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

Chapter 290，Part2: 2 - Marin's Wails ③

Chapter 290 Marin’s Wails ③

Part 2

“It’s weakening! It’s working, we’re almost there!” (Gark)

Gark-san, who was near the Hunter units, shouts. The knights’ and priests’ murderous intent is too high, so except for Ark, the Hunter units haven’t done anything yet.

It looks like they have a lot of leeways. I know… If I go against their opinions, wouldn’t it be possible to throw mud to 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 Divine Strategist’s name?

Today, I am――Brilliant.

“Hmpf…… I wonder about that?” (Cry)

“!? Yowaningen, you’ve got to stop doing this, desu!” (Kruz)

“No, no, no, you might be able to see something surprisingly interesting……?” (Cry)

“Grr!! This Dameningen!” (Kruz)

Come to think of it, when I was still trying to fulfill my role as the Leader of 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》, I also often deceit like this.? Of course, it goes without saying that I was only deceiving so everything was a disaster even then――.

Marin’s Wails scratches her head and like her name, raises a wail.

“――Hhh! ――――Hhh!” (Marin)

A condensation of all kinds of negative emotions. The screams are soundless and meaningless, but her emotions, her killing intent, is clearly conveyed.

The concentration of emotion was strong enough to chill your heart even from the other side of the barrier. If it had not been for the barrier, my heart might have stopped just by her staring at me.

Jet-black flames erupt from her slender body. The flames erode the golden flames, repel the lightning, and burn the bullets.

――However, even the cursed weapon that swallowed tens of thousands of lives was no match for the crystallization of the Church’s technology.

Marin’s Wails, who is cloaked in flame, *bambam* hit the boundaries of the barrier as if she was hitting a wall. The pillar *biribiri* shivers and the bottom slowly turns black. But not a speck of the black flame leaked from the Multi-Layered Barrier Magic Circle.

They said they guessed the power of the curse with records from the past, but they guessed it perfectly.

The power of the black flame gradually weakens. As the church guessed, her state was already weakened due to being sealed for a long period of time but she had been additionally weakened by the attacks.

I don’t know which worked better between the barrier, the lightning, or the bullets, but even dragons will die if you do this much.

Perhaps judging that they had weakened her enough, Priest-san, who was observing the battle next to Anthem, spoke to him about something. It must be time for the purification.

It would be one thing to weaken a cursed item but it is said that it is quite difficult to completely annihilate it. Especially one at the level of Marin’s Wails, it is said that it requires a very high level of skill among the miracles possessed by the members of the “Light Spirit (Korei)” Church.

As a childhood friend, I should be proud of the fact that Anthem was chosen to play the major role in the purification of 『Marin’s Wails』.

Anthem nodded broadly to Priest-san and stepped for the first time inside the barrier, which no one had entered since the seal was released.

Anthem Smart, the 《Unshakeable Permeance (Fudo Fuhen)》 is the strongest Paladin in the Imperial Capital. Except for me, everyone in 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 has strengths that none of the other members can match, but I would say that his strength lies in his overwhelming durability.

He has the strength and toughness that come from his huge body. He is able to use healing and protection techniques thanks to the Light Spirit’s teaching, and after absorbing Mana Materials, he became the 《Unshakeable Permeance (Fudo Fuhen)》, impervious to all attacks.

His durability is demonstrated against everything from purely physical attacks, of course, but also against magic, environmental changes, and even drugs such as poison and paralysis, diseases, and even curses.

He has been trained by Sytry’s poison, Lucia’s magic, Luke’s sword, Liz’s selfishness, Eliza’s my-pace, and my lightning, so there is no blind spot in him.

Even in the face of the deadliest curse, there was no hesitation or fear in Anthem’s steps. Marin’s Wails, who had been in a frenzy, turned her face to Anthem as he boldly stepped in.

A jet-black flame that burns her body spreads out and attacks Anthem. However, Anthem didn’t waver even after being hit by the flames, which seem to take the form of her murderous intent.

Marin’s Wails retreated for the first time in response to Anthem, who took a step forward while receiving her curse.

Did she sense the immense power that dwells in his body? Did the deadly curse weapon, which simply continues to spread her resentment, still have a will?

But it’s over. The inside of the Multi-Layered Magic Circle is not wide enough to allow you to escape.

Soon the back of Marin’s Wails is blocked by a wall of barrier. Anthem stretches out his large arm to Marin’s Wails whose path to retreat was cut off and gives a loud scream.

This curse has been used more than enough. All that remains is for the Church’s miracle to purify the pitiful killing curse weapon created by a sorcerer’s hideous nature.

――Is what was supposed to happen.

Anthem’s shoulders tremble, and his outstretched arm stops. The priests of the “Light Spirit (Korei)” Church who were surrounding her widened their eyes and gasped.

Franz-san, who was triumphantly commanding this event with his arms crossed, noticed the change in the situation and opened his eyes to the limit.

“Im-Impossible…… What is――That. No…… How did that happen!?” (Franz)

“…………” (Anthem)

Before I knew it, a strange object was crouching between Anthem and Marin’s Wails.

Its color was black. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a solid mass, but as it slowly unravels, you finally realize that it is a humanoid.

That was――A knight. It was the shadowy silhouette of a knight whose hands, feet, body, and head were made of black.

The jet-black thing that absorbs light is as bizarre as a black hole and it stands out badly inside the magic circle which is still full of light.

Perhaps the most perplexed is the target――Marin’s Wails herself.

In the blink of an eye, what had been a mere silhouette gained texture and unevenness. In the blink of an eye, it was transformed from a mere shadow into an ominous black knight.

The knight stands in front of her as if to protect Marin’s Wails and draws his sword from his hip.

The pillars that made up the Multi-Layered Barrier Magic Circle rapidly turn black. Then, Priest-san shouts in a panic.

“An unknown force!? Attack!” (Priest)

“Fire! Kill theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!” (Franz)

The attack, which had been halted due to the purification process, resumes, and silver bullets mow down the inside of the magic circle.

When executing the operation, the church anticipated a variety of irregularities. The church had assumed a pattern in which the power of Marin’s Wails was not what they expected or a pattern in which Anthem was in bad shape and could not move. However, the appearance of reinforcements was, as expected, not anticipated.

In the first place, there is no way that a curse that has been sealed for a long time can have any allies and as for intruders from the outside, members of the Knight Order are taking countermeasures at the request of Franz-san.

Anthem’s gigantic body is like a wall. It is hard to tell what is going on from the ground.

However, strangely enough, Anthem’s situation could be seen clearly from the top of the showy main gate.

Priest-san says it is some unknown force, but it is not. I have certainly seen it. I rub my eyes involuntarily.

That knight………… He came out of the pendant that Sytry brought, didn’t he? ………… Is it a nightmare?

The knight thrusts his sword into the ground. A black blood-like liquid erupts from the center of the thrusted sword, creating a curtain.

By some logic, the silver bullet from his left and right were repelled by the liquid that spewed up.

Franz’s face showed an idiotic *pokan* blank expression. But then, Anthem stepped in with a roar and swung his fist widely.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Sasuga Cry! Just purifying Marin is too easy.

That’s why he added a black knight to help her!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Dameningen: it means no good/useless human.