Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~-Chapter 321，Part1: 1 - Drifting Road of the Divine Tree ②

We go through the broken gate. Eliza and the others explained that it was a magical road, but the surrounding scenery didn’t change a lot. If they didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have been able to distinguish it from an ordinary road. 𝚋𝚎ｄ𝚗ｏｖ𝚎𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖

With Eliza leading the way, we proceed along the bumpy and pathless road.

Unlike the road where we were attacked by many Monsters, it was surprisingly quiet after passing through the gate. The quiet forest, with sunlight streaming through the gaps in the leaves, had a somewhat sacred air about it, making it very comfortable.

The ground was bumpy, but there was no room for me to move around on top of Mimic-kun. It would have been perfect if I could be on top of the carpet, but I am not gonna ask for more.

On the other hand, the guide which I received from Eliza, continued to rotate with an interesting momentum. When I first saw it, it looked just like a jewel tied to a string, but its movements are more aggressive than I imagined.

I have no idea what kind of force would cause it to start moving like this.

“But it’s really a quiet place…………” (Liz)

Liz put her hands behind her head and let out a bored voice while looking relaxed. In response, Tino complements what she says while looking around the surroundings.

“But somehow…… It feels like my senses have been messed up.” (Tino)

“Hmph………… You have sharp senses. The space is twisted due to a secret art. If you don’t take the right path, you will wander through the forest forever. Normally the guide is supposed to point to that path――” (Lapis)

Lapis *chirari* glances at me. Her gaze is cold, but the expression on the faces of the Members of 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》 behind her are even sterner than hers. It seems that among the Spirit People, my only allies are Kruz and Eliza, who have been exposed to my uselessness.

I take a deep breath and try my best to lighten up the atmosphere.

“So-So you mean that…… There is no correct way to go?” (Cry)

“What did you do to make it like this, desu………… There shouldn’t be many beings who can interfere with the secret arts of Spirit People……” (Kruz)

That’s what I would like to know………… Wait, do we even need a guide? There is only one way in front of us?

While I am thinking about such things, Tino suddenly raises her voice timidly.

“But………… In the first place, it only looks like a straight road……” (Tino)

Lapis frowns and says to Tino, who completely speaks for me.

“Hmph………… Know that what you see is not all there is to see, Tino Shade. You only see one road because 《Lost (Horo)》 is guiding you.” (Lapis)

“………… Eh?” (Tino)

Tino opens her eyes. At the same time, roads appeared in all four directions where there had been nothing before.

It was truly a magical sight. I did not see the moment the road multiplied. I am sure that there was nothing there earlier, but I am not even sure of my memory of it.

Tino opens her eyes widely and gives an astonishing voice.

“What, is, this…………!?” (Tino)

“So this is the secret art of Spirit People………… Very interesting.” (Sytry)

“But it’s kinda unreasonable, isn’t it? If you don’t have any prior information, you’ll have to go by intuition, right? Well, I’m still going to break through it tho’.” (Liz)

If it is Liz, it really looks like she will be able to break through it…… Excellent Thief tends to have something like that sixth sense for that.

Although there are times when she can cause trouble, it is hard to find someone as dependable as Liz in situations like these.

When I *unun* nod my head with a seemingly knowing face, Liz suddenly turns to me and gives me a full smile.

“And this time we have Cry-chan, too, riiight?” (Liz)

“………… Un, un, that’s right.” (Cry)

I wonder what you want from me, Liz. Even as I am answering her, Lapis’ companions are staring at me a lot……

For a while, we proceed with Eliza leading the way. Contrary to my expectation that something will definitely attack us, there is no sign of any Monster appearing. They say that dangerous Magic Beasts and Legendary Beasts are swarming along the Drifting Road of the Divine Tree route, but did they go out somewhere?

As I am thinking about such things, my vision suddenly clears. Eliza stops and Liz whistles softly.

I open my eyes in wonder.

In the open space that suddenly appears in the middle of the deep forest, there are countless structures similar to the gates we first saw. Each of them leads to a similar path.

This scenery seems somehow similar to a Treasure Shrine. Treasure Shrine is made up of Mana Material that exists in various locations and often has a somewhat paranormal atmosphere.

Somehow I *perori* lick my lips and say badassly.

“I see…… This is where it starts for real, huh. Things are about to get interesting.” (Cry)

“The only reason nothing has happened so far is because Eliza led the way, desu!” (Kruz)

When Eliza looks at me as if she wants to say something, Kruz quickly adds her own commentary.

Once Eliza lets out a listless sigh, she stares at the multiple gates and says.

“………… Up to this point, you can manage if you have a sharp sense. But from here on out, it will be difficult to proceed without a guide. It’s like wandering aimlessly in a vast desert.” (Eliza)

“True………… I can’t feel any feedback. This could be tricky.” (Liz)

For a few seconds, Liz, who closed her eyes and sharpened her nerves, lets out a cute growl.

Is it difficult even for Eliza, who has wandered the world alone, or Liz, who has exceptional talent as a Thief……

The guide is still *guruguru* spinning around. Does it originally indicate one among all these gates?

While I am at it, I also check the 『Fools’ Guidepost (Losers’ Sign)』, but it is *guruguru* spinning around as well. Somehow I also feel like spinning around like they do.

………… By the way, am I the only one who doesn’t know what is the difference between the road so far and the road from here on?

“Yowaningen, the tools you brought with you are really useless, desu.” (Kruz)

“Don’t say that………… Kruz-san, even if it is the truth, there are things you can say and cannot say――There are many fun things in Cry-san’s collection, you know! He even gave me the perfect Relic as a gift!” (Sytry)

Seeing me staring at the Relic that keeps spinning helplessly, Kruz sighs and says this.

Sytry, who is always unconditionally on my side, immediately follow-up on me, but…… Is that really a follow-up?

Of course, there are many unusual items in my collection, but in the end, they are all practical items. I got off from Mimic-kun, *panpan* clap my hand and say.

“Hmph…… I see, yup.” (Cry)

“Master~…… Don’t tell me you have a trick up your sleeves!?” (Tino)

Let’s show them that my Relics are also useful!

It is true that the 『Fool’s Guidepost (Loser’s Sign)』 is useless, and it is true that I do not have a Relic that can show me the correct path (If I have something like that, I would already use it long ago).

However, there must be a way to confirm the correct path even without those.

I look at Tino who is wary of the surroundings.

Sometimes the simpler approach is the best way to solve the problem. If we don’t know which one is the dangerous road, we just need to check it from the sky!

A Thief’s eyesight would be able to assess the situation from far above.

“Saying that they are useless is awful…… If you have Car-kun, you can even check the road from the sky――” (Cry)

“!! Master~, it’s my turn, right!? Car-kun!” (Tino)

Tino, who understood everything from my words and gaze, *pyon* jumps up, and the nearby *fuwafuwa* fluffy Car-kun flies to her feet with agile movements and catches her.

.

When Tino puts her finger in her mouth and whistles with it, Car-kun flies up into the air with Tino on top of him.

The way she manipulates Car-kun with heart-to-heart communication is my ideal. There is something like compatibility between Relics and Hunters, but apparently, it seems that Tino has good compatibility with Car-kun.

If you ask me if it is a pity or not, then it is a pity, but well, if I were a carpet, I would rather have Tino than me, so I don’t blame him. The “Overgreed (Evolving Demon Mask)” that I got from Eclair-jou was also suitable for Tino, so maybe Tino has a talent for using Relics.

Tino and Car-kun slide through the air like a run-up and soar up at once. Seeing that, Kruz opens her eyes wide, and Eliza lets out an “Ah” small voice.

And then, when they are high in the sky at once, Tino and Car-kun are suddenly blasted off.

It was a *bachin* loud sound. Tino, who is spinning due to being blown away, hits me vigorously, so I quickly catch her.

I am unharmed thanks to the power of a Barrier Ring, but the impact on Tino’s side doesn’t change.

When I timidly check on her, Tino, who has been shrinking back, raises her head and meets my eyes. Her *pokan* blank expression turns red in the blink of an eye and she jumps away from the spot.

“So-So-Sorry, Masteeer~! Ah………… Th-Thank you very much! I’m glad you caught m――Onee-sama, it’s not what you think! It was just unexpected, it’s not like I did it on purpose――” (Tino)

“…………” (Liz)

No, that’s fine, but………… To begin with, it is not like I caught you on purpose.

With my Barrier Ring, I am just a wall. Even if I hug you and was protected from impact, I can’t catch Tino who is flying at high speed without her being hurt.

Right now, it is the same as Tino slamming herself into a wall…… But, you are doing perfectly fine. ………… Isn’t it time for your Certification Level to go up?

Liz looks annoyed, perhaps not pleased with Tino’s behavior, but when I *bunbun* shake my head sideways, she limits herself with only a hurtful look.

Like Tino, maybe Liz is growing little by little too.

Thanks for reading! A bit late but here’s the extra chapter thanks to John. 2 more to go before I finally go back to my regular schedule

Tino really became Car-kun’s master.

Maybe the Relic Master wasn’t Cry but it was Tino all along!

Tchao à plus!