'I don't know anything about ......, you say?'

'Yeah. That's bad luck. But I'm glad you're okay.'

After hearing what had happened, I gave my honest opinion, and Sven put his head in his hands.

After a noisy night, the main members involved in the investigation of the White Wolf's Lair had gathered in the Clan Master's office at the Clan House.
Sven and the others who had taken charge over there, the reliable members of the Black Gold Cross, and several hunters from other parties. Gark-san and his right-hand woman, Caina-san. A man who looked familiar, an investigator for the Imperial Relic Research Institute.
The Clan Master's office also served as a reception room, and although it was reasonably spacious, it was a bit cramped for such a large group.

The faces of Sven and the others were covered with a dense fatigue, as if they had been through something terrible.

Apparently, while we were encountering strange golems and being magically attacked by people who had crawled out of their dens, they had also gotten into trouble.
Since their original purpose was to investigate the trouble, I suppose that was part of their request, but I suppose I should at least feel sorry for them.

In the story, they said that I had been hiding information from them, but I don't want to hear that.
If I had actually been withholding information, I would have been angry, but I really didn't know anything.

I sighed contentedly on the couch as I watched the investigator stomp his feet in frustration.

Maybe it's because I'm on level 8, but I'm often overrated. I'm used to people complaining about me.
I'm rather incompetent. My body is not well trained and my memory is not good. On top of that, I have pretty bad luck.
The only thing that makes me a good hunter is that I'm not quick to fight (and that's not one of my strong points among hunters).

I've been told that there were traces of a strange magical society experimenting on the area, but that's beyond my ability to deal with.

Fortunately, no one died, so there's only one thing I'm concerned about.

'That slime-like phantom didn't get dissolved by Citry's potion, did it?

'...... Oh. It didn't do a thing. d*mn it!'

Sven says as he spits.

I know the effects of Citri's potion better than anyone. If the potion she claimed to kill didn't work, then it probably wasn't the Citrine Slime.
It's just a coincidence that the Phantom that attacked Sven and the others looked a bit like a slime.

However, I wondered where the Citrine Slime had gone. .......

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
His tone of voice was calm, despite his ghoulish expression. But my eyes cannot be deceived. Mr. Gark, you're very irritated.

'Cry. You're a-- you're a man of action. I don't know how you get your information, and it's only natural for a hunter to hide his secrets. So I'm not gonna say anything about that. But this thing that was found should be handled by Zebuldiah.'

'Yeah, yeah, yeah. ......'

I think you should deal with it. ....... I wanted to reply like that, but I'm sure it would make my mood even worse.
I'd like to help you if it's not too dangerous, but there's nothing I can do.

Then the investigator, a man I had seen several times before, crossed his arms and glared at me as if I were some kind of avenger.

'Experiments using mana materials are worthy of ten crimes. Experiments related to illusions, in particular, are strictly forbidden in all countries due to their danger. Imperial subjects are obligated to cooperate with the investigation. Krei Andrich. Withholding information is a crime. It's no different on Level 8.'

'...... I'm not hiding anything, but ......'

'...... Perjury is just as bad. I have a treasure that can detect lies. As you know, the results are absolute. It's impossible for any godly con artist to deceive you.'

'...... is fine. Go ahead.

I've been involved in a lot of things, so I've had a few experiences with proving my innocence with treasure.
I have no guilt, and I have no reason to believe that I am guilty, so it doesn't hurt me at all to have my stomach probed.

The investigator scratched my hair without taking out his treasure trove. My eyelids are twitching.

'............ d*mn it. That's enough! How do you manage to slip past the treasure detection? Always, always--'

Even if you say so, .......
Every time the treasure proves me right, I get a look on my face like I'm having a bad nightmare. I'm just not lying. .......

I look around at Sven and the others. It seems that I don't have any allies this time, and Sven and Mr. Gark all have grim expressions on their faces.
I raise my head and look at Eva, who is standing behind me, but it seems that she is not on my side either. She shakes her head with a troubled expression.

I don't know what to do. ...... I'm just saying I don't know what I don't know. .......
I'm just saying I don't know what I don't know. It sounds like an emergency, and I can't lie about it.

As I puzzled, Mr. Gark sighed deeply.

'I expect the secret society that was experimenting on us to be the Tower of Akasha. I heard that you 'Ghosts of Sorrows' are after them.

The Tower of Akasha? I only heard that name recently. And the Ghost of Sorrows is after you?
I've been paying attention to my party for a while, but I've never heard of ....... I twisted my head for a while, but I still don't remember hearing anything like that.

'Where did you get that information?

'Talia heard it from Citri. 'Enemies of the Ghost of Sorrows,' she said. Two mages named Noto Cochlear and Sophia are particularly troublesome.

The little girl in the back of the room shivered a little at his words.

I've heard the name Talia before. I don't know her, but she's a friend of Citri's, and she's a rare alchemist in our clan. I was a bit worried about her as a friend, as Citri is a bit of an exclusive person, but I remember feeling relieved when I heard that she had made a friend.

I waved my hand lightly in his direction, thought for a moment, and said to Mr. Gark, who was waiting for me to say something with a serious expression.

'I'm sorry, I still don't remember. ....... If I don't know about it, then it's probably not a serious enemy. ......Citry isn't telling me everything either. ......'

'...... d*mn. You want to put me through that much of a trial?

Mr. Gark hit the table hard.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm incompetent.



I know that the members of my clan have been making fun of the ordeal that I've caused them.
I didn't do it on purpose. ...... I didn't do it on purpose. I know this may not sound very convincing, but it's just bad luck.

There's nothing more I can do when my treasure trove is empty of magic. .......

I think the Rabbinical researcher called himself Noto, but I don't know what that means anymore, and it might destroy the premise that those people are Sand Rabbit researchers, so I'll pretend I didn't hear it.
A certain degree of through-skill is an essential skill for a master. Whether it's a rabbi research group or a magic society, you can do whatever you want.
In the first place, what kind of magic society would infiltrate Sand Rabbit's lair, but it is not the Hunter's job to crack down on it.

'Yes, that's enough.

And then, a bookshelf near the wall opened with a small sound.
It was Liz who stepped out. She comes out with a big stretch. Her long, slender arms and legs, with their strong muscles, give a sense of functional beauty.
She doesn't seem to be wilting even though she has suddenly encountered a serious situation.

Liz looked around at the people gathered and smiled.

'You're tired, Cry, so I'll take care of the rest. There's been a lot going on over here too, so ...... it's fine, right?'

'......Yeah, I've left it entirely up to Liz. Let me know if you need anything else.'

The usual Liz doesn't listen to people, but it's not just that she doesn't have those skills.
Liz is a better hunter than I am in every way. She knows more than I do. I can trust you.

As long as there is nothing I can do, it will be better to leave it to her.

'Yes, sir. I'll ask her downstairs, since I'm afraid I'll be in Cry-chan's way here.'

'Wait a minute, Lizzie--'

'What? Gark-chan, I said I'd listen to you, but you're not happy?

The two investigators did not do anything.

The two investigators say nothing. They know that he has a short temper.
But Sven was stunned by Liz's attitude.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. If it was the usual Liz, she would have lost her temper by now. .......

Today Liz is in a better mood than she has been in a while.
The only drawback is that the short temper is temporarily relieved, and now Liz has no chance in both offense and defense.

'...... What's going on?

'N......? Hmmm ...... you know?'

This is a question that anyone who knows the usual Liz would have.

To Sven's question, Liz gave a big smile.
He glanced at me as if to say, "I'm sorry," and then he put his palms together as if they were intertwined.

'Actually, ............ Cry helped me out. Isn't that great?

'Huh?

'Well, I wasn't in any kind of trouble, but she was worried that I was having trouble. ...... Hey, isn't that very sweet? I'm falling in love with you all over again. You know?

Don't ask me to agree with you. You're having trouble responding, guys.

It seems that the golem had an operator, and Lucia's gravity magic (pressure) brought them down.

What's even scarier is the effective range of Lucia's attack spells. And what's even more frightening is the fact that Liz, who was also caught up in the gravity magic and licked the ground, doesn't care one bit about it.
She could avoid the golem's attack, but not Lucia's range magic.



...... Sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt you.
I didn't think it would reach that far. I'll ask you to keep the range a little smaller this time.

'Okay, Cry, see you later.

'Yes, yes, see you later.

Lyss winked at him and led everyone away.
No matter how good a mood she was in, no one wanted to stop the genocide monster.

The only one left was Eva, who had listened to the report in silence throughout. The Clan Master's office, which had been so cramped until a moment ago, suddenly seemed much larger.

'Are you sure you want to go to ......?

'Hmm, I think we can handle it. ...... We've been able to handle it so far.'

My clan is all competent except for me, so it's easy on the mind.

I put my legs up on the table and sigh in comfort as no one else is around.

The footprints are overwhelming. Even if the Rabbinical Institute (tentative) is a fearsome magic society, and they attack us in a mob, we can do anything we want.
I won't do anything dangerous until I know the cause of the commotion and Lucia comes back to recharge the magic power of the treasure, but we've passed the critical point.

I don't want to think about exploring the treasure house for a while longer.
I creaked my shoulders, which had become stiff after just one search, and looked back at Eva, remembering what I had asked her to do.

'Oh, by the way, did you find the good ice cream shop in the Imperial City that I asked you about before?