Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ - Chapter 376.1: Headquarters ②

After parting ways with everyone else, I walk leisurely through the headquarters. The more I look, the less the Explorer Association Headquarters seems like the headquarters of Treasure Hunters. In every sense, it is the complete opposite of my impression when I first visited the Imperial Capital Branch of the Explorer Association. The floors are perfectly clean and the staff are neatly dressed in their uniforms. There are guards standing here and there, but their attire is more like that of a guard than a Hunter, and they don’t give off a rough impression at all. It feels more like a hospital than an Explorer Association.

I have heard that the headquarters doesn’t seem like an Explorer Association, but………… I see, that was spot on. I don’t dislike this kind of Explorer Association, but it must seem pretty boring to other Hunters who love the unknown and adventure.

“Now then, it is time for the headquarters to show me its true colors……” (Cry)

To think a cafeteria is attached to the headquarters of the Explorer Association. I thought the most that would be attached to an Explorers Association would be a bar. And what’s more…… They serve ridiculously huge parfaits!?

I am not a fan of sweet things riiight, but it is in the nature of a Hunter to want to see the unknown with their own eyes when they learn of it. Maybe that means I have hot blood flowing through my veins too.

My heart is filled with anticipation and as I gaze at the information board at the entrance to find out where the cafeteria is, I suddenly hear a voice that carries far from behind me.

“*Fumu*, I see. So this is the headquarters, huh………… Wonderful. What a beautiful building! It’s like a white castle! I only regret that I hadn’t been more interested in this place until now. I have decided, I’ll use this place as my base of operations from now on!” (?)

………… There are weirdos everywhere. I am not particularly looking for that kind of unknown.

I turn around because I don’t want to completely ignore them.

Standing majestically in the middle of the entrance is a fearless-looking man. He is nearly two meters tall, has well-defined features and his greenish blonde hair is something not often seen around.

The long, loose-fitting garment with a long hem is different from the robes worn by Magi and it has metal string ornaments here and there, making the whole outfit *kirakira* sparkling and shining.

The man’s loud voice must have attracted the attention of the staff members, but he doesn’t seem to mind them at all. His cheerful, yet inappropriate laughter faded into the high ceiling.

This is the Explorer Association, so I don’t think it is possible for such a weirdo to be anyone other than a Hunter, but his equipment is a bit unusual for a Hunter. He doesn’t have any weapons or anything like that. A somewhat tired middle-aged man standing behind him says.

“Don’t make a joke like that. How far do you think Galista is from here? To begin with, they are on different islands…… And no one around here even knows the Alias 《Celestial Dancer (Hagun Tenbu1)》.” (Middle-Aged Man)

“Say………… Whaaaat!?” (Hagun Tenbu)

That guy has a really loud voice. I can hear him so clearly even though I am not particularly listening to him……

And it seems that person is a Hunter after all. I have never heard of Galista or the Alias 《Celestial Dancer (Hagun Tenbu)》, so I wonder if he is a famous person from somewhere far away.

The rather flashy male Hunter, who looks to have a few loose ends, looks around his surroundings and then, of all things, looks towards me. I quickly look away. I am going to the cafeteria, okay!

However, when I turn my face away, the young man is standing there. He must have been a dozen meters away, but I didn’t notice him at all. No matter how fast you move, the air flow shouldn’t be able to be stopped, so maybe he is the same type as Liz.

The young man speaks with a confident smile from close range.

“Wait there, young man!! You know who I am, right!? The hero among heroes who ran a thousand kilometers with the stride of a gale, stopped the war in 15 countries and saved the innocents all by himself――In other words, me!!!!” (Hagun Tenbu)

“Y-Yeah.” (Cry)

I wish he would go somewhere else…… I should tell you, I have seen so many amazing people that approach at a speed that is impossible to see that I don’t feel anything anymore. The young man opens his eyes wide and calls out to the middle-aged man who has been left behind.

“Did you hear that, Branch Manager!? My bravery has already spread across this continent!! And if I reach Level 9 during this exam, my name will grow even more, and it will spread everywhere I set foot, all, over the world!! And someday, I will become the fourth person in existence to reach Level 10, I absolutely will!!” (Hagun Tenbu)

“………… Well, if you don’t pass this level promotion exam, you probably won’t pass it before a while, Kaiser.” (Galista Branch Manager)

I am dumbfounded by that exchange. Apparently, these people have come to take the Level 9 Certification Exam that Gark-san mentioned.

I have never heard of his name before, and I don’t even know his Alias, but he seems to be very capable. After all, this 《Celestial Dancer (Hagun Tenbu)》 in front of me looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties, no matter how you look at it. The only people who can reach Level 8 at that young age are those with both talent and luck, and if he is attempting to challenge Level 9 at his age, it wouldn’t be a joke to think he might eventually reach Level 10.

Why are all the talented people so weird? Everyone should follow Ark and Sven’s example. Actually, Ark should be Level 8 instead of people like him.

“Young man!! Where did you hear about this Kaiser Sigurd! I would love to hear more about it and use it as a reference for my future promotions!!” (Kaiser)

“Kaiser, I told you not to get involved with civilians. What if they get traumatized?” (Galista Branch Manager)

If something like this causes me trauma, I would be drowning in a sea of trauma. I wouldn’t even feel like puking.

Fortunately, this Kaiser does not seem to be the type to use violence against innocent people. Actually, if you think about it objectively, stopping a war in 15 countries is way too amazing. I am curious as to how he managed to stop them, but I guess it is better not to ask.

“………… Sorry, but I must go to the cafeteria now.” (Cry)

“Wait! There is still a little bit of time until the review! I think it is fate that we met like this, so this 《Celestial Dancer (Hagun Tenbu)》 will accompany you!” (Kaiser)

Says 《Celestial Dancer (Hagun Tenbu)》 as if it is the most natural thing in the world. I wouldn’t say we got acquainted, but you just calling out to me unilaterally.

I turn to look at the man Kaiser calls the Branch Manager, but the Branch Manager’s eyes are already completely dead. It seems like he isn’t the kind of person who can stop this man.

But this brazen attitude reminds me a bit of Kryhi. People like him will most likely follow you no matter what, even if you refuse them. I say with a glimmer of hope.

“………… I-I am sorry, but I have to meet up with someone……” (Cry)

“What!? …… Umu! No problem! Your friend is lucky to get to meet this future King of Hero!” (Kaiser)

“Y-Yeah…………” (Cry)

It is no good after all. A smile without any shadow of thought as if he hasn’t given the slightest thought to the possibility of being rejected by others. I don’t know why this person is so confident, but maybe this kind of boldness is something that Ark lacks.

………… Well, let’s just think of it as a substitute escort. There is nothing particularly wrong with that.

I force myself to smile, a pathetic smile that is anything but a badass one, and start walking towards the cafeteria.

§

“――And so, I had a flash if inspiration from a book that was stored away in the warehouse at my parent’s house! A new Hunter’s fighting style, a dance that combines offense and defense, Tempest Dancing! And as a result of simply pushing forward with all my might, I had reached the summit before I knew it!! Unfortunately, my Party Members were unable to keep up, but that can’t be helped. Being at the top is always lonely! Do you understand, young man!!” (Kaiser)

“Un, un, that’s right. Ah, that’s the cafeteria.” (Cry)

The story that Kaiser told me while we were walking was a mess, but interesting in its own way. If it were a book, it would definitely be a comedy. There are all kinds of people in the world. If I were just a bystander, I am sure I would enjoy Kaiser’s exploits immensely. Just by the synopsis, Tempest Dancing, is way too amazing…………

The cafeteria is just a short walk from the spacious entrance. It is a rather stylish place that blends in well with the headquarters building.

There are five round tables with seating. However, there is only one customer. It is the kind of establishment you wouldn’t think is out of place if you find it in the Imperial Capital, but it seems like there are other restaurants attached to the headquarters and since regular Hunters don’t come to the headquarters anyway, it might not get many customers to begin with. However, it is often in these unexpected places that you can find delicious parfaits.

The only customer is a black-haired girl. She is about the same age as me or maybe a little younger, with a straight back and sharp gaze that reminds me a little of Lucia.

However, what catches my attention the most is the rather large glass bowl placed in front of her.

Could that be the parfait? Is that the parfait bowl? This looks promising.

Thanks for reading! And here comes a new Level 8 Hunter! For Kaiser’s Alias, “Celestial Dance of the Army Crusher” is way too long I’ll just put Celestial Dancer as his Alias. If you prefer the full name in future chapter, just write it in the comment and if I will change it if a lot of people want to.

1. Hagun Tenbu: Hagun means Army Crusher and Tenbu means Celestial Dance.