Chapter 46: Rabbits

Chapter?46: Rabbits

Chapter 46

Rabbits

Aah, I want to eat ice-cream.

My body shivered in the cool night air, and while escaping from reality I pulled on the collar of my cloak that was nothing more than a piece of clothing.

Well, I wasn’t exactly shivering because of the night breeze. The number one cause was Liz-chan, who had decided to suddenly change careers from treasure hunter to a regular hunter. UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

Tino was giving her very best leaping about the tops of the stone pillars, searching for something that didn’t exist.

Liz who had instructed her, was single-mindedly making a pile of sand rabbit heads in front of me.

Liz was faster than any animal living in the area. And since she wasn’t hunting to eat, she never stopped moving.

I had only noticed one sand rabbit, but maybe because they supported the ecosystem, it turned out there were an amazing amount of them around here. When Liz caught one she would bring it in front of me, and then as if it was a matter of course, snapped it’s neck and added it to the pile.

The cute round eyes that shone in the darkness even after death were extremely eerie.

I had averted my eyes, but I couldn’t ignore the sounds. That they didn’t let out a terrible cry was a small mercy.

Were these, to eat? They weren’t right? Stop, don’t bully the animals. Well no, they were technically classified as monsters, but they really looked like an animal.

I was a philanthropist. Naturally I hated violence, and I didn’t really like to exert myself.

Subjugating monsters wasn’t a crime so I had no reason to stop Liz, but it was just too cruel.

Tino had said to please watch her. I couldn’t watch though. I couldn’t see anything. I breathed a deep sigh, and decided to give out some candid advice.

Ever since becoming a hunter I was always being saved. I owed a great debt to Liz and the others.

But this was a different matter.

“Liz... isn’t it already fine over there?” “Eh? Really?”

The sounds stopped. How many animals did she hunt, even with my face turned away there was still a strong smell of blood.

Even if I was a little accustomed to it, it was a harsh smell that made me nauseous. “...I’m a... philanthropist.”

I didn’t fail to notice it. The bonds between Liz and I weren’t so weak that I couldn’t overlook something of this degree.

But I couldn’t completely stop some words from coming out. At my words Liz turned around and tilted her head while looking me in the eyes.

Those eyes were truly mystifeid.

“? You mean not to hunt the terminals, but the main unit?”

??? I had no idea what she was saying. Were they some hunter terms perhaps?

“But even with the terminals, it seems like the terminal side is unaware it’s being used, so I don’t really know where the main source is. Looks like they were really cautious. This type of thing is better suited to Lucia-chan or Syt.”

Liz put her finger on her lips and talked rapidly. I was desperate to comprehend her words, but I didn’t understand anything.

I didn’t understand anything from the first half, so for the time being I could just focus on the second half.

They were cautious? That’s because all the others were killed. Sand rabbits were also living creatures that grouped up, so they were going to be cautious. Well, after this it seemed like their caution was completely futile though.

So, Lucia and Sytry were knowledgable about rabbits huh...

It was the first time I had heard of it, but Magi and Alchemists had a lot of strange knowledge.

If those three made a serious effort together, let alone rabbits, nothing would be left remaining. You didn’t have to take hunting rabbits so seriously.

Yep. I had a feeling I understood about 80% of what she had said. The important thing was to stop Liz from her massacre.

My eyes wandered in the total darkness, and I spoke while putting up a front.

“For now there’s no need to hunt rabbits anymore. To begin with, whether they’re cautious or not doesn’t matter.”

“Amazing Cry-chan. So cool! But I haven’t crushed the source yet, I think we need to make them regret ever thinking of moving against us. Don’t you think it’s shameful to be so hostile despite surviving while hiding away? We need to put our stake in the name of 『Strange Grief』 and crush them... Do they think we’re trash that won’t be able to find where they are? I don’t think it’s good to let them look down on us like this. We have to take them seriously and crush them underfoot.

Wouldn’t Lucia-chan and Syt also say the same thing?”

Liz’s eyes were glittering. What I said really didn’t seem to have gotten across. Wasn’t it a bit much to use all your power on rabbits?

Your opponents are sand rabbits you know? It’s one thing for humans, but they’re sand rabbits you know?

“Is that the manner needed to cope with any situation? Well, we’ve been through a fair amount of bloodshed, but that level still seems far away. Cry-chan doesn’t need to worry about those scum. Searching has also become boring.”

“Yeah, that’s right?”

...I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but it’s fine if you’re having fun. Liz nodded as if to convince herself, and then put her body against me.

“Yep. But, I’m fine. Thanks, Cry-chan. I’ll keep at it. So I won’t disappoint Cry- chan.”

“...I’m not going to be disappointed.”

Rather, I’m more worried Liz will be disappointed in me.

Then at that moment, Tino’s voice came out mixed with relief and (rare) excitement.

“Master, a Relic! There was a Relic! A bracelet type! I found it, Master! Master! Onee-sama!”

“Oh, not bad.”

It was rare to find a Relic at a low level shrine. Maybe it was good that not many people came here.

I guess you have a good daily routine. A great difference with me.

With such a tangible outcome, Liz should also be satisfied.

When I looked down, her happy expression from a short while ago had vanished. She scowled and clicked her tongue.

“Damn it, Tee. You were careless. Cry didn’t come here to find a Relic. Don’t you feel the tremors?”

...Hm?

And then. The ground shook as if it was going to turn upside down. Tino was also surprised. She let out a short scream, then jumped up.

Liz was the only one that was calm.

It wasn’t an earthquake. The shaking showed no indication of stopping.

I couldn’t say anything due to the chaos. I couldn’t even let out a yell. And I also coudn’t move.

Liz took my arms as if to calm me down, and squeezed them tightly. That was the only thing that allowed me to regain some composure.

And I was silent at the unexpected sight.

The source of the sounds and vibrations was from the central area of the pillars. A large black mass slowly rose in the space surrounded by columns.

It’s height was about four meters, around the same as the pillars.

At first glance it looked similar to the columns, but staring from a distance you could see that this pillar had 『limbs』.

Within the darkness, on it’s head, there looked to be the pattern of an inverted triangle shining red.

What is it?

Liz put her index finger on her lips and muttered with a serious expression.

“A golem. Metal armour. Leg boosters. Guns in both arms. Shield and longsword. No wings. A model designed for land combat? The crest is what Syt called

『Akasha』.

......Cry-chan’s aim was this hmm... yep it’s definitely strong.”

A golem? Aah, right. This was also a phantom that appeared. I pretended to know while listening to Liz’s combat analysis.

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s a big sand golem isn’t it.”

There was the White Wolves Den, but nowadays shrines seemed pretty dangerous. It may have been a boss, but wasn’t the degree of difficulty a little high compared to the level of the shrine?

Large was synonymous with strong. Dragons slaughtered countless hunters with their physique alone.

Well, the sand golem in front of us wasn’t that big, but compared to Tino it was too large.

The huge sand golem turned our way and faced us. I couldn’t see the fine details, but from the silhouette I could tell it was a giant human shape holding a sword and shield like Liz had said.

If I could, I would have run away at any moment. My feet wouldn’t move. Liz had an unusually grim face.

“Yeah. I don’t think it’s possible with me or Tee. We aren’t actually suited to combat. Saying this was easy, as usual Cry-chan’s estimates are really harsh.”

“...Tino was the one that chose.” Ah, I feel like throwing up.

a

Translator Notes

When Cry says philanthropist, think of it as him saying ‘I am a benevolent/merciful person’. He truly does say philanthropist but this is how you should read that word. I recommend coming back to read from this chapter at the end of the volume.

Fun fact, when I first read Shitori’s name I was debating whether or not to just keep it as Shitori instead of Sytry/Sitri. But I feel like I dodged a bullet since Liz literally calls her by the nickname ‘Shit(o)’.