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

As I sat back on a chair, Sytry quickly brought me a cup of tea.

　I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
I didn’t realize it, but it seemed like I have been quite nervous for a while now.
　The sense of security is different when Sytry and the others are here with me.
If the Magic Ghost is here, then I am sure I will be able to finish my carpet training in time.
I feel so bad that they won’t get any credit for this request.

　Sytry said with a *niconico* smile when she saw me calming down.

“The escort will finally be in its climax.
Once you are in the air, the thing we can do will be limited.
…… So I was wondering if there might be something I could do while we are here.” (Sytry)

“Thanks, it helps a lot.
Let’s see……” (Cry)

　Indeed, I haven’t been able to do anything so far.
It is shameful to ask for help now, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to earn the favor of the Emperor and Franz at this point.
　After all, we are traveling in the sky.
You can never be too prepared.
I have already asked Liz for help, but I have Sytry for supplies, Anthem for recovery, and Lucia the all-purpose Magi.
We can do everything.

　For the time being, I asked Sytry to prepare additional potions, Anthem to cast recovery Magic on the remaining injured members, and Lucia――.

“I will tell you first, but――I can’t turn water into wine or orange juice yet.” (Lucia)

　As if she realized she was being watched, Lucia frowned and said that.

§

“Ngh…… Where am I……” (Kruz)

“You woke up.
I am sorry for all the trouble, Kruz” (Cry)

’

“Yowaningen………… Kuh!? That’s right, I was――” (Kruz)

　Kruz gets up on the bed and looks around in panic.

　We were in my room.
Even though I said my room, the bed was brand new since I haven’t even stayed there for one night yet.
　Kruz held her head down, checked outside the window, and finally checked her appearance.

　The sun was already completely gone.
Several hours had passed since Kruz had fallen.

　Apparently, the Alchemy Ghost had given her a potion to restore her Magic Power as well as a potion to erase some of her memories.
It was true that if Kruz had any memories left, it would have been troublesome, but Sytry, you are too trigger-happy.
　Kechakchakka? He can only say “Kekeke”, so it will surely be fine.

　Pushing down my feeling of guilt, I said with a smile.

“You collapsed due to a lack of magic, so I had to carry you…… Are you okay?” (Cry)

　By the way, it was me who carried her, however, Lucia used a weight-reducing Magic on her, so I had no trouble at all.

　Maybe because of the medicine, Kruz was still a little space out.
　She *jii* stared at me with her purple eyes, thought about something for a while, and then frowned and said.

“………… What the hell was that group of ghosts, desu?” (Kruz)

’

“………… You must have been dreaming.” (Cry)

“I’m starting to remember…… That ghost, forced me to drink something――” (Kruz)

　…… She didn’t lose her memory at all, no?
　I wonder if the Potion didn’t work properly because she was a “Spirit People (Noble)”.
Sytry is smart, but she always has a touch of an airhead in her.

　Kruz’s expression gradually changed from a spaced-out one.

“I-I remember, desu…… That’s right.
I have seen the one inside that ghost before, desu.
She was the one who came to negotiate our inclusion in the Clan, she was a Member of Yowaningen’s Party, desu.” (Kruz)

　Moreover, she even saw her face.
Apparently, her memories were quite clear.

“You must have dreamt it.” (Cry)

　Kruz stood up while still being unsteady and came to me.
I involuntarily stepped back under her silent pressure.

　When I noticed, I was cornered to the wall.  She narrowed her eyes and Kruz said as if she was threatening me.
　Her pointy ears were *pikupiku* twitching.
It is not that scary because it is Kruz, but if it was Gark-san, my heart would have stopped.

“Yo-Yowaningen, did you really think that you can fool me like that, desu! You are going to tell me everything about what you are up to, desu!” (Kruz)

“It was just a dream……” (Cry)

’

“Mmmmh? Look me right in the eyes and say it again, desu.
Yowaningen swear on your Party Member that you are not lying, desu.” (Kruz)

“Too close.
You are too close!” (Cry)

　Clear eyes and well-shaped lips.
I could almost count the number of eyelashes on her face.
Even if you said that she is a Spirit People, her appearance isn’t that much different from a human.

　…… Normally, shouldn’t our position be reversed? However, even when I pointed it out, Kruz was completely unfazed.
She wasn’t listening to me at all.
Even if she had a slender body, she was indeed a Hunter.

　Should I just confess…… Leaving aside Term and Kechakchakka, Kruz is a Clan Member.
If I explain the situation, there is a chance that she will understand…… Even if it doesn’t feel like she will.
What should I do…
　Maybe she could sense my agitation, Kruz started to smile at me.
It was a fearless smile, something a little out of her usual impression.
And she whispered at me.

“Come on, fess it, desu.
Yowaningen? If you are honest with me, maybe I might forgive you or something, desu.” (Kruz)

　And then, the door suddenly opened.

“《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, I need to speak with you……!? ………………” (Term)

“!?” (Kruz)

　It was Term who came in.
When he saw me cornered against the wall and Kruz smiling fearlessly, his eyes widened as if he was startled.
　Term froze for a while, but when he saw Kruz staring in wonder and me with a half-smile on my face, he nodded broadly, as if he was convinced of something.

“Aaah, I see…… I didn’t know why you brought her here, but you had that kind of relationship……………… I am sorry for entering so suddenly.
But, a word of advice from someone who is older…… You should lock the door when you are doing something like this.
Aaah, I am sorry for disturbing you.
We can talk about my matter later.
I will come back later.” (Cry)

’

“!?????” (Kruz)

　The door made a creaking sound as it closed.
　She blinked her eyes for a while and looked at me and the door alternately, thought for a while, but then her face turned bright red as if she understood what Term was talking about.

“Haaa? Haaa, aaaaaah!? What the hell did that human misunderstand? T-That Yowaningen and I have that kind of relationship!? You’ve got to be kidding me, desu! What kind of brain does he have to be able to think like that, desu! There’s no way a feeble human would be physically compatible with a “Spirit People (Noble)” who has extraordinary Magical Power, desu.” (Kruz)

“…… No, biologically speaking you are not that different.
It is very rare, but there are “Half-spirits (Half-nobles)””.
(Cry)

　That was what Sytry said before.

“Sh-Sh-Sh-Shut uppp! Whose fault do you think――Kuh, Yowaningen, you better remember this! Desu! Term! Wait! Terrrmmm!” (Kruz)

　Kruz runs out of the room with tears in her eyes.
What an amazing expression.
　Apparently, it was more humiliating for Kruz to be misunderstood, I’m saved.

　But wait…… Maybe Term dared to say it that way in order to help me?

Term and I are the best teams.
This is quite possible as he followed me up on the Sheets Ghost story last time.

“I will have to thank the 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 for that……” (Cry)

　But there is nothing to worry about anymore.
I have done all that I can do.
Starting from tomorrow, let me show you what a reliable 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 can do.