Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~-Chapter 11: White Wolves Den

White Wolves Den

Northwest of the Imperial Capital Zebrudia was a large area of forest.

Many wild monsters inhabited the forest, and wedging its way through the middle of it was something akin to an animal trail, a road that led to a Shrine.

『White Wolves Den』.

Originally in the large woodlands area, there lived monsters native to the region. Wolves with fur like a shining silver moon.

It was said the whole area was the territory of a large-scale pack – the 『Silver

Moon』.

Within the difficult to navigate forest, they moved at high speed through the gaps between the many kinds of trees, with strong limbs and fur that could repel all attack natured magic.

Fangs that crunched on experienced Hunters, with the intelligence to command magic, though only to small effect. Large packs that acted together to hunt monsters of much higher rank in comparison to themselves, the forest’s reapers of death (shinigami).

Known as dreadful monsters that couldn’t be dealt with via ordinary means, the Silver Moon still had two major points of weakness.

Even as an adult, its body only grew to about one meter, it could only be called a small physique.

And finally, what any kind of person couldn’t help but be captivated by, the origin of their name – the moonlight fur.

The bones, fangs and the fur as well, the body’s materials could boast of being among the most valuable of monsters.

Unmistakably, there were risks in capturing a Shrine – with equivalent returns.

Consequently, the Silver Moon became the prey of passing Hunters. Intelligence, power, numbers, they were monsters that had everything.

Yet, they were game to Hunters that held higher numbers, more power, and greater intelligence.

Monsters were living things. No matter how much power they held, they did not spawn spontaneously like the 『Phantoms』 that roamed Shrines.

Thus, shortly after, the wolves were hunted to exhaustion.

As if in inverse proportion, the Silver Moon declined as the Imperial Capital developed. That fact further raised the value of their fur.

The existence that once caused vigilance when entering the forest, degraded to being a meeting that would be called 『good luck』.

And so, at the time the Imperial Capital would be called the Holy Land of Hunters, the large packs of Silver Moon had left behind dens scattered widely, and had been perfectly erased.

『White Wolves Den』

In the dens that were expected to be empty, there was talk of a wolf that had appeared with it’s whole body wet with blood. Around the area the rumour had been going for the last ten years.

§

“Scary! This is definitely a deep seated grudge right... Ah-, it’s not my fault.”

I threw away the documents, my body was shaking. Just thinking about it a little made me want to throw up.

At the best of times I was a little fish, but in the haunted Shrines I was even more famous in the party as a small fry.

A human being that would never be said to have nerves of steel. Firstly, there was no nerve to begin with.

To my face that had become pale, Eva looked at me with a faint smile. “To be frightened to that extent...”

“It’s more a type of reflection on history. Because of past sins you see.”

Shrines fundamentally manifested in places where mana material overflowed; there were known to be a few different types.

Ones completely unrelated to their location.

Ones that had characteristics tending towards the environment it manifested in. And... those that reflected a locations history.

The rules behind a Shrines manifestation were still actively being researched by each nation.

The truth was still not fully understood, but at the moment it was thought that were two or three factors.

Once exterminated by humans, roaming through the dens that were left behind, a large crimson wolf appearing out of nowhere.

It’s not like I particularly held sympathy for the Silver Moon, but it wasn’t a pleasant thing to think about.

“From testimony of Hunters that had experience battling the Silver Moon... it seems like it’s much stronger than the originals.”

“Hahaha... and none of the fur remains. There’s no point in it.” At least it’ll give you an empty laugh.

Shrines that appear from the earth give life to apparitions – 『Phantoms』 that follow the same principle as Shrines that form due to Mana Material.

If you are comparing whether Phantoms are strong or weak in relation to monsters, there are a few distinct differences.

One of them – there is no corpse left behind.

When a 『Phantom』 is destroyed it will return into Mana Material, and it will immediately dissipate into the surrounding air.

Yeah. Quite entirely – like an illusion.

Extremely rarely, one strongly manifested portion of the body or so may remain, but the pelt at least wouldn’t be able to be skinned.

That kind of rampant monster emerging in that particular place, could only be said to be Hunters paying for their mistakes.

Eva had a thoughtful expression as she flipped through the data she had collected on the Shrine.

It wasn’t a state of fear. It’s probably like considering another world. “With this information it looks like the Level 3 ranking wasn’t due to the 𝒃𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝙤𝙢

environment or Gimmicks, but because of the strength of the 『Phantom』.”

“Hmm. Well, it should be alright. Tino knows the gist of it too...”

The ranking of a Shrine was decided from the degree of difficulty to things like the number of Hunters that had returned alive. It was a comprehensive definition.

When the gimmicks and environment were simple, the Phantoms that appeared tended to be strong.

Success depended on a Hunters strong points, but in this case both Tino and Gilbert were muscle brains, so if a powerful Phantom appeared they’d manage it somehow.

Or rather, after seeing Tino fight for the first time in a while, half of her had ceased being human.

I had some expectations, but they were not enough. “It was good Gilbert accepted obedience.”

“Well, it was only really after Tino beat him all over wasn’t it? Perhaps it would have been better to use the information Eva gathered...”

Eva Renfeed was an amazing person.

With no experience as a hunter, she had already managed the clan for several years now. Above all else she had a lot of trade experience living in the Imperial Capital. She was still on friendly terms with her original company.

From purchasing clan materials to using her connections to gather intelligence – or to when the Empires top echelons came to do an inspection. She can skilfully carry out all manner of work.

The information on those three was also gathered in a short time and presented to Tino.

I was truly no match for her. To about the same extent as Ark.

If there wasn’t the stipulation that a Clan Master had to be at least a level 5 Hunter, I would easily concede the seat of Clan Master.

Gilbert’s expression when I suddenly spoke out crossed my mind, and a smile rose unwillingly.

“No, that was a good expression. Being talented also has it’s troubles.”

Capturing Shrines with unstoppable force. Yet your companions can’t follow you.

In these circles, it’s something heard any and everywhere. It happens because differences in talent can be seen clearly.

Different to my situation, Gilbert was the only one in his party that was a prodigy. With the desire to reduce the ill-feelings of the others, he made the decision to leave the party of his own volition.

More precisely it wasn’t a light decision.

It was surely half stubbornness as well. The way he spoke and acted had the air of desperation to it.

A young prodigy becomes conceited, and it gives rise to a feud – it’s really a commonplace story.

Rather, a pattern like mine was the one that was uncommon.

Well, the number one victims were the party members pulled along by Gilbert, recklessly rushing into Shrines beyond his own level, and any other members that get kicked out of their party due to a quarrel.

“Did you offer him the chance to be reborn?”

“No. I just said what I wanted to say, and did what I wanted to do. I kind of took him by surprise, but frankly this isn’t a mouth that could talk about being reborn.”

There’s Miss Tino bearing a strange worship this way, and the one that indoctrinated it Liz-chan. When it comes to Gilbert there’s too many awful things it’s not worth considering.

And above all else – for me that ran the clan carelessly, who was in the position to offer up a self-important sermon?

Occasionally clan members will come for a consultation over their personal relationships. But forgive me, I can’t take responsibility so go away.

As usual Eva had a lovely straight backed figure as she nodded. “Understood. Lets take care of it like that.”

“......”

Eva was excellent but she had a strange way of understanding like that.

But she does the work she’s given well. I’m not going to make a complaint to someone that’s doing me a favour.

It had become inconvenient so I changed the topic.

“Which reminds me, the boy Gilbert was holding a Relic – it was quite a good one wasn’t it?”

“The purgatory sword?”

Remembering the large sword in the black scabbard, I grinned. I like Relics. They are my sole comfort.

Relics were nice. Wonderful. In all ages, Hunters put their life on the line searching for them.

What’s so wonderful? It’s that anybody can use them. Anybody can use power like a miracle. Even without any special talent. What a wonderful thing.

Well, I don’t really use the ones I have, but still good things are good.

“So nice... the Purgatory Sword. Would he sell it I wonder... flame element bestowal and range expansion, if I could examine it properly maybe there are other effects as well-“

But he probably wouldn’t sell. Relics take time to get used to, and once you are used to them, you wouldn’t want to let go in a hurry.

Talking a little about the splendour I felt when I touched the Purgatory sword, I noticed that Eva had an exasperated expression.

Before knowing it I had become a bit passionate. I stiffened my loosened expression. Eva gave a reminder.

“It’s not good to waste money.” “No no, it’s not a waste though...”

“Element bestowal and range expansion, Cry-san how many Relics like that do you already own?”

Relics like that? Please don’t jumble them all together. Each Relic produces a different miracle, with small and large variations with their own idiosyncrasies.

I was about to raise that objection, but noticed that Eva’s gaze had become severe. Because my position was weak, I answered in a small voice.

“...Well, element bestowal and range expansion, those are quite common for weapon type Relics aren’t they...”

In the Capital there are plenty of shops that traded Relics.

If you disregarded power and ease of handling you would find quite a lot.

However if you want to find a Relic with both it was not easy.

To say nothing of the 『Purgatory Sword』. Up until now I had only touched seven Relics that compared with its docile ease of use. Because it was like that, it’s understandable that Gilbert was able to use it in such a short time.

But, if I gave that reason to Eva right now she probably wouldn’t agree.

Maybe it could leak that I occasionally pilfered the clan expenses to buy Relics. (Of course, I would make it up later.)

Eva’s face was staring fixedly. Those light purple eyes had a translucent feeling as if they could see through everything and peer right into your thoughts.

As a last resort, I offered up a half-hearted smile to try and flatter her.

“...So-So anyhow, if you like... you know, would you like to go get something sweet to eat?”

If they eat something sugary people became nicer. At my suggestion, Eva’s eyelid twitched.

“...That, isn’t that what Cry-san wants to eat?” “.........No, not at all.”

That Eva, when did she realise I had a sweet tooth?

It was bad for my image so I was supposed to hide it.... I was careless.

§ § §

Clan Lounge.

In a serious manner Tino looked at the members of the temporary party, and gave her first orders.

“First off, write down your will.” “W-Wait a minute!?”

Flustered, Ruda stood up with her hands on the table.

Translator Notes

-Gimmicks – It’s how the author styles this word. The Kanji means something along the lines of mechanism. I’m sure it’ll be explained later as something like puzzles or traps.

-The discussion about rebirth was a little above my ability to translate so it might be worded confusingly. The general idea was that Cry didn’t think he was in the position to offer Gilbert or anyone new chances, even though the others revered him for some reason.