Chapter 153 The End and The Beginning ② 

Part 2

　The elite who have deceived and slaughtered numerous mercenaries, Hunters, and knights, were now swallowed by its gigantic appearance.

　I swung my beloved axe widely and shouted angrily at the head that looked me down.

“W-who are you…… What do you want?” (Jeffroy Barrel)

“Oï, oï…… Looks like something interesting is happening.” (?)

　At that moment, something jumped out from behind the giant.
　Hidden by the sunlight, he flapped his crimson cloak, flew through the air, and landed with his right hand in front of Jeffroy. 

　He was wearing a deep hood.
He was much smaller than the giant and didn’t have any weapons.
　Without saying anything, his face slowly lifted.

　His appearance became clearer.
And my men gasped a little.
　Under his slightly dark red hair.
A creepy laughing skeleton mask with no eyes and no mouth was looking at me.

　I know about it.
A laughing skeleton.
　It is said that every criminal who lives in this country trembles at the mere sight of it ――.

　Before I could open my mouth, a muffled voice came from behind his mask.
　For a man, his voice was slightly high, however, it still echoed around the area.

“To think someone still doesn’t know us ―― Ossan, you must be ―― A mole, aren’t you?” (Laughing skeleton)

“Not fair~! Even though I wanted to be the one to tell him thattttt~, Luke-chan~!” (Laughing skeleton 2)

’

　Before I knew it, a pink-blonde woman had been sitting on the giant’s shoulder and raised a high-pitched voice.

　The moment he heard her voice, Jeffroy understood everything.
　My mind instantly heated up.
I gathered my strength and picked up my axe that was on the ground.

　However, the masked man in front of me didn’t move a single muscle in response to the huge blade that was thrust right next to him.
　His gaze remains fixed straight on Jeffroy.

“Fuck…… So, it was, a trap……” (Jeffroy)

“……” (Luke)

　Jeffroy came from outside of this country.
I had asked my men to look into 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》 which is mainly active in this country, but I didn’t ask my men to look at them in detail.
　However, I do know how many they are and their job composition.
Since I have captured two men, the only male member remaining should be 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》.

　And, just now, the woman who was up there called the man, who was in front of me, Luke.

“Bastard, you are………… 《Thousand swords (Senken)》……!?” (Jeffroy)

　I have been tricked.
I have been set up.
I don’t know what trick they used, but those two were baits.
They must have predicted the Barrel Bandit Group escape road.

　I readied my axe and took a step back.

　He is one of the top swordsmen in all Zebrudia.
He greedily pursues the truth of swordsmanship, mastering all ancient and modern schools of sword and techniques from all over the world, and has beaten many famous swordsmen, which is why his Alias is ―― Luke of the 《Thousand Swords (Senken)》.

　As if he was inciting me to attack, his posture was full of opening.
Looking at him, the two men I caught in the mountains were still better than him.

’
　However, Jeffroy, who had to carry the Barrels and had seen many different powerful men, can see that it was all a bluff.

　Jeffroy was bigger in size, but strength cannot only be measured by size alone.

　Can we win? How many people do they have on their side?
　No ―― We must fight.
The only way to find a way out is to fight.
Our side has the numerical advantage.

　Maybe he was underestimating us, Luke didn’t seem to be carrying a weapon.
　Even Jeffroy is confident in his fighting abilities.
He may lose in swordsmanship, but this isn’t a match.

　If all I have to do is to swing down ―― Then I’m faster!

　Just as I was about to step in, Luke turned his palm toward me and said in a low voice, as if he was really upset.

“Wait, let’s talk first.” (Luke)

“Hah…..
What?” (Jeffroy)

　I stopped my hand at his unexpected words.
　Are you telling me…… Those members of 《Strange Grief》, those who are famously known for their ruthlessness, want to discuss?

　Without any hint of joking, Luke says in a serious voice.

“Calm down and listen to me.
I have always been told by Cry that communication is important…… You should talk to people before you cut them, was what he said.
It’s a pain in the ass, but that seems to be the coolest thing to do.
You know, I am aiming to be the coolest and the strongest swordsman.” (Luke)

“…… What, are you talking about?” (Jeffroy)

’

“Didn’t you ask about our objectives earlier? Our objective here is ―― A vacation.” (Luke)

　I unintentionally opened my eyes at what that man, who you can’t believe how talkative he was despite wearing that creepy laughing skeleton mask, said.
　Was he trying to catch me off guard……?

　When Jeffroy gave him a suspicious look, Luke continued.

“When we returned to the Imperial Capital after conquering a Shrine in high spirits, Cry, that guy seriously did it and went on an Onsen vacation.
Isn’t it unfair that he left us and went on vacation despite us being in the same Party? So, we hurried to catch up with him.
Ah right, oï, check this out.
I brought some really good stuff too, look!” (Luke)

　Luke put his hand in his pocket.
I reflexively held up my axe, but what Luke took out was a dark blue object.
　And he spread it out with great enthusiasm.
The object was a thin, donut-shaped plastic.

　What is it? What the hell is this?

　Not only Jeffroy, but his men were also staring at it in confusion.
And then, Luke says in a serious voice.

“It’s a floating ring! You know, actually, that guy, he can’t swim.
That’s why I thoughtfully brought him one.
As there’s a chance that his feet won’t be able to reach or that he may be swallowed by a whirlpool.
Is this time bandits? Or mountain bandits? Anyway, it seems like you guys were attacking the city, and I doubt that what you did was some kind of accident or something… But, oh well, I’m still happy that there are bandits.” (Luke)

　What the hell…… is this guy talking about?
　Maybe he realized that we were dumbfounded, Luke held the mask’s forehead a little irritably and sighed.

“Aaaaah…… Shit.
Communication is so hard.
What I am trying to say is… In other words, I don’t have a lot of time to waste with you and your companions, Ossan.  Lucia was so looking forward to the Onsen along the way, and Anthem was ―― Aaaah, it would be good if there was an Onsen big enough for him to get in.
Well, in the worst case, we can just dig one.” (Luke)

“Luke-chan, too looooong~! That’s probably not what Cry-chan meant by communication~!” (Liz)

“Shaddup! It’s almost over, so shut up!” (Luke)

’

　I couldn’t understand.
I couldn’t understand a single word of what he was saying.
It was at least not the kind of conversation you would have in the context of the situation right now.

　I looked at my men, but they were all shaking their heads.

“………… In other words, you are saying that you will close your eyes on us?” (Jeffroy)

　It was a frivolous conversation, but the abilities of the man in front of me were certain.
Moreover, the giant man was especially bad.
　Barrels specialize in surprise attacks, so it is too dangerous to go head-to-head with an uninjured opponent.

　Luke froze for a moment when Jeffroy confirmed with him in a hushed voice, but then simply and quickly said.

“No, Ossan…… Didn’t you hear what I said? I’ll cut you.
Of course, I’ll cut you.
It’s because I am not picky about what to cut.
But, Ossan, you only have two arms, right? I just slew a swordsman with six arms the other day, and I’m sorry about that, but since we’re on a vacation this time, it feels like fighting against something with only two arms is nothing new.
I’m looking for my next opponent who should have eight arms.” (Luke)

 

TL notes:

Thanks for reading! Extra chapter thanks to Mahammad!
They are heeeeeeeere! Finally! Strange Grief is finally complete!
We will finally see the rest of the members! I am so looking forward to see how they fight and how they interact with Cry!
And of course, Cry being at the peak of the weakling chain, cannot swim XD
Tchao à plus!

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