GILF Hunter

Rin didn’t know what the identity of this ghost in front of her was.

Anyway, receiving that gaze that seemed somewhat dissatisfied, Rin knit her brows.

It was because she felt a subtle emotion from the ghost’s eyes looking at her.

’Wait, what’s wrong with me?’

’Hmm... certainly, being able to descend this far without a second thought means you have the qualifications, but... for a Hero, you are a bit too...’

’What on earth did I...’

Rin, who was about to say that, faltered slightly.

Mmm.

A little bit.

Slightly... she was like that. Conscientiously speaking.

Seizing the gap where Rin hesitated for a moment, the ghost spoke firmly with a serious face as if it could never compromise.

’Bring your companions. If you are at this level, your companions must also be sufficiently qualified. I must decide after seeing them.’

’...Haah. Anyway, you’re not a monster or anything, right?’

’A monster! What do you take me for!’

’Then I’ll check the surroundings for a bit.’

Anyway, putting aside this ghost of unknown identity for now, Rin decided to look around this room more. That had been the original purpose.

’Is there no one else here?’

’I am the only one left now.’

The room really felt like an ordinary grassland had been moved there. There was nothing particularly suspicious or dangerous-looking.

Rin, who had looked around the room, returned to the front of the ghost. Seeing no monsters or dangerous things, it seemed like a safe place for now, except for the erosion.

Since the only suspicious existence here, this ghost, didn’t seem willing to talk to her.

Rin eventually had no choice but to go back up to the surface.

’Captain!’

’Rin. You were there longer than I thought. What was down there?’

’That... a person inside...? told me to bring all my companions.’

’A person...?’

Not just Ian, but everyone there had an expression asking what that meant.

＊　＊　＊

Ian and the members followed behind Rin and descended into the cave.

The erosion was quite dense, but it wasn’t to the point where they couldn’t even step foot in it.

After all, it wasn’t a real Labyrinth.

The dangerous points of a Labyrinth are the monsters and traps laid out everywhere along with erosion, and the variables of not knowing what will happen.

However, this place was just a simple cave, so it didn’t have that level of danger.

Of course, for ordinary people to jump into a place with this much erosion was a matter where handling the aftermath would be difficult.

It was a level accessible only to people who had prepared sufficient countermeasures against erosion, like the Ian Mercenary Group or some mercenary groups that focused on Labyrinth exploration at a similar level.

Finally arriving at the end of the cave, everyone was able to discover the ghost.

Fortunately, the ghost had not disappeared and remained in that spot.

Ian, discovering the figure of the ghost, muttered.

’An Elf...?’

’Are there still humans left who know of us? Fortunately, it seems the records of that place haven’t completely vanished. I thought everything would have been buried underground.’

The faint ghost of an Elf spoke to Ian as if it were unexpected.

Ian couldn’t continue the conversation after those words.

...To be honest, it was because he knew nothing about Elves.

Well... he just knew of Elves. They were just common knowledge in this genre. He had no idea what role that Elf played here.

Ian had just played games a lot. He had never seriously read the brick-like, dense setting guides written in books or murals on dungeon walls.

Of course, while playing countless times, he naturally came to know basic settings... but he was a bit weak on settings that required going this deep.

In the meantime, Rin, who stepped forward in front of the Elf, asked.

’Now, I’ve brought everyone. Tell us now.’

’I see. Surely among these, there must be someone fit to be a Hero...’

’A Hero?’

The other members, who hadn’t heard the detailed circumstances from Rin, also listened intently upon hearing that word.

So... it means choosing a Hero.

The word ’Hero’ itself was a term frequently used here and there. Many people called themselves that, and there was about one in every region.

Honestly, it was a title without much weight... but the one in front of them was an existence that looked like a grand spirit.

Since such a figure mentioned a Hero, there was an indescribable weight to it.

The ghost of the Elf, setting a heavy atmosphere, began to examine the figures of the party standing in a row one by one.

Rin.

...Pass.

Ignoring Rin’s voice shouting ’Why!’, the Elf turned its gaze to the side.

Mika.

At a glance, she looked like she had only done magic training.

She seemed to lack the will to take on the role of a Hero, and her stamina was too weak. Disqualified.

Tanya.

Only in front of her was there a change in the Elf’s expression clear enough to be seen.

A friend of the spirits! With such an expression, its face brightened, then it observed Tanya closely and its expression gradually became subtle.

...Hmm.

The Elf, who had been contemplating for a long time with such a face, eventually shook its head and moved to the next.

Lia.

The gaze moved to Lia, who was preparing her mind in her own way after hearing the word ’Hero’.

The Elf shook its head sideways.

To Ailie... it didn’t even give a glance.

She was a Warlock to begin with. It was rare to find a type so ill-suited for choosing a Hero.

Ailie didn’t expect much either, and rather hid behind Ian’s back so as not to catch the Elf’s eye.

And... it was the turn of Ian, who appeared to be the leader of this group.

This time, the Elf’s contemplation was very long.

At least he seemed to have the most potential among them, but...

To entrust the role of Hero... he harbored too many ominous abilities.

...The Elf shook its head after a very long deliberation.

Ultimately, the one who received the final gaze was.

Frenda, who happened to accompany them this far.

’Eh... surely, me?’

’A follower of the Goddess. It cannot be helped. I do not like it, but at least that pure spirit will be certain. Surely...’

Surely.

Muttering so, the Elf narrowed its eyes.

Pure...

Such a hollow mutter from the Elf scattered uselessly into the air.

The contemplating Elf looked back at the other companions, but after re-checking even Rin, it ultimately had to recognize Frenda as the best option among this group.

’You, who at least tried... to keep your purity, receive this.’

At that moment, light bloomed and a dazzling flash descended in front of Frenda.

It was a real Holy Sword.

Ian’s eyes, which had been thinking ’surely not’, widened slightly.

It was the Holy Sword obtained when learning the Master Trait of the [Courage] potential, [Hero].

It was known that there was no acquisition route other than that trait, but Ian was seeing a situation where it appeared in a dungeon like this for the first time.

Of course, that was only within the system, and it was natural for a Holy Sword to be sleeping somewhere, but he hadn’t thought it would be discovered like this.

’...Ah.’

Only then could Ian recognize the identity of the opponent.

The phantom of the Elf that appears with a brilliant light the moment the Holy Sword is obtained.

It was a figure that appeared briefly with a pillar of light descending from the sky when the sword was picked up after learning the [Hero] trait, and then disappeared.

Surely, that wasn’t just an effect put in to look cool.

He thought it was just a production made to look like something was happening when first picking up the Holy Sword... to think that a ghost was actually active separately like this.

While Ian was having such fairly useless thoughts, Frenda was talking to the Elf with a flustered face.

’A Holy Sword...? I’ve never read anywhere that there was such a thing among the Goddess’s holy relics...’

’It is not a holy relic of the Goddess. It is an item created by us Elves. It has a history much deeper than even the Goddess you serve.’

It was quite a blasphemous remark for a cleric to hear, but Frenda couldn’t answer hastily.

Among spirits, there were occasionally beings who had lived for an unimaginably long time, and seeing that it was guarding such an item, this ghost called an Elf didn’t seem easy either.

’Keep it in mind. That time is approaching. The seal is gradually weakening...’

The Holy Sword emitted light, and soon the erosion that had filled the room vanished as if melting away.

The figure of the Elf also blurred and disappeared in an instant.

Remaining in that spot was only Frenda with a flustered face.

’Thi, this... what should I do? I’m sorry. I’ll give it to the Captain.’

Frenda said so and tried to hand the Holy Sword to Ian, but that sword would not leave Frenda’s hand.

It was because the Holy Sword was an item that could not be used by anyone other than a person with the [Hero] trait, and exchange was also impossible.

’Wh, why can’t I let go of this?’

’The Holy Sword is an item that cannot be handed over to others.’

’I’m... I’m sorry! To think I’d receive such a thing... I’ll take responsibility somehow!’

Frenda apologized to Ian while panicking.

It was clearly an extraordinary item, and to think she had received it. She said she would take responsibility, but she couldn’t even imagine how to take responsibility in this situation.

...More than that, what on earth should she do with this?

It wouldn’t leave her hand, and she couldn’t give it to others. Then does it surely mean she has to continue living while holding this sword?

The moment Frenda thought so, the Holy Sword suddenly emitted a faint light and scattered like mist.

’Ah...’

The scattered Holy Sword turned into mist and was instantly sucked into Frenda’s chest.

The Holy Sword suddenly disappeared, but Frenda could instinctively feel that she could call it forth again at any time.

Ian spoke to the flustered Frenda.

’No. Rather, it turned out well.’

’Turned out well...?’

’Because Frenda will be able to draw out the performance much better than if I had received it.’

Although the performance of the Holy Sword is good... just receiving the Holy Sword suddenly in a state with no preparation like now wouldn’t allow it to be utilized properly.

Traits must be adjusted in advance with the premise of using the Holy Sword to exert maximum performance, and since she hadn’t taken the Holy Sword tree now, no such preparation was made at all.

Even if Ian or Rin received it, it would have become a useless item, too late to switch now.

It was rather a gain that someone like Frenda, who had high aptitude for holy magic, came to possess it.

’Instead... could you help me for a while? After that task is over, you may use the Holy Sword however you wish.’

’Ye... Yes! Any time!’

Frenda nodded with a dazed face.

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