Chapter 23: Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunterâs Hero Dream Chapter 23 \n23 ćăăźäșĄéăŻćŒéăăă The Spirit of Grief Wants to Retire\n
âI was, mistaken.â
ăFirst Stepă Clan House Lounge. Gilbert looked around at the members of the temporary Party.
The conquest of the ăWhite Wolves Denă. After returning alive from the hell like request, one day had already passed.
Gilbert had been carried out while he was unconscious so he only heard about it later, but the weakened rescue targets had been safely delivered to the Imperial Capital.
The request from the Explorers Association had been accomplished successfully. The abnormalities of the White Wolves Den became under the supervision of the Explorers and the Empire. Before long they would gather high level Hunters to investigate it.
âI had thought I was far stronger. I had thought I was becoming stronger. But â Iâve still got a way to go.â
The purgatory sword could be seen leaning beside him.
Until now Gilbert hadnât had any one to rival him. Even though he had some close fights, he had been able to win with just his own strength. He held pride, and thought that if only time passed he would soon become the strongest. However in this hunt he had noticed a rift, that he was far far away.
He didnât hold a grudge after abruptly being almost half-killed. Gilbert didnât remember anything from that moment.
Itâs not that he had let his guard down. Rather, his mind had been tense. In spite of that, he still didnât remember what had been done to him.
That just went to show how huge the difference was between him and her.
At first he was alone. He met companions that had talent and power. And still they encountered Phantoms that could only be defeated if they cooperated. Finally, they met a monster that could only be defeated by working together as one.
And of course the one that lead them, Infinite Variety, was at an even further off place. The incredibility, every action he took Gilbert confirmed with his own eyes, yet he still couldnât comprehend them. Probably because the places they were standing in were too different.
The events occurred over a short time period, but for Gilbert Bush they were experiences that had created lingering changes in his perspective. It had been a dangerous mission with almost no reward, but it was still worth it.
It was only over the space of one day, but he looked at the companions he had come to understand to some extent through battle, and spoke.
âI still have a way to go, I couldnât see the peak at all. For me right now, itâs totally unlikely for me to arrive there. âŠTo my previous party⊠Iâll apologise, and once more, Iâll retrain from the beginning â Iâm going to start over.â
ââŠI seeâ
Tino responded by giving a small nod without a change in her expression.
Hunters grew. Through fighting, through defeat, and by knowing of the summit. There wasnât just a few with middling resolve that became disheartened. But despite seeing a huge setback, and knowing of hopelessness, he still had a strong will.
In that case, there wasnât much to say to Tino.
Gilbert stood up with a refreshed expression.
He hefted his bag on his shoulder, looked at his companions, and finally spoke to Tino.
âSorry but, would you thank Infinite Variety for me? Because, I gave him all sorts of trouble. Later⊠thatâs right⊠youâll see, Iâll soon get to the point where I can catch things like bullets with my bare hands.â
âYou probably wonât, I donât think.â\n
Tino said with a dejected expression. To her clear disbelief, Gilbert thrusted out a pointed finger.
He shouted loudly. As if to make a declaration. The members of Footprints in the lounge turned toward Tinoâs table to see what was happening.
âDonât get me wrong. I havenât given up on being the strongest yet! Iâm just changing up my methods. Iâm soon gonna catch up. To you as well, Leader! Seeya!â
âAh⊠Gilbert, you forgot this â â
Gilbert started to leave at a quick pace, and Ruda called out to stop him.
She pointed to the Purgatory Sword that was leaning against the table. It would be crazy for a Treasure Hunter to forget the weapon that was more important than their life.
But Gilbert didnât look back. His eyes were only slightly open, and his voice that was returned was rough.
âI already donât need it anymore. For me right now itâs a weapon that has lost itâs usefulness! Itâs certainly powerful, but if you rely on Relics youâll never be strong! Just like ăSevered Shadowă, Iâm going to be able to catch bullets with my bare hands!â
âOhhâŠâ
âThatâs why, Iâm giving it to Infinite Variety! No⊠Iâll let him take care of it I think. Iâll leave it here until I become strong! Just watch me, Iâll be back for it soon!â
âOi Oi, nothing has changed right?â
Gregâs voice was shocked. However his expression indicated that his words werenât serious.
The purgatory sword without itâs ability as a Relic, was a powerful weapon. Obtaining it soon after becoming a Hunter, Gilbert had been swinging it for a long time. Battles would become harsh without it.
There was no way that the person himself didnât understand that. However, with that understanding, the boy still threw away his weapon.
That was his resolve. Resolve that could only be understood by him. No one else could taint it.
Tino frowned slightly and hesitated, then called out to Gilbertâs back.
âGilbert.â
ââŠWhat is it?. Iâm not going to quit.â
âNo, I donât want you to quit butâŠâ
Gilbert would surely become stronger.
Tino couldnât see a persons future, and couldnât know it so soon after being in a party together, but it was a hunter that the Master of ingenious schemes invited.
And once she had taken a deep breath, she dropped her shoulders and spoke. Hoping that his future would remain bright.
âOnee-samaâs mask was specially made not to have holes at the eye sections⊠so when she caught those bullets, she shouldnât have been able to see anything at the time⊠If your aiming for her, you should⊠you should also keep that in mind, I guessâŠâ
ââŠâŠEh?â\n§ă§ă§
Both mentally and physically, I had been completely exhausted in one day.
A ăSafe Ringă was a measure of defense in a time of emergency. So when more than half of them were used up, it exemplified how dangerous the risk to my life had been.
âGreat work, Cry-san. The Explorers. Looks like theyâre in an uproar doesnât it?â
âMm-â
My whole body was swaying in the office chair as I listened to Eva.
The outbreak at the White Wolves Den was of a scale that is rarely seen.
This time, somehow everyone had returned alive. But by all rights it was the kind of anomaly where the first Hunters to see it usually died.
It was nothing but good luck that were no casualties.
If it wasnât for Liz-chan that had returned running at an absurd speed, everyone including myself would have been annihilated.
I looked over to the largish sofa and watched as Liz slept holding her knees.
After all her fatigue had piled up, her drawn in body was sleeping without stirring. If she didnât wear that eerie mask, it could be said that she looked cute.
I was the one that designed the mask. I had made a mistake when I forgot to add eyeholes, but if Liz and the others kept using it on missions that wasnât my responsibility.
Even though she truly couldnât see anything with it on, she moved with composure.
Since the first time we came to the Imperial Capital, there had been no indication that Liz and the others speed of growth was slowing down.
It might have been wrong of me to stop going to Shrines, but the difference between me and them was no longer only one hundred or two hundred times.
I donât personally experience it since Iâm always lying back at the top of the Clan House. That had been the first time in a while I had actually gone out to a Shrine, but it was a nail driven into my head filled with peace. It made me truly understand.
Does Liz-chan really notice?
To me already long ago her figure â has been seen as a hero.
Her character is straightforward, and there was room for improvement but, itâs a fact that she can somehow live in human society.
I breathed a deep sigh, prepared myself for the worst and spoke.
âIâm going to quit being a Hunter.â
Eva looked at me with eyes like âheâs saying that againâ. Since I said it a lot she didnât believe me.
But, I was serious this time.\n\nâWell, if Cry-chan quits itâll be all right. But if youâre alone itâll be boring, and Iâm already the strongest anyway?â
Her voice was bright and sweet, but to give up on that dream for such a simple reason, I knew it wouldnât be good to abandon it.
Hunters have talent. But that talent only shines with effort. Liz and the others, the effort they had put in until now, the bloodshed, was more severe than any other Hunters from the same generation.
But I didnât hear that she had said any lies. If I quit, at least Liz would follow me without hesitation and choose the path of retirement.
Should I quit? Should I quit I wonder? I shouldnât quit? Maybe I shouldnât⊠It isnât as if I donât have that feeling. Is it impossible?
âIf Liz disappears, the whole party will collapse wonât it?â
âItâs ok. Because at that time everyone else will quit.â
Liz, indifferently said something incredible. My shoulders quivered unconsciously.
I had no path forward, but Liz and the others were different.
Their ability was well known throughout the Empire, they held considerable influence, and they were strong.
Some officially belonged to national organisations, while others have had offers from nobles and the military.
Some people would definitely be sent to chase after them. It was very likely that high level Hunters would be sent.
And if they found out that the reason had been because of me, I would incur some strong enmity. There was a good chance I would be killed.
It was needless to think about.
In the first place, I couldnât let the others effort go to waste because of me.
I tried to come up with something for a while, but my pitiful brain full of complacency couldnât think of anything.
ââŠâŠâŠI have to hang in there a little longer do I?â
âYep. Hang in there! Iâll also hang on!â
Liz rubbed her cheek on mine, and swung her legs while I gave out a lifeless voice.
Thatâs it. No more going out to Shrines. That bastard Gark, having the nerve to impose a strange request on me. Iâll never accept a request while Ark is away again.
I looked away from reality, and carved that into my mind.
Translator Notes Chapter title is the same as the Series. (. translated as Strange Grief wants to retire) Still unsure. Whatever it is, it seems to refer to Cry. (His sigh, his despair, his grief, all applies).