Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~

There is a tense atmosphere inside the cramped carriage.

The carriage pulled by six Iron Horses, which are both durable and strong and can handle any rough road, is not exactly a comfortable ride, but I, Kool Saiko, have no time to worry about those things.

The reason for this is――The two criminals in front of me.

Even though they are strongly blindfolded and their movements are restricted by handcuffs, shackles and chains, the two criminals still seem unfazed.

They are member of the worst criminal organization, which became the world’s enemy after the incident at the “Supreme Martial Arts Festival (Buteisai)”――Kenbi and Kuubi from 『Nine-Tails Shadow Fox (Kyubi no Kage Kitsune)』.

Those two, who have been captured after many twists and turns in Code, undoubtedly boast combat abilities that surpass those of High-level Hunters.

You don’t need to compare, Kuubi, who could not be captured even though he was completely exhausted from the battle with 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 at the “Supreme Martial Arts Festival (Buteisai)”, and even Kenbi easily countered the surprise lightning attack unleashed by Kryhi.

In the end, they were subdued by the power of 《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》 after the brainwashed Level 8 Hunter was freed, but even so, if she hasn’t taken advantage of the gap in their consciousness caused by 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 clever tactics, it would not have been possible to capture them so easily.

And above all, the biggest problem is that the members chosen as members of the escort team for these extremely vicious criminals are 《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》.

In this golden age of Treasure Hunters where many heroes have been born, the Level of criminals is also increasing year by year, and when it comes to ultra-high-level Hunter-class criminals, they are on a whole different level.

Those who just tore through their alloy chains and handcuffs with bare hands are still on the better side, as I have heard many outrageous rumors where they scorched the surrounding area without chanting or brainwashing the escort members with just their gaze.

In order to safely escort such criminals, who are dangerous even when restrained, to the prison, they need someone with at least the same level of fighting ability, but such members are usually in overwhelming short supply.

This time, the reason 《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》 is assigned to this mission is because our leader, Kryhi, has taken the job on his own, but at the same time, it also mean that the Explorer Association was unable to bring in anyone with greater fighting ability than Kryhi.

Dozens of other Hunters are taking part in the escort and form a tight circle around the carriage, but I, who know the two of them in combat, don’t think that they will be of much help in the case of an emergency.

Of course, Kryhi is strong.

His lightning techniques have been further refined through his experience in Code, and there are few who can defeat him in hand-to-hand or Magic combat.

However, we, who are forced to go along with Kryhi, are several levels inferior to him, and above all, this time, the other party we are dealing with is what they are.

The two criminals have been given every possible countermeasure.

The long sword that Kenbi had been carrying had been recovered by 《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》 just before she was thrown into the carriage, and everything they were carrying had also been confiscated.

This was only possible thanks to 《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》, 《Heavenly Dancer (Hagun Tenbu)》, and above all, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, but now, none of them are here.

Kryhi is on one knee and is quietly watching over the criminals, who are restrained to the point where they can barely move.

There, the blindfolded Kenbi lets out a small sigh and laughs.

“Fufu…… There’s no need to be so nervous.

I’m not stupid enough to go on a rampage in this situation.

My sword has been taken away, after all.

” (Kenbi)“That’s an admirable attitude.

However, I’ll give you a warning just in case.

If you make any suspicious movements――There will be no need to borrow 《Little Witch’s (Yaen Saiden)》 power.

At that time, my trump card will pulverize you all in less than a second.

” (Kryhi)No, there will be sanctions if you kill them………… They will be subject to rigorous interrogation in prison.

If they miss the golden opportunity to get information on their organization, many countries won’t stay silent even if the Explorer Association defends us.

But this Leader of mine will do it.

Kryhi Andrichhi is a man of his word, and his lack of hesitation is the source of his strength.

Next, Kryhi looks at Kuubi.

Kryhi is already in battle mode.

Purple lightning dances on his hair as if to show his quiet fighting spirit.

“Or would you like to see if you can remove your restraints before I can use my trump card?

” (Kryhi)“Interesting………… We couldn’t even fight seriously in Code.

” (Kuubi)Kuubi, who has been given all sorts of Magic countermeasures and whose Magic should have been sealed off, grins.

After all, his attitude certainly doesn’t seem that of someone who is restrained.

That is to be expected.

This man is someone who even Code’s prison could not completely seal.

There is no telling how effective the Magic countermeasures are.

The only fact that we know is that――With all these constraints, there is no way he can break through against the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》.

“I’m disappointed too.

I wanted to fight you face to face once more――But well, I guess it can’t be helped.

” (Kryhi)“If you want to do it so much, then do as you like, but please don’t get me involved.

Even I don’t feel like fighting a High-level Hunter without a sword.

I’m a swordswoman, after all.

And besides――《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》 might still be keeping watch, right?

” (Kenbi)《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》.

Saya Kuromizu’s 『Sarasara』.

That ability is so powerful that it terrified even us, who were not directly affected by it.

If all Level 8 Hunters are monsters with that level of power, it would be difficult for even Kryhi, who is overflowing with talent, to reach Level 8.

So much so that I am convinced of it.

What Kenbi said causes the smile on Kuubi’s face to disappear and his fighting spirit to fade away.

“………… Hmph.

That is true.

” (Kuubi)“I am surprised the Explorer Association decided to send a person with such dangerous abilities.

” (Kenbi)“Dangerous abilities……?

” (Kryhi)Kryhi’s eyes widen at those ominous words.

Dangerous.

I also had a similar impression.

The *sarasara* rustling sound I heard out of nowhere that day still rings in my ears.

And when I think of it, it still sends chills down my spine.

There is something about that sound and that sudden presence that evokes a primordial fear.

It feels like being forced into a life-or-death battlefield with an overwhelming disadvantage.

A fear that makes you feel like you don’t care about what will happen to you at all.

“No, I think they were just hiding it.

Fufufu……… That is definitely an ability from our side of the world.

I couldn’t see what was being summoned, but it doesn’t even obey the orders of 《Little Witch (Yaen Saiden)》.

” (Kenbi)“!!

” (Kryhi)Indeed…… If you think about it rationally, she is right.

After the incident, the freed Kaiser declared that Saya’s counterattack was 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 strategy, so I didn’t pay much attention to it――But at that time, Saya had been completely deprived of her will by the power of the mask.

Usually, beings that are controlled by a controlling ability are expected to absolutely obey the commands of the caster.

That is what it means to control your ability.

Although in the end it worked out, the fact that it didn’t follow her orders means that there is the potential to harm other people on its own will.

Above all, judging from the atmosphere of those beings summoned by that ability, it is clear that they are not on the human side.

It is common for Hunters to conceal their cards, but if this truth were to come to light, it would cause major problems for the Explorer Association.

“To think that such an alien ability would exist………… It seems that the end of modern civilization is drawing closer.

” (Kuubi)“The end…… Of civilization?

” (Kool)I am shocked at what Kuubi said.

“You ignorant.

The fact that someone with such a strange ability has appeared means that the period of change is coming to this world.

The power circulating in this world――The Mana Material has already reached a saturation point.

You bastards too will eventually find out for yourself that the end of this civilization is near.

” (Kuubi)A period of change.

My eyes widened at what he said.

I know that countless civilizations have been destroyed in this world up until now.

Because their remains have been recreated with Mana Material in the form of Treasure Shrines and Phantoms.

Certainly, I have heard rumors that the concentration of Mana Material is gradually increasing, but I never thought that it would lead to the end of civilization.

It is easy to dismiss those words as absurd.

If this had been told in a gossip magazine, I would have laughed it off, but it is coming out of these guys.

Kuubi and Kenbi, who have even been blindfolded, have not been silenced so that we can extract information out of them along the way, if possible.

As I am making a mental note, Kenbi smiles seductively with just the corners of her mouth and says to Kryhi.

“If you release us from our restraints and cooperate with us right now, I will allow you to join us, 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》.

In any case, there is――No prison that can hold the two of us.

” (Kenbi)This was a major problem that arose when capturing High-level Hunter-class criminals.

This time, they will be imprisoned in a top-class prison.

The level of the guards is also incomparably higher than in other prisons, but even so, it cannot be said that they are fully prepared.

Leaving aside Kenbi, who has no weapon, it will be a big challenge to incarcerate Kuubi, who is a Magi who does not need weapons and has been a handful even in Code’s prison.

However, that is not something we should be thinking about.

Our role is solely to escort them, anything else that happens after that should be left to the professionals in that field.

Kryhi replies to what Kenbi said with a smile.

“Don’t underestimate us.

The Zebrudia Empire is leading discussions among the various countries on how to contain you.

Depending on the circumstances, the Explorer Association will likely send in High-level Hunters.

” (Kryhi)The one expressing the most anger over the “Supreme Martial Arts Festival (Buteisai)” is the Zebrudia Empire.

It is one of the world’s greatest powers, both in terms of land size and national power.

In addition, its Imperial Capital is known as the holy land for Hunters, and many Treasure Hunters have chosen it as their base (Though we, 《Strange Freak (Nageki no Akuryo)》, have never been there, since the real thing is there).

 If the Empire is serious, it could mobilize High-level Hunters to the prison by issuing high-paying requests to the Explorer Association.

Kuubi snorts at what Kryhi said.

“Zebrudia, Zebrudia…… huh.

Kuh, kuh………… How foolish.

Even though they don’t have time to worry about us.

” (Kuubi)“…………” (Kryhi)“Zebrudia’s Imperial Capital is located in the land where a god once existed――A forbidden area, so to speak.

Rodan defeated the god and destroyed the temple-type Treasure Shrine, but he did not destroy the god.

The current Emperor seems to be a shrewd man――But now that the energy filling the earth’s veins is rising, they will have to pay the price for their long-lasting prosperity.

” (Kuubi)Hearing Kuubi speak with such conviction, the recent incidents that have occurred in Zebrudia come to my mind.

I thought that there had been too much commotion lately――But maybe there really is something going on.

Something that an average Hunter like me can never imagine.

“But Zebrudia also has 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 who captured you, you know.

” (Kryhi)“Hh………… Don’t talk about him.

I don’t want to hear about it.

” (Kuubi)Says Kuubi as if he is spitting that out, and goes quiet.

Thanks for reading!

This explains everything!

That’s why Cry’s base of operation is at Zebrudia!

It is all for the sake of stopping the end of civilization that is coming!

Sasuga Master~!

Master~ wa kami!

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