Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~

Chapter 330.1: Random Number Adjustment ②

Yggdra. The country, which is considered a legend among humans, is a city of even greater significance to Spirit People.

Currently, most of the Spirit People have built settlements deep in the forests of various places and live quietly, but the existence of Yggdra is passed down from generation to generation. Depending on the location, abilities, temperaments, and sometimes even languages may differ, but that alone remains the same.

According to what it is said, it is the hometown of all "Spirit People (Noble)". The great city that forms the basis of the world.

Yggdra is a legendary city even for Spirit People. It is the first time for Kruz Argen and the other Members of Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai) to visit Yggdra. No, most likely the parents of our parents and even their parents have never visited this place. It was not until the incident in which Shero cast her curse that the humans began to become more aware of Spirit People, but long before that, Spirit People from all over the world had already parted ways with Yggdra.

Yggdra wasn't only rejecting humans. Rather, the admiration for Yggdra is probably much stronger among Spirit People who grew up hearing its legend from their childhood.

Only those who have made significant contributions to the Spirit People race can enter Yggdra. Therefore, Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai) continued to search for Shero's Cursed Stone while working as a Hunter. There were many other Spirit People who were looking for the Cursed Stone. I never thought that I would be allowed to enter Yggdra as someone's plus one, but what the queen of Yggdra said was even more shocking.

I walk through Yggdra which I have dreamed of. Fresh air and breeze are caressing my cheeks. The houses built on the large trees that have grown with plenty of sunlight were a different sight from the forest where I was born and raised, but it strangely makes me feel nostalgic.

Countless years have already passed since the Spirit People from Yggdra were scattered all over the world. Leaving aside the old people, the young ones like Kruz do not blindly believe in Yggdra. Just as Lapis asked Serene a tough question, I was not without frustration. Among the villages of Spirit People, there are even villages that were attacked to obtain information about Yggdra.

However, I am not so cold-hearted that I don't feel anything when I hear Serene's side of the story.

There is probably no lie in what Serene said. I wasn't entirely convinced, but I understood. And Spirit People do not abandon their people. Now that we know that the transformation of the World Tree will bring about a calamity that could destroy civilization, and now that we know that Serene and the people of Yggdra have been working hard to stop it, the responsibility to stop the calamity also falls on Kruz and the others.

Maybe, compared to Serene and the people of Yggdra, who have been bathed in the power of the World Tree for many years, our Magic power might not be that great. But, we have experience and have a proven track record of capturing various Treasure Shrine. And above all, we have the friends we have made outside. If we work together, we should definitely be able to prevent the manifestation of the calamity.

When we first left the Imperial Capital, Astor and the others, who had been skeptical about Infinite Variety's (Senpen Banka) ability and complained about it, had already recognized his power.

On top of stopping the rampaging Spirit and rescuing our people who had been captive in its body, he accepted the request from the Spirit, which wouldn't have been strange if he refused it, without making any displeased face. In the first place, this is Spirit People's problem. Right now, Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai) is prepared to entrust their life to Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka). Of course, I have no intention of sparing the effort in lifting Luke's curse.

For humans, the Mana Materials is too dense but it is just right for Spirit People.

One week has passed since we were in Yggdra and we explored the town, investigated past incidents of the rampaging World Tree, gathered supplies from the nearby forest, and meditated to improve our Magic powers.

Astor, who had originally been the first to pick a fight with Cry, says with a difficult expression on her face.

By the way, Kruz When is Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka) going to make his move? We are all ready and waiting for it (Astor)

That's Not something I would know, desu. (Kruz)

I also worry about that.

For the past week, Cry had sent Eliza and the others to the Treasure Shrine for reconnaissance every day, postponing the operation. The one who turned into a statue is a Member of Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei) and his childhood friend. So he should want him to return to normal as soon as possible, but no matter how much time passes, he doesn't even show any sign of getting ready. Every day he takes a walk in Yggdra, shuts himself up in his room, and makes small talk with Serene, so just looking at him being so laid back makes me uneasy.

After what I said, Astor said as if mocking me.

What Kruz, even you don't know? Even though you talk about him every time something happened (Astor)

Sh-Shut up! I'm not always talking about him, desu! And it's not like I know nothing either, desu. (Kruz)

Yowaningen's way of thinking is unique. As might be expected, he is sometimes referred to as the Divine Strategist and to be honest, there are many things that even Kruz, who has known him for a reasonable amount of time, does not understand.

However, Kruz has already experienced something similar to this time extension.

I will never forget that Emperor's escort request. Just before boarding the airship, Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka) negotiated with Franz to extend the departure date.

In retrospect, I do not know what the purpose of that extension was about. It would indeed be too simplistic to think that it was just to bump against the Lost Inn or to put us on a trial. What he got by extending the departure was a strange Staff and in the end, it didn't help us in any way. If that was really his true purpose, then it would mean that Yowaningen really did everything in his power to provoke Kruz.

Anyway, as a result, the traitors were exposed and the meeting ended successfully. Everything went well in a roundabout way.

I choose my words and soothe Astor, who might at any point go have a direct talk with him.

Yowaningen must be Waiting for the right timing, desu. It was the same last time too, desu. (Kruz)

Right timing? What kind of timing? I heard that he checks the number of Phantoms every dayDon't tell me he is waiting for the timing when the number of Phantoms is decreasing? How could he possibly know about that. (Astor)

Astor says with a skeptical expression. The other Members nod their heads in agreement, but I am of the same opinion.

Phantoms are the result of the accumulation of Mana Materials and are not living beings. Although it is known that they are generated by accumulating Mana Materials, it is not known how much Mana Materials must be accumulated for them to be generated, and in the first place.

One of my friends frowns and says.

In the first place, is it possible that the number of Phantom will be reduced in this Treasure Shrine? (Starlight Member 1)

That's right. Leaving aside the case of an ordinary Treasure Shrine, it is hard to imagine that the number of Phantoms would decrease. Indeed, if it is in an ordinary Treasure Shrine, the number of Phantom could decrease. It is said that this phenomenon occurs when the Mana Materials that make up the Treasure Shrine dissipate into the air and its density temporarily decreases, but this is not the case here.

The center of all earth veins. The Temple of Origin that has manifested under the World Tree has an excessively high concentration of Mana Materials. Far from dispersing, if Serene's story is true, the amount of Mana Material flowing into the Temple of Origin is steadily increasing. If we continue to wait, the number of Phantoms will only increase.

Time is not on Kruz's side. This time, the target is a Temple-type Treasure Shrine that boasts the highest degree of difficulty to conquer.

Maybe, Yowaningen is waiting for more Phantoms to appear and give Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai) a trial.

I shake my head and erase the thoughts that suddenly come to my mind. I don't know what Cry Andrich has in his mind. There is only one thing I know.

Of everyone in Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai), I am the one with the most experience in the Infinite Trials.

Even I can't predict the details of it, desu. One thing I do know for sureFrom now on, we'll see something interesting that no one can imagine, desu. Be prepared for it, desu. (Kruz)

I smile as I remember my past experiences. However, against my will, that smile only turned into a tense one.

Thanks for reading!  Oooh a Kruz POV. She really has been traumatized by her escort mission with Cry. But it's funny how Starlight consider Kruz as their Cry expert. Tchao plus !