Chapter 53.2

Chapter 53.2: Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter’s Hero Dream Chapter 53.2 \nUntil now, the girl named Sofia Black has always kept a polite appearance. To Noto who saw for the first time this appearance was unsettle, furthermore Sofia murmured something in front of him.\n

“… What did I do wrong? A little more and I would have completed Noto-san research…”

“?? Sofi…a…? What’s wrong?”

“Aaah, sorry, Teacher. It was a little unexpected…”

Sofia raises her face and shamefully corrects her posture. In that little time, her unusual reaction earlier disappeared.

Regaining her composure, she clears her throat and continues.

“Don’t worry. We still have a hand to play. Equipment still remain, there is also the messenger above. I have already made some plans.”

The facilities outside of the Imperial Capital was most likely already destroyed. However, equipment and item are still inside the 『Spatial bag』. Of course, there is the paper that summarize the research results but also rare catalyst for magic and Relics. There are also hideouts position that the disciples don’t know about. If you make a good use of it and prepare well enough even if the opponent is a Level 8 Hunter, you have a good chance to win. If neither magic nor physical attack worked, then there are other ways to do it. You can assassinate him. Or you can prepare a trap.

I hand over the plan. Sofia takes them but put them on the table without confirming it. Then she made a small sight and bowed so deeply that her hair was about to touch the teacup.

“I am sorry, Teacher. The cause of everything was… Me.”

“… What… Are you saying?”

“The purpose of Infinite Variety is 『Me』, is what I am saying. But I swear… I didn’t betray you.”\n

Sofia raises her head and looks at Noto who doesn’t understand the situation. Tears slowly gathered in both of her eyes. As if to amplify the effect of her asking for forgiveness.

“I have a deep respect toward Teacher. You had the skills and the knowledge to be once called “Sage, Master Magus”, despite having such a high position, you sought out for forbidden knowledge and was outcasted, your inquiry and inquisitive spirit, and also the fact that you fell into such a situation and still escaped death, your obsession spirit and cautiousness, I respect everything about you. The research on mystery, contrary to magic, requires talents, to teacher who has reach such high level for both is indubitably a 『Genius』. All the other disciples except me were talented… Teacher had… Everything that I didn’t have.”

The trembling voice is thin and weak. If her voice had a shape, it would have been a snowflake, fragile and yet beautiful. I calm my breath and moves my jaw.

“… Continue.”

“Akasha and the Mana Material Distortion Equipment yielded excellent results. If I did it on my own, it would have taken a huge amount of time and money and there would also have more risks appearing. In this place, there are expensive equipment, rare catalysts and materials and also excellent researcher, everything was gathered here. And there is also Teacher… You listen to my word even if I was new and inexperienced. For Teacher who was supposed to be banned to still be in the Imperial Capital, was for me really fortunate.”

Those words seem full of remorse. The content of her speech was nothing suspicious. If she had told that with her normal flat tone voice, there would have been nothing suspicious at all. I secretly grip the wand that was leaning next to me. Without noticing it, Sofia says.

“If possible… I would have wanted to continue my research with you.”

“… You can continue. It is not over yet.”

“No… It is over. Teacher has… transgressed a taboo, pushed to the brink by Infinite Variety, you killed all your disciples, and you were captured… You will be the world worst Mage trapped in the Empire in history. I will, probably… never see you again.”

Her tone was too natural. I keep checking Sofia’s appearance. Her eyebrow looks sorrowful. Her eyes painting a sad expression. Her well defined facial feature made her look like a tragic heroine or something similar. You can see that she is sad from the bottom of her heart.

“Sofia! You bastard, you think that I! Will lose to that guy!”\nSofia is a researcher. Talented, but her ability as a Mage… Her magical power is several steps behind Noto. Right now, Sofia doesn’t have a staff, even if you had one Sofia’s magic can’t overcome Noto’s magical resistance.

Sofia didn’t show any resistance to Noto who stood up, flaps his cheeks and shouted. He grabs her long hair and pull it down strongly. But she continued.

“Infinite Variety’s purpose is … a warning. Not to you Teacher, but to me. 『It is becoming dangerous, so stop right now and come back』.”

“Wha!?”

Her fiery crimson long hair slides down as he pulls it.

For a second, I thought I peeled off her scalp, but that was no it. In front of the stunned Noto, a lump of hair fell on the table.

What came out of under it was her thin pink blonde hair. Her hair was cut short, compared to her flashy red hair the impression is so different that it is as if she was a different person. Showing her true face to Noto, Sofia lifts the wig and shyly tells him.

“Truthfully, I didn’t want to show it… I studied under you for many years so it would have been to 『Dishonest』.”

“For so many year… All this time… You kept it hidden… Why would you do…?”

“Eh… Because if it was known… It would have been bad. If I received a second “Penalty”, even if Cry-san forgives me, the Explorer Assoc. wouldn’t forgive me. This time I may be the only one who can’t be a Hunter anymore… That kind of thing… I absolutely refuse it.”

Sofia blinks her eyes and makes a troubled expression.\n\nSofia makes a lonely smile. Her being like this made her look like she has never been given such an alias. But Sofia’s action until now perfectly coincide with her alias.

“You bastard… You are 『Deep Black | The Worst of the Worst』.”

“That name… I really, hate it.”

Noto spits and scream, the person who was called Sophia shrug her shoulder. Those casual gesture and words confirmed Noto’s doubts.

『Deep Black | The Worst of the Worst』. One member of 『Strange Grief | The Lamenting Ghost』.

“Sytry Smart… You bastard was… the insider!?”

“No… As I told you, I am not. I did what I did only for myself… And I became you disciple. Cry-san and the other aren’t involve, I never told them. And also… That horrible alias end today.”

Sytry puts her hands together and told him as if blessing him.

“From today onward 『The Worst of the Worst』 will be you, Teacher.”

Thank you for reading this! Damn I was so shocked when Sofia launch her monologue on Noto. The only thing a was looking for was “Where is the period! Where is the comma, please don’t let me translate that in one fell swoop!”. And when I finish it, I was so relieved but then I saw… ANOTHER BLOCK Noooooo! Pfiou the whole chapter has more than 6800 words it’s a new record so tired. And yes, some of you have guessed it but Sophia was indeed Sytry! If you saw the volume 2 cover you can see Sofia above and Cry hugging Sytry like Sofia was aiming for them. Who would have thought that even the cover misdirected us! 1 more chapter before the conclusion of the second arc! Tchao à plus!