Eight hunters are gathered in a room at a high-class inn for treasure hunters in the center of the Imperial City.

Unlike those used by aristocrats and merchants, the lodgings for hunters are more pragmatic than luxurious.
There was a refrigeration room for storing demon materials, a meeting room, a maintenance room for washing bloody armor, and many other things useful for continuing the search of the treasure house.
Each piece of furniture was sturdy enough for even the strongest hunter to break, and the rooms were large enough for a party to use.

Compared to the inn in Nebulanubes, where they had been based until now, it was very well-equipped, but Arnold, who was sitting on the top seat, did not look good.

The reason for this was the words he had received from Branch Chief Gark.
He looked around at the party members and confirmed with some low, threatening voice.

'You've gathered the rumors, haven't you?

'Ha, yes. It seems that he is a famous hunter in this area--'

While sweating, the party's deputy leader, Ei, begins to explain.

《Thousands of changes》.

The two names of the hunter who is the owner of the Zekage and who, whether seriously or jokingly, asked Arnold and the others to kill the thunder dragon because he wanted to eat it, as mentioned by the head of the Gark branch.
Normally, the leader of the party to which the woman who unilaterally attacked Arnold belonged would be worthy of opposition, but he was too risky an opponent to attack.

Defeating the Thunder Dragon was one of Arnold and the others' greatest achievements.

The dragon that had raged in the Land of Mists was certainly powerful enough to level a country.
It was an absolute powerhouse that several high level hunters had failed to defeat before Arnold and his team took it on. The reason why Arnold was certified as a Level 7 and given the second name was because his defeat was a feat worthy of it.

Thunder Dragon.
It has a huge body and strong scales. It floats through the sky in all directions, armed with a lightning breath that is difficult to avoid and a long, blade-like tail that is far sharper than an ordinary sword, and is recognized as one of the top dragon species.

In the event you're not sure what to do, there are a number of things you can do.
They prepared the scene, watched for the right moment, took all possible equipment and measures, and then set the trap.
This was a battle that could not be lost, with the destruction of the nation at stake. The deadly battle lasted for several hours.
The recommended level of defeat set by the Explorers' Association was 7, but Arnold, who actually faced it, said that the authorized level was too low.

We were lucky to defeat it, but one wrong move and Arnold and the others would have been dead. Even now, with the powerful weapons made from its materials and having gone through many deaths since then, a fight would not have been easy.

No matter what kind of predicament I was in at the Treasure House, I could always be roused by the thought that I was better than that thunder dragon.

The carcasses were dismantled and the Land of Mist was enriched. A reasonable amount of money was distributed to all the hunters who cooperated.
Whether or not they are worthy of the difficulty of defeating them, the entire body of a dragon species is a treasure. Their bones, scales, and the jewels inside their bodies are naturally in demand, as well as their flesh and blood as ingredients for potions.
It's a madman's idea to use a part of that material that they risked their lives to obtain for food. Even if there are hunters who would say such a thing, it should be laughed off.

However, if the person saying this is a high-level hunter, it is a different story.

You can find a lot more information on this at .......

Arnold clicked his tongue loudly when he heard the information.

Level 8, a man recognized as a higher level than Arnold who killed the thunder dragon.
The expression of the members of the "Foreign Mist", who are not afraid of fighting for their lives against the illusion, is also somewhat distorted with anxiety.

Treasure hunters, whose abilities are dramatically enhanced by mana and materials, differ greatly in their abilities.
The difference in ability between the average hunter and Arnold is as great as the difference between heaven and earth, and the same can be said for the higher level hunters and Arnold.

There were only five treasure halls in the vicinity of Nebula Nubes.
Even so, each of the five treasure halls was certified at a different level, and although it was a blessing compared to the surrounding countries, it was a far cry from the Imperial Capital, where there were countless treasure halls of all levels.

In this place, there are several high-level treasure halls that will further enhance Arnold and the others who have grown to their limits in the treasure halls of Nebula Nubes.

The "Thunderbolt Flash" that was called the strongest in the Land of Mist may not work in this Imperial City. No, even if it did, it probably wouldn't be ranked that high.
I had expected this to a certain extent, but for the Foreign Mist, which had always been feared for its power, this fact was much heavier than I had imagined.

In the event that you've got a lot of money, you're going to be able to get a lot more than you can afford.

I'm not sure if there are a lot of people in this land who would prey on that Thunder Dragon? But I don't think there were many hunters in the tavern.

'So, but Mr. Arnold. The "Thousand Transformations" I saw were just like small fish. ......'

'...... d*mn it!

Arnold stomped on the floor in response to Ray's fearful words.

It is a fatal blow for a hunter to be licked, but it is also not the hunter's place to challenge a battle in which defeat is certain.
The ridiculous look in Gark's eyes is stuck in my mind. The look in his eyes--the look of a man who is convinced that the Thousand Transformations surpasses the Thunderbolt Flash.
The request for the delivery of the thunder dragon is probably part of that.

Originally, he had planned to make his presence known to the hunters in the Imperial Capital, sell off the items he had acquired near Nebula Nubes at a high price, and then settle down to destroy the treasure halls of this place one by one.

However, I stumbled at the first step.
Fortunately, it was a famous hunter who had done it.

The information about the Thousand Transformations that Ei and the others had heard and investigated was more than they had expected, regardless of its authenticity.

He is a man with eyes that see into the future.
A man who had reached level 8 without making a single mistake.
The leader of a party made up entirely of people with two names.

A mysterious treasure hunter whose name no one knows and whose abilities no one knows. Some say he's a god-like man.
If he has Rodin, whose name is even known to Nebula Nubes, in his corner, there can be no doubt about his abilities.





'............ We'll see. Do what you have to do first. I'll get myself in position. We don't have enough information.'

Arnold and the others are not knights of honor. They're hunters.
Going up against a strong man requires a certain amount of preparation. Especially if you're going to beat them.

One of the members shuddered at the passion in his voice.

'What about that ...... request for the delivery of the thunder dragon?

'I'm not ...... going to be provoked. I haven't received a formal request.

First, assess the situation. Look for weaknesses.
A party consisting of only two names and a huge clan. It's too powerful an opponent, but that's why there's always an opening.

The golden eyes shine brightly in the face of the strongest target since the thunder dragon. The heat was swirling in the spacious room.


§ § § §


'......How in the world is this happening ......?'

Eva said in a trembling voice after checking the debt memo.
I'm not sure what to make of that. It's a look that's not typical for the always calm and collected Eva.

Even I didn't feel like slumping back in my chair as usual, so I folded my arms and pretended to think.

The income of 《Ghosts of Sorrows》 was divided equally, but the rule was that if there was an item that a party member wanted among the items obtained, such as a treasure or a material for a demon, that member would buy it at a slightly lower price than the fair price, and distribute the money for that.

Well, we were good friends, and most of the party members were not greedy, so we just went along with it, but the debt naturally increased because I bought most of the treasures, which was the main source of income for hunters.

Since we didn't have any money, we had to borrow money from everyone every time we bought something, but since the introduction of Eliza as a new member, Citri, who had the most money to spare, has been taking care of it for us.


I'm completely spoiled. I've turned a blind eye to this, but this could be a very bad ...... thing.

Eva knows about the treasures that line my private room. She also knows the contents of my wallet and the amount of money I have saved. She's almost like a secretary. I'm sure you can guess why I'm in this situation.

'No, ...... there are too many treasures I want--'

'............ It's an amount that even a top-notch hunter can't earn that easily, you know? They bring in new treasures one after another, so I was wondering......'

'Yeah, yeah, that's right. ......The higher the level of the treasure hall that the party conquered, the more expensive the treasures they brought back, so the more debt they incurred. ......'

It is a wonder that no one has pointed this out so far. The amount of money is so huge that I can't feel it at all. Surprise.
Ava scratches up her bangs and presses her forehead. She looks much more serious than I do.



Yeah yeah ...... Citrie filled in the gaps for you. I think I'm going to have to get married now.
The motive is too ...... impure.

'Yes, just so you know, you didn't borrow from ...... any outside sources, did you?

'No, only from Citrie.

I've borrowed some things from other people, but they were all returned to me by Citrie.
The treasure trove is my lifeline. That's why I didn't compromise at all ......, but maybe I should have thought about my actions a little more. I guess I'll have to get married now.

Ava's slim glasses gleamed. The thoughtful look on her face was fleeting.
Then she sighed heavily and said.

'............ Huh. Well, if you're a Strange Grief, you can get by with a year or two,......, but if you don't have interest, you're going to have a lot of trouble.

I'm not sure if I can continue to be a hunter for a year or two when my current situation is pretty full.

'Can't you get by with a ...... sweet shop?'

'I don't understand what you're saying at all.

'Okay, I've decided! I'll refrain from buying ...... treasure until I pay off my debt.'

These words were full of determination, but Eva's eyes were somewhat skeptical.
She had been buying new treasures all the time and bragging about it every time. It's no wonder she doesn't trust me. You have to show them by your actions.
Let's show them our motivation as well.

'Later ......, I guess. I should get a second job--or, even if I don't go that far, I could get a part-time job at .......'

'Please don't.'

'Well, how about a ...... fortune teller. I don't have any skills or knowledge, but don't you think I could get by without guessing?'

'No ......, please don't!

She was only half joking, but Eva's voice was desperate. Her face was even paler than when she had found out how much she owed.
It was just a suggestion. ...... Well, if the master of my clan wanted to start a bogus fortune teller, I would try my best to stop him.
In the first place, there are real fortune tellers in the imperial capital who boast high accuracy rates, and they will soon peel off their skins and be finished.

'...... Maybe I'll go to a store somewhere and sell some stuff.'

'Please don't.'

'How about cleaning? There are some people who have been asked to do this by the searchers' association because of the shortage of labor, right?

The pay is low, and you don't need to be a hunter to do it, so apparently not many people take it.

'...... Please stop. I'm really begging you, ...... Cry, do you understand your position?

'A hunter is a free man. There is no nobility in the job. It's okay for a level 8 to go down the drain. Don't you think so?'

'No, I don't. Please don't do it.

I see. ...... I can't say for sure until I try it, but it's possible.
But I'm at a loss. ...... If that's the case, how am I supposed to make money?

I have no special skills, only human-like abilities, but my level is disproportionately high.
I can't eat it even if I boil it or bake it. Isn't that a much worse quality than just incompetence? I feel like puking.

All I can do is make Lise and Citrie and Lucia and Tino pay for it. Trash, huh?

'Why don't you take a second job, or rather, go to ...... solo and dive into the treasure house? You're a hunter.

Ava seems to be telling me to die too .

I relax and smile pathetically, and Eva lets out a long, soul-draining sigh.

I'm sure you'll be happy with the results. ............ Fortunately, I have some money in my pocket, and I think I can increase my capital somewhat if I take my time. Krai, please don't do anything! All right? No more debts, either. The collapse of a party is most often caused by financial problems.

That means I'm not doing anything, right?
...... All I can do is make Eva pay for it. ....... What's the difference between that and borrowing from Citrie?

It's a good thing, but Eva has her work cut out for her. Running a growing clan alone must be a considerable burden.
And on top of that, wiping up the debt, I'm too sorry. I'm too bad.

'Stay confident, Cry. It's easier for me to do things when you're strong.

'...... Eva's standard of firmness is pretty low. You mean sit back and shut up, right?

'............'

I was turned away. I'm not sure if I'm a good clan master or not.