CH 38

38 作戦開始 Operation Start

In front of the shrine, the air was filled with tension.

The entrance to the White Wolves Den was gaping wide. Phantoms in large numbers were standing guard. Hunters lined up in party units, and each was finishing up their final checkovers.

The plan had been decided. But from the start, the means that could be used were limited.

In the space in front of the White Wolves Den, Iron Cross took center point.

The origin of their party name. Referred to as iron, their armour was made of a unique alloy created using the most sophisticated techniques in the modern era. Hard while at the same time being flexible, it gave protection from magic and softened impacts. It was said to be armour made from materials closest to Relics. The trained bodies enclosed within trembled. Not from fear. From excitement.

Sven Anger was a level 6 hunter. He was a person influential enough to be attributed a second name, and among treasure hunters he could be called first rate – but he didn’t have ingenious schemes or hold anything like precognitive powers.

But, he was still a hunter. In the past, united with his party he had overcome many scenes of carnage. A request that surpassed those risks filled Sven with fear and simultaneously a feeling of exhilaration.

The number of parties participating was now twelve. The average amount of people in each party was six. All together there were less than a hundred people. It wasn’t significant enough to be an army, but everyone there was a hunter tempered by shrines.

Hunters strengthened with Mana Material gathering together just for one shrine was something rare. Their true ability was more than what their numbers suggested. More than a few carried weapon type Relics.

And yet, none of them relaxed their attention under the circumstances. Because the hunters of Footprints understood the danger involved in 『one thousand tribulations』. And the outside hunters had been swallowed up by that spirit.

The White Wolves Den was a cave type shrine. Shrines occasionally held an aspect (or perhaps they held that aspect because they were shrines) that made it so extra numbers didn’t give much of advantage.

Sven decided to divide into units in order to take total control of the shrines interior. They needed to ensure that the large number of people did not become a hindrance if it came time to evacuate.

They agreed to investigate in segments, each allocated to a party. The communication would be through whistles. The amount of sounds in succession altered the meaning.

In a state of emergency or if something was discovered, sound once for an evacuation. If the situation involved a monster, then lure it outside so it could be attacked by everyone together. Even if you were safe, sound out at fixed periods. If you did not return a whistle you would be considered to have been killed.

One party would wait outside and not enter the shrine. There was always the danger that everyone could be defeated, but they would at least avoid being wiped out all at once.

It hurt to only have ambiguous information concerning the enemy. No, perhaps it was good fortune to at least know it existed. Hunters were never neglectful when investigating in advance. A situation like this was rarely encountered.

It might be better to challenge the zones that were still unknown.

Sven clicked his tongue again, and scowled at the shrine with glaring eyes.

“Tribulations, tribulations huh… Cry you, daring to impose this on us. After this I’m definitely going to give you a hard hit.”

“You say that, but 『Severed Shadow』 is scary.”

“Yeah shut up. I’d could take care of that one with an arrow! Our match up is too one sided.”

As one of the party members poked fun at him , Sven shouted at them breathing roughly through his nose.

Talia held Sytry’s specially made slime killing agent, and waited with her party away from the entrance to the shrine. Perhaps nervous, see could be seen desperately trying to compose her breathing.

Talia – no, the dark potion she was carrying was the trump card. Of course, they wouldn’t depend on it. Through the other hunter’s attacks – if they could kill it through long range magic attacks and arrows, then it wouldn’t be needed.

But if it turned out none of that was effective, it was good luck they had that as a backup plan.

Alchemists had limited combat ability. On the other hand, their ability to correspond with elaborate preparations surpassed any other role. Talia still seemed inexperienced, but the potion she had was created by the alchemist once referred to as 『The Best』. There was no questioning it’s quality.

Then, a voice called out from behind. A voice with a slightly high quaver.

“…Um…who is Sytry? It seems like everyone became convinced at her mention…”

“Aah, Henrik. You must have never met her…”

Henrik had joined Iron Cross about six months ago. At that time the members of Strange Grief had been reigning as the top party.

Each member of Strange Grief had a side to them other than being a hunter. Among them, Sytry who worked as an alchemist was extremely busy. To speak of the one that never showed up, her name would come up naturally.

“Recently she hasn’t made an appearance, that Sytry.”

One of the other members, the Magi Marietta smiled with nostalgia. But, the depths of her eyes held strong fear.

Sometimes people that held outstanding abilities were admired but also feared. After all even Sven’s gaze held a blend of fear and awe, but Marietta and the other members may have also felt jealous.

That’s how Sytry Smart was.

She could think rapidly and absorb any information. Even in the highest institutes of education in the Capital holding many outstanding scholars, she stuck out. She held natural talents as an alchemist that anyone would envy. Once, she was said to be the closest to the alchemists number one desire, the 『philosophers stone』.

But, Marietta wasn’t afraid of that past ability.

A somewhat hesitant look gazed at Henrik. That look was burdened somewhere from that 『alchemist』.

Sven’s breathing was suppressed, his forehead furrowed as he squeezed out his voice.

“Well to sum it up in a few words…Sytry is… a 『strong』 weak person.”

“Strong… weak?”

She was strong. She had ability.

But more than anything else, it was so 『alien』 it was outside of everyone’s comprehension.

Consequently, now that those days of glory were in the past, that name wasn’t murmured by anyone. They weren’t avoiding it. But, it was natural not to speak it. As if they were trying to strike it from their memories.

And in reality, there were some members of Footprints that hadn’t heard her name just like Henrik. Sven raised his head turning his line of sight from Henrik to Talia, who held the tube with the dark potion.

“And including Iron Cross, some of the parties that joined First Step when it was first created were persuaded by Sytry. She was a master alchemist that next to Cry, could boast of having the highest level in Strange Grief.”

“Sven. The preparations here are done.”

“Alright, got it. Sorry, we’ll have to finish our talk later.”

Called to by Lyle, Sven took a step forward.

Their fighting spirit was enough. Not one person was afraid.

Footprints was excellent. There was a reason their average level was so high.

Any weak people had already been weeded out. All the cowardly people, had left the clan a long time ago. To be here meant that at least to some extent you had overcome a tribulation, just the elite. And they were also comrades in arms.

That fact had given them high self confidence.

『First Step』 was strong.

A first rate party was in command. Facilities were in place, and systems of management existed. But Sven would say such things were just an extra bonus.

The unity from going through fierce battlefields and carnage together was surely the essence of the clan. That was why the clan was able to grow so large in only a few years. The symbol of Footprints held the meaning of the tracks they had carved out so far. Before one knew they became something you could be proud of.

It was reason enough for hunters to place their lives on the line.

There were other parties here as well, but Sven paid them no mind.

He took in a deep breath, and then shouted in a voice that shook the greenery around them. The morale intensified. The expressions of the hunters went tense as the exhilaration spread.

“Hey, you sorry lot. Show me your spirit! Trample down! Engrave your footprints! Everyone here return alive, and say it straight to that fucking Master! Just this much, isn’t even a big deal!”

“Oooooooooooooooh!”

The surrounding forest shook from the explosive yells. Both the voices of the parties of Footprints and the ones form outside it became hoarse from shouting.

Perfectly coordinated with stream like momentum, the hunters began their raid.

§

After picking out a selection of shrines, I went down the stairs to the underground training range carrying the data. I heard the distant sound of something sharp cutting through the wind.

The training facilities built at the Clan House were almost the same as those found in various places throughout the Capital. Getting dragged into training was boring so I rarely made an appearance, but when I went down their I usually saw someone reviewing their techniques.

Although it’s only training, the spirit was genuine. When you felt it, you experienced the illusion that you had become a hunter yourself. Well, strictly speaking I was a hunter though.

I rhythmically tapped my way down the stairs, and forced open the heavy solid metal door to the first floor underground training range (which had been blown off and replaced a few times since the range was built).

What you could do on the first underground floor was practice kata (martial art form) variations. If you used magic then the walls treated to be anti-magic on the second underground floor were suitable. And if you wanted to practise particular skills, then the third floor or lower had various equipment in place.

The instant the door opened, I was welcomed with cold air and sound.

Liz stood on floor similar seeming to metal, in a wide spacious training ground with no other objects around.

Facing her was Tino. Dressed as usual in hunter garb with mainly black undertones, she kept her posture low while glaring at the teacher smaller than herself. The sound of the door opening resounded within the training range, but her jet black irises only narrowed and she didn’t pay any attention my way.

From that sharp look, it was hard to believe she was always being tyrannised.

In the other direction, Liz turned to face me, and grinned widely.

“Ah, Cry-chan. You finally came?”

Shwish

At Liz’s flat tone of voice, black hair swayed. A fist wrapped in black leather shot out with compressed energy. The thrust made sound, the sound of wind being pierced reverberated briefly. Overwhelmed by the situation, I took an involuntary step back.

The blow came at great speed, and Liz while still smiling, avoided it with a half turn of her body without even looking.

“At the moment see, we’re training. But if I make her too ragged, she’ll probably be a hindrance to Cry’s request right?”

swsh! whsh! swsh!

Tino’s strikes only left afterimages. Balls of sweat flew off, her hair was tied up with a ribbon that flickered. Thrusts that emphasised speed. At the same time she stepped in she released a kick striking at Liz.

The sound of cloth cuts through the air from afar. Coupled with her attire it was as if she was a black wind.

Foot sweep. Lunge. Palm heel. Roundhouse kick. Elbow. Everything flowed together into one attack.

When it all happened under a second, it could be understood. Such fierce offence and defence with paper thin allowances was as beautiful as a dance performance. Breath exhaled from open lips. As the spinning kick was released in front of Liz, a few of her bangs were shaved off. From where I was looking it seemed like it had hit, but it must have just barely been avoided.

It was kind of incredible… Liz didn’t say she had talent for nothing.

While having her hands full with the rush on attack, Liz’s eyes narrowed slightly and her lips formed a warped smile.

“See? It’s amazing right? It’s totally different from me. In the past, when I was told I had no sense I was irritated, but seeing Tee she definitely has the aptitude doesn’t she…!! I thought I didn’t need a disciple, but I’m glad I did what you said Cry!”

At the time Liz came to the Capital and became the disciple of 『Severed Shadow』, apparently the first thing that was pointed out was that she had no sense for close combat. Now she held the ability of a certified level 6, but that bitter feeling was still engraved upon Liz.

No well, judging from my standpoint I couldn’t really tell the difference, but I thought that the promising disciple’s attacks were pretty amazing, she had high expectations.

However in the training I witnessed before, Tino’s attack wouldn’t have been able to graze Liz’s hairs. It certainly seemed like the distance between them was shrinking.

At the moment she’s bare handed so she couldn’t reach, but maybe, if she used the dagger she always had on her waist wouldn’t she make it? The difference in their ability was clear, but after a few more years of being a disciple, perhaps Tino wouldn’t just be chasing Liz’s back.

While being impressed and thinking of those things, Tino raised a strained voice without stopping her attacks.

“Haa, haa-….I, can, never! Hit! Ever-! Why!?”

Despite her continuous intense movement, her sharp strikes increased. A fist streaked towards Liz’s head. Liz let her posture drop slightly.

Contrary to Tino’s sorrowful voice, Liz aways held a smile set on her face.

With my dynamic vision I had no idea what was happening. Most likely if I was in Liz’s position I would have been defeated by the first blow. While Liz snapped away the strike with her hand, she moved with feather light steps.

“Look, Tee. A little more! Can you reach out your fingers a little more? Burn your life! Don’t relax your movement! Focus on the nerves! I won’t step back! Attack! Don’t be scared!”

-!

Tino’s eyes blazed fixed on Liz. They were just like Liz’s before a battle, as if her life was fired up.

At the situation, I paused for a moment and scratched my cheek.

“…By any chance, do you still have room to spare?”

“Hmm? Does it seem like I’m in a pinch?”

No, it doesn’t look like a pinch but… I was just saying that her speed was different…

Tino grit her teeth. Liz’s eyes rounded.

Did she increase her speed? The sounds had an even weightier feel to them. The reaching strikes already had the same sharpness as a spear, and yet for quite some time Tino hadn’t touched Liz even once. If she wasn’t hitting even after increasing her speed, then Liz must be evading with the least amount of movement necessary.

Tino was taller than Liz. Her arms and legs were also longer, but she still couldn’t reach.

“Tee, dagger.”

“-!”

The moment Liz said that one word, Tino’s eyes were burning, wide open. Without hesitation she unsheathed the dagger on her waist. The edge hadn’t been dulled for training. It was the one she always took with her to shrines, it was well sharpened.

Without a drop in speed she let out a sweeping sideways strike – and with that greatly extended reach, Liz took a step back without a change in expression. Even when a naked blade passed centimeters in front of her, she didn’t blink. Neither stabbing or slashing, or kicks when the attention was on the blade, they all missed with paper thin distance. While evading attacks that seemed to hold the intent to kill, Liz smiled. She looked like she was having a lot of fun.

“At the same time as Tee’s training, I can train too! Isn’t that amazing?”

“…Uh-huh, yep, that’s right.”

A terribly light mood… apparently Tino was far from catching up to her teacher. Tino’s breathing had become rough. Her usual white skin had flushed red, and her fringe stuck to her brow with sweat. But even still she didn’t let up with her strikes. The axis of her body was undisturbed and her movement remained light.

I would give Liz a perfect score. And if I was Tino, I would be satisfied with my ability and I wouldn’t train any further.

Avoiding a blow coming from below that held committed power from being stepped into, Liz spoke lightly.

“Alright, lets finish up… our bodies are warmed up.”

Oi oi, this was a warm up exercise…

No matter how many attacks were evaded, even if everything was seen through, the storm like strikes didn’t slow up. Into a space with no gaps to enter, Liz took a step forward.

She should have been hit. The place Liz stepped into was Tino’s killzone. However, kicks, thrusts, downward slashes with the dagger, Liz slipped through them all as if by magic.

I rubbed my eyes without knowing what was going on. The afterimage of Liz easily restrained Tino’s stretched out arm, and swept out Tino’s feet with her leg. With just that much, those continuous movements ended. Tino’s motions that seemed like an illusion were stopped. I unconsciously breathed out a small sigh.

Tino’s stance crumbled. On reflex she scratched out at the air, but with her wrist restrained and her body wide open it was useless. Her eyes were spread wide open, but by that time her body was already put on the ground. A tiny shriek leaked from her throat. As Tino rolled on the ground Liz held her hand over her neck.

“Ok, it’s over.”

Tino’s body lying face down on the ground had a large spasm. Like the sound of her heart was transmitted. Her arms and legs were trembling. Tino coughed violently with teary eyes as if the tightness around her neck had made it difficult. Her gaze wandered in space, until at last she caught onto me.

Liz separated from Tino’s neck, and then brushed her hand off.

“Haa, haa… Mas-ter?”

“It’s because from now we have a job to do. Tee, your sweat stinks. You can’t roll around all the time, shouldn’t you go get prepared? Will you show that miserable look to Cry-can forever? Cmon!”

From the harsh things her teacher said to her, Tino’s eyes opened wide.

No but, I wouldn’t really mind if we went after a short break – or should I say, it’s just a favour so we don’t have to go if you don’t want to… Right now Tino needs to have some rest doesn’t she?

As I looked down at her thinking such thoughts, Tino, who’s face was already flushed from the exercise, became even further red and tears gathered in her eyes.

“I’ll, be back soon!”

“…Eh? No, it doesn’t really — Eh!?”

Tino rushed to her feet. I involuntarily fell back. It had the feeling of a corpse rising up.

She stood up on her legs that should have been convulsing up until now, and started running while still wobbly. She could fall over at any moment, but she left at a speed that was about the same as when I used all my power. How is my leg strength the same as Tino’s when she was injured or almost completely exhausted?

Like that she rammed herself into the door to throw it open, and went outside of the training range. I was worried she would use up all her strength on the way over.

“How long have you two been going for?”

“Eh? The whole time?”

Not a answer. The whole time… Since we had saw off Lyle and the others headed to the White Wolves Den, two hours had already passed….

It was obviously overkill. Hunters said that rest was also part of work.

On the other hand, Liz didn’t have a single drop of sweat. Was she really human?

“Should we not take Tino with us?”

“Ehh- Is that ok? Tee also has some so-so fighting ability… Cry-chan is harsh in that area. …What are you holding?”

Where am I harsh? That’s not why I wanted her to stay behind. To me frowning at my damaged reputation, Liz asked me a question. I sighed and presented her the file of data I had fished through on shrines.

The clan held onto most of the information on the shrines in the vicinity of the Capital. This was data that had been collected in the reference room after a long time. All I did was search through it.

Flipping through it Liz tilted her head cutely.

“Hmm-? Only low level places? And there seem to be a lot of them?”

Shrines occur with the accumulation of Mana Material. Due to that nature there is a tendency for more low level shrines to appear than high level ones. Around the Capital with who knows how many Earth Veins running out, there were dozens of low level shrines.

Even with the condition of being far from the White Wolves Den, my indecisiveness led to me being unable to cut them down to just one. As if to dodge that fact, I spoke with a smile on my face.

“Right, I thought I’d let Tino choose one that she liked.”

After always going through terrible experiences, this one will surely be fine.

a

a

Translator notes

Not sure what it was about this chapter, but it was much harder and took twice as long to translate than normal. First up I added some onomatopoeia for whiffed punches which hopefully made sense, they seem terrible but I’m not sure what they should be instead. In the raw it’s 「ッ！　ッ！　ッ！」. Just “-! -! -!” I guess would represent it more literally, but it’s a terrible translation. In chapter 35, I wrote Sven as level 7, when it said close to level 7. I gotta pay closer attention. Sytry’s former name ‘The Best’. The kanji is used in words like ‘most valuable player’, or ‘the best quality’. Just a tidbit, you might know the philosophers stone from harry potter or full metal alchemist. But it was a true ideal in non-fictitious history. Eventually we actually did turn lead into gold through nuclear transmutation (a complete radiated waste though obviously). Cool article here: “It would cost more than one quadrillion dollars per ounce to produce gold by this experiment,” Seaborg told the Associated Press that year. The going rate for an ounce of gold at the time? About $560.“ The iron alloy armor. I may have messed up here. The kanji used for Iron in the story is the archaic (barely still in use) Kurogane, it could also be ‘black metal’ or even ‘black gold’. So maybe it’s an alloy called black metal, and their party name is black metal crosses. I’d be interested to know how a fluent reader instantly knows which one it is, my guess is that the archaic word for iron might be often used in medieval fantasy novels (the modern kanji is tetsu). Google says ancient blacksmiths had trouble with iron ore, probably because their heating methods were shitty and unreliable. The stuff they created with iron would end up being brittle. But, occasionally they would make steel unintentionally. So steel weapons in ancient times had a mystical air because they were so much stronger than other metals, and they were passed down generationally. So maybe the characters think it’s special iron armour, but it might just be steel and they don’t know (hard, flexible, blocks magic, sounds like steel to me).