"Oh! Ray! It's been a long time. It's late, but you've won the war against the Bestian Empire, and you've saved face as a neutralist. I'll thank you."

　the Dusker's office in the lord's house As soon as he gets in, Dusker, who is sorting out the papers at his office desk, gets up from his chair with a smile on his stern face and says thank you to Ray.
　A stern-faced, middle-aged man who looks like only a warrior or knight at first glance makes a look of surprise that he doesn't look good on paper for a moment, but Ray immediately bows his head with a smile.

"I've only done my job as long as I've been hired as a mercenary,"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah the enemy around one using a set while marching to transport goods And that battle is the best of all. Had it not been for you, our neutrals and aristocrats would have suffered considerable damage. I was late coming back to the city of Guillum because of the trouble in the royal capital, but did you receive the Magic Tent via Guildmaster?"
"Yes, it was very useful when I went to the city of Emocion."
"Well, that's the best thing. That magic tent is one of the best magic items I have. The mold is a little old, so you can't use fire or water inside, but there's no problem for you to use it when you're going to camp at night."
"Well, in my case I have a dagger to draw water, and I can magically do anything about fire." It may be a bit troublesome to go outside, but it's quite a difference compared to regular night outings."

　Dasker nods with a smile at Ray's words.
　It must have been a satisfactory smile to him, but when he saw the smile, he seemed to be intimidating enough to describe it as a savage carnivorous smile.
　The day after Ray decided to take the rank-up exam, he came to the lord's estate to thank Dusker for his magic items, but it was strangely friendly knights who greeted him and his boss, Dusker, was also very friendly to Ray.
　It's no surprise, though, given the benefits of Ray. Originally it would have suffered a great deal of damage as a vanguard, but Ray's magic left it without much damage. The profits from it were sufficient to increase neutrality within the kingdom of Milliana.
　He stayed in the royal capital for a long time to use his influence, but it was only a few days ago that he returned to his own territory, the city of Gilm.
　When I came back to town, Ray came back, cleaning up all the work he had accumulated, or hearing about what had happened in the city while he was away, and clearing it up over the course of a few days.
　It was natural for Dusker to be in a good mood.

"Well, it's a REM race. I've heard in the royal capital that the city of Emocion is blocked by monsters... well, did Ray solve it? Thank you."
"No, not so much. Besides, Remrace was a monster of high intelligence and intelligence. Why did it blockade the city of Emosion? It's not perfectly safe unless the cause is found out."
"... I see. Hasn't that been settled yet? However, I've heard from the royal capital that researchers will be dispatched in due course, so you don't have to worry too much about it. But more so."

　Dusker, smiling and in high spirits, suddenly turns to Ray with a serious look on his face.

"Did you meet Duchess Quent?"
"Yes, I have seen you." Is there anything unsavory about it?"
"...no, I have no right to stop you, no matter who you meet, so I can't tell you not to see me." But how was it with her?"
"Well, I was surprised at many things. It's amazing to be able to master magic to that extent even though I'm under 10 years old."
`It only sounds nasty if you say magic,'

　Dusker said so with a wry smile, but Ray felt that he was definitely better at three magic tricks: wind, earth, and light, unlike himself, who could only use the magic of fire.

(Well, that doesn't make me think I'll lose the battle.)

　I realized that the number of attacks itself was not as high as that of Marka, but I didn't think they could do anything about my attack, which was specialized in the magic of fire.
　But there must be an avant‐garde named Coan to follow it.

"First of all, I've decided to go out with Marka as a friend."
"... my friend," Well, if you meant it, I wouldn't say anything. But be careful not to mention Marka, but his father is very strong."
"Yes, thank you for your advice."

　Rey bowed to Dusker's words.

"Well, may I ask you about your future plans? I hear you are taking the rank-up exam, but may I assume that you will be an adventurer in the city of Gilm for a while?"
"...no. I'm sorry, but I'm going to the labyrinthine city soon."
"Magazine city? ... I see, if you're interested in collecting magic items and magical stones, isn't that a bad option?" But it's hard to dive solo into the dungeon."

　Dusker turns anxiously to Ray.
　Once a knight in the royal capital, once dungeoned in a labyrinthine city on a small mission, the words had a seriousness that only those who knew the real thing could utter.
　But Ray shakes his head with a small smile at Dusker's words.

"It's all right, I'm not going to dive alone." There's Seto

　Originally, Elena should have said she would dive into the dungeon with her. However, considering the difference between the aristocratic and neutral factions, I hesitate to explain it.

"Well... I see."

　Dasker nods twice and smiles as if he understands.
　I could understand Ray's reluctance to say something, and what he was reluctant to say was not so difficult for Dusker, who has been in a relationship with Ray for quite a long time.

(Perhaps a princess general...)

　a dungeon near the town of Gilm Dusker knew that they had met many times when they went there together, and that their relationship had deepened, as a matter of course. Of course, however, Dusker could not have the right to interfere with other people's love affairs, or there was a wishful observation that their relationship could create a friendly relationship between the neutral and aristocratic factions.
　Therefore, it is faintly understandable, but it diverts from the subject without saying anything in particularly.

"Rankup exam? If you pass, you'll be the fastest man to become a Rank B adventurer."
"I'm not very conscious of that,"

　Squeeze your shoulders and moisten your throat with the cold water that the maid prepared.
　The ice water in the glass could not have been more hospitable to greet guests in the summer.
　Drinking the cold water and placing the glass on the table, I hear a knock at the door.

"Let's go in.
"Excuse me, Mr. Dusker," It's about time you promised Baron Milotus, but what would you do?"

　The maid, who came into Dusker's voice, bowed gracefully and asked so.
　Dusker, who was concentrating on talking to Ray, probably forgot all about his appointment.

(Or perhaps he didn't want to see her.)

　Ray, who is slightly frowned upon, suddenly thinks like that.
　Nevertheless, Ray could not have held back Dusker, who had an appointment with the nobility, nor could he have acknowledged the necessity. Ray first came to the lord's house to thank him for his magic tent before heading to the city of Emocion.

"Well, Mr. Dusker seems to be busy, and I'll be here too."Oh, now that you mention it, I forgot it, here you go."I told him that it was a huge fish, about 50 cm long, that I had taken out of the mistling. It is a remarkable fish with innumerable green and red scales. When I saw this in a fish shop in the city of Emocion, I was wondering if I could be targeted by monsters in the sea.
　I heard from the owner of the fish shop that the fish looked like it was burrowing into rocks or seaweed, and I decided to buy it because I was told it was a delicious fish in its own way.

"Oh, is this fish...?"
"It's an emotic souvenir, so if you don't mind, eat it for dinner. Fortunately, it's this size, and I think it's enough for some people, not just Mr. Dusker. By the way, I heard that the recommended way to eat it was to steam it and sprinkle it with sour sauce."
"... well, I'll be glad to receive it." Hey!"
"Yes, leave it to me. I'll use this as the main dish for dinner tonight.

　The maid, bowing to Dusker's voice and holding the tail of a large fish she received from Ray's hand, walks away.
　It was rather strange to grab a large fish with your bare hands and take it with a straight face.

"... now," Then I'll excuse myself."
"Oh, good luck with the rank-up exam. I'm glad to see a good, high-ranking adventurer coming out."

　Dusker sees Ray off, telling him if he feels nothing special about the maid.





"Grull".

　Seth, who finds Ray out of the lord's house and cries happily, comes running up to him. 　
　When Ray first came to the lord's house, he had been kept in a stable, but during his many visits the knights had become accustomed to the sight of Sett.
　However, there may be a reason why Ray and Sett led the way in attacking the war against the Vestian Empire, resulting in surprisingly few deaths. Inside, you can also see knights feeding dried meat when you meet them around town as a token of gratitude.
　Again, Seto kept the dried meat in his mouth.
　That's probably the reason why I sounded lower than usual.

"What? Did you get dried meat?"
"Grull".

　He patted the nodding set lightly and headed to the main gate of the lord's residence.
　It was a gatekeeper I had met many times, and I could say that I knew him well.
　In fact, when he visited the lord's residence in the morning, he was asked to act as an intermediary.
　However, there were usually two of them, but today they were standing there alone as gatekeepers for some reason.

"Huh? Is that enough? It was so early."
"Oh, Mr. Dusker said he had an appointment with the other nobles."
"…I see. Come to think of it, a carriage passed here a moment ago."

　He murmured with a slight frown that even a gatekeeper was not his favorite partner.
　Even though he notices it, he thinks it's not good to stick it in any more, and goes out of the gate with Seto.
　Thinking of going back to town, he suddenly finds himself pulling out a one-night drying of a small fish from Mistyling.

"I'll do it,"
"Huh? Is this... fish?"

　Ray nods to the gatekeeper, who asks me suspiciously, handing me a night's drying.

"I don't know if I know, but I'm out to the city of Emosion." It's a souvenir. I'll tell you, it's not a bribe. I thank Dusker for his constant help."
"Oh, the fish of the sea?" That's a rare thing, isn't it? I'll be glad to receive it."

　The gatekeeper receives the overnight drying with a small smile before continuing his speech.

"Well, there is no point in bribing a gatekeeper like me. Besides, I don't think it's windy to give him a fish for a bribe... and I don't have to worry. I'll entertain you with this fish to-night."
"Do so,"

　Raising their hands small, Ray and Sett head from the lord's estate to the city.
　First of all, to distribute emoticon souvenirs to acquaintances, or to prepare for the rank-up examination.





　So two days had passed before... the day of explanation for the rank-up exam.