"Is this the village I had asked Arra?" There are very few people."
"Glu".

　Seth, walking next to him, agrees with Ray's words.
　About two weeks after leaving Gillum, I finally arrived at a village where there was someone in contact with Elena, but the village was not very crowded and the population was quiet.
　What surprised Ray above all was that the gatekeeper at the entrance of the village was surprised but not afraid to see Seto.
　In the past, Ray has often stopped by towns with some form of threat around themselves. So many people were half-panicked when they saw Set, the Gryphon."

"Well, it's a peaceful village, isn't it?"

　If you look around, you will see a village of considerable size for the number of people.
　Agricultural land is on the premises of the village, so it's just as if it's idyllic. Even now, the majority of people work in the fields in spite of the summer heat, while only a few notice Ray and Seto.
　Furthermore, those who notice Ray and Seto greet them without fear.
　The children come up to her with cheers the moment they see her.

(Well, there is nothing threatening about this village.)

　mutter inwardly, looking at several children stroking Seto.
　Outside the frontier, monsters are overwhelmingly less threatened than Gilm, and there are few bandits under the rule of the Duke of Quelebel, who rules over the area. That's probably why it's a quiet landscape.
　Walking in such a quiet village, he calls out to a man who was just passing by.

"I beg your pardon, but may I ask you to tell me where the bars are in this village?"
"Ah? Is it a bar in broad daylight like this? Well, I don't know you want to drink and make a fuss in this weather, but I hope you're a traveler." My monster is cute, too."

　Villagers holding hoes while gazing at Seto speak enviously.
　At first glance, the village can be described as quiet and idyllic, but it still seems to be quite tolerable to do farm work in this scorching sun.

(I don't like alcohol, but I wonder what it's like to be seen as a drunkard in the daytime.)

　Ray, who doesn't care much about alcohol, nods to the man's words with a deep sigh.

"I've just come to this village," In order to gather information, I want to go to a bar first."
"Well, well, I don't mind," There is only one bar in this village, for it is, as you can see, a small one."
"That's convenient,"
"...good for you?"

　When Ray muttered that he didn't need to wander from one bar to another, he turned his head in wonder.
　Shaking his head for nothing, Ray finds out where the bar is.
　It may be natural in a way that there is only one bar in this village, but it was beneficial for Ray not to have to go from one bar to another to find someone who had access to Elena.

"Well, I have some business to do, so I'll excuse myself." It's an empty village, but at least you can relax."

　The man with the hoe in his right hand waved his left hand to Ray and left.
　After seeing him off, Ray also follows the path he was taught...about 10 minutes ahead to find a shop.
　A glass of liquor near the door indicated what the building was, although from the side it looked like only a slightly larger, ordinary house.

"Well, basically there are only about as many visitors as the inhabitants of this village. "Huh?"

　After thinking that far, I suddenly realize.
　If the main customers of this bar are the residents of the village, the bar should not be open during the day when the residents of the bar are busy working in the fields.

"Glu?"

　a set of people who leaned their necks and pursed, "What's the matter?"
　After hearing the cry, he readily decides whether to hang out with Seto until the bar opens.

"No, it's nothing. I'm sorry, but Seto, please wait here for a moment. for this door would be difficult for a set to enter."
"Grull".

　She cries as if she knew what Ray said, and lies down near a tree a short distance from the bar.
　Fortunately, there's plenty of grass underneath for the summer, and it feels like a soft carpet for Seto.
　though for Seto, the Gryphon, it would not affect him to lie down on the ground or on the meadow, or on the rocky mountain.
　I glanced at him and put my hand on the door of the bar... I was surprised that he could easily push it without locking it.

"Come on in,"

　And as soon as Ray enters the store, a voice comes out of the store.
　Looking over there, I found an elderly man in his fifties.
　He smiled, but his eyes were sharp and his mouth and eyes were completely different.
　But that was only for a moment. Smiling immediately in his eyes, he turns to the counter seat.

"Sit down, now," What do you drink? It's this hot, and is it ale?"
"No, water or tea will do."

　The man frowns slightly at Ray's words.

"This is a bar, for the time being,"
"I don't like drinking very much. Well, that'sure. Give me a diluted wine. I'll have something else to eat."
"Well, I should have expected it when the child came. Wait a minute."

　Tell with your breath, take wine out of the counter and serve it diluted with water in front of the ray, followed by a quick stir-fry of nuts, mushrooms and sausages on a plate.

"There you go. Two copper coins."
"... it's cheap,"

　Surprised at the low price demanded by the man, he puts two pieces of copper on the counter.

"Well, drink, food, everything was made in this village. We're making a good profit even with this. ...and, you know. Are you Ray?"

　I stopped trying to reach out to the cup at the man's casual murmur.
　Staringly at the man, he carries the glass to his mouth.
　Naturally, there is no magic item for cooling in a village like this, and the watering of the wine in the glass is not cold enough, but Ray opens his mouth without worrying about it.

"Did you hear from Arla?"
"Oh, I've heard a lot about you from Arla's daughter. a boy in his mid-teens with red hair and blue eyes who at first glance looks like an apprentice wizard. But he's got a big attitude for that."

　After hearing the words, he pricks the stir-fried food on the plate with a fork and carries it to his mouth.

(Well, as long as you know I'm coming at this time, it's only natural that you tell me about my characteristics.)

"Then you think you know why I came here?"
"Oh, I'll fly the bird to Annesis later,"

　Ray nods slightly at the man with a grin.

"A bird?"
"Yes, it's only a day's drive from here to Anesis, but it doesn't take long by birds." and perhaps within the day Annesis will know that you have arrived in this village.""It's a very quiet or undeveloped village for a day from Annesis. Wouldn't a village in such a big city normally develop accordingly?"

　A man who shrugs at Ray's obvious question.

"This village is half‐way through. There are some highways, but they are not very well maintained. Besides, there are many other reasons why the village has been deliberately formed like this."

　Ray was concerned about the reason why he stopped talking along the way, but he decided that perhaps it was because of the Duke's circumstances and gave up asking any further questions.
　They open their mouths, stabbing a fork into the nuts, perhaps not as a substitute.

"And when will Elena arrive in this village?"

　Elena, a man who reacts sharply to Ray's abandonment.

(I heard that he was a knight of the former bodyguard, and it was not good to call him down?)

　For a moment I think so, but I don't care about it if Elena comes to this village.
　However, the man did not ignore his abandonment.

"Oh, my God! I'm not going to call that princess General Elena away. As Arla's daughter said, it seems to be true that there are many complicated circumstances."

　a man who somehow laughs rather than gets angry
　The scene was completely unexpected to Ray.
　Speaking of the escort knights Ray knows, Custe and Arra are still impressive. And both of them had great respect for Elena.
　In particular, Custe would probably have been a devil if Ray had called Elena without honorifics.
　The face of a man whose character was not completely compatible until he was about to die suddenly passes through his mind.
　Custe and Arla are the most special, and there are many decent men in the Guards Knights. Mechen, in particular, who assists Arra, is a typical example.
　It may be inevitable that Ray will drag the impression, since we met for the first time and left a strong impression on him.

"And when did you hear from me?"

　Ray asks the laughing man again.

　At Ray's words, the man shrugs his head slightly.

"As I said, I can inform Annesis by the end of the day that you have arrived here. But I don't know when it will be, for Mr. Elena has his own business. If you come out at once, you'll arrive to-morrow, and if you have anything to do, you'll be late."
"... I see,"

　Ray is convincing without thinking it's a good story.
　Looking at Ray's appearance, the man puts out another glass and pours wine with a smile on his smile.

"I told you that I drink very little?"
"Don't worry, this is not your cup. It's for me."
"Do you drink what you sell yourself?"

　Ray muttering somewhat dumbfounded at the man's words.
　But regardless of Ray's appearance, the man swallows a glass of wine at once.

"Phew... don't say so." There's been a lot of exciting events, so let me drink a little. ...By the way, I said Ray. You have no place to stay until Elena or Miss Arra comes to this village, have you?"
"Well, that's true," If you say so, then..."
"Hahaha! Well, this is a small village and not many travelers. There are inns, but not so big. So why don't you stay at my place? Tell me more about your relationship with Mr. Elena and Miss Arra."
"I don't mind... but may I put in a stranger?"

　Maybe it's because it's a quiet village. ...that's what Ray said, but the man poured the wine back into the glass and carried it to his mouth.

"Oh, don't worry. There's nothing wrong with me being stolen. It's nothing but homemade preserved food. It's more important to listen to you than that."
"Well, if you say so, it'll be all right for you for a night or so, but he said, "you've got a Gryphon with you. What about that'said he.
"Gryphon? Well, you've got a terrific monster with you. Ah, there is no stable, so it's outside, but is that all right?"
"Outside is the front of this shop?"
"Oh, that's the case," I don't care if that's all right with you. I'll serve you all the food in the store until you're full. ...what do you think?"

　Ray was a little worried that Seto's sleeping place would be outside, but he decided that Seto, which is still a glyphon, would be fine, so he stood up from his seat.

"I'm sorry, but Set... I'll tell you a little bit about the Gryphon I'm with." Wait a minute for your answer."
"Oh, dear! ...but it's a Gryphon. The adventurers these days seem to be quite different from when I was in Mr. Elena's Guards Knights."

　Ray was a little troubled by the man's words, but for now he opened his mouth with a small shrug.

"He looks like Gilmoo's adventurer."
"... Gilm, it's very different from what I know... has it changed a lot in the last few years?"

　Leaving his head twisted against the common sense of his knighthood, Ray walks out of the bar and approaches Seto, who is lying under a nearby tree.

"Set".
"Grull?"

　Ray opens his mouth, stroking Seto's head, asking, "What's the matter?"

"I'm invited to stay at this bar, but may Seto sleep here?"
"Glu".

　I nod to Ray's words that there is no problem at all.
　In this way, Seto's concern was easily resolved and Ray's lodging was decided.