CH 171.1

Chapter 171 Responsibility and Prestige Part 1

I am not a Hunter in any sense of the word, but if I had to pick one job that I am least suited for, it would be an escort request.

The reason is simple. It is because I have…… Very bad luck.

I don’t have too many good memories of escort requests from the past.

An escort is essentially for insurance. Well, since you are hiring an escort, you are going to a dangerous place, but most of the time the request ends without much hindrance…… Or so was what I heard.

If you think about it, there are rarely any powerful Monsters in the first place, and you wouldn’t think that even bandits would dare to aim for someone with an escort.

However, I have run into some kind of hindrance in almost every escort request I did so far.

Sometimes the hindrance was a Phantom, sometimes a Monster, sometimes a group of bandits, or sometimes a criminal organization. There was also a case where it was a natural disaster. But when I am an escort, the odds of those things happening are monstrous compared to when I am on a vacation, but well, you can still get hurt pretty badly on my vacation though.

I am someone who understands his own shortcomings. That is why I never wanted to accept any escort requests, and in fact, I have been trying not to.

I am! Thinking about the client! When I do that, you know!

And while I am used to being on the verge of death, most people aren’t.

Eva, who saw the request form, opened her eyes for a moment and looked at me as if she was somewhat confused.

“I think…… This is a great honor.” (Eva)

“Un, un, that’s right……” (Cry)

“However, I don’t know why Cry-san was chosen……” (Eva)

“Un, un, that’s right~!” (Cry)

You are so right!

" "

Inside Eva’s office…… Unlike the Clan Master’s office, the Vice-Clan Master’s office was terribly cluttered.

The bookshelves were filled with countless files and stationery was piled up. The room seemed to be neat and tidy, but there were too many things. It really feels like a room with people who are working.

On a worn-out metal desk was a metal box with several compartments. Inside each of the compartments were black stones lined up.

Those were Relics called 『Symphonic Stone』. It was a Relic in which one stone was paired with another, when one stone made a sound, the other stone would emit the sound. It was used for communication, but because it was so easy to use, it was in great demand and rarely sold on the market. Even my Party doesn’t have one.

And there was…… Sixteen of them. If you turn the box upside down, you probably won’t know which stone connects to which.

Eva noticed my gaze and hid the box.

“………… You can’t. Those are something we have been entrusted to.” (Eva)

“………… I know.” (Cry)

By the way, it was also a Relic that became useless if one of the pairs was lost.

I was fortunate enough to have one of these once before, but I lost one of them and now I can’t do anything about it. It was a Relic that can only be used by meticulous people.

It had been a long time since I had been to Eva’s workplace. Mostly because Eva comes to me when I’m in the Clan Master’s office.

After thoroughly checking the contents of the request form, Eva made a slightly pensive look.

“………… Originally, with this kind of request they would emphasize trust rather than ability………… However, 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 is rather well-known for their infamy――――” (Eva)

Eva didn’t make a disgusting face at me even though I went to cry for help to someone who wasn’t even my Party Member.

As expected of my right-handed woman. Maybe I should call her my main body rather than my right hand.

“You know, Eva…… Can you go with me?” (Cry)

“…… What? ………… I don’t want to. I am not a Hunter, you know?” (Eva)

I wish Eva would become a Hunter. That way, I could throw more things at her.

Even I became one, so I am sure Eva will be able to raise her Level quickly.

As soon as Lucia saw that my training was over and that she was no longer needed, she went away to who knows where.

I am not very strong, but I am still physically the Leader, so I have to decide what to do. Normally, I would just randomly throw the job to Tino, but when it comes to escorting the Emperor, as expected, doing this wouldn’t be a good idea.

As I was looking at Eva’s sagacious profile and thinking about who to throw it to, Eva said in a small voice.

“…… This is quite tricky. They are probably suspicious of having enemies on the inside. And as Cry-san is the only one who has been proven innocent by the 『True Tear』……” (Eva)

“…… Is it bad if I randomly throw it to someone else?” (Cry)

“I will confirm it just in case, but you mean randomly as to someone suitable, right?1” (Eva)

The request I received in exchange for the carpet was the worst of the worst (Not Sytry’s Alias) things I could have done.

It seems that Zebuldia meets with its allies once a year.

The request I was given was to go with them and protect the Emperor and his delegation.

The location wasn’t Zebrudia………… But 『Toizant』, a country of sand where most of the land is a desert, located beyond the mountains, grassland, and rivers.

I have never been there before because it was so far away, but according to the request form, it would take more than two weeks to get there from Zebrudia by using multiple means of transportation.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Poor Cry each time he goes somewhere there’s a disaster happening!

I want to see all the adventure Strange Grief had in their 1st year, like the spin-off of Goblin Slayer.

Tchao à plus!

FootnotesRandomly/suitable: in Japanese 適当 tekito can be translated a appropriate or randomly. So that is why Eva wanted to check with Cry the meaning of his tekito. (But clearly Cry wanted to throw the request at anyone that is available XD)