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Chapter 248 Eve
Part 1
“Kryhi-san, please be careful.” (Kool)
At the Brain――At Kool Saiko’s concerned words, Kryhi Andrichhi nodded quietly as usual.
“Yeah, I know.” (Kryhi)
The renowned Supreme Martial Arts Festival. Of course, I was confident in my abilities, but I do not expect to win easily.
My Party Members who were looking at me seemed more anxious than ever.
The foul-mouthed Alchemist crossed her legs while turning her back to me. Kutry Smyart, the 《Lowest Mountain (Saitei Sanmyaku)》 smokes a cigarette and says in an unusually chiding voice.
“Isn’t it okay to run away now? You have already accomplished your goal just by having your name listed in the participant list of the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, haven’t you? Besides, your name has spread through all the bounty hunting you did. I don’t think you’ll be defeated so easily, but there’s not much profit in staying here any longer. All you have to do is run away. If you leave here, I will place my final bet on the other guy.” (Kutry)
“Haaa!? There’s no way Onii-chan will lose to a guy like that!? Besides, there’s an anti-fraud rule that Party Members can only bet on their Leader――” (Rusha)
“That’s why you’re so naive, there are plenty of ways to do it. Besides, if he wins, it will be a hassle! Kryhi may be stronger than his opponent, but you, Rusha, as expected, you can’t win.  The only thing you have that resembles the real thing is you calling him Onii-chan.” (Kutry)
Kutry’s straightforward words made Rusha’s eyes widen in shock, and she says in a teary voice.
“Uh…… That’s not true! Even you, Kutry, are inferior to Sytry!” (Rusha)
“That’s… Fine with me. It’s not just the amount of knowledge that matters to an Alchemist. It’s because――I am the worst.” (Kutry)
Kutry grinned and gave a dark smile.
What are they talking about…… I’m not sure, but I’ve already noticed that they have something of a unique sense of camaraderie that I’m not privy to.
It’s good that the Party Members get along well, so I’m not going to interrupt them about it.
However, this is something I must say.
“Kutry, I’m not going to run away. I’m still a Treasure Hunter. If I retreat in the face of the unknown, I’m disqualified as a Treasure Hunter.” (Kryhi)
Fixing a match is out of the question. Kryhi has his own pride. Even if I die during the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, I will have no regrets.
Kutry was tongue-tied at Kryhi’s forceful words.
“………… Tsk. That’s what I thought. Suit yourself. But if you lose, I’m out.” (Kutry)
“Haaaaah…… He is as serious as ever. Even though we are the ones who call ourselves Smyart.” (Zuri)
“Kekeke…… It is too late to say something like that when we are already looking for a brother, My Sister1.” (Kutry)
“Kutry, the lowest persona you want to appear is too shallow too.” (Zuri)
Said Zuri in a tired voice.
Kryhi is the only one who will be on the big stage, but apparently, his Party Members are not exactly normal either.
Winning the Supreme Martial Arts Festival will give you prestige. However, the Supreme Martial Arts Festival does not only give merits.
If I were to suffer an unsightly defeat at the Supreme Martial Arts Festival, my Party Members would be the target of ridicule. Considering this, I can understand my friend’s anxiety.
And that meant a lack of trust in my leadership.
“No problem. I’ve been hunting bounty hunters for a while now and I’m well prepared. I am now――The strongest I have ever been.” (Kryhi)
Bounty hunting was a good experience. The fox-masked companions I fought with were strong, they were at a level that I had rarely encountered before, and the enemies were not easy to deal with.
But that is why my strength has increased now that I have survived those fierce battles. It was fortuitous that I got to know strong opponents before the main competition.
Of course, this also meant that my power was also known, but if I was to be defeated just because of this, I would not be able to win the fierce battle that would happen during the Supreme Martial Arts Festival anyway.
There, Kryhi sighed with all his thoughts.
“But, I didn’t think that――Cry, you would also be competing in the Supreme Martial Arts Festival too.” (Kryhi)
Kryhi was astonished when he checked the tournament table distributed to him.
To my surprise, my opponent in the first round was that man who had said he was my fan――Cry Andrich.
Even though Cry didn’t say anything, I couldn’t help but feel something like fate.
It is the management of the Supreme Martial Arts Festival that decides the tournament match-up. If Cry was going to participate in the tournament, what were the odds that he would meet me in the first round?
He was a mysterious man. Despite only feeling powerlessness coming from him, he has many connections and he was well-liked by the powerful. He was, so to speak――Kryhi’s opposite.
According to Kool and others, he also has an Alias. Moreover, his Alias is just like mine.
“Fufu…… Andrich…… What a funny name. I wonder if his 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was him trying to imitate me?” (Kryhi)
“…… Hey, Kool, is this guy really going to be okay?” (Zuri)
“Well, Kryhi-san is a warrior and he doesn’t care about other people that much……” (Kool)
It has been a long time since Kryhi has been so interested in other people.
Kryhi has no idea how powerful that man is as he couldn’t feel any Mana Material coming from him.
However, even if I know him, even if he is my fan, I will not hold back.
Because I believe that giving your all is the only way to be polite, that’s why――.
I found myself smiling before I knew it, and my smile deepened even more.
§　§　§
In a hushed voice, Gaff Shenfelder says to his former right-hand man.
“Good work. Were the orders thorough?” (Gaff)
“Yes. However, those fake Boss are becoming quite tricky……” (Gaff’s right-hand man)
“It’s like we’ve been outsmarted by the secret organization. I’m surprised to find myself in trouble right from the start when I’m finally in the Boss’s seat. It’s a blind spot.” (Gaff)
Faking being the Boss’s is going rampant.
Slow and steady is better than fast and loose. Words spread quickly based on the information network that Gaff had.
Initially, this area was Gaff’s responsibility, and thanks to that the situation and――The inheritance proceeded swiftly.
“Good thing the “Miko (Shrine Maiden)” is here with us.” (Gaff)
“Yeah, totally. The judgment of authenticity of the “Miko (Shrine Maiden)” is endorsed by the organization.” (Gaff’s right-hand man)
One of the factors that make the organization able to keep being secretive is the existence of “Miko (Shrine Maiden)” of the Fox-God. Practical or not, the organization would not be able to function without the “Miko (Shrine Maiden)”.
His experience of surviving as a bandit with a large number of men under his command whispered to Gaff.
It says that he must consolidate the foundation as soon as possible even if he doesn’t know precisely how to do it.
I have also heard rumors of internal strife at the center of command. I hope it is a simple rumor, but I don’t believe that simple rumors can spread out from the center of command.
Seriously, that Boss made me take over at a problematic time. No――Does it mean that I am not qualified to lead the organization if I cannot contain this level of problems?
Alternatively, it could be that this event is customary as long as there is more than one boss with a fox mask. For the fox masks that control other areas, the change of Bosses in one area should be an excellent opportunity to increase their own territory.
Either way, I finally have the fox mask, the sign of being the Boss. No way I will be just sitting back and watching.
The previous Boss told me that he would leisurely watch the battle. Then, let me show you.
The royal strategies of Gaff Shenfelder, the one who was once called “Thief King (Tozoku Ou)”.
“Make Aburaage…… Let everyone fry Aburaage. That is God’s will――”  (Sora)
Said Sora as if she were giving an oracle. But her eyes were completely fixed.
Footnotes
My Sister: here she is saying it in English.