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

Since Jean-san even prepared a vehicle, I had no choice but to head to the prison. It is outrageous to choose the Royal Guards from among criminals, but as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I should see the positive side, I still have the choice to pick the people I want.

The prison is a huge black building. Surrounded by high walls and equipped with a huge, imposing gate that resembled the entrance to hell, giving it a clearly different feel from the surrounding buildings. Countless silver bird-like things are flying around in the sky, maybe for security purposes.

The Spider stops in front of the gate. Even though this vehicle boasts incredible jumping ability and can climb buildings freely, it seems it cannot climb the outer wall.

Mechanized soldiers are lined up around the wall. They never tire, so they are ideal for guard duty. This time I have a proper appointment, so I boldly enter through the main gate.

I walk along the long paved road. There are fewer guards inside the gate than outside, but it is probably not all the security it has. I should assume that there are more sinister gimmicks than Treasure Shrines.

After walking for a while within the compound, I arrive at a building. The door slides open automatically. I enter and am greeted by the first human being since I entered the compound. The female staff member is wearing a neat white uniform. And the card on her chest has four stars on it.

The female staff member glances at the terminal she is holding, then says expressionlessly without a frown.

“I have been expecting you. Jean-sama has informed me that, per the city regulations, you would like to find some human resources from among the inmates.” (Prison Staff Member)

“Yeah, yeah. After all, isn’t that too reckless?” (Cry)

“That is up to the city system. I will show you around. This way.” (Prison Staff Member)

With the female staff member in the lead, I walk through the building. There seem to be more mechanized soldiers than human staff in the building. Most of the work is probably automated. I spoke to a staff member when I entered the city, so it seems there are people here after all. I confirm something with her just in case.

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“Don’t you need a physical inspection or something?” (Cry)

“That was already done when you passed through the gate.” (Prison Staff Member)

The staff member continues quickly.

“I should explain just in case, but inside this Great Prison of Code, the city rules are different from the outside. For example――The weapons stationed within this prison may execute violators or those of a similar nature at its own discretion. Please keep this in mind when taking any action.” (Prison Staff Member)

“!? Ex…… Execution!? That’s another scary thing.” (Cry)

“Everything is all up to the city system. We, the prison staff, are not involved with its functioning. The prison reports directly to the King of Code, and all decision-making authority rests solely with the King of Code. And currently, in order to interfere with the rules of this prison, one needs the authority of Class 8 or above. Anyone with less authority――Even a noble cannot go against the rules of this prison.” (Prison Staff Member)

If I remember correctly Class 8 is…… Royalty. If you are royalty you can change the rules of the prison, huh. A truly frightening story indeed.

The inside of the building is complicated like a maze, but the staff member’s steps are steady. A thick door opens, revealing a staircase to the basement. There is no sign of the door being unlocked, nor is there a lock in the first place, but it is probably the city system that controls everything.

“The incarcerated criminals are divided into different places based on the evaluation system unique to the city. The main criteria are ability and the crime they committed, but I will be taking you to the upper levels of the prison, where those with relatively minor crimes are incarcerated. Only those in the upper levels can be temporarily released at the request of a Class 3.” (Prison Staff Member)

What she says makes me feel a little relieved. It may not be difficult to find well-behaved people in an area where people with minor crimes are incarcerated.

“Thank you. For now, the upper level is enough.” (Cry)

“That’s perfect. It seems that there has been a shortage of manpower recently, so many people are coming to visit mid level and lower level criminals, but to be honest, the upper level criminals are lacking in power, so there are still a fair number of them left. If they are criminals from the upper level, an explosive collar would likely be effective.” (Prison Staff Member)

“………… What is an explosive collar?” (Cry)

“It is a device placed around the criminal’s neck that can be detonated remotely if the criminal disobeys an order. According to the city regulations, it is allowed to be used for criminals with special release. It is not that powerful, but it should be able to at least partially kill an upper level criminal.” (Prison Staff Member)

Casually explain the staff member. The image of Advanced Physical Civilization in my mind is starting to crumble…… They are way too scary.

If possible, I would like to do this without using such frightening things………… Come to think of it, Sytry also put similar collars on Shiro and the others during our vacation. That one used electric current, though.

We go down one flight of stairs and pass through a thick metal gate. After passing through a large room where five mechanized soldiers are waiting, a door with iron bars opens and what lies ahead is a long corridor. There are countless rooms lined up on both sides.

There are no doors between each room and the corridor. No――It is not that there aren’t any. They are glass doors. Doors with an extremely high degree of transparency, like the window door in Ohii-sama’s room.

The inside of the room is completely visible from the outside. As I instinctively frown, the staff member says to me.

“It is a prison. There are no prison terms in Code, so criminals are imprisoned forever. The doors are basically transparent. Well, it is to make it easier to see the quality of the inmate, I guess.” (Prison Staff Member)

“What about privacy?” (Cry)

“Privacy? In this country, criminals have no human rights. In particular, the upper level criminals have weak egos and little power. That is why the city system doesn’t consider them important. The only way they can be saved is…… By counting on their luck.” (Prison Staff Member)

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“Hh!?” (Cry)

I hurriedly follow the staff member who resumes walking without hesitation.

Each room is small and simple, but clean. They are cleaned and apparently, they are also fed. Their clothing is simple, but it seems that is something provided. And it doesn’t look like they are not chained or anything.

However, the look on the inmates’ faces is horrible.

I don’t know if they are alive or dead, just silent agony and despair. Some people are lying limp as if they are dead.

In front of each room, there is a name written as if they are the name of a product. It is like they are not being treated like human beings. This is horrible. It is worse than Zebrudia’s prison, which has a reputation for being harsh.

“Their health is maintained by the system. They hardly lose any athletic ability. It is because they are precious resources. They are not even allowed to die.” (Prison Staff Member)

Upon seeing me, the inmates’ eyes *kirari* light up for a moment. Some people are *butsubutsu* muttering something, but I cannot hear anything. It must have been blocked out.

“The energy they generate is extracted and used to run the city. It is eco-friendly. Even if you take into account the food they consume, it seems to be a net benefit.” (Prison Staff Member)

………… I have never heard of something like that being eco-friendly.

I am shocked, but I haven’t come here to play, so I have no choice but to look around each room fearfully. The inmates are of various ages and genders, but they all have one thing in common, they are all lifeless. Would they become violent if I let them out?

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“You can check each individual’s information on the terminal. If there is anyone you want to use it, please let me know. I received Jean-sama’s good word, and you meet the Class requirements. So if they are criminals from around here, I am sure their release application will be approved.” (Prison Staff Member)

“………… Is it possible that my application will not be approved?”

“Ultimately, it is not me who does the judging. It is the city system.” (Prison Staff Member)

That is so random. Now, who should it be? We need 27 people, right……? If I suddenly add 27 people, I would never be able to manage them, so I should release people who can manage other people first.

Preferably someone who hasn’t committed a violent crime.

I walk along, thinking about such things. And there, I stop in front of a room. The staff member who is accompanying me frowns.

“I see, so this criminal caught your eye. I have nothing to say with her abilities and she looks pretty good, but I think it would be best to leave her alone. There is a reason for this.” (Prison Staff Member)

“No…… It is just that she looks a bit like a friend.” (Cry)

Sitting in the room, holding her knees is――Eliza Beck, a member of 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》.

No, to be precise, it is definitely not Eliza. Unlike Eliza, her hair is black and her eyes are green. She is also a little shorter, and most importantly, Eliza is a Spirit People, but this person isn’t a Spirit People.

But she still looks just like Eliza. If you make her hair white, her eyes red, her skin brown, and her height taller, and make her a Spirit People, you would have Eliza. If she was a Spirit People, I would have thought she was Eliza’s sister.

The Eliza look-alike raises her head and stares back at me with an emotionless gaze. I think she looks just like Eliza in that respect too. In Eliza’s case, rather than being emotionless, she just looks sleepy, I guess.

Then I check my device and my eyes widen.

“Elise Peck…………!?” (Cry)

Even their names are…… Look-alike?

………… They say there are three look-alikes in the world, but I can’t believe she is a random stranger.

The staff member explains something to me as I am frozen in shock at the encounter.

“She is a member of a Party of Hunters that foolishly decided to attack Code the other day for the first time in a hundred years. That alone should tell you how dangerous they are. The Leader was sent to the lowest level, but the other members were weak and of little use in combat, so the city system sentenced them to imprisonment on the higher levels. But even so, they are a bunch of people you will never know what they will do next.” (Prison Staff Member)

Thanks for reading! No way!? A Party of Hunter with a Eliza look-alike! A Leader who is very strong but not their rest! Who can they be!? Will Cry finally find the Royal Guards he need!?

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