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

Chapter128，Part1: 1 - A Certain Vacation ⑦?

Chapter 128 A Certain Vacation ⑦?

Part 1

“Uooooooooooooooooh!”

Along with a tremendous roar, a strong electric shock was released from the golden large sword to the surrounding area. The electric shock knocked down the trees, blew away the corpses of Monsters on the ground and cleared the surrounding area.

When we were on the way, I had heard in a conversation that it was an ability derived from Monster materials, but it was just as powerful as a Mage’s magical attack. I can now understand why they say that he is a Dragon Slayer.

However, even looking at him, Ruda couldn’t be relieved at all.

Arnold, who stood in the lead and swung down his sword, was breathing roughly.

The surrounding area had a terrible stench in the air and it was scattered with butchered Monsters’ corpses and organs. It wasn’t something Ruda and the others did, but something else that did this before they arrived.

Monsters don’t only attack humans. There were also territorial disputes among Monsters and when powerful Monsters enter the fray from the outside, the ecosystem of the forest drastically changes, it was a common story you can find in any forest.

However, a strong sense of malice could be conveyed from the appearance of the corpses, they were crushed way more than what was necessary.

Then again, we have already encountered the Monster that had probably done this.

“Damn, it ran away again! What the hell is that Monster?”

Hay without blinking, concentrate and search for it with the surrounding sounds. However, there was no sign of any living things around, not even the sound of insects buzzing.

The first attack occurred just after climbing past the top of the mountain, it was the road where corpses of Monsters were lying.

That monster attacked as if it were weaving through the gaps in the trees. It was when coincidentally, one of our companions was looking in that direction and at about the same time as he was shouting an alert, one of the 《Fallen Mist》 flew in the air.

It was a dark green Oni with abnormally long limbs.

The blow from its slender arm was as fast as the wind and easily blew away a Hunter wearing heavy and sturdy armor and possessing a body which has been reinforced by Mana Material. He easily evaded sword and magical attacks immediately launched at him in a counterattack and disappeared behind the trees at a gliding speed.

What was the most frightening was the fact that its movement was done almost silently and disappeared at the moment we were ready to intercept it. It was obvious from its natural movement that the monster was used to it.

Fortunately, the member who received the blow was safe, but the blow was certainly aimed at his neck.

If one of our companions hadn’t been able to detect the attack, it would have been dangerous.

And yet, that was only the beginning of its assault.

Both carriages had already been lost. The second attack was targeted at the horses.

In the first place, it was impossible for two carriages to pass through the narrow road of the mountain, especially 《Fallen Mist》 carriage was so large that it was completely blocking the road making it that once they proceeded into the road, you couldn’t retreat anymore. It was impossible to protect the horses from the Monster when it was aiming at the horses and attacking them and we couldn’t force our Party Members into a dangerous situation.

Ruda also followed Hay’s lead and concentrated her mind to search the surrounding area.

The Monster’s stealth was quite high and it was hard to see it in the dark. However, it wasn’t as if there wasn’t any sign at all at the moment its attack.

A sound similar to the rustle of the wind. That was the harbinger of its attack. It was hard to distinguish it from the sound of the wind, but there were several pairs of eyes here. If we all stay alert, there was little chance of having a surprise attack.

“I don’t know…… I have never seen a Monster like that before!”

“It wasn’t …… A regular Monster. Its vindication, intelligence and power. And brutality. To think it had still attacked after seeing Arnold-san……”

While sweating, Hay smirked.

It was Gilbert’s Party Members who were the most exhausted. The Leader of the Party, Carmine, seemed to still have some room left, but compared to the veteran Party, 《Fallen Mist》, and Ruda who has been exploring solo, the strength of the members of 《Crimson Flame (Fire Gale)》 had dropped significantly.

Their abilities, experience. The Members’ faces were haggard and I could also see a strong sense of fear in every move of theirs.

That cunning Oni was probably aiming for this. He carefully and meticulously scrapes off the weak ones little by little.

From what Ruda saw, the abilities of the Oni was quite high. It would probably be one of the strongest one in this Garest Mountains.

Still, it didn’t attack us head-on, is it because it was cautious or is it because it wanted to strike fear into its prey.

It must have been measuring our abilities after those attacks. The Oni never targeted Arnold, the strongest among us. It only went after the weakest link.

Even in Arnold’s party, there were differences in ability among the members. As we descended the steep mountain path, dealing with? attacks that could come at any moment took a heavy tool on our spirits and the members’ movements were gradually slowing down.

The mountain road where dead Monsters were piled up strangely seemed to lead to hell. Fortunately, no other monsters appeared, perhaps because they were afraid of that Oni.

Around the time we somehow managed to parry the tenth attack, Hay advised Arnold in a small voice.

“Arnold-san, it will be bad if we don’t end it now. We can still hold on, but 《Crimson Flame (Fire Gale)》 is at their limits. At this rate, we will never make it.”

“…………”

Arnold silently nodded. At his response, without showing it on her face, Ruda felt a small sense of relief.

In this situation, the quickest way for Arnold and his companions to end the Oni was to abandon the weak. Especially in this case, to Arnold, the weak such as Ruda, Gilbert and others in 《Crimson Flame (Fire Gale)》, aren’t people he needs to take the trouble to protect. If it was just 《Fallen Mist (Lightning Dragon’s Mist)》, they would be able to increase their descent speed.

That’s why, Ruda had briefly considered the possibility that Arnold might abandon Ruda and the others and run away, but it looks like he had no intention of doing so.

She was a little ashamed of herself for worrying about a needless worry.

Their Party was scary enough to be mistaken for a band of bandits, but apparently it is different when you are Level 7.

Hay turned around and whispered to Carmine and the others.

“…… O?, you guys. We’ve got to take it down ―― It’ll be bad if this keeps going on. You understand, right? That thing got some brain in its head. He’s getting more and more cunning in his attack and it doesn’t seem like he’ll give up. If we keep this up, someone will definitely die. And if anyone’s going to die, it’s going to be one who’s exhausted and being targeted by it, someone from 《Crimson Flame (Fire Gale)》.

The Members of 《Crimson Flame (Fire Gale)》 listened to Hay’s words with a mysterious expression.

Fortunately, no one seemed to make a fuss. They probably understand the situation they were in.

“We also don’t want people who are accompanying us to die. So here’s the thing ―― That Oni’s vindictive and powerful, but not without weaknesses. Its body was full of injuries and as far as I can see ―― It got a big injury in his right leg.”

“!?”

Gilbert opened his eyes when he heard Hay. Ruda also gasped.

Indeed, when I observed it, the entire body of the Oni was covered with countless injuries. It was as if it had been attacked by a large number of Monsters.

But even so, its movements were as fast as the wind. If that was how it was with an injured leg, what would his original speed have been.

“You saw the burned forest at the encampment above, right? It was probably because of the one we’re after. And also, the one who wounded it.”

“Aaah…… I can understand that…… But wait, what does that mean? Are you saying that the Monster took out 《Infinite Variety》?”

Gilbert shouted out in a loud voice. Hay chuckled at his words.

“No, unfortunately that’s…… Improbable. There were no corpses or traces of human blood along the way and the injuries left on the Monster are too few. Did they deal with it, did the Oni run away or did they think that it wasn’t a worthy opponent to chase after ―― I don’t know which it was, but either way, 《Infinite Variety》 and his companions failed to kill that Monster. And we’re the one being made to pay for it.”

“I see…… That would make sense!”

“So troublesome……”

Carmine, tiredly said next to Gilbert who nodded broadly after listening to the end. If she needs to pick, Ruda’s opinion is the same as Carmine’s.

If they could beat it, I wanted them to quickly beat it and not just injure it.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Well seems like I was wrong, the Lost Giant Demon was a dark green ogre with long limbs.

And the injury on the Oni made everyone think that it was due to Cry, well in a way it is because of him as he was the one who instructed Sytry to take the risky option but still… XD

And now they think that Cry planted that Oni so they can fight it! XD

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Oni: Some kind of demon in japanese folklore. It is similar to an ogre or troll.