Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Volume 3 - Chapter 5

Chapter Five: An Ingenious Scheme and a Silent Battle

It was as though a battle had occurred in front of Magi’s Tale. A large crack ran through the street, and the metal gates that surrounded the store were blown wide open. The storefront sign was lying on the ground, and the house across the street was riddled with numerous bullet marks. Dried blood painted the nearby buildings. The Third Order had been dispatched to maintain peace, controlling the curious crowd that was gawking at the scene.

Someone had broken into Magi’s Tale. I was notified of this just as Sitri and I were discussing our future plans. The burglar had broken in the previous night. The perpetrators were identified as the Shadow Lynx, a party of criminals who had received a request to steal certain items. They were basically a group of failed hunters. Every now and then, there’d be a hunter who’d give up on conquering a vault and use the mana material they absorbed and cultivated to live a life of crime. A lot of them had found that it was much easier and more efficient to attack humans than phantoms and monsters. Such parties of former hunters, willing to conduct illegal and dangerous activities, were dubbed “ghosts” by the Explorers’ Association and had a bounty for hunting them down. This was vastly different from Sitri, who simply had a level taken away as a penalty. She was seen as a good, law-abiding hunter, while these parties that did illegal acts were regarded as criminals.

“I knew they’d take the bait sooner or later, but I didn’t think we’d catch an idiot so soon...” Sitri said wearily.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t remain so calm. If I looked at myself in the mirror, I was sure that the face staring back would be distressingly pale. All I’d done was find a Relic that I was interested in and beg the other hunters to borrow their money for the auction. But as the days went by, this matter escalated, and a Relic store that I’d been indebted to had fallen victim. I’d say this now, but I swore that I didn’t expect this outcome. Sure, I couldn’t deny that I was careless at times, and I was a Level 8, but I was a mere hunter.

The Relic in question seemed to have a few catches, and it wasn’t as though it boasted a long history. How could I have possibly predicted this situation? I clutched my aching stomach while Sitri maintained her composure.

“I know that the dead of night is the perfect opportunity, but I didn’t expect anyone powerful enough to break into a Relic store,” Sitri said. “I was being careless. Had I spent more time looking into this, I might have been able to point out a different route...”

Our one saving grace was that this ended as an attempted robbery. The knights had gathered at the scene and chased away the general public, but I decided to use my influence as a high-level hunter to get a closer look. The cozy, rustic door was snapped in half and a burning aroma filled my nose.

“I’ve got work to do, dammit!” a voice roared angrily from the back of the store. “You think I’ve got time to pay attention to a burglar or two?! I won’t make it in time for the auction! Shit, you lot are all being manipulated by that kiddo’s words! Guards? Like hell! I don’t need a guard! I’ve got a trusty one of my own, thank you very much! An excellent bodyguard indeed! I’d rather you help me clean up my store than provide me with guards!”

It was crystal clear that he was in a bad mood. I’m not sure if he’ll forgive me if I apologize here. I should’ve brought Tino with me. I was reluctant to step inside, but I had to do it. I glanced around as I took a deep breath and set foot inside of the battered store.

“Hm? Ah, kiddo!” Matthis bellowed, his face looking like a rage-filled demon. “You’ve done it now!”

I visibly shrank at the sight. “Um... I’m terribly sorry...”

The inside of the store was just as trashed as the outside. Gates were torn to shreds and the counter was sliced in two. And yet, the glass cases that housed the Relics didn’t have a crack to be seen. I should’ve expected as much. While the store was undoubtedly in a state of disarray, no one was injured. As always, a bodyguard stood, enveloped in several Relics. He was generally an unsociable man, but he seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.

Relic stores dealt with expensive items, and they had higher security than other shops. This was especially true for Magi’s Tale, located on the outskirts of the city, where knights rarely made their rounds. Despite appearances, Matthis’s store boasted one of the highest levels of defense that was like an iron wall. He’d opened his store in the imperial capital a couple of decades ago, but Magi’s Tale had never been successfully broken into.

“Tch, if you’re gonna rob me, do it in the afternoon! During the day!” Matthias shouted irritably. “I’m always sleep-deprived when you do this at night!”

I noticed dark circles under his eyes. With the auction being just around the corner coupled with this botched burglary, even Matthis, who generally looked much livelier than me, looked ready to throw in the towel. Still, I was glad that he was unharmed. If he’d fallen victim to the blade of a criminal, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night. As I internally gave a sigh of relief, he glanced around his store.

“Hey, Krai!” he demanded. “Where’s missy? If you’re gonna come to wish me well, you better bring her along with me! I don’t need you! You’re in the way of my work!”

...Seems like I really didn’t need to come here. The knights winced as they checked out the sorry state of the store. I heard someone mutter in a low voice, “We’ve already caught our suspects, so I think we can go.” It sounded like they’d had enough of the old man’s grumpy yelling.

I clasped Sitri’s shoulders and presented her forward. “I brought Sitri instead. Could you please let me off the hook with her?”

“No way in hell! There’s no replacement for her!” Matthis said. “Hmm? Sitri, the burglary last night wasn’t your doing was it?!”

“What?!” Sitri gasped. “Krai stopped me from doing so. Even if there was a one-in-a-million—no, a one-in-a-billion chance that I did do something like that, I’d at least choose better people.”

“Fine! If you’ve got time on your hands, help me out, will you? Business is horrible! My employee can only stand around and do nothing!”

Man, he’s really energetic. He’s more suited to being a hunter than me. The bodyguard who stood outside was easily in earshot of Matthis’s voice, but he didn’t seem at all annoyed by the comment and stood tall, gazing into the air. Is he a scarecrow or what? Sitri also didn’t seem displeased as she helped clean up. I sat at the counter and gave a sweeping glance at the store.

“It’s rare for you to be done in so badly,” I observed. “Any injuries?”

“None!” Matthis shouted back. “I was up against three failures of hunters—Thieves. The one who destroyed my store was my bodyguard! He said that he hadn’t used Relics for a while, so he couldn’t hold back! Shit! I didn’t loan him Relics to screw up my store!”

Oh... So, it wasn’t the burglars. Yet, the bodyguard in question stood tall and didn’t even flinch. I guess birds of a feather flock together—weird people tend to attract other weird people. The fact that he was able to chase away the burglars solely with the assistance of Relics only proved how powerful he was; he was likely stronger than me. Once Matthis aired his grievances, he gave a look of satisfaction and took a sip of water.

“So, what’re you here for?” he asked with a sigh. “I don’t need compensation from you. The ghosts’ bounty is more than enough to put me back in the black. My grandkids came to visit me too.”

“Sure, but even so—” I started.

“I don’t need your apologies regarding the rumors. People are so easily manipulated by others’ words. There’s no such thing as the strongest Relic in the world! If something like that exists, I’d like to see it!”

I wasn’t even allowed a rebuttal as Matthis spoke rapidly and pounded his fist on the counter. “The most dangerous Relic may exist, but the most powerful doesn’t” was this old man’s favorite saying. His views were the result of being in this industry for a couple of decades. It was apparent that he didn’t even hold a shred of trust towards the rumors. I wasn’t sure if this was due to trust towards me or against me, but either way, his stubborn words made me feel a lot better. I smiled and decided to put a happy end to this conversation.

“The most dangerous Relic, huh?” I said pensively. “The most dangerous might not be a Relic, but a human’s heart.”

“Shut the hell up!” Matthis roared with a scowl. “What’s dangerous is how you can become the center of attention just by trying to buy a Relic, kiddo!”

He wasn’t wrong, but I tried again. “Indeed, the folly of humans is limitless.”

“I said shut up! Your words are so vacuous and vapid!”

Compared to all this, how devastating is a ten-digit debt? I saw Sitri scurrying around, cleaning up the place. I wasn’t sure how she negotiated, but she was using the knights that had come to check on the scene and ordering them around, cleaning up the debris. I was sure that they’d make short work of this.

“Speaking of, were you able to appraise it?” I asked.

Details no longer mattered—that Relic was now the center of attention in the empire. I wasn’t sure why Lady Éclair had mistakenly assumed that it was the strongest, but once the item’s abilities came to light, we could put all this fuss to an end. A transforming Relic was strictly limited by the empire, and nobles had appearances to uphold. I thought I had a sliver of hope, but Matthis shook his head.

“Ah, well...” he said. “I did use a few references and tried to confirm its powers, but I’m going with ‘unable to be determined.’”

I’d expected as much, but I couldn’t help my shoulders fall slightly. Matthis held great pride in his work, meaning that he wouldn’t conceal any potential risks, and he certainly wasn’t going to risk his life to appraise his item.

“It’s an S-Rank item when it comes to risks upon using it,” he continued. “Masks and the like are always troublesome. Facial expressions allow one to display their true nature—Relic masks that conceal such a core part of one’s being usually change the user’s body and mind. I tried using a golem to activate the item, but nada. Judging from the shape of the mask, it might require a living being to know what it does.”

“I see...”

“Nine times out of ten, the result ain’t worth it. If you’re gonna bid on it despite knowing these risks, that’s on you.”

I was once again impressed. It was difficult enough to activate a Relic’s effects, but to try to make a golem do it was something only Matthis could do. I didn’t know anyone else who could do the same within the imperial capital.

In the past, when I got my hands on a Reversible Face from bandits, one of them had spilled the beans and told me about the effects. If Matthis couldn’t analyze the item despite his best efforts, it would’ve been difficult to shed light on the Relic without a human sacrifice.

The Relic auction would reveal each item’s analyzed abilities as well as the opinions of an expert. If Matthis were to publicize what he’d just said, many hunters that desperately tried to buy that Relic would snap out of it. The only hurdle that remained was Lady Éclair. While her reasons were unknown, she was enamored with the concept of the strongest Relic. A lady like her, ignorant of the ways of the world, wouldn’t listen to Matthis’s words.

“Your party symbol looks pretty odd too, but that mask of meat isn’t just for show,” the old man grumbled. “I don’t get why so many of you seem desperate to get your hands on it.”

“I’m the most troubled by this, you know,” I said. “This whole affair is made out to be entirely my fault, and quite honestly, I just want this auction to end soon. Besides, it doesn’t really matter how strong of a Relic you have if you yourself are weak.”

He nodded. “Exactly. Everyone’s dreaming too much about these Relics.”

Strong people were powerful with or without Relics, and the converse was true as well. Hence, hunters had to perpetually learn and better themselves. I organized the situation in my head, coming up with the best and worst possible scenarios. The best case was if the lady, the trading companies, and the other hunters all unanimously decided to give up on the Relic, allowing me to obtain it for dirt cheap. At worst, the noblewoman and the trading companies would get their hands on the Relic, use it without caring about the potential risks, find out its true effects, and try to crush me in a furious rage upon finding that the effects weren’t what they expected.

This sounded horribly unreasonable, but I was up against a daughter of a noble—who knew what she’d do. In terms of rank and power, I was at an abundantly clear disadvantage, so it was best to be prepared for any scenario. I no longer wanted that Relic. I’d take it if it was handed to me, but I wasn’t willing to use my best friend’s marriage funds to obtain it. However, since I was at the center of this mess, it was best to take preventive measures. It was a huge pain to do so, and I was reluctant to act, but if I were to leave this be, I knew that I’d only make my future self suffer even more.

“I think I’ll have a talk with Lady Éclair and tell her Matthis’s words,” I said to Sitri, who was cleaning up. “Could you come with me?”

“Of course,” she replied. “Let’s get more acquainted with that young lady who favors Ark.” She stopped cleaning and put a hand on her cheek, spilling a bright smile.

***

Éclair Gladis first met the strongest hunter a year ago. House Gladis was a prominent household, producing numerous soldiers that protected the empire. Their knights were renowned for their combat prowess, and for generations, they’d shielded the Zebrudian Empire from enemy nations, monsters, and phantoms. The empire had decided to use treasure hunters as well, eventually elevating them to become one of the greatest global powers. However, just because they enjoyed this status, it didn’t mean that they could let their guard down. It was imperative to remain vigilant and be prepared for any situation coming their way. That was House Gladis’s family motto.

Within the empire, the strongest force wasn’t the knights, but hunters. Absorbing mana material allowed one to strengthen their core power. No matter how tough the training was, there was a clear and vast difference in power between knights who had to protect the land and hunters who were constantly challenging new treasure vaults.

Gladis, holding great pride in being the sword of the empire, found high-level hunters, who couldn’t be overpowered by a mobilized platoon of knights, to be treacherous threats—they couldn’t be trusted. Gladis was known to dislike hunters because it viewed them with a sterner eye than other nobles. It wasn’t rare to see nobles whispering about how hunters were basically graverobbers, but it seemed like Gladis’s sharp gaze was harsher still.

Éclair had also taken up the sword from as young as she could remember, and received lessons from famous swordsmen, ensuring that she wouldn’t lose to hunters. Though she had a guard by her side, she would periodically visit treasure vaults herself. She might have still been a child, but no one doubted her remarkable talent.

Among the hunters, Gladis had approved of only one—House Rodin. Gladis had heard stories about House Rodin on numerous occasions: in the past, Lord Rodin had achieved an amazing feat, allowing this household of treasure hunters to call themselves a Hero. It’d been several centuries since the empire was built, and though the nation was now seen as a sacred place for a countless number of treasure hunters, House Rodin, the empire’s hero, still stayed on top.

Though they were hunters, like House Gladis, they protected the Zebrudian Empire for generations, and worked their way up, even attaining a noble rank at one point. Ultimately, Rodin had politely declined to receive a rank, but Gladis knew that House Rodin was a compatriot. Whenever House Gladis mentioned hunters, House Rodin would be mentioned without fail.

The lords of House Rodin were all known to be excellent, but the upcoming successor was rumored to be especially so. He was still young, but he was given an honorable moniker and had conquered high-level treasure vaults in succession. People were sure that he’d etch his name into history as a Hero.

Whenever Éclair heard his name, her heart pounded with excitement as she imagined who this man exactly was. When she finally met Ark Rodin in person, he was a man who far exceeded her expectations. In stark contrast to the uncouth image that hunters evoked, Ark exuded an air of elegance. He had a slender yet well-built body, and his azure eyes were deep like the calm sea, making him seem different from the rest. Above all, she was blown away by his might.

At the long-awaited battle that Éclair had badgered to be present for, Ark had overpowered the esteemed knights of House Gladis all by himself. She received swordsmanship advice from him. She tagged along with his party and helped explore a treasure vault. The more time she spent with him, the more her adoration for him grew.

This man was called the Argent Thunderstorm. He’d mastered both the blade and magic, a seemingly impossible feat, and had fused the two for his moves. Truly, he was a hunter that was worthy to be called a “Hero.” Éclair yearned to stand by his side one day. Her body trembled with euphoria. After they parted ways, she continued to passionately read up on tales of adventurers and had started to hear about a certain hunter, known to be that Hero’s rival.

***

Lord Gladis’s base was in the center of the imperial capital—a nobles’ district where many nobles’ houses stood. The area was different from the bustles of the main street, giving off a refined atmosphere. Beautifully paved stone tiles lined the road, and luxurious carriages adorned with lavish ornaments ran along. Knights wearing their well-polished helmets stood equidistantly along the street, ensuring the safety of the citizens.

There were barely any signs of commoners or hunters. There wasn’t even a speck of trash lying on the ground, and I felt like even the scent of the air was different from where I usually resided.

Earl Gladis... The title of earl might not have seemed too impressive at first, but within the Zebrudian Empire, he was quite highly ranked. Sure, I was a Level 8 hunter, but I was nothing more than a commoner. This nation might have been forgiving to hunters, but if I wasn’t careful, I’d be squashed like an insect on the road.

In addition, I was headed for a noble infamous for his disdain towards hunters. And a military house, to boot. I wouldn’t be surprised if a blade swung down at me at our first meeting and only now did my stomach start to hurt. I was the master of a clan that Ark was in, but I wasn’t sure just how useful this would be towards the young lady.

“Damn, I guess in any age, commoners are subjected to the whims of nobles...” I muttered.

As I continued to walk along the road, I felt the penetrating gazes of the patrolling knights follow me. Traveling on foot, I was clearly out of place and attracting a lot of attention. Sitri squeezed my hand tightly, her slightly cold fingertips interlocking with mine.

“Don’t worry,” she assured me. “We’re just going to talk with her a bit. There’s nothing to fear.”

“Yeah, uh-huh.”

Attacking a defenseless person was a crime even for nobles, but the problem was that they had the means to conceal the evidence and prevent a scandal. Sitri smiled. I was feeling sick to my stomach, but for whatever reason, my childhood friend looked to be in a good mood.

“Worst case, I’ll step in and crush them,” she said. “I was just in the midst of researching noble blood. Do they hold any value other than the history that flows through their veins? Even Akashic Tower won’t let you do such research.”

“Y-Yeah...uh-huh.”

I don’t quite get what she’s saying, but is she invincible? Does Sitri not fear anything?

The massive Gladis manor was surrounded by gates. The Gladis house emblem was raised loud and proud, and several knights stood near the front gates. I guess that they belonged to the house’s private army, and they furrowed their brows while clicking their tongues at me. It felt like they’d unsheathe their swords at any moment. If Eva didn’t make the preparations beforehand, I was certain that they’d restrain us immediately. I was almost never involved in Lord Gladis’s affairs, but his rumored contempt towards hunters was apparently true. A tanned man with an intimidating face narrowed his eyes at me—I presumed that he was the leader.

“I’ll take your weapons. Hand them over,” he ordered.

“Huh?” I asked. “I...don’t have anything on me.”

The knight fell silent. I mean, can’t you tell by looking? The leader scowled as he patted me down and confirmed that I was truly unarmed. He ended his inspection by fitting me with an armband—an item that jammed my flow of mana and restricted me from using spells and sealing my abilities. I couldn’t use magic, so of course, this band did little to me. As I maintained my composure, I noticed the leader grunting with flared nostrils. Upon closer inspection, I found that even his eyes were twitching.

“You remain calm in this situation...” he growled. “Don’t underestimate us. If a mere hunter like you does anything suspicious, I won’t hesitate to cut you down.”

What is he, a brigand? I just wanted to talk and offer a word of good-natured advice. I was a little fed up with it all. I was used to being threatened, but it wasn’t as though I liked to be in that situation. I sighed and pointed to Sitri, who stood beside me with a serene smile painted on her face.

“Oh, and since Sitri’s a lady, I’d prefer it if a woman inspected her,” I said.

We were treated like criminals as we were finally escorted into the manor. As expected of a noble’s manor, the interior was filled with the finest furniture. A glittering chandelier hung from above, and a crimson carpet lined the floors. I’d heard that they were a military household, but it was clear that they enjoyed their wealth as well. Sitri and I pressed on, surrounded by pompous knights, and the maids who were taking care of the housework hastily stepped out of our way. We were led to a vast room that had a grand sofa and a sturdy table. Portraits and silver armor decorated the walls. A young lady was seated on the sofa waiting for us, and upon noticing our presence, she crossed her legs and smiled.

“I didn’t think you’d march into this house from the front gates, Thousand Tricks,” she said. “You’ve got guts.”

Uh, I’m not here to make enemies. I don’t even want nobles to become my enemy. She acted haughty, but she looked exactly her age, and I couldn’t bring myself to be intimidated by the small girl. I wasn’t afraid of her, but her knights that lined up behind her terrified me. I was equally frightened by the knights who stood behind us.

Left with no other choice, I copied Sitri and forced a smile to form on my lips. I saw Lady Éclair freeze.

“Y-You’re completely surrounded, yet you act so calm...” she muttered. “I see. I suppose your courage is on par with Ark.”

Hmm? I don’t get what’s going on, but is she perhaps...praising me? I’d already told her my reason for my visit beforehand. I was eager to hurry up and get it over with so that I could head home, but I couldn’t understand a noble’s train of thought.

“Nah, the only thing I’d best Ark in is my level,” I said.

Lady Éclair took a sharp breath. Ark Rodin was a popular guy, well regarded by men and women of all ages. He was especially popular with the nobles. His power, personality, and handsome face combined with his honorable household that supported the empire since old times gave little room for doubt towards his popularity.

Every now and then, people would look at me, who only had a high level, and call me Ark’s rival, but I was nowhere near his greatness. Does Lady Éclair believe such a baseless rumor? Is that why she seemed stern when we first met? That can’t be it. I’m just catching strays. The young lady glared at me dangerously, and I thought that I should set the record straight.

“Lady Éclair, have you perhaps heard a ridiculous rumor that made me seem like Ark’s rival?” I asked.

“Oh?” she replied.

“Those rumors are absolutely wrong. Ark and I differ in so many ways regarding rank and achievements. It’s completely baseless. At the very least, I don’t see Ark as a rival, but a friend. Just a friend.”

“What...did you say?”

Lady Éclair’s fists and lips were trembling, her cheeks turning bright red like she was enduring her anger. Have I said something wrong? There were numerous amazing hunters who experienced great success in this empire since ancient times, but I was sure that Ark was one of the strongest in the empire. He was a guy who would eventually be called the strongest.

“So, Ark...isn’t your rival?” Lady Éclair asked.

I simply couldn’t understand why she seemed to be glaring at me more intensely than before. The guards behind us were also gritting their teeth while gazing down at us. Do they think I’m lying or something? Oh, wait, I think I get it now.

I placed a fist over my palm and said, “Ah, to be precise, he’s not my rival, but he’s a rival of one of my party members. I fear this might count as self-praise, but she’s a very capable person and I’m sure even Ark could attest to that. Isn’t that right, Sitri?”

“Quite so,” she agreed with a sheepish smile. “Ark is my rival. If we look at the bigger picture, I’ve got the upper hand for now, but Ark’s been growing at an astonishing rate. I think I’d lose to him one day.”

Hey, don’t provoke her like that. Sitri sounded a tad condescending (though not at all sarcastic), and Lady Éclair’s ears started to turn bright red.

“Er, I think Ark’s above us, to be honest,” I hastily chimed in. “We’ve just conquered a lot more treasure vaults, is all.”

“Aw...” Sitri whined. “Krai, whose side are you on? Ark’s or mine?”

“Uh, yours, of course, but there’s a time and place for everything.”

The usually composed Sitri, known for her impeccable ability to read the room, had spouted something completely uncharacteristic for her. I felt like middle management, stuck between my superior and my subordinates. It was difficult to rank hunters in the first place, but I felt like Ark was the strongest. He was a head above all the rookies, and there wasn’t a single person who could win against him in a one-on-one battle. However, if this was a clash between two parties, Ark Brave and Grieving Souls, I was certain that we would win. This wasn’t the fault of Ark, but his party members. Aside from the leader of Grieving Souls, everyone else was insanely powerful, but regarding Ark Brave, everyone except the leader lacked combat prowess. It wasn’t like they were weak—they certainly had first-rate skills—but to be frank, none of them were particularly impressive.

Even if the party gathered excellent people, they would all pale in comparison to the leader and would quit out of a sense of inferiority. Men in particular were quick to jump ship. There was a joke in there, but I didn’t want to touch on a sore subject and couldn’t find the right timing to say it. I wonder if this young lady would laugh if I said it? Eh, probably not... I continued to smile when the young noble suddenly unsheathed her blade and slammed on the table, burying half of her sword into the furniture. Wood shavings flew in the air, and I froze in shock at her sudden action. In an unladylike fashion, she raised her right leg onto the table, her face bright red with tears brimming in her well-shaped eyes.

“I-I understand very well what you lot are implying!” she yelled in a trembling voice. “I can see that you’re mocking both Ark and my household!”

“Wait, what?” I said. “We’re not mocking—”

“If I had the power, I would’ve lopped off both of your heads by now!”

Sorry, what?! Did this child just talk about decapitation? Come on now, what did I do? All of Lady Éclair’s guards had their hands on their swords. The moment she gave her order, they would pounce on us. I was here with good intentions, but I didn’t expect her to try to kill me. While my face twitched in panic, Sitri still had a smile dancing on her lips. It was nice to see that she maintained her cool no matter what, but I didn’t think her attitude was fitting for this situation. I guess it’s not much when compared to the treasure vaults...

Lady Éclair pointed her index finger at us. This might be unnecessary information, but since her leg’s still raised, I can almost see her underwear.

“But your insolence ends here!” she shouted. “I’ll make you regret ever looking down on House Gladis! I’ll definitely, absolutely, without fail get my hands on that strongest Relic!”

“No, that’s a dangerous one,” I quickly replied. “The appraiser said so too. I think it’s best if you don’t bid on it.”

I was still confused, but I decided to get back to my initial goal and try to negotiate with her. Besides, you’ve got power and money already. What use is there to go out of your way to do something unnecessary? If I was the daughter of a count, I’d just laze around every day and do nothing.

“According to my investigation, you’re scurrying around and gathering Relics!” Lady Éclair yelled. “You probably used those items to become a Level 8, didn’t you?! Your strength simply comes from borrowed power!”

“Hmm? Uhhh, yeah, uh-huh. I guess so?”

She was half right. Indeed, my strength came from my Relics, one hundred percent, but even using my entire collection of a few hundred Relics couldn’t possibly make me into a Level 8. Why’s she getting so heated?

“I’ll give Ark the strongest Relic!” she roared with fury. “And that’ll be the end of you! No longer will you be able to stand on top!”

I...don’t think he’d be happy to receive that. Ark was already set to become the successor of House Rodin, and thus had access to powerful Relics. Having more of these items didn’t necessarily make him stronger. As I’d said before, he was a strong guy; he didn’t need the power of Relics to prove himself. Just like how Luke could easily kill me with his bare hands, powerful people were powerful with or without Relics. And no matter how much I struggled and tried to turn the tables, I was weak. This was also just as true.

“That’s meaningless,” I said. “The strong will be strong even without Relics, and the converse rings true as well. The weak will be weak despite having Relics.”

“What?” Lady Éclair asked.

“This is simply the truth of things. Just because he obtains that Relic, it will never equate to Ark’s strength. As his friend, I’d just like to say that he won’t be happy even if he does become stronger with a terrible item like that.”

So please, give me that Relic. C’mon, Ark’s got it good. He’s handsome, so he doesn’t need to change his face, does he? He can fight back even if someone’s after him, so there’s no need for him to hide his face. Lady Éclair looked stunned for a moment before her body started trembling. Tears spilled from her eyes.

“Urgh...” she sniffed before she shouted, “Sh-Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! You’re so stupid! You idiot! I’m definitely, absolutely not handing that item to you! Leave! Leave this place at once!”

It was then that a butler flew into the room from outside. “What are you—m-my lady?! Please calm down!”

He tried his best to pacify Lady Éclair, but she shook her head rapidly and continued her wailing. U-Uh, doesn’t this look like I made her cry? Is this bad? Would I be tried for contempt of a noble or something?

Sitri, who’d been watching this scene unfold, stood up. “Lady Éclair, we’re here today because we wanted you to give up on that Relic.”

Lady Éclair sniffled. “Wh-What?” She rubbed her eyes and gazed at Sitri.

I mean, she’s not wrong, but did we need to mention that now? Didn’t I say the same thing earlier anyway?

“That Relic is something that neither you nor Ark can handle,” Sitri continued. “I believe the wise decision is to give up on it.”

Perhaps she was furious once more, because I saw the young noble’s face turn red as she bit her lips so hard that she started to bleed.

The room focused on Sitri, and she placed a hand over her cheek and smiled. “You mentioned earlier that you have a hundred million gild prepared. We’ve got two hundred million.”

“Two...hundred million?” Lady Éclair murmured.

Sitri gave a firm nod and declared, “And this is our absolute limit. You may be the daughter of Lord Gladis, but you must have a spending limit. In addition, that Relic is meaningless to you. If you still truly wish to have that item, why don’t you gather more than two hundred million gild? If you’re willing to go that far, it pains me to say this, but we have little choice but to admit our defeat.”

Sitri...

***

It was hard to extinguish a fire that had already spread. I prayed that the rumors would die down by the time the auction rolled around, but my hopes were dashed and people were still clamoring about a Reversible Face. Sitri’s words must’ve lit a fire within Lady Éclair as well—I’d heard that she begged her father to pull a few strings and was gathering all the money that she could. She seemed mature for her age, but I guess she’s still a child who needs her parents’ help.

Every year, just before the auctions, rumors would start swirling about a few choice pieces, but this year, the entirety of the imperial capital was gunning for a Reversible Face. Even in the lounge, that item was all anyone would talk about. Only Eva and I, the center of this mess, were tired of hearing about it. While I was lazing around in the clan master’s office, Sitri entered with an eager expression on her face. She placed a suitcase much larger than what she’d brought in the past, in front of us. Her pale pink eyes were quietly flickering with her fighting spirit. Unlike Liz, Sitri managed to contain her glimmering determination and keep silent.

“Combined with the marriage funds, I managed to gather 910 million gild,” she said. “We’ll take her down. Siddy and T chipped in too.”

She’d even given Lady Éclair a falsified limit to keep the noble in check. I burst out laughing when I realized just how immature Sitri’s tactics were. It felt like I’d fallen into a pit of bottomless quicksand. At this point, I had to keep my initial reasoning for wanting a Reversible Face at all to my grave.

Eva, who’d been hard at work in an attempt to quell the fuss, couldn’t hide just how taken aback she was. “Krai, we’re closing in on an eleven-digit debt.”

“I know,” I replied.

The only winner in this auction would be Arnold, who brought in this Relic in the first place. The auction would take a handling fee, and their cut would increase the more expensive an item would become, but it was still practically guaranteed that he’d be walking away with a stuffed wallet. The die had been cast. I could no longer back out of this auction, and even if I did, this excitement wouldn’t die down. I didn’t know where I’d land. I feel like I’d come out as a loser no matter the outcome.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Quite honestly, at this point, we’re at a disadvantage,” Eva replied. “There are plenty of trading companies more than willing to lend House Gladis money, and though it depends heavily on just how much Lord Gladis would bend to his daughter’s whims, he’s known to be pretty extreme at times.”

Eva remained grim ever since the auction news started heating up. It was difficult for commoners like us to fight head-on against nobles, who wielded power, money, and military influence. I knew that very well which was why I went to House Gladis to convince the young noble otherwise, but it ended in spectacular failure.

The astute Sitri nodded in agreement to Eva’s words while glancing up at me.

“Well, if we wanted to be in tip-top shape, perhaps I should negotiate with the trading companies and borrow some money...” Sitri started.

“That won’t be necessary,” I replied firmly.

“But...”

“It’s not necessary.”

As she was one of the brightest Alchemists of her time and studious as ever, Sitri’s potions could easily earn her millions. Had we looked, we certainly could find trading companies that were willing to loan her money. But of course, the lender would be well aware of why we’d need the quick cash—the timing of the auction would give it away. This might’ve been too late for me to say after I had her sell off some of her extra equipment and stored potions, but if she were to be in debt now, there was a good chance that it’d bite her back in the future. That was an outcome that I couldn’t accept. Sitri puffed out her cheeks in disagreement, but when I smiled at her, she gave up and smiled back.

“I understand,” she finally relented. “If you say so, then I suppose it’s not necessary. I don’t quite understand why though.”

Whatever the outcome, I’d troubled everyone greatly this time around. Sitri, Liz, Eva, Tino, and Matthis were all victims of my whims. I was sure that some of my clan members also felt awkward about this entire affair. This auction wasn’t a war—it was an annual festival. It was supposed to be a fun event, but this was anything but. I’ll never ask others for money to buy Relics. Never, ever again.

I rubbed between my eyebrows, hoping to relax my facial muscles. Right. I should enjoy the auction. This isn’t a war. It’s not like I’d die without that Relic. Who cares if Lady Éclair gets her hands on it and is disappointed by its effects? That’s not my problem.

“At this point, all we can do is pray to Lady Luck,” I said. “Once the auction’s over, why don’t we all have a party and celebrate?”

“That sounds wonderful!” Sitri said with a beaming smile. “We should also invite Lady Éclair to the party.”

It was clear that she was fully intent on winning and snapping the young noble’s spirit in half. Now that I think about it, isn’t it Ark’s fault for causing this entire debacle? He brought that lady with him. All right then, the party’ll be on his tab. I maintained a calm demeanor as I kept that thought etched within my heart. There was only a day left until the auction—a raging battle was just about to begin.

***

The prideful nobles of Zebrudia had times when they must never back away. House Gladis was nowhere near poor. They didn’t have much land when compared to the other houses, but they commanded an army of superb knights whose skill surpassed that of hunters. They managed peace and order within the empire, and they enjoyed more wealth than the hunters who were drawn to treasure vaults. However, even for influential nobles, two hundred million gild was no price to sneeze at. At the very least, it was certainly not an amount that Éclair, who wasn’t even the current lord of the house, could use freely. Earl Gladis had stated as much when his daughter gave her report and notified him that she required at least two hundred million gild.

Donned in a crimson coat, Earl Gladis had a large blade that hung by his waist, and his dark brown hair was neatly arranged. His gaze was far too sharp for a noble, and his burly physique was evident of his might. Éclair’s father, Van Gladis, was a nobleman and a military soldier. There were times when he would personally stand at the helm of his knights and take command. His piercing gaze, which seemed much too harsh to point at a child, quelled Éclair’s anger in an instant.

“Very well,” he finally said. “Win, Éclair. I find this to be foolish. We’re not at war, and I’d like to avoid fighting against Steps for a Relic that we won’t even use, but surrendering after clashing against them would sully our name. You may be a child, but should word spread that you were overwhelmed by hunters, I won’t be able to face my ancestors.”

His tone was quiet, but Éclair felt his voice emanating pressure like never before, causing her to snap back to her senses. Éclair was to blame for starting this all. She’d uncovered information about a man who was called Ark’s rival and was gathering Relics with reckless abandon. Before she knew it, she’d pieced two and two together and had barged into a tavern to declare her intent. Reckless, impulsive actions were something that her father disliked the most. Before she was able to express her gratitude, Van furrowed his brows.

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” he said. “We don’t have any money that you can simply squander for your desires. I’m only lending you this money, Éclair. I’ll have you repay me one day. You may still be but a child, but as a person with House Gladis’s blood flowing through your veins, your actions come with great responsibility. Since you were my first daughter, perhaps I’ve given you a bit too much freedom. But this will be an excellent opportunity.”

He paused for a moment before he continued, “This is an order from the lord of House Gladis. Win at any cost, Éclair. Failure is not an option, and our household has no need for the weak. And finally, I will have you learn the results of your actions. I’ll have Montaure give you his full cooperation. He’s a thoughtful man, so use him well.”

This was a transparent condemnation of her rash behavior. It was imperative for her to win. She was the one who instigated this battle—as a noble of the empire, she had a duty to see this until the end.

“My lady, I’ve just contacted Welz Trading Company, and they have given me their word to loan us some money should we need it,” an elderly man said, approaching Éclair.

She was in her private room of the manor, sitting expressionlessly. Though the young noble was obviously in a bad mood, the elderly Montaure didn’t even flinch as his intelligent eyes and calm voice called out to her. He was Gladis’s right-hand man, serving the house for a long time and assisting the earl in areas other than combat.

“How much will they give us?” she asked.

“Calculating the savings of our household, you can use up to five hundred million gild without a problem. Welz can finance us with an additional five hundred million. It’s not impossible to borrow more money from them, but I believe it’d be quite difficult to repay a larger debt.”

“An additional...five hundred million?”

Éclair widened her eyes in shock at the man whom she’d been familiar with since she was a baby. That infuriating woman had stated that their limit was two hundred million, the young lady thought. She thought that she could easily win the auction since she had over twice as much money prepared, but Montaure had apparently negotiated with Welz to borrow even more money. He furrowed his usually gentle face.

“My lady,” Montaure said. “No one will honestly state their limit to an opponent during an auction. This advice should especially be heeded against the Thousand Tricks, a man renowned for his ingenuity. Above all, the woman he was with, Sitri Smart, is an excellent Alchemist. She can easily prepare more than two hundred million gild.”

“What?!” Éclair gasped.

Her mind went blank, stunned by this astonishing revelation. Sitri had so proudly declared war on Éclair and had even asserted her defeat if the young noble could gather more than two hundred million. The composed visage of the Alchemist beside the Thousand Tricks flashed across Éclair’s mind. Was there anyone who dared to misinform a noble? She couldn’t—no, she didn’t want to believe it.

“That’s...impossible,” the young girl muttered. “Sh-She firmly told us that she’d admit defeat if we gathered more than two hundred million! If we have more than that, she should surrender.”

“My lord wished for a certain victory from you, my lady,” Montaure countered. “I think it’s better if we were prepared. Surprise attacks are expected during battle. For auctions, it’s not an understatement to claim that the information we gather beforehand is the heart of the battle.”

She was losing heart. She had to achieve certain victory and make preparations. Montaure’s words rang true—it was vital for her to answer to her father’s expectations. Her shoulders slumped for a while, Éclair trembled, but managed to squeeze out her last words.

“Ah yes, thank you. You’re right. It’s better for us to be prepared.”

The extra money would only be used during the worst-case scenario. If she could win with two hundred million gild, that would be great. If, for whatever reason, that wasn’t enough, she’d dip into the extra funds and use everything she had to pound her opponents into the ground. The auction was nearing, and the truth of this outcome would come to light all too soon. With clenched fists, Éclair continued to reassure herself while Montaure gazed at her calmly.