Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter’s Hero Dream Chapter 39 \n39 増援 Reinforcements\n

At my words, Liz started going through the file again.

I had listed ten shrines. Of those, seven were level 1 and the rest were level 2. However they were just barely certified at level 2 and were easy shrines that trainee hunters would go to. They were shrines at a level even a hunter with no talent could capture with two or three years experience.

Conversely at Liz’s level there were no merits in going there. In one way, they were rare shrines.

As Liz flicked through the file over and over again she was frowning.

The data on shrines was stored in the clans archives. Office staff sorted information from the Explorers Association as well as what was given by returning hunters. The data was very popular among the hunters of Footprints. The accuracy was also high.

Liz raised her face, and looked up at me. Was there some kind of point an excellent hunter would feel uneasy about?

“Hey hey, Cry-chan… With this, what’s going to happen?”

“Eh?”

I think it would be good if nothing happened.

“No, I’m not doubting you or anything it’s just… Look, you asked for me to do this right? I mean, if you told the others to go to the White Wolves Den, then that means this will be way worse won’t it?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

“Well… there’s not really any powerful monsters in these areas… and there’s barely any gimmicks. In the first place, with the Mana Material that a level 1 or 2 shrine collects it’ll be difficult to make Tee struggle… hmmm…”

“Yeah, that’s right?”

Liz tilts her head making a small hum. I think before you go jumping into danger it would be better if you fixed your character first.

Liz had a thoughtful look for a while, but then nodded as if she had convinced herself.

“…Well, it’s what Cry-chan has said isn’t it. I don’t think you would make a mistake in judgement…”

“Yeah… that’s right.”

My family are sweet.

Then, Tino returned. She seemed to have had a shower and a change of clothes, her hair was still damp. As she came in front if us she was cautious with her arms pressed tightly against her.

“I’ve come back just now. Onee-sama, Master.”

“You’re not tired? Are you ok?”

To my words Tino shot a fleeting glance at Liz as she answered.

“…Yes. There are no problems.”

“There’s no problems with just that much right? Since I made adjustments!”\n

Liz puffed up her chest with pride, while Tino had a blank look. But just before she straightened up in front of me, I definitely saw her legs wobble.

Words were just words. She’s always overdoing it isn’t she… Because Tino doesn’t give an honest objection, the brakes can’t be put on.

As a close friend of her teacher and as her senior I have to make her rest and not take no for an answer. Lets go to an easy shrine… after all, it’s better to just take Liz along. I’m worried she truly has no stopper…

“After all it looks like Tino is tired, so I’m just going to take Liz…”

As I started to speak, I noticed Tino’s eyes starting to tear up. They were like the eyes of an abandoned puppy.

No, I’m not saying I don’t want to choose you. It isn’t about choosing you or not.

“…That’s what I was thinking, but I guess Tino really should come along. Alright, I have some I picked out, so choose whichever one you like.”

“Y-Yes! …Picked…out?”

Tino began to look through the file. Liz was staring at her from the side. For some reason she had an arrogant smile.

Tino couldn’t concentrate under the pressure. Her body withered as if shrinking, and she stared fixedly at the file.

Come to think of it, I had asked her how it was being Liz’s disciple. She always answered that she was training, but perhaps she was usually doing this sort of thing.

Tino slowly looked at Liz.

“Um… Onee-sama?”

“What is it?”

“……..I-It’s nothing.”

Overwhelmed by that gaze, Tino started desperately looking through the file again. Similar to Liz from a short while ago, she looked through the data over and over again. No, it’s not like there’s a correct answer. I said it was fine to just choose the one you liked.

“Liz.”

I beckoned at Liz, and put both hands over my ears. While Liz gave a strange expression, she plugged her hearing the same way I did. Then I grabbed her by the shoulders and rotated her around, and moved her a few meters away from Tino.

Tino can’t choose at all like that, so you need to be keep quiet.

The girl disciple stared at her teacher with amazement. Now there were no obstacles.

“Now, you can take your time to choose the one you want. Liz won’t interfere.”

“…But, Master. I can’t…. make a judgement.”

Judgement… she was still searching for the correct choice huh… what correct choice? I want to drive some of that seriousness into Liz. …Well no, Liz was also serious when it came to a hunt.

I think life is more enjoyable when you live well. I threw out my chest and spoke confidently without any basis.\n“It’s fine it’s fine. Whatever you choose is fine. We’ll manage somehow… probably?”

“!?”

For some reason a small shriek leaked from Tino’s lips. She took a step back as if drawing away. As if she was looking at a monster.

Not just limited to today, for some reason Tino’s gaze was often much harsher when she looked at me than when she looked at Liz. I said it would be fine, so why are you so anxious…?

In a delicate, shaking voice Tino spoke.

“Um…Master……I, I’m still just level 4 so-“

“Eh? Yeah, that’s right?”

“……”

“Yeah, that is right.”

I had a great feeling of deja vu. Is Tino not trying to escape because her teacher is so close? Tino’s hand holding the file was shaking. Her lips were closed together tightly. Her face had also gone pale, her beautiful looks were ruined.

Unfortunately I had no idea at all what she was afraid of. This time it wasn’t 『body retrieval』, this time it was the ten easiest shrines chosen by my cowardly self. I didn’t think there was any reason to be concerned…

While Liz’s back was turned and she was still holding over her ears, she started kicking the floor while she waited.

“After all maybe a rest is…”

“N-No… I’ll do it.”

So serious. You don’t have to do anything impossible. Tino looked up from the file, and looked at me with upturned eyes.

“…So, um…anything, is fine isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Anything.”

“…………even if, it’s not one of these, it’s ok?”

Eh…?

She says something beyond expectations. Tino’s expression was serious. Even though I specially chose easy shrines for you… Well but, I picked out ten shrines that were simple without thinking about Tino’s strong points, I didn’t choose them with any solid reasons. I’m not going to take any offence.

Suddenly the ground shook. A metallic crack echoed in the wide room and Tino jumped with a start.

Liz’s foot had pierced through the floor. The metal tiles were caved in and crushed. Do they have to be replaced again? Liz looked over her shoulder while still closing over her ears, and smiled cheerfully at Tino.

You could clearly hear what she was saying. This was a threat.

Tino looked like she was about to die at any moment. She shook her head in fleeting resistance. She was torn between two demands. I smiled at the poor girl to reassure her.\n\n“I’ll hear out your complaints afterwards. You’re shift has just finished. Settle down.”

“…Tch. Stay here and pray as much as you can to that crazy master that hasn’t even been down here.”

Stifling his anger, he parted ways after getting a final line in.

But, Sven understood why he felt the need to say it. Without Sven and the others and their cautious tactics, the remaining thirty percent would have been finished off long ago. About this time they should have already been back at a tavern in the city celebrating. Of course, that was assuming nothing was going to happen in the last thirty percent.

Suddenly, the brown haired hunter separated from his party. Sven shouted out when he saw him headed for the bushes.

“Oi, don’t leave your post!”

“Shut up, I’m taking a piss! I’ll be right back. I’ve got my weapon on me.”

He clapped the back of his sword, and disappeared into the foliage. Sven sighed silently.

Well, the other party members were still around, and it wasn’t like he was headed into the White Wolves Den. It shouldn’t be dangerous around there. If he returned quickly it wouldn’t be a problem.

“That person’s going to die isn’t he”

“Oi oi, don’t say such a bad thing.”

To Henrik joking casually, Sven gave a bitter smile.

At first the newcomer was suspicious of Infinite Variety’s words, but as Sven’s position worsened he had strangely become more frank. From being stared at Henrik smiled awkwardly.

“I don’t know much about Cry-san, but I trust Sven and the rest of you.”

“…Then, will you pray to the master to answer that trust?”

Then, at that moment sounds could be heard form the forest. Sven stood up. Each party became alert, they had their weapons drawn and were turned towards the noise.

Entering was a large carriage. It didn’t lose in comparison to the ones the members of Footprints had used. Seeing the symbol on the curtains Sven’s eyes widened. As everyones line of sight converged, the door opened.

A giant of a man stepped out with slow movements like a bear.

Deep crimson armour, and a crimson helm held under an arm. His height was around the same as Sven’s, but the well built frame was larger in comparison to Sven’s slim body.

The tatooed face with old scars warily looked around the vicinity, and his gaze caught onto Sven. Sven blinked his eyes, seeing that familiar face.

“Branch chief Gark? What’s going on, looking like that?”

At his back two men with delicate features wearing the uniform of the Empire’s 『House of Remnant Investigations』 stepped down nervously. As Sven couldn’t keep up with the state of affairs, the source of it all the 『War Ogre』 snorted as he spoke.

“Ah, you kept me waiting. Sven. I’ve come to see this myself.”