"...uh...oh...."

　In a room in the Wheat-tei at dusk Ray was groaning and groaning in the bed.
　After a few minutes, the six o'clock morning bell rang through the city, and he suddenly rose to his feet.

"Well... you slept well. I mean, you slept too much."

　"Even for Ray, the request to guard Elena this time was a lot of fatigue, so he went straight to bed after having dinner a little early last night."

"For the time being, today's schedule is to see the Elenas off... or rather, we haven't distributed the monsters in the mistling, so we'd better go and listen a little earlier."

　Suddenly, he remembers the countless monsters he knocked down in this dungeon, and turns his eyes to the mistling on his right wrist.

"... all right! It's a little early, but when I finish breakfast, I'll go to the lord's house."

　muttered, dressed quickly, and went down to the dining-room on the first floor of the inn.





"Oh, it's early today,"

　When Ray came down to the dining room on the first floor, Lana, the landlady of Wheat-tei, greeted him at dusk.

"Yes. I've got something to do.I'll have breakfast."
"All right.Please sit down and wait for me."

　As expected, he was busy in the morning and saw Lana off as he walked into the kitchen, and as soon as he was waiting, Lana came and arranged breakfast on the table.Black bread like coppe bread, ham steak, potato salad, sour soup, and wine mixed with water."However, all of them took a lot of time, and I convinced Ray that the Wheat-tei at dusk was a rather high-class inn."
　I took about half an hour to eat my breakfast slowly, and went to the stable to pick up Sett."

"Seto-chan, look at this.Try this next time."
"Grull".

　for there was a woman swordsman whom he had seen, and who was feeding Seto one dish after another with his hands full.

"... Mire Dog,"

　Yes, the female swordsman is the leader of the scorching wind, the Rank C party.

"Oh, Ray. Good morning."
"...Good morning.and yet you smelled us coming home quite early."
"Hahaha, what are you talking about?I don't think it's going to be a hot topic because I'm so conspicuous with Seto. But it's too bad. If I had come back a little earlier, I could have come to see him yesterday."
"Oh, you're the same,"
"That's right, isn't it?It hasn't been a month since I last saw you, I don't think so."

　A Mire Dog hugging Seto's hair and continuing to talk to Ray.

"I wish you would have done so only after you met me."
"HahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaYou know, I rather like older people."

　While talking to Ray, his face turned to Seto, and with a smile he offered a soup full of meat on skewers, fruits, or bowls of rice."...I'll save you the trouble of feeding Cet, but is your money all right?"

　Remembrance of Ray's repeated requests to kill him to earn money while he was taking the rank-up examination, he nods as if there was no problem.

"I was always short of money because I had to buy new equipment for the oak, and thanks to Seto-chan, I was out of money.I'm living quite leisurely now."
"I see. Ah, Seto, what shall I do? I'm going to see them off, but will you be with the Mile Dogs here?"
"Gurling... Gurling!"

　Seto struggled for a few seconds, but soon nodded a little and came out of his assigned position.
　By the way, the horses and other animals in the stable were used to it before the dungeon, but while they were away for a while, the mercenaries, the owners of the horses and the animals, had already left, and now most of the guests in the inn were new, so the horses and animals in the stable were naturally replaced by new ones.Therefore, when Seto appears, most of them become silent.
　"There were a few of them who stayed there since the last time, and they were relaxed as if they were not our concern."

"I'm afraid you're still no match for Ray."

　Looking envious of Seto's actions, she looks at Ray... No, she looks at him half-glaring at him.

`I'm going to catch Sett in due course!'

　he cried, and went out of the stable.

"...what does he want to do?"

　Stupid as he was, Ray was grateful to the Mire Dog.for when he headed for the subjugation of the oak settlement, he became familiar with the expeditionary forces, and at the same time he became widely accepted in the town of Gilm.

"Grull?"

　One of them left the stable with a smile on his face as he rubbed his head.He headed for the lord's residence as originally planned.

"Oh, it's Ray, isn't it?"I heard that you came back from a request, but it seems to have been true.What do you think, old fellow?"
"Ray, I heard you are back, so I've got a skewer for you know.Buy it! Buy it!"
"We've got a new sandwich. What do you think?"

　When he was walking around the city with Seto, he was often approached by food stalls, and Seto became interested in it and ended up buying everything and eating around as usual.
　Ray had just eaten breakfast, and although Seto had received many gifts from the Mire Dog, he was happy to eat the food from Ray's hand, thinking that it was still all right.

"Grull".

　This is a set that chirps happily after eating sandwiches made of grilled fangboa seasoned with sweet and spicy sauce and crispy vegetables.
　And the shopkeepers looked at Seto's appearance with a relaxed expression.
　Ray pays for the food while smiling bitterly at the scene.
　Well, they were one and one of them who always communicated with each other and went down the road.
　However, as expected, the number of stalls decreased as it became closer to the lord's residence, and instead, soldiers of guards and knights of knights appeared conspicuously.
　If that happens...

"There's only the lord's residence ahead, but what do you want?"

　That's how many people ask me.I'm not sure what to say, but Ray himself has no ill feelings for the soldiers in front of him.but he was not so frightened by himself, who was carrying a Gryphon of more than two meters in length, and was even reassured by his willingness to carry out his duties.Dusker, the Count of Larkes, is a big figure known as the centerpiece of the neutral faction.Of course there are some who will let off the sting as if they were in the way, and they should not be too wary of such a person.

"I don't care,"

　Just as Ray tries to open his mouth, another soldier appears behind the soldier who suddenly asks him a question.

"Why?"
"Don't you know the rumor, adventurer with a Gryphon?"It is said that the rank is low at D, but its ability is comparable to that of Rank A.It seems that the lord requested the nomination in anticipation of this.That's why you came, isn't it?"
"Well, it's not wrong,"
"What?"
"If you say so, I am sure.--you may go."
"It's a relief,"

　He said so to the two soldiers, and when he and Seto made their way to the lord's house, they soon saw a fortress-like building.
　There was a soldier in front of the house as a gatekeeper, looking at Ray and Sett as they approached the gate.
　Since Ray had already visited the lord's residence several times, the fact that they were acquainted with each other, but were still on their guard seems to be evidence of their high level as soldiers.

"Is it your business?"

　As soon as he arrived at the gate, he was asked, but Ray shook his head slightly.

"No, it's Mr. Elena Kerebel who wants to do it's Mr. Elena Kerebel.Leave it as it is that we must decide upon the request of the bodyguard.I'd like to have a word with you before I leave."
"Okay, wait a minute."

　As expected of Ray, he could not be called Elena in front of the gatekeeper and gave her a look.
　About ten minutes after one of the gatekeepers made his way to the house, the gatekeeper, Ray, and Sett all looked uncomfortable in silence.
　No, to be exact, it was only Ray who looked uncomfortable, the gatekeeper was silent on the spot with little movement of his face, and Seto was absent-mindedly.

(... Am I strange?)

　As I asked myself that question, the gatekeeper came back from the gate.

"Mr. Elena is waiting.Follow her directions."

　and before the gatekeeper was the familiar figure of Arra.On his back is the Power Axe handed over by Ray, which gives him a strong impression of being a warrior rather than a knight.

(Well, he's an odd man when he's a knight and uses an axe.)

"Okay, and will you take Sett to the stable?"

　He nods softly to Seto, who is absent from his speech.

"I don't mind, but you don't bite me?"
"That's all right.There's no problem unless you're making such a strange mess of course.
"Then leave it to me,"
"So please wait a little while,""Grull".

　Seto answers Ray, scratching his head and telling him, with his throat ringing.
　Finally, he stroked his head rather violently, and approached Arla, who was waiting for Ray at the entrance of the house.

"Good morning, Mr. Ray,"It is very early, sir, until nine o'clock, when we are due to leave?"
"No, I forgot to ask Elena something,"
"To Mr. Elena? Well, there is no problem with Mr. Ray.Mr. Elena will be waiting in his room."

　and after a short walk he reached a room with a gorgeous door.

"...is the Larkes frontier bent on the door, as is his office?"

　Arra smiles bitterly at Ray's words.

"That is certainly the case, but I think this is a very special room for high-ranking guests... ...Mr. Elena, it is Arra.I've brought in Mr. Ray."
"Yes, go in,"

　Elena's voice is heard in the room and Arra opens the door.
　The first thing that caught my eye was a number of expensive furniture.Chandeliers, thought to be magic items, hang from the ceiling, and the walls of the rooms are seamlessly filled with marble-like glossy stones."Even with a carpet laid in the room, I could tell at a glance that everything such as chairs, tables, and sofas were all luxury items."

"It's almost two hours before we leave, but it's a long way off. ... Well, that's all right.I had just finished preparing for my departure.Sit down, and let's listen."

　I sat down on the sofa, as Elena pushed me.
　As soft as the guest sofa in Dusker's office... or softer than that, when he was surprised to see Ray's weight sink in, Elena smiled.

"This is a room for important people.It's no wonder there's such a sofa.Perhaps when a higher nobleman comes than Dusker, he will be sent here."
"He's the pretender of the nobility.Well, that's why I came here today... because I didn't decide which monster I knocked down in the dungeon until I got to the dungeon."
"Well, that's true,"After I left the dungeon, I was so busy that I forgot about it."

　Ray was convinced by Elena's explanation.
　Regardless of Ray, Elena had to write to her father, Duke Kelebel, to inform him of the betrayal and death of his longtime comrades, as well as confirming the power of the Entient Dragon that he inherited in the ceremony of succession.
　If there is anyone to blame for this, it is probably Ray, who was the most free member of the party.

"There are quite a few monsters of good quantity and quality, like Lizardman, Lizardman General, Water Monkey, rare water monkeys, augers, sprigans, emerald wolfs, whatever."
"Now that you mention it,"When Ray told me, I was surprised at the number of monsters who had knocked me down again."Well, it's probably because it's a dungeon."

　muttered Arla, sitting next to Elena.
　Originally, it was Arra's action to protect him behind Elena, but Elena herself was very concerned about him, and Arra replied with a false soft smile when she met him for the first time, perhaps because of this incident, she also became familiar with him.

"Now that you mention it, there was the matter.That being said, my work has been decided."
"Elena?"
"This incident has caused Ray a lot of trouble, and I wouldn't have been able to have a cup of tea here by now without him.It's not a token of gratitude, but you can do whatever you want about the monsters in the item box."

　and the words had escaped from Elena's mouth as if nothing had happened.