Most of this world is made up of elements that I have no control over.
The only reason I was able to make it to the level of level 8 is because of the hard work of my friends.

I am already out of proportion to my position and ability. It's hard to meet the demands of the world.
That's why I'll probably have to rely on my friends such as Liz, Sitri, and Ark.

I can only do what I can to help those who have returned from the battlefield.

I will prepare herbal tea and chocolates.
I buy a cake from a famous pastry store and put up some candles. A nice bottle of champagne, a gift, is chilled.
Eva looked at me in disgust as I began to decorate the Clan Master's room.

'Welcome back, how about we hang a sash that says Ark?

'...... I think it's best not to stir things up. ...... Even if you're as good as you think you are, Arc, your depths aren't infinite.'

'No, it's infinite.

Also, I'm not trying to stir things up. I just want to convey my sincerity. I just want to tell you how passionate I am about masks.
And I want you to sell it to me at a reasonable price if possible. I'd be happy to sell it for a million guilders. I'd have no problem borrowing that much from the clan's operating budget. Is that too much to ask?

'Yes, if we prepare not only tea, but also a potion for mental fatigue--'

'...... Did you ask for something so hard?'

Ark didn't come back easily.

Miss Eclair liked Ark. It shouldn't have been such a burdensome request but perhaps he was being entertained by the Gladys family.
If he didn't come home today, he'd be screwed. Champagne and chocolates aside, the cake has a short shelf life. I even put up a candle, but it was a completely unthinking move.

'It's too late. ...... I'm sure Ark can handle most things.'

'Well, that happens sometimes.

Eva's expression gradually became cloudy as she finished her preparations.
It's only natural that I asked you to do something so trivial while you were busy. I'm very sorry for all the trouble I've caused you.

After finishing the decoration, I started to assemble the puzzle again because I had nothing to do.
Why did I buy a plain white puzzle? ...... It was also an unthinking action. Is it hard-boiled?

I was frustrated because I had to check each piece by piece. Is this really the right piece?

'...... Um, can I help you with that ......?'

'No, I'm fine.

I can do the puzzle by myself. It's not a meaningful action to ask Eva, who is busy.
While I was working on the puzzle, Liz and the others who had gone to the money store came back.

I open the door, completely ignoring the rules, and my eyes light up when I see the unusual appearance of the clan master's office.

'Tadaimaa, Cry-chan! What? What? A party?'

'You're early. I'm waiting for Ark to come back. I had to ask him for some trouble.'

'I'm back, Cry-san. ...... Ah, the usual?

What do you mean 'usual'? .......
The next time Citrie walks in, he puts the large bag he was carrying down on the desk, looks at the puzzle, and puts it on the floor. The sound of metal rubbing against metal is heard.

I thought he was going to go to the treasure house again because he said he was going to make money, but that's not the case.

Sitri reported to me with a smile.

'I've earned 110 million guilders! With this, we can make up for Lucia's account!

''Eh! How did you ............ do that?''

My sense of money is almost numb, but 110 million guilders is a lot of money. It would be a great help to be able to replenish it, but it's not an amount that I can obtain as if I were going for a walk.

Citri and Ryz answered my question in rapid succession, as if they were competing for credit.

'It's okay. I followed the rules and did it well. No one is going to be unhappy.

'I made sure to get the rednecks who fought with us to pay for what they did! It took longer than expected, but it's done! d*mn it, when you come to the Imperial Capital, you should come and greet Kry-chan!

'Yeah, yeah, I guess so.

You're gorgeous. I don't care if it's just one of you, I feel like I can't handle the two of you together.
I wait for them to settle down and ask.

'What do you mean in a nutshell?

'The sobering potion I made to counter the intoxication potion sold for 110 million guild! I'm level 7, but it looks like I didn't strengthen the resistance system enough.''

'No matter how high your level is, you're still just a country bumpkin, aren't you? I want to be a level 7 too, but even if I become a level 7 in the countryside. Hey, hey, Cry, do you have anything for me?

I'd like to be a level 7, but I can't be a level 7 in the country.
I don't know, but some of the most effective potions are incredibly expensive, so if it's Citri's special product, it might be possible.

Maybe I should become an alchemist and sell sobriety potions too. .......

'Also, by the way, I've withdrawn the request for the thunder dragon. It seems that the other party was not going to accept the request, but ...... the thunder dragon is really expensive, so there is no problem, right?

'Oh, I've heard that before. Well, the chicken tastes better, so I don't mind.

I didn't expect Eva to ask for it, and it's true that the chicken tasted better as Citri said, so it's no problem.
I'm afraid of memory correction. Maybe that's why it tasted so good when I ate it at the Treasure House.

Citri clasped his hands together as if he had understood me.

'I knew you'd say that, so I've given you a request to hunt a big chicken instead. If it's delivered, I'll cook it again!

'You chicken bastards should be hunting for chicken!

Giant chickens are usually sold in butcher shops. ....... They do live in the wild, but I'm sure it was a request for a level 1 hunter to make some extra money.

I felt a lot of things, but I didn't want to say them out loud because it was too much trouble, so I just smiled.
As for Liz's belligerence, it's not something I need to point out now.

'Oh, it was so much fun. It's a pity we couldn't see how strong the level 7s in the Land of Mist are, but it's good to do something like this once in a while. You can always hit them.



Lise straightens her back in satisfaction. Her bare, supple, tanned skin stretched out in response. Her behavior reminded me of a cat.

I couldn't fully read the situation, but since I had a policy of praise and development, I praised him anyway.

'You didn't hit him? ...... Great, great, great.'

'If Sito hadn't done something unnecessary, I would have hit him. ......'

'I see. ...... Sitri, great, great, great.'

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do this on my own, but with Sitri as a stopper, I'll be able to relax. Citry puts his hand on his cheek, embarrassed by my casual praise.

But I didn't do anything to make Lucia's debt one less thing to worry about. .......
I feel things are turning out in my favor. Is it God?

'I feel like that, so I think I'll stay at Kry-chan's place today.

'You're bothering Mr. Cry. Come on, let's go home, sis! I'll let you stay at my place!

I'm sure you're in a good mood.
It's nice to see them so close. If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them.

§§


It was late at night when the real Ark came home.
When I was working on a puzzle with Eva after finishing today's work, I heard footsteps slamming downstairs.

It is very unusual for that Ark to break the no-go rule. The door opened wide in front of me and Eva who looked up.

I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the sight of him coming in.
Arc was a wreck. His hair, which was always in order, was in disarray and his costume was unraveled and soaked with blood as if he had just returned from a battlefield.

There was no room in her expression either. I looked around the room with a keen eye and rolled my eyes for a moment at the decorated Clan Master's room.

Coming to my senses, I quickly rang the crackers I had prepared.
Eva followed in a panic. Arc looked like a pigeon that had been hit by a peashooter. The party members who came in behind him, who were as battered as Ark, were also in a daze.

They didn't know what had happened, but it seemed that something more than they had imagined had occurred.
There is a saying that fact is stranger than fiction. My brain is a piece of shit and I have bad luck, so I am used to unexpected accidents.

This was the first time I had ever experienced a level where my arc was torn apart, but I knew how to deal with it.

I stood up and unleashed one of my few special moves, sliding down on my knees, in front of the black and white eyes of Ark.
The carpet was so slippery that I had to spin around and get down on my knees. If I had to give it a score, I would give it about 120 out of 100 points.

'I'm sorry, sir!

'Mr. Cry!

I bowed my head, satisfied with how well I got down on my knees. I don't know if I'm at fault for the accident that occurred, but at times like this, bowing is the only way to go. In this place, there is no eye other than Eva's.

Ark didn't say anything. Feeling her gaze on his head, he turned his brain to full speed.

What could have happened to make Ark, the strongest in the Imperial Capital, go to pieces?

His fighting ability is extraordinary even among hunters. To tell you how strong he is, even the monstrous members of the Ghosts of Sorrows are so extraordinary that no one can say that they can beat him one on one.
You might think that they are the strongest but they are only that strong, but our party has more treasure halls to conquer than theirs, and there must be a difference in the mana and materials they absorb, but to be that strong is not an unusual talent.

Such an Ark would be torn to pieces. If there was a monster that appeared in the Imperial Capital that was capable of destroying him, it would be a major incident. Therefore, the most likely scenario is that a monster appeared that Ark could not fight with all his might.

In other words, there is only one possibility.

Ark, who was always cheerful, sounded unbelievably bad-tempered.

'.................. What are you, suddenly, bowing your head for?

'The young lady threw a tantrum, didn't she?

'............, tantrum, huh?'

Bingo.
I'm sure Ark couldn't act like an adult to the young lady who was so proud to present the mask to him.
He must have said that he didn't want it or that Kry would be happy with it.

Hearing that, the young lady became unhappy and threw a tantrum. The reason Ark is in tatters is probably because he had a hard time controlling the rampaging lady.
Even the strongest Ark must have had a hard time with a small monster that he couldn't touch.

I raised my head and pushed the trembling Ark away with force.

'Please don't misunderstand me, Ark. I thought Ark would be able to handle it peacefully! I didn't expect you to have so much trouble. I guess I wasn't clear enough.

There was regret and impatience in me.
It was my fault for not anticipating it. I should have said something so as not to offend the lady.

However, when I think about it calmly, it seems like something that Ark could have handled without any problem.
Since it was the result of me asking for a favor, it is certain that I am at fault, but I cannot say that Ark is not at fault.

'But, Ark. Don't you think I don't need to tell you not to offend the lady?

'That's--'

'Besides, you have an excellent mage in your party. If the young lady gets out of control, you can use the Hupnos Cage or whatever. That's what I'd tell Lucia to do.

It seems that the main magic Arc can use is attack and body strengthening but he also has an excellent mage in his party who has mastered a wide range of magic.
Isabella Mernes, who had the light purple hair typical of the north, raised her eyebrows at my words.

'Huh? Are you saying that my magic is inferior to Lucia's? I used it! I used it and it didn't work!

'Oh, ......, is that so? ............ I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologize!

'No, ...... look, it's okay. Everyone has their weaknesses. I'm not good at a lot of things either. I'm not good at a lot of things either. But you should learn to deal with abnormalities because you can use them in case of emergency. I'll talk to Lucia if you want.

'Don't comfort her!

Isabella's cheeks flushed and she clammed up.

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I sighed deeply and reached out my hand to indicate the decorated Clan Master's office. Eva was standing there with an anxious expression on her face, unsure of what to do.

'Anyway, I thought you'd be home by now, so I waited for you. We have cake and champagne.'



Chloe, the priestess, looks at the glitter falling from the ceiling and says in disgust.

'Wow, that's an amazing decoration ......'.

'I decorated it myself. I had a lot of fun along the way. ...... There are candles, too.'

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

'Sorry about that. I didn't expect it to take so long. ...... I thought Ark could do things a little smarter.'

It wasn't that I had a high opinion of Ark. He had such a high reputation and unlike me, he was as good as his reputation.
Why do you think he would struggle against a young lady alone?

Ark kept his expression blank and did not say anything for a while, but then he took a deep breath.

'...... Cry, you--you're too short on words. I don't know everything, you know.'

'I'm sorry.'

'I heard that Master Eclair was rude to you. He warned you that it was a dangerous weapon. But even so, Kry could've handled it a little better.''

'I'm sorry,' he said.

'It's okay to involve me, but it's not okay to involve uninvolved civilians. You're the clan master, you're the one who set the rule of not bothering the public.

I didn't say it well enough. That was a good move. That's fair.
I didn't mean any harm, but that doesn't mean I didn't mean any harm.

I felt sorry higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea.

'I didn't think it would become such a big deal. Ark has a point, next time I'll try to involve only him.

'You're not sorry at all, are you?

Isabella looked at me with her cheeks drawn together.

It's true that I am remorseful. No, you could say I'm doing a lot of reflecting.

But more than that, I was relieved that Ark hadn't left the clan.

He was one of the few friends that my childhood friends had who fought with each other. It is not that he fights all the time, but that he is a friend who can endure fights. Since violent impulses will explode if they are not dissipated on a regular basis, ARK is the perfect person for them.

'So, ...... did you get that ...... thing after all?

I know it's not the right time to ask this, but I can't help but check.
In response to my question, Arc grumpily threw out the leather bag he was carrying. I hurriedly caught it.

'It was hard work. I really had a hard time. It was hard to seize Master Eclair who was rampaging with a sword. The speed of his blows was far different and he was exerting power beyond the limits of his body without hesitation. I managed to pull him away, but what the hell was that? It seems that it didn't cover itself but jumped at me...''

I hadn't been listening to Ark since the middle of the conversation.
I felt as if I had received a present on my birthday. I enthusiastically untied the bag and put my hand inside. Ark and the others opened their eyes as if they were startled.

It was a nostalgic, unpleasant feeling like sticking your hand into wet flesh.

'Cry, it's dangerous and you should not act carelessly...'

I hold up the side of the meat I took out. It must have been a while ago that I lost it, but I miss it so much.
The pink flesh, the veins rushing to the front. Oh, how disgusting! Excellent! Excellent!

At that moment, in front of me, frozen with emotion, her open mouth began to move even though I had not touched it.

'What a power. I thought I had found a gem, but I had no idea that there was a warrior who could so easily subdue those who advanced against him. Well, are the people of this age even stronger than I remember? We need to change our standards.

What? You're talking!

I felt my hands tremble.
The "Transforming Human Mask" that I had until recently was just a mask, it did not speak or move by itself.

Among the treasures I possess, there is no such thing that can speak or move by itself.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry that ...... I'm sorry. Thank you for sending Ark.'

A familiar figure quietly emerged from behind the door.
But by that time I had pressed the mask of flesh to my face.

''What?

Ark and the others exclaimed. An unpleasant feeling flashed across the back of my head. Apparently, there was a convenient function that fixed the mask so that it would not come apart. Great!

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

The mask of flesh howled. Then, a voice echoed in his brain.

'This is--muscle strength E-, agility E-, stamina E-, magic power E-, growth potential E-, zero motivation, overall rating, seven. 7 points. Evolving Demon Face (Over Greed), you have not reached the activation criteria. Forced cancellation.

The mask trembles as if it's trying to get away from me.
The holes in my eyes hang down pathetically, and the tentacle-like strings that hold the back of my head in place hang down slackly.

My motivation also dropped. I sighed deeply, and when I released my hand, the mask came off naturally.

This looks very similar, but it's not "Reverse Face"!
It's a scam! I never expected there to be so many different kinds of creepy masks.

I'm tempted to sue the developer of the original treasure trove. I can't do that, though, because the developers are probably from a civilization many years ago.

...... Well, I guess I'll just have to live with the fact that I got a rare treasure trove.

Ava, prepare a glass case. ...... What's wrong with that?'

Eva was a common occurrence, but Ark, who was always unfazed by most things, was looking at me with a shocked expression. The other members were all hiding behind Ark, and Miss Eclair, who was the only one standing next to him, was pale and trembling. Tears were welling up in her eyes.

'............ No, no, it's nothing. ......'

'Oh, I forgot to ask. Can I have this?'



'Oh, yeah. I don't want it. You can have it! You can have it! I was wrong to try to get my hands on the treasure you gave me! I'll never do it again! Please forgive me!

Miss Eclair cries out, her voice rising. Well, we don't need a treasure trove that looks like this, do we?

But what a result after all the trouble.
To misjudge a treasure trove is to fail as a treasure trove collector. I'll put this mistake in the back of my mind and take it to my grave.

I regained my composure, looked at the group, and smiled.

'Well, it was a bit of a let down, but I did prepare a cake. Let's all eat it together. There are candles, too.