Let This Grieving Soul Retire (嘆きの亡霊は引退したい)

Let's become treasure hunters.

We'll lead lives of heart-pounding adventure,

winning riches and glory from treasure vaults

around the world.

That sounds like fun.

Yeah, let's do it.

Me too.

Together, I know the six of us will make it.

And we're all going to share the same goal--

to be the greatest heroes in the world, which means

we'll end up in Zebrudia, the Imperial Capital.

Krai, are you in?

Treasure hunters are stars in the Imperial Capital.

They travel to various ruins, the so-called treasure vaults,

and collect the relics hidden inside.

It's a job where you risk your life fighting

monsters called phantoms.

But in return, you can attain vast riches and glory.

One of the capital's best-regarded treasure hunting

clans, First Steps, is currently at a local pub,

conducting interviews with prospective candidates

for membership.

A clan is an organization of parties that come together

to assist one another.

There's a limit to how far a solo hunter can go.

If you wish to set your sights high,

it's vital to get into a good party

and become stronger alongside your comrades.

And unfortunately, I failed to do that.

Hey, are you here to join a party, too?

Sorry if that was sudden.

Everyone around here is so on edge,

and it's starting to put me off a little bit.

You just seemed more approachable.

Anyway, I'm Rhuda Runebeck, and I just got my promotion

to level 3 recently.

Nice to meet you.

I'm-- my name is Krai Andrey.

And same, Rhuda.

Looks like this thing got a pretty decent turnout,

didn't it?

I've been getting by as a solo hunter till now.

But this one vault, the White Wolf's Den,

chewed me up and spit me out.

So I figured maybe I should try and find myself a party.

Come on now.

Who are you kidding, little girl?

Well, I certainly wasn't talking to you.

Waltzing into the White Wolf's Den at level 3?

Why would an amateur like you bother showing your face

at an event like this?

Huh? Who are you calling an amateur?

Steps is a renowned clan, even in the capital.

Maybe level 3 is halfway up the ladder where you're from,

but around here, it might as well be the first run.

Now, why don't you run along home before you

get yourself hurt, kid?

The flyer specifically said level doesn't matter.

You should know that's just a formality.

What's your problem?

You really want to go?

I don't know, girl.

Where are we going.

How about in the ground?

Put those blades away.

If this goes any further, I guarantee

you won't be joining the clan.

I was just goofing around, sir.

Hunters shouldn't be drawing their weapons in the streets.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

I mean--

Whoa.

So all of these people are hunters.

Yeah, looks that way.

It's pretty overwhelming, huh?

I've never been to an event like this before.

How about you?

I think this one makes five.

Five?

For real?

Sorry, that was rude.

I didn't mean that.

Nah, I get it. You're fine.

For hunters, skill is everything.

If you have the talent, you can fly up the ranks overnight.

And if you don't, you live on whatever scraps you get.

Hey, Krai.

You recognize that flashy-looking party

there, the ones pulling the biggest crowd?

Ah, looks like those are all members of Ark Brave.

They're the strongest party recruiting today,

so it makes sense people are flocking to them.

They manage to clear a level 7 vault with a party of six,

the absolute cream of the crop.

A level 7 vault?

The one sitting down is their leader, Ark Rodin.

Getting him to bring you on

would basically be a free pass to a successful hunting career.

But as far as I'm aware, Ark Brave

has never accepted a new member through one of these events.

Wow!

So what about that other desk sitting next

to the table, the empty one?

Oh, hey, you really do know

nothing about nothing, huh?

Who do you think--

ugh, you again?

Fine, twist my arm. Looks like

the Great Greg's gotta give you the rundown.

I'm good, thanks.

That table is set aside.

Did he not hear me or does he not care?

They're the founding party

of the entire clan, the Grievers.

- The founding party? - The Grievers.

That's the nickname of a group of youngsters

who showed up at the capital a few years ago,

a team of extraordinary, dazzling talents

who immediately established themselves

as one of the capital's strongest parties,

officially known as grieving souls.

And that's the party of my childhood friends.

There were rumors going around

that the grievers were looking

to recruit new members for the first time in years.

I reckon that's why this event got such a massive turnout.

And hey, take a look at that.

Who are they?

Solo hunters, most likely.

They want to join the best party they can.

And with the Grievers, they can take the hardest

vaults right out the gate.

Oh.

Well, the table's empty.

Could be the rumors were all loaded.

Hey, where are the Grievers?

I don't want these clowns.

I want to meet the best of the best.

That's the only reason I bothered making the trek here.

I'm going to be one of the strongest hunters in the

world someday.

I'm already at level 4.

The capital's greatest party ought

to be jumping at the chance to have me on board.

They're going to miss out.

Get a load of this guy.

No way. He's a higher level than me.

You got a problem?

You need to know your place.

That's enough, Tino.

You don't have to take the bait.

Give me one second. I'll crush him.

That's what my teacher would do if she were here,

because I'm the only one who deserves

a place in the Grieving Souls.

I said that's enough.

If the vice master were here, we both know

she would be telling you not to make a scene.

You don't need to respond to idiots.

Hey, who are you calling an idiot?

Who do you think, you idiot?

Does it look like I don't already

have enough to deal with here?

Yeah, Let's get it on.

Hurry up and show that loudmouth brat

with the First Step is made off.

All right, let's go. Give away.

For you.

Who you calling a girl.

Tino, wait.

Ugh.

We should head outside.

It's about to get dangerous.

Wait, but do we--

Hurry.

Have it your way, shorty.

Just don't expect me to hold back.

Of course.

First, you die. Details come later,

just like my teacher taught me.

I knew coming here was a bad idea.

Everyone ready for this?

Give it all you got, you two.

Ready, fight!

Um, I didn't realize you were going to be here, Master.

How much of that did you see?

Hey there, Krai.

Got held up?

At long last, the clan master and leader

of Grieving Souls has arrived.

We can get this started in earnest.

He's the clan master?

He's the leader of the Grievers?

We now live in a golden age of treasure hunters.

And amid the gleaming talent assembled

in the Imperial Capital of Zebrudia,

one man shines even brighter than the rest.

His name, Krai Andrey.

This is the epic tale, full of glory and agony,

of how he founded a party with his childhood friends,