Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Volume 3 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter Three: The Convergence and the Pandemonium

How did it end up like this? I contemplated as I cast a half-hearted smile in Gark’s niece’s direction; on the contrary, she, dressed casually, wore a radiant smile on her face.

The coffee shop, rather close to the clan house, was bustling with quite the crowd even on a weekday afternoon.

I didn’t attract much attention normally, but today, I could feel an unusual number of eyes on me—it was Chloe’s fault.

Ms. Niece, being the Association’s poster girl, was obviously a cheerful beauty. Her appearance fitted in perfectly even among the multitude of handsome and beautiful people around me. And so, such a girl would surely draw attention when seen with a man like me. Yet Chloe seemed completely unfazed by it. Perhaps nervous, she blushed slightly, but she didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all.

“Sorry to bother you out of the blue when you’re busy.”

I’d just been diligently polishing my Relics when Chloe Welter had arrived at the clan house. Apparently, she’d taken my pleasantry from our previous encounter seriously and decided to come to visit on her day off.

I wasn’t bragging; however, I was a very easily swayed person. I avoided obvious troubles, but otherwise, I was rather open to everything. And when it came to an invitation from Gark’s niece, considering the implications that lay ahead, I had no choice but to accept. Though I would’ve declined if Gark himself had come. I was a bit on guard, but Chloe appeared to have really come for just a chat.

Looks could be deceiving, but apparently, Chloe was a fan of Grieving Souls. There were quite a few parties among hunters who were idol-like, but it was rare for our party, trouble-prone in many ways, to have our own fans. Personal fans (not that I had any) aside, this was the first time I had encountered a fan of an entire party.

“Hmm? ‘What’s so good about you all’? Well, of course, you’re...very strong, sir.”

“Hmm, I see. Is that so? Thank you.”

As expected of Gark’s niece—she was quite the brawn enthusiast.

I nodded in appreciation, albeit at a peculiar point.

Chloe was a genial girl with an aura that brightened up her surroundings. It was easy to see why she was popular.

I wasn’t particularly eloquent, and I felt like I might blurt out something unnecessary. I’d love for her to leave the Association and join our clan as our receptionist, but I’d probably get roughed up by Gark if he found out about that.

As we exchanged words placidly, the topic of our conversation shifted towards Arnold.

“By the way, I heard you’ve successfully repelled the Crashing Lightning, haven’t you?”

“Oh, that...”

That was the most troublesome issue I was currently facing.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Man, this is annoying. It may sound weird for me to bring this up with you, you know, but didn’t I ask Gark to give Arnold a strong warning? I don’t know what happened, but he seemed super furious. I was surprised.”

“Hmm? I think anyone would be furious if they were told that. You said something about forgetting them and something about wanting them to deliver you some Thunder Dragon meat—wasn’t that meant to be a provocation?”

Chloe widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hands.

This was news to me.

To deliver me some Thunder Dragon meat? Had Eva been trying to do me a favor by requesting that? Requesting Thunder Dragon meat from hunters who’d received their “Dragon Slayer” title by slaying a Thunder Dragon was too mean.

But even so, that wasn’t even close to a “strong warning.”

Man, Gark! How long have you known me for?

“My apologies, but I think Uncle Gark is quite fond of you, so his attention is inevitably drawn to you.”

Is he a sadist? A sadist he is.

He’s indeed a musclebrain; I have absolutely no idea what he’s thinking. In what world do people sic such a monstrous dude on a person they’re fond of?

I wanted to complain a bit more, but I decided to let it slide since I didn’t want Chloe to dislike me for whining too much.

If anything, I considered myself lucky to have met her here: I could communicate my intentions to her directly.

With a serious face, I said, “Anyway, I’m really busy right now, so I want to resolve this smoothly.”

“Smoothly...?”

“First, let’s retract the part about ‘forgetting them’—maybe I can’t really retract that, but I’ve already taken note of them. I think I won’t forget them for now...probably.”

“I see... ‘Won’t forget them for now,’ you say...”

My memory is quite bad, you see.

Chloe, off duty, took out a notepad from her pocket and carefully made notes of my seemingly uncertain words.

“Also, speaking of the request for slaying a Thunder Dragon, you may rescind that too.”

“Yeah? Rescind that? There will be a cancellation fee though.”

“Ah, don’t worry, don’t worry. Besides, I gave it a try, and I realized chicken tasted better.”

“Okay, all right. You’re rescinding because ‘chicken tasted better’... Uh, so does this mean you’re taunting them?”

“Huh? Where’s the taunt in that?”

I wasn’t taunting anyone. I was just eliminating causes one by one.

“Oh, and apologize to them too just in case. I don’t intend to belittle their feat of slaying the Thunder Dragon. That was really amazing!”

“Okay, noted.”

“I’ll say this as much as I need to: we don’t mean to be hostile against them; we’re busy.”

“‘You’re busy, so you don’t mean to be hostile’... So you’re taunting them?”

“No, I said that’s not a taunt! Oh, and can you tell them that I’m sorry for using gravity on them and that although I’ve withheld from killing them, I can cover their medical expenses if any one of them were injured?”

At my utmostly earnest words, Chloe flatly said with a brief but very troubled expression, “Krai, that’s taunting.”

Oh boy... Now that I think about it, the sensibilities of that musclebrain Arnold and my delicate self are obviously nowhere near the same.

“Well, I don’t think a once-infuriated hunter would give up so easily though—so what do you think of Arnold?”

What do I think?

Hearing her question, I began recalling my encounters with Arnold up until now and seriously pondered her question.

He’s...violent and short-tempered? Though that’s common among hunters. Going after the strong without considering the troubles he causes for others? Luke does that often too; that’s probably like a common trait among hunters.

I crossed my arms and closed my eyes, and Arnold’s reaction when he first saw Liz at the tavern surfaced in my memory.

“He’s...into big breasts?” I blurted.

“Yes?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing...”

No matter how I put it, “He’s into big breasts” was in no way a proper answer to the question “What do you think of Arnold?”

A weird comment had slipped my tongue.

Maybe he just disliked small breasts, or maybe he was more of a butt guy.

Fortunately, Chloe appeared perplexed. It seemed like she hadn’t heard what I’d just said.

Though somehow, I was getting annoyed. I felt a wave of drowsiness welling up, and I let out a big yawn.

Why do I have to think so much about Arnold? Our encounter was over already anyway.

Suddenly, Chloe, who’d been staring at my silly face, burst out a giggle.

“Heh...heh heh...”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. I’m a bit drowsy.”

“N-No, I’m sorry. It’s just that you reacted exactly like how Uncle Gark described.”

Really, what is Gark telling Chloe?

I had mixed feelings about whether I wanted to know or not, but considering her reaction, it might not be bad comments.

As I tried to dodge the subject with a half-hearted smile, Chloe suddenly changed her expression.

She hesitated for a while, peered into the teacup in front of her, then looked at me as if she’d made up her mind. Her black pupils stared as if attempting to pierce through me with their gazes, seeking to discern my true nature.

“Um...speaking of which, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you...”

“Hmm? Go ahead.”

“Krai, do you remember the time when I came and took the entrance test for First Steps?”

I couldn’t help but gape at Chloe.

Do I remember? No, I don’t—on second thought, I didn’t, but now I do.

First Steps had an entrance test only for a very brief period, specifically when we were first established. With promising parties as our founders, First Steps, as it were, had been a fanfare that had attracted applications from various parties that had been a mixture of wheat and chaff.

Back then, I’d been a bit serious, and I’d actually paid attention to the tests. Unfortunately, there’d been quite a number of applicants, so I didn’t remember every single person’s details. But considering Chloe’s current age, she should’ve been underage at the time, and if that was the case—yes, I did remember. There had almost been no female applicants who’d been as young as she would’ve been, so her test had been stuck in the corner of my memory.

I nodded solemnly.

“A-Ah, yes, of course. It was the one Luke presided over, right?”

“Y-Yes! That’s the one!”

So I was right?

While I’d been surprised that a tiny little girl had come to take the entrance test, I’d been even more surprised by Luke’s childish test content—don’t go about beating up underage girls!

I see. That takes me back.

Squinting my eyes, I reminisced about those things I’d forgotten until now and lost myself in nostalgia.

Chloe snapped at me, “Y-Yeah, so I’ve been wondering: back then, I, um, was utterly defeated by Luke if I remember correctly...”

I’m sorry to hear that, but...no one won against Luke in that test.

Luke was an idiot (or rather, should I say, naive), but he was absolutely frank, and because of that, he was very strong. He’d been such an idiot that he’d taken my irresponsible combat theories literally and trained himself according to them.

GRATITUDE EMPOWERS PEOPLE, OKAY?

“S-So, Luke told me back then that I have talent!”

Chloe’s somewhat feverish voice made the other customers in the shop turn their heads at us in curiosity.

Oh yeah, he did say that. Indeed he did.

He was an idiot, but apart from that, he was perfect (I suppose one could consider naivety a virtue).

I didn’t doubt what he’d said, and I, too, was silently surprised.

“But, even then, Krai, you judged that I had narrowly failed! It’s not that I’m mad about failing the test. I gave up on being a hunter after that, and I’ve since become a staff member at the Association. My days as an Association staff member are very fulfilling and enjoyable—but I want to know! Please, Krai, tell me! With the exceptional foresight that you’ve been known for since then, what had you seen lacking in me back then?” asserted Chloe as she spoke on and on, charged with strong emotions.

Things that were lacking in her?

I’d love to say that I didn’t remember, but I did. I was sloppy in general, but I’d been slightly better back then. But even then, I was still the same me.

I squinted my eyes, and, with cold sweat trickling down my back, I said, “Chloe, you, as your present self, should know the answer without me telling you.”

“What...?”

Chloe’s watery eyes widened, and her lips trembled.

I stood up on the spot and smiled as I gently grabbed the bill.

“At the very least, if current Chloe had come for the entrance test back then, I would’ve passed her without a doubt.”

“?! Y-You mean...”

“But yeah, I get it; you won’t come again. You’re content being an Association staff member, right? You should cherish the life you’re living. A great deal of hunters look forward to meeting you.”

“You’re right,” answered Chloe in a weak voice as she nodded.

It looked like I could get away without having to make an enemy of Gark.

Phew.

“Well, I should get going. Keep up your good work, Chloe.”

“Thank you... I will.”

“And take care of the matters regarding Arnold for me, will you? I’m counting on you.”

She said not a word in response, but I sensed her nod.

Without turning back, I settled the bill and left the shop.

My heart pounded like church bells.

Right now, it was me who conducted the entrance interviews for our prospective recruits. Therefore, I was used to evading the reason for rejection. I somehow managed to pull through this time, but I wondered what Chloe would think if she found out.

It’d gone without saying that past Chloe wouldn’t make the cut. At the time of her test, she’d just been on the cusp of adulthood, not even fifteen yet. There wasn’t any specific rule that required hunters to be adults, but truth be told, I hadn’t wanted to admit underage solos, with whom personal accountability didn’t apply, into the clan, no matter how promising they’d been. Honestly, I’d never imagined that someone would give up being a hunter over something like this.

I’m sorry, Chloe; I truly am. But it seems you’re living a happy life now. Please, forgive me.

Apologizing earnestly in my mind, I sprinted up the stairs in the clan house.

***

Chloe remained seated for a while, contemplating the meaning of Krai’s words, after he’d left.

She’d always wondered. She’d always thought of asking him for the truth one day despite her fulfilling days as an Association staff member.

But, perhaps, just as Krai Andrey’s lingering words had suggested, Chloe might’ve known the answer all along. Even if she couldn’t put it into words, she might’ve felt something.

Chloe’s days as a staff member of the Explorers’ Association had certainly changed her. Present Chloe knew a little bit more about treasure hunters than she had back then: she’d learned more about the dangers involved in the job, the astonishing courage and diligence of those involved, and how beneficial their presence was to this country—Chloe had witnessed all of that up close over the past two years. There were hunters who’d given up on being hunters, discouraged by their lack of talent, and on the other hand, there were those who’d been kicked out of their parties for being cocky about their abilities. There were hunters who’d used to line up in front of Chloe and suddenly disappeared one day, and there were those whom Chloe had thought were dead but had come back out of nowhere.

Looking back, she knew she’d been naive back then. Having been praised by everyone, she’d gotten a bit conceited and lived in her own bubble. She’d been a rookie, and naturally, like everyone else, she’d been clueless. But then, she had a few questions. Could that young man, the Thousand Tricks, really have rejected her application just for that reason?

For a moment, she pondered, but nothing came. Krai Andrey hadn’t given an answer. Maybe this, too, was part of the famous Thousand Trials.

“There is no meaning in answers one didn’t arrive at themselves or in answers that are spoon-fed.” This was surely what the young man would’ve said.

Chloe took a deep breath and stood up. For now, there was one thing she knew: she was glad that she’d mustered the courage to come talk to him. She hadn’t gotten a clear answer, but for some reason, she felt relieved.

Krai Andrey had said that she’d changed. He’d acknowledged her growth.

She’d just have to keep contemplating what the real answer might be, and surely someday, she’d come to truly understand what he’d meant.

Present Chloe had her duties as a receptionist at the Explorers’ Association. She hadn’t been able to join their hunts as a clan member, but she could still support them from a different position.

“‘Gratitude empowers people,’ huh...”

She reflected on the words Luke had once said.

If he had spoken truly, then she most likely had become a little more powerful today than the Chloe from yesterday.

With a slightly elevated mood, Chloe Welter headed back to where she now belonged.

But, Krai, I still seriously think that message is a taunt, she thought.

***

“I must have misheard you.”

Arnold’s demeanor shifted notably after he’d been delivered the message. His already-sour expression contorted, and countless veins bulged on his forehead.

In the face of his intimidating aspect, Chloe, who’d dealt with all sorts of menacing-looking hunters before, felt slightly paralyzed. Meanwhile, the once-lively hall fell silent under the presence of the brewing violence. Neither had Arnold gone into a rampage, nor had he shouted at Chloe; however, the way a Level 7 hunter silently suppressed his anger was simply terrifying.

Behind him, the party’s vice leader, his face twitching slightly, suggested in a whisper, “Arnold, remember that this guy is a slippery person.”

“Yeah, I know. He’s trying to get a rise out of me. Dammit, that’s such a senseless provocation.”

Breathing diaphragmatically, Arnold focused his energy on his abdomen. His twitching veins receded, and the violent aura oozing from his whole body subsided.

Instinctively, Chloe widened her eyes in response to what she’d just seen.

He was strong—not only physically, but also mentally. Not many hunters could maintain their composure while also suppressing their boiling anger. This was truly the mien of a hero. Even if viewed through biased lenses, his overwhelming presence was leagues beyond Krai’s.

“Hey, tell the Thousand Tricks, ‘Stop mocking us. And brace yourself; we’re coming for you.’”

“O—huh? What?”

With that, Arnold and his party left with their shoulders squared.

Chloe thought, And this is precisely what I thought would happen if I told them exactly what Krai said.

But Krai Andrey was the Thousand Tricks, a man with such exceptional foresight that he was said to be able to read the future. Knowing that there could be hidden intention behind his words, she couldn’t just change them arbitrarily. Was she missing something? Or perhaps, did he mean to provoke them despite insisting that it wasn’t a taunt?

Watching the party walk away, Chloe contemplated the missing link.

Then, recalling that she’d forgotten to convey one certain message, Chloe sprang up before she realized.

“Wait, Arnold, I forgot to tell you one thing!”

“Tsk. What?”

Arnold turned back. Although he’d suppressed his menacing aura, his contained anger was showing.

Having mulled over Krai’s words in her mind, Chloe realized what she’d missed. Her mind went blank, not knowing what she should do next. In hindsight, he hadn’t told her to convey this message.

“Um...well...uh, Krai has a word for you, or rather...it’s his impression of you...”

She shouldn’t have stopped him just for this, she thought. The message she’d forgotten was going to pour gasoline on the raging fire, needless to say.

Even now that she remembered his words, she still questioned whether she’d misheard him or not.

“I-I’m sorry. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

She apologized. But unfortunately, she’d piqued Arnold’s interest already.

His piercing gaze pinned Chloe down, and she instinctively trembled in fear like a prey before a predator.

“The Thousand Tricks’s impression of me, you say? Speak up.”

“...”

“I said, ‘Speak up.’”

“It’s slightly, uh—how do I put it?—not exactly, uh, the most suitable words for describing a battle-hardened hunter—”

“Just spew it! It’s not the first time he’s made a fool of me.”

She’d chosen her words carefully, with a sliver of hope that Arnold wouldn’t pursue the matter, but he remained absolutely unyielding.

There was no way out of this situation. She couldn’t lie either.

She summoned her courage, and slowly, she said, “He said you’re i-into b-big breasts.”

Arnold’s raging expression vanished in an instant and was quickly replaced with a perplexed one.

“Huh? I’ve misheard you, haven’t I? You’ll repeat that again.”

How on earth did I get myself into this? thought Chloe.

Her face flushing red with embarrassment, Chloe, true to the emotions displayed on her face, slammed her fist on the counter and shouted loudly, “He said you’re into big breasts!”

***

The humiliation was so intense that Arnold felt like the blood vessels in his brain might burst—this was the first time he’d been ridiculed so badly since he’d become a hunter.

Somehow, he managed to rein himself in without letting rage get the better of him as they returned to their accommodation. Back in their lodge, he sank himself deeply into a chair.

Maintaining a composed tone, Eigh spoke to Arnold, who was nauseated by his own extreme anger, “Calm down, calm down. All this is just one of his ploys!”

“Yeah, I know.”

Anger occasionally enabled people to fight with vigor beyond their actual strength, but succumbing to such rage right now would be unwise.

Through their single encounter, Arnold had understood the abnormality surrounding Krai Andrey: he’d appeared to be an ordinary citizen at first glance, and yet, the “attack” he’d unleashed then had been nothing short of extraordinary.

First things first, a single magic spell that only restrained Arnold, a Level 7, without defeating him should barely exist. Moreover, what was even more puzzling was that Arnold had barely detected any mana from the Thousand Tricks.

Even after thoroughly contemplating for several days, Arnold still couldn’t decipher the mechanism of the attack. Not to mention that casting magic of that caliber without any incantation was supposed to be impossible.

When the Thousand Tricks had attacked, he’d produced a pendant from under his clothes. The most plausible explanation Arnold had was that the pendant had been a Relic and that there’d been a high chance that it’d been used to aid his spell cast. Though, this was as far as Arnold could figure out.

Having fought him, Arnold could now understand why the rumors reported that he’d sent a golem flying with just his aura. He was exceedingly bizarre and overwhelmingly powerful. Arnold agreed that his Level 8 certification was justified.

He was an opponent too perilous for them to face head-on. As the Thousand Tricks himself had mentioned then, he’d already held back on his attack. Had the original effect of the spell been fully unleashed, his party could’ve been annihilated in an instant. As the party leader, Arnold couldn’t afford to make decisions that could potentially destroy the party.

Arnold suppressed his own anger with reason, stifling his resentment with all his might. Responding to such an obvious provocation would be no different from proclaiming himself a fool. However, even though he understood this, Arnold couldn’t completely contain his rage.

Putting his initial taunt aside, what had he meant by saying that his impression of a Dragon Slayer had been that he was fond of big breasts?

“Go gather some information; just anything will do. Figure out the mechanics behind his attack.”

“But we’ve already confirmed the rumors surrounding the man. What’s left for us to investigate would be to ask the members of Steps for more information.”

The Thousand Tricks’s somewhat serene expression surfaced in his memory.

On that wide avenue, they’d been overwhelmed with no recourse. Word of their defeat was probably now widely spread, and, of course, so should be the words the Thousand Tricks had uttered.

“So we’ll have to defeat the four parties first if we want to challenge him, huh?” said Arnold with a bitter expression.

Now that they’d been defeated once, and that his words had been heard by many, ignoring what he’d said wasn’t an option. In fact, if they challenged the Thousand Tricks right away and lost once again, they might invite scathing criticisms for being presumptuous. Honor mattered significantly for hunters; any discourtesy would most likely negatively affect their future activities within the capital.

What’s more, all the parties the Thousand Tricks had referred to were the very ones they’d circled out when researching for strong parties initially.

“But Arnold, consider this: this might be an opportunity for us. I dare say he intends to anger you and make you lose your composure by provoking you. His prerequisites are quite the chores, but if you think about it the other way around, we stand to gain by just clearing them.”

“...”

“If we defeat these renowned parties, Arnold, you’ll be resoundingly famous for your vigor. And while we’re at it, we could also learn some intel about the modus operandi of the Thousand Tricks too.”

What Eigh had said was spot-on. After all, Arnold and his party had very few options left: going straight for him would be dishonorable, but if they backed off, they would surely be labeled as cowards.

Having processed Eigh’s words, Arnold calmed down slightly. In a single gulp, he vigorously swallowed the water offered to him, and he slammed the mug onto the table.

At that moment, Arnold had mostly returned to his usual self.

“But I don’t understand his purpose. What does he want?”

Eigh squinted and fell into silence. Neither did the other party members feel like offering their opinions.

Reflecting on it objectively, they found the actions of the Thousand Tricks incomprehensible: he didn’t stand to gain anything from angering Arnold. He could’ve just crushed them and taught them a lesson in the superiority of his power when they’d challenged him. But back then, the Thousand Tricks had only fully restrained Arnold and his party members’ movements. Had he not stopped there and gone on to dominate them with his overwhelming power to render them completely incapacitated, Arnold probably wouldn’t have thought of challenging him again so quickly. But that was not what Krai had done. After making sport of them, he’d imposed some new prerequisites.

The Thousand Tricks had gone yet another step further by sending a message to anger Arnold through the receptionist at Explorers’ Association. Surely, his purpose wasn’t simply to taunt them—their opponent was a hunter known for his inscrutable stratagems. He undoubtedly had something planned in mind, but his thoughts were utterly unfathomable. This was uncanny.

As a hunter, Arnold specialized in combat capabilities. While he wasn’t weak at subterfuge, it wasn’t his forte either.

Eigh, the brains of the party, had been contemplating for a while, but in the end, just like Arnold, he couldn’t see through the Thousand Tricks’s intent.

With a sharp gaze, he advised Arnold, “Maybe it’s better for us to hold off on engaging him for now and gauge the situation a little bit more.”

“Either way, we need to gather information.”

The Thousand Tricks had to have some plans in his mind.

It wasn’t Arnold’s style to stand idly by without action as time flew. After closing his eyes and contemplating for a short while, Arnold made up his mind.

“Though it’s frustrating to dance to his tune, let’s start with Obsidian Cross.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

That name belonged to a party well-known for its outstanding stability. It was a good fit for Falling Fog, a party that boasted overwhelming firepower.

The party members gulped audibly in anxiety. While cutting their way through his uncanny schemes was highly risky, they suspected that new paths might open up for them when they defeated that party.

***

Obsidian Cross was at the tavern.

The Level 6 party, unlike the Thousand Tricks, carried a heroic aura. This was especially true for their leader, Sven Anger the Stormstrike, a Level 6 moniker holder. His honed physique, along with his level of mana material, made him appear to be a formidable opponent to the Level 7 Arnold.

Yet, when he heard Arnold’s words, bafflement showed in his expression instead of an eagerness to fight.

“Say it again? Krai said that? Why the heck would we want to get involved?”

“Pardon? But that dude’s your clan master.”

“Yeah, he’s the clan master indeed. But so what? We’d be all in if he had us fight some phantoms or monsters. But a brawl? No, thank you.”

Sven left no room for a rebuttal. For some reason, his party members looked at Arnold’s party with pity in their eyes.

This came unexpectedly to Arnold. From what Krai had said, Arnold thought that Obsidian Cross was like a subordinate party. However, in reality, they didn’t even seem to care.

Indeed, clans were cooperatives. Arnold could understand why they didn’t feel obligated to obey other clan members—but this was their clan master they were talking of, and respect was nowhere to be found from their complete disregard for their clan master’s words.

Sven, seemingly grasping the situation, let out a deep sigh at the perplexed Arnold.

“Ah, I see how this is. Krai fooled you. He’s always like that. We fell for it real bad just a while ago too. Look at the paleness on Marietta’s face here.”

“It’s true that my mana capacity increased though...” said a female Magus sitting nearby in response to Sven’s words, letting out a deep sigh. “But that potion is really disgustingly awful. Indeed, it’s effective, but it’ll definitely create an opening for the enemy if you use it on the battlefield. I don’t know how Lucia lives with that by just complaining.”

Marietta gave the impression of a shrewd beauty, but clear signs of pronounced fatigue seeped from her expression.

“Anyway, I’m not interested in a brawl for a purpose like that. I’ve heard of your name, Crashing Lightning, and you better step away from your clash with Krai before it’s too late. The more serious you are, the more he messes with you.”

Arnold listened intently, watching their features for any sign of deception.

“Oh, right. Our clan master must’ve caused you a lot of trouble. Since you’ve come all this way looking for us, let me treat you to something. Just leave us out of this.”

And before Arnold could respond, Sven raised his voice and placed an order.

Eigh, baffled, displayed a stiffened and resigned expression.

Arnold and his party bore no grudge against Obsidian Cross. Had their opponent accepted the challenge, it would be a different story, but there was nothing they could do now that their opponent had rejected it. Most importantly, with their opponent treating them to alcohol, there was no point for them to clash either.

“Arnold, I guess they have a point. Let’s just leave it here,” said one of Arnold’s party mates.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

With a disgruntled expression, Arnold lowered the weapon he had been carrying on his back.

***

“Whaaaaaaat?! Why do we have to fight you for the human weakling’s sake? Sir!”

“...”

“I’m curious. Sir! On what crazy grounds do you think that we, the honorable Noble Spirits, would accept such a request? Say something, sir, you macho gorilla!”

What on earth is going on?

With a red face, the Noble Spirit girl of chilling beauty pounded her long staff on the table as she berated Arnold.

Her somewhat childish behavior disconcerted Eigh and the other party members. Even Arnold, the one on the receiving end, couldn’t summon any anger. The only thing he understood was that Starlight also had no intention of accepting Arnold’s challenge.

The leader of Starlight, Lapis Fulgor, a blonde Noble Spirit, pressed her hand against her forehead in exasperation. She sighed as she stared at her fulminating companion.

“So, Crashing Lightning, we seem to have a peculiar misunderstanding between us. There’s a reason why we’re in Krai Andrey’s clan, and that’s definitely not to be submissive to him. I don’t know what that man has put into your head, but we’ll not be treated as mere stepping stones.”

That is a valid argument.

There was no way that any Noble Spirit, who naturally looked down on humans, would simply accept what Arnold had said and nod in agreement. Arnold had held a sliver of hope, but it seemed like they agreed with Obsidian Cross.

Kris picked up one of the scattered Relics in front of her, and, squeezing it tightly, she shouted, “To begin with, I’m currently busy taking up the human weakling’s challenge and charging Relics. Sir! I can’t afford to lose this for the sake of my pride! Sir! Lapis!”

“Yeah, that’s right, Kris; we can’t back down once we’ve accepted a challenge. It’s a matter of our pride as Noble Spirits.”

I see... So they’re being used.

He looked at Eigh, who furrowed his brows and slowly shook his head.

It seemed like they didn’t have a choice but to retreat. They couldn’t make themselves force a fight when they’d witnessed someone more pathetic than them. Arnold felt the inferno of anger that had burned within him gradually subsiding.

***

First Steps’s clan house was a massive building. Having steeled themselves, they stood before its entrance.

Both their challenge against Obsidian Cross and Starlight had been no go, and the remaining two parties were, of all things, absent from the capital. They’d gotten considerably tired of it, and now the best thing they could do was to march straight into the Thousand Tricks’s base and confront him directly.

The tension in his companions’ expressions had slightly eased due to the letdowns they’d repeatedly suffered.

“At this rate, I won’t be surprised if he’s absent too.”

“Yeah... That sounds plausible.”

From their encounter with the two parties, Arnold had gleaned an image of Krai that was different from what he’d expected. He’d thought Krai was a tremendously charismatic person, but instead, all he’d heard was complaints against the man.

If this had been a strategy to dampen Arnold and his party’s motivation, it surely had been remarkably effective. However, retreating at this stage was not an option for them.

Having psyched himself up, Arnold looked at the companions surrounding him.

“Brace yourselves. Here is where the real deal begins.”

“Roger!”

Their leader’s pep talk reignited a bit of strength in their eyes.

Though they weren’t here to fight today, this was akin to charging into enemy territory. They couldn’t afford to go without a battle spirit.

Confirming everyone’s condition, Arnold took the lead and barged through the clan house’s entrance.

On the other side of the door, pandemonium unfolded.

“Aaaaaaargh! Someone bring Sitri! Drink is rampaging!”

“You wanna poop? Or you’re hungry? Or you wanna go for a stroll?”

“It’s growing too fast! I didn’t sign up for this! I can’t do this anymore! What happened to the cage?! And the collar?!”

“Dammit, the chain was torn into pieces! Dammit, that bastard Krai. What was he thinking when he took this thing in?!”

“Don’t drag us into thiiiiiiis!”

Running rampant in the expansive entrance hall was a peculiar creature about two meters in size, a stone gray chimera with a lion head and dragon wings. Its three tails were sharp as swords, leaving marks on walls and floors in all orientations. A great number of hunters surrounded the growling chimera, but the creature didn’t seem to be on alert at all.

Pretending to not have seen that, Arnold closed the door in a natural movement.

From beyond the thick door, intermittent shrieks continued to rise.

“...”

“Arnold, they seem to be occupied. Shall we forget about the Thousand Tricks for now and focus on gathering information and composing ourselves? Seems like there’s a huge auction happening. It sounds like a good opportunity to earn some money, and it’ll be a perfect chance for us to upgrade our equipment. We might even be able to get rid of the thing here too.”

It seemed the scene they’d witnessed just now had completely splintered their momentum; all the companions expressed agreement at Eigh’s words.

Indeed, Arnold’s party had only recently arrived in the capital. Their posture was far from perfect.

Normally, leaving things like this would absolutely not be an option for them, but there was a chance that the other two parties might return while they waited.

“Dammit. I guess we don’t have other options. Just for now! We’ll let it slide just for now.”

Due to all the deplorable stories they’d heard, their motivation had dwindled, and one’s combat ability was directly linked to one’s mental state.

Arnold clicked his tongue. He turned his back to the clan house, where shrieks continued to echo for unknown reasons, and returned to the inn with his party.

***

The gentle sunlight streamed in through the window.

Yawning, I flipped through a magazine. It was an employment magazine for part-time job listings that was distributed in the neighborhood.

For the first time in a while, I was motivated to repay my debt. After all, it’d be scandalous for me to laze around while I sent Tino to the treasure vaults.

Turning the pages one by one, I searched for jobs that I might be able to do. I couldn’t use magic, and my physical abilities were lacking; therefore, I could only look for jobs that anyone could do. I was looking at the listed hourly wages and mentally calculating the hours I needed to work to pay off my debt in the high billions when, suddenly, the window behind me made a creaking sound as it flew open.

Wind blew, and before I could turn around, a set of arms wrapped around me from behind, and a cheerful voice greeted me by my ear.

“Good morning, Krai Baby! What are you reading?”

“Good morning, though it’s already afternoon. I was thinking maybe I should get some part-time gigs going.”

The voice had come from Liz.

I mean, I’d be agitated if I had more friends who entered through the window because it was “bothersome” to do otherwise.

I closed the magazine and was about to respond to her when she squeezed me tightly with her forceful arms and pressed her cheek right against mine. I could smell a pleasant, sunshine-like fragrance from her feverish skin touching mine.

Despite the fact that I had a tough time thanks to Arnold, with whom Liz had clashed, she seemed as energetic as ever today—this was all that I asked for.

“Hey, Krai Baby, don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Uh... Do you want to do some part-times together with me?”

“Hmm? Sure, sure! But no, that’s not what I meant! Come on, you do have something to tell me, right? Something involving my apprentice...”

Oh, that.

It looked like sending Tino against Arnold had been indeed the wrong move. After all, Liz probably had a training plan for Tino. I’d done something wrong.

I was about to apologize, but before I could, Liz released my body and moved in front of me. With a smile like a big blooming flower, she sat down on my lap without hesitation.

Liz seemed to be in a very good mood today... She didn’t seem to be here to complain about her apprentice’s treatment.

Aggressively pushing her body against mine in this position, Liz said as if fawning on me, “Hey. She did an excellent job being your shield, didn’t she? That’s the result of my training, right?”

Oh. She came to be complimented...

I silently wrapped my arms around Liz’s back, hugged her tightly, and then combed her hair with my fingers from under her head as my compliment for her.

She blushed, and her body quivered with obvious pleasure. Even I could feel my heart pound when she behaved like this. As much as I was used to physical contact, I was a man too.

I’d like to at least give my fellow Grievers a hug if they asked me for one since I was of no use to them normally. It was a tricky balance to strike.

“Mmm... This is the best! Now, Krai Baby, did T do well?”

“Yeah, her will to fight was splendid. She’s truly worthy of being your disciple. That was a ten out of ten.”

“Is that so? I’m glad you approved, but didn’t she lose?”

“Defeats empower people.”

And that was why I, who always foisted my battles on others instead of losing them myself, remained so weak.

Perhaps taking in my words docilely, Liz wore a very contented expression.

She asked, “By the way, do you know where T is? I wanted to praise her myself.”

“Oh, sorry. I sent her to fetch some Relics from a treasure vault. She’s at Alleyne Pillars Ruins.”

“Alleyne Pillars Ruins? Isn’t that a Level 1 treasure vault? There are Relics there?”

Alleyne Pillars Ruins was a Level 1 treasure vault near the capital that consistently ranked at the bottom in the annual treasure vault rankings published by Explorer’s Association. Its difficulty was low, and Relics rarely appeared in it. Despite its proximity to the capital, few hunters frequented it. From the outside, it merely looked like a few thick stone pillars standing in the middle of a plain. It was, in a sense, a place steeped in mystery that even rookie hunters would avoid.

Yet, it was a safe place, and one could return from it within a few hours. This seemed to be the perfect vault to satisfy Tino.

“There’s only a fifty-fifty chance of finding something there, so let’s not blame Tino even if she doesn’t find anything, okay?”

“Heh... Understood! By the way, Krai Baby, is there nothing I can do for you?”

No... Please just stay put and don’t cause any trouble to people around you.

Without saying a word, Liz doubled down on her embrace and held me even tighter. She buried her face into my neck as she let out a voluptuous noise.

I remembered how I’d used to cheer her up in the past after tough training sessions by hugging her when she’d felt dejected. Hunters who engaged in combat repeatedly were easily exhausted, both physically and mentally, so physical contact like this was considered effective as personal care.

My slightly racing heartbeat calmed down gradually, and I began to feel drowsy. Liz, with her warm body, made for an excellent body pillow.

I was about to doze off, feeling Liz’s weight press against me, when, suddenly, the door swung open forcefully.

“Master! Master! I’m ba—ck?!”

“Huh...? Oh! Welcome back, T!”

Liz turned her head slightly and smiled radiantly at her apprentice.

Entering the room, Tino froze as he saw Liz sitting on my lap. The black bracelet she’d been tightly clutching slipped out of her right hand and made a soft sound as it rolled across the floor.

“Why...? I’ve been working hard, and, Lizzy, she—”

“What? You can work hard because I worked hard, right?! What are you going to do, T? To get stronger all by yourself?!”

“Now, now. Tino, I’ll come up with something for you, so calm down.”

***

Accompanied by the dejected Tino and the conversely exuberant Liz, I walked down the main street.

Our destination was my usual Relics specialty shop. This time of year, they’d be busy with the auction, but my relationship with the shop owner, Matthis, could be described as more than “best buddies.” With Tino in tow, he was surely going to welcome us.

“Still, I can’t believe you actually found a Relic...”

As we walked, Tino held up the black bracelet she’d brought back against the light and examined it.

This Relic was unlike any other Relic I’d ever seen. It was made of metal, its weight and size were average, and it was entirely black. While there were patterns etched along its circumference, there were no gemstones embedded in it. As an accessory, it was a modest piece of craftsmanship, lacking all mystique. One could mistake it for a cheap bracelet based on its appearance alone.

“Hmm? Master, did you send me to retrieve this?”

“Like I said, ‘any prediction could either hit, or it could miss,’ didn’t I?”

“What?! No, you didn’t!”

“I’m just kidding, just kidding. With the auction coming up soon, I had plans to visit Matthis anyway.”

Matthis wasn’t only the owner of a well-established Relics specialty shop but also a pro in Relic appraisal boasting fifty years of experience in this business. He might seem straitlaced and had an artisan’s temperament, but his skills were likely to be among the top three in the capital. While I was a Relic enthusiast myself too, there was a stark difference between us.

Now that the auction was approaching, Matthis would be swamped with the appraisals of Relics that would be put up for sale. All sorts of Relics would be brought in, so it was my tradition to go watch him appraise Relics around this time every year. In that sense, it was good timing for Tino to bring back a Relic now.

Most regrettably, I wouldn’t be able to pursue any great Relics this time even if I did find any. Eva had admonished me to refrain myself, and considering the debt I currently owed, I wasn’t so foolish as to incur any more.

I’d be satisfied by just watching.

***

Thanks to Liz acting as my bodyguard, I felt somewhat at ease today.

I carefully navigate the town, determined to not run into Arnold this time. Taking detours through numerous backstreets, going way out of my usual path, I arrived at the shop safely without any fuss.

Nestled modestly on a street a few intersections away from the capital’s main street was a well-established Relics specialty shop that was renowned among those who were initiated. Accompanying its modest exterior that was grounded in simplicity was a small signboard that would easily go unnoticed if not observed closely.

This was Relics specialty shop, Magi’s Tale, a shop run by an elderly man to whom I was indebted, only after the likes of Gark, Ark, and Eva.

It was an appraiser’s job to evaluate the Relics that treasure hunters find. The majority of the Relics found in treasure vaults were unknown items. While educated guesses could sometimes be made based on their shape since they were artifacts from a past civilization, in no way did they come with instruction manuals. Because of that, identifying a Relic’s functions requires knowledge and experience.

Magi’s Tale was the Relics specialty shop where we’d had our first Relic finds appraised when we’d visited the capital initially. Even among the well-established Relics specialty shops in the capital, it stood as one of the oldest ones. Yet its surroundings didn’t do justice to its rich history: barely any hunter frequented the area. Magi’s Tale was a store that was reputable only among those in the know—a renowned establishment without many visitors.

I opened the timeworn door, and we wandered in.

As we entered, a security guard with a stern face greeted us. Their sharp gaze, akin to that of a hunter who’d encountered a phantom, scrutinized us from head to toe.

His entire body was adorned in Relics. Everything, from his boots, the breastplate protecting his torso, and the longsword hanging from his gauntlet to his waist, emitted the brilliance of a Relic. Besides me, he was most probably the man with the most Relics equipped in the capital.

We’d been acquainted for almost five years at this point, but his intense gaze showed no sign of softening. Passing by him sparked the memory of our first meeting: that look had intimidated me at the time.

Despite its plain exterior, the inside of the store was very typical with numerous Relics neatly arranged. The lack of uniformity was probably a characteristic of Relic stores. Relics resembling jewelry were lined up in glass display cases, while weapon Relics were categorized and displayed on the walls accordingly. Since even low-end Relics came with a considerable price tag, the total value of the merchandise here likely rivaled that of a jewelry store.

There were no other customers apart from us. I’d always thought they’d attract more customers had they built the shop along the main street. Though, the decision to set up this shop here in the middle of nowhere likely stemmed from the store owner’s disposition.

“What a shabby place. Looks like some things never change.”

“L-Lizzy!”

Tino hastily reprimanded Liz, who showed no interest in the Relics.

For me, whose hobby was collecting Relics, this shop was like a museum and a toy store combined. Back in my early days as a hunter, whenever I’d had a day off, I’d almost glue myself to the merchandise and diligently memorize all their names and effects.

The counter was vacant. Notwithstanding the presence of the security guard, the shop remained as incautious as ever.

Liz boldly pounded the counter without reservation. She probably wanted to end this quickly and go out to play.

“Matty, you here? Krai Baby, looks like he’s out. Let’s go home. Let’s go back and continue where we’ve left off, okay?”

“Lizzy?! It’s the white crow, the white crow!”

I remember hearing this before, but what could a white crow be? Crows are black.

Then, the door behind the counter flew open.

Tino swiftly moved and hid behind me.

Out from the door came Matthis, owner of Magi’s Tale. Despite his completely white hair and a face etched with wrinkles, his sharp gaze, stretched back, and hale and hearty demeanor made him appear younger than his years. And as his stony expression suggested, Matthis was an obstinate man.

Seeing Liz, Matthis furrowed his brows and clicked his tongue ostentatiously.

“Tsk. Kiddo,” he said, “so you’re hanging out with this young lass today.”

“Hey, Matty, long time no see!” said Liz.

“Quit calling me ‘Matty’! You idiot!” retorted Matthis.

Matthis was just as harsh with Liz as ever, probably because of the rampage she’d caused in his shop back then. Sitri received much the same treatment, by the way.

“Humph. What do you need? I’m busy today, and I don’t have any Relics you may find interesting for sale.”

Matthis snorted irritably and glared at me. It wasn’t that he disliked me, but rather, he treated everyone this way.

And that’s why people rather go to the Relic store on the main street where a certain cute young girl works.

But this was also the reason this shop remained perpetually deserted.

“Gramps, it’s exactly because of that attitude of yours that you don’t get customers.”

“That’s none of your business. I’m doing just fine, and you brats come scoop up Relics that cost an arm and a leg all the time too.”

Brats? He doesn’t mean me, does he? As always, he’s quite the shop owner with his rather preposterous approach to customers, calling them “brats.”

But despite that, he was truly skillful, and he wasn’t a bad person either. He might not give special favors to regular patrons, but he was an honest man. Also, while I had no idea where he procured his stock of Relics from, there often were many great finds among them. On top of all that, he accepted deferred payments. In other words, I had no reason to pass over him and his shop.

Unlike Liz and the others, I hadn’t found myself a mentor since coming to the capital. In some sense, maybe Matthis could be considered kind of a mentor to me.

“Matty, you know what? T found a Relic today. Can you appraise it in a flash? I’m busy.”

“You wish! Wait for your turn. I’ve got a multitude of orders piled up here.”

“She said she found it at Alleyne Pillars Ruins. It’s T who found it. Just get it appraised, can you?”

“Alleyne...? So, the Level 1 treasure vault, huh? Oh, isn’t that Li’l Tino over there too?”

Matthis’s eyes captured Tino, who’d been hiding behind me, and his gaze softened slightly.

While he was harsh on me and Liz, he had a soft spot: Tino. Apparently, she was about the same age as Matthis’s granddaughter, and they somewhat resembled each other. The stubborn old-timer was still human, after all. Even the ever-honest and impartial old man mellowed out around Tino.

Since then, I’d decided to always bring Tino along, if possible, whenever I came to this shop.

The aloof appraiser had a tender spot for innocent little girls.

“Tsk. Well, all right, I’ll do it just for her. Just a quick one, okay?”

And so, this time, without much fuss, Matthis gave in to Tino’s gaze and, while grumbling, donned his black leather gloves. Carefully lifting up the Relic, he produced a magnifying glass and started extensively scrutinizing the intricate patterns etched on it.

Experience and knowledge were indispensable in Relic appraisal. For the past fifty years, he’d been appraising Relics in the capital; the wealth of knowledge he’d amassed far surpassed mine as a newly emerged greenhorn in the Relic collector scene in recent years.

After turning the bracelet around and scrutinizing every detail of it, Matthis said with a serious expression, “Alleyne Pillars Ruins is a Level 1 treasure vault, and Relics rarely appear there, to begin with. This is likely, what we call, an ‘extraneous Relic.’”

Relics appeared randomly, but they were all created through the same mechanism: when mana material accumulated, Relics were generated within treasure vaults, with certain types of treasure vaults tending to yield certain types of Relics more frequently.

Relics of the Era of Physical Arms would appear more easily in treasure vaults that mimicked buildings from the same time period, Similarly, if one sought Relics of the Era of Lesser Magical Arms, they would explore treasure vaults that mimicked the spectacles of said era, so on and so forth. All that contributed to the difference in popularity among the treasure vaults.

“Extraneous Relics” referred to Relics that didn’t match the theme of the treasure vaults. They weren’t necessarily extremely rare, but I was just slightly glad that the Relic Tino had found in an unpopular vault would be identified as one—the chances that it was a rare one had just increased by a lot.

I became slightly excited.

And, in an unusually fervent tone, Matthis continued, “Based on its tendency to generate certain phantoms, that treasure vault was believed to be a product from an era when soulless beings proliferated over the entire world. Its Relics were also mostly ones related to the manipulation of naturally occurring magical creatures. But this, by what I can tell from its design, is obviously different. If I had to guess, this one is probably a product of the Era of Magical Arms—that era was pretty long, and there’s a lot of Relics from that era too, after all.”

The Era of Magical Arms had flourished for thousands of years, and it’d been one of the longer epochs in the world’s known history. It was renowned for its significant advancements in magical artifacts, tools that harnessed mana as energy to manifest magic, and the integration of these artifacts into all aspects of daily life. Magical artifacts still existed in the modern era, but their technology paled in comparison to those of the Era of Magical Arms. Undeniably, Relics from that era were incredibly diverse.

But, that being said, if even Matthis hadn’t ever seen this before, this was an exceedingly rare Relic. This could be the jackpot—though I wasn’t going to sell such a rare Relic, no matter how big a jackpot I’d hit.

Liz, not bothering to hide her boredom at all, said, “Yeah, whatever. So, what’s its effect?”

“I...have no idea.”

You don’t?

“You...got rusty?” I said with a sigh.

“Nonsense! Appraisers would be out of business if you could just tell what the effects of a Relic are without activating it!” yelled Matthis upon hearing my comment, his face contorted.

Fair enough.

If even Matthis hadn’t seen it before, there was even a chance that this could be an undiscovered Relic.

...I should treat Tino to some ice cream later.

Matthis took out a box and carefully stored the bracelet inside.

“The appraisal is going to take time since I have some other jobs piled up as well. This is going to cost you an appraisal fee, and I’m not taking deferred payments for this one.”

“Of course. We have the money. I’d appreciate it if you can do it as quickly as possible.”

Not my money though.

“All right, we’re done!” Sensing that the conversation had ended, Liz clapped her hands and said, “Krai Baby, let’s go back, okay? Let’s go back! Time to continue!”

Seems like she still wants more physical contact...but I’m not done yet. The real deal is what’s next.

Soothing the clamoring Liz, I grabbed Tino, who was still hiding behind, by her shoulders and shoved her forward.

Then, straight down to business, I asked Matthis, who was tidying up, “Matthis, setting that aside, you do have appraisal commissions for Relics to be auctioned, right? Let me in and show them to me.”

Matthis’s expression froze in place, and Liz furrowed her brows in displeasure.

I brought the entry pass (Tino) with me, so let me in, dude.

The capital had always been the holy land of treasure hunting, and the auction was a great opportunity for hunters. The high circulation of Relics here attracted many hunters seeking them, and, especially during the auction, a vast number of hunters and merchants flocked to the capital from all over the country and beyond. Perhaps due to the characteristic festive atmosphere, the auctioned Relics commonly fetched prices higher than their original value, and the cash flow involved during this period was enormous. The auction was a golden opportunity for hunters to make good money.

However, even during an auction, nobody bought Relics with unknown effects. Thus, right before the auction, Relic appraisers residing in the capital were often inundated with appraisals for Relics brought in from all over the place.

Since Relics’ effects were naturally prone to be misjudged, appraisal results were often vouched for by the appraisers’ good name. And since the appraiser of the Relic was also one of the deciding factors of a bid, it was only natural that this brusque but highly skilled gramps’s service was in great demand.

A door stood behind the counter. Beyond it was Matthis’s workspace. Inside, wooden boxes were stacked, a large metallic workbench stood, and bizarre tools for appraisal lined the walls. It felt a great deal less tidy than the storefront, but the narrow space illuminated by dim lights carried a certain charm.

Instinctively, I let out a sigh. It wasn’t my first time here, and to a timid person, cramped spaces like this one were my favorite.

Tino gingerly followed me in, and Liz looked around as she let out a big yawn.

Back when Matthis first let me in here, the space had been so cluttered that I’d had no place to step on, but at some point, the place had become tidy enough to navigate without tripping—it was almost certainly because of Tino rather than me.

Looking over his shoulder at me, who’d been creeping behind him, Matthis snorted, “You’ll take one look and scram, understand? I’m busy.”

“But I brought Tino with me! Do you not care what happens to her?”

“K-Kiddo, how long do you plan to stay here?”

Matthis’s workshop was a very intriguing place where all sorts of Relics, both before and after appraisal, lay scattered around.

In reality, the majority of the Relics found in treasure vaults were impractical. It wouldn’t have been much of a problem if they were merely defective like Night Hiker. Absurd Relics—bracelets that numbed the taste, earrings that made it impossible to distinguish sounds, and boots that made you skip instead of walking normally—were all over the place. We treasure hunters respectfully called them “scrap Relics,” and naturally, they hardly ever lined store shelves.

Although I’d come for a different purpose today, scavenging for marginally useful items from the mountain of prank gadgets made a great way to kill time. (By the way, finding anything useful was extremely rare, needless to say.)

“Here. This is the catalog of Relics I’ve been commissioned for. Just read it and get going.”

Matthis offered Tino a chair and roughly tossed me a bundle of files bound together with paper clips.

The disparity in his treatment towards me and Tino is so obvious. Is it too much to ask for some tea here?

But there was no point in complaining, so I began reviewing the list as I stood there.

There were many appraisers in the capital besides Matthis. Seemed like I’d have to visit them later too.

Liz was waiting for me there like a dog instructed to wait.

Maybe I should hurry.

“Hmm...I don’t have any money though...”

On the document was a list of temporary names and features of the Relics. The clients’ names were probably omitted for privacy.

Auctioned Relics often sold for more than the market price. Useful Relics were hard to come by even if one had the money, so considering that, while the auction was a big opportunity, it might be out of my reach this time. But as I scanned through the catalog, my excitement steadily escalated.

I wonder... If I start kowtowing, would that work?

“Missy, how have you been? How were the hunts going?”

“I’m doing fine, thank you. The hunts were going well.”

“That’s good to know. Treasure hunting is a dangerous job, and after all these years of doing business with hunters, I can’t help but deeply understand the risks involved, no matter how much I don’t want to. Make sure to take good care of yourself.”

“Your appraisals are taking forever, gramps. Are there no useful ones at all?”

Knowing only the features and temporary names of the Relics wasn’t of much use. A few I could guess, but nothing struck a chord within me.

At least include some pictures in the list...

“You’re annoying! They’re in that box over there; check them out as you wish. And make sure not to stain them!”

He must be really stressed out.

I, broad-minded as I was, remained unruffled as I opened the box he indicated and checked its contents.

It seemed like the Relics hadn’t been charged with mana yet, and it was regrettable that I couldn’t see the Relics in their perfect state.

I plopped myself down on the floor and began to take out the to-be-appraised Relics one by one as if checking them against the catalog.

What an exhilarating moment.

The ever so popular accessory-type Relics were the most common among the batch, but there were also ones that I had high expectations for, such as the bag-type Relics, and ones with truly rare shapes, like the glove-type Relics.

I might be broke, but this year’s auction seemed promising.

“Hey, Krai Baby, let’s get it done now, okay? How many Relics are there?”

“Liz, you should look for something promising too.”

Liz pouted and began peeking into the wooden box unenthusiastically.

“Has the Stifled Shadow been picking on you? Has Krai been burdening you with unreasonable demands? Those brats’ entire party, they really don’t know what moderation means.”

“I-I’m fine. They’re treating me well.”

“Make sure to depend on your comrades if anything happens, though some of them may have messed-up personalities. But Steps is a huge clan, so I’m sure you’ll have plenty of people to ask for help from when you need it. Krai...well, depending on the situation, might probably be useful too. After all, somehow or other, he’s the hunter who’s gained the most levels in the past few years,” said Matthis unto Tino with a worried tone.

“U-Understood.”

Surprisingly, Tino, who was usually indifferent to outsiders, was faltering.

And what does he mean by “depending on the situation”? The only time I’m probably useful to Tino is when she’s being pestered by her sisterly companions.

“I understand that. Master is a wonderful person. He might have a lot of debt, but he’s still a wonderful person. Compared to Master, I’m...just some trash—”

“Hey, you, Krai! What nonsense have you been filling Li’l Tino’s head with?!”

Matthis grabbed me by my shoulder as I silently sat there rummaging through the box. And just as he was smearing me with the baseless rumor, a Relic that Liz had picked up suddenly caught my eye.

The Relic appeared to be a mask of a peculiar texture. Its expressionless surface was accompanied by holes at the position of the eyes and mouth.

“Ugh. Disgusting. What is this? Hey, Krai Baby, isn’t this the one you had before—”

“Let me have a look!”

I received the mask from Liz.

With a raw fleshlike texture, it felt soft and moist on my fingertips. As I lifted it up, a disturbing weight settled in my hand. It was cold to the touch, but if filled with mana and activated, it’d most likely emanate a warmth like human body heat.

This was a mask made of flesh. I had firsthand experience with a similar Relic.

My hand holding the mask was shaking. It might not look exactly the same, but I was sure there weren’t many Relics as disgusting as this—a Reversible Face. While it was an extremely useful Relic, it’d also been extremely disliked among my companions. Presumably, it’d been destroyed by Liz eventually, and now, here it was in front of my eyes.

“Huh? Hey, Krai, what’s the matter?”

Matthis looked into what I was holding in my hands, and his face scrunched up.

...I want it. I want it so badly.

A Reversible Face was an expandable flesh mask that allowed one to alter their appearance at will. With it, one could alter at will not just facial features but even everything from hair to—with enough practice—body shape. With this, I could be free from the hunters and criminals who tried to make a name for themselves by hunting high-level hunters and walk the streets without fear.

My previous encounter with one had been a pure coincidence, and I’d thought I’d lost it forever when it’d been destroyed. I’d been sure that there were very few who’d take such a disgusting Relic back even if they found one in a treasure vault.

“That’s a Relic brought in from overseas. I’ve yet to appraise it, but it’s no good,” said Matthis with a stern expression.

Tino widened her eyes as she stared at the mask.

...I want it. I want it so badly.

Indeed, this Relic was no-good—a Relic that could alter not only one’s face but even things like their body and fingerprints would also be useful for crimes and other no-good purposes if mastered. Zebrudia’s law had banned the use of such an item, but possession alone wasn’t deemed illegal. In other words, as long as one wasn’t caught using it, the Relic itself wasn’t considered illegal.

How much is it? How much do I need for it?

The one I’d acquired last time had come from a large bandit gang that Grieving Souls had crushed, and it’d been among the spoils we’d received. It wasn’t something I’d bought, so I couldn’t pin down its price, but considering its rarity and capabilities, it likely would easily sell over ten million gild.

...I want it. I want it so badly. If I don’t get it now, I definitely won’t be able to get it again.

Desperate, I turned my head.

How much is it? How much money will I have to put together? I’ll kowtow to Eva, I’ll kowtow to Sitri, and while I’m at it, I’ll kowtow to Liz and Tino too.

Am I ready for this? Yes, I am.

Please marry me.

At this point, the appraisal of Tino’s Relic had completely slipped my mind.

I’d trade for it with my treasured Relics in my collection—that was how valuable a Reversible Face was.

I looked up and saw Matthis. He’d always maintained a stern demeanor, but now cold sweat was dripping down his skin as he took a step backwards.

Right now, my immediate task was to negotiate for its sale before it went up for auction.

“What, Krai Baby? Could it be that you want that?”

If it went up for auction, I’d be in an awkward situation where I’d have to compete with numerous other hunters and nobles for it. If that happened, whether I acquired it or not in the end would be a question of luck, and its cost would likely rise significantly.

I needed to negotiate and have it sold to me before it was put up for bidding. It wasn’t something to be proud of, but it was a common tactic in auctions.

I had prestige, and—despite it being not something I’d earned myself—people had trust in me. This wasn’t the time to be selective about means.

I’ll absolutely get my hands on it.

I slowly took a deep breath to calm my pounding heart and asked Matthis, “I want this Relic really badly. I’d like to negotiate with the client of this item. Can you contact them for me?”

“Wh-What?! Are you in your right mind? The Relic hasn’t been appraised yet!”

I’m in my right mind.

Indeed, it was a disgusting Relic, disgusting even at the moment of activation. The sensation upon its activation was as if a piece of raw meat that was adhered to your face ate your entire body away; it was a feeling that only those who’d experienced it before could truly understand, I was sure.

But I want it. I want it as cheap as possible. With this, I can finally do a confectionery café crawl on my own without an escort!

“Tsk. Seems like you’re serious, you Relic freak. Well, at least it’s good for business... All right, I get it. I’ll talk to the client for you. But Li’l Tino, I hope you don’t end up like him.”

Matthis clicked his tongue with a displeased look. As always, he had a foul mouth, but he was a kind, caring old man.

As I exited the Relic store and briskly headed back to the clan house, Tino asked me in a reserved voice, “Master...uh...aren’t you short on money?”

“I’ve finally found it...! No way I’m letting that Relic slip through my fingers.”

It was true that I was in debt, but if I missed this chance, I was sure that I would never encounter that Relic ever again.

The reason why possessing a Reversible Face, a Relic highly compatible with criminals, wasn’t deemed illegal was that making Relic possession itself illegal would hinder hunters from bringing back Relics into the capital. Zebrudia as a nation had grown thanks to the strength of treasure hunters. Since the effects of Relics found in treasure vaults couldn’t be judged without appraisers, if hunters were to be captured for bringing back a Relic that was later found to be illegal, no one would dare bring any back to the capital. Hence, the empire recognized the possession of all Relics—not only the Reversible Face—by law. But on the flip side, highly illegal Relics weren’t allowed on store shelves despite the possession of them being legal.

Anyone with a sound mind wouldn’t consider selling a Relic whose usage would be considered a crime, and the means to acquire Relics not displayed in stores were limited. What’s more, there was a good chance that such a Relic would never appear again in my lifetime.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’d get it even if that meant pawning my parents.

“Hey, Tino...um...yeah, how much savings do you have?”

“Huh?!”

“Oh, just for my reference, just for reference. I’m borrowing from Sitri, so take it easy; yeah, take it easy.”

This was awful timing given that we’d just talked about my debt very recently. This was making me feel queasy.

“Master...d-do you really want that Relic so badly that—” Tino backed away as a shocked expression formed on her face. Then, she started muttering, “Is that Relic really as good as Master said it is? It does slightly resemble that disgusting mask Master once had...”

I wonder what she’ll think of me if I told her that I need it so that I could go on a confectionery café crawl alone...

I’ll borrow from Sitri and have this all sorted out. I don’t think the Relic will be that expensive no matter how convenient or how illicit it might be.

It’ll be fine.

Sitri is an Alchemist, and just as the name implies, she can alchemize things into gold! I don’t know how she earns all that money, but she’s the kind of person who can casually generate hundreds of millions, so everything will be fine!

Though I’m getting really scared that I actually might become Krai Smart someday.

Then, Liz, who was walking beside me, frowned.

“Hmm, Siddy did mention being short on money recently with all those things happening, so that might be a problem... How much do you need?”

“Seriously?”

So Sitri’s wallet can actually get thin, huh? And I thought it was an endless spring of wealth...

Though it was too early to give up. The odds of that disgusting mask fetching a high price were slim.

Deep in thought, I arrived at the clan house.

In front of the clan house parked a large carriage, a polished black carriage that clearly hinted opulence. It was pulled by two black horses of impressive builds, their gazes scanning the surroundings as if to intimidate. Engraved on the body of the carriage was a coat of arms depicting three intersecting swords.

Seeing the coat of arms, Tino looked perplexed.

“The House of Gladis’s family crest...? But that house is known for despising hunters...”

Even I, as ignorant as I was, knew about Earl Gladis: they were one of the powerful nobles of Zebrudia. Known as the “Sword of Zebrudia,” the House of Gladis was a military family that had protected the empire for a long period of time.

Although their dominion wasn’t quite vast, they possessed many treasure vaults within their territory. By regularly sending their knights’ order into these vaults, the House of Gladis also commanded a considerable number of powerful soldiers who rivaled even hunters. In Zebrudia, where treasure vaults were abundant, all knights had mana material absorbed into their bodies to some degree. Nonetheless, the knights under the command of the House of Gladis seemed to be of a different caliber.

We, the Grievers, were careful not to get involved with nobles much, so I didn’t know too much about them, but as Tino had said, the name “Gladis” might as well be considered synonymous with “disdain for hunters.”

I’d met the head of the house at a party somewhere before, but all I remembered was being stared at with a murderous gaze.

Is this going to be something troublesome again?

While I didn’t think they were here to harass us or anything, if they were here to commission quests, the appropriate protocol would be to contact the Association first.

I’m busy right now. This is such a bother. I wonder if they’ll leave if I kowtow.

As those disrespectful thoughts crossed my mind, the entrance to the clan house opened.

“Thank you for accompanying us all the way, Lady Éclair. Please convey my regards to Lord Gladis.”

“Mhmm. Don’t trouble yourself with such groveling. Hunters rarely capture my interest, but you’re an exception. Eagerly do I await the day when I shall meet your sword again, Ark.”

Emerging from the door were Ark and a blonde girl in a white dress, brimming with eager anticipation.

“H—” I caught the sound that had escaped my mouth when I realized that the little girl who’d appeared next to Ark was obviously a noble.

Unlike my childhood friends, I wasn’t so quarrelsome that I’d defy nobles. Since I was uneducated and wasn’t well-bred either, I’d decided that I’d try my best to shut up in the presence of nobles—keeping quiet was the best way to avoid trouble.

The young girl stared intently at me, who’d raised my voice suddenly. She was guaranteed to grow up to be a beauty in the future with her flawless white skin and clear blue eyes, but her gaze was haughty.

I wonder if she’s even ten years old yet.

My friends and I’d been dreaming of becoming hunters at that age. Nobles’ education must have been really strict for her to have such sharp eyes at this age.

The pure white dress seemed to be her everyday wear. The majestic air exuded from the way she dressed up naturally was indeed typical of someone in a position of authority. Her sparsely decorated dress and the overly ornate short sword belted at her waist indicated the young girl’s origin.

In a high-pitched voice, the girl ordered, “What is this wretch? Get out of my way.”

“Wh-What did you say to Maste—umph!”

I hugged Tino from behind and put my right hand over her mouth as she reflexively took a step forward and was about to snap at the girl.

Why are you jumping headfirst into such obvious trouble? Are you Liz? Wait...no, Liz should be fine. She’s trained to not snap at nobles in particular.

Frowning, Liz looked at the girl with a grim expression. She couldn’t hide her irritation, but she kept silent.

I must praise her generously later if she can hold back.

Smiling gently, I was about to clear the way when Ark said, unnecessarily, with an invigorating smile, “Oh hey, Krai. I’m back. We’re grateful that Lord Gladis lent us this carriage to send us back. This here is Lady Éclair, Lord Gladis’s daughter.”

Another new member of the Ark harem? But no matter how you put it, she has to be too young for this. I never thought Ark had lolicon vibes.

I forcibly suppressed the frivolous remark that was about to escape my lips.

No, I mustn’t say it yet. My head would go flying if I said that in front of Lord Gladis’s daughter. Even though Ark and I got along quite well and exchanged lighthearted banters, I’d just met Lady Gladis after all.

But it’d been Marquess Sandrine, a noble with a moderate stance towards hunters, who’d summoned Ark. How did he end up bringing back Lord Gladis’s daughter? ...Though I suppose this was still better than him bringing back the head of the House of Gladis.

Hearing Ark’s words, Lady Éclair widened her eyes and began sizing me up from head to toe.

“You...are the Thousand Tricks? My father has spoken of you at length.”

Her words and attitude were grandiose, but her high-pitched voice was that of a child.

Even I wasn’t scared of a child and her words. Though I was more concerned about Liz.

As the expressions on the guardian knights around her stiffened, Lady Éclair continued in a brisk tone, “As my father reckoned, you’re surprisingly weak, contrary to expectations. It strains credulity that you’re a hunter surpassing Ark Rodin here.”

“...”

“The Explorers’ Association has fallen so low. Did you buy your rank with coins? You vile hunter, you ought to feel ashamed.”

“...”

“Are you not to say a word in response to all my assertions? Have you not an inkling of pride?”

For some reason, the young lady took a step back and looked at me with an expression as if she’d seen something uncanny.

Tino flinched in my arms, but I ignored her.

I resumed the breath that I’d been holding and, trying not to sound disrespectful, said in a calm voice, “I was raised poorly, and my manners are lacking. I try to be discreet in my speech as much as I can.”

“Wha—?! Um...uh...” stuttered Lady Éclair as she looked around as if the wind was taken out of her sails. Then, clearing her throat lightly but firmly, she continued, “M-Mhmm. Th-That’s a good policy to have when presumptuously associating with your betters.”

I had nothing to gain from offending nobles: I wasn’t in a position to reap benefits behind the shield of authority. And, as the young lady had said, since I had no pride, I’d go down in a kowtow if it could get me out of this.

...I wonder if she’ll lend me money if I kowtow.

“My lady, it’s about time,” whispered a genteel senior man standing by at the entrance to Lady Éclair.

The man was dressed in a butler’s outfit that was black from head to toe. He was most likely her chaperone.

“Y-Yes, quite right!”

Probably relieved by the excuse to depart, Lady Éclair looked up at Ark enthusiastically.

“Very well, Ark, we shall meet again. Should your path lead you to Gladis’s domain, just send word to our estate. Train me in the ways of the sword again next time!”

It seemed Ark must have had his work cut out for him to have a young noble lady ask him for sword training.

In the end, after giving me a stern look, Lady Éclair rode away in the carriage with her chaperones.

She swept into our past like a tempest—I wonder if she’d grow up to become like Liz...or maybe not.

My breath finally resumed.

Rubbernecks peering our way with curious eyes began to disperse.

Ark approached me and gently apologized, “My bad for arriving in a carriage without prior notice. I couldn’t refuse—she was very insistent.”

This was Ark for you; this was Ark. If we were playing cards, he’d be the Joker: all troubles could be resolved with him, so much so that I would’ve preferred that he stay close to the clan house more.

“What perfect timing,” I said. “Ark, can you lend me some money?”

“What?”

Ark, the strongest “pseudo-handsome dude” of First Steps, gaped at me.

We entered the clan house together as we continued negotiating.

Ark, without a trace of flinching, said with a bright smile, “I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s no way I’m lending you money.”

Monetary loans and debts were the prime cause of conflicts within a party of hunters. Stories abounded where parties had dissolved due to financial disputes among their members.

Hunters made good money, but they spent it just as fast.

Though not as much as the Grievers, Ark should be making decent money. Coming from a prestigious family, he might have one of the best financial standings in our clan too.

How should I convince him...? I need to piece together some money quickly and start negotiating, or some other hunter might snatch it away.

I’ll definitely pay it back later!

Ark shrugged. The same gesture looked so much better when done by a handsome man instead of me.

“I’m sure you’ve just found a new Relic or something, right? Speaking of which, isn’t the auction about to start soon?”

Of course, he knew everything.

By the way, this wasn’t the first time I’d pestered him for money.

Ark and I certainly had no bad blood between us, but he was quite the responsible person when it came to things like this.

Liz, letting out the anger she’d pent up from earlier, stepped forward to confront him.

“Say that again? Did you hear what Krai just sai—”

Zip it.

I held her back.

“Hush, Liz—no, it’s different this time. It’s a crazy Relic. I absolutely need to get my hands on it.”

“That’s nothing different... How much did you want me to lend you, by the way?”

That would depend on how the negotiation went. The market for Relics was a tricky one, and I had no idea how much I needed.

Putting on an earnest expression, I replied, “As much as I can.”

“And...what’s the effect of and your reason to go after this Relic thingy?”

By changing my face, I’d gain my freedom—I’d be able to go to the confectionery cafés on my own.

And so, with sincerity, I firmly said, “That I can’t tell!”

Of course, I couldn’t. I couldn’t say it was illegal.

...Does that mean I have no shot?

“Ugh... I know you’re secretive, but this conversation isn’t going anywhere.”

That was an entirely valid response. And so, I gave up on Ark and turned my gaze to his party members, standing against the wall.

Ark’s party, Ark Brave, was a Level 7 party certified by Explorers’ Association, its members averaged Level 6. They had a well-balanced class composition, were all highly competent, and displayed excellent teamwork. What truly made them stand out compared to other parties, however, was surely the fact that Ark’s party members were all women—all beautiful women. This was why his party was teased as a “harem party,” all the while being recognized for its superiority.

Standing at the back, Ewe, the party’s Saint, shrank back and nervously said, “I-I’m not lending you money.”

The other members of Ark Brave, Isabella the Magus and Armelle the Swordsman, also glared at me with scowling expressions.

“If you’re a Level 8 hunter as you claim, please cover your own finances diligently without relying on Ark!” Isabella shouted.

“Oh boy... You’re such a wimp, as usual, trying to mooch off your rivals. I fail to comprehend how a man like you leads that party.” Armelle seemed more disappointed than outraged.

Not only were they from various classes, but their personalities also varied greatly: they were timid, aloof, and warrior-like.

Roarrior!

Perhaps it was his ability to lead a harem that had made Ark the most approachable person.

While I didn’t really harbor a sense of rivalry towards Ark Brave, the Braves seemed to see us, the Grievers, as their rivals. Thanks to that, they were often critical of us.

Liz looked like she was about to pounce at them even now. It looked like I’d have to give her a rub under her chin later.

Isabella, the most eloquent speaker among them, closed in on me.

She, too, was well-groomed, much like Ark. Her lavender-colored hair and eyes as well as her snow-white skin indicated her northern origins. However, her intimidating gaze ruined her allure. She was also a pitiful girl who often challenged Lucia despite ending up being ignored.

“T-To begin with, as much as Lady Éclair is a child, why would you talk to her with such disrespectful sarcasm? Are you not afraid of making an enemy of the House of Gladis?!”

“Huh...? Sarcasm? I was just stating facts...”

I had no idea what she was talking about. How was my statement about being oblivious to the rules of etiquette sarcasm?

“I-It might not matter much to you people after all you’ve been through, but we’re in the same clan now. Do you understand what that means? What if you tarnish Rodin’s name?!”

As headstrong as ever. She should be younger than me, yet she was difficult—in a different dimension from Liz and the others.

Though, unfortunately for her, I remained unhurt no matter how much she berated me. That was because I understood the fact that I was incompetent better than anyone else, and I’d gotten used to being berated. And, really, what could I do even if Rodin’s name was tarnished? I didn’t have an answer to the question, so I wouldn’t be doing anything in particular. Besides, I doubted Rodin’s name would be tarnished that easily...

“You insolent! How dare you make such false accusations against Maste—eewph! Umph! Umph!”

Tino suddenly stepped in between me and Isabella and attempted to bite her.

I muffled her.

“All right, all right. I’m sorry, but I need to go borrow money from someone else, so are we all done here?”

I kowtowed, deftly shrugging off their criticism. I had a knack for muffling mouths.

I might be weak against enemies, but I was strong against allies—I was what people called “a lion at home and a mouse abroad.” Ark’s party members all had distinctive personalities, but they weren’t indiscriminate like mine.

Isabella was taken aback when I suddenly covered Tino’s mouth, and Tino protested with teary eyes as she continued to shout in a muffled voice.

Yeah, uh-huh.

“Well then, see you later, Ark!”

Time was running short. I gave a brief goodbye, and Ark waved as usual with a smile that revealed nothing about his mind.

For now, maybe I should check with the clan members in the lounge and see if I could borrow some money.