The Explorers Society is a huge organization.
Many of its staff are former hunters, as it unites hunters of an unorthodox nature.

The head of the Zebuldia branch of the Explorers Society, Gark Werther, was originally a top hunter.
He is a former level 7 hunter. His main weapon was a large spear axe (halberd) that he used to raid all kinds of treasure halls, and his nickname of "war demon" is still whispered with awe by those who knew him back then.

It's been a long time since he retired from active duty, and his power has diminished to the point where it's not even close to what it was in his prime.
When the six of us, including Liz, first came to the imperial capital, Gark, who was already sitting on the branch chief's chair, was so strong that even if all of us tried to fight him, we would be outmatched.
That's how I learned about the high level of the hunters in this Imperial City.

The fact that Luke and Lies were relatively compliant with Chief Gurk was due to their experiences during that time, and in the end, they were brainy and liked strong people.


--But that was nearly five years ago.


But that was nearly five years ago. 'You guys are relying on Cry-Chan too much! I'm not sure what you think you're paying a lot of money for, but you should solve it yourself!



In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the following.

The power you've absorbed over the years by conquering the Treasure House--the Mana Material--is slipping away with the passage of time.
The speed at which this happens varies from person to person, but no matter how talented you are, you can't reduce the loss to zero.

Mr. Gark is hardly on the battlefield anymore.
His strength is clearly weaker than it was five years ago, perhaps not even half of what it was in his prime. And Liz's power is not even close to what it was when she first came to the capital. Well, Liz doesn't think about the difference in strength when she's picking a fight.

The first thing he did was to start a fight without asking what was going on, but Mr. Gark didn't get upset.
He just glared at her as if he was facing a bad quality demon. If I were in his position, I'm sure I would have shuddered, but as expected, Mr. Gark has guts.

'Wait, if you're back, is Sitri here too?

'No, he's not! You're interrupting our date. Get out of here!

Mr. Gark floated mercilessly in the air. Liz kicked him.
His nearly two-meter-long body slid across the marble floor that he had spent so much money on, bounced off the plants, and was blown to the wall.

He was so quick to make a move that I could only laugh.

Mr. Gark, who had caught the kick with his arms crossed, slowly stood up.
His behavior is slow, but his appearance is that of a demon, reminiscent of his former two names.
It's no wonder Mr. Gark is still in good shape after taking a blow from a monster that's headed for the Level 8 Treasure Temple.

And he was full of motivation. A person who remains silent after being hit would not be able to serve as the head of the Explorers Society.
He pulled out a small knife from his waist, probably for self-defense. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

I'm sure you know what you're doing,...... Liz, you know what you're doing,......? No matter how mild-mannered I am, there are limits. ......'

Who said I was mild-mannered?

Looking at the branch manager in a warlike posture, Liz twisted her lips into a smile.
The white skin of her face quickly became inflamed and her eyes blazed. The engine seems to have started up again, just when it was about to stop.

Hey, can we stop? Why are you guys being so violent?
The clan house is going down again. I'm the one Eva has to nag.

Chyna and the others are having a hard time figuring out when to stop. But I don't think they'll stop.
No number of non-hunters can stop the monsters from fighting each other.

I averted my gaze from the two of them who were glaring at each other and made a suggestion to poor Kaina who had a boss who was too quick to fight, and the following two explorers.

'............ Anyway, let's go upstairs and have some tea.

He was going to spend the day looking around the capital, but he didn't have a weapon.
She doesn't have a weapon, she doesn't really want to kill, and she probably won't die.


§§


There was a constant noise from downstairs. The glass is shaking.
I enjoyed chatting with Kaina and the others, thinking that there have been many earthquakes recently.

To tell the truth, I feel a strong sympathy for Kaina-san, who seems to be going through as much hardship as I am, as the single hand of the scary-looking branch chief.
Her tone of voice is naturally light.

'Isn't the girl who works at the reception desk of the Search Association really cute? How are you recruiting her? I'd like to hire her myself.

Footprints" is based on the Search Council.
When I found Eva, I looked for someone who looked like Chyna and hired her on my knees.

The next thing I needed was a beautiful receptionist.

The receptionist at the Zebrudia branch of the Explorers' Association is their signature girl. She's bright and cheerful, and doesn't show any displeasure even when dealing with strong and dirty hunters, and doesn't change her attitude even when she sees that I'm a pathetic person who gets called out every time.
I expected the girl, whose name I didn't even know, to be involved in the smooth operation of the organization.
Since ancient times, men have had a weakness for pretty girls. Even if they are hunters.

Chyna smiled at his half-joking, half-serious words.

'Are you talking about Chloe? She's the niece of the ...... Gark Branch Chief.'

'Your genes aren't doing their job.

How could such a good girl be born into the bloodline of a 'war demon'? No, he's used to it from Mr. Gark.
And was it a connection? .......

The fight was never going to end peacefully anyway. While Mr. Gark and Ms. Lise are engaged in a back-and-forth fistfight, Ms. Chyna tells me what brought them here.

And I was stunned by what I heard from her and the other two.

It seems that Mr. Gark has made a big mistake.

I don't know anything about the White Wolf's Den. I don't have any predictions, and I don't plan to.
Because the anomaly in the White Wolf's Den is not my fault. I was unfortunately involved in a few things, but I passed the punishment game without incident, and from there on, it's the job of the Explorers Society and the state.

I was in a completely different mode.

It's not just Mr. Gark, but everyone tends to think too highly of my abilities.
It was just my luck that I ended up at level 8. I have no knowledge or skills, and there is no way I can know more than what the experts at the Exploration Society and the Empire have investigated.

'Wow, that's tough. There was no problem with the veins, or .......'

Kaina-san looked as if she had been disappointed by my carefree expression.

A vein is like a blood vessel that runs through the earth, so to speak. I know that I can tell at a glance if there is a problem, but I don't know much more than that.

You're the one who knows all about it, aren't you?

Lizzie's sister, Sitri Smart, is an alchemist.

It is a position between a mage and a scholar, where one learns the truth of the world and uses the laws to create phenomena.
They are inferior in offensive power to ordinary mages, who use their vast magical power to create phenomena, and they require a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a number of rare tools, to demonstrate their true potential.

In particular, unlike most of his peers, Citry often goes to the treasure house as a hunter, and is said to have more practical knowledge.


Incidentally, the creation of magical creatures such as slime is one of the alchemist's specialties. Please, please control your creations a little better.

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, you can call us at the web site.
Well, unfortunately, he hasn't really come back.

'Do you notice anything at all?

She was so occupied with the horror of the Treasure House and the unexpected appearance of Liz that even the scene at the time was vague.
I sat deep in my chair and meditated, but I didn't know what I didn't know. If there was something unnatural, it would have been remembered.

'Hmm. Nothing in particular, I guess. In the first place, what I've been worrying about is another matter--'

'...... another thing?

Oh, shit. I slipped up.

I make a frown, but it's too late. Ms. Kaina's brown eyes are looking at me quizzically.

At the time, I was more concerned with the whereabouts of the slime than the anomalies in the treasure house, and didn't even think about investigating the anomalies.
It's the same now. I can't help the nightmare I had last night flitting through my mind.

I know I won't be able to find out anything about the anomaly in the treasure house, but if I have time to investigate the anomaly there, I'll choose to investigate the whereabouts of the slime.

'............ Can I ask you something?'

Kaina-san looks at me seriously, but I can't tell her that I missed the Citri slime.
It was just my imagination. It's all in your head. I've made up my mind.

He folds his hands and makes a serious face as he slumps down.
Smokes you with suggestive words. Level 8 hunters have many secrets. I'm sorry, sir.

'Sorry, but I can't tell you yet. You never know where ............ your ears are.'

The expression of the staff behind Kaina's back tightened at the pointlessly dressed words.
Unable to help myself, I stood up.

Let's be positive.

It might be the right thing to say, depending on your point of view. It'll give me a reason to turn down Gark's request for help.
Of course, the anomaly at the treasure house affects hunters as well. I'll try to help as much as I can as a footprint, but it's a reason for me personally not to act.

I'm lucky I'm not in danger or mentally exhausted.
Mr. Gark and the others are lucky that they don't need to be manipulated by my words and that Lise will be quiet.
Is this what you call a win-win situation?

'I can't move, but I'll help out as much as I can as a clan. Ah, that's right. I'll ask Ark to help us when he gets back.

'............ Thank you for your cooperation.

Caina-san thanked him with a downcast look.

Forgive me, Miss Caina. It's my fault. There's nothing I can do. The only thing I know is the best ice cream shop in the capital.
I'm sorry I'm such a level 8. But you're the ones who made me a level 8.

I'll lend you ARC. Please forgive me. He's all-powerful and smart and he can solve most things.
I'll get it back later.

I'll get it back to you later, but...'' he said comfortingly to Chyna and the others who still seemed depressed.
The accumulation of mana materials and the evolution of illusions is a natural phenomenon. It's not something that we tiny humans can do anything about.

'I don't think you need to worry too much about it. If it doesn't affect the earth's veins, it will soon return to normal.



§ § § §



It was like magic. My consciousness was stretched by extreme concentration for the first time in a long time.
One second felt like two or three. But even after all that, my judgment couldn't catch up. You can't evade, and even if you try your best, you can only manage to keep your guard up.

Lise Smart can't use magic. Nor does she use weapons.
Her attacks are simple thrusts and kicks. But they are simply 'fast'.

A thief is always confident in his agility, but even to Gark, who had dealt with many hunters during his active years and has interacted with many hunters as the head of the Zebrudia branch of the Explorers Society since his retirement, his body language was extraordinary.

The metal scraped against the floor, the friction causing smoke to rise from the floor.
It was the first time I've ever seen such a thing.

'Hmmm? Gark, did you lose your arm? You've been working at a desk all day.

'...... pull it out!

I'm not getting weaker. You're getting stronger.
I was tempted to say that, but I managed to stop myself.

My body needed fresh air.
Fighting back his ragged breathing, Garc glared at Ryss, who was giving him a hard time.

He was not familiar with the weapon, but he had mastered the art of the dagger to some extent. But the knife he pulled out did not even scratch.
The limb that guarded the blow was complaining of pain. It was hard to believe that the blow had come from his slender arms, but it was a heavy blow that went beyond his thick muscles and struck him to the bone. If it was aimed at the vital point, it might even cause a coma.

If the head of the Explorers Association, which oversees treasure hunters, were to be knocked unconscious by a hunter, it would ruin Gark's reputation. We had to avoid that at all costs.

The difference in strength was hopeless.

Liiz was a small man. Compared to Gark, she was a child.
His arms and legs are long, but his reach is much greater than Gark's. However, his body radiated the energy of a diligent hunter who never neglects to search the treasure house.

Level 8 Treasure Hall. The Castle of All Demons.
It's the most powerful time for Liz, who has just returned from the Treasure House, which is filled with high-level mana and material, and has not lost most of the mana and material she absorbed.

This is the complete opposite of Gark, who has been away from the Treasure House for a long time.

In comparison to Gark, who was on the verge of war, Liz was a natural.



Now that I've engaged, I understand. Even if he countered with a shot that would have taken a blow, it wouldn't have even grazed him.
It was faster for Liz to move her legs and get distance than for Gark to extend his arm and swing his knife down.



It's a good idea to get some exercise once in a while. Oh, you're getting fat? You're not as strong as the hunters around here, are you?

'Shut up!

I can't have that many hunters like you!

It's true that I'm slow. I may be slow, but I'm still at least level 5!

I bite my teeth to the bone at the look on Liz's face, as if she were caring for an elderly person.

These guys have grown more than I expected. I might have to make some adjustments to shut these cocky hunters up!

I was aware that I was slowing down, but when it was pointed out to me head-on like this, even the mild-mannered Gark got blood on his hands.

Shall I lower this guy's level? Such a foolish thought even came to mind.
Of course, it is not acceptable to lower the certification level because of the personal grudge of the branch chief alone.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Liz smiled and said.

'Welcome back is in the back. I feel sorry for you because you're too weak, so I'll let you off today for old time's sake. I'm so glad you're here.

For a moment, I didn't know what he was saying, and then my eyes turned bright red.
I felt a boiling anger welling up from the bottom of my stomach. It was a feeling I had not felt in a long time.
I put so much pressure on the knife that it cracked tightly in my grip.

Gark is a warrior by nature, a man who can use any weapon. One of his skills is the ability to explode his anger, remove his limiter, and convert it into power.
This is the reason why Gark, a level 7 hunter, has acquired that name.

He hadn't had a chance to use it recently, but apparently his body still remembered how to use it.

'Looks like you need a spanking, ...... you little shit.'

'Oh, no, no, no. I'm not very good at nursing, so why don't you ask Kaina to take care of me?

Liz sniffed mockingly at the voice that sounded like it was coming from the depths of hell.
The hunters of the Footprints are watching Gark and Liz with interest.
Outside the exit, onlookers who had heard the noise were peering fearfully inside.

The difference in strength is fatal. But we can't just let them get away with it.
We must at least give him a shot.

The knife shattered into pieces and his only weapon was gone. But just as I was about to step forward, as if I had timed it just right, I heard a distracted voice.

'You guys are still at it. You've made such a mess, we're done talking.

I didn't realize how long he'd been gone.

Kry came down the stairs with Kaina and the two staff members, and sighed depressingly when he saw the mess in front of him.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

'Welcome back, Cry. Gark-chan's not listening well. ......'

'I'm going to have to call a contractor, now.'

Kaina's cheeks flushed as she approached Gark, who was on the warpath.

Seeing the expression on her face, Gark finally released his stance.
As he takes a deep breath, the pain in the joints of his body that had been paralyzed earlier comes back. It was not fatal, but it might have bruised or cracked.

Apparently, he had achieved his goal while he was beating himself up.

Gark frowns at the prospect of a future of petty talk, and decides to re-train himself so that he will never be taken advantage of again.