Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party 1

“Yeah. But if you quit, I don’t think I’d care anymore. You’d be bored all alone, y’know? And I’m already the strongest, anyway.”

Her voice was bubbly and sweet, but we both knew that a dream like that couldn’t be abandoned for such a simple reason. Being a hunter required talent, but talent didn’t shine until effort was applied. My childhood friends put in so much more intense effort, so much more bloodshed, than any of our peers.

However, her claim didn’t feel like a joke. If I quit, Liz likely wouldn’t hesitate to choose to retire alongside me.

To quit, or not to quit? I probably won’t, I started to think to myself. Am I trapped here forever?

“The party’s gonna collapse without you, Liz.”

“That’s not a problem. Everyone else would quit, too.”

Liz made the ridiculous claim like it was nothing. I felt a chill run down my spine.

I didn’t have any fetters, but my friends were different. Their ability was known throughout the empire and their influence felt nearly everywhere.

Though most hunters worked officially under the empire, some were given special invitations by nobility or the army to work for them.No doubt I would be pursued if I quit. Likely by high-level hunters, no less. If they knew the real reason for my retirement, they would hate me. It was entirely likely that I’d get assassinated.

I didn’t have to think about it long. It was a hard no.

I mean, even without that possibility, I couldn’t just erase all of my friends’ effort for my own selfish purposes.

After spending some time deliberating about it, my poor, stupid brain failed to come up with any bright ideas.

“Guess I’ll keep at it for a while.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it! I’ll keep at it, too!” Liz pushed her cheek against mine, dangling her legs in the air. Her voice was oddly vacant.

That’s right. I don’t actually have to go to treasure vaults. Damn you, Gark, for shoving that weird request on me.

As I turned my back on reality, I swore to myself that if Ark wasn’t around, I would never accept another request again.