CH 67.1

Eight Hunters are gathered in a luxury inn for Treasure Hunters in the center of the Imperial Capital.

Unlike those used by aristocrats and merchants, inns targeting Hunters value quality rather than luxury. A cold room that allows the storage of monster materials, meetings room, rooms to wash and maintain armor full of blood, there are a lot of useful things gathered to help with the aftercare of a Shrine exploration. Each piece of furniture is sturdy so that even powerful Hunter doesn’t break it, the size of the room is also very large for any party size.

Compare to their inn in their homeland in Nebranubes, those facilities are very useful. But Arnold’s complexion doesn’t look good when sitting on his chair.

The cause is the words he received from the Branch Chief Gark.

He looks around the party members and confirm with a somewhat low threatening voice.

“Have you gathered rumors about him?”

“Y, yes. Apparently, he is a famous Hunter here…”

While sweating, the party’s vice-leader Hay begins his explanation.

“Infinite Variety”.

That is his Alias. The owner of the “Severed Shadow”, as Branch Chief Gark informed him. He doesn’t know if he was serious when he asked us to subdue a Thunder Dragon 『Because he wants to eat it』.

Initially, he was an existence that is already considered as his enemies as he was the Party Leader of that woman who unilaterally punched Arnold. But the risk is too high to barge in and start fighting.

The subjugation of the “Thunder Dragon (Rai Ryū)” is the highest achievement Arnold and his friends made.

The dragon who had been rampaging in the Mist Country has certainly the power to destroy a country. Before Arnold and his friends challenged it, a lot of High-Level Hunters failed to repel it, it is indubitably an absolute strongest. Arnold was given his Alias and awarded his Level 7 because this achievement was worthy of it.

Thunder Dragon (Rai Ryū).

A huge body and strong scales. Possessing full mastery of aerial movement as he can fly in the sky. A lightning breath that is difficult to avoid and armed with claw as long as a large blade and its sharpness far exceeding the average sword. A dragon that has been certified as one of the top dragon species.

The one who directly defeated the dragon is Arnold and his friends, the “Fallen Mist (Thunder Dragon’s Mist)”. But countless Hunters have helped on that subjugation. After setting up the stage, checking everything, preparing all the necessary equipment and measures against it, we set up a trap. It is a battle we can’t afford to lose as it can result in the destruction of the country. Not only it was a deathmatch, it has also lasted for hours. The Level of recommendation to subjugate it is 7 but according to Arnold who had actually faced it, the recommendation Level is too low.

Luckily, the subjugation was successful but if they made one mistake, Arnold and his friends would have died. If he could fight against it no matter how many times and even use his powerful weapon created from its material, the fight wouldn’t be any easier.

No matter what kind of predicament you get in a Shrine, if I compare it to the Thunder Dragon, it would still be better and I can overcome it.

Its corpse was dismantled, and the Mist Country rejoiced. Even if it was distributed to all the Hunters who cooperated, we received a reasonable amount of money. Regardless of whether the subjugation difficulty is suitable, everything on the dragon is a treasure. His bones and scales, even its inside is considered as a precious jewel as its blood and meats are also in high demand as potion materials. To use some part of it as an ingredient for food when you risk your life fighting it, is indubitably the idea of a madman. If I hear that somewhere there is a Hunter who does that, I will only consider it as a joke.

But if that person is a High-Level Hunter, it is another story.

“When it comes to Hunters in Zebrudia, Rodin is famously known but… Damn, Level 8, you say…”

Upon hearing the information, Arnold spitefully say that.

Level 8. A man with a certification Level higher than Arnold who killed a Thunder Dragon. The members of “Fallen Mist (Thunder Dragon’s Mist)” who fight life threatening battle against Phantom and doesn’t back down have a grave expression.

As the Mana Material drastically improve Treasure Hunter ability, there can be large differences in abilities. Exactly like there is a difference of heaven and earth between an average Hunter and Arnold. He shows that the same can be said between Higher-Level Hunters and Arnold.

Near Nebranubes, there were only five Shrines. Even so, the five Shrines have different certification Level, he was blessed when you compare it to the surrounding countries but compared to the Imperial Capital where there are innumerable Shrines of any level, there is a great difference.

In this country, there are several High-Level Shrines that can further enhance Arnold and his friends who have hit their limits in Nebranubes Shrines.

The strongest in the Mist Country is called the “Heavy Lightning Strike”, I assume that name doesn’t work in this Imperial Capital. No even if they accept it… It is not considered as that high of a rank.

I had expected it to some extent but because of their power, “Fallen Mist (Thunder Dragon’s Mist)” were feared and awe-inspiring and that fact hit them harder than they expected.

The certification Level doesn’t always represent their strength but if that “Infinite Variety” can hunt a Thunder Dragon as a snack then he is at least… above Arnold and his friends.

“In this country, is there a lot of guys that can prey on a 『Thunder Dragon (Rai Ryū) 』 like that? But at that tavern, there shouldn’t have been a Hunter like that.”

“Bu… But Arnold-san. The “Infinite Variety” I saw could only be seen… as a small fish…”

“… Damn!”

To Hay terrified word, Arnold strongly steps on the floor.

To a Hunter being underestimate can be fatal but challenging someone into battle despite knowing they will lose is not something a Hunter will do. Gark’s eyes full of pity is stuck in his head. Those eyes are… The eyes of someone who is convinced that “Infinite Variety” surpasses “Heavy Lightning Strike”. The request to deliver a Thunder Dragon affirms that.

The original plan was to show off out presence to the Hunter in the Imperial Capital, sell the item we got near Nebranubes at a high price, then we will go stretch our legs and crush this land Shrines one by one.

But we stumbled on our first step. Fortunately, it was a famous Hunter who did that.

The information brought by Hay and the others on “Infinite Variety” was, whatever if it was true or false, more than what they expected.

According to someone, a man with an eye that can see the future. According to another, a man who reached Level 8 without any mistakes. According to another one, a Party Leader with each member having an Alias.

Everyone knows of his name. But no one knows of his real power. A mysterious Treasure Hunter. There was also information about him being a god-like man. If his name is as famous as the name of Rodin who reached until Nebranubes, then there is no doubt about his ability.

Without a doubt, he is one of the leading Hunters in this Imperial Capital, so his bad reputation won’t be spread.

Arnold clench his chattering teeth, squeezes his simmering anger and chills and made a decision.

“Tsk… We will check the situation. First, do what we need to do. Prepare ourselves. We don’t have enough information.”

Arnold and his friends aren’t knights who fight while following rules. They are Hunters. When dealing with a strong one, you need to make preparation proportional to its strength. It is even more true when you fight a battle, you know you will lose.

The shoulder of one of the member start trembling because of the passion contain inside his voice.

“Well… What about his request to deliver a Thunder Dragon?”

“I don’t intent to take on his provocation. I haven’t received an official request.”

First, we need to determine the situation. We need to look for weaknesses. A huge Clan and a Party consisting of member with only Aliases. The opponent is too huge and powerful, but this is why we will definitely have a chance.

His golden eyes start to shine brightly toward this mighty goal since the Thunder Dragon.

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Thanks for reading! Whaaaa that part was so hard to translate I don’t know what happen… Is it because it was Arnold perspective? I don’t know but I hope part 2 will be easier than that. So sorry if there was some confusing part or sentence. Tchao à plus!