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

Chapter 291，Part1: 1 - Marin's Wails ④

Chapter 291 Marin’s Wails ④

Part 1

It is the most primitive Magic in the world.

Originally, Magic is a phenomenon that occurs through a specific process using Magic power as its energy source. The processes are sometimes sounds, letters, gestures or even breaths.

However, in this world, there were very few people who could cause a phenomenon just by 『Thinking』.

Primitive Magic is Magic caused by the thoughts of those who possess the qualities. It is unique because it is uncategorized, powerful because it requires the practitioner to have a certain talent and it is uncontrollable.

Sometimes, they occurred without the person’s intention and caused great damage, so people called them 『Curses』 out of fear, but those who consciously used those principles were called “Shaman (Jujutsushi)” to distinguish them from “Magi (Madoushi)“.

That was a terrible curse created by one abominable sorcerer at the end of his research.

Strong thoughts that lead up to curses often arise from negative emotions.

Fear, resentment, jealousy, anger, pain, murderous intent.

The sorcerer gathered all kinds of people with abilities, whether they were young, old, men or women, locked them in one place, and made them kill each other.

A war in which the people were deprived of any other choice. Amidst the bloodshed, resentment became even stronger resentment, and the will to kill took shape. When the last survivor――Marin, ran out of strength, an unprecedented killing cursed weapon was completed.

The target of its desire to kill was gone, its reasoning was gone, but its passion never fades.

『It』 was created for the sole purpose of cursing and killing all things. For 『It』, the will to kill is as natural as breathing.

It was the result of those it failed to protect.

A pendant left by a loyal knight who failed in the middle after following its Lord, who was chased by his family, friends, and country.

The emotions contained in it are its regret for not being able to protect its Lord and strong resentment toward those who denounced and tried to execute its Lord as if he were the devil.

The vindictive curse was chipped away except only for its obsession to protect the weak which turned it into the only ever protective curse.

It already does not care about whether the one it protects was good or bad. It does not matter if the allegations made against its Lord it once tried to protect were not false but the truth, and it does not matter if it had killed hundreds of innocent people with its influence and brutality.

As long as it can protect the oppressed, that’s all that matters.

The thoughts that have become a curse are pure, but have several aspects.

It who wanted to kill was also the one who was not able to protect. It who wanted to protect was also the one who could not be relied on.

Different curses born in completely different eras interfere with each other and take on a new form.

It was probably one of the rarest and most miraculous sights in the world.

The priests who attempted to unseal and destroy the curse, as well as the armed knights and hunters who surrounded them, were stunned to see the two curses.

Blackened and rotting limbs. Wearing a ragged costume, the limb that had barely retained its human form stirs up and, in a complete turnaround from earlier, regains a solid human form. The atrophied will to kill sharpened in the face of the overwhelming power of light.

The knight, who regained its form in front of the one it needs to protect, and the cursed spirit, who showed a far stronger killing intent than before, send out their resentment at full force in front of the attack that was launched all at once at them.

§　§　§

A high-pitched metallic sound, a roar, echoes through the air. The dark-colored sword drawn by the mysterious black knight who suddenly appears cuts off the bullets, and a black curtain prevents the lightning.

Anthem’s fist, which was swung down without a moment’s notice, clashed with the black knight’s sword, causing the air to *biribiri* shakes violently.

The pillars that made up the Multi-Layered Barrier Magic Circle were discolored and cracked. No matter how powerful the latest magic circle is, it is not without limitations.

The strength of a curse is expressed by the expression of curse power level. The Barrier Magic Circle is constructed so that it can contain an expected curse power level from 『Marin’s Wails』 plus a large margin, but conversely, it cannot contain any more than the expected curse power level.

According to the church’s previous meeting, it was said that the maximum curse power level it can contain was 1.5 to 1.8 times the power assumed from the record of damage from 『Marin’s Wails』, so if this was not enough to restrain them, it means the black knight who suddenly appeared from the pendant must have at least the same level of power as Marin’s Wails.

I mean, what in the world was that? Was that a curse too? ………… Seriously, that damn Sytry!

The battlefield had changed drastically. The priests who had been performing some kind of Magic from outside the barrier were pale and clearly exhausted.

“Increase the output so as to not let them escape! At the very least, one of them must be destroyed――” (Priest)

“Kill ittt! That is the calamity from the 『Prophecy』 !” (Franz)

Priest-san shouts. He is trying to look calm, but his expression is quite grim.

But more than that, Franz-san’s eyes were bloodshot when he issued that dangerous order. He was staring at me for a second…… But why?

The black knight’s defense was ironclad. The holy light and bullets were all stopped by him and could not reach Marin’s Wails, who was hidden behind him.

Also, the appearance of Marin’s Wails had changed dramatically from earlier.

Earlier, her human rate was about 30 percent, but now it is a solid 70 percent.

The jet-black flames that had been coming out of her were somehow replaced by a dress as black as darkness, and her face, which was on the verge of collapse and whose parts were not even recognizable, now had eyes, nose, and mouth, and her facial features were clearly recognizable.

It isn’t like she was burning out the last remains of her life. She has clearly strengthened. Or rather, isn’t it strange that she doesn’t attack the black knight when she is a curse that kills all kinds of people?

At that moment, the jet-black flames released from Marin’s Wails clung to the black knight.

The figure, which was already ominous, undergoes further changes. The knight’s armor glows purple, and in his left hand, a huge, solid, jet-black shield is formed that seems to be able to protect him from all sides.

Yooo, their synergy is powering them up……

The sword in his hand had also changed greatly. As if it had absorbed nourishment, it had grown one size in width and length, and it was tinged with black flame.

Kruz stamps her feet on the ground and makes screeching screams at me.

“Yowaningennnnnnnn! Th-Th-This isn’t interesting at all, desu!” (Kruz)

“C-Calm down! Ah…… R-Right! Now is where the fun begins!” (Cry)

“You really have to stop doing this, Nii-san!” (Lucia)

“Cut this crap, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 ! What the hell is that!” (Franz)

Rather than accusing me, shouldn’t Lucia, Kruz, and Franz-san try to purify them?

Seriously, I can’t have every incident blamed on me. Well, maybe I am a little at fault for this one, tho’…… Damn, I should have worn my 『Perfect Vacation (Comfortable Vacation)』.

As standing up would be too dangerous as I was too afraid I might fall off, I cheered for them while *burabura* swinging my legs.

“Ganbare! Anthem, Ganbare!” (Cry)

“Uooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!” (Anthem)

“!?” (Franz)

A roar as loud as thunder echoed throughout the ceremonial hall of the sacred church.

Anthem strikes in succession in front of the ominous yet beautiful sword and shield. It seems that the earlier attack was for a wait-and-see approach.

There was no technique. However, the ground *gasungasun* shook and it was not metaphorically, it was figuratively. The iron fist launched in succession by Anthem shook the earth.

Anthem is big. It goes without saying that he is robust, but he is also powerful. Mana Materials strengthen Hunter’s abilities in a way that fulfills the deepest desire of the heart, so even a slender person like Liz can have superhuman strength, but there is no correlation between physical robustness and strength, as the Previous War Emperor was also someone exceptionally large.

The Mana Material made Anthem grow taller and at the same time gave him the superhuman strength of a mythical hero. The reason why 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》, who always gets into fights, doesn’t do arm wrestling is because no matter how much they compete, they are no match against Anthem in a pure contest of strength.

The blows delivered by his huge body and monstrous strength had overwhelming destructive power, even if he did not wield any holy power. A mere human being who has not absorbed Mana Material would be flattened like a pancake even if they were in full body armor.

The black knight, who had parried the attack earlier, takes evasive action in front of his punch for the first time. He threw away his shield, which had been created by Marin’s Wail to support him, and took a large step back. The shield he left was hit by the fist, completely bent, and was blown away.

The flames emitted from Marin’s Wails scorched Anthem from under his feet, but Anthem didn’t care at all.

The surface of the barrier magic circle, which should have been very wide, was too narrow in front of Anthem Smart. Today, Anthem brought neither sword nor a shield, but it is because most of the weapons have a shorter reach than his arms.

The black knight swung his sword as he retreated. Against the high-speed slash swung diagonally from the shoulder, Anthem swung his arm widely.

The sword, which had grown to a gigantic size, was not a big deal compared to Anthem’s height. The sword easily left the black knight’s hand and pierced the ground as it was hit from the side by his punch swing with full strength. The black knight stopped moving for a moment and seemed stunned.

His appearance looked more like a monster than a Paladin. It is like he is the cursed one instead.

The faces of all the priests, who are so fascinated with Anthem and should know him well, are a little bit stiff.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Yooo curse synergy. Sasuga Cry! Creating a miracle by uniting 2 curse

Now he just needs to purify both of them

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Ganbare: Japanese cheering, it can be translated as go for it or you can do it.