Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~-Chapter 450.1: Under Suspension ②

A fresh breeze flows into the room through the small open window. At the Clan Master’s Office’s desk. Sitting deeply at my usual spot, I blink at Eva’s report.

“Eh? Saya came? To the Imperial Capital? That’s earlier than I expected.” (Cry)

“Yes. Liz-san found her and it seems like they are currently conducting mock battles in the underground training ground.” (Eva)

“??? Eh? Why?” (Cry)

Saya Kuromizu. A Level 8 Hunter who took the Level 9 Certification Exam with me. It is true that she had said that she wanted to come to the Imperial Capital, but she acted too quickly, and what’s more, it makes no sense that the first thing she does after arriving is to engage in mock battles. I guess that is what you would expect from a Level 8 Hunter…… Come to think of it, did she become Level 9?

I hope Liz and the others aren’t causing any trouble…… Heck, you are already having mock battles, but you two are getting along so quicklyyy.

Then, at that moment, the Clan House starts to shake. It seems like things are getting pretty heated.

Just to be safe, the training ground was built underground so that the Clan House wouldn’t collapse if they overdid it, but it still shook, the being called High-level Hunter is so frightening.

Eva frowns and says as I look at the shaking ceiling.

“We have perfected the measures to prevent collapses. We have many High-level Hunters there, after all.” (Eva)

“It is because Anthem can easily break through thick metal walls.” (Cry)

Just like Luke, who can cut anything down with a single stroke, it doesn’t seem like something a human being can do. Even if you build a building with sturdy materials, there is a limit to how much you can do…… Before we decided to become a Hunter, he wasn’t that different from me, but now there is a big difference.

As I am deeply moved by this, Eva *chirari* glances once towards the entrance and checks again.

“Would you like to meet her?” (Eva)

“…… No, I feel bad for Saya, but I will refrain from doing so. Everyone seems to be feeling a bit *piripiri* tense, and I don’t want them to probe a stomach, which isn’t even hurt1.” (Cry)

At the entrance to the Clan Master’s Office――In front of the wide open door, there are nearly ten people looking in our direction with serious expressions.

They come in all different ages and clothing, and they have been sent to monitor me since my suspension began. It seems like they have been sent by various organizations, such as the Explorer Association, the various Knight Orders, Relic investigators and many more. It has been several years since I came to the Imperial Capital, but I have never heard of such a response before (By the way, I asked Eva if she could refuse them, but she said she cannot).

“It would be troublesome if they hang around too close and strange rumors start spreading……” (Eva)

“Now, now, don’t say that. They are here for work too, so we have to thank them for their work. Why don’t you offer them some tea?” (Cry)

I wave to the people who are still keeping a watchful eye from outside the Clan Master’s Office, but they all keep their serious expressions and show no reaction. By the way, there is a rotational watchguard that shifts 24 hours a day. Of course, they don’t come into my private quarters, but being monitored so closely by so many people, is this not a better treatment than that of an Emperor?

I said I would not do anything, and I have hardly done anything up until now, but they don’t seem to trust me at all. I kind of understand a little bit how Ohii-sama felt, having been imprisoned for so long.

“If you say so, Cry-san………… In any case, it won’t last long anyway. The amount of your suspension deposit is quite high.” (Eva)

Eva sighs and looks away from the watchguard. Apparently, Eva is not feeling too happy about this situation. Indeed, it is not a pleasant thing to have your Clan Master suspended and put under monitoring for not doing anything wrong. It may be that if we don’t protest about the punishment, people will look down on us――Well, let’s just say that this time I will let it slide and they will owe me a favor.

“I hope the case is resolved quickly.” (Eva)

“Eh? Did something happen?” (Cry)

“…… You didn’t know? It seems that currently, various Institutes are working frantically to determine the cause of the problem――” (Eva)

When I ask leisurely, Eva’s eyes widen and she explains.

“Aaah, now that I think about it, Lucia was talking about something like that too.” (Cry)

“As the investigation progressed, it became clear that a significant number of people had disappeared…… This is indeed an unusual situation.” (Eva)

Well, well, well…… Thank you for all your hard work. If I hadn’t been suspended, I might have received some troublesome requests from Gark-san again. I am so glad I am suspended. So that means the reason why the watchguard suddenly came and started looking at me with such harsh eyes is because they are checking to see if I am going to do anything stupid again, huh.

I will not move even if you ask me to!

“Because there are so many mysterious aspects to this incident, everyone is on their guard as there are concerns that a god may be involved. This is the former site of the 【Star Temple】, after all.” (Eva)

“A god……? No, I don’t think that is the case.” (Cry)

“!? How do you know that?” (Watchguard)

My answer causes the people monitoring us to start to get agitated. Apparently, they are listening in. No, I already know that…… They are here to make sure I don’t do anything unnecessary.

I know this because I checked with the Imouto Kitsune on my smartphone, but I can’t tell her the truth about it. Imouto Kitsune may be a glutton, but she is still a Phantom after all…… I *tonton* tap my index finger on the table and say in a badass tone.

“Even if I am under suspension, I can tell that much. Well, if Lucia is taking action, it will be resolved quickly.” (Cry)

I yawn as I watch the watchguards suddenly becoming frantic and contacting someone somewhere.

It is because Lucia is 10,000 times better than me and has a lot of friends. Plus, unlike Luke and Liz, Lucia doesn’t have any weaknesses that seem to be a weakness. In fact, if she cannot solve this case, then it must be a major problem.

Ah, but maybe if the case is solved, I will be released from suspension…… When I think about it like that, this time seems precious. I have to make sure to properly *daradara* slack off.

“I wonder. It seems like the information is quite conflicting……” (Eva)

“Conflicted……? Not that they don’t have clues at all or anything?” (Cry)

“It is not that there aren’t any, but there are way too many. It seems like there are strange rumors spreading throughout the Imperial Capital――That if you walk down an alleyway late at night, you will be kidnapped by a monster with a hanging head, or that while you are sleeping at night, you will suddenly hear a knock on your door and if you answer, you will be dragged into a world of darkness never to return…… I think most of these are baseless rumors, but the Knight Orders have also advised people to be careful.” (Eva)

I see, if someone were to be spirited away within the Imperial Capital, it would certainly cause a commotion. It would be even more so if a warning were issued. It is only a matter of time before the mastermind behind this incident is caught.

But they are just baseless rumors, huh……

“How do you know they are baseless rumors?” (Cry)

“Why you say…… If those who encounter it never come back, then who is spreading rumors?” (Eva)

“………… Eva, you are so smart.” (Cry)

That is absolutely true. If everyone had been wiped out, there is no way rumors would have spread. Well, I never answer the door when someone knocks, and I don’t walk around alleyways in the middle of the night, so it doesn’t really matter to me anyway.

Eva makes a subtle look in response to my praise.

“………… Much obliged. It seems that rumors that we have never heard before are exploding, and the citizens are getting frightened. I have always tried to suppress that kind of information, but………… I haven’t been able to grasp the origin.” (Eva)

It is true that Eva answers immediately, no matter what you ask her…… She really is a hard worker. I wonder if she could make a living as an information broker?

“The source of the rumor is unknown, as is the relationship between the rumors and the people being spirited away, and no Institute has been able to identify the cause yet.” (Eva)

“Even though the investigation institutes in the Imperial Capital are all excellent, this case sure must be hard. Even though it should be easy to tell when someone disappears……” (Cry)

The institutes conducting the investigation are probably the same organization that the people monitoring me belong to. I said that sincerely, while *chirari* glancing at the people monitoring me.

With well-developed educational institutions and a widespread belief that meritocracy is everything, Zebrudia is said to have a very high level of human resources. Anyone can become a Hunter, and there is a mixed bag of quality, but there shouldn’t be any incompetent people who belong to the state. To think that even with such groups of talented people gathered here, they still can’t figure out the cause…… This really happened inside the Imperial Capital, right? Zebrudia is supposed to be a relatively safe country with good public order, but recently, too many things have happened.

Should I think that it is a good thing that Hunters have so much work to do?

Then Eva asks me a strange question.

“Even after investigating, we have only heard strange rumors, and we still cannot figure out the cause at all. We cannot even find the people who disappeared. There are also some strange characteristics that don’t seem to be the work of humans. What would you do, Cry-san?” (Eva)

“Eh…………? ………… I guess I will just do nothing and wait for someone to figure it out, I guess.” (Cry)

“…………” (Eva)

“I-I am just kidding. Uuum, well……” (Cry)

Eva frowns at my half-serious answer and stares at me. I wonder what this is, I feel a tremendous pressure.

I sit deeply, cross my legs, and take a sip of the tea Eva has made for me.

No matter how I think about it, there is no way I could do anything about something that all the talented members have investigated and still cannot find anything………… Right.

Before I formed a Clan, I had been on the brink of death many times with 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》. Or rather, to be more precise, I was just swept away by the situation, but surprisingly, there were also some instances where we were able to break out of a stalemate in those battlefields thanks to that.

I raise my index finger and say badassly.

“In times like that, you just need to become the victim yourself. In this case, you just need to get spirited away.” (Cry)

“!?” (Watchguard)

The watchguards stare at me with wide eyes at my conclusion. Fuh, that answer must have been unexpected for them. Well, I wouldn’t do it again tho’.

Eva, who has her eyes wide open, *gokuri* swallows, and timidly asks.

“Etto………… How do you do that?” (Eva)

“…………” (Cry)

At the very reasonable question, I smile.

Well, you see, if you just do nothing and wait for someone else to solve the problem, you usually get caught up in it.

“Wh-What will you do after you have been kidnapped?” (Eva)

“…………” (Cry)

I continue to try my best to maintain the smile I have on my face.

Well, you see, if you just do nothing and wait for someone else to solve the problem, your friends will save you.

Thanks for reading! After all, Hugh getting caught was indeed Cry’s plan! He is even giving them some hints about that fact. Sasuga Master~ And of course, he is not going to say what to do after that or else it won’t be an Infinite Trial. Sasuga Master…

A proverb that means to be suspected without reason. Here Cry means to not become a suspect just by meeting Saya