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

Chapter53，Part2: 2 - The Worst of the Worst ②

Chapter 53 The Worst of the Worst ②

Part 2

Until now, the girl named Sofia Black has always kept a polite appearance.

To Noto who saw for the first time this appearance was unsettling, furthermore, Sofia murmured something in front of him.

“… What did I do wrong? A little more and I would have completed Noto-san research…” (Sofia)

“?? Sofi…a…? What’s wrong?” (Noto)

“Aaah, sorry, ‘Shisho (Teacher)’. It was a little unexpected…” (Sofia)

Sofia raised her face and shamefully corrected her posture. In that little time, her unusual reaction earlier disappeared.

Regaining her composure, she cleared her throat and continued.

“Don’t worry. We still have a hand to play. Equipment still remains, there is also the messenger above. I have already made some plans.” (Sofia)

The facilities outside of the Imperial Capital were most likely already destroyed. However, equipment and item are still inside the 『Spatial bag』.

Of course, there was the paper that summarized the research results but also rare catalysts for Magic and Relics. There were also hideouts locations that the disciples didn’t know about.

If you make good use of it and prepare well enough, even if the opponent is a Level 8 Hunter, you have a good chance of winning.

If neither Magic nor physical attack worked, then there are other ways to do it. You can assassinate him. Or you can set a trap.

I hand over the plan. Sofia took them but put them on the table without confirming it.

Then she made a small sight and bowed so deeply that her hair was about to touch the teacup.

“I am sorry, ‘Shisho (Teacher)’. I was… The cause of everything.” (Sofia)

“… What… Are you saying?” (Noto)

“The purpose of ‘Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)’ is 『Me』, is what I am saying. But I swear… I didn’t betray you.” (Sofia)

Sofia raised her head and looked at Noto who didn’t understand the situation.

Tears slowly gathered in both of her eyes. As if to amplify the effect of her asking for forgiveness.

“I have a deep respect toward ‘Shisho (Teacher)’. You had the skills and the knowledge to be once called the ‘Master Magus (Sage)’, despite having such a high position, you sought out for forbidden knowledge and was outcasted, your inquiry and inquisitive spirit, and also the fact that you fell into such a situation and still escaped death, your obsessive spirit and cautiousness, I respect everything about you. The research on mystery, contrary to Magic, requires talents, to ‘Shisho (Teacher)’ who has reached such a high level for both is indubitably a 『Genius』. All the other disciples except me were talented… ‘Shisho (Teacher)’ had… Everything that I didn’t have.” (Sofia)

Her trembling voice was thin and weak. If her voice had a shape, it would have been a snowflake, fragile and yet beautiful.

I calmed my breath and moved my jaw.

“… Continue.” (Noto)

“Akasha and the Mana Material Distortion Equipment yielded excellent results. If I did it on my own, it would have taken a huge amount of time and money and there would also have more risks appearing. In this place, there are expensive equipment, rare catalysts and materials, and also excellent researchers, everything was gathered here. And there was also you,? ‘Shisho (Teacher)’… You listen to my words even if I was new and inexperienced. For ‘Shisho (Teacher)’ who was supposed to be banned to still be in the Imperial Capital, was for me really fortunate.” (Sofia)

Her words seemed full of remorse.

The content of her speech was nothing suspicious. If she had told that with her normal flat tone voice, there would have been nothing suspicious at all.

I secretly gripped the wand that was leaning next to me. Without noticing it, Sofia said.

“If possible… I would have wanted to continue my research with you.” (Sofia)

“… You can continue. It is not over yet.” (Noto)

“No… It is over. ‘Shisho (Teacher)’ has… Transgressed a taboo, pushed to the brink by ‘Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)’, you killed all your disciples, and you were captured… You will be the world’s worst Magi caught by the Empire in history. I will, probably… Never see you again.” (Sofia)

Her tone was too natural. I kept checking Sofia’s appearance.

Her eyebrow looked sorrowful. Her eyes were painting a sad expression. Her well-defined facial feature made her look like a tragic heroine or something similar. You could see that she was sad from the bottom of her heart.

“Sofia! You bastard, you think that I! Will lose to that guy!” (Noto)

Sofia is a researcher. Talented, but her ability as a Mage… Her magical power is several steps behind Noto.

Right now, Sofia doesn’t have a staff, even if she had one Sofia’s magic can’t overcome Noto’s magical resistance.

Sofia didn’t show any resistance to Noto who stood up, flaps his cheeks, and shouted.

He grabbed her long hair and pulled it down strongly. But she continued.

“’Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)’ purpose was … A warning. Not to you ‘Shisho (Teacher)’, but to me. 『It is becoming dangerous, so stop right now and come back』.” (Sofia)

“Wha!?” (Noto)

Her fiery crimson long hair slid down as I pulled it.

For a second, I thought I peeled off her scalp, but that was not it.

In front of the stunned Noto, a lump of hair fell on the table.

What came out of under it was her thin pink-blonde hair. Her hair was cut short, compared to her flashy red hair the impression is so different that it was as if she was a different person.

Showing her true face to Noto, Sofia lifted the wig and shyly told him.

“Truthfully, I didn’t want to show it… I studied under you for many years so it would have been too 『Dishonest』.” (Sofia)

“For so many years… All this time… You kept it hidden… Why would you do that…?” (Noto)

“Eh… Because if it was known… It would have been bad. If I received a second “Penalty”, even if Cry-san forgives me, the Explorer Assoc. wouldn’t forgive me. With this, I might be the only one who can’t be a Hunter anymore… That kind of thing… I absolutely refuse it.” (Sofia)

Sofia blinked her eyes and made a troubled expression.

At those words, Noto stood up by reflex. And he pointed his hidden wand toward Sofia.

As if lightning had struck him, it was a shocking truth.

His cheeks and limbs trembled. Was it coming from the anger for being deceived or was he scared of it, even Noto himself didn’t know?

Until now, all of Noto’s disciples were Magi who was exiled. They all possessed extraordinary talent, they were the kind of madman who despite unfortunate circumstances chose to abandon the world and seek out the truth to satiate their desire.

I thought that my best disciple was the same. When I met her, she didn’t have any criminal record yet, I thought it was because I met her before she got caught. Sofia’s sense was obviously not something that can be accepted by society.

As Noto operated behind the scenes inside the Imperial Capital, he knows all the information of famous Hunters.

Among them, there was one existence who was different.

After a certain big incident, a High-Level Hunter was considered the biggest suspect in the case. The Hunter has received the penalty of a Level-down and was forced to have an infamous 『Alias』 that are attached to criminals.

A Level-down is, a Level that a regular Hunter can’t obtain naturally, it drops the rank of a Hunter until it is 『Minus』, it is the heaviest penalty established by the Explorer Assoc.

If you commit a heavy crime, you will be expelled from the Explorer Association. You will not get a Level-down if you fail to accomplish a request. Therefore, it rarely occurs, it was also proof that this person needs careful attention.

The fall of a young genius became a hot topic inside the Imperial Capital at that time. In the end, due to a lack of evidence she wasn’t punished, and her name faded in history, but I still remember it.

“Penalty… Hunter… The Magi Sofia was just a pseudonym!? I know, I remember about it… Three years ago, the incident of a massive jailbreak in the South Isteria Prison… Being suspected of assistance, her Level has been dropped to a minus…” (Noto)

“’Shisho (Teacher)’, you are truly knowledgeable. See, I knew it, it was a good thing to hide it…” (Sofia)

Sofia made a lonely smile. Her being like this made her look like she has never been given such an alias.

But Sofia’s actions until now perfectly coincide with her alias.

“You bastard… You are 『Deep Black (Saitei Saiyaku)』.” (Noto)

“That name… I really, hate it.” (Sofia?)

Noto spat and screamed, the person who was called Sophia shrug her shoulder.

Those casual gestures and words confirmed Noto’s doubts.

『Deep Black (Saitei Saiyaku)』.

A member of 『Strange Grief (Nageki no Bourei)』.

“Sytry Smart… You bastard was… the insider!?” (Noto)

“No… As I told you, I am not. I did what I did only for myself… And I became your disciple. Cry-san and the other aren’t involved, I never told them. And also… That horrible alias end today.” (Sytry)

Sytry put her hands together and told him as if blessing him.

“From today onward 『The Worst of the Worst』 will be you, ‘Shisho (Teacher)’.”

TL notes:

Thank you for reading this!

Damn I was so shocked when Sofia launch her monologue on Noto. The only thing a was looking for was “Where is the period! Where is the comma, please don’t let me translate that in one fell swoop!”.

And when I finish it, I was so relieved but then I saw… ANOTHER BLOCK Noooooo!

Pfiou the whole chapter has more than 6800 words it’s a new record so tired.

And yes, some of you have guessed it but Sophia was indeed Sytry! If you saw the volume 2 cover you can see Sofia above and Cry hugging Sytry like Sofia was aiming for them. Who would have thought that even the cover misdirected us!

1 more chapter before the conclusion of the second arc!

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Literally translated to The Worst of the Worst