Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Chapter 352.2: Sytry's Strategy ⑤

“Well, we’ve Ripper, so I guess things will work out, riiiight? Quint only has a Card Soldier, so why not just grab a sword and fight togetheeer?” (Uno)

“They took my sword.” (Quint)

Quint is also quite skilled as a swordsman. Soldier-type Monsters do not follow weak generals, so he never miss training. His fighting ability as a single fighter is the best in 《Night Parade (Hyakki Yako)》. If you do not count the Monster that is. Until just the other day, he had a sword, but it was taken away when we first fought against 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》. Uno says this to Quint who is sulking.

“Why don’t you ask them to give it baaack? Since we are on the same side now, I’m sure if you talk directly to 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, they will give it back to you.” (Uno)

“!! You’re right!!” (Quint)

“If we don’t prepare properly, we won’t be able to subdue anything even if we could have……” (Adler)

I lick my lips and look at the reflection in the mirror. Apparently, only the god is able to sense the presence of the mirror of reality, and as long as we don’t look at the altar, we don’t have to worry about being peeked at.

There doesn’t seem to be anyone as powerful as Yuden among the army waiting inside the barrier. Depending on how we fight, even Yuden alone might be enough to take them on. If the operation had started a little later, we might have been able to use the recovered Yuden to rebuild our army, but even if we gathered all the Monsters around, they would still die against the Phantoms from the 【Temple of Origin】.

If so, we don’t need them. In the first place, our purpose this time is not the battle itself.

I still don’t know how to subdue a Phantom. However, this operation is an opportunity to try it out. I don’t intend to wait quietly for 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 to make his move anymore. If Phase 2 of Sytry’s strategy is successful, the Treasure Shrine will be weakened and the Phantom will disappear. I want a lot of them. Our chance is now or never.

I heard the information about the Treasure Shrine from Ruin. It seems that there are two types of Phantoms: former people of Yggdra and those who have manifested as Phantoms.

I have already somehow figured out how to tell them apart using my keen sense as a Guide.

“It’s the color of the mask…… The Phantom that man encountered came in various shapes, but――They were all wearing gold masks! Ruin was black! If the mask indicates their faith in Keller, their god, then the color of the mask shows the sign of their origins!” (Adler)

Even if they are Phantoms, the other side possesses intelligence. Tracking a Monster’s thoughts is the first step as a Guide.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Ruin and Finis were searching the surrounding area and were made to do so.

You cannot predict coincidence. It is precisely because it was inevitable that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was able to lure in the Phantom that the people of Yggdra had transformed into.

The reason why Keller, the masked god had let Ruin out of the Treasure Shrine was because――It had less trust in Ruin compared to its followers who manifested in that form from the beginning. And indeed, Ruin was lost and confused during the attack on Yggdra, for finally to have their powers as a Phantom stripped away.

The only area reflected by the mirror of reality is around the border of the 【Temple of Origin】, but at that point, the tendencies of the Phantoms are obvious.

On the outside are the Phantoms with a black mask, and on the inside are the Phantoms with a gold mask. The latter are by far the most numerous. And the closer you get to the interior and the altar inside, the more noticeable the ratio becomes.

“I’ll give them the Phantoms with black masks. The Phantom that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 baited out at the beginning were all gold masks. I guess that guy doesn’t need ordinary Phantoms anymore, and the only thing Serene and the others want back is their brethren. So our interests don’t conflict.” (Adler)

“B-But, Adler. How are you going to subdue them? We still don’t know how.” (Quint)

Quint crosses his arms and says with a difficult look on his face. That’s right. Ever since we became his apprentice, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 has never subdued a Phantom.

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However, I say with a grin.

“No, I already have an idea. The clues――Were everywhere.” (Adler)

“!? Reallyyy!?” (Uno)

Uno opens her eyes widely and looks at me. We were struggling to understand it just a few days ago, so it is natural that she would make an expression like that if I told her that I suddenly understood.

“It’s unheard of. It’s a stupid way, but it’s very simple. Uno, I…… I peek at the 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 with the mirror of reality. And――That’s when I saw it.” (Adler)

I could not believe it. But it was logical. Phantoms have a different mental structure from Monsters. Since they almost do not fear death, the same subjugation method used for Monsters by showing off our power will not work. Then how can we subdue them?

“I saw it! 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was contacting a Phantom with a communication Relic! Ever since we came here, we have never seen 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 fight. That was the answer! 9 out of 10 the only way to subdue a Phantom is through――Negotiation!!” (Adler)

“!!” (Uno)

“There’s no way…… No, is it possible? Certainly, I’ve never done something like that to a Phantom. But it is because they’re not living creatures, you know!?” (Quint)

Uno and Quint are shocked by what I say.

I guess they never thought about it. And that was the same for me. What is needed is――A change of mindset. It is so simple that we didn’t even notice it. In the first place, I can only think that he has a few screws missing in his head to try to negotiate verbally with a Phantom who is so powerful that it has the intelligence to understand language.

However, if I think back on it calmly, everything we saw after coming to Yggdra shows that.

I am glad we steered towards Zebrudia. I am really glad that we were able to encounter 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 at that time. Without that, we would still have not known this height.

Sytry’s strategy will not go through so easily. I don’t know what they used to detect it, but the 【Temple of Origin】 is fully prepared.

A Phantom of a god, abhorred and feared by Hunters around the world. An overwhelming difference in strength between the two sides. And what kind of measures do 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 intend to take against it?

I still don’t have a clear picture of the objective and purpose of 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, but either way, everything will become clear tomorrow.

I confirm with my friends and say with a smile.

“At the very least, we should be allowed to do as we please.” (Adler)

The time for the decisive battle is near.

Thanks for reading! Yeah Adler, all you gotta do is lure the Phantoms with Abuurage and they’ll follow you!

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