Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Volume 3 - Chapter 6.2

“And sold!” the auctioneer shouted. “The enigmatic mask of flesh has been purchased by the daughter of the renowned House Gladis, Éclair Gladis, for a whopping two hundred million gild!”

The seats below offered her a thunderous applause. Éclair, who was sitting on the edge of her seat, let out a loud sigh. Her eyes were damp and her usually knitted brows seemed to loosen for now. There was no feeling of joy or elation from the victory that she had just attained—only deep relief. The battle had been far less intense than what she’d expected. Montaure’s advice before the auction was nothing short of groundless fear to her, and she had successfully purchased the item for two hundred million.

Despite the rumors that’d been swirling around before the auction, it was quite the one-sided battle. Whispers of House Gladis seriously gunning for the item had worked in her favor. Nobles held power within the empire, and neither trading companies nor hunters planned on going against such authority outright. Such a fearless person couldn’t have possibly existed.

Éclair, who had seemingly reaffirmed those beliefs, gazed up proudly at her father, Van Gladis. Her father, however, had only provided one-word answers to the praises that he’d received from the other nobles, and was staring at the stage. He wasn’t rejoicing at his daughter’s victory—no, he was looking on dubiously as though he was watching something suspicious. He noticed Éclair’s gaze and furrowed his brows before he uttered words that his daughter didn’t expect.

“He ceded this victory to us, I see...”

“What?” Éclair asked.

Montaure, who stood behind Van, echoed his agreement in a low voice. “That seems to be the case. The Thousand Tricks has already left the auction. There’s no one left at this arena who is under his influence.”

“Hmph, that Level 8 hunter...” Van said. “I thought he was just a guileless boor, but it seems the rumors of his ingenious strategies aren’t at all baseless. We interfered with the Relic that he tried to obtain, but he easily stepped down. It’s quite a coolheaded decision for a hunter who values honor and reputation above all. As Ark says, he’s an interesting fellow.”

“Wh-What are you saying, father?!” Éclair exclaimed. “As you can see, I won this match fair and square!”

There might have been a few unexpected occurrences, but the result was that she’d gathered enough funds and earned her victory.

“Éclair,” Van started. “It’s true that you successfully purchased that Relic. Unfortunately, this isn’t a commendable victory. I planned on sitting back and quietly watching over this battle, believing this to be a valuable experience for you whether you were victorious or not, but to think that you weren’t even standing on the same stage as him. I suppose I was a bit too naive. And you’re unable to notice this, I see.”

She stared at her father in shock.

“My lady,” Montaure said. “It’s a fact that the Thousand Tricks had gathered far more than two hundred million gild. I’ve received word that Sitri had sold off her equipment and potions. Though the person I had near them to surveil their actions had been chased off, the Thousand Tricks had indeed left the arena before the bidding war for the Relic had even started.”

Éclair heard those words in stunned silence as a myriad of emotions gripped her body. Confusion, relief, bewilderment, and anger filled her mind as she managed to eke out a few words.

“I told him that this was a fair and square match.”

“I’d already negotiated with a few trading companies, our potential rivals in this bidding war, beforehand,” Montaure revealed. “My lady, as a person born in House Gladis, you have a duty to be victorious. Hunters and nobles have a few similarities. At the very least, stumbling here would cause one to be underestimated in the future. And you have indeed won against a Level 8 hunter today.”

“But any person with more than half a brain can clearly see that this victory was handed to us,” Van added. “How incorrigible. The only thing we gained from spending two hundred million gild is insight into the Thousand Tricks’s generosity.”

Seeing her father’s face frown with displeasure, Éclair spoke in a trembling voice. “Was I... Did he perhaps take pity on me? Did he treat me with contempt?”

“Precisely because you weren’t treated with contempt that you successfully bid on this item,” Montaure answered. “Whether you can call this a victory or not depends solely on you, my lady.”

No. This wasn’t a victory. It wasn’t one at all. Did she win by default, then? No, that can’t offer even an iota of satisfaction. She would’ve rather fought him head-on and lost. Éclair gritted her teeth, letting out a dull sound. She’d lost. It was plain as day—she’d won the battle but lost the war. There was no chance that she could proudly present this Relic to Ark, the subject of her admiration.

“I guess we’ve got a debt to pay to him,” Van muttered.

“One could see this as the man giving my lady his silent approval for gathering two hundred million gild as promised. That was the initial deal set at our house, after all,” Montaure said. “I find it hard to believe that the infamous Grieving Souls would surrender simply because they were up against a notable noble household.”

“Whatever the case, a debt is a debt. No matter how our surroundings see it, as a noble of the Zebrudian Empire, a debt must be repaid. I hope this isn’t the true goal of that man who desires this enigmatic Relic.”

As Earl Gladis looked on sternly, even the normally expressionless Montaure turned grim. “There were no signs of the Thousand Tricks personally meddling with the rumors that had spread. My lady had tagged along with Sir Ark to visit the clan house, but that was all of her own accord. I can only think that this is all a huge coincidence.”

The earl, however, remained displeased despite hearing his right-hand man’s opinions. His daughter was still frozen in her seat, trying to process the situation.

“Éclair,” Van ordered. “You may do as you wish with the Relic that you’ve purchased. But I will not permit you to get involved with that man any further. He’s certainly not one that you can handle.”

She remained silent. She was frustrated. She thought that she was the one who started this battle, but it felt as though she was dancing within the palm of his hand. It was much too miserable for her. But what else can I do? What am I supposed to do? Éclair had always taken extra care to act fitting for an aristocrat, always dauntless no matter what she faced. Her heart was now filled with inexplicable anxiety.

“Do you understand?” Van yelled. “Answer me!”

“Yes, father...” Éclair managed to reply as she bit her lips and tried to stifle her sobs.

***

I was a bona fide no-good guy. Nothing went well when I truly needed it to. For example, when I first started to make a party, because I named us Grieving Souls, people mistook us for a ghost party, causing us to be constantly targeted by other criminal syndicates and hunters. When I created a clan and tried to go flower viewing with them, there was a tectonic shift that made high-leveled treasure vaults appear. When I sent Tino into the White Wolf’s Den, there were a number of unexpected occurrences. Whenever I made decisions, it almost never went well.

I was generally an unlucky person, but when I became a hunter, I felt like my luck was reaching a new level of low. I’d overcome all of this thanks to the help of those around me and by groveling. But that didn’t mean that I was fine with unfortunate circumstances or was used to them.

It’d been a few days since the depressing auction, and I was still unable to regain my energy as I lazed around and sulked on the sofa of the clan master’s office. I never had much energy to begin with, but as I felt like my hard work over the past few days had turned to dust, it was like I’d received a massive blow.

When Eva had told me that Lady Éclair had successfully purchased Reversible Face, I did my best to act nonchalant, but as time passed, I realized that I was unable to let it go. I didn’t regret bidding on an item that Sitri wanted. Most of our funds were her money, and I would rather be Relic-less than see her cry. Still, that didn’t mean that I could disconnect from my feelings completely, and I knew that I’d be down for a while. I didn’t want to do anything. I couldn’t even find the motivation to step outside, and I didn’t want to eat anything sweet.

Everyone knew that I was aiming for that mask. Of course, they also knew that I didn’t even bid on the item and had fled like a sore loser. Under the curious gazes of others, I must’ve taken a course of action unbefitting for a first-rate clan master. That was the one thing that I wanted to avoid. The fourth story and above of the clan house was occasionally off-limits so that no hunter could see me periodically look lifeless.

As I twisted my body and continued to lounge about on the sofa, I accidentally rolled onto the floor. I let out a gasp as I hit the ground with a light thud. I look so wretched, fitting for a sore loser, I thought. I found this to be humorous and almost let out a laugh. I was certain that Lady Éclair was mocking me for being a pathetic man who fled before the battle had even begun. I might’ve contributed to Lord Gladis’s increasing disdain for hunters. The final blow was that the mask that I desperately wanted would be sent to Ark, who didn’t even desire it.

Ugh, life never goes how I want it to. I lacked a sense of embarrassment. I instinctually followed my impulses and rolled on the floor of the clan master’s office. Eva had taken great care to lay out a high-quality rug, and it didn’t hurt at all. I wanted to live the rest of my life crawling on the ground like a caterpillar. If there was a hole, I would’ve wanted to bury myself in it. Again, I wasn’t embarrassed—I just thought that living underground would be calming.

As I was absorbed in my meaningless action, I heard a knock on the door. I splayed out my limbs like a starfish, allowing my body to touch the floor as much as possible to decrease the effect that gravity had on me, and managed to croak out a reply.

“Yeaaah?”

“Pardon me, Krai—huh?! Wh-What are you doing?!” Eva said in shock as she saw me lying on the ground like a corpse.

She knew just how weak I was, so I hid nothing from her. For the past few days, when I’d been holed up in either the clan master’s office or my private room, the one who brought me my meals was none other than Eva.

“Can you tell by looking?” I asked.

“N-Not really,” she replied.

“C’mon. I was rolling on the sofa, but I fell onto the ground.”

“Argh! Goodness! Come on, stop rolling on the floor! It’s dirty! You’re a Level 8, aren’t you?!”

Eva grabbed my arms and shoulders, raised me up, and sat my lifeless body up straight on the sofa. Unlike me, Eva’s attire was neat and tidy, and I couldn’t believe that she’d been working exponentially harder than I was. Well, zero times anything is still zero, but still... Crap, how could I compare her to me? I’m so rude.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded. “Why have you been looking so lifeless for the past few days?”

“This is the usual me,” I replied.

“E-Er, well...” She looked a little troubled.

When my reliable vice clan master had heard that I used a billion gild to make an unexpected purchase and the mask had slipped through my fingers, she only let out a single sigh. She was so generous that I was tempted to see just how far I could push her.

“If you’re comfortable with me and you’ve got something bothering you, I can hear you out,” Eva offered.

I only had worries. Dude, if I could convert the number of stuff bothering me into gild, I’d be debt-free by now.

“It’s just time for me to back off, you know?” I said. “I’m not worthy. My life never goes how I want it to. I wanna retire.”

When Eva heard my usual grumblings, she widened her eyes in shock and took a step back. I’d even made my reliable vice clan master recoil due to my antics—I was simply just that awful of a human being. That’s right. That’s me. I suck. I just wanna become a clam and live at the bottom of the ocean. And then an octopus tries to eat me and I can’t do anything, so I just get devoured whole.

“Y-You’re saying that things aren’t going well?” Eva asked, baffled.

“If I were to grade myself out of a hundred, if I was being generous, I’d give this fifteen points,” I replied. “I didn’t even get that mask.”

“Fifteen?!”

Eva sounded like she was being toyed with when she heard my lifeless reply. I’m really sorry for always troubling you. I’d like to repay you one day, but knowing me, it’d probably just backfire.

“Um, I heard that letting go of that mask was all according to your plan...” she said.

Who said that? I glanced at her, but she looked as serious as ever. I’d only said that to put on a tough front. I doubted that anyone present during that time took my words at face value. All according to plan? I wanted that mask, and people think I just planned on letting it go? Like hell.

From Akasha to the price I bid on it, everything was outside of my calculations. I was just going with the flow from start to finish, like kelp in the sea. I looked away and sighed deeply. Since I’d get eaten as a shellfish, I’d rather be a rock or something. I dunno.

“Well, sort of, not really...” I said. “I could’ve played my hand better, but my life really is outside of my control.”

“Should I pour a cup of tea?” Eva offered. “I’ve got an herbal blend that can help soothe your mind.”

I remained silent, but she prepared the tea for me. Her kindness and proficiency made me want to die. Everyone around me was just too excellent and kind. I regained a bit of my will to live and curled up into a ball on the sofa, hugging my knees.

“Well, it’s nothing to worry about,” I said. “I’m just waiting for myself to calm down.”

“Of course,” Eva replied.

“I think I’ll be over it soon.”

Because I was such a spineless coward, I had the bad habit of acting spoiled towards others. People around me were all independent. Sitri and Ansem were, of course, but Liz and Tino were also splendid in their own right. Luke, who was a bit thoughtless, was a head above others in terms of strength, and a person I could respect. I was the only one who would probably die immediately the moment I was set free by myself.

Thinking back, Grieving Souls might have become exceptionally powerful to cover for me, who was nothing but dead weight. Maybe I was helping them stand out. As proof, the leader of Ark Brave was too strong, making the rest of his party pale in comparison.

A fashionable teacup was placed in front of me. The lime-colored tea let off a faintly sweet aroma.

“But you must step outside for a little,” Eva urged. “Everyone’s worried, and it’s not good for your health. I admit that I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re thinking.”

What I’m thinking? I hate to say this, but I’m not thinking about anything. Don’t worry. I become down pretty quickly and I can easily get swept up in things, but I don’t really think too deeply about matters either. I felt guilty for making others worry about me, but I wasn’t lying when I said that I’d get over it soon.

I knew about myself best. I took the cup of tea and slowly put it to my lips, letting the faintly sour yet sweet aroma fill my body. As Eva had said, I felt like it soothed my mind and soul. Not that my mind needs any soothing, honestly. Once I regained my composure a little, I continued to admonish myself. Why did I not save a bit of money? I only needed two hundred million. That was all I needed to buy what Sitri wanted and get that mask too. I would likely never get the chance to obtain a Reversible Face again. Since Lady Éclair hated me, it was probably impossible to negotiate. Even if a loser like me, who holed himself up due to shock, went on my knees begging for the item, I didn’t expect her to sell it to me. She was giving it to Ark anyway.

That was when a revelation hit me. I felt like I’d just been struck by lightning as I widened my eyes and fixed my posture while turning to Eva. Why didn’t I think of such a simple solution earlier?! Trying to act cool, I snapped my fingers.

“Wh-What happened?” Eva asked. “You surprised me.”

“Where’s Ark right now?” I asked.

That’s it! Duh! If I can’t buy it from the young noble, I can just buy it from Ark. Ark Rodin was a powerful Magus Swordsman. He was already in possession of a Holy Sword, and as I’d told Lady Éclair before, he had no need for a partially illegal mask. There was a chance that I could purchase it from him. While the general public considered Ark and me rivals, we were actually anything but. We were part of the same clan and I felt like I’d built a good relationship with him. If I begged him from the bottom of my heart, there was no way that his handsome face would decline. In fact, I was willing to put part of my collection on the table. Heh heh heh, it’s your loss, Lady Éclair!

I might have been a weakling, but I was still a clan master. You didn’t lose to me; you lost to my network! Whew, am I glad I’m a clan master!

Eva looked troubled as she replied, “Huh? Let’s see... There was a matter of House Rodin that he needed to tend to, so I think he’s been traveling across the capital for the past few days.”

“Ark’s a busy guy,” I replied.

I thought that he’d just returned, but I was impressed by how hard he worked. Eva knitted her brows at my heartfelt words and quietly stared at me.

“I’d juuust like to point out that since you’re the master of a large clan, there is no end to people wanting to talk to you, but I’ve taken care of every single one of them,” she said.

“R-Really?”

“Everyone’s used to you not visiting them, but I think it’s fine to show yourself at least once, don’t you think? It’d help me out a lot.”

“You’ve always been a huge help, Vice Clan Master. I’ve made it so that you’ll eventually become the clan master.”

“No, thank you.”

I looked away. It wasn’t just hunters who had overwhelming aura—merchants and nobles could also exert terrifying pressure. There were probably many who were intelligent as well; I would only be easily manipulated by them. But if Ark’s been busy for the past few days, it seems like the Relic that Lady Éclair bought hadn’t been handed to him yet. I had to act while I was still excited about it all. Reversible Face might look grotesque, but she might grow fond of it over time, just like I did. It was important to quickly have Lady Éclair hand the Relic over to Ark before it was too late.

“Can you call for Ark?” I asked.

“It’s not impossible, but House Rodin is a bit difficult to deal with,” Eva said, looking unusually troubled by the request.

That house is full of weirdos. But I couldn’t give up here. This might have truly been my final chance. I unfurled my body and faced my vice clan master with a serious expression.

“This is a rush request. You can use my authority as the Thousand Tricks. Call Ark here immediately.”

My fateful battle was about to begin.

“I feel great, Krai!” Sitri said, grinning from ear to ear. It’d been a few days since she visited the office, and it was rare to see her in such a good mood. “There aren’t any particular problems with the golem either!”

“Nice. That’s great to hear,” I replied.

She was wearing a loose khaki robe that hid her frame as usual, but she looked brighter than usual.

“Because we quickly left the auction, I was able to get my item without any problems,” she continued. “You may know this already, but apparently there were signs of someone sneaking into the auction warehouse. I don’t think it’s been publicized.”

“Sneaking in?” I asked. “It’s not Liz?”

The Zebrudia Auction was hosted by the empire. It was surely well guarded and the honor of the nation was at stake. Only insane people would try to break into a place like that. I was only half joking, but Sitri’s eyes were sparkling.

“It wasn’t Liz,” she said. “We might’ve crushed Noctus Cochlear, but he’s just the head of the research department. The foundation he built upon is still infesting the empire. Each research department of Akashic Tower is divided and completely isolated, so even if one falls, it doesn’t really affect the rest. Even I haven’t heard a thing about the other labs. But Noctus Cochlear was an excellent Magus, and when his lab was destroyed, there were people fighting for the remnants of his work! The golem likely made it into the auction after being pressured by someone!”

Sitri looked excited, but I only gave her a half-baked response as I headed to the lounge for a meeting. I was happy to see her look so delighted, but my head was filled with a method to attain that mask. Eva had carried out my orders and relayed my summons to Ark. From here on out, it depended on my skill. Sitri walked beside me, did a little twirl, and clung onto my right arm. I couldn’t quite grasp why she seemed so excited. I’m here to negotiate, you know. This is a bit of a distraction.

“It’s all thanks to you, Krai,” she purred. “Not only were we able to obtain the money-guzzling Akasha for a mere billion gild, but we also opened a new path! Ah, should I try sneaking in again, or should I crush them and steal their work? But we’re up against a major organization, they’re wary about you, and the empire has their eyes peeled. I’ve got my job to think about too, so I’m just so torn!”

It sounded like Sitri was fired up to go against a secret syndicate that was on the wanted list. She was chasing after Akashic Tower anyway, but I wondered if all hunters were reckless like her. She noticed that I was having difficulty walking with her so close to my side, and she peeled herself away from me. Personally, I didn’t want her to rush into something so dangerous.

“Calm down a little, hm, Sitri?” I said. “You got what you wanted, so why don’t you take some time off for now?”

We were against a major organization, but we were also a large clan. I didn’t think that they’d try to fight us. And if possible, I want them to just completely forget about Akasha.

“I see... So we bide our time and make them anxious,” Sitri replied. “I feel like we can take them down if we charge in ahead, but when we attack, there’s a good chance that our defenses may become lax. I feel like we’re being a bit too careful, but we’ve got you on our side, don’t we?”

She looked up at me. I felt like our conversation wasn’t quite clicking, but I just nodded.

“I think hunters should be more careful than not,” I said. “In any case, can you help me out? Well, to be frank, all I need is monetary help.”

Presuming that Lady Éclair gave the mask to Ark, I didn’t think that he’d just hand it over to me for free. Hunters always expected some form of compensation or equivalent exchange. If he were to give it to me for free, it would imply that I had a huge debt towards him. I knew that my debt-ridden self wasn’t one to talk, but I wanted to avoid that scenario as much as I could. Sitri didn’t seem at all upset by my lackadaisical tone.

“I will happily be of service,” she said. “Regarding money, I planned on making my move even if you hadn’t asked me at all.”

Right... I mean, I did use your marriage funds, after all. I’ll repay it all one day, so please forgive me. Sitri extended her arm and grabbed my hand, touching me so gently as though I was a work of art. She sighed and looked up at me with blushing cheeks.

“So, Krai... I was thinking about a way to thank you, and well...why don’t you come stay at my house? I’ve got time, and I’d like to show you my hospitality.”

“Hmm, maybe next time,” I said.

“Ah, that’s a pity.”

Her downcast eyes showed just how disappointed she was. Her invitation and gentle smile made it hard to decline, but if I accepted her offer, I would truly turn into a no-good human and spiral downwards.

I’d been invited to her house several times in the past, but Sitri’s way of showing hospitality could easily turn anyone into a useless member of society. Everything was handled for me. All of my duties and responsibilities were stripped away, and she took care of everything that I needed. She’d even wash my back and give me a massage, fulfilling all my desires, and I didn’t have a single complaint left in the world. All of my senses were numbed, and I stopped feeling the need to think or endure something.

When I first experienced this indulgence, had Liz not noticed this unusual situation, I would’ve surely been drowning in that hellish Heaven to this day. It was like falling into a bottomless pit. Yeah, I’m making it sound like Sitri’s at fault, but the fault is all mine. She obviously has no ill will. I treated her hospitality invitations like a mental trial. I’d already been wasting away doing nothing for the past few days, and if I indulged myself even further, I would truly turn into a hopeless case.

Ark and his friends were already waiting for me in the lounge. There was the Level 5 Saint, Ewe Shiragi, a person who carried an air of mystery but also a strong heart; Isabella Merness, a Level 6 Magus from the north who seemed a little rude to me; Armelle Hellstrom, a Level 6 Swordsman; and Benetta Raim, a Level 6 Thief that was always teased by Liz and didn’t seem to have a positive impression of us.

The leader of this lovely party, Ark Brave, was the only man of the group and one of the strongest people in the capital, the Level 7 Argent Thunderstorm, Ark Rodin. He had it all—a handsome face, a sunny disposition, and overwhelming might. He was a man who had been born to become the Hero.

He wasn’t in his usual adventurer-style uniform of Steps today; he was in his personal clothes. His posture was straight and vigilant, and he didn’t have any openings. He was clearly smiling at me, but he exerted a certain aura that implied that there was more to him than meets the eye. Beside him was Liz, confidently getting comfortable and relaxing. I don’t remember calling for her. When she noticed me, she sat up and waved at me wildly, grinning from ear to ear.

“Krai Baby!” she called. “Over here! You’re horrible! Why didn’t you call me? This looks like so much fun!”

Ark aside, the rest of his party were shooting daggers at me. I couldn’t blame them—they probably had plans of their own, but they were forcibly called out by me, only to come face-to-face with Liz, who was difficult to communicate with.

“This...might get a little hairy,” I mumbled. “I’m not here to have fun, honestly.”

“Leave it to me,” Sitri assured.

“I can negotiate by myself. I’m against Ark, so I think I can handle him.”

I came early to not make him wait, but it seemed like Ark’s diligence had worked against me. For our party, if half of our members came on time, that was really good, but the Braves were vastly different. I tried my best to at least greet him with a smile, and he, in turn, smiled brightly as usual.

“I’m sorry to call you out so suddenly, Ark. Please forgive me,” I started. “It was an emergency, and I don’t think this will be a bad deal for you either.”

***

An interesting guy. If Ark Rodin were to describe the Thousand Tricks in just a few words, this would be his go-to phrase. Every year, treasure hunters and aspiring hunters from afar would flock to the capital of Zebrudia, the sacred land. Most of them would retire from their profession without achieving great success. Some would die while trying to clear a treasure vault, some would sustain a grave injury that would cut their career short, and others would be so psychologically damaged that they vowed to never leave the city again. Even if one were lucky enough to avoid these common pitfalls, most of them would be unable to maintain their life within the capital due to a lack of their own abilities, forcing them to build their base elsewhere.

Krai Andrey was also one such hunter who hailed from the countryside. To top it all off, he had no experience as a hunter and was only aspiring to become one. Needless to say, the hunters who remained within the capital were highly skilled and had raised the bar for others. Only a small handful of talented people would be very successful within the capital. An abundance of treasure vaults awaited those who dared to rise to the challenge. There were numerous excellent rivals who struggled against these vaults, and eagle-eyed ruffians wandered the streets, hoping to take advantage of broken-spirited hunters. Places that were saturated with items and people also attracted a fair number of evildoers. Only powerful hunters who could repel attacks from others could call the capital a comfortable home to live in.

This was a baptism of sorts to hunters who were attracted by the wealth that seemed practically promised to them and viewed the profession with rose-colored glasses.

Grieving Souls, however, went against all odds and brute-forced their way through any obstacles that barred their path. They conquered treasure vaults, paid no heed to immature hunters above them who saw talented rookies as a threat, and even destroyed ghost parties that often preyed on newcomers. They became a famed party at an astonishing rate. It was almost inevitable that they caught Ark’s attention.

Grievers were always soaked with blood. Their light was so bright that they would cast dark shadows in their wake. Each and every one of them was brimming with blinding talent, and it came as no surprise that they earned the ire and envy of others. They were walking down a thorny path that was filled with hardships: their lives were targeted more than once, and nasty rumors about them were circulated. But perhaps these obstacles had only created an even more powerful monster.

Before anyone would react, the prey had become the predator. The country bumpkin who had dreams unsuited for his caliber had gained terrifying talents, and the party had transformed into one that others feared—no enemy of theirs would escape unscathed.

Ark Rodin had also turned into a hunter within the capital, but he came from a completely different situation. House Rodin already had the required foundation and knowledge. They enjoyed an excellent reputation. Since his youth, he’d undergone strict training to become a hunter, and he’d even cleared a few treasure vaults before he officially became a hunter. He received the support of nobles, and it was a cinch for him to gather party members. His basis was the complete opposite of the Thousand Tricks. Ark Rodin, at the very least, believed that Ark Brave and Grieving Souls were polar opposites and this difference extended to the leaders as well.

The dark-haired man who sat across remained exactly the same as their first meeting a few years back. He was the weakest. Ark was aware that this man was called an ingenious strategist, and knew that this nickname was so accurate that they were simply predicting the inevitable future.

Even so, with all that included, this man didn’t seem to possess anything special. Ark was familiar with several hunters who were a higher level than him. Some of them were similar to the Thousand Tricks, and some might have even been below him in terms of combat prowess. But each of these hunters was definitively powerful. They held undeniable power and just had a certain something to them that made them different from others. When Ark had met these hunters in person, he found that there was little room for doubt in regard to their strength. Unfortunately, the man in front of him, despite being so highly leveled and having results to prove it, lacked this overwhelming aura.

An interesting guy. The leader of a party with absurdly powerful members was absurdly weak.

Ark’s curiosity was piqued. This was the main reason behind Ark Brave, which had been scouted by long-established and powerful clans, joining First Steps. And even after a few years, Ark was still unable to grasp the true nature of the man. In the past, he’d been compared to the Thousand Tricks on numerous occasions, but it seemed like an act of folly to do so. There was little sense in doing a simple comparison of numbers, and the Argent Thunderstorm and Thousand Tricks couldn’t be analyzed so easily. For example, if one were to add or subtract power from both sides, that didn’t equate the two. This wasn’t just a matter of status—the two men had walked through vastly different paths of life. They weren’t even in the same dimension.

People around the Thousand Tricks were jealous. Some aspired to be like him while others viewed him as a threat. Ark Rodin was born a winner—it was his destiny. He was born to walk his path by himself and thus didn’t feel envious of others. All he possessed was an inquisitive mind that had been passed down through the ages since the first lord of House Rodin.

And so, “rival” or “powerful enemies” weren’t suitable words to describe the relationship between Ark Rodin and Krai Andrey. “Friend” was the most fitting descriptor. Ark, who had been busily going to and fro because of his household’s affairs, was suddenly called out by the Thousand Tricks, who didn’t look at all apologetic by this summons. In fact, the man was haughtily folding his arms in front of him, unbothered by the sharp gaze that Isabella had shot at him.

“I’ll be frank,” Krai said. “I need you to go to Lady Éclair’s house as soon as possible. You’ll understand everything once you get there. You’re aware that she and I were engaged in a bidding war over a Relic and that I lost, aren’t you?”

“I am,” Ark replied. “I was busy for the past few days, but I’ve heard word of it. I don’t want to cause misunderstandings, so I’ll let you know that I’ve got nothing to do with her. She’s not a bad person, but she’s got a tendency to run wild.”

Ark was a busy man. As a member of House Rodin, aside from his hunts, he had a mountain of work to take care of. While the capital was excited about the auction, he didn’t have any time to participate in the festivities and had been bustling around, called out by others. He had laughed when he heard that the price of a Relic soared simply because people found out that the Thousand Tricks was after it, and was surprised to learn that Lady Éclair was involved for some reason, but that was all. Liz, who sat next to Krai with her back straight and legs crossed, gave a shrill wail of protest.

“Whaaat?! I was planning on going, but now you’re having Ark go there?” she asked.

“Huh?!” Isabella roared furiously. “Are you planning on using Ark as your lackey again?! He’s a busy man! Go by yourself!”

Ark sighed. She was an excellent Magus, but her one fatal flaw was that she couldn’t hold back whenever Ark was underestimated or taken lightly.

“Huh?! What the hell did you just say?!” Liz bellowed back. “You’re just walking in Ark’s shadow! Don’t you dare talk so insolently to Krai Baby here! I’ll kill you! When we ask you to go somewhere, you reply with ‘when and where,’ you damn fool!”

“Shadow?! I’ll show you...”

“Now, now. Why don’t we both calm down?” Sitri interjected with a smile and a clap as the two other ladies were about to stand up. “You’re troubling both Ark and Krai.”

“Tch.”

A few members of Grieving Souls and Ark Brave absolutely despised each other. That was nothing new. Krai looked more serious than ever before, causing Ark to fix his posture.

“I tried, but she wouldn’t listen to me,” Krai confessed. “Ark, that Relic...is dangerous, you see. I’m sure that you can do something about it. If you go right now, I think you can still make it in time.”

As usual, Krai’s words were vague and perplexing, but he always hit his target. Ark knew that all too well. This wasn’t the first time the latter was called out, and he set all his questions aside for now to ask only one.

“Do I need my weapon?”

“Huh? No, I don’t think so,” Krai replied. “In fact, it might be better if you had nothing on you.”

I don’t need weapons? Ark thought. That’s unusual. So this isn’t some kind of battle? But he said that it was dangerous. What dangerous situation doesn’t require weapons?

“And what if I don’t make it in time?” Ark asked with knitted brows.

Krai tilted his head to one side and gave a troubled look. “Then I’ll be sad.”

***

Ark quelled his party, each of whom glaring at me with disdain, and swiftly left the lounge. As I’d expected, Ark accepted my request. I couldn’t get into details due to the nature of this plea, but he likely grasped an inkling of my intentions from my actions and words. I expected no less from Ark Rodin. The strongest hunter in the empire was equally generous. I love that guy. Great all-rounder. Did you know that he can even use healing magic? Can you believe it? He was indeed the polar opposite of me, who couldn’t do anything.

It was common for high-level hunters to have powerful party members, but those who went above that who went solo. This was exactly what Xerxes Zequenz, the person who caused us Grievers to become hunters and one of the only three Level 10 hunters out there, had done. Hunters who were a head above the rest simply couldn’t have their surroundings keep up.

Ark tackled treasure vaults that matched the levels of his party members. Had he worked alone or joined a more powerful party, he might’ve leveled up much quicker. His party was practically his harem, but he still managed to maintain it, which might have been unusual for a first-rate hunter like him.

“This is so unfair!” Liz whined. “You’re always relying on Ark! What about me? Rely on me more! C’mon! Luke’s gone and I can’t practice with Siddy and T’s too weak! I’ll get rusty! Please? I’ll do anything!”

She begged while rubbing her body against me. Is she acting like my pet or something? You said you’d do anything, right? Then please be quiet. I had no complaints about Liz’s skills, but she was a bit too short-tempered.

I sighed. “Liz, do you understand what I just requested?”

“Of course!” she replied with a proud smile. “You want me to go to that shitty brat’s house and steal that Relic, right? Leave it to me!”

You really lack logic and common sense.

“C’mon, it’s easy peasy when compared to treasure vaults,” she continued. “The knights that guard that area are all amateurs. Barriers and stuff might be a bit tough for me since I’m alone, but I just need to steal it before they find me, yeah? Oh, I know! Maybe I’ll drag T along!”

Please don’t do that to her. Liz used to be more sensible, but she must’ve gotten too used to rowdy affairs. The mask was handled—I was sure that Ark would bring it back. Sitri, the voice of reason, admonished her older sister wearily.

“Liz, you’re troubling Krai again! He probably has a reason for thinking that Ark’s the right man for the job, and we have our roles that we need to fulfill.”

“Roles?” Liz asked.

“Raising money.”

Liz uncrossed her legs, surprised by Sitri’s immediate reply. The older sister then nodded in agreement while glancing at me.

“Ah, I see,” Liz said. “I guess that’s true. We can’t ask Ark to do it anyway.”

“We have to repay Lucia before she returns too,” Sitri said. “It’s perfect timing, don’t you think?”

Wait, what’s perfect? The two sisters continued to converse, completely leaving me behind. I guess sisters really do share some kind of telepathic bond that outsiders can’t understand. Liz stood up, now grinning broadly in stark contrast to her grumbling attitude mere moments ago.

“I see...” she mulled. “As always, Krai Baby’s plans are perfectly thought out. All right, I’ll do it. The sooner the better, yeah? It’s been a while, but they might have more of a bite to them. You better be prepared, Siddy.”

“I know, I know,” Sitri replied.

“Mkay, then I guess I’ll loosen myself up a bit. I’ll see ya later, Krai Baby! I’ll work hard so that I can report back some good news! Wait here!”

With a wave, she gracefully leaped out of the lounge. It didn’t sound like she’d be chasing after Ark, but I had no idea what she was about to do. Since Sitri’s with her, I’m sure she’ll be fine.

“Krai, I must go with her too,” Sitri said. “I’ll be sure to keep her in check.”

“Sure, uh-huh,” I replied. “Don’t cause too much of a fuss.”

I wanted to offer my assistance too, but I would’ve probably just been in the way. Sitri balled her hand into a fist and smiled at my empty encouragement.

***

Ark returned to his base and hastily made his preparations. As a hunter, though he wasn’t planning on visiting any treasure vaults, he made sure that he always had the bare minimum of supplies with him. His dimensional pouch allowed him to store far more items than what one would initially expect. In stark contrast to its compact appearance, the pouch not only boasted a large storage, but also stopped time from ticking inside, preventing items from rotting or spoiling. It was a priceless item passed down through the generations of House Rodin; Ark used it to store potions, food, and items required for camping. He was prepared for any situation that he was thrown into.

“Are we really going?” Saint Ewe asked, her gray eyes pointed at her party leader with worry.

Ark smiled. “Are you anxious?”

The rest of his party weren’t too vocal with their concerns out of respect for the leader, but they were all making their preparations with a frown. Worthy of their title of first-rate hunters, they all packed swiftly and efficiently, but the looks on their faces seemed as though they were about to tackle an extremely difficult treasure vault.

If one were to describe a unique characteristic of First Steps, it wasn’t about their welfare program for their members or the power that each member held—no, the one that held this special honor was the Thousand Trials that the clan master would occasionally issue. This Trial was given to everyone equally, and Ark’s party was no exception.

In fact, Ark’s party served as the right-hand man of the clan, opening them up to more opportunities to be relied on by the clan master. Barring Ark, the rest of his party claimed that no dangerous and difficult treasure vault could compare to the sudden, awful requests of the clan master, who barely gave them time to prepare.

Ewe’s beautiful face was riddled with worry. “I am,” she confessed. “Krai, um, tends to drag you into many things.”

“Since he’s a Level 8, he should handle this stuff by himself,” Isabella said, sighing deeply as she enveloped herself in a pure white robe that she wore for vault exploring. “I think you’re spoiling him too much, Ark.”

It was true that Ark almost never declined Krai’s requests. A person who feared sudden occurrences could never become a hunter, and all of the clan master’s requests indeed required someone to move to prevent the situation from escalating and turning disastrous.

“Don’t you think he should act by himself too?” Isabella asked, looking for validation. “He has Liz and Sitri by his side.”

Ark gave an exasperated smile. “Are you saying that those two ladies should meet Lady Éclair? I don’t think I could do something that terrifying.”

“Well...you’ve got a point. I feel like Liz would seriously get into a fight with a ten-year-old. She probably doesn’t care about rank or honor either.”

“It’s scary to think about, but it’s a possibility,” Armelle agreed with a stern grimace.

The Grievers were well-known for their power and insolence. Ark, who was a fellow clan member and had known them for a while, knew that these rumors toned down the Grievers’ actions. Indeed, “insolent” didn’t even begin to describe some of them, making them more akin to hot-blooded members of the mafia.

“It might’ve been a different story if Lucia and Ansem were there, but they’re still gone...” Isabella said before she quickly shook her head. She tried to remain defiant, but it was clear that she no longer sounded as forceful. “N-No, even so, they should’ve gone by themselves! Krai can easily convince those nobles, can’t he?!”

Logically, she must’ve realized that the clan master’s decision was wise, but emotionally, she still couldn’t bring herself to accept the request with a smile. Éclair might have been a child, but she was a noble. She was a proud young lady, and clearly held disdain towards Krai. The clan master still might have been able to handle her, but it was clear that his friend Ark was a far more suitable candidate for this negotiation.

“Just admit it, Isabella,” Ark said. “My house has ties with House Gladis. If there really is anything going on with them, then all the more reason for me to go. It’s not right to file a complaint towards Krai.”

Though Ark had known Krai for a while, the former still couldn’t quite grasp the latter. However, the other party members aside, none of the trials that Ark had received thus far earned his ire. He had a motive and the power to save others.

Once he finished making his preparations, Ark gripped the dull golden hilt of his blade and drew it from its white scabbard. The sword didn’t have any intricate ornamentation, but when it was sheathed, its empyreal aura enchanted anyone who viewed it. This was a blade-type Relic that the first lord of House Rodin had supposedly used—the holy sword, Historia. Together with the Rodins, Historia had saved many from disasters and carved a path for history. Among the numerous blade-type Relics, Historia was famed to be the strongest of them all; a peerless blade that still hadn’t met an item that it couldn’t cut with a single blow.

Normally, people weren’t allowed to bring weapons inside of a noble’s manor, but Ark was a notable exception. Of course, Ark Rodin wasn’t a man who would fall victim to a guard or a knight simply because he had a blade or two taken from him, and Lord Gladis knew that all too well. Though Krai had stated that a weapon wasn’t necessary, Ark had carried the holy blade by his side at all times. As long as he kept it sheathed, he didn’t think that it’d pose an issue. While Ark trusted Krai, he was also aware that the clan master had the nasty habit of hiding information when ordering a Trial.

Ark was all set. All that was left was to visit Éclair.

Isabella, who had also just finished getting ready, furrowed her well-shaped brows. “Ark, what do you think he meant by ‘I’ll be sad’? I feel like he’s just fooling around with us.”

“You’re an earnest person, aren’t you?” Ark replied. “Now then, why don’t we hurry? Lady Éclair should still be at her manor right now.”

“Huh? What? Was I in the wrong there?”

As Isabella panicked and the rest of her party members gave her a pointed look, Ark headed for the manor, where trouble was surely brewing.

***

The mask worth over two hundred million gild was more grotesque than imagined. Éclair had known this beforehand, but if she had seen the actual item in front of her, she might not have bid on it at all. This was a cursed Relic with unknown effects—a mask of flesh that even a seasoned appraiser had deemed dangerous.

The Relic, which looked like kneaded raw meat, writhed and pulsated as though it were alive. House Gladis’s steward, who’d received this item in Éclair’s stead, grimaced upon catching sight of it. When the maids and butlers had initially heard of the young lady’s victory at the auction, they all showered her with praise, but as the Relic was revealed, they all clearly seemed taken aback.

Even since the auction, Éclair was holed up in her bedroom at the manor. Inside of the dark bedroom with closed curtains was the young lady, all alone. The day the auction was over, she was so humiliated and angry that she sobbed in isolation, barely able to muffle her cries. On the second day, she threw a tantrum, taking her fury out on objects as deep regret gripped her body. She called for servants on numerous occasions only to roar at them and chase them away. Her attitude was unbefitting for the proud daughter of House Gladis and it was difficult to see her continue like this.

She had been taken pity on. That by itself was already a tough pill to swallow, but the Relic she obtained looked so dreadfully atrocious that one could only question the seller’s sanity. Even if this was an item honorably won from a vicious battle, it looked so horrid that she was reluctant to give it to Ark, whom she admired so greatly. Had someone’s skin been peeled off their face and had a few features shaved away just right, they would look just like this mask. Indeed, “a mask of flesh” was the perfect descriptor for this awful Relic. The item, which had been so desperately sought after just a few days prior, was now nonchalantly tossed on top of her bedside desk.

Éclair had nothing left. Her head was throbbing, and though her meals were placed in front of her room, she hardly touched the food. She’d calmed down considerably over the past few days, but as she lay on her bed lifelessly, she had no desire to do anything at all. She’d been so worn and her mental state was now so fragile that she no longer harbored any anger towards the Thousand Tricks.

What...do I do now? Éclair thought in a daze. Her impulsive, emotional actions made her two hundred million gild in debt. This money might have belonged to her family but she had promised to return the gild that she’d borrowed.

What could she do now? Should I sell the mask that I just bought? She doubted that any company would be willing to buy it from her. The price of that Relic only soared because she’d thrown her hat into the ring; she couldn’t expect anyone to pay a higher price. Then should I just give it to Ark like initially planned? That was out of the question. Éclair couldn’t call this auction a victory, and presenting a Relic with unknown effects would only trouble the receiver. Should I just discard it? Simply throwing away an item that she worked so hard to obtain seemed absurd.

Then...should I sell it to the Thousand Tricks? This sounded like absolute buffoonery. Despite her interference in this auction, the man had given her this victory. How could she possibly sell it back to him? The mere thought had made her want to die, and she gagged a little as she imagined that scenario.

Her mind was filled with thoughts and ideas, but none provided her with an answer. She shifted her position on her bed and gazed at the mask of flesh. Éclair, who wasn’t quite used to viewing grotesque items, felt nauseous simply by looking at it. When the expert had initially come out with a “could not be determined” analysis, she had laughed and scoffed at the fainthearted man, but upon seeing the mask with her own eyes, she understood why the appraiser had come to his conclusion. She couldn’t even bear to touch it—she would’ve surely questioned the sanity of a person who dared to wear it.

Only then did Éclair realize her confusion. Why did the Thousand Tricks want this mask? She’d heard that he’d wanted this Relic in the first place, so much so that he even went to negotiate with the seller before the auction. Éclair, the trading companies, and other hunters had decided to steal this item away from him upon hearing this bit of information.

The mask was rumored to be the strongest Relic, but she now found it hard to believe.

“Do you want power?”

“Huh?” Éclair audibly gasped as a voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

She quickly got up, noticing cold air filling the room. Where did it come from? She instinctively reached out for her sword by her pillow. The blade that she usually gracefully wielded was heavy in her hands. She could only barely drag it to her side.

“I’ve been watching you. I have been for a while now. Your grief, sorrow, anger, and most importantly...despair. I’ve seen it. You’re a clump of glimmering, exceptional talent. Your physical body may be frail, but that is my compromise. You are a fitting candidate to bestow my power onto.”

Éclair noticed where the voice was coming from. “I-Is the mask talking?!”

That was impossible. As horrid as it might have appeared, the item was a Relic, and nothing more. It shouldn’t be able to speak! Éclair kept frantically telling herself. All the while, she found herself unable to tear her eyes off from the mask of flesh atop her desk. She hastily unsheathed her sword and raised it in the air. She used her left hand to inch back. She’d faced numerous monsters and phantoms before, but her blade started to tremble as she faced a fearful, mysterious force.

“I can do more than just talk, fragile being. I am one who advances humankind. I provide hope to the weak. It’s quite convenient that you’re alone. I shall do what I must—there was a reason I was created...my master.”

Éclair gasped as the mask floated in the dark room. The item wasn’t quite floating; several tentacle-like appendages sprouted from it, raising it in the air.

Impossible! No one activated the Relic! It can’t act on its own! It can’t be! Éclair thought.

The words of a weary-faced man who had tried to negotiate with her before the auction flashed across her mind. “It’s a dangerous Relic.”

The flesh mask grinned broadly as it pounced on Éclair.

***

Ark’s party was invited into the meeting room of House Gladis’s manor. The lord and father of the household, Van Gladis, had told Ark the events that had occurred, causing the hunter to regret not providing a better explanation. When Lady Éclair and Krai had met at the clan house, Ark should’ve cleared up any misunderstandings about the clan master right then and there.

Éclair was mature for her age, but she was still a child. Thinking back, there were times when she’d expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that Ark wasn’t a clan master, but a second-in-command (though to be precise, while those around him viewed him that way, he wasn’t that either).

Isabella, who sat beside Ark, narrowed her eyes and whispered, “I thought this earlier when I expressed my sarcasm, but he’s so immature...”

“I feel like he believes this to be a Trial...” Ewe murmured scornfully.

The scheme of the Thousand Tricks that the party had heard was so clever and cunning that it wasn’t one to use against a girl who had just turned ten. Had Éclair been simply stirred up about this all, this entire event could’ve been laughed away, but since she’d apparently been in bed for the past few days, it was clear that the man had gone too far. Ark had found himself in a difficult position. He’d learned that Éclair was trying to obtain the Relic for his sake; she wanted to present him with the strongest Relic so that he would be pushed up from second-in-command and rise above the clan master. Ark didn’t remember ever asking her to do this, of course, but he was certain that this was Éclair’s goal—she was just as immature as Krai at times.

“I’m honored to receive Lady Éclair’s favor,” Ark started. “However...”

“She flew a little too close to the sun,” Van said with a frown, his voice commanding less might than usual. “She’d taken on a difficult opponent. I can only hope that this would lead to Éclair’s growth somehow.”

A usually strict and stern man he might have been, but Van Gladis was also a father. He was quite worried about his daughter’s sudden reclusion. It was true that this recent loss had greatly damaged poor Éclair’s pride.

However, the real issue was that her actions were truly meaningless. If Éclair had indeed gracefully attained a victory against the Thousand Tricks, crushing him spectacularly and obtaining the Relic, then what? That item would then be passed onto Ark, where he had to happily receive the mask. Even if the Relic truly allowed him to unleash his full potential and gain even greater power, this didn’t mean that Ark was better than Krai. The former had far more combat prowess than the latter in the first place. The difference between the two wasn’t one of raw power. Hence, even if Ark had received a powerful Relic, it would do little to fill this gap.

But the little swordswoman was already currently mentally fragile. How would the noblewoman feel if she heard the truth right now? If words were all that was needed to cheer her up again, Ark would do it in a heartbeat, but the girl wasn’t so simple as to have her heart lightened by empty praise. He mentally filed a complaint to the Thousand Tricks, who threw the man of House Rodin into this mess. Krai was up against a child. While hunters had a reputation to uphold, there was no doubt a better and more peaceful way to tackle this situation. This cunning plan that had analyzed a person’s network and personality quite accurately was so elaborate that Ark refused to believe that the usual Krai would ever do something like this.

The most terrifying bit was that Ark still had no idea what Krai was planning. The Thousand Tricks wasn’t one to completely hypothesize a noble’s position, and an honest Relic collector like him wouldn’t forfeit an auction with zero reason. As Ark pensively thought over his options, Earl Gladis gave an apologetic look, unusual for a man of his caliber.

“In any case, though Éclair has been a recluse ever since her defeat at the auction, I’m sure she’ll leave her room now that you’re here. She’s taken a liking towards you, after all,” Van said. “I’m sorry, but could you talk to her for a short while? I thought that it wasn’t right to call for you without telling Éclair, but I was lucky that you came.”

“Then I shall gladly go to her,” Ark replied after a brief silence.

He was unable to tell the earl that he’d been sent by Krai. Isabella and the rest of the party also shifted around awkwardly. Why did Krai dispatch us? Ark wondered. Was it to comfort Éclair? Did Krai think that he went too far this time around? Ark thought back to Krai’s expression back at the lounge, but the Thousand Tricks was a difficult man to read. His nickname wasn’t just for show, and he’d worn a perfect poker face. I wish he displayed his abilities in a different manner. Krai was just so vastly divergent from Ark that this was a bit too big of a burden for the man of House Rodin to bear.

“Child-rearing is more difficult than I expected. I didn’t think she’d shut herself in with a single defeat,” Van admitted, letting a sigh escape from him as he leaned forward.

“She’s a strong lady. I assure you that she can bounce right back,” Montaure consoled from behind.

What could Ark possibly say? Was there a way for him to decline the Relic? Instead of just offering her words, giving her a swordsmanship lesson might take her mind off things, he thought. Just as he was trying to find the best possible method, he heard a small scream pierce through the air.

Montaure immediately turned vigilant and gazed around sharply. “What was that?!”

“Ark! On your left!” Benetta said, pointing at the entrance. Since she was a Thief, her instincts were sharper than most.

The manor of the noble was heavily guarded, and the security that Lord Gladis had hired were more powerful than hunters. The scream that was just heard belonged to a man, but it was crystal clear that he was in extreme distress. This was no small matter.

“I’ll go on ahead!” Ark shouted, rushing forward before Montaure could provide any instructions.

He slammed open the door and dashed across the wide corridor and plush carpet with his party members. When compared with the treasure vaults that he’d conquered, the manor was much easier to navigate. The maids who also heard the cries froze in place as Ark and his party rushed forward. The screams didn’t stop. There was another, and then another, and then the sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the manor. Isabella and the rest of the party voiced their concerns while they ran ahead.

“Why are we hearing screams within the manor of Lord Gladis?!”

“Maybe Liz tried to rob the place.”

“If Liz was here, we wouldn’t hear any screams!”

I knew it! This wasn’t a simple matter of consoling Lady Éclair! Ark thought. He tried to confirm the situation. Since the earl was in the meeting room, it was likely better to ensure Éclair’s safety first. Since nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, Ark had let his guard down, assuming that he’d made it in time. No, the real fight starts now. I’ve got my weapon, my magical energy, and my potions. He came prepared, and he was confident that he could repel even a dragon.

Benetta, who’d been leading the way, suddenly stopped in her tracks. From around the corner, a guard wearing the armor with the crest of House Gladis, flew past them at an astonishing speed, ramming into a wall. They approached the fallen knight. The armor that had been protecting his vital areas was crushed, and he lifelessly rolled onto the ground without moving a muscle. In an instant, Ark analyzed his opponent’s attacks. The guard was knocked out, but he had no visible injuries, implying that he’d been blown back by force. Though these guards were usually large men donned in armor, any veteran hunter (including Ark) could do the same thing if they tried. However, this wasn’t a preferred method to fight—it was incredibly inefficient. Even if an opponent only had a club in one hand, it was far better to hit them from above and kill them in one blow instead of throwing them back. And if he doesn’t have any gashes or slices in him...

“He’s fine. He’s still alive.”

“Yeah,” Ark agreed.

Judging from the size of the manor, their target wasn’t too large, and there wasn’t the presence of anything large. Was this a revolt? An assassination attempt? Did a certain Thief try to infiltrate the house and steal Éclair’s Relic? A myriad of possibilities flashed across Ark’s mind, but one thing was clear: it was unusual to start anything at the earl’s manor.

Isabella removed her wand while Armelle unsheathed her sword. The Braves, who’d conquered numerous mysterious treasure vaults, were always wary of their surroundings. They were in a noble’s manor. As time progressed, more soldiers would gather in this area. But if the enemy was aiming for Éclair, there wasn’t a moment to lose.

Ark muttered a short chant, allowing lightning to envelop his left arm. The purple electricity that coursed through his arm was small, but it was powerful enough to topple a large man—it was Ark Rodin’s signature move. A small shadow slowly emerged from around the corner, causing the wary Braves to freeze in horror.

“Gh... D-Don’t look down on me... Don’t look at me like that! Don’t fear. Don’t envy... You’re weak. I know you’re weaker than me! Raaaaah!”

Her pure white dress was tattered. The sword slung by her waist was a small blade that her father had bought for her on her birthday. Her neat golden hair was in a mess, and she staggered on her bare feet.

Isabella turned pale-faced and took a step back. Ewe placed a hand over her mouth, and even Benetta’s cheeks twitched while she changed her stance. In front of them was the girl that Ark had been requested to meet, but she’d undergone a horrific transformation. A mass of pink flesh enveloped and hid her face. Holes were poked out for her blue, bloodshot eyes to peek through, and her wide gaze captured Ark. The meat that clung to her cheeks writhed grotesquely, and a close inspection was all that was needed to see that they were up against a terrifying entity. Terror only grew as it was obvious that this was Éclair.

Her small body emanated an awful power that seemed to distort the air. This was completely different from the Éclair that everyone was familiar with; she was surrounded by a chilling aura. Ark chose to neither scold nor call out to her.

“I-I see,” he spat. “You wore the mask. There’s no need for a sword. I...certainly didn’t expect this.”

“Ugh...” Éclair groaned as though she was in the midst of a nightmare. “A... A... Ark?”

What exactly was Krai trying to collect here?! Ark had faced numerous odd monsters and phantoms in the past. There were plants that preyed on roaming humans, and colossal spiders that were more than ten meters tall. He’d faced small dragons that formed a flight of over a few hundred and attacked from above; he’d battled a suit of armor with no one inside as it expertly maneuvered itself like a skilled swordsman. But Ark had never faced anything like this before. Even a seasoned hunter like him had never seen a mask that took over a person’s body.

Éclair had maintained most of her physique. Based on the silhouette alone, she didn’t look too different, and that was precisely why the mask that covered her pretty face was all the more atrocious.

“Urgh... My head... My head is...” Éclair groaned, staggering and placing her small hand on the wall to regain her balance.

The walls creaked, and small cracks formed where she’d placed her hand. The strength that she possessed was far above any normal human. Sure, Ark could’ve done something similar, but the little girl in front of him wasn’t a hunter. Éclair might have been brimming with talent, but that meant that she was above kids her age—she shouldn’t have had enough technique, power, or mana material to down a hired guard. Or so I thought... Ark internally muttered.

Then what was this scene in front of him? There was a guard rolling on the ground, a large dent in his armor. If Éclair had done this with a single punch or kick, she at least had enough power as a mid-range hunter. While there were some Relics that enhanced the user’s capabilities, Ark hadn’t heard of an item that made a young girl gain explosive might.

There were no visible wounds on her body. Only her face had transformed, and there were no signs of the mask of meat swallowing the rest of her body. Ark clenched his left fist, dissipating the purple lightning that wrapped around his arm. He could hold himself back, but he wasn’t willing to use a spell that could completely paralyze a monster or a phantom on Éclair. He couldn’t go all out as he usually did within treasure vaults and decimate the area with his lightning.

“She called my name...” he murmured. “Does she still retain...consciousness?”

He didn’t want to get rough. It seemed like her body wasn’t completely taken over, and he knew that he had to tread carefully. Could I peel the mask off her? If possible, how do I go about it? Éclair had a sword around her waist, but she hadn’t unsheathed it yet; that was the only reason the battered guards were still alive. There was still a way to undo this mess.

“Ark... Ah... Thank you for...coming. I’m...” Éclair said in a daze.

“Lady Éclair, can you hear me?” Ark asked.

Her small body stumbled a few steps towards him. Ark’s party members slowly spread out, holding their breaths to avoid provoking the child, and kept a watchful eye on her.

“Ark...” Benetta whispered.

“I know.” Ark nodded.

The situation that they had to absolutely prevent was the mask switching masters. If it had the ability to turn an inexperienced Éclair into a mid-range hunter, then if it decided to latch onto Ark or the Braves, it would make them exponentially more powerful. If Benetta or Isabella were possessed, there was still a chance to stop them, but if Ark were to fall victim, all would be over. There were probably only a few people within the capital who could stop him.

A Relic possessing a human sounded illogical, but the impossible had already occurred in front of their eyes. Éclair didn’t respond to Ark’s words.

“I’m...strong. I became strong. I won’t lose to anyone...anymore. I won’t lose to hunters, knights, or even my father. I’ll never...” she muttered, clearly unhinged.

Her passionate ramblings were more akin to dark obsession. Éclair had always been an ambitious child, but she didn’t yearn so strongly for greater power. At the very least, she wasn’t one who was so desperate that she’d wear a mask of her own accord. For better or for worse, she was an honest and earnest girl.

“My lady?!” the guards gasped in horror as they gathered towards the fuss. “Why do you...”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Don’t look at me with those eyes!” Éclair roared, fury and sadness filling her voice.

She leaned over, hunching her back as she took a step forward and propelled herself in a flash. Her power, speed, agility, and instinct far surpassed anything the young girl could’ve done just a few days ago. Her almost exaggerated forward position she used to pounce was similar to a fighting style that aggressive Swordsmen preferred. Her hands, however, never reached for her blade. The guards froze in panic, seeing that a lady they were hired to protect was attacking them, and Éclair used this opportunity to close the gap in the blink of an eye. Her small fist landed blows in their solar plexuses.

Each punch held terrifying power. The metallic clangs of crushed armor rang through the air as the guards were all blown back, sharp pain gripping their bodies. Éclair possessed a sword that was practical, which was quite unusual for a noble. It could be used to protect herself, and the blade was sharp enough to cut down opponents. If her fists alone were enough to destroy armor, her sword would undoubtedly have sliced these guards in half, armor and all.

“Hypnosis Cage,” Isabella chanted.

She took the opportunity when Éclair’s back was turned, and surrounded the girl in blue light. This spell manipulated the victim’s mental state and forced them to sleep. Though this wasn’t effective against powerful monsters and phantoms, it certainly was more than sufficient for a normal person who had barely absorbed any mana material. The young girl’s body wavered as she was open to a full frontal attack of the light. But she soon planted her feet firmly on the grown—she’d endured the spell.

Isabella was stunned. She was certain that her spell would stop the rampaging girl, but Éclair turned around without sustaining any notable damage.

“I-I’m sure that I caught her off guard!” Isabella said.

Psychoactive spells were more likely to succeed if the target was least expecting it. Éclair should’ve had no resistance towards attacks like these, but the fact that she wasn’t affected implied that the mask had enhanced her mental state and made her impervious. Guards appeared from behind the young girl and by Ark’s side, showering the girl with countless gazes. She took a step forward. The mask hid much of her face, but her tone had expressed her mental state.

“No! Why?! Why?! Don’t...look at me!” she bellowed. “Ugh... I’ll...kill you! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you all!”

Her shrill screech was familiar, but her words were unbefitting her usual self. The guards that surrounded her all glanced around in confusion. The guards hired and raised by House Gladis were all genuine soldiers. They were all indeed strong, but they all knew Éclair very well. Some had even trained her daily. She was still yet to reach her full potential, but she never skipped her daily training, and her honesty was something that the others admired. She was never one to look down or mock her guards.

“Those who mocked and humiliated me...” Éclair growled.

She violently clawed the mask of flesh that surrounded her face, but no blood dripped down the pulsating hunk of meat and it showed no signs of peeling itself away from the young girl. This wasn’t good. Éclair looked clearly more agitated than several moments ago, and the guards that arrived were all inching away from the monstrous girl with the mask. Confusion and fear quickly spread through the area.

“Step away, everyone!” Ark yelled, marching forward. “I’ll negotiate with her.”

Armelle, who was by his side and ready to fight back, raised her voice. “Got it. You heard him! Everyone, step back!”

Ark’s frequent visits to the manor had worked in his favor. The guards that surrounded Éclair all looked visibly relieved as they stepped away. The small hands that were violently scratching the mask stopped, and Ark took his chance to slowly close his gap.

He wasn’t sure what the mask’s effects were, but he was almost certain that it was a psychoactive type and messed with the user’s mind. Still, Éclair had still held on to a shred of her sanity, and judging by her earlier reactions to the change in situations, the Relic seemed to lend her power in exchange for heightening certain emotions. She was still unstable, but if she had even a bit of reason within her, there was still room for negotiation. If she calmed down, there might be another way to de-escalate the situation.

If there was a clash between the current Éclair and the guards, there would certainly be deaths. That was something that Ark absolutely wanted to avoid. He outstretched his arms wide, showing that he was harmless, and spoke to her.

“Lady Éclair, please calm down.”

“Hrgh... Ugh... Ark...” Éclair groaned.

He took a deep breath and smiled, hoping it’d soothe her mind. The young lady took a step, then another towards Ark, her movements showing no hostility. To him, she looked like a young, lost child.

“I got it. I won it...” Éclair muttered.

“You did,” Ark agreed.

“And now...as long as you have this item, you can become the strongest, Ark. That’s what this was for. I fought solely for that reason. So, why...” Her words were thrown at him, but it sounded like she was reminding herself why she was doing any of this in the first place. Her sorrowful tone was filled with regret.

“Thank you very much, Lady Éclair.”

He carefully expressed his gratitude. Éclair’s methods were wrong. Power and victory couldn’t simply be handed by another party—they had to be won with one’s own hands. Lord Gladis likely held the same opinions, and Éclair would’ve normally understood the importance of doing so. She was swept up by her emotions and swayed by the rumors that surrounded the item, causing her to act impulsively. However, her voice clearly contained a tone of regret. She didn’t want the power of the mask. When she had fought against the guards, she hadn’t unsheathed her sword, likely because she subconsciously avoided doing so.

If this were the case, there must still be a way to remove the mask. The item on her face was a Relic, and it required mana to activate. Even if it couldn’t be removed now, there was a good chance that it’d deactivate of its own accord as time progressed. Ark could also consult the Thousand Tricks, who had sent him into this mess. It went without saying that Krai should’ve been raked over the coals for his actions, but even so, this was simply too much. How could anyone do this to a noblewoman? If Ark couldn’t resolve this problem by himself, he was determined to forcibly pry the solution out of the Thousand Tricks.

Ark slowly lowered his raised right arm and offered it to Éclair. “May I have your hand?”

A long silence followed. The widened eyes from behind the mask of flesh stared at Ark for a while before she quietly raised her tiny, trembling hand.

“A... A...” the girl started.

The Braves looked on with bated breath, the quivering fingertips brushing her cheeks. At a glance, it seemed as though the mask had fused with Éclair’s face, but on closer inspection, there was a clear boundary between them. Had Ark not made it in time and had Éclair worn the mask for moments longer, would it have fused completely with her face? Logically speaking, this didn’t seem possible, but as he thought back to his interaction at the clan house, he couldn’t suppress a shudder. If Ark, for some reason, hadn’t believed the clan master’s words and thus hadn’t visited the manor, numerous people might have died. A soldier like Earl Gladis might have chosen to kill his daughter to protect everyone else. Just how far did Krai’s predictions go? Did he truly foresee this situation?

As far as Ark knew, Krai wasn’t an evil man. However, this situation made the man of House Rodin reevaluate his thoughts. Perhaps he’d been too naive. The moment Éclair touched the mask, she froze in place.

“Whatever is the matter, Lady Éclair?” Ark asked.

The air grew tense for a moment as the girl remained silent. She wasn’t looking at Ark—her wide, azure gaze was fixed at his waist, where he carried his white sword. Historia was a weapon that symbolized House Rodin; a holy sword that crushed evil. It was such a powerful blade that Éclair had begged to see it with her own eyes every time Ark visited the manor. Historia held the power to slice a mountain in two with a single swing and was considered to be one of the best blade-type Relics. Ark had no intention of using his sword against Éclair, and he’d even forgotten that it was by his waist until now. The young girl’s eyes completely changed, and the words of the Thousand Tricks filled Ark’s mind.

“In fact, it might be better if you had nothing on you.”

“A... Agh... Ahhh... Why?!” Éclair shouted, her voice filled with despair.

There was a flash of cold steel. Ark managed to step back and dodge the furious slash in the nick of time. Éclair swiftly leaped back, gripping her sword that she’d kept sheathed against the guards. Tears of blood dripped from the mask’s eyes as screams reverberated through the room.

“Why?! Ark, why do you have that sword on you?!” Éclair shouted.

Ark’s smile had faded, and he stared grimly at the young girl as she readied herself for battle.

***

“Wow, I didn’t think that dangerous piece of trash became a centimillioner!” Eigh crowed.

“The folks of Zebrudia are more than generous,” a Swordsman laughed loudly in reply.

Arnold and the rest of his party were in a tavern, an annex of an expensive inn within the capital. In front of a leather bag stuffed with two hundred million gild, they were celebrating their newfound wealth. This money was nothing to scoff at for even a Level 7 hunter like Arnold. To make this kind of money, they had to find a high-level vault, or focus on profitable monsters and slay quite a few of them. Even then, there would be necessary expenses, and it was rare for them to make two hundred million gild in pure profit.

They could buy excellent weapons and armor. They could purchase valuable Relics that could save them from predicaments. Lavish feasts and delicious liquor would help raise morale, and they could even get a house to use as their base. Falling Fog had just finished a long journey and was out of money—the expensive price placed on the mask of meat was a bolt from the blue, but it was a welcome one.

“I was shocked when I heard that the Thousand Tricks was getting involved. He’s a messenger of luck.”

“And you’re a lucky guy yourself, Arnold.”

“Don’t let it get to your heads,” Arnold said, gently admonishing his subordinates. “We don’t know this capital well yet.”

The subordinates might have been gloating a bit too much, but who could blame them? Nobody in Nebulanubes had wanted to touch this mask, and so, Arnold had put it up for auction on a whim. Ever since, things had gone smoothly. He was surprised when the Thousand Tricks offered to buy the item off his hands, but the price had inflated so much that he thought that he was dreaming. Arnold had initially planned on selling the item for dirt cheap; he didn’t imagine that it would become worth two hundred million gild.

“Since it had been the talk of the town, I thought it’d go for a bit more,” one confessed. “I guess a noble getting involved worked against us.”

“We would’ve practically paid someone to get the Relic off our hands, but we gained two hundred million instead,” Arnold replied. “That’s more than enough.”

“Well, you’ve got a point...”

Indeed, it was a bit of a letdown that the price had stopped at two hundred million, but it wasn’t wise to get too greedy.

Arnold grinned and joked, “Heh heh. Besides, if we make too much money, we’d have to buy a pint for the Thousand Tricks, don’t you think?”

“Ha ha ha! I don’t doubt it!”

It’d been a while since Arnold was in such a good mood. The Thousand Tricks must’ve been gritting his teeth at this unexpected conclusion. That had satisfied Arnold for now. He didn’t get to exact his revenge completely, but he could set it aside for now. Once their hunger and thirst were sated, they checked their funds and saw that they’d hardly made a dent in their wealth of silver coins. They could play around and do nothing for a while, but Arnold didn’t visit the capital to laze around.

“This two hundred million gild is just gonna help us out,” Arnold growled. “We’ll make preparations for our next treasure vault.”

“What?! Seriously?!”

His party booed the leader. Two hundred million gild was a lot, but it’d be gone in a flash if they needed to gather the necessary equipment. That was well worth the price if it saved their lives, but vast amounts of wealth were fleeting for treasure hunters. Arnold saw the critical looks on his party’s faces, and his lips curled up to form a wide grin.

“Of course, we’re gonna rest for a while,” he said.

His members gave a thunderous cheer. It was imperative for everyone to be in high spirits to progress through the vaults. With his future prospects within the capital in mind, Arnold nodded in satisfaction.

As the night wore on, Arnold dragged his wasted party members as they cheerfully returned to the door of their room.

“Tch, you guys drank too much,” Arnold complained.

“I guess it can’t be helped. We’ve been pretty unlucky for a while now...” a party member replied.

While it was important for them to maintain their morale, it was rare for them to be so drunk that they could barely stand straight. Arnold wearily opened the door to the room when a large object pounced on him. He gasped and reflexively clenched his fists as he fought back against his assailant. His fist made contact with something hard. Arnold immediately switched gears, gripped his weapon on his back, and stepped inside.

Since they’d just made a lot of cash, he’d been vigilant. Anyone could easily look up the list of sellers and find Arnold’s name next to the mask. But he thought that his fears were baseless; he didn’t expect anyone to be so idiotic as to try to rob a Level 7 hunter.

The rooms were all lit, illuminating the entrance, living room, meeting area, paintings, and ornamental plants. By the table where Arnold and his party had gathered before they set out to explore was his assailant, seated deeply where he usually sat. The intruder crossed their legs smugly, and Arnold realized that the vase decorating the living room had been thrown at him upon his initial entrance. He was familiar with the tied strawberry-blonde hair of his assailant, as she turned around and faced Arnold and his crew, a skeletal mask obscuring her face. Arnold froze, not expecting to meet her, but the intruder didn’t care about hiding her identity as she spoke arrogantly.

“Goddamn, you trash are late! When did you bastards get so high and mighty as to make me wait? Hmm? C’mon, tell me! I’m the great Liz, dammit! And I’m busy, unlike you idiots! I’ll freaking kill ya!”

“What’s...the meaning of this?” Arnold said, instinctively pointing his greatsword at her while suppressing his rage. Her voice only reminded him of detestable memories.

The other members, though drunk and staggering, managed to grip their weapons as well. Arnold had locked the room. Another person with a skull mask sat beside Liz with her hands in front and scolded him.

“Please calm down, Arnold,” she said. “We’re not here to fight. Please don’t misunderstand. We’re just here to talk about our cut of the money.”

Arnold and his party were prepared to pounce at any time as they analyzed the two ladies wearing creepy masks. Though there was a skull motif on them, the mostly black mask had obscured their expressions completely, even hiding their gazes. No normal person would dare wear this mask, and it seemed more fitting for a magic syndicate or a cult member. Did they really plan on hiding their identities?

The seated pair showed no signs of fear. The Stifled Shadow had arrogantly thrown her legs on top of the table like she owned the place. The Ignoble sounded polite, but there wasn’t an iota of anxiety within her. They were supposed to be in enemy territory, but their actions were nothing short of audacious.

“A-Are you guys a ghost party?!” Eigh roared, his voice rising an octave.

“What do you mean by ‘your cut’?” Arnold asked.

There were currently no rumors about Grieving Souls being a ghost party, but the infiltrating pair seemed far too used to this. This clearly wasn’t their first rodeo. Did they get rid of any witnesses? Or did the Grievers have a reputation that allowed others to turn a blind eye to some of their antics? Either way, this was a nasty way of doing things.

If Arnold were up against some ruffians, he would make short work of them, but he was up against hunters who’d absorbed mana material just like him. And his entire party was quite drunk. They could still fight, but they weren’t in top shape.

Sitri spoke calmly as though she’d read his thoughts and tried to assure him. “Please don’t be so on guard. Our leader wishes to settle matters peacefully. And this won’t be a bad deal for Falling Fog.”

“Siddy, you’re being too nice,” Liz said. “Because they’re so late, they’re causing us trouble. We gotta do stuff like this properly.”

She slammed one of her legs onto the table and stared at Arnold through her mask. Her aura was similar to a phantom as she let out her murderous intent. Arnold and his party had defeated ghost parties in the past, but her sharp gaze was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Her combat prowess was likely on par with Arnold’s, a certified Level 7 hunter. His equipment was geared towards wielding his greatsword, as he prioritized power over agility. He was a poor match for Liz. Tino had shown specks of talent, but the lady in front of him was the perfected form of that.

As the air remained tense, ready to turn explosive at any moment, Sitri gave a troubled look and poked Liz’s shoulder. The Stifled Shadow clicked her tongue and removed her legs from the table. They weren’t here to fight.

While Falling Fog remained standing, Sitri slumped her shoulders ever so slightly and said, “We’re talking about the auction. Arnold, the price of your Relic soared because of Krai’s plans. We have the right to claim a cut of your profits.”

“That’s out of the question. While it’s true that I didn’t expect the price to skyrocket, you guys don’t deserve the credit. We’re the ones who took home the Relic. This is just the result brought upon by your thoughtless leader,” Arnold refuted.

“Krai didn’t bid on that mask at all. You can look that up and check for yourself.”

“What?” Eigh asked, baffled.

Her mask hid her expression, but Sitri sounded like she was chuckling. “The merchants, nobles, and hunters were all being played by the rumors that Krai had circulated. You didn’t notice that, did you?”

Arnold hadn’t at all. That part was true. When Krai had arrived to negotiate, he hadn’t seemed to be lying one bit. His expressions, voice, and minute movements, coupled with the surprise he expressed when the noble had arrived all seemed genuine. Arnold could hardly believe his ears as he stared at the masked duo in front of him. Had Krai been bluffing the entire time? Was the Thousand Tricks far more cunning than initially anticipated?

“How idiotic,” Arnold managed to eke out. “Why would he—”

“That’s a secret,” Sitri interrupted. “But I’m sure that you’ve thought something along the lines of ‘I can’t believe this Relic that no one wanted became worth well over a hundred million gild. I must be dreaming.’ Am I wrong?”

Arnold thought back to his conversation back at the tavern. He couldn’t deny that he had those beliefs. That Relic looked dreadful, and it was unable to be appraised. Common sense told him that such an item would usually never be sold for two hundred million gild. Had this been a result of manipulation, he couldn’t help but find himself agreeing.

“Thanks to you, we’ve fulfilled our goals as well. You have our gratitude,” Sitri said, lowering her head slightly before continuing. “However, even if you weren’t aware of this, you’ve obtained a profit far more than you originally anticipated. As hunters, we can’t have you thinking that we’ve lost to you. That’s what we mean by our cut.”

Her voice was calm, but the pressure she exuded was overwhelming. She spoke with confidence as though she was telling nothing but the truth, but Arnold couldn’t agree with this deal. Even if she was telling the truth about the Thousand Tricks’s plan, there was little reason for Arnold to pay them. But it was risky to decline this negotiation outright. For a moment, he weighed his odds, calculating the merits and demerits of each situation. The losers of this auction were the nobles. If they ever caught wind that Arnold had been colluding with others to raise the price of the item, things would turn troublesome real fast.

Even if Arnold insisted that he was in the dark about all this, making an enemy out of a noble would affect his future plans. This was clearly an illegal deal, but he couldn’t deal with skilled hunters who managed to manipulate information and turn trash into a centimillioner. He had friends back at the Land of Fogs, but there weren’t many on his side within the capital.

“Are you planning on blackmailing me?” Arnold asked.

“Jeez, we said that this was just a negotiation,” Liz said. “Besides, this capital’s our turf, yeah? Hmm? C’mon, think about it. You asked us to pour you alcohol, had us wait forever, and we’re only asking for two hundred million gild in return. It’s your lucky day, really! Or else, I’d kill ya.”

Two hundred million? Is that what she just said? Arnold thought. That wasn’t a “cut” of the profits; it was everything they had. Since there was a processing charge when submitting items to the auction, Falling Fog would be in the red. They couldn’t have possibly tolerated such an unfair deal. His pale-faced party members started to glare at the two intruders. There was zero chance that they’d accept this negotiation. Arnold was a Level 7 hunter who took charge of a party of eight. They were being vastly underestimated.

If he were to obediently pay up, it would be the end of the road for him as a hunter. His party would collapse. Negotiations were a failure; Arnold and the rest of the Falling Fog prepared for combat. The moment he clenched his sword, Sitri piped up.

“Be quiet, Liz!” she scolded wearily. “There’s no way we can take all of their profits! That’s not a cut at all! Besides, the processing charge would put Arnold at a loss. We must negotiate properly!”

“Huh? Then we can just kill ’em all and take their money,” Liz replied. “Since we’re up against hunters, anything goes. We aren’t infringing on any rules.”

A verbal argument ensued in front of eight hunters who were ready to fight. Were the two out of their minds? Or were they simply that confident in their abilities? Once Sitri had admonished Liz, she placed a small bottle on the table. A translucent golden-yellow liquid sploshed inside.

“We’re asking for 110 million gild,” Sitri said. “That is the cut that we want, and so does our leader.”

This meant that ninety million gild would remain in Arnold’s hand. This was still an expensive deal, but far preferred to the initial offer than Liz had demanded. The Fallen Fogs exchanged a glance.

“I bet you guys weren’t expecting your item to go over a hundred million, were you?” Sitri asked. “And you’re exactly right. You’ll get ninety million, and we’ll take 110 million gild. We can uphold our reputation, and you will still walk away with a profit that you didn’t initially anticipate. What do you say?”

This was a brilliant compromise. Ninety million gild was less than half of their total profit, but it was still vastly more money than what Arnold had initially anticipated when he tried to auction the Relic. A hundred ten million gild was the lion’s share and was still an impressive amount of wealth, but it wasn’t so much that Falling Fog had to desperately cling to. In fact, if this would allow them to avoid a dispute with a Level 8 party, it was a dirt cheap price to pay. And Sitri and Liz’s request seemed logical; Arnold had little room to doubt that there had been a cunning scheme in play.

He didn’t mind accepting this offer, but he was irked by how casual and relaxed his opponents seemed to be. Arnold was a Level 7 hunter, and it was obvious that he was being underestimated. His party members were all ready to flee, but that only further implied that he had to stay strong as the leader. Sitri’s logic had one fatal flaw that he was dying to point out.

“If we transfer over our money to you, that would only open the doors for suspicions and further questioning,” Arnold said, scoffing with his nose and gazing down at the Alchemist. “What are you gonna do about that?”

He had no idea just how much power the Grievers held within the capital, but they surely weren’t in complete control of Zebrudia. The Thousand Tricks would be just as troubled if rumors of a collusion circulated. While Arnold and his party could simply up and leave the capital if necessary, this wasn’t so for the Grievers—this city was their hometown. Sitri raised the small bottle she’d brought and shook it proudly as she chuckled.

“Which is why I’m selling this potion to you for 110 million,” she said. “This is an antidote. It’s potent, so it should be enough for your entire party. I don’t quite mind waiting for a long while, you see. In fact, it was rather convenient that you all drank quite a bit. Was the alcohol good? I’m not too knowledgeable on the subject, but as an Alchemist, it looks to me like your party lacks resistance. Certainly, you may be fine, Arnold, but can you say the same for the rest of your party?”

Did she poison the liquor? Arnold thought. He could practically hear the blood drain from his face. The usually calm Eigh looked pale. He didn’t feel any pain, but thinking back, his entire party had indeed seemed to become drunk at an astonishing pace. As the party stayed in an expensive lodging, it wasn’t likely that the employees were bribed, but the pair in front of him were able to break into their room. Sitri, who seemed to be the levelheaded one of the pair, suddenly looked a lot more terrifying than Liz.

The Ignoble smiled and pressured Arnold to make a decision. “Which will you choose? Your friends or money?”