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

Chapter 375.2: Headquarters

The carriage goes around to the back entry of the Explorer Association. Hunters are generally festive people, so if Serene shows up, there would be a big fuss, so this is probably in consideration for that. It really is hard being so popular…… Or rather, princesses don’t usually get to walk around outside so freely!

We enter the building through the back door. Inside, Gark-san, Kaina-san and Zultan-san are waiting for us. For some reason, Zultan-san’s whole body is covered in wounds. When he sees me, his eyebrows twitch. Gark-san is frowning openly.

“Cry, why are you here? I didn’t apply for your Level 9 review.” (Gark)

“………… Eh?” (Cry)

I wonder what he is talking about. I have heard that I could aim for Level 9, but this is the first time I have heard anything about applying for it. I blink and stare at Gark-san, but he doesn’t give me any particular response, so I end up just putting on my usual badass smile and try to change the subject.

“I know. I came here for another reason. You said you would invite me to the headquarters to celebrate our Clan leveling up, right?” (Cry)

“…… Aaaah, that story, huh. But, Cry…… You’ve left all Clan matters to Eva up until now, haven’t you? I totally thought that Eva and someone else would be coming…………” (Gark)

Apparently, like Eva, Gark-san also didn’t expect me to attend. If I don’t come, he would complain, but when I do come, he is surprised, what do you want from me…………

“I will leave all the Clan stuff to Eva. But, well, I don’t usually go to the headquarters unless I get a chance like this, so I wanted to see what the headquarters of the Explorers Association is like, you see. It is like a tour of the place.” (Cry)

Also, well, what can I say, I am kind of bored right now.

Zultan-san *pikuri* reacts to what I say.

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“A tour of the place…………? ………… No, let’s not take that literally. I don’t want to get hurt any more than I already have.” (Zultan)

“………… Zultan-san, why are you injured?” (Cry)

Did something happen? Zultan-san *jirori* glares at me, but doesn’t say anything else. I shift my gaze to Kaina-san, who is smiling wryly and standing next to a sullen Gark-san, and she says.

“”Branch Manager Gark (Gark-Shibucho)”, let’s move to the headquarters. Even if you didn’t apply, you are still one of the judges. Lateness is not permitted.” (Kaina)

“…… That’s right. I’m also curious as to what kind of assignments the Headquarters has brought.” (Gark)

The Teleportation Magic Circle is drawn in a room in the basement.

In a room with strange patterns painted on the walls and ceiling, 10 Magi surround the Magic Circle made out of *kirakira* sparkling sand-like material. It is the first time I have seen a Teleportation Magic Circle. If Lucia had been in the Imperial Capital, she would have loved to see it. Serene narrows her eyes and says.

“I see…… So it takes 10 people to start it.” (Serene)

Zultan-san replies while stroking his beard.

“No. We need to time the activation of the Magic Circle on the headquarters side, so there are 20 people. “Princess Serene (Serene-kojo)”. The magic formulas carved into the walls and ceilings are meant to reduce the burden, but even so, the Explorer Association’s staff cannot activate them, so we ask skilled and reliable Magi Hunters to use the Magic Circle. Therefore, it cannot be used so easily. The fact that “I (Wagahai)” was given permission to use it this time is proof of the importance the Explorer Association attaches to this matter.” (Zultan)

“………… Being a human is hard work, huh.” (Serene)

This is why we rarely hear about Teleportation Magic Circles. Serene’s Teleportation Magic allows one to move to any location she likes, but it seems the burden increases depending on the number of people being teleported, so there may be pros and cons to this.

When everyone stands on the Teleportation Magic Circle, the surrounding Magi begin to pour their power into it. The Magic Circle emits a strong light and we are transported to the headquarters of the Explorer Association.

The light from the Magic Circle disappeared. The room where the Teleportation Magic Circle was located is almost the same as the one before the transfer. However, the faces of the Magi who activated the Magic Circle and the smell in the air have changed slightly.

Zultan-san staggers out of the Magic Circle and complains.

“As always, it is a bit nauseating to see the scenery change in an instant. But well, it beats being stuck in a carriage for weeks.” (Zultan)

“Apparently the more acute your senses are, the stronger the discomfort caused by the Teleportation Magic is. It can’t be helped.” (Gark)

Gark-san also frowns, takes a deep breath, and answers him. I guess having a sharp sense can work to your disadvantage sometimes, huh. Maybe that is why Eva and Kaina-san seem relatively normal.

Serene, who has been observing the surroundings, turns her gaze to me and says.

“It is something you get used to. You will get used to teleportation sickness if you do it multiple times. See, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 is fine too.” (Serene)

Please don’t bring me into the conversation every time. I don’t want to be the center of attention. Being in the center of attention is fine, but it usually comes with trouble.

“………… It is not that I am used to it or anything, it is just relatively normal.” (Cry)

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“………… “Princess Serene (Serene-kojo)”, please don’t lump us together with 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. That guy over there is Level 8, alright?” (Zultan)

I would be in trouble if people thought of me as just a regular Level 8…… It is possible that my senses are even duller than Eva’s, you know. Well, as they say, the mouth is the source of all evil. I have no intention of saying anything unnecessary. My reason for coming to the Headquarters this time is just to kill time, just to accompany Eva.

Following Zultan-san’s guidance, we leave the room. Apparently, it seems that the Teleportation Magic Circle room is also located in the basement of the headquarters.

I walk up the stairs and open the door. Then, my eyes widen when I see the Explorer Association’s Headquarters for the first time.

The building of the Explorer Association’s Headquarters is much more sophisticated than I have imagined. The polished marble floor and pillars in the hallway are wide enough for everyone present to walk sideways, and far above, sunlight is streaming in from the wide windows in the ceiling.

The Imperial Capital branch of the Explorer Association is always filled with a foul smell, dust, and noise, due to the frequent coming and going of bloodstained Hunters, but this place feels more like a modest castle.

There are several people who appear to be Hunters in the vast hall, but their numbers are far fewer than at the Imperial Capital branch, and none of them are dirty or dragging monster’s corpses. The air is clean and not stagnant, but it doesn’t really fit the image of a Hunter. If this had been the first place I visited after becoming a Hunter, I would have been stunned.

“Heeeh, it is prettier than I thought.” (Cry)

“…… This is merely the headquarters, a place to oversee all the branches, and does not handle general business such as buying and selling materials or mediating requests for Hunters. It is not that ordinary Hunters are prohibited from entering, but not many people come here.” (Zultan)

Zultan-san gives me an explanation. It seems that this is more of a facility for guests rather than for Hunters. In terms of beauty, the headquarters is superior, but in terms of liveliness, the branches are superior. There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly interesting here……

On the other hand, Serene’s eyes are sparkling. Even in Yggdra, stones are still used to a certain extent, but the sight of this huge, majestic interior should be fresh for Serene, who has spent all her life in the forest.

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Zultan-san says with some difficulty to the quietly excited Serene.

“So………… The higher-ups at the headquarters would like to greet “Princess Serene (Serene-kojo)” once, would you be so kind as to accompany me? Once we have finished discussing the establishment of the branch, please come and take a look at the headquarters. We will assign someone to guide you. There is also accommodation here for visitors from all over the world.” (Zultan)

“Right………… We have got some work to do first.” (Serene)

You are so serious. Now that you mention it, I guess I am the only one who came here this time without any work-related reason. Kaina-san talks to Eva. Both of them being together is a rather rare combination.

“Eva-san, the procedures for the Clan Level-up will be carried out over there. There will also be an explanation of the privileges and rules of a Level 7 Clan, so it may take a little while.” (Kaina)

“I understand. I look forward to work with you.” (Eva)

“”Branch Manager (Shibucho)”, we have some time until the high-level review session begins, so I will guide Eva-san around. The schedule is as I informed you yesterday. Let’s meet ten minutes before the scheduled time.” (Kaina)

“Okay, I’ll leave it to you. We’ll be busy this time… Cry, what about you? Are you going to go with Eva?” (Gark)

Hmm, what should I do? I could go along with the Clan Level-up procedure, but I have left most of the Clan management up to Eva so far, so I would probably just be a hindrance. I *chirari* glance over at Eva, she sighs and says.

“It is alright if I am by myself. I will just listen to what they will say.” (Eva)

“Actually, from a practical standpoint, it is a process that can be done without having to visit the headquarters.” (Kaina)

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With Serene gone, I would have no one to protect me, but this is the headquarters, and there are guards standing here and there. It shouldn’t be a big problem.

“Well, since I am here, I might as well *burabura* wander around here and there for a bit. I might find something interesting.” (Cry)

“…… There are also libraries with valuable documents and museums that exhibit the history of Hunters. Some facilities have Level restrictions on their use――But as you are Level 8, you should be able to use most of them.” (Zultan)

Says Zultan-san. He did it even though I once made him so angry, he might actually be quite kind.

“I see, there are libraries and museums, huh…… There are a lot of things around.” (Cry)

I don’t feel like playing around when everyone else is working. It might be a good idea to study once in a while and learn at least one useful piece of knowledge.

“The rest is…… Aaah, right. You might not be too interested, but there should be a cafeteria. “I (Wagahai)” have never ordered one, but apparently they serve really huge parfaits.” (Zultan)

*Yoshi* All right, let’s go to the cafeteria. Let’s see how serious the Headquarters of the Explorer Association can really be.

As I lick my lips, Gark-san frowns and says as if reminding me of something.

“Cry, I think you understand, but don’t cause any trouble. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself, although there aren’t many, there are still Hunters here.” (Gark)

Thanks for reading! Welp time for Cry to destroy the Headquarters common sense!

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