<h4>Chapter?43: Stalker</h4> <h4>Chapter 43</h4>


    Stalker


    Why was I here I wondered.


    While feeling an inexpressible bout of lethargy I gave a half smile, and breathed a small sigh.


    Tall nts sprung up in the ins with no other people around, it was wrapped in a mysterious stillness.


    The sun hadpletely set, and the hazy moon was the only thing in the sky. The world was covered in darkness.


    Zebrudia was arge city. Even at night, within the walls it was bright and bustling with people, outside it was different.


    Near the main roads that stretched out in the four cardinal directions, the knights often thinned out monsters. To some extent safety was assured, but if you deviated off ever slightly the world changed into thew of the jungle.


    Even in the morning it was dangerous. Night was even more so. Really, even with a guard it was a ce you wouldn’t want to go to.


    Hunters that took in Mana Material not only enhanced their physical abilities but strengthened their five senses as well.


    The faint moonlight was enough for a first rate hunter, but for me it was mostly unchanged fromplete darkness.


    Suddenly my shoulder was pped, and it made my body jump in shock. Turning my head, Liz-chan was in high spirits swinging her arms with tension unchanged since the morning.


    “Cry-chan! Look look! Saimos, a saimos! Isn’t it amazing?”


    “...Yeah, that’s right.”


    From Liz’s swinging hands, an oddrge creature was dangling.


    What she was gripping looked like a huge needle. Rustling something like thin feathers, it produced a terrifying noise.


    Was it still alive? As it moved violently, Liz swung it around keeping it in check.


    It was too dark to see clearly, but it looked the size of a small dog. But needless to say, it wasn’t a puppy.


    It was good luck that I wasn’t able to see it.


    Saimos? What’s a saimos?


    ...I didn’t think I knew anything.


    Orbiting around our immediate vicinity vigntly, Tino raised a trembling voice.


    “Onee-sama... as expected. To capture a saimos at night, which can creep up without a sound or hint of it’s presence.”


    Huh? Was the saimos perhapsmon knowledge among hunters?


    Reluctantly I activated the ring that I had refrained from using because the mana was low – the 『Owl’s eye』.


    In an instant the ability of the Relic brightened my vision.


    What Liz held was an enormous mosquito. Please cut me a break. Even with it in her hands, her femininity was too strong.


    There was a limit to being wild wasn’t there?


    I didn’t know much about saimos, but it was writhing and shaking it’s feathers. I call them feathers, but they were at least a meter long.


    I was weak with most monsters, but I was particrly bad with insects and undead.


    Tino leaned in close to get a better look at the saimos. Her eyes were rounded in wonder, but she wasn’t in a state of fear.


    Aren’t our women too strong?


    “So they exist close to the Capital as well then huh...” “Hmm, they generally live deep in the forest though.” “I, hate that thing...”


    I mean, I don’t think there’s anyone that likes a mosquito that big.


    At my reaction, Liz who had been enjoyably swinging her arms until now, mmed the saimos into the ground.


    There was an unpleasant stting sound. The long legs of the squished saimos twitched.


    I turned my eyes aside right away. That was the reason I hated insects.


    Liz dusted off her hands, and tilted her head to the side giving a sweet smile. “There are a lot of them though so what should we do?”


    “...I wish I had brought along insect repent spray.”


    Liz gave a single nod, and disappeared. Apparently she went exterminating.


    The distant sound of kicks that were more like explosions continually resounded.


    This is why I didn’t like going outside the Capital.


    Liz was strong to the point of being too strong, but her level of consideration was the lowest in『Strange Grief』.


    She was the worst along with Luke. Well, it was also one of her good points. “Master, Um... Is this really, ok?”


    Tino asked. As always she wore a ck outfit that dissolved into the darkness. Fully equipped. A ck jacket and a number of utensils on her waist.


    Her somewhatrge dagger was worn so that it could be drawn at anytime. Her fatigue from training a short while ago was unnoticeable.


    If she was an ordinary hunter it would be time for her to finish up, truly thank you for your hard work.


    “...Well, there’s no helping it. Since Liz is self indulgent.”


    After Tino chose the shrine she wanted to go to , Liz was in a bad mood. Seemingly it had rubbed her the wrong way that my proposals were rejected.


    Well, I subdued it somehow, but after that Liz’s words to me were unexpected.


    ―Ok-, then let’s go!


    ...I hadn’t been nning to go though.


    Honestly in 『Strange Grief』 created by us childhood friends, there wasn’t a thing like ranks.


    I was the leader on paper, but without the strict rules of ordinary parties everyone freely did as they liked.


    And among them, Liz was the one with the greatest amount of freedom. Unfortunately Liz had the bad habit of trying to show me good things at each and every opportunity.


    Of course I could strongly refuse, but someone other than me would pay for her bad mood.


    In this case, the one that would be dealing with the bad mood version of Liz was Tino.


    As expected I felt too guilty.


    Tino pouted and muttered a few words.


    “...At the time I was invited, Master, you weren’t going toe...” That’s because I didn’t want to go. I truly didn’t want to go.


    Right now I didn’t have any relics. The 『Night Hiker』 (prev. dark wings) from


    before had run out of mana.


    There were a few 『safe rings』 remaining, but the others were used up.


    The 『Dogs Chain』 had been charged so it was usable, but since Lucia had not returned early it was too frightening to go outside.


    “Was there a need for me toe?”


    “Eh? It’s been a long time since I went with Cry-chan on an adventure, isn’t it really fun!?”


    Liz had returned before I knew, and she clung to my back with her arm around my neck.


    Liz was even lighter dressed than Tino. Her body wasn’t very sensual, but when she stuck so close she was quite soft.


    As she nuzzled her cheek against me, and whispered in a sweet voice it gave me a shiver.


    Even at night she was lively. She was in a good mood...I didn’t want to go on an adventure though.


    Tino seemed to be more nervous than Liz.


    “Onee-sama, this is outside the Capital. Powerful monsters like the saimos being here, something like that, is a little...”


    Was the saimos a powerful monster then?


    At her words Liz stopped clinging to my back. She revolved to my side and took my arm.


    She intertwined our fingers like a pair of lovers, and grinned at Tino.


    “Tee, stay alert. Cry took the trouble toe out here, so don’t show him your shameful side.”


    “Y-Yes.”


    ...Well, she was in a good mood so it’s fine.


    Liz was stronger than me when I was fully loaded with Relics, so I was weaker thanst time but safer thanst time.


    I felt like we had spent enough time already, lets get this farce over with and return home quickly.


    a


    §


    a


    The shrine Tino chose was equally low as the ones I had picked out.


    As well as being far enough from the White Wolves Den, it also met my criteria when I was selecting shrines.


    The reason this shrine didn’t enter into my choices, was because the scope was exceedingly small.


    Along with the two reliable escorts, the walk there took thirty minutes. It came into our field of view.


    In the center of the ins sat a total of seventeen thick columns.


    In a one hundred meter radius from the center there was empty open space.


    The difference between the ins and the shrine, was that within the shrine there wasn’t a single nt growing.


    In the bare expanse of rugged earth grew seventeen stone pirs that gave off a terrible sense of unease, but frankly it was boring.


    A Level 1 shrine. 『in Column Ruins』


    Published annually by the Imperial Capital Explorers Association, the shrine rankings always listed it near the bottom, a genuinely garbage shrine.


    The seventeen pirs were from three to five meters tall. For Hunters that had taken in Mana Material it was an easy climb to the top where you could overlook the whole shrine. And there, you woulde to know there was nothing.


    More or less for phantoms, one meter tall humanoid sand golems would appear. But the power, agility, and durability was low. They would copse with a light strike so they weren’t even useful for training.


    Relics rarely appeared, and even hunter neers would want to go to a slightly more serious shrine.


    Well, the flow of Earth Veins was linked to the terrain. In open ins like these where there was no connection, shrines were often low level. Nevertheless this one was terrible.


    Incidentally in was the name of the man that first discovered this disappointing shrine.


    The reason I thought to dispatch Liz was to keep her busy. I had hoped for one that was simple, but would take time.


    With this shrine, if it was Liz she could finish investigating in ten seconds.


    At this stage though that would be convenient.


    I hadn’t thought I would being out on this night. Around this time Sven and the others should also be finishing up their investigation of the White Wolves Den. After that it was time to properly deceive Liz.


    However, Tino... to choose a shrine from outside my options, the previous hunt really did a number on her huh.


    In high spirits Liz pulled on my arm.


    “Hey, hey, look look, Cry-chan! A sand rabbit nest!”


    Her eyes weren’t turned towards the ruins. Liz was pointing to an open hole in the ground.


    The sand rabbit was in-between a monster and an animal, distributed extensively in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital.


    The same colour as the earth, it’s pelt was cheap and it’s meat had a bad taste. It settled inrge burrows they dug in the ground.


    People didn’t purposefully hunt them, they seemed to be a creature with high fertility that supported the ecosystem around the Capital.


    “Somehow, Tee’s choice of shrine is boring, see even the rabbitse out and y don’t they?”


    At that high pitched voice, Tino started shaking. Perhaps she had realised that her choice of shrine was nothing more than what the rumours said.


    Well there wouldn’t have been anything at the shrines I chose either, but at least it wouldn’t be as grant as this.


    As Tino was frightened, Liz spoke while continuing to smile.


    “Hey Tee. Are you going to search? You thought there was something here, that’s why you chose it right? Even though Cry-chan chose especially for you, you rejected them. Did you want Liz-chan to feel ashamed? For this shrine, how many minutes do you want? One minute? Three minutes? Do you want about five minutes? Since Tee is also a thief, you can do it with that much right?”


    “!? ......M-Master”


    Liz really is strict on others and soft on herself.


    Tino was always calm and dependable, and only became frail when Liz was concerned. But from my point of view I was always seeing her frail. Poor thing.


    As Tino called to me in a trembling voice, Liz’s voltage rose all at once.


    Her smile disappeared in an instant, she separated her entwined arm, and shouted at Tino.


    “Ahh!? Don’ty the me on Cry-chan! Take responsibility for your own idiocy! Understand!? For Cry-chan, if Tee can’t capture this stupid shitty shrine then he’s saying that you’re garbage!”


    I didn’t say that. “I didn’t say that.”


    “Cry-chan is kind. But Tee is Liz-chan’s disciple so, and she’s different from Liz- chan, so when she behaves spoilt she has to be corrected. ...Ok? It’s sort of like what Cry-chan did with us in the past.”


    Liz let out a coaxing voice.


    Yeah, that’s right. Liz should be kinder than I am. In the past, did I do something?


    Tino is desperately shrinking back. Unlike the time at the White Wolves Den, with Liz next to me she couldn’t hide behind my back.


    As a cool senior hunter I should give a good follow up. “Well now. It’s a nice shrine isn’t it?”


    “Eh-...”


    I gripped Liz’s shoulder as she was dissatisfied, and turned towards the shrine. Tino nervously looked up, and then gave a confident nod. It’s ok, I knew how to handle her.


    “The main thing is, look see. There is more than just nothing.” “Eh-? Really?”


    There is. There really is. ...Like, the columns.


    I tried to see if there was something else, but there was absolutely nothing.


    Well I had to settle her anger, so I decided to pretend that my hobby was column watching.


    “......Well, it might be something of little importance, but I don’t dislike it.” “Hmm?”


    And, in that moment all at once my vision became dark. The mana of the 『Owl’s


    eye』 had run out.


    I wasn’t an owl so I gained night-blindness. I couldn’t see anything anymore.


    After just saying something was of little importance to me I started grinning unconsciously. It’s called an escape from reality.


    Realising that Tino could probably see, I cleared my throat and returned to a serious expression.


    “By the way, it’s dark here, but can Tino see properly?”


    “Right, Cry-chan, no matter how you say it, that’s looking down on her. She trains in the darkness as well you know? She’s still trash that can’t move properly in the mask, but she’s still Liz-chans disciple.”


    Liz pouted. How to say this... sorry for being garbage.


    Letting out a small sigh, Liz instructed Tino by pointing with her chin.


    “Well it’s fine. Tee,e on, go search properly? For Cry-chan, find proof that there’s more than nothing ok? If it’s that, you can do it right?”


    “Y-Yes...Onee-sama. Master, please watch.”


    Sorry, but I can’t see anything with my eyes anymore.


    Tino started running, and just like that she vanished into the darkness. In the distance a vague ck thing started swiftly climbing a pir.


    Ah, this is no good. I can see less than I thought. I can only offer some encouragement.


    “Tino, be careful!” “Yes! Master!”


    It would be dangerous if you fell. ...At Tino’s level, would she still be fine if she fell?


    But this darkness is really bad. Unfortunately clouds hade out. If the sole light source, the moon was hidden, I wouldn’t be able to see even the small amount I could. Not good.


    I had confidence in Liz. With her speed it would be easy to protect me on her own. But at the same time Liz and the rest of Strange Grief tended to overestimate my abilities. It’s because of their favouritism for family.


    Liz meekly looked down and offered an apology.


    “Cry-chan, I’m sorry. Even though Cry-chan took the trouble to pick out some choices...”


    “...No no, it’s not a problem. And that the shrine Tino chose wasn’t bad also wasn’t a lie.”


    “Eh? Really?”


    Not really, but yes.


    “Yes. Rather, I expected Tino to choose this shrine. Everything’s in the palm of my hand.”


    “Ehh? Really? As expected of you Cry-chan! I’m d I didn’t scold Tee!” Wasn’t that a scolding before...


    I couldn’t see Tino at all anymore, so I helplessly looked around me.


    I didn’t have any skills to detect enemies, but I could still do an imitation.


    And, at that time, within the darkness a number of meters away, I saw something small shine. I strained my eyes, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. My vision wasn’t bad, it was just dark.


    It wasn’t my imagination. Something was shining.


    Liz was rxing, bending and stretching. Did she not notice? “Liz, that is?”


    “Hm...? Do you mean the sand rabbit?”


    Aah, so that’s it. So the sand rabbit’s eyes shined then.


    Of course. If it was a dangerous monster, there was no way someone specialised in finding enemies like Liz wouldn’t notice.


    As I sighed with relief, next to me Liz moved. With her quick movement, she returned with a rabbit in her hands.


    Gripping both of it’s ears, she dangled it in front of my eyes.


    In the darkness I couldn’t tell it’s colour, but it looked like an ordinary rabbit. The eyes shined with a glitter, it had a short plump body and stiff fur.


    Did it notice it had been caught? The sand rabbit wriggled it’s body and shook. I didn’t say to go and catch it you know.


    Liz watched the hanging rabbit and stared into it’s eyes, and frowned.


    For a moment she was silent, and then as if she found something that displeased her, shortly after stopping she threw the sand rabbit violently into the ground and stepped on it.


    The sound of crushed bones and flesh disgusted me no matter how many times I heard it.


    She looked down at the sand rabbit that had stopped moving without even a twitch, and then looked to me as I was drawing back and stiffening up.


    “I’ll go and catch the others too ok” “Ah, yeah”


    Liz disappeared from in front of me as I responded by reflex.


    By any chance, did you find it enjoyable to drag the rabbit out and give it lethal injuries? If you are going to y, please y with love.


    I had a long rtionship with her, but I truly didn’t understand Liz.