beasts, like my friends from so long ago.

Nine times out of ten, they were the former, but you could never be too careful. In this field, there really were plenty of beasts disguised as humans.

As I eyed her dubiously, the hunter smiled wryly for just an instant before returning to her cheerful expression and offering me her hand. At the very least, she didn’t seem like she’d just hit me out of nowhere.

In the depths of my mind, I set this hunter to a danger level of E, a level I conferred to hunters who, at least on the surface, seemed mentally stable enough.

“The name’s Rhuda Runebeck. I’m a level three hunter, though I only just ranked up a few days back.”

Level 3? So she’s around middle-class. Much better than her appearance would suggest. Wordlessly, I adjusted her danger level to D. At the very least, she wasn’t a newbie.

Treasure hunters were given levels by the Explorers’ Association (the Association, for short) based on their exploits. These levels were known by the general public as indicators of hunters’ abilities. Groups of hunters typically introduced themselves along with their job and level.

There were up to ten levels in existence, but level 3 was considered average in terms of strength and exploits. Statistically, 70% of all hunters stopped at level 3. Seeing as Rhuda had gotten there so young, one could say that she was hopeful for greater things. I had nothing to lose from being wary of her; middle-class hunters were still beasts compared to common folk.

My lips parted to speak. Probably because I had run here without drinking anything this morning, the voice that came from my mouth was painfully hoarse.

“I’m... Krai Andrey. Nice to meet you, Rhuda.”

I did not grasp her hand, which was outstretched as a mark of goodwill. In my five years as a hunter in the imperial capital, the most important thing I had acquired was a sense of danger.

She could toss me the moment I took her hand. Or she might crush mine. Heck, it was likely enough that the moment I offered my own hand, she would say, “Don’t underestimate me, you little shit!” and kill me where I stood. Of course, it was also possible that she would see me as an enemy because I refused a handshake.

Rhuda’s brow furrowed for a moment before she went cheery again. “You solo, too? Everyone here is so on edge, y’know? I hate it.”

I didn’t reply.

“I’ve been a solo hunter all this time, but lately, I’m kinda hitting a wall. Then I happened to hear that they were just about to hold this big hunter-recruiting event. So here I am now.” She patted the dagger stored within its sheath on her belt.

In treasure vaults, there were various gimmicks like traps and hidden corridors. The fact that she was carrying a weapon with such low killing power meant that Rhuda was specialized more in dealing with these gimmicks than fighting monsters.

And she’s going solo? This girl’s something else. I quietly raised her danger level up to C.

Myriad abilities were necessary in raids on treasure vaults, and it was nigh impossible to cover all of those by yourself, so the Association recommended forming parties. Sure, going solo came with its own merits, but risking one’s life to go to a vault alone was just crazy in my opinion. There were plenty of lunatic hunters out there, and in my experience, the solo ones were almost all of that variety.

She might have looked calm and sweet, but either she had such a poor personality that nobody would be in a party with her, or she had some other really annoying circumstances. Either way, I’d rather she left me alone.

Not knowing what to say, I forced a smile. Another one of the many things I’d learned in my years here was that smiling could get you through most difficult situations.

“Your whole career? That’s pretty rough.”

“Yeah, for real! I tried going to the White Wolf’s Den, and it was just too much for me.” There was a glint in Rhuda’s eyes, like she was dying to talk to anyone. “So I came here looking for a party, right? I figure five or so level three hunters could get through it together.”

“Pssh, the White Wolf’s Den? Kid, do you even know where we are?”

The derisive tone of this sudden interruption caused Rhuda’s expression to harden. It had come from a mountain of man ahead of us.

He wore leather armor with metal accents and a bloodstained overcoat. If Rhuda was a sparkly-eyed freshman, this guy was an experienced alumnus who’d long since graduated. The sheath hanging from his belt was soiled from use.

I grimaced. The majority of hunters were hot-blooded and typically grew much more so in proportion to their skill level. Even the Association often said that hot-bloodedness was part of the hunter’s basic skillset.

Unsurprisingly, despite the fact that this man was two heads bigger than her, Rhuda fearlessly yelled, “What’s your deal? Got a problem with me, bub?!”

“Level three? The White Wolf’s Den? This ain’t no place for amateurs who just became hunters yesterday!”

The goliath pulled his lips into a sneer. Other people in line turned to watch the two, some out of irritation and some out of excitement for a fight, and yet they showed no signs of stopping.

I surreptitiously took a step back. One had to be careful not to get involved in fights. Yep, that was another thing I had learned as a hunter.

It was strictly forbidden for hunters to hurt common folk because the difference in strength was simply too vast. If you were seen by the knights who kept the peace, it would go on your criminal record. It was also a problem of pride, so even the most violent hunters were careful to avoid doing so.

On the other hand, fights between hunters were often ignored. I was weak enough to put even common folk to shame, but as I was officially a hunter, nobody would care if I got caught up in a hunter fight and was injured as a result.

In fact, people would look down on me if I didn’t fight back. They would blame me, the victim. Oh, what a world!

“You only come here if you’re confident in your strength. The people recruiting are from the Steps. A little snot-nosed newbie like you ain’t gettin’ in with the biggest new clan in the capital. You’re just wastin’ our time!”

Clans were one form of hunter groups. When a few hunters gathered and moved as one unit, they were a party. When multiple parties consolidated, they were a clan.

There were various reasons to consolidate: sharing information, lending out items, borrowing party members when vital roles were unfilled, even challenging high-difficulty treasure vaults together. Having such connections made being a hunter way smoother. To that end, the Association recommended forming clans.

The party recruitment meet here today was sponsored by a clan called the Steps, one of the many renowned clans in the imperial capital of Zebrudia. Their formal title was First Steps, and they consisted of many young but well-known parties. Though they hadn’t been around for long, the Steps were extending their influence all over the capital. Just about every hunter working in Zebrudia knew that name.

Recruitment was typically done on an as-needed basis, but the Steps held a regular, large-scale event once a year. Hopeful hunters, regardless of background, age, or level, could undergo a test from a Steps party. If you fit their tastes, you would be welcomed as a new party member.

Of course, members of Steps parties were pretty high-leveled, which reflected in their tests. As such, very few people passed them, but for those who were skilled but lacked connections, they were seen as the chance of a lifetime.

This enthusiasm would be misplaced, though, as hunters of the Steps were at the very upper crust of the capital’s hunters. Like my old friends, their talent encroached beyond genius level and into “ungodly” territory. Nearly everyone who took the test had all their confidence smashed to smithereens before them.

“Excuse me? The flyer said your level and history doesn’t matter. Besides, level three is nothing to sneeze at!”

“Hah! Level three is average at best! Do you know how many level three hunters the Steps are stuck with?!” The goliath hurled abuse at Rhuda the moment she dared to bare her fangs.

In a way, he was right. Level 3 was nothing more than average. To a famous party, a level 3 designation was worthless. All of the Steps members were at least level 3.

Still, Rhuda’s level only reflected her current status. I had mentioned that 70% of hunters stopped at level 3, but as long as you had the aptitude, you could keep going up. If she had made it to level 3 going solo, then joining a party and gaining experience would make it easy for her to keep climbing.

That was exactly why this clan’s member recruitments didn’t include a level restriction. No matter how much of a genius you were, you still started at level 1.

I thought it was an awful thing for him to say, but I kept my lips sealed. Best not to say anything unnecessary. Even as I watched in silence, the confrontation between them continued to heat up. I was far removed from the action at this point.

While the goliath talked smack at Rhuda, he made a show of touching the sword at his hip. It was a broadsword about a yard long. Unlike Rhuda’s self-defense dagger, it was made to slay monsters and phantoms that lurked within treasure vaults.

Overall, Rhuda was out of her league. No way this goliath is lower than level 3.

“Heh. Wanna settle this once and for all? If it’s a fight you want, then let’s do it.”

Even so, she was showing no signs of backing down. Her clean-cut features warped into a wild smirk.

Like the goliath, she brushed a hand against her dagger before pulling it out and showing it off fondly.

Treasure hunters were, put simply, inhuman. If they got into fights with common folk, they were always the ones in the wrong. But in the case of a fight between hunters, the first one to draw their weapon was the aggressor. That was the reason he hadn’t unsheathed his sword first despite how incensed he was. The man was clearly used to picking fights.

Now, even if Rhuda was beaten senseless by this goliath whose name she didn’t even know, she had no room for mitigation. A court of law wouldn’t care if he was a higher level than her.

How did I end up having to deal with this? I’m literally just standing in line.

While I stood there, fed up with both the weather and this argument, a man exited the building, wearing a white uniform like some sort of imperial officer. His collar was adorned with a silver mark modeled after a pair of footprints. This was proof that he was a member of First Steps. The callous expression on his face, which was marred with deep scars, mirrored that of the goliath in front of me.

He glared at both the goliath and Rhuda with equal scorn, then bellowed, “Quit your damn fighting, or take it somewhere else! I’ll kick you idiots out without even testing you!”

The goliath clicked his tongue and returned his sword to its sheath. Likewise, Rhuda’s eye twitched in irritation as she put away her dagger.

Finally, the line shuffled forward, and we made it inside.

The enthusiasm within the building was even more overwhelming than outside. I caught a few lingering whiffs of alcohol. Was this a bar? All of the tables were pushed to one side, leaving a wide space for hopefuls to line up. The air was thick with excitement. When Rhuda and I were ushered in, her eyes opened wide.

Apparently having forgotten about the commotion outside, she exclaimed, “Wow! Is everyone here a hunter?”

Several white-uniformed members of First Steps occupied the tables. When it came to the parties of First Steps, there were all sorts. For every party composed of several famous hunters, there was a party in which only the leader had any renown. For every party that sought brute strength, there was another party that searched for specific skills. Those who hoped to join one of them were to head to the table of their chosen party and take the test.

The tests themselves differed from party to party. There were plenty who gave basic tests like interviews and formal skill examinations, but some seemed to value inspiration more.

We looked around for a while, but Rhuda was still rooted to the spot, unable to hide her astonishment.

I could have ignored her, but I felt bad. I decided to ask, “First time?”

“It’s not yours?”

“I think it’s my... fifth?”

“This is your fifth time?! Oh, um, sorry.” For some strange reason, Rhuda apologized.

“It’s not a big deal. I imagine most people here have tried out more than once.”

Hunters were essentially in a meritocracy. The talented ones were scooped up quickly. But that didn’t mean the talentless had no chance.

Surely there were more people like me, who knew they had no talent but had come to the capital for the meager chance regardless. That tenacity could be considered a skill of its own. At least we could find out for certain.

I kept my distance from the lines forming at each table, staying in the corner as I observed the situation. It seemed there were more parties out looking for members than usual.

Though it was a recruitment event for the Steps, that didn’t mean every single party of theirs came here every time. But today, in a rare turn of events, every famous party was present. That explained why the line extended outside.

Rhuda addressed me over-familiarly, “Hey, Krai, can you fill me in a little? I don’t know a thing about all this.”

“Fine. I guess it can’t hurt to curry favor with a strong hunter.”

After all, she wasn’t going to be a level 3 forever. Assuming she didn’t die, anyway. Rhuda loosened up a little after my answer.

“You might not know it, but I’ve been in this city a long time. I know most of the famous hunters, so this should be a good opportunity.”

First off, even though getting into a party was the objective here, you couldn’t just go with a party at random. Each party was recruiting for different roles and had different methods. The idea that getting into one of the best parties secured your future certainly wasn’t wrong, but it was not unheard of for people to butt heads with their new parties once recruited.

If the difference in talent between you and the rest of your party was too great, it would lead to trouble down the line. Rhuda was on the right track, I’d say, but there were capable hunters from all over the world here in the capital. Some appeared to be human, but concealed some other life-form entirely. My friends were like that.

“I don’t know what you can do or even want to do, but since you’re carrying that dagger, you’re probably suited for things other than combat.”

I scrutinized her gear once more. Aside from the dagger, she also had a leather pouch hanging on her hip, small enough to not hinder movement. She probably had lockpicking tools and the like in there, too.

Hunters all had their own talents and niches. Typically, when a lifelong solo hunter joined a party, they picked the easiest one to enter and joined as an attacker. Before, they would have to have fought off monsters and phantoms on their own, so they tended to have high offensive capabilities. However, when it came to things like trap-disarming, scouting, and lockpicking, they were usually inferior to someone who had specialized in those activities as a member of a party.

Without a ton of experience, Rhuda would have a rough time trying to join a party as a Thief, someone who specialized in those activities. She likely knew as much herself, so there was no reason to point that out and make her mad.

She waited for me to speak with a serious look on her face, so I pointed toward the back of the room and continued, “First off, there’s one major rule in here: the farther back the party is, the higher their level.”

Much like the levels assigned to hunters, clans and parties also had levels designated by the Explorers’ Association. Parties in the same clan could be separated by wide chasms of skill.

I pointed at the big table all the way in the back, where the largest crowd had gathered. “That’s the strongest party recruiting right now: Ark Brave. Ever heard of them? The average member is only twenty-one years old, but they’re the best of the best. They cleared a level seven treasure vault with only six people.”

The Braves were the most prominent beasts in the stampede that was the imperial capital. They had such power that you’d think they were blessed by gods. Their leader was known on the streets as a full-on hero.

By the way, the White Wolf’s Den was a level 3 treasure vault. The Association’s designations were pretty vague at times, but a level 3 vault was normally recommended for parties of multiple level 3 hunters. A treasure vault only one level higher was nearly ten times harder, so for Ark Brave to have cleared a level 7 vault, there was a world of difference between them and her.

“If you can get into that party, your success is all but guaranteed. If not... Well, even just receiving a bit of praise from one of their members is enough to get other parties fighting over you.”

Solo or not, experienced or not, she must have known their names by now.

Even Rhuda, in all her bravado, was getting intimidated by this. She whispered, “Just asking, but... do you think I have a chance?”

“Depends on you. I mean, as far as I know, Ark Brave has never actually recruited anybody during this kind of event.”

They were a top-class name even in the capital. Young hunters would try to get in time and time again. Their party composition was already solidified, so the people crowding around their table probably didn’t actually expect to get in. They just wanted to see the faces of the party members or maybe make tentative connections with them.

Rhuda stared at the crowd and sighed deeply, without even bothering to complain. The moment she’d heard “level seven,” she’d likely assumed it was out of her reach.

I continued to introduce her to the other parties. All of them had names that you would’ve heard after being in the capital for a few months. Rhuda didn’t know them because she had worked solo all this time, but if she’d cared to search for this information, she would’ve found it easily. Rather, the fact that she didn’t know just proved she was a newbie.

I pointed at each one and gave an explanation. Not that I knew every single party myself, but there were rare parties here who had never shown up in previous years. Almost all of the Steps seemed to be participating in this recruitment event. Once I was finished, I let out a sigh.

After my long lecture, Rhuda said somewhat exasperatedly, “You sure know a lot. I’m getting tired just listening.”

“All of this is common knowledge.”

“I dunno if it’s okay to ask, but who are you looking to join?”

“Join? Hm... None, I guess? I can’t really do anything.”

I didn’t have a field of expertise. One couldn’t even call me an all-rounder; I truly had no skills whatsoever. A master of none, except worse—no courage, and no power to boot. The little passion I’d had back when I thought I was worth something had long since been extinguished.

Needless to say, being a hunter was dangerous work. Some estimates claimed that 70% of hunters died in treasure vaults. I just didn’t have it in me to take that risk. I had used my lack of talent as an excuse, but maybe that was my biggest problem. It made me want to vomit.

“I see. Well, if you want, maybe we could form a party?” she suggested cheerfully.

Rhuda was probably serious. My heart tightened, and it became difficult to breathe. Among bad guys, she was a good person. She couldn’t possibly have been joking. But the thought of me dragging her down was unbearably painful.

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t need pity. You should find a party suited to your strengths and make your future as bright as it can be.”

“Oh, okay.”

I gripped the silver chains hanging beneath my belt. The cool sensation helped calm my pounding heart a little.

Suddenly, Rhuda changed the subject. “Huh? Hey, what about that empty table over there? Why didn’t they put that one away?” She pointed over and over at the large, empty table behind Arc Brave’s recruitment zone.

“Wow. You two really didn’t do your homework, huh?”

“Whoa!”

The goliath she’d argued with earlier was now approaching. His face was red, as if the heat was getting to him. His developed biceps and riveted, rough-looking armor seemed even more dangerous in the light. Apparently, he’d found success, as he was in a much better mood than before.

Her parade thoroughly rained on, Rhuda frowned and glared at him. “What do you want from us? Don’t think I won’t get mad again.”

“Don’t be so mean, kid. Allow the Great Greg, a real hunter, to show ya the ropes.”

The Great Greg? Never heard of him. But I only knew the names of the real best of the best, the highest-up hunters who anyone savvy to the industry would know. There were plenty of tough guys I didn’t know. It was entirely possible that he was just about to get famous.

“That table’s for the party that founded First Steps along with Ark Brave. Looks like they ain’t comin’ today, though.”

“The party that... founded them?” Rhuda blinked.

The Great Greg lowered his voice, as if he was telling us a carefully guarded secret. “First Steps is always lookin’ for members, but today, they’re out in full force. They’ve even got the Braves here after they wrecked that level seven vault. The Crosses and Starlights are here, too, and they never go recruitin’. And look... they’ve even got guys with the Steps mark crawlin’ around, and they ain’t in any parties.”

He glanced furtively at an unpleasant-looking man who was standing by the wall with his arms crossed. The man wasn’t wearing the same uniform as the hunters who were recruiting. But on closer inspection, his collar, sleeves, and other inconspicuous spots had buttons and other accoutrements bearing the First Steps emblem. As a general rule, the clan members had to wear the symbol somewhere that stood out.

“Ain’t much point in all these Steps comin’ if they’re not recruitin’, yeah? There’s gotta be a reason.”

I had to interject to his conspiracy-laden talk. The Great Greg had clearly done his homework, but I knew a little more.

“Those are solo members who belong to First Steps.”

“Huh?! Can you join a clan going solo?”

“The minimum party size is one. You need a party to apply to the clan, but if you fill out the application as a one-man party, you can get in. Though you need to be really strong.”

If I had to say, Rhuda had either pushed herself to her limits or just had a bit of talent and luck on her side.

Turning my attention away from the man, I pointed at a bored-looking girl who was wandering around near the empty table.

She wore tight, black leather fighting gear. Along with her black bob and the dagger hanging from her belt, her ensemble emphasized ease of movement from top to bottom. The girl was probably younger than Rhuda.

“That’s Tino Shade. She’s a level four, and she works solo for First Steps. I’d say she’s one of the more famous ones.”

“That little girl? Really?”

“Careful what you say. Her age and appearance belie a very short temper.”

Tino was a Thief, like Rhuda, but more advanced. I figured she could probably make it through the White Wolf’s Den alone. She was just one beast among the Steps.

The Great Greg finally turned his attention to me, his eyes alight with interest. “You don’t look like much of a hunter, but you sure know your stuff.”

“Information-gathering is important. Besides, she happens to be the... pupil of someone I know.” I tugged on my hood to cover even more of my face.

To be more specific, she was the pupil of a friend. In other words, my friends were apex beasts. Crazy, right?

“Someone you know?” Rhuda echoed, curious.

“I dunno why she’s here when she flies solo, though.”

Maybe she got tired of working alone and came here to find a new party. People inside the clan can be recruited too, after all. Though I imagine she could just join a party without bothering to come here.

Seeing my quizzical look, the Great Greg crossed his arms haughtily. “That’s it. Now we’re gettin’ to the meat of things. See, there’s this rumor goin’ around about why they’re here. Today, one of the two parties that founded First Steps is here. A party who ain’t scouted anybody in who knows how long.”

He paused, his eyes betraying dark excitement. The tone of his voice made it sound like he was telling a spooky story. Then, he leaned in and said, “For the first time in years, the Grievers are lookin’ for members.”

Shock ran through my body when I heard the name. It felt as if this place alone had been cut off from the rest of the world.

Not noticing my current state, the Great Greg’s lips warped into a grin. “The Grievers are the cream of the crop. Without this once-in-a-lifetime chance, none of us would ever even see ’em, let alone get picked up by ’em. Bet they’re tryna make an appearance if all goes well.”

His excitement was palpable. The sheer passion radiating from his speech had shocked Rhuda into wide-eyed silence.

The Grievers. My stomach churned. That was the nickname of the party I had formed with my friends when we left the countryside and came here to the capital. Commanding a team of five beasts, the party had risen to prominence in no time. At this point, they and Ark Brave made up the two strongest young parties in the capital.

Its formal name? Grieving Souls.

I realized my throat was dry. The nerves caused me to sweat all over. Don’t say that name, I wanted to beg, but it would be too strange to say that now. I retreated even deeper into my hood, trying to hide myself as much as possible.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” Rhuda asked, concerned, as I shrank down and quivered.

I wanted to vomit.

“Guess it’s all fake, though. Here I was, gettin’ all excited since it sounded so juicy.” The Great Greg shrugged.

Every member of First Steps was high-leveled, not just Ark Brave and Grieving Souls. Even the Great Greg, in all his short-temperedness, wouldn’t complain just because he failed to get into one party.

However, there was one person who did complain. “Hey, what’s the damn holdup?! Where’re the Grievers?!”

All eyes gathered on him at once.

It was a boy with flaming-red hair. On his back was a greatsword so massive that no normal human could have swung it. Though he was short, one could tell that his body was toned and muscular even through his clothes.

To reiterate, a hunter’s strength was often linked to his short-temperedness. He had the nerve to say what everyone else, including the Great Greg, would not. His eyes were certain of victory against all others present, and that conviction was likely backed up by real strength. He was clearly younger than me, but it would be dangerous to just call him uppity and leave it at that.

Furthermore, the greatsword slung across his back gleamed in a way that no man-made object did. It was something found in a treasure vault—a special item called a Relic.

“I don’t want the small fry. You guys said the best of the best were gonna be here, so I came all this way!” He continued his potty-mouthed tirade, not looking for anyone to agree with him.

“Kid’s got a temper. He ain’t tryna make an enemy of everyone here, is he?” the Great Greg muttered as he watched with curiosity. He had the air of a ruffian, but it seemed he had gained some good sense in his years.

To treasure hunters, connections were vital. Rumors could spread in the blink of an eye if someone caused trouble. No matter how strong you were, that could spell the end of your career. This guy probably hadn’t cared up until now, but everyone here liked the Steps, and everyone here was strong. Many even had Relics like him.

There were no signs of anyone trying to stop him, however. He probably wasn’t the only one who was feeling fed up. Others looked on calmly, as though they were watching a farce.

The boy shot threatening glares at the Steps at every table, his eyes smoldering with rage. Most of them decided to ignore him, though. Nobody was more used to being treated rudely than top-tier hunters.

Apparently even more incensed, the boy screamed louder, like an angry beast. “I’m gonna be the strongest hunter out there, and I’m already level four! I thought I was gonna get to meet the best of the best in the capital, but I don’t see shit! Man, I’m so over this!”

Wow, he actually said it. This guy’s either going to be a big deal or big dead.

He looked to be in his teens. Level 4 was good for his age, to be sure. His boundless confidence and outright arrogance weren’t so praiseworthy, but you know what they say: winners write the history books. That was just how this industry worked.

Rhuda twitched ever so slightly, apparently shocked that this idiot’s level was higher than hers. It was okay, though; there was still a possibility that he had leveled up in a party.

As he continued to stamp his feet and kick up a fuss, a Steps member finally approached him. It was one of the people he had glared at, someone who wasn’t part of the recruiting parties: Tino Shade, the girl who had been hanging around in the corner.

She stepped over to him casually, looking at him with a glare that would send shivers down any man’s spine.

“What do you want?”

“You’re too uppity. We don’t want you here.”

This is getting bad, I thought to myself.

Her tone was flat and icy. She was clearly enraged. This was pretty typical of her; Grieving Souls was the party Tino’s mentor belonged to, after all.

The members of First Steps who had stayed calm despite the boy’s glares now nervously hurried to break them up.

“Wait, Tino! We’re here to recruit people, not get into fights!”

“One strike, and he’ll be down. That’s what my dear Lizzy would do. I’m the one who’s getting into Grieving Souls. She promised me I could join when I got stronger.”

She was boldly facing him at point-blank range despite his intimidating greatsword. Her short temper was much the same as the boy’s.

While Tino seemed ready to pounce on him at any time, the other Steps tried to soothe her. I wondered who would become the guilty party in the next few moments.

“Just let the idiot be! We’re wasting time. Remember, we were told to do this as peacefully as possible! You’re gonna get us in trouble, too!”

“Who’re you calling an idiot? I’ll kill you, bro!”

“You, idiot! Go off and die somewhere so we can do our jobs, a’ight?!”

Now even the Steps were stooping to this kid’s level. Top-tier clan or not, the same brand of people were in it. These beasts were all salivating over the opportunity to show off their strength.

The commotion grew as everyone continued to pour fuel on the fire. At least there wasn’t anything breakable around; people could start pulling out weapons any moment now. Once that happened, there was no stopping it until someone died or everyone’s bloodlust was sated.

A fight between treasure hunters was a calamity.

Thankfully, no common folk would get caught up in it, but if Relics started coming out—which at least a few hunters were sure to have—this building and the neighboring ones could easily be obliterated.

“Yeah, get ’em! Show us what the Steps are made of!” the Great Greg egged them on.

Following his lead, several others did the same. Incredibly, some of them were even Steps themselves. This was clearly getting out of hand.

As Rhuda watched, dumbfounded, I tugged on her sleeve and whispered, “Rhuda, we should give up and get out of here. Once the fight starts, it’s not going to stop. And if we get caught up in it, we’re dead.”

Hunters couldn’t stand being insulted. When attacked, they would always fight back. When counterattacked, they would fight even harder. It was a negative feedback loop. Even if it was just an accident, they wouldn’t let the attacker get away. It would never end until there was only one man standing.

Tino shrugged and tapped the tips of her feet. I knew this move; she was about to kick his head off.

A well-trained hunter’s kick could easily cave the ground in or destroy walls. Phantoms—guardians of treasure vaults that even heavy weapon fire couldn’t hurt—would be crushed by just one of her kicks.

“Huh? Wait!”

“If nothing else, I know when things are getting dangerous. Now let’s go before the fight starts.”

“But I still wanna find a party!”

It was hopeless. Even her brain had become pure muscle. Your life’s more important than a party! That was how I’d survived these past five years. Rhuda had clearly never seen an argument between high-level hunters.

I really shouldn’t have come here. Intense regret clawed at my brain.

Teary-eyed, I started to plead. “I know, but I’ll help you search! I’ll help you out, really! But your life is more important.”

“Huh? Um, okay, I get it.”

The heat of passion in the room continued to grow. In fact, the teen’s sword was now literally on fire.

Crimson flames enveloped the sword without spreading, lighting up Tino’s cold expression. Many Relics had incredible powers like this.

We crept along the walls toward the exit, hoping to stay out of sight. It felt pitiful, but it was the safest option. I heard the exchange intensifying behind me.

“Think after killing. Lizzy taught me that.”

“Tch. All right, princess. Bring it on. But I ain’t gonna take it easy on you!”

“Are you underestimating me? Hm? If you wanna fight, let’s take it outside!”

If they clashed outside, the empire’s knights would be sure to come, especially considering society was becoming more sensitive to treasure hunters and their behavior. If they hurt any common folk, they were done for.

The third-party jeering continued. I didn’t want to think about it, but those were the voices of Steps. It was all too chaotic.

“Yeah, do it! Ready, set, fight!”

“Hey, stop egging them on!”

Screaming voices, coarse jeering and whistles, uproar. Behind us as we exited, someone gave a signal for them to fight. I dropped to my knees, crawling out like a maggot.

Just before I could make it out and finally escape this danger zone, a gust tore across the room. The gale, rich with hot air from the hunters, blew me off balance and knocked me onto my behind, throwing my hood off.

Rhuda yelped as a shadow loomed over me. My heart pounded like a drum as I slowly looked up.

Then, Rhuda muttered weakly, “When did you...?”

Eyes like translucent black diamonds looked down at me. They belonged to Tino, who was supposed to be fighting that teenager.

Her cleanly divided bangs swayed after a moment. Her bare, supple legs were right before my eyes. The rage on her face was now replaced with a vacant look.

Rhuda gulped. “Um, what’s happening?”

Tino didn’t bother to answer her, instead asking me in a quivering voice, “M-Master, what are you doing? How long have you been here?”

Ugh. I think I’m gonna vomit.

Let’s talk about how the dream began.

Having entered adulthood at age fifteen, the six of us, including me, had tested our skills in a few treasure vaults appraised at level 1.

Treasure vaults were given ranks based on their location, the difficulty of their gimmicks, and the threats and treasure within. Level 1 vaults were easy ones for newbie hunters to try out. They had proved to be no match for us, hunters who’d undergone intense training for years with boundless passion.

We’d cleared them faster than all the other newbie groups, feeling that we had a great future ahead of us as treasure hunters. But at the same time, I had been fully aware that I was one or two leagues below the rest.

Honestly, I’d always had a vague understanding of it while we were training, but having the fact so thoroughly shoved in my face had felt like being dragged down to hell.

The difference in our strength hadn’t seemed too bad at the time, but in a few years, I wouldn’t even be able to join their hunts. They were geniuses, whereas I wasn’t even average if you were being generous.

I had been—and still was—just an extreme hindrance.

One day in particular, I had finally and truly understood that we were not equals. We were the same age and had grown up in the same environment, but I was nothing compared to them. Some of them had tons of mana, and others were impeccably strong.

Even my sister had an aptitude for magic, while I had nothing. Can you imagine how frustrating that was for me? Though she wasn’t my blood sister, I suppose; we just considered each other as such.

As childhood friends, we were like family. Even before we had decided to become hunters, our group had always stuck together. We occasionally disagreed and even fought, but we had made it this far. My hometown was small, so we had all practically been raised together.

Anyway, the difference in power was palpable even to me, the weakest of the bunch. Everyone else probably figured I was just a late bloomer. Yet the fact that nobody ever mentioned it only showed how kind they were.

On the night of our first-ever treasure vault raid, during my first-ever stay in lodging away from home, I cried and cried and cried into my pillow. The next day, I decided to give up on it all.

Treasure vaults begat both riches and danger. Mana material, the building blocks of treasure vaults, gathered together to create the vault and treasure within, simultaneously birthing the phantoms that would oppose any hunters who dared enter.

I had felt that if I continued being a hunter, I would surely one day drag my party down to the point of endangering them. There wouldn’t be any problem with them abandoning me to die the moment I messed everything up—beyond the obvious, of course—but my friends wouldn’t choose that. And I didn’t want to die, anyway.

It had been sad to give up on my dream, but it was better than endangering my friends. My adventure came to an end at a treasure vault meant for newbies, but that also became the seed that would sprout into new stories. After all, once my friends became first-rate hunters, I could boast that I had once been part of their group.

The following day, I had gathered everyone in my room at the inn and explained to them the gist of why I was giving up. I’d already shed all of my tears the night before, so I had been dry-eyed during this speech.

Once I had told them everything, the first to speak had been Luke Sykol, the one who’d initially pitched the idea of us being treasure hunters. Eventually, he would apprentice with the Sword Saint and later be known as the Protean Sword. He was just as serious as I was.

“I did a lot of thinking last night too, actually. You don’t have a role, do you, Krai? You should be our leader.”

“Uh, were you even listening?”

That had been the beginning and the end of it all.

Their genius had far exceeded my expectations. The levels of treasure vaults we raided had grown higher and higher. In under a year, it had become clear that I’d never be able to catch up to them. Still, they had called me their leader—because, simply put, they were stupid.

Stupid, yes, but the strongest out there. My passion had quickly been engulfed and replaced by a fear of death, to the point where I alone couldn’t handle it. From then on, I had just wanted to quit being a hunter right away. Even so, I had been their leader.

And now, after many years of going with the flow, I continued to lead these beasts as they grew and grew.