Alexor, who was rescued from the previous day's attack by a herd of icebirds by Ray, Sett, or the adventurers of the city of Guilm, including the scorching winds. In response to Ray's question as to why Alexander's company came to the city of Gillum at this time of year, where it is almost impossible to say that the traffic was drastically reduced... he drank a glass or two of wine before opening his mouth heavily.

"There was a nobleman who helped me when I started my business. His child has fallen ill. It is said that there is only one ingredient in the town of Gilm that can cure the disease..."

(...as if I've heard it somewhere.)

　The case of witch fever has gone too far in my mind.
　Place the skewers in your hand on a plate and ask Alektor.

"Is that a magical fever?"
"No, I've heard that magic fever seems to have spread in the city of Barr, but this case is not magic fever. When a child grows up, the amount of magical power usually grows up, but the growth of magical power is hindered, which causes physical ability problems. for the root of a rare plant, which grows only in the frontier, is the ingredient of the drug to deal with the disease."
"...the roots of the plants this winter?"

　It will be impossible to obtain. Ray tells me with such a whiff, but Alexander shakes his head with a slight smile.

"It's winter, indeed, but the plants are magical, so you don't have to worry about dying. In the first place, the roots of the plants themselves were already obtained yesterday."
"You're moving fast."
"He is a merchant, after all." However, just selling the roots to the people who helped me will not cover the damage this time. That's why I'm looking for business seeds to fill it in. Fortunately, there are very few merchants in the streets of Gilm during this period. I think that's going to do something about it, too."
"But?"

　Encourage Alexor to continue his conversation after meaningfully punctuating his words.
　Then, he lowered his voice a little and continued, as if he were in trouble if people around him could hear him.
　Ray, of course, thought it would be part of the production. After all, adventurers are drinking around. The cheers and what, if anyone were to eavesdrop on Ray and Alexander, would not be able to hear enough.

"In fact, the adventurers we employ as bodyguards in the battle against monsters yesterday were killed more than I expected. I'm at a loss as to how to make up for it."
"...that only the seven who survived when I went to the rescue are not enough, considering the loss of a carriage in the first place, aren't they enough?"

　At Ray's question, Alexander shakes his head regretfully.

"If yesterday's seven men were to stand guard on their way home, there would be no problem." But the four-person adventurer's party, Rank D's moonlight blades, were originally adventurers hired on the condition that they were one-way only."
"The blade of the moon-night... if there were four, would there be three men and one woman?"
"Yes, they were originally an adventurer's party aiming for the city of Gilm. It was winter before we arrived in the town of Gilm, and we were stuck in the town of Subursta because we thought it was dangerous to go out without thinking. So I came here with a one-way escort contract because I met our merchant corps and I was with two parties that were employed as bodyguards. Originally, I had signed a contract with the other two parties as a round‐trip escort, so I didn't mind at all... I didn't expect one of them to end up like that. I've heard that it's a frontier, but there are still things you can't understand until you actually experience it. I never thought I'd be attacked by so many monsters."

　Alexor, with a long, dark expression on his face, picks the food on the table.
　Only Ray and Alexander's seat was enveloped in a melancholy atmosphere as adventurers roared around the tables.

"I beg your pardon," We didn't talk about it at the promotional party, did we? Anyway, that's what happened. ... and, you know, Actually, I have a request from Mr. Ray."

　Alexander cheerfully calls out to Ray to switch over the dark atmosphere.
　From what we've been talking about, it's easy to imagine what Ray was trying to say.

"In other words, do you want to employ me as a bodyguard?"
"Yes, because yesterday's battle was terrible. When Ray wields that scythe, several icebirds quickly turn into silent bodies, and if you use magic, this is also very powerful. To be honest, I'd like you to sign an exclusive contract with my business unit, not with a temporary bodyguard."

　The remark was probably not a complete compliment. No, rather, it was quite a serious word.
　But the proposal is unwelcome to Ray. Even though he became an adventurer to get the magical stones, as a bodyguard... and if he became an exclusive, he would not be able to fight freely against monsters, and above all, the frontier was close to the first, as far as he was concerned. Ray didn't feel like going to a place where there were so many monsters on the frontier.

"I'm sorry, but there are many things I want to do, too. I refuse to be an exclusive bodyguard."
"...is that so?"

　Even Alexander thought it would be impossible to hold Ray in his arms, given the information he had heard from Mireine the day before. Still, it's regrettable that you can turn down a proposal that you've put in a line of hope.

"I'll study the reward,"
"I'm not pressed for money,"
"...is that so?"

　The last trump card, Alexander, is shaking his head and sighing at the increasing reward he has given.

(According to the information I heard from Mireinu, collecting magic items seems to be a hobby, but it would be far from profitable if they were given magic items every time they were escorted.) As for magical stones, if two of the same species are determined, the number of magical stones available here is limited. ...you have no choice but to give up.)

　muttered Alexander privately, but fate had not yet abandoned him.

"Just..."

　Alexor looks up at the words that come out of Ray's mouth.

"Fortunately it's winter, and I don't have much work to do. So I may escort you to the town of Subursta... what shall I do?"
"Are you ready?"
"Oh, but, as I said, only to the city of Subursta."
"Yes! Please! If you go to the city of Subursta, you will find beautiful drops of water."
"A beautiful drop?"
"Yes, it's a party for three female adventurers."

　When Ray says so, he recalls the faces of the three women who were fighting with Seto, using shields, swords, harbors and bows.

"Is it a beautiful drop? By the way, what rank?"
"It's a rank D party, isn't it?" It's a great thing at that young age. --however, Mr. Ray was ranked C at that young age."
"I like compliments. "More importantly, about your request..."
"Yes. Should I ask for the nomination?"
"Oh, that would be very helpful,"
"What would you do about your compensation? Well, this incident has caused some damage, so I would appreciate it if you could study for me."Once again, Alexander says with a wry smile that the damage he has done has gone over his head.
　Or perhaps it was after hearing that Ray himself had no trouble with the money he said earlier. And, in fact, the rewards Ray had thought out for a few seconds were a great blessing to Alexander.

"Well, then, at least twenty or more iron spears... oh, as for these iron spears, they are not in very good condition, and they are of coarse quality." However, I don't know if the handle breaks when I use it. As for the tip of the ear..."

　That's where Ray gets stuck and thinks about his energy.
　A rusty blade is not disadvantageous when used as a long-range weapon by Ray's strength. No, it's probably a good idea to consider the possibility of tetanus from rusty blades.

"Well, I don't mind if the ear is a little rusty. Instead, it would be a problem if it were broken the moment I touched it. Also, if you encounter a monster on the way to the escort, if it is a monster's magic stone that I don't have, please give it to me first. How about you pay for the rest of the meal.
"...that's right. I think it's quite cheap to hire Ray, a Rank C adventurer, but is that really OK?"

　I said I wanted my reward to be as cheap as possible, but Ray's bargaining was probably higher than I expected. Having discounted too much, Alexander's mind is filled with the feeling that he's up to something.
　But I thought it was a reasonable reward for Ray. This is because they can even prepare a meal for Seto, so we're determined that it'll be no different from hiring an ordinary Rank C adventurer in the end.
　In the same way, spears differ from things like thorn spears in that they are considered disposable after all, so they are more like quantity than quality.

"Oh, that's all right. And, as I said, there's nothing particular to do during the winter. To some extent, it's also to kill time. I've never been to Abuero or Subursta."

　Stay still, look at Ray as if he were looking deep into his heart. And Rey, who takes that gaze squarely.
　Eventually, the first person to look away was Alexander.

"All right. Then I will submit a request for nomination to the guild tomorrow."
"...not to-day?"
"Yes. Actually, I have a business discussion about the product after this. Therefore, I'm sorry, but it would be helpful if you could accept my request in the guild tomorrow afternoon. Of course, I will have enough of the spear that Mr. Ray is requesting."
"It would be a great help if you said. So when exactly are you going to leave the city of Gilm?"
"The day after tomorrow," Please come to the front gate of the city when the bell rings at six in the morning, as I will write in my request. It would still be a little dark at that time, but it would be difficult to go down the road because of the influence of snow, and I would like to reach the city of Abuero by sunset."

　This is the first time that Alexander has actually reached the frontier, but he knows that monsters are still active at night. It's winter in particular, and monsters that don't usually appear appear. Icebirds attacked the day before would be just that. Therefore, I was planning to leave the city as soon as possible, stay one night in the city of Abuero, and one night in the road to Subursta due to distance issues, and arrive the next day.
　Of course, you can't be careless in the daytime. Monsters are still not as active as they were at night, but Alexander still had no option of being alert as long as he remembered being attacked by a flock of icebirds the day before.
　Still, the move involves Ray, who easily buried the Icebird, and Set, a Rank A monster that Ray is following. The amount of bodyguards decreased by the amount of adventurers lost, but it was definitely superior in terms of quality.

"Well, then, I'm going to leave now, but Mr. Ray, please eat the food you ordered. It's a celebration of my promotion."
"Sure. See you the day after tomorrow at six in the morning."
"Yes, thank you very much."

　With a smile of relief at the prospect of hiring Ray, he bowed his head to the table and left the bar.
　Seeing off Alexander's cheerful back, Ray begins to reach again for the various dishes on the table.
　Adventurers in bars are also making a fuss with their peers, looking at Ray curiously. Basically, Ray is not friendly, much less tolerant of the people he is involved with, but he rarely gets involved with. It is also a common practice, after all, not to be declared to be here. For this reason, Ray was treated like a wild beast who was quiet if left alone.





　Two days later, Ray's first request to escort a merchant force begins.