For Ark Rodin, if he had to describe âInfinite Varietyâ with one word it will be that.
Every year in Zebrudia, the holy land of Treasure Hunters, a large number of Hunters or aspiring Hunters comes here from the outside. And most of them will retire before they even become successful. Some people failed when exploring Shrines and dies. Some have to stop their Hunter activities because they received a serious injury. Some also canât ever get out of the city due to a mental traumatism. And finally, even the luckiest one of them who escaped those, change their base to another city because most of them canât stay in the Imperial Capital because of their lack of ability.
Cry Andrich was also one of those very ordinary countryside bumpkins. Initially, he wasnât someone who had experience being a Treasure Hunter outside. He was an aspiring Hunter who had never engaged in a Shrine expedition until he came to this Imperial Capital.
The potential of Treasure Hunters in the Imperial Capital is quite high. Only a handful of talented people can become a Treasure Hunter in that city. Even if I had some training in advance, the environment next to the Imperial Capital isnât so easy to go in headfirst.
There are too many Shrines. Too many rivals who are looking for a fight just because you touch them and some unruly Hunters who even aim for broken Hunters to devour them. The more kind and gentle they are, the more villains aim at them. The Imperial Capital is easy to live only because there are only skilled Hunters who are able to fight off those foreign enemies. It is a baptism for the naĂŻve Hunters who came to the Imperial Capital due to their naive illusions.
However, âStrange Griefâ have repelled all of them. Shrines, Senpai1 Hunters who target talented youth to crush them, criminal parties who like to destroy newcomer Hunters. They defeated all of them and had increased their fame at a tremendous speed.
It was inevitable that their figure caught Arkâs eyes.
âStrange Griefâ is always covered in blood. For Hunters, Mana Material is the core of their power. An average man who has accumulated Mana Material for decades is stronger than a Hunter with a potential that only appear once every hundred year. And that fact spurred into action those who are trying to pick the buds of talented newcomer before they bloom.
Every single one in âStrange Griefâ was filled with glowing potential. That brought the jealousy of their surroundings. There were numerous interferences. Their life was also targeted, and I also heard many bad rumors. However, those have significantly strengthened their Party.
Before they knew it, the one who was eating becomes the eaten. From countryside bumpkin who was aiming for a naĂŻve dream to a fearful party with terrifying potential that wouldnât forgive any enemy.
Ark Rodin is also a man who became a Hunter in the Imperial Capital, but the foundation was different. The Rodin House had know-how. They had fame. From the oldest days, I worked and trained hard to become a Hunter and had capture many Shrines before becoming a Hunter. I also had the help of noblemen, so it was easy to gather companion.\n
They were exactly⊠My exact opposite. At least, that is how Ark think of âStrange Griefâ, as his Party complete opposite.
⊠And finally, the quality for being the Leader.
As always, he is an interesting man.
The black-haired man who sit down in front of me, havenât change from the first time I met him a few year ago, he is the ăWeakestă. I know that some people called him the godâs daredevil. And I also know some people call him seer because his words boast the power to predict any and every kind of possible future.
But even considering all those⊠It doesnât fit.
Ark knows some Hunters with a higher Level than himself. If you speak of fighting abilities, among them âInfinite Varietyâ and a few others are far below Ark.
But this is wrong. All High-Level Hunters had powers. When you see them, you will be convinced of their strength. However, the man in front of me, who supposedly have a higher level than me, this man who should have left a track record, donât have it.
An interesting man. A man who is far too weak to be the Leader of a Party that is far too strong. This has strongly stimulated my curiosity. That is also the reason why Ark decided to join Footprint while his party was scouted by a large number of long-established and powerful Clan.
And now, his true nature is still unknown.
Many people often compared Ark with Infinite Variety but the comparison itself is a mistake.
There is no sense in comparing us with numbers. âInfinite Silver Thunderâ and âInfinite Varietyâ canât be simply compared to each other. For example, if you add or subtract each of our strength, it will never be equal.\nIt is probably not the ăLengthă but the path we are walking on⊠That is too different.
People around me are jealous of his existence. Some are longing for it and some are hostile to it. Ark Rodin was born to win. He was born to walk a lonely path. Therefore, I donât get jealous. There is only an insatiable spirit of adventure that has been passed down from the first Rodin.
Therefore, if we have to put into words to describe the relationship between Ark Rodin and Cry Andrich⊠isnât ăRivală nor ăStrong Enemyă but the word ăFriendă is better suit for them.
The man who suddenly called Ark when he went back due to an issue in the Rodin House doesnât have a slight expression of being sorry and bossily crossed his arm. As usual, his clothes are all black and he wears on all his finger ring type Relic. He doesnât care at all about Arkâs Party Members grumpy look toward him.
âI will be straight to you. I want you to go see Ăclair-jou, right now. If you go, you will understand everything. You know that I and Ăclair-jou were competing for a Relic and Ăclair-jou won, right?â
âAaah, I have been busy for the last few days, but I was listening. I will tell you so there is no misunderstanding but that is what Ăclair-sama did by herself and it has nothing to do with me. She is smart for her age and isnât someone bad, but it looks like she is sometime stormy.â
Ark isnât free. As a member of the Rodin House, even if he isnât exploring a Shrine, he has so many things to do that he might be biting off more than what he can chew. While the Imperial Capital was celebrating with the auction, he wasnât free and was called to go everywhere all the time.
When I heard âInfinite Varietyâ had raise the value of the Relic because he wanted it, I unintentionally laugh. When I heard that Ăclair-jou had enter the competition for some reason, I was surprised but that was it.
Liz who is next to Cry and has her back stretched and her leg crossed, raises a high-pitched voice to protest.
âEeeeh!? I was thinking of going there but you are going to let Ark-chan goâŠ?â
âHaaa!? Are you going to make Ark-san run your errand again!? Ark-san is already very busy, so you should go by yourself!â\n\nâ⊠Do I need weapons?â
âEhâŠ? Aaah, you donât need it. I think it would be better if you donât bring any.â
I donât need any weaponâŠ? That is unusual. It isnât a battle? However, he said it should be dangerous. It is dangerous⊠But you donât need a weapon?
â⊠What if I donât make it on time?â
Cry squinted his eyes when Ark asks him this question, Cry tilts his head and answer with a trouble look.
âI will be sad.â
Thanks for reading! Some insight of what Ark think of Cry. Good for you Cry, Ark also think of you as a friend. And you are still saying cryptic word. And because of that Ark is so confused. How would he react if he knew it was to get a mask XD And you will be sad if he is not on time, now he must be super confused XD Tchao Ă plus!
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1. Senpai: Honorific use when someone has more experience than you.