I wonder why I'm here.

With a half-smile on my face, I let out a small sigh, feeling indescribably weak.

There was no one else on the plain where the tall grass and trees grew, and it was enveloped in a mysterious silence.
The sun had set, and there was only a hazy moon floating in the sky. The world was shrouded in darkness.

The Imperial City of Zebrudia is a large city. The inside of the walls is bright and bustling even at night, but the outside is different.
The main roads stretching out in all directions are regularly cleared of demons by the Knights to maintain a certain level of safety, but once you stray a bit from these roads, the world turns into a world of the weak and the strong.

It is dangerous even in the morning. It's even more dangerous at night. It's a place you don't want to go, even with guards.

Hunters who have taken in the mana material have not only enhanced their physical abilities but also their senses.
The faint moonlight may be more than enough light for a top hunter, but for me it's almost the same as complete darkness.

Suddenly, a tap on my shoulder made me shiver.
When I turned around, Liz was flailing her arms around me with the same tension as in the morning.

'Cry-chan! Look at this! Simos, Simos! Isn't that amazing?'

'...... Yeah, yeah, it is.'

There was a huge, strange creature dangling in Ryss's flailing hands.
It looks like a giant needle in her grip. Its thin feathers rubbed against each other, and it made a scary rustling sound. It may still be alive, but it is moving around violently, and Liz is swinging it around to check it.

It was too dark to see clearly, but it was about the size of a puppy. Needless to say, it wasn't a puppy.
It was fortuitous that I could not see it clearly.

Simos? What's a Simos?
...... Don't think I know everything.

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

'Sis, ...... is as good as it gets. To catch a Simos creeping up on you at night like this, without any sound or sign of life, ......'

What? Is it possible that Simos is common knowledge among hunters?

You'll be able to get a lot more than just a pair of shoes.

The power of the treasure tool makes your vision brighter at once.

What Liz was holding was a giant mosquito. Please don't do this.

Just because you're wearing armor doesn't mean you're too feminine. There's no limit to how wild you can be.

This thing called a Cymos is moving its wings around like it's scratching for algae. The wings alone look like they're a meter tall.
I have a weakness for most demons, but insects and undead are my weaknesses.

Tino crouched down to observe the Simos from close range. She rolls her eyes, but doesn't seem to be afraid.
Aren't our women too tough?

'They live in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital, don't they? ......'

'Hmm, they're usually found deeper in the forest...'

'I don't like that. ......'

I don't think anyone would like a mosquito that big.

In response to my comment, Liz slammed the Simos she had been happily wielding to the ground.

There was a sickening sound of something being crushed. The long legs of the crushed Simos were twitching.
I quickly turned away from it. That's why I hate bugs.

Liz wiped her hands on the floor, smiled prettily, and tilted her head.

'There are so many of them, what do we do?

'I should have brought some ...... bug spray.'

Lise nods once and disappears. Apparently he's gone to get rid of them.
There was a series of noises in the distance that sounded not like a kick, but like a bomb going off.

This is why I hate going out of the capital. Lies is too strong, but in terms of consideration, he is the worst of the Ghosts of Sorrows. She's tied with Luke for worst.
Well, that's one of her good points.

'Mastaa,......, are you sure that was a good idea?

As usual, Tino asks me, wearing a black outfit that melts in the dark.
I'm fully equipped. A black jacket and a number of tools on his waist. A large dagger is strapped to his waist so that he can pull it out at any time, and his appearance shows no sign of fatigue from the training he just received.
It is the time when a normal hunter would have finished his work by now, but he is really tired.

'...... Well, it can't be helped, can it? You can't help it, Lizzie, you're so selfish.

After Tino chose the treasure house he wanted to go to, Liz was not happy.
Apparently, she was upset that Tino had rejected my idea.

Well, I managed to put that to rest, but what Liz said afterwards was something I didn't expect.

--I'm not going to go.

...... I wasn't planning on going, though.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not.
Although I am the nominal leader, there are no strict rules that exist in the parties of ordinary hunters, and everyone has been free.

Among them, Liz's freedom is the greatest. And the trouble is that Liz has a bad habit of trying to show me a good time every time.
Of course, if I refuse her strongly, she will back off, but someone else will have to pay for her bad mood.

In this case, it was Tino who had to deal with the bad-tempered version of Liz. I'm so sorry.
Tino puffed up his cheeks and said.

'...... When I asked you out, you didn't want to go with me. ......'

I don't want to go either. I really don't want to go.

I don't have the tools right now. Even the "Night Hiker" I used last time ran out of magic.
I still have a few Safe Rings left for defense, but other than those, I'm almost completely wiped out. I can use the recharged 'dog chain', but if I don't get Lucia to come back soon, I'm going to be too scared to even go outside properly.

'Did I have to come?

'What? It's been a long time since I've been on an adventure with Cry, it's really fun!

Before I knew it, Liz had returned and was hugging me from behind with her arms around my neck.
She's a bit more lightly dressed than Tino. Her body isn't very fleshy, but it's soft enough to be held close.
It's as if she's rubbing her cheeks together, and the sweet whisper of her voice makes me tingle.



You're in a good mood. I'm in a good mood. ...... I don't want to go on an adventure.

I'm not sure what to do.

I'm not sure what to make of it. It seems that there are also powerful demons like Cymos, and you can't really do that .......'

I'm not sure if Simos is a powerful demon. .......

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

'Tee, be careful. With Cry-chan here, don't show your pathetic side, okay?

'Yes, sir.

...... Well, if you're in a good mood, why not?

It's a good thing that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.
I think we've bought enough time, so let's just end this charade and go home.



§§



The treasure house that Tino chose was as low level as the treasure house I chose.
The distance from the White Wolf's Lair was far enough to meet my criteria for choosing a treasure house, but the reason I didn't choose that treasure house was because it was so small.

With two reliable guards, we walked for thirty minutes. It came into view.
A total of seventeen thick stone columns in the middle of the plain. It was an open space with a radius of about a hundred meters around it.

The difference between the Treasure Hall and the plain outside was that there was not a single plant or tree growing there. The seventeen stone pillars sprouting in a space where the ground is bare are very strange, but to be honest, they are very boring.

The treasure hall of level 1. The Alleyne Column Ruins.

It's a real trash treasure house that is always at the bottom of the annual treasure house ranking published by the Imperial City Explorers Association.
The seventeen pillars are three to five meters high, and a hunter with a little mana material can easily climb them and get a bird's eye view of the entire treasure house. And you will know that there is nothing there.

A humanoid sand golem of about one meter in height appears as an illusion, but it has low strength, agility, and durability, and it collapses with a light tap, so it cannot be used for combat training.
There is no such thing as a treasure trove, and even a new hunter would probably go to a better treasure trove.

Well, the flow of the earth's veins is closely related to the topography, and the treasure halls in such open plains are often of low level, but still, this is terrible.

Incidentally, "Alleyne" is the name of the man who first found this disappointing treasure house.

The purpose of my sending Liz was to stop her. It should be easy and take some time to explore.
A treasure house like this, Liz would have finished her search in ten seconds.

But that's all the better for now.
We didn't expect to be here at this time of night, but Sven and the others must have finished their investigation of the White Wolf's Lair by now. The rest is just a matter of deceiving Lies.

But, Tino ......, I wonder if the previous search was so effective that you chose the Treasure House, which I would not have chosen.

Liz tugged on my hand as if she was excited.

'Hey, hey, look, look, Cry! Sundrabbit's nest!

My eyes aren't on the ruins. Liz was pointing to a hole in the ground.

Sundrabbit is a rabbit somewhere between a demon and an animal that is widely distributed around the Imperial Capital.
They are the same color as soil, and their fur is cheap and their meat is bad. They live in large burrows dug in the ground. It is not something that people dare to hunt, but it is said to be one of the creatures that support the ecosystem around the Imperial Capital due to its high fertility.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.

Tino trembles at the sound of her high-pitched voice. He must have realized that the treasure house he had chosen was even more boring than the rumors said.
Well, even if he had chosen one of the treasure halls I mentioned, there would have been nothing, but at least it wouldn't have been so obvious.

When Tino was frightened, Liz said with a smile.

'Here, Tee. Why don't you go look for it? You chose this place because you thought there was something here, didn't you? Cry-chan went to a lot of trouble to choose this place for you, but you refused to do so. Don't embarrass Liz. How many minutes do you want in this treasure house? One minute? Three minutes? Five minutes? You're a thief, can you do that?

I'm sorry. ......

I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to know what you think. Poor thing.

When Tino called out for me in a trembling voice, Liz's voltage went through the roof.
Her smile disappeared in an instant, and she let go of her entwined arms and yelled at Tino.

'Aaah! Don't blame it on Kry! You're a lowlife! Do you understand? Krai-chan is saying that Tee is a piece of trash who can only conquer this stupid treasure hall!

I didn't say that.

'I didn't say that.

'You're so kind, Cry. But Tee is Liz's apprentice, so even though she's not like Liz, she has to correct her spoiled spirit. ......, right? Just like Kry did to us in the past.

Liz says in a catnip voice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You should be nicer to everyone but me. Did I do something wrong?

Tino is shrinking desperately. Unlike the last time at the White Wolf's Den, he can't hide behind me because Liz is right next to me.
I followed her in style, like a senior hunter.

'Well, well. It's a nice treasure house.

'Ehh ......'

I grabbed the disgruntled Liz by the shoulders and made her look at the treasure house.
Tino looked up at me with trepidation, and I nodded confidently. Don't worry, I know how to handle her.

'Mostly, look at it properly. It's not like there's nothing there.'

'What? Are you sure?

It's there. It's there. ...... Yes, like cylinders.


I tried to look for something else, but there was nothing. Well, if my anger doesn't subside, I'll just say that my hobby is column-watching.

'............ Well, it may be insignificant, but I don't mind it.

'Hmm?

And that's when my vision went dark. The magic of the Owl's Eye had worn off.
I became the bird's eye, not the owl's eye. I couldn't see anything anymore.

I can't help laughing at myself for being so silly. I call it escaping reality.
Realizing that Tino was watching me, I cleared my throat and returned to a serious expression.

'By the way, it's dark here, can Tino see you properly?

'Yes, Crye, that's a bit ridiculous. I'm trained in the dark, you know? I'm still a piece of trash who can't move well when I wear a mask, but I'm Liz-chan's apprentice.''

Liz puckered her lips. I'm really sorry for being such a ...... piece of trash.

With a small sigh, Liz instructs Tino with her chin.

'Well, that's okay. Tee, come on, search properly? Can you prove to Krai-chan that you're not blind? You can do that, right?'

'Yes, yes ......, sister. Watch me, please.

I'm sorry, but my eyes can't see it anymore.
Tino runs off and disappears into the darkness in a flash. In the distance, a black blur begins to climb up a vague pillar.

Oh, no, not this. I can't see any more than I thought I could. I'll just cheer for it.

'Tino, be careful!

'Yes! Mastaa!

It's not safe to fall. ...... At Tino's level, it's safe to fall.

But this darkness is really bad. Unfortunately, there were clouds coming up. If the moon, our only light source, is hidden, we won't even be able to see a little bit ahead. Oh no.
I trust Lise. At her speed, it'll be easy to protect me alone. But at the same time, Liz and the rest of the Ghosts of Sorrows tend to overestimate my strength. They favor their own people.

Liz apologizes to me in a sullen tone.

'Cry-chan, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Cry-chan, but you came up with a great idea. ......'

'......No, no, it's fine. Besides, it's not a lie that this treasure house chosen by Tino is not bad.''

'What? Is that so?

'It's not, but it is.

'Yes, it is. In fact, I expected Tino to choose this treasure house. It's all in the palm of my hand.'

'What? Really? That's my girl Cry! I'm glad I didn't scold Tee!

Isn't that the reprimand you just gave me? .......

I can't see Tino at all, so I have no choice but to look around.
I don't have any spying skills, but I'd still like to at least try my hand at it.

At that moment, I saw something small and shiny in the darkness a few meters away. I strained my eyes, but could not make out what it was at all. It's not that I have poor eyesight, but it's too dark.
It's not my imagination. Something's glowing.

Lise is bending over like she's relaxed. Hasn't she noticed?

'Liz, what is that?'

'Hmm ......? What's wrong with Sandravid?'

'Yeah, what is it? The rabbit's eyes are glowing.
That's right. If it's a dangerous demon, there's no way that Liz, a specialist in searching for enemies, won't notice it.

Next to me, relieved, Liz moves. She moved quickly and came back with a rabbit in her hand.
She grabs it by both ears and dangles it in front of me.

I can't see its color in the dark, but it looks like a normal rabbit. Its eyes are shining, its body is stocky, and its fur is furry. The sand rabbit was shaking its body, as if it had just realized that it had been captured.

I didn't ask you to catch me.

Liz, who was looking at the dangling rabbit, looked into its eyes and frowned. He was silent for a while, and then, as if he didn't like what was happening, he slammed the sand rabbit into the ground and stomped on it before he could stop it.

The sound of bones and flesh being crushed is disgusting, no matter how many times I hear it. He looked down at the sand rabbit, which had stopped moving, and saw me stiffen in shock, and said.

'I'll go get the others.

'Oh, yes.

Liz disappeared in front of me as I reflexively answered.
I wondered if she had found pleasure in pulling out rabbits and beating them up. If you're going to play with me, please play with me.

I've known Liz for a long time, but I really don't understand her.