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

Epilogue: Let This Grieving Soul Retire, Part Three

The desk was scattered with white fragments, causing me to cock my head to one side.

The hands of the clock notified me that quite some time had passed since I started, and my vision grew blurry with fatigue. I rubbed my eyes and rolled my aching shoulders when I heard a knock on the door. Eva entered and she looked surprised as she found the usual clean desk in a rather messy state of affairs.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“An all-white jigsaw puzzle,” I replied.

I remembered that I’d made this purchase a while ago. Unlike a normal jigsaw puzzle, this one had a thousand pieces that were all white. This was a trial to complete, and it wasn’t like my hobby was to finish jigsaw puzzles. It only showed just how much time I had on my hands.

I managed to piece the borders together, but progress after that was going at a snail’s pace. I felt like I was going crazy.

Eva wearily gazed down at the desk. “And why have you started doing this suddenly?”

Because I’m bored, I thought. But of course, it wasn’t like I could vocalize my actual thoughts here.

I shot her a wicked yet lifeless grin and held up the puzzle pieces. “Because I’ve done all that I could.”

I sound like a hard-boiled guy, right? I guess one could say that I simply can’t do much.

“Really?” Eva asked.

“Ah, speaking of, when Ark returns, I’d like to prepare some tea and snacks for him,” I replied.

It was vital that I remained on his good side and decreased my debts (both monetary and otherwise) as much as possible. The Reversible Face would soon be mine. I stood up to get some treats for Ark and his party when Eva stopped me.

“That’s not the role of a clan master,” she said. “I’ll prepare them, so you can remain seated. You don’t have to do anything.”

“Could you get them the best ones there? As for the tea... I think they’d be fine, but could you provide something that would calm and soothe their exhausted mind? They might be a little tired from talking with the young noble.”

“All right, all right.”

This world was filled with things that I could do nothing about. I was able to make it to a Level 8 hunter in huge part due to my friends. My abilities didn’t match my rank, and it was difficult to even meet expectations. I would surely be relying on Liz, Sitri, or even Ark and the rest of my friends in the future. The only thing I could do was to soothe their tired and aching bodies upon their return.

I had herbal tea and chocolate prepared. I’d even purchased a cake from a famous confectionery store, decorated the room with a few candles, and had champagne cooling. We’d apparently received this alcohol as a gift. I excitedly decorated the clan master’s office as Eva looked on wearily.

“What would you think if I had a banner here that says, ‘Welcome back, Ark’?” I asked.

“I think you should stop goading him,” she replied. “Even Ark has a limit to his generosity.”

“Does he? I thought it was limitless.”

Also, what? I’m not goading him. I’m expressing my goodwill and gratitude. I wanted to let him know just how passionate I was about that mask. If possible, I wanted him to sell it to me for a rock-bottom price. An ideal bargain would’ve been for a million gild. I feel like I could borrow that much from the clan’s business expenses. Or am I asking for too much?

“I know,” I said. “Aside from the tea, we should have a few potions that could stabilize their mental states.”

“Was your request that tall?” Eva asked.

It’d been a while, but Ark showed no signs of returning. Lady Éclair favored Ark, and I didn’t think that my request was too troublesome, but he could’ve been warmly received by House Gladis. If he didn’t come back today, all my preparations would be for naught. The champagne and chocolate were fine, but the cake didn’t last long, and I’d even lit up candles to welcome his return. I acted without much thought for the future.

“They’re late,” Eva said. “I expected Ark to have taken care of most matters already...”

“I guess that just happens from time to time,” I replied.

Eva’s expression was slowly darkening, and I couldn’t fault her for that. She was busy, and yet I’d had her run a number of silly errands. I’m sorry for always troubling you so much. As I finished decorating, feeling bored, I once again reached out to finish the puzzle. Why did I buy a puzzle with only white pieces? I never think much about the future. Am I really a hard-boiled guy? I started to grow irritated as I had to confirm each piece at a sluggish pace. Are all the pieces really here?

“Er, shall I help you?” Eva offered.

“No, I’m fine,” I replied.

I could at least finish a puzzle myself. It wasn’t something I could ask the busy Eva to do. I continued to face the puzzle, using it as an excuse to escape reality, when Liz and Sitri returned from gathering funds. They opened the door without a second thought for the rules, and their eyes glimmered when they saw the transformed room.

“We’re back, Krai Baby! Hmm? What’s this? Are we having a party?”

“That was quick,” I noted. “I’m waiting for Ark’s return.”

“We’re back,” Sitri said. “Ah, the usual, I see.”

The usual? She placed a large sack that she’d been carrying on the floor. I heard the soft clinks of metal hitting metal. Since they claimed that they were gathering funds, I thought that they headed out to a treasure vault, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“We’ve gathered 110 million gild!” Sitri said. “We can replenish Lucia’s funds!”

“Wait, what?” I asked. “How?”

My sense of money was becoming skewed, but I was still aware that 110 million gild was a lot of money. You couldn’t go out on a walk and pick it up on the side of the road. Sitri and Liz immediately talked over each other in response as though each were trying to take the credit for themselves.

“Don’t worry, we didn’t break any rules. No one was unhappy with this deal.”

“We just showed those country bumpkins their place! We did good! It took more time than I thought, but we showed ’em! Jeez, if they come to the capital, they’re supposed to visit you, Krai Baby!”

“Sure, uh-huh,” I replied.

They sound so excited. I could’ve handled one, but I couldn’t calm both of them at once. I waited for them to settle down.

“So, what really happened?” I asked.

“I had a potion to instantly sober those who drank my intoxication brew,” Sitri said. “That sold for 110 million gild! It seems like he doesn’t have much resistance despite being a Level 7 hunter.”

“He might be high-leveled, but he’s still a guy from the boonies,” Liz added. “I wanna be Level 7 too, but in the countryside? Ugh, forget about it! C’mon, Krai Baby. Don’t you have anything for me?”

A hundred ten million gild for a potion that makes you sober? Is that...legal? I knew nothing about Alchemy, so I wasn’t sure if it was a fair price. I only knew that effective potions were expensive. Maybe I should become an Alchemist and sell sobering potions too...

“Oh, also, I took down the Thunder Dragon request,” Sitri said. “It didn’t seem like they were willing to accept it anyway, and that monster costs a lot. It’s not a problem, is it?”

“Ah, right. I totally forgot about that,” I said. “Well, chicken tastes better to me, so I don’t mind.”

I thought I’d used Chloe to take it down, but I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t expect Eva to place that request anyway, and as Sitri had mentioned in the past, chicken tasted a lot better. I had no problems with her taking the request down. Memory’s a scary thing. I’d likely thought it was delicious when I ate it in the treasure vault. Sitri placed her hands together with delight as though she was waiting to hear my words.

“I knew you’d say that!” she exclaimed. “So instead, I put up a request for a Colossal Chicken! Once we receive one, I’ll prepare a feast out of it!”

“Those chickens should just go hunt a chicken, y’know?” Liz quipped.

Wait, aren’t Colossal Chickens sold at butcher shops? I had a few thoughts in mind, but I found it all to be troublesome and didn’t vocalize any of it. I just smiled and nodded. Besides, Liz has always shown animosity towards others. That’s nothing new.

“Ah, but it was so much fun!” Liz said with satisfaction, stretching out her back. “It was a bit of a pity that I couldn’t see just how strong a Level 7 hunter from the Land of Fogs was, but I don’t mind doing something like this every now and then. I can punch someone anytime I wish.”

Her supple skin stretched in tandem with her movements, and she reminded me of a cat. I couldn’t fully grasp the situation, but I preferred to help people grow by praising them, so I decided to do just that.

“It’s good that you didn’t punch anyone. I’m proud of you.”

“If Siddy hadn’t jumped in, I definitely would’ve,” Liz confessed.

“I see...” I muttered. “Then I’m proud of you too, Sitri.”

Sitri looked ecstatic at my half-hearted praise. I was worried about letting Liz run off on her own, but I never had anything to worry about if Sitri tagged along. I didn’t do anything, but my debt to Lucia’s been resolved. This is way too convenient for me. Are they goddesses?

“Well, since I’m in the mood, I think I’ll stay at your place, Krai Baby,” Liz said with a grin, clearly in high spirits.

“You’ll only trouble him!” Sitri scolded. “Let’s go home, Liz. You can stay at my place.”

The Alchemist dragged her older sister out and left. They get along so well. I’m envious of that. If there’s any sort of trick to it, I’d love to hear it.

***

Ark returned late in the evening. Eva, who’d finished her tasks for the day, and I were working together on the puzzle when I heard footsteps come up from below. When I raised my head, the door opened wide in front of Eva and me. My eyes widened in shock at their appearances.

The man was in tatters. His usually neat hair was mussed, and the edges of his clothes were frayed as though he’d just returned from the battlefield. Blood stained his outfit. He clearly looked tense, and when he gazed sharply around the clan master’s office, he looked visibly shocked by the decorations.

I snapped back to my senses and swiftly popped a festive cracker. Eva hastily followed suit, and Ark stood there in stunned silence. His party members behind him were also beat-up, and they looked just as astonished.

I wasn’t sure what had occurred at House Gladis, but it was clear that they’d been faced with an unexpected situation. Truth was stranger than fiction. I was stupid and unlucky, so I was used to accidents. I’d never seen Ark look so injured before, but I also knew how to deal with it.

I slowly stood up and unleashed my ultimate move—sliding while groveling on the ground. The plush carpet made it difficult for me to slide, so I did a small somersault before prostrating on the ground. If I were to grade myself, I’d give myself 120 points out of a hundred.

“I’m sooooo sorry!” I cried.

“Krai?!” Eva gasped.

Satisfied with how well I kowtowed, I proceeded to bow my head several times. I wasn’t sure if I was to blame for their unexpected situation, but it was best to apologize first. Only Eva was with me. Ark didn’t say a word. I felt his gaze above me and tried to use my brain to its full capacity. The man was famous for being the strongest in the capital—just what was he up against that made him look so ragged?

His fighting capabilities were a head above the other hunters. To provide further insight, my genius childhood friend might not have been able to beat him in a one-on-one battle. You might think that he didn’t sound too strong, but our party had been conquering higher-leveled vaults and had absorbed plenty of mana material. Despite this overwhelming difference, Ark had so much talent and might that he could’ve closed this gap.

And yet, he was all beat up. Had he gone all out and returned in tatters, he must’ve fought a monster that would’ve surely been big news within the capital, so that wasn’t the case. This meant that he was up against a foe which he couldn’t exert his full power against. There was only one conclusion I could reach from there.

Ark spoke in such a displeased tone that I could hardly believe that he just uttered several words. “What are you suddenly lowering your head for?”

“Lady Éclair must’ve thrown a tantrum, no?” I replied.

“A...tantrum, you say?”

Bingo. I guessed that Lady Éclair, who’d tried to proudly present Ark with a mask, made it difficult for him to act in a mature fashion. He must’ve said something along the lines of “I don’t need it” or “Krai would like this better.” Upon hearing these statements, the young lady would’ve surely exploded with fury. Ark was in tatters because he had struggled to calm down the angry lady, and the small monster must’ve put up a good fight against him. I lowered my head, trying to push through with my apology as I noticed Ark trembling.

“Please don’t misunderstand, Ark. I thought that you’d be able to resolve matters peacefully! I totally didn’t think that you’d struggle so much, and I probably didn’t explain the situation enough!”

It was my fault that I couldn’t predict the young noble’s anger. I should’ve offered a word of warning. But as I cooled my head, I had truly believed that Ark could solve this problem without issue. I was completely at fault since I’d filed this request to him, but he surely wasn’t devoid of fault either.

“But I thought that I didn’t need to tell you that you shouldn’t anger the lady,” I said.

“That’s—” Ark started.

“You’ve got a powerful Magus in your party. If the lady threw a tantrum, shouldn’t you have used Hypnosis Cage or something? I would’ve ordered that to Lucia.”

Just like our party, Ark also had an excellent Magus that could cast a wide variety of spells. Isabella Merness, with her lavender-colored hair that was unique to the northern region, raised her eyebrows.

“Huh?!” she demanded. “Are you saying that my spells are inferior to Lucia’s?! I used it, of course! I used my spell and it didn’t work!”

“Huh? Oh, I see...” I said awkwardly. “Uh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize!”

“Uh, hey, don’t worry about it. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Me? I’m full of weaknesses. But debuff spells like those are really useful, so it might be best if you practiced. I can ask Lucia to teach you a few tricks.”

“D-Don’t you dare mock me!”

Isabella stomped the ground, her cheeks turning crimson. I didn’t think she’d fail to put a total normie to sleep. I thought she was a superb Magus, but maybe that wasn’t the case. I sighed and extended my arm towards the clan master’s office.

“In any case, I thought you’d be back soon,” I said. “I was waiting for you. I’ve got cake and champagne prepared.”

Saint Ewe, who saw glittering strands hanging from the ceiling, wearily muttered, “Y-You really went all out with the decorations.”

“I hung them myself. I even started to have fun midway. Here, I’ve got candles too.”

Ark remained silent.

“Listen, I’m sorry,” I said. “I really am. I truly believed that you’d be able to handle the situation better.”

I wasn’t overestimating Ark. Not one bit. He had a high reputation, and unlike me, he boasted the skills to live up to it. How could I have expected him to struggle against a single young lady?

Ark remained expressionless for a while before he finally sighed deeply. “Krai, you never explain things enough. I’m not omniscient.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I heard that Lady Éclair was rude to you, and I was told that you warned her about the dangers of the Relic. Even so, I expected you to handle the situation a lot better.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t mind if you drag me into your messes, but you can’t involve innocent normies too. Aren’t you the one who came up with that rule, Clan Master?”

I didn’t explain things enough. I could’ve handled things better. His words were nothing short of the truth. I didn’t mean any ill intent, but that didn’t excuse me from my actions. My regrets ran higher than the mountains and deeper than the ocean.

“I didn’t think things would escalate as much as it did,” I admitted. “You’re absolutely right. Next time, I’ll be sure to only drag you into my messes.”

“You’re not repenting at all, are you?” Isabella said, her cheeks twitching.

I am. I really am! But above all, I was glad that Ark didn’t talk about leaving our clan. Among my childhood friends, Ark was one of the precious few whom I fought with. This didn’t mean that we were constantly bickering; it was simply that our friendship was so strong that a few arguments couldn’t break our bond. Violent tendencies had to be discharged somewhere lest I explode, and Ark was the perfect man to spar with.

“Um, er... So, did you get the item?” I asked.

My timing might not have been ideal, but I had to ask. Ark reluctantly threw a leather bag towards me, and I hastily caught it.

“We went through quite a lot,” Ark said. “We really did. It was a nightmare, trying to restrain Lady Éclair as she swung her blade around. Her swings were much faster than what I’d expected, and she exerted far greater force than her body should’ve been capable of. I managed to pry it off her, but what exactly is that thing? She claimed that she didn’t wear the mask of her own accord, and it pounced on her.”

I wasn’t listening to Ark’s words. It was as though I’d received a birthday present—I eagerly undid the string on the bag and stuffed my hand into the bag. Ark and his party all looked at me in shock. This feels nostalgic. It feels gross, like I’m touching a slab of moist, lukewarm meat.

“Krai, that thing’s dangerous! Don’t act so rash!” Ark warned.

I took out the mask and raised it in the air. I’d lost this mask recently, and it felt like it’d been ages. Veins ran down its pink flesh. Ugh, it’s just so gross! It’s wonderful! It’s excellent! As I froze in delight, its open mouth suddenly moved of its own accord.

“What power... I thought I’d gotten a superb subject, but I didn’t think there was a warrior that could easily suppress the human that I’d enhanced. Hmm, it seems like the people of this generation are far tougher than I remember. I must change my standards.”

“It talks?!” I gasped, my hands trembling.

The Reversible Face that I’d held just several days ago was a simple mask and didn’t have the power to speak. I didn’t possess a single Relic that could talk and move of its own free will.

“Th-Thousand Tricks... I-I was wrong. I’m grateful that you dispatched Ark for me,” said a voice. A familiar figure emerged from behind the door.

But I chose that moment to press the mask against my face. Ark and the rest of the room gasped in surprise. I felt something creepy crawl behind my head, and it seemed like the mask was tightening its grip on me so that it wouldn’t fall off. It can talk and latch onto me?! That’s amazing! It’s like a high-tech Relic!

“Raaaaaaah!” the mask howled.

“Wh-What is this?! Strength E-, Agility E-, Stamina E-, Mana E-, Growth Curve E-! Subject has no will or determination! Total points: 3! Subject doesn’t meet the standards to activate Evolve Greed. Initiating emergency eject sequence,” a voice echoed in my head.

The mask trembled as though it was desperately trying to pry itself away from my face. The holes for its eyes drooped pathetically, and the appendages that latched on to the back of my head slipped off lifelessly.

I remained quiet as my will to live was now at an all-time low. After a deep sigh, I removed my hand from the Relic and it fell onto the ground. This isn’t a Reversible Face! It looks similar, but it’s nothing like it! I’ve been scammed! Shit! I didn’t think there were several types of disgusting masks out there! I didn’t expect that. I was tempted to file a complaint to whoever made the base of this Relic, but I knew that I couldn’t do that. Well, I did gain a rare Relic, so I guess I’ll make do with that.

“Tch, is this a degraded item?” I grumbled. “Eva, can you prepare a glass case for—huh? What? What’s wrong?”

Eva always looked a little repulsed by me, but Ark, who normally maintained his cool, looked taken aback by my actions. His other party members hid behind him, and only Lady Éclair managed to stand by Ark’s side, albeit with trembling legs. Her face was pale, her eyes were brimming with tears.

“N-Nothing. Nothing at all,” Lady Éclair said.

“Oh, I forgot to ask,” I said. “Can I have this?”

“Y-Yeah, sure. I don’t need that thing. I’ll give it to you! I was wrong for trying to steal your Relic from you! I-I’ll never do it again! I swear it! Please forgive me!”

Her teary voice echoed throughout the room. Well, I can’t blame her for wanting to get rid of something like this. But I worked so hard and I didn’t expect this outcome. I didn’t think I misjudged a Relic. I’m a failure of a Relic collector. I decided to bury this mistake deep inside my soul and take it to my grave.

I pulled myself together and formed a smile as I gazed at everyone in the room. “Well, this was a bit of a letdown, but I’ve even got cake prepared for you guys. Let’s all eat. I’ve got a few candles too.”

***

“Are you sure the toughest one will do?” Eva asked.

“Yep, thanks. You’re a huge help,” I replied.

She brought in a large glass box using a few casters. My private room was hidden. The trap was so simple that any hunter could easily make their way inside, but I couldn’t let any outsiders in so easily. My room used to be large, but as my Relic collection grew, it started to feel a little cramped. My Relics were not only my collection, but also my weapons. If they weren’t easy to access, there was little meaning in having them. Not like I’m any stronger with these Relics, but I do feel stronger, at least.

I decided to have Luke and the others help me place the item once they returned and positioned the glass case in the corner. The case was made from a special kind of glass and was much tougher than others. They were used to display items in museums, and they could even repel the attacks of hunters.

With a bit of trouble, I managed to open the heavy lid and placed the gloomy-looking, fake Reversible Face instead. Its glum visage that appeared when I put it on my face hadn’t changed, and its droopy eyes didn’t make it seem as terrifying.

Ark had told me that the mask had possessed the noble lady and created a huge fuss. The Relic had greatly enhanced Lady Éclair’s abilities and had given her power on par with a mid-range hunter. If this was true, this was a Relic that I’d been seeking for a long while. My collection had several Relics that couldn’t activate unless the user possessed some sort of physical capabilities. If I could easily boost my strength with this mask, I might not have had to live with fear. I decided to confirm one last time with the droopy mask inside of the case.

“Are you sure that I can’t use you?” I asked.

Normally, it was silly to talk to a Relic, but the mask’s mouth slowly moved to answer my question. “It’s impossible. My powers cannot unleash your hidden potential. It’s best if you find a higher-class mask, though finding one higher than me will limit the number of users. I presume it can only be used for military affairs—”

The talkative mask stopped itself, sensing my gaze. I sighed. This mask apparently had the power to bring out a person’s potential, but my stats were just so weak and garbage that it couldn’t draw out anything from me. This implied that my hidden potential was far lower than a little girl’s. Isn’t this world a bit too harsh on me? I sighed and quietly tried to cheer myself up. The item’s effects might have been useless for me, but its rarity was guaranteed. I’d never even heard of a mask that could talk of its own volition.

It might stop moving if it ran out of mana, but it was the perfect talking partner. Every Relic was built upon something. The mask looked hideous, but it was created from someone’s desires. While it had the power to enhance someone’s abilities, it also heightened the wearer’s emotions. I wasn’t sure if it was worth two hundred million gild, but as I’d just received it for free, I had no right to complain. I wanted a Reversible Face though...

Eva, who was watching the two of us converse, sheepishly said, “Um, Krai, about that mask...”

“Hmm? Do you want to wear it, Eva?” I asked. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

If Eva wore the mask and became even stronger, my fragile heart would shatter into a million pieces.

“I don’t,” she replied, looking at me like I was some sort of freak. With an exasperated tone, she added, “Is it perhaps a Library? I’ve never seen one before.”

There was a beat of silence. Huh? The moment I heard her words, I furrowed my brows with concern and turned back at the mask.

“My name is Evolve Greed,” the mask said with annoyance. “I am one who advances humankind. It’s quite unpleasant to be grouped into some unknown category.”

I’m an idiot. I’d been collecting Relics more than anyone, and yet I never realized it. This mask spoke as though it possessed its own will—it certainly seemed like a Library. I was embarrassed to admit my mistake and nodded in understanding.

“So you’ve noticed. Very good,” I said.

“I’ve been doing some research on Relics myself,” Eva answered. “And I’ve been allowed to view that item for a while now. The odds of one appearing are astronomically low, and I never expected to see one with my own eyes.”

Despite her words, Eva couldn’t hide her grimace. I should’ve been more excited about this too, but I lost the opportunity to do so. I always screw up at the most important part. The term “Library” didn’t refer to a specific Relic, rather it was a name for a group of Relics that had a unique characteristic. Eva took a deep breath as her body trembled; it seemed like she was unusually excited about this.

Her usually composed tone carried a hint of elation. “While it depends on the details, your debts might disappear, Krai. I thought you just went on one of your crazy tendencies...”

Sitri mentioned something like that too, but you guys are all treating me like I’m insane. That hurts. Now then, here’s a pop quiz for everyone. What is the most expensive Relic thus far? Is it a treasured sword that can slice a mountain in one blow and part the ocean? Or perhaps it’s a bracelet that could allow the user to fly as they pleased. Is it a dimensional pouch that could house an entire castle?

The answer is a book-type Relic. It was the most expensive item ever recorded, and likely the most famous too. The Book of Sands. This Relic received its name from the color of its cover and was an encyclopedia that listed every Relic that existed since the Era of Magical Arms. It was probably created during the golden age of civilization, and while the book had no special abilities, it contained information that could completely turn common sense on its head.

A majority of Relics found within treasure vaults were developed by one of the great ancient civilizations, the Era of Magical Arms, and allowed civilization to flourish. It was a product of advancement. The knowledge documented in the Book of Sands elucidated more than half of the abilities of items that were excavated and deemed a complete mystery.

Some even claim that the discovery of the Book of Sands had started the age of treasure hunters. The whereabouts of this book were currently unknown, but the initial discoverer of the Relic had sold it off and used that money to found a nation of their own. This was the start of Mier Kingdom—now, a thousand years later, it was one of the largest kingdoms in the world. This was a fairy tale that any treasure hunter knew about.

Items that could provide insight into their creation and, by extension, about the past civilization, were known as Libraries. They came in all sorts of shapes—from books to posters to monuments—but I’d never seen a mask-type before.

Relics of this type were rarely revealed, but scientifically speaking, this item was extremely useful and went for absurdly high prices. While I wasn’t sure just how knowledgeable this mask was, it exhibited enough intelligence to hold a conversation. I didn’t even want to imagine just how high of a price this mask could’ve been—I never expected it.

“Two hundred million was cheap,” I said.

“It might still be cheap even if you offer ten times the price,” Eva agreed.

And I didn’t pay a single gild. It’d been a thousand years since the Book of Sands was discovered, and the information it contained had been widely rumored about. Since I hadn’t heard about a mask before, there was a good probability that this item wasn’t a product of the Era of Magical Arms. Effects aside, if I were to sell this to the empire, it would be sold for an astronomical price. Eva wasn’t lying when she said that I could probably pay off all of my debts.

I would also gain an honorable reputation. The Zebrudian emperor was known to prioritize practical gain, and he could raise my official level or even provide me with a noble rank. But the one who won this at an auction was Lady Éclair. Should I return it to her? I thought long and hard, remembering her face of shock when she ate the wonderfully delicious cake that I, Thousand Tricks, had carefully selected from a shop that I favored. Whatever the reason, she’d given it to me. I had no reason to return it to her, but if she knew that she’d gifted me with a Library for free, I wasn’t sure how that prideful noble lady would react.

“We should negotiate carefully,” Eva said with a serious expression. “Should we go to a trading company, a noble, or perhaps even a different nation? Mier Kingdom has spent years desperately trying to collect these Libraries.”

“I’m not selling this,” I replied.

“Huh?! Didn’t you construct this elaborate plan to obtain this item and sell it?”

“Have I ever collected a Relic for resale?”

I’d purchased expensive items from resellers before, but I’d never sold a thing. It was awkward for me to say this since I didn’t realize that I had a Library until now, but I was a Relic collector. I couldn’t use this myself and I could sell it for a high price, but if I were to sell my Relics because of these flimsy reasons, I was a failure of a collector.

Eva widened her eyes and hastily rebuked, “This item cannot be handled by a single person. It’s indeed valuable, but I feel like it’s for the best if we pry all the information it has and then quickly sell it off...”

“So this’ll be a secret just between the two of us, Eva,” I said.

“I’m sure Ark and those surrounding Lord Gladis will be aware of this.”

I couldn’t deny that. Even Lady Éclair knew that the mask could talk and possessed high intelligence. If you weren’t blind like me, it wasn’t difficult to put two and two together and realize that this mask was a Library. I could probably stop Ark from blabbing about this to others—he didn’t lust after items and fame. He was the epitome of what treasure hunters should be. I wasn’t plotting anything nefarious, so I knew I could handle him.

“Well, I think we’ll be fine,” I said. “Could you deliver a cake to Lady Éclair’s house to get on her good side? We’ll go with the carrot and the stick plan. Oh, and don’t forget the candles.”

“I understand,” Eva said reluctantly, her voice carrying a tone of regret. “I feel like this was the perfect opportunity to repay our debt...”

I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble.