On that day, Larkus, a nobleman who ruled the city of Gilm, had the worst awakening.
　The Knights and others had been on the war footing since reports of an oak settlement about a day's walk from the town of Gillum.Influenced by the participation of many of the skilled adventurers in the Oak Expeditionary Force, he handled the pile of documents necessary to follow them and carried out his regular duties as a lord, but at this busy time he was so busy that a letter from the royal capital made him dizzy for several days.
　The least salvation was that he was busy because he had a fixed period of time until the completion of the expedition.If he had been told to spend a month as it was, he might have given up his job even if he was a Larkus frontier.
　After such a busy day, the bedroom door, where Larkus, who was sleeping like mud with fatigue, was suddenly knocked, and the noise forced him to wake up.
　Rising from his bed, Larkus looks around him.
　It is still dark in the room, and it is probably less than a few hours since I fell asleep.

"What the heck?"

　Still, since he was a lord, he put on his robe and opened the door.
　Behind the door was a secretary who must be as tired as me.However, his face, unlike himself, shows little sleep or fatigue.If anything, it's an expression of joy that floats there.

"Lord, I beg your pardon for taking the night off.There was something I wanted to let you know as soon as possible."
"Don't worry me.
"Just a little while ago, several members of the Oak Squad returned."

　Larkus felt bad about the word "several people," but it was then dispersed by words leaked from his secretary's mouth.

"There was a report that they told the guild that the conquest of the oak had been successfully completed."
"Really?"
"Yes, they wanted to report the completion of the punitive expedition as soon as possible."
"What's the matter?"
"We rescued two women who were trapped in the oak village, so they were sent out with a premonition to give them peace of mind as soon as possible."
"...I see,"

　A woman who was captured in an oak village of oak.It was easy to imagine how he was treated.

"You must welcome them kindly.I'll give you enough support to support yourself."
"All right,"
"And yet you have safely crushed the village of the Oaks."

　A breath of relief and relief, Larkus, if the expedition had been defeated by the Oaks, there was little fighting power in the city.He would have contacted the royal capital, and would have had the aristocrats and royal forces dispatched, knowing that they would be disadvantaged in many ways later.

(That letter might have been a good one, in a way.)

　Thinking of the letter that arrived during the day, he shook his head immediately.
　You may be glad to see that the adventurers of the city of Gillum were able to defeat the Oaks.

"And what was it that led the Oaks? Is it a rare species?"

　Recently, there have been many reports of rare species found in remote areas including the town of Gilm.The most recent story has been that the goblins attacking travelers and merchants along the streets are led by rare species.

(... come to think of it, I haven't heard of the goblins being attacked together in the last few days.Did you realize that we were on guard and move to another place?)muttered L'Arcus, inwardly, who never thought that the adventurer with the Gryphon whom he cared had overthrown the rare species.
　However, the question was asked until the secretary opened her mouth next time.

"No, according to the adventurers who came back, it was Oak King who led the Oak."
"...what? Did you hear me wrong?"

　The secretary shook her head to the Larkus frontier.

"I didn't hear it wrong.The Oak King led the Oak.Other than that, there are many other high-ranking species such as Oak Archer, Oak Mage, and Oak General."Also, the previous information said that the number of oaks was about 50, but it was actually well over 100."""
"Wait, wait, wait, wait.In addition to Oak King, there are many other top species of Oak.And there are more than a hundred of them? That's a good way to win."

　According to reports from the guildmaster, only about 30 people participated in the expedition, and it is not enough to fight against more than 100 oaks.

"I've heard that the axe of the Thunder God of the Rank A Party has overthrown the majority of the Oaks as a main force."
"Oh, I see.Come to think of it, I've heard of the participation of the axe of the god of thunder.I'm sorry, but I don't think I've got a good brain yet."
"I can't help it.for the lords of the last few days have been struggling with piles of papers."
"Oh, wait a minute. So did the axe of the god of thunder defeat Oak King?"

　The secretary frowns slightly at the question.
　It was unbelievable what I had heard, and I was wondering if I could tell my boss directly.

"...not?"

　Feeling suspicious of the secretary's behavior, Larkus asked the secretary again.The secretary then answers the question decisively.

"Well, the adventurers who came back first, for they haven't done it for sure yet."
"Don't be so serious, please,"
"...the adventurer of Rank G beat Oak King in a one-on-one battle."
"Stupid! Oak King is a Rank B monster!? That's like a Rank G adventurer... No, wait a minute.The adventurer is sure to be Rank G?"
"That's what I've been told,"

　When I heard his secretary's words, I thought of Ray.Ray is the only one who can beat Oak King at least in the Lalx frontier, as an amateur who has just signed up for the adventurer's guild, but according to the information he's been receiving, there's only one low-ranking member of the Oak Squad.But anyway.

(If the Gryphon, a higher rank than Oak King, had knocked it down, it would not be satisfactory yet.However, according to reports, he defeated Oakking in a one-on-one battle.So does this mean Ray himself has the ability to beat a Rank B monster?)

　It was another moment of interest and importance for Ray among the Larkes frontiers.
　After hearing the news, sleepiness was blown away, and he gave instructions on what to do one after another.
　Originally, it was an important sleep in the sense that he could rest his body, but today's Larkus was not in a state where he could sleep with various emotions such as excitement, joy, and openness.

"And when will the main unit of the punitive force be back?""There is also a post-processing for the oak community, so I think it will be the day after tomorrow at the earliest."
"The day after tomorrow... All right, send an envoy to the punitive force the morning after tomorrow.We will hold a parade when we come back."
"Parade? But if you spend a lot of money here..."
"I understand your concern.However, information has already spread throughout the city that an oak village was established about a day away from the town of Gilm.In order to dispel that anxiety completely, I think we need to be as loud as that."

　The punitive force against the oak settlement.It also launched in a large household of more than 30 people, including the Rank A party.There was no way that it would cause trouble, and the matter of the oak settlement had already spread throughout the city.and, above all, to prevent the rumor from spreading and strangely disrupting the inhabitants, they have already disclosed information about the oak settlement through the Adventurer's Guild.For this reason, the people of the city were not running wild or buying up goods from merchants, but it is true that they are still anxious.Then Larkus judged that the expeditionary force, which had destroyed the village of Oak, should be greeted with ostentatious air and dismissed his anxiety.

"Then... there's a hero,"
"A hero?"

　The secretary asked back at the muttered words of the Count Larx.

"Yes, there's a person who can be said to be the symbol of the Oak Conquest."

　At that time, two names came to mind.One is Elk, who leads the axe of the god of thunder, which is a great party of Rank A adventurers in the town of Gilm.I have seen Larkus several times for his work, and I know pretty much what he is like.I was also able to expect that he would understand my thoughts about this trouble.
　And the other one is Ray, who says he beat Oak King.K.I've never met him in person, and I only know him from the information and biographies written on the documents.

(Here we are going to make Ray a hero of the city at once? ... No, unless we know what kind of personality he is, is that dangerous?If you have a personality that makes you feel uncomfortable, you may leave the city of Gilm if you don't do well.Besides, if the townspeople think of it as a symbol of the Oak Conquest, Elk, who is the leader of the famous Thunder God's axe, is better than Ray, who has just registered himself in the guild.)

"Elk,"
"What? Oh, no. Excuse me.Elk, I'll arrange it right away."

　For a moment, the secretary wondered if it wasn't necessary for Ray, who is said to have killed Oak King, but soon came to the same conclusion as his boss and bowed out of the room.
　It also means coordinating with the adventurer's guild and gathering new information.
　After seeing him back, he plumped down on his bedroom bed.

"Not only do you have the Gryphon of the Rank A Monster, but you also have the ability to beat the Rank B Monster Oak King on your own?If you consider Gryphon's ability as a monster, you can say it's the equivalent of a Rank A party.With that ability, I'm still ranked G... No, wait.Rank G? I see."

　What flashed across my mind was the letter that arrived yesterday.The letter was almost half-order-like in the name of asking for assistance to certain troubles.They designated adventurers up to rank D.

"Even if we give the symbol of the Oak Squad to Elk, it doesn't mean that the Oak King was defeated.If that happens, I'm sure I'll be able to do it all at once, and I'll be able to take the D-up exam right away."

　Strangely enough, the opinion of Larkus was the same as that of Bobbs, who led the expeditionary force.

"It's only a disadvantage for the city of Guillum to keep the presence of Rank A party at Rank G."

　He muttered half-convincingly, and suddenly noticed that the room was bright.
　It seems that while I was thinking, the sun had already risen.
　and the busy day of Larkus began again.However, his face did not feel as tired as it had been until the previous day, and he was more than happy to carry out the work of the lord and the preparation for the parade.





　and two days later, towards the town of Gillum, a few horse-drawn wagons led by Warhorses were passing along the road.

"It's a triumphal parade.Am I the first person to take the lead?"One of the cabs.Elk's unpleasant voice echoes in the room where the god of thunder's axe, Bobbs and Ray ride.
　The reason why I'm complaining is because I was told by a messenger that a parade would be held.If that were the case, Elk would not have been so out of order, but for Elk, who did not like to be so formal when he was told to lead the expedition through the city entrance, he should have given up.

"It can't be helped, for the oak settlement is already spread all over the city.Even Larx would like to get rid of that anxiety completely."

　Min, who is sitting across from the Elk, tells her to give up.

"But you know, I don't like that kind of grandeur."
"I know that for sure, but I want to get rid of your likes and dislikes and the people's anxiety.Which is more important?"
"Well... well, it doesn't have to be me. It's not me.Why, this is the one who killed Oak King?"
"Don't talk too much.You are known as the Axe of the Raijin of Rank A Party, but Ray has just signed up for the guild.It goes without saying that it is acceptable for the residents to lead the parade....but if Ray wants it, you may mediate."

　Ray shook his head at Bobbs' words.

"I don't want to be so troublesome.Well... if it's the axe of God of Thunder, why don't you put Rodos first? The one who takes over the axe of God of Thunder."
"Oh, are you going to sacrifice me!"

　Rodos exclaims, saying that he will never take the lead.
　I don't hate to see my parents participate in the parade, but I didn't want to participate in it.

"Calm down, boys.Give up, Elk.Look, I can see the city now.I'll stop at one end and line up."

　Bobbs said, and he whistled and stopped all the cabs.