CH 1

嘆きの亡霊は引退したい　〜最弱ハンターは英雄の夢を見る〜 Author:槻影 https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6093en/

1 メンバー募集 Member recruitment

Lets become Treasure Hunters.

It’s an old story, from when I was a kid less then ten years old.

We were a group that was always playing together, one of my childhood friends had brought it up.

A reckless, physically strong, yet heroic boy.

Lets become Treasure Hunters. Treasure shrines are all over the world, riches and glory can be ours.

Our aim will be just one thing; to be the strongest heroes in the world. If it’s us… us six, it’s pretty much a sure thing.

To this totally baseless proposal, the quick and dexterous friend agreed.

The friend that loved to read books timidly complied, and the taciturn yet reliable one gave a nod.

The sister always clinging to my back peeked up at me awaitingly, and I also gave my approval.

Treasure Hunters that tour various ruins from all over to bring back mysterious relics have been shining stars from olden times until now. Wealth, prestige, there is no faster way in the world to obtain everything and become someone great.

Of course there are risks. There is an absurdly terrible risk called death.

And after several years. As a result of working hard and supporting each other, we safely aquired the qualifications to be hunters. Although having said that, you can just apply for the qualifications and recieve them immediately.

The reckless, strong, and heroic boy became an unparralelled swordsman. The quick dextrous friend became a thief that could see through any trap to guide a party (not like they were actual criminals – it’s just the common name).

For better or worse, each friend had a special talent that let them irreplacable gems. But even before becoming hunters, something became clear when we were training for our respective roles.

I was the only one that had no special talent.

Just the one… the person that was unable to be better than average at something was me. Four friends, my younger sister, and me. Only me of us six. The one person of us that couldn’t do anything.

Out of us all I was the only one that couldn’t see a path to becoming a hero.

§　§　§

Ever since the morning I had been feeling the worst.

Thick black clouds covered the sky. If you shut your eyes you could hear the sound of raindrops hitting the ground. The water stunk. The smell of mud. The ground was completely muddy due to the bad weather that had been going on for three days. It was daytime yet it was gloomy outside. Despite the incessant rain, various different men and women were lining up by the side of a sturdy looking stone building,.

A person that looked dead on the inside. A person that was yelling out in a loud voice. There weren’t just pure humans either, some had the striking characteristics that distinguished them as a different race. The only common point between them, was that they all had imposing figures.

Dirty armor that you couldn’t tell what kind of leather it was made from. An overcoat that concealed the whole body of it’s wearer. Some of them wore complete sets of metal armor. Not a small amount held swords or other heavy handheld weapons.

Due to the bad weather the streets were mostly empty of people, and so only one block in the city was caught up in a bizarre fervor. Each and every person was gathered there for a slight chance. To flout their name and strength as a treasure hunter, in an attempt to enter into a party.

The occupation of Treasure Hunter has always been that flashy kind of job.

The risks were extremely high compared to other professions, but if you had talent – wealth, prestige, power; you could obtain everything. The name of a noble house, or whether you were born into a merchant family, it’s the kind of glory that is beyond reach.

Hunters often worked in groups called parties. If a hunter joined an experienced party from the start, they could dramatically lower their risks compared to starting from nothing.

Active hunters were always looking for skilled comrades. The people gathered together currently were also at that place for that kind of event.

Since it was raining I didn’t think many people would show up, but an extreme amount had come. With a sigh I also took my place at the back of the line. Because there was no roof, everybody in line was dripping wet. I put on my overcoats hood, drew my body in to make my body smaller and waited. When you are standing in line without anyone you know it quickly becomes disheartening.

“Aaaaaah! Why the hell, when there’s this many people! Nobody has even entered yet!”

An irritated yell comes out from the front of the line, I shrunk myself in even further.

Even at the best of times waiting can be horrible, it’s even worse in the cold rain. I understand the annoyance, but everyone here feels the same.

Hunters are a strong bunch. There are also a lot of hot-headed types. No one will be happy if a fight breaks out and they get dragged into it. One of a hunter’s talents was their physique. I have an average physique, but most of the people in my vicinity were heads above me. They held power far above regular people and used it to fight on equal grounds with monsters. The true nature of these people was that they were themselves monsters wearing human skin.

All I could do was stand by and pray that the situation defused peacefully and past me by. Unusually, this time my prayers were granted and there were no further uproars.

The line moved forward a small amount. While I was busy trying to make my body shrink further in and not make any eye contact, the person in front turned their head around to look at me.

Beautiful blue eyes stared back at me.

“Hey, can I bother you? Were you also looking to join a party?”

“Ah… Yeah”

An unusually cheeful voice. It seems like I might cause trouble if I ignored it, so I begrudgingly look at a spot just below their eyes.

The voice that greeted me was from a female hunter that seemed to be in their late teens. Well cared for light brown hair, and bright blue eyes. She wore a long coat and a thick belt with a large pouch set to it. Her attire was standard for hunters, but her undamaged hair and friendly appearance didn’t give off the look of a hunter that spent their time searching hazardous ruins. Her clothes were pratically brand new without a blemish on them.

In modern times it wasn’t rare to see female hunters, but in my experience there are roughly two types of hunters.

One that’s still full of hope just before or immediately after becoming a hunter. And those that have stuck through countless risky adventures without losing their shine, ones that held outstanding talents. Like my friends from back then, genuine 『monsters』.

Nine out of ten cases were of the former type, but you can never be sure. In the hunter world there were numerous people that concealed their abilities. Indeed, to my suspicious gaze the lady hunter gave a forced smile, but then put on a brighter expression and offered her hand. Seems like they aren’t the type that immediately tries to beat you up.

In my brain I secretly gave the hunter a danger rating of E. This is the level given to those that look safe if you’re only judging by their surface level appearance.

“My name, it’s Ruda Runebeck. A Level 3 Hunter. Well, I only just rose to that level the other day though.”

Level 3 Hunter… mid-range then. Seems like she’s better than she looks. I silently rased my danger rating of the girl before me to D. She’s not a fresh hunter at least from the looks of it.

The treasure hunters are under the management of a hunting association commonly called “Explorers”, which bestows levels dependant on ones achievements. There are up to 10 levels that can be granted, and so a level of 3 guarantees mid-level ability and achievements. There are statistics that say that 70% of hunters stop progressing at level 3, so for Ruda to reach that level while still young shows she has good prospects.

There is nothing to be lost from remaining cautious.

I open my lips. I haven’t had a drop of water to drink since morning, and I had been running to arrive here. So the voice that came out was very dry.

“……My name’s…. Cry Andoric… nice to meet you, Ruda”

I answered without shaking her offered hand.

The greatest thing I gained in my five years as a hunter is a sense of danger. You may get thrown if you take that hand, and if you don’t get thrown they might crush you instead. In the instant you grasp their hand there is potential for you to be killed.

Of course if you don’t shake their hand there is also the potential that the other will consider you their enemy.

Ruda furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, but then let out a spirited voice.

“Are you also solo then? Everyones on edge…. it’s a pretty bad feeling.”

“………..”

“I’ve been hunting alone up till now, but recently I’ve hit a bit of a wall… at that time I heard that there was a large scale hunter recruitment going on so I decided to come along.”

Linked to the belt on her waist was a scabbard. She tapped on the dagger hanging there.

Inside the treasure shrines there are various gimmicks. Having just a dagger with low killing potential, Ruda is probably a hunter that excels at solving these gimmicks rather than having great combat abilities.

No, those techniques are essential for solo hunters. Capturing a treasure shrine requires several different skills, it’s next to imposible to cover them all on your own.

Not every treasure hunter explores shrines, but to recieve a level 3 ranking, the achievement of capturing a shrine is nescessary. If you have the ability to do that solo, then I would agree with giving a ranking of level 3 in such a short time.

It’s what one might call a 『genius』 I suppose.

I don’t know what I should say, so I give a reluctant smile. When something seems impossible you should laugh, it was something I picked up on in the last few years.

“Being alone… it’s terribly unreasonable isn’t it”

“Yeah! It’s just like that! I went to the 『White Wolves Den』 but I couldn’t cut it on my own…”

Ruda’s eyes sparkled as if she had been starved for a conversation partner.

“That’s the reason why… I thought I’d try and enter another party. If there were another five hunters at level 3 then we could fully capture the 『White Wolves Den』.

“Hah. 『White Wolves Den』 you say? Do you understand the kind of place you’re at right now?”

All at once Ruda’s expression turned severe because of the words spoken like they were looking down on her.

From the direction of the voice there was a large man standing in front of us. They were wearing combined leather and metal armor with an overcoat darkened from bloodstains. Ruda was like a shiny first year hunter, and the man a grizzled long service veteran.

It’s not like hunters were just made up of guys like this, but it’s true that there were countless hot blooded types. Furthermore the more skill a hunter had, the greater tendency they had to be hot blooded.

In the Explorers it’s even said that being hot blooded is part of hunter culture.

Sure enough, Ruda yelled back at the man that was two heads larger then her without any fear.

“What’s that? Just butting in? If you have a complaint then say it already!”

“Sheesh, a level 3 hunter? The 『White Wolves Den』? This isn’t the place for newbies to get together.”

The large mans cheek twitches with a smile that you wouldn’t really call a smile. Other people in the line are looking back like they are seeing something either annoying or something amusing.

I stealthily took a step back. I tried to prudently avoid getting involved in the quarrel. It’s another thing I learned being a hunter. If you get caught up in something and get injured, nobody will come to help you.

“The only people gathered here are ones that can be confident in their abilities. After all, the party that’s recruiting members today is 『Footprints』 understand? It’s a rising clan, but it’s currently the one with the most momentum in the entire imperial capital. No matter how you put it, having fresh dregs like you around is just an annoyance to the rest of us!”

A clan is a group formed of hunters.

A group that acts together on a routine basis is a party. If many parties gather together they can form a clan.

There are various reasons to form together. For example – sharing information or lending items. If members are missing from a party they can be borrowed from another. And if a treasure shrine is of high difficulty, parties can challenge it together.

Building a network of relationships is nescessary for smooth hunting. Therefore the Explorers association also reccomended hunters to form clans.

This occassions party member recruitment is also being held by a clan.

『Footprints』 is a clan that has made a name for itself in the imperial capital Zebrudia.

The formal name is 『First Step』. It’s a clan that many parties made of young people belong to. Even with its short history, it’s a clan that has gained a lot of influence within the Imperial Capital. Originally hunter party recruitment was done on an as-needed basis, but each year 『Footprints』 gathered parties to hold a large scale member recruitment. That was where we were currently.

Regardless of age, level and so forth, candidates were offered a test. If they passed they would be accepted as members. Of course the average level of a member of 『Footprints』 was high. There were only a few people accepted in. But for a hunter that had confidence in their own skill but were without connections, it was a great opportunity.

But they are usually mistaken. The party members of Footprints were the cream of the crop of the Imperial Capital. Like my friends, the level of talent needed is on the level of at least being a genius. Most people who take the test will have their self confidence shattered and ground down to motes of dust.

“Haa? The recruitment note didn’t mention a level requirement, and in the first place I’m a level 3 you know!”

“Hmph! Level 3 is certainly a mid-range level but you see-! Footprints already has more level 3s then it has any use for!”

The large man’s teeth were bared at Ruda as he yells at her.

It was as the big man says. Level 3 is only mid-range… purely put it’s average. For a famed party a level 3 had little worth. Most members of footprints were above that level. However, Ruda’s level of 3 is only for the current moment. 70 percent of hunters end their growth at level 3, but as long as you have the ability your level will raise. For a person that raised themselves to level 3 solo, if they were given the support of a party gaining more experience wouldn’t be difficult.

It’s for this reason that Footprints has no level requirements.

Those were my inner thoughts, but it would probably be bad to make any arguments, so I held my toungue. I probably shouldn’t say anything unnecesary. While I stood by and watched silently, the big man and Ruda were quickly getting heated.

While the large when hurls abuse, he touches the sword on his waist. It’s a long sword about one meter in length. Unlike Ruda’s dagger it’s a weapon made for cutting down monsters and phantoms, killing them head-on. With just a dagger Ruda is at a large disadvantage. The large man is definitely not lower than level 3.

“Oh-? You’re not going to do anything? Fine by me, I’ll be the one to do it.”

However, even with that Ruda showed no indication of backing down. Her graceful lips became warped, and a wild smile showed on her face. In the same way as the large man, she caressed the dagger on her hips in familiarity, and then pulled it out.

Treasure Hunters are treated differently to ordinary people. If a hunter fights with a regular citizen, the hunter will be blamed one sidedly. But in the case of a quarrel between fellow hunters, it’s the one that draws their blade first that gets villainised.

Ruda was losing her cool just like the large man, and it was for that reason that he didn’t draw first. Must be experienced in starting brawls.

Even if Ruda gets beaten by the large man she doesn’t even know the name of, any extenuating circumstances will not be taken into account. Even if there is a level difference between them, the courts won’t take it into consideration.

They’re both monsters. Why do I have to go through this when we were just lining up?

Growing tired of the wind and rain and the tedious fight that was breaking out in front of me, a man in the white uniform of the Imperial military came out of the building. On his collar was a mark of silver footprints. It was proof that he belonged to the clan First Steps.

His grizzled looks were in no way inferior to the large man in front of me. His cheek carried a deep scar, and he stared at Ruda and the large man with a dangerous gaze. He shouted in a rough voice that was equal to the other two.

“Hey! Quit your bitching! Go find another spot to fight! You two, I’ll kick you both out without a test!”

The large man who had drawn his sword smacked his lips and returned to his spot. Ruda also sheathed her dagger. And so, the line slowly moved forward.