The Ghosts of Sorrows has many enemies.

It's mainly because Luke and Lies have been selling and buying fights all over the place.
When they hear that there is a great swordsman in the west, they go there to test their skills, and when they hear that there is a band of vicious bandits in the east, whom the Knights have defeated, they travel for days to kill each other.
If it weren't for the hunters' tendency to respect the strong, our reputation would be in shambles by now.

Especially because of the frightening name of our party, we used to be misunderstood as a band of thieves or a party of criminals (Reds) who took only gray requests, and we were sometimes attacked.
Nowadays, they are no longer misunderstood in the Imperial Capital, but they are still sometimes looked at with suspicion when they go on expeditions.

'Gark-chan has fallen, hasn't he? Age is so cruel.

As I walked next to her, Liz, who hadn't fought with the Explorers Society in a long time, said with a sincere smile.

There is no mockery in her voice.
You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things that you can do to make your life easier.

'...... You shouldn't base yourself too much on that.'

'Yes.'

Mr. Gark is not as weak as he claims.
Even now, he occasionally intervenes in drunken fistfights between hunters and beats them both to a pulp, and his face has remained scary since we first met.
It's not a good idea to compare him with Reece, who is still on the front lines.

In the world of hunters, a cessation of activity means an unstoppable weakening.
The Lies that are now wielding such power will eventually lose it.

That is why many retired hunters change their base of life from their home towns.
Some treasure hunters also work as mercenaries or bounty hunters. Many of them have a grudge against you.
As long as they are strong enough to shake off the sparks of fire that fall on them, they are fine, but if they are attacked when they are weakened, it is not good for them. This is especially true for those who are willing to jump into the flames.

The Lies have no plans to retire at the moment, but they are secretly thinking of several places to move to in case they do.

But Mr. Gark's expression was more than a little teased. I'm sure he understands Ryiz's character, but he must be really upset.
He's pretty competitive, and the way he's acting, he's probably going to run into the treasure house himself.

I walked down the street, exchanging conversation with Liz. It seems that the Explorers' Association is in an uproar, but the streets are as peaceful as ever.
Liz stood out, dressed in a revealing outfit and wearing a robot-like thing on her legs. She was attracting a lot of attention, but she didn't seem to be bothered at all and was smiling all the time.

It would be nice if she would always be this quiet.

The conversation was mainly about the hunt that Liz and the others were on this time.

The Castle of Many Demons.

There are things in the treasure house that hunters rarely visit.
The location is far away. The terrain is terrible. The illusions that appear are strong. There are a variety of reasons for this, but treasure halls that have been unattended for too long and have accumulated too much mana and material are often greatly enhanced.

The Castle of 10,000 Demons was one such treasure house.

In a nutshell, it's a huge castle guarded by a number of powerful demons.
Apparently based on a mythological motif, it is a treasure house that has long been unchallenged due to the variety of illusions that appear, the difficulty of countermeasures, and the fact that it is located far from human settlements.

The Lair of the White Wolf was also an unpopular treasure house, but the Castle of All Demons was a different story.

The reason for the former was simply that it was not a good treasure house, but the reason for the latter was its difficulty.
No hunter has successfully conquered it in the recent past, and there is little information about its interior. Even the hunters who went to the castle, lured by the rumor that many treasures were supposed to be hidden there, gave up after only looking at the castle from a distance, making it a truly difficult place to conquer.

To tell the truth, I was very anxious when the name was mentioned as the next target of the treasure hall, but I couldn't stop Luke and the others from explaining with shining eyes.
I'm the leader, after all. I have the right to make decisions about the party. If I had told them, they might have stopped, but how could I, a friend, prevent a hero from seeking adventure?

Liz's tale of adventure was even more passionate than usual.

The names of the Phantoms that appear in the game are also quite impressive for a level 8 player.
The dragons and griffons were well known, but from the middle of the story, some of the names made no sense to me. I just smiled and nodded.
Squonk, Yakrus... What are they? What kind of creatures are they?

'Citri said they were probably taken from the legend of the Black King Graps. ...... After that, there were a lot of intelligent humanoids, so maybe it's a mix of several legends? The terrain is also a mess.

The terrain was a mess...' 'Wow, was it ...... strong?

I resisted the urge to ask many questions and just confirmed one thing.

The Black King Graps is the name of the High King who reigned over this continent thousands of years ago.

He is said to have manipulated countless beasts at will, and created many beasts that should not have existed in an evil ritual.
Although he existed long before the Empire appeared, he seems to have been so fierce that even today, his servants are often seen in the form of "phantoms" in treasure halls around the world.

He was one of the most hated among hunters.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with this.

'Hmmm, ...... the best I've ever seen. It's just like a level 8. The Black King's beast is hard,......, and it's definitely been enhanced since then. I'm not sure what to make of it. You can get away with it if you just run away.

Don't be so happy about it. .......
I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. You can't even imagine the threat.
What kind of opponent would someone who can knock down countless bullets have trouble with?

'How does it compare to the boss of the White Wolf's Lair the other day?

'Eh, ......?

The boss of the White Wolf's Lair ......, a wolf knight wearing almost completely human bones, was very unique even in the treasure hall where the level of illusions had jumped.
It was the kind of opponent that would slow down a party led by a level 5 veteran hunter.

I didn't have a direct encounter with him, as Ryz came right over, but just remembering those shining eyes makes me want to retire right now.

At my question, Liz paused.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll help.

'...... Was there ever a boss ......?

'...... Ah, yes.'

'I'm sorry? You're sorry? You were there because you said so, weren't you? I'm sorry. I don't remember much about the trash, and I do remember that ...... Tee was unworthy and that we were licked. ......'

Apparently, that boss is not even worth remembering compared to the phantom that appears at level 8. It looks like I'll never be able to follow their hunt again.
I don't regret it, and I don't regret leaving the forefront of the clan, but I do feel a little sad that there's such a difference in perception.

I don't know what she was thinking when she saw my subtle expression, but she grabbed my hand and said impatiently.

'Oh, but you know what! They were weak as trash, but we found a lot of them with various weapons! I think we can use them for training! I don't care that it only had physical equipment, but it's perfect for Tee, don't you think?

I don't really care about that.

'Yeah, yeah, I guess so.'

'Right? I'll take you out next time! I've been having trouble with them because they always go easy on me when I'm dealing with humans! You have to risk your life for them, don't you?



Oh, no. I should've stopped here.
Tino is going to have to train for his life. ...... I'll take you out for ice cream next time.

This time the date was mainly Liz. I wandered through the capital with her in my arms.

Liz is fierce. She loves to fight and is curious enough to be a hunter.
However, when she walks around the city with me, she prefers to take a course like a normal date. We go to boutiques and jewelry stores and have tea at cafes.
We don't go to bars, we don't peek into weapon shops frequented by hunters, and we don't dare to walk through back alleys to catch unsuspecting people.

To the casual observer, it would appear as if they were really just on a date.

Liz must be exhausted if she has to be on her toes all the time. Maybe she is trying to balance it out by having a peaceful time like this from time to time.

As she walked next to him, she heard the clinking of gold coins from his waist. A large bag, not unlike a wallet, is stuffed to the brim.

The income from the Ghosts of Sorrows hunt is divided evenly among the members, except for the purchase of equipment. Unlike me, who is usually not greedy, Liz is rich.
In my wallet, I have five Imperial Gold Coins that Eva has stocked for emergencies--500,000 guilders, which is quite a difference from my own remaining 10,000 guilders.

It was nice to see him spending his money at the high-class dressmaking stores (boutiques) and jewelry stores that he strolled into.
The only annoying thing was that every time I tried on a dress, they would ask me if it looked good on me, but this kind of thing is good sometimes.

I'm not sure, but it looks good on you. It looks really good on you. Why don't you buy it? I'm sorry I can't give it to you.
If it were two digits less, I could give it to you. I can't use the money for emergencies.

As you walk through the city, you sneak a peek to see if there's any commotion caused by the Citrine Slime, but there's no sign of it.
It was whispered here and there that there was a commotion on the northern road, but since the abnormality at the Treasure House and the illusions appearing on the road occurred before the slime was lost, it must be unrelated.

'Hey, Cry, what's wrong? You haven't been well since a while ago.

I thought I hadn't shown it, but Ryz suddenly asked me with concern.
I'm sorry for making you all worry all the time.

'Liz, what would you do ...... if, just hypothetically, this Zebrudia were to be destroyed?

This is a very abstract question. If such a thing actually happened, I would be the cause, but I can't bring myself to say that much.

The question was so abrupt that it could have been taken as a joke, but Liz answered immediately, without returning the question gingerly or losing her smile.



...... No, no, no, that's not going to work either.

'I think I'd like to go to a tropical country next. ...... I'd like to see the ocean or something. ...... I've never been.'

You're talking about the destruction of the country, but you're so positive.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'll do what I can.

I'll do what I can. If we can't do anything about it, we might as well run away like Liz said.
The sea. The ocean, huh? That's not bad.

'You can't run in the water.

'Well, you don't know until you try, do you?

You don't have to try. Please don't break the laws of physics.

Liz's tone was light, and her excitement was as if she were talking about traveling.

I've heard that there is a treasure house on the ocean floor that is absolutely beautiful. We'll have to deal with the breathing problem, though. I think it would be nice to go up in the sky. ...... The imperial capital is also convenient to live in, but I've been here for many years now--'

As I listened to him, his expression suddenly turned grim.
The two bodies that had been so close to each other separated before I knew it, and the shopping bags in both hands fell to the ground. At that time, I saw my childhood friend pulling the man down to the ground a few meters away.
He took his arms behind his back and stomped on his back, completely blocking his movement.
He was a man with a beard. About the same height as me. He looked plain and featureless, not a hunter by the looks of him.

The man lets out a groan of pain. I was standing beside him, but I didn't see the moment, so the guy who was hit probably didn't even realize when he was hit.

I was taken aback for a moment, but then I rushed over. It's against the law for hunters to mess with civilians. Especially if it's one-sided.

Ryss is a violent man, but he hasn't been hitting civilians lately.
Just when I thought he'd finally mellowed a bit, there he is.

'! What are you doing, Lizzie?

She was in a good mood just now, but what happened to her?

While I was pale, Liz was looking at the man at her feet without looking at me. The arm in my hand creaked.
The people who were walking around me pulled their cheeks together and hurried away. It was only a matter of time before the security forces arrived.

Liz gave him a horrified look and stomped on his head. The man scratched his algae, but the tightly secured restraints did not budge.



I'm not sure what to make of ....... I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure. I've felt the stares too.
What's the difference between those stares and him?

The poor man moans as he's attacked for looking. I grabbed Liz's arm from behind and pulled her away.

'Yes, yes, let's let go for now.

'......'

Liz pulls away.
The man who was pulled down coughed, turned his body around, and looked up at Liz and me with a pale expression.

He does not have a scar on his cheek, nor does he have a well-trained body like a hunter. He was just a normal middle-aged man of medium height. He was an ordinary middle-aged man of medium height, unarmed, a good citizen, just like any other. He was a complete criminal.

The Imperial City favors hunters, but it's not so lenient as to forgive a hunter who violates ordinary people.

I reach out my hand and help the cowardly man to his feet.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She's emotionally unstable. Are you hurt?'

'......'.

Without taking his hand, the man lets out a small scream and runs off as if he'd just eaten a bubble. He left footprints on his back.


...... Apparently you weren't hurt. Good, good, ...... not good.

You never know where the trigger might be. You never know where the trigger might be.
Liz frowns and looks at the man who ran away. She's not happy.

What? What is it? What's bothering you? You've been relatively good lately, haven't you?

...... Let's just get out of here before someone comes. I'm not sure what to do.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

'Huh? Did you let ............ swim by any chance?

What is she talking about? I don't care if you let her swim or not, I don't care if she sees me.
What harm can it do me? The only reason they can see you is because you're always wearing a conspicuous treasure, right?

'Liz, I'll give you a lecture later.

'...... You're too good at acting! I was so confident, but I didn't even notice. ...... I'll be more careful next time, okay?

Liz's mood returned to normal.
She hugged my arm and showed no remorse, even though she said she was going to lecture me.

I leave the scene of the crime quickly, with Liz clinging to me as if she were in a very good mood.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get the best out of it. ...... I hope you learn some common sense from Tino before you train him.



§ § § §


Run as fast as you can. Run as fast as you can. There was no one to stop the unusual man.

The imperial city of Zebrudia is like a garden to him. He knows the main streets where many travelers and merchants come and go, as well as the back alleys where vagrants and ordinary citizens would not want to stop.

But there was no time to think about that now.

He continued to run like a small animal being chased by a predatory beast. What came to my oxygen-deprived mind was a horrifyingly sharp gaze.

The man stopped only after he had reached the back of the darkened building, running as fast as he could.

There was no tracker.
If the woman had wanted to do it, she would have been caught long ago. No, she wouldn't even have been able to shake off the initial restraints before that.
The vise like force in her slender arms held back all the movements of the man's body by restraining key points, giving him the illusion that his whole body was being held in place.

Only the dim sunlight shining through the gaps in the building illuminated his vision, which flickered with fatigue.

'Huh, huh ......, that's .......'

I'm out of breath, holding my arms and enduring the unstoppable shaking.

I was definitely not doing anything that would give me away.
The opponents were level 8 and level 6 hunters. The man was also prepared to face them.

The two of them had attracted a lot of attention, and they were walking on a busy street. There was no way she could distinguish between the man's gaze and other gazes, let alone if he had harmed her.

The man's appearance was inconspicuous and he was not a hunter. His movements were natural, and he was not unnaturally looking at the man for a long time, nor did he have any intention to kill him. The purpose this time was just to see what was going on.
He was always in his blind spot and was careful not to be seen.

In fact, the man did not suspect that he was being followed until he was knocked to the ground.

His tightly bound arm was still hurting. I press down on it and try to catch my breath.

I'd like to think it was a coincidence, but clearly Zekage had sensed the man's gaze. What you need to think about is why you let yourself be restrained, and why the Thousand Transformations let you go.

It was inconceivable that he would let a man who had been following him go for no reason at all. There is no need to restrain him if you are going to let him go without doing anything.
He said some words of apology, but it was clear that they were not sincere.

I wasn't going to give up any information when they interrogated me, but it would mean something different if they just let me go without it.

What was the point of a warning? d*mn it, how much do they know?

I don't say it out loud, I just grit my teeth.

There's no leak. The men's plan was supposed to be perfect.
The reinforcement of the White Wolf's Nest should have been discovered long before the anomaly was discovered. The Lair of the White Wolf is an infrequently visited treasure house, and even if an unfortunate hunter were to enter, the difficulty level of the Lair of the White Wolf has increased dramatically. There is no way to get out alive.
However, in reality, the White Wolf's Den is now so crowded with people that it is difficult to continue the experiment.

The cause of this has not been discovered, but if the experiment continues at this rate, some people will eventually realize it.

I had heard of the reputation of the Ghost of Sorrows. I had been on the lookout for it, but since there was no sign of it until now, I left it alone. I didn't expect him to make such a big move now.

Remembering the face of the young man who had apologized to him, the man widened his eyes to the limit and shook his shoulders.

It wasn't until just before sunset that he finally began to move again.

The White Wolf's Den is no more. We've been completely spotted. We don't have the manpower.
I'll have to tell them to change their plans.

There was no one to see the man as he staggered off.