Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~

The highly mobile fortress city, Area 1 of Code. A huge building stands in the center of the area that is closest to the tower in the middle of the city where the king lives and the area that boasts the biggest area.

The base of the First Prince, Angus Code, who is currently considered to be the closest to becoming King, is a castle-like structure, unlike the other buildings that exist throughout Code.

Located on a higher level than the surrounding area, it is the first thing you see when you enter the first area. The castle, which Angus created by himself by using the city system with the help of books brought from the outside world, is not only a symbol of Angus’ authority but also the center of Angus faction’s military power.

In the throne room, at the very back of the castle, I, Angus Code, am receiving a report from my right-hand man, Jin Gorton.

“The plan is proceeding without any problems, huh.” (Angus)

“Yes. We are having our camp manufacture weapons to the best of our ability. The training of the people we have brought in from outside is also going extremely well.” (Jin)

Code’s resources are by no means infinite. Only the king has free reign over them, and the classes below share what is left.

The resources available are determined by your Class. No matter how efficiently you use the city system, there is a limit to how much you can save. Since all Royalty have the same resources available to them, the number of nobles who support the Royalty has a significant impact on the outcome of the battle.

Therefore, the nobles side with the Royalty that they think will win, and I, who have the support of the largest number of nobles, is considered the most likely candidate.

Resources can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used to manufacture food, clothing, miscellaneous goods, buildings, weapons, and mechanized soldiers, and can also be used to repair facilities. I nod with satisfaction while touching my mustache.

“Code’s weapons are too much to handle for the monkeys of the lower world. But if we hold back, we could lose to Nora’s knights. Her knights are born thanks to Code, after all. If we can use Kai and Saaya, we should be able to fight well enough, but even our foot soldiers should be able to interfere against her knights.” (Angus)

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“It is as you say. Nora-ojou’s policy is very interesting. It would have been troublesome if the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 had fallen into her hands. However, now that that possibility has disappeared, His Highness’ advantage is unshakable.” (Jin)

“We did waste our mechanized soldiers and incapacitating gas. We cannot be too careful.” (Angus)

Nora Code used her resources to research ways to strengthen Code’s Citizens. The result is an elite knight order that boasts capabilities surpassing those of mechanized soldiers.

The enhanced human beings created after years of research――Her knights possess high levels of stamina, physical ability, and combat techniques using Code’s weapons.

Even if she used the city system’s resources, who would have thought that she would be able to strengthen ordinary citizens to that extent. I, who don’t allocate resources to that, would never be able to create an enhanced human as Nora did.

Instead, I researched weapons. The reason why my castle is so large is to create a wide variety of weapons inside, the most notable one is an incapacitating gas that can knock out even a person with abilities over 10,000.

Nora is also doing a good job, but my side will likely have the advantage in terms of military strength. If Saaya and Kai use my weapons, the reinforced knights will be no match for them. The only thing of concern is that――We had almost used up all the incapacitating gas we had stored up to capture Kai and Saaya.

That is something cost-heavy. It takes a long time to prepare the amount necessary. There is no way it will arrive in time before the King’s death.

I silently access the city system to check the weapons production status and ask Jin.

“The manufacturing efficiency has been declining recently. What happened?” (Angus)

“Ha. It seems that the amount of Mana Material being sucked up from the earth’s veins has been gradually decreasing since about a month ago…… It is the after-effect of that. Something may have happened to the earth’s veins…… But as far as our current investigation goes, we have not been able to find the cause. Fortunately, it is not only Your Excellency’s resources that are decreasing, everyone is in the same situation.” (Jin)

“I see, so…… All that to solve after I sit on the throne, huh.” (Angus)

Code resources are somewhat dependent on Mana Material. And while I cannot just leave it like that, it is not something I can do anything about right now. To find out the cause, I must first restore Code’s mobility.

“Excluding Nora, what is going on in the others’ movement?” (Angus)

“Tony-ouji is the same as always. As for Morris-ouji, rumors have it…… That he has begun to focus on manufacturing decisive weapons.” (Jin)

“…… Damn Morris. What good is there to have a famed sword if the one wielding it is a coward.” (Angus)

I frown and say disdainfully.

Morris Code is the most wimpy of the Royalty. He is a coward and fears being executed after the king changes.

He is clearly not fit to be king, and he hasn’t shown any significant movement up until now, but it seems he has finally started to take action. Most likely, he got cold feet as the succession to the throne drew near. He had taken a cooperating relationship with me up until that point, but at the last minute, he lost confidence in his own choice. To some extent, this is within my expectations.

Decisive weapons are not the variety of weapons that I manufacture, instead they are especially powerful weapons used by a small elite force. However, Morris has few nobles backing him, so he doesn’t have many resources to use. Morris, who hides and runs away, is no match for me.

What’s more, his production started at the last minute――.

“Well, I have already made a move on Morris. I have to punish the foolish Ototo1 who dared to disobey his brother.” (Angus)

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“Finally, regarding Zachary-ouji……” (Jin)

“Haaah, no need for his information. He is worse than Morris. A mad dog cannot be king.” (Angus)

I snicker and continue.

“Most likely, he is still hanging out with the lower classes. No matter how many lower class people he befriends, he is no match for me.” (Angus)

The fourth prince, Zachary Code, has an even smaller support base than Morris. To begin with, Zachary, who has four older siblings, needs either great talent or good fortune to take the throne, but the man has neither. And he also discarded the few nobles who supported him. He is a fool. He has been hiding for a while now, but I have a pretty good idea of where he is. I cannot use the city system to find him, but that is how I can find him.

For that man to become king――To pose a threat to me, he would need to have a pretty impressive secret weapon.

It is highly unlikely, but even if he has someone of the level of the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 on his side, there is no way he could be victorious.

Then, having thought about it thus far, I ask Jin.

“By the way, how is the Spare’s faction doing? What is the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 doing?” (Angus)

“Yes. After that, the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 became Alisha-ojou’s Royal Guard. There is no sign of Nora-ojou contacting him. It seems she has truly given up on him.” (Jin)

“This is going well. I don’t have to fear the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 if he isn’t in Nora’s hands.” (Angus)

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Alisha, whose powers have been frozen by the king, deserves even less attention than Zachary. Especially since she is not even at the table in the battle for the throne. It is only natural since she is a spare member of the Royal Family, created in response to a petition from the nobles――.

I was surprised when the Spare’s Royal Guard tried to lay hands on the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》, but I suppose such a thing can happen. I have also checked the Royal Guard’s information. He is a man with an overall rating of 4. A man who came here under a false name to rescue the 《Lightning Emperor (Raitei)》 …… I don’t know how he got inside Code, but I can look into it thoroughly after the battle for the throne is over.

“Alisha-ojou has not blocked any information from being visible. I think it is possible to freely observe her situation.” (Jin)

“It is not worth watching, but………… I am a little curious.” (Angus)

We need to reduce irregularities as much as possible. At the very least, the recent movements of the Spare have not gone according to my plan.

I sigh deeply and the image of Alisha Code appears before my eyes.

§ § §

But she really loves chocolate, huuh. I am half amazed and half impressed as I watch Ohii-sama devour the chocolate bar, with her mouth smeared with chocolate.

She looks more childish than any princess I have ever met and lacks any trace of nobility. Even I didn’t expect that she would end up hoarding almost all of the chocolate bars I had given her when she said she was going to send them to the King.

Well, it is okay, tho’…… But if you don’t hold back a bit, you won’t be able to eat your meal.

Many Treasure Hunters don’t like sweets. In fact, I am the only member in 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 who likes sweets (By the way, Sytry doesn’t like sweets, but she likes making them), and even in the entirety of 《First Step (Hajimari no Ashiato)》 those who like sweets are in the minority.

It is good to have more sweet-lover friends. But I wonder if I should have really let a princess eat so many sweets? ………… Well, I have already given them to her so there is no point worrying about it, but maybe I gave her something I shouldn’t have given her.

I transform the deck chair into a sofa and sit down on it, looking at Ohii-sama’s flushed cheeks which are munching on a chocolate bar like a squirrel, I say.

“Well, that’s fine with me. Make sure you eat it while savoring every bite as they are the last ones.” (Cry)

“!? Mmmh…………Nguh……!! ………… *K-Keho, keho* C-Cough, cough!! !? Eh!? Wh-What?” (Alisha)

My words make Ohii-sama choke up and she coughs with teary eyes. Ahhh, that’s what you get for stuffing your mouth full of food…… Maybe the people who are holding her captive will decide that she is harmless and let her out if they see her current state?

Ohii-sama *gon* smashes her forehead against the window in the door, looks at me, and says.

“L-La-La…… Last………… One?” (Alisha)

“Un. Those are the last ones I have.” (Cry)

“!???” (Alisha)

That’s of course. The Relic I have is a Magic Bag that can store a large amount of chocolate and not a Relic that can produce an infinite amount of chocolate. Naturally, once all the stored chocolate has been taken out, it is not possible to take it out anymore.

When I was in the Imperial Capital, I frequently replenished them and I had plenty of other snacks so I never worried about how much I had, but lately I have been eating and giving them too much. I will have to buy another box when I go back to the Imperial Capital……

“Cho…… Co…………” (Alisha)

Ohii-sama is frozen and devastated. Even if you say that………… I don’t have any more of it.

However, chocolate is a popular sweet that has been around for a long time. Even if it is not in Code, it is sold pretty much everywhere in towns outside. As one would expect, it is not possible to go outside and buy one, but there are a lot of people who have come to this city from outside. There is a good chance that one of them has it.

“Maybe someone from outside has it, you see――” (Cry)

“!! Really!?” (Alisha)

“But I can’t walk outside by myself, you see………… It is dangerous, and Kryhi and the others who I was relying on have been chased away by Ohii-sama’s defense system and are gone………… No, it is not like it is Ohii-sama’s fault tho’.” (Cry)

“……………… Wh-What about other Royal Guards?” (Alisha)

………… Come to think of it, I completely forgot about that. Is there a lower limit for the number of Royal Guards? Maybe I need to go find more?

Biker――’s gang said that if there aren’t enough Royal Guards they would be replaced by mechanized soldiers, but when will those be added?

It doesn’t matter how but it would be tough to go back to the prison again.

Just as I am feeling disheartened, I hear a voice from the ceiling as if it were waiting for the right moment to talk.

『Ohii-sama, Cry Andrich. I may be so bold as to say this but let me solve this problem for you.』 (?)

“Oooh?” (Cry)

It is Olivia-san’s voice. The door to the small room opens, and Olivia-san (and Jean-san) walk in with an imposing attitude. The number of stars on the card pinned to her chest is still one.

Olivia-san, your face turned blue when Ohii-sama demoted you, but I wonder if you have recovered?

Thanks for reading! Yoooo so Cry’s plan already began when he shifted the earth’s veins in Yggdra! Sasuga Cry! Always one step ahead of others. But Angus not being careful about Cry will be his downfall… What am I saying, even if he is careful about Cry it will also lead to his downfall. Because Master~ wa kami! Also no more choco ∑(; °Д°)!

Ototo: It means little brother.