a room in an inn on the back street of Egzil Among them, two men were talking.
　No, to be exact, it's more correct that one man is desperately appealing to the other.

"I'll never get involved with them again!"
"...can't you stop them at a trap?" I should have stayed at that level for at least a few more days."
"Of course. Fortunately I had a cover-up robe, and I could not find it, but if I had been found in crimson, and found out that I was the one who set the trap, I would have died without a doubt!"
"Well, that's probably the case with crimson,"

　Maybe it's because Ray's actions on the battlefield, nicknamed crimson, were symbolic. There is a widespread rumor that crimson is cruel and unrelenting to his enemies.
　It is true, however, that Ray has no mercy on his enemies, and the rumor is not so wrong, given that he has acted brutally in doing so.

"Why do you poke your nose at crimson? You didn't do that to a particular individual before, did you?" That's why I didn't do anything particular about the edges of the trees."

　The man who gives the name of the Rank B party that is currently in the deepest position in the dungeon in Egidil.
　However, the boss shakes his head as if it had nothing to do with it.

"To be honest, it doesn't make much sense to say how far you've captured the dungeon. No, it makes sense to the people who live in this exil, but it doesn't matter to us. The most important thing to us is the experiment he is doing and the results of it."
"I know that, but... I can't touch the crimson party any more." At a glance I could tell the difference in rank between me and myself. If you are going to do anything next time, do it except me."
"…that's all right." It's true that it's dangerous for you to deal with him alone. When you think about it, there's a point in what you say."
"Never! I really don't want to!"

　The boss breathes a small sigh at his men, who desperately talk to them.
　He took a few silver coins out of his pocket and handed them over to the man.

"Let's have a drink and get a change."
"... All right,"

　The man who reluctantly receives the silver coin leaves the room.
　Seeing the man off his back, the boss looks at the robe on the wall.

"A cover-up robe?" I'm sure I can use it, but... it hurts that I can't move when I'm gone. However, it is true that this experiment at Egzil is of great benefit to us. However, if you leave it to him, he will surely miss the opportunity. "Well, first of all, I have to go to report."

　muttering and exhaling bitterly, he rose from his chair.





"... I'm tired today."
"Oh, because today alone we've made a lot of progress in our search. I'm a little tired."

　Elena replies over a cold glass of fruit water.
　It's already night, and the summer sun is long overdue.
　Still, it is probably because it is midsummer that it is midsummer.
　However, this golden futei, where Ray and Elena are staying, is a luxury inn and is designed to be comfortable with magic items.
　The inn itself was filled with cool air, distinct from the heat and humidity outside. In addition, they offer free cold fruit water like Elena drinks.
　That being said, it is because it is an exil larger in scale than Gilm, and above all, it brings the blessings of dungeon.
　...but the dungeon brings both blessings and dangers. In a sense, there is a high‐risk, high‐return aspect.
　At any rate, Ray, enjoying the service above the Wheat-tei at dusk, puts his mouth to a cold cup of tea and turns to Elena.
　Elena usually gives off an air of calmness, but now she's giving off an air of fun and at the same time she's giving off some moist air.
　The way you put your mouth on a glass of fruit water is so fascinating that you can't help but watch it.

"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Oh, no. It's nothing. and what shall we do tomorrow?"

　ask as if to hide one's momentary fascination with someone when one sees one another

"What do we do? We haven't got a magic item that's our goal yet, and most importantly, Ray's got very few magic stones, right? Then of course he's going to go through the dungeon."
"No, not so," Tomorrow we will capture from the 10th basement. That's fine, but what I heard from Vihela was that the desert was from the 11th basement, right? I have a dragon lobe, and Seto is, in the first place, a glyphon, so he's good at environmental change."

　That's what Ray said, but even Seto feels hot. In that respect, the Golden Futei was not as good as this main building, but there were some air-conditioning magic items installed in the stable, and consideration was given to the presence of people such as juma and horses.
　For a moment, Ray felt as if Seto's voice had passed through his mind, but he decided it was probably just his imagination.

"... I see. Even though I've absorbed the magical stones of the Gent Dragon, surely there may be many difficulties in advancing to the desert-like hierarchy with my equipment."

　Elena is equipped with a connected sword. When it comes to protective gear, it's a pure white light armour, a matching golden cloak with its hair, and a pair of Slapnil shoes like Ray.
　All of them are magic items, and if you're going to fight the enemy on the battlefield, there's no problem. But the answer would be no, if asked if it was suitable equipment for deserts.

"Then shall we go to the adventurer's shop tomorrow instead of going to the dungeon?"
"An adventurer's shop?"
"Oh, since Egzil is a labyrinthine city, of course they are selling the equipment necessary to capture the dungeon. I'm sure there's a store selling tools and equipment for a particular class, especially if there's a particular class called desert. --but we'll have to start by finding a shop of that kind... well, we'll get by."
"Oh, yes. If Ray says so, I'll do it."

　Ray slants his head inwardly to Elena, who tells her with a light red cheeks.
　For Elena, they go shopping alone go shopping. I mean...

(According to what I heard from Aara, this... can I call it a date?)

　mutter in one's heart
　There were only two of us heading to the dungeon, but I thought it would be difficult to go into the dungeon on a date. But going shopping together is definitely a date.

"... Elena?"
"Huh? No, it's nothing. It's not worth getting ready for, as we certainly challenge the desert hierarchy. All right, let's say we're going shopping tomorrow."

　Ray nods, though slightly pressured by Elena's subtle words.

"Oh, oh, I don't mind if it's all right with Elena." I've been diving in the dungeon ever since I came to Egidil. I'm sure we'll need some rest."Lizardman skewers you buy every day on your way to the dungeon. I remember the owner of the skewer restaurant saying that Ray and Elena, who are heading to the dungeon almost every day, are unusual.
　Ray and Elena are different from ordinary people in many ways, but that doesn't mean they don't feel completely tired. That's why I decided that it would be a good idea to make a holiday look more fashionable.

(It's true that going out with Elena seems to be fun.)

　Even Ray is looking forward to going out with Elena, so the two of us will be discussing how to spend tomorrow's shopping until very late.





"Don't be silly!"

　With an angry cry, the glass I had was knocked to the floor.
　The owner of the voice glared at the person standing before him, red with anger.
　Originally, I'd like to slap a glass into the face of a man with a straight face in front of him. But there is a reason why it cannot be done. Because this person, who is supposed to be younger than me, joins hands... no, he's the top ally.

"Even if you say so," I'm embarrassed, too. Why, mutants... No, did the guild call them abnormal? Anyway, I was supposed to be raising that strange species, but it has been knocked down."

　a man who opens his mouth vaguely and provocatively.
　But unfortunately, in a way, the old man in front of him glared at him unconscious of the contempt he was looking at.

"...who overthrew what was supposed to be the hand piece of a kite?"
"Well, nothing about it yet. But wouldn't you, the head of the Levisor family, find it easy?"
"Well, certainly it will be difficult for you and others to investigate,"

　An old man -- Schaffner Levisor -- who was supposed to have been angry until a few seconds ago snorted proudly, wondering if he could look into the guild's information without his own ability.
　without notice of the man's disdain at all

"So, may I leave the matter of the guild to you?"
"... well, they're all useless except for you, your men, and 儂."

　a pickle
　The man reacts momentarily to Schaffner's words.

"What happened to your men?"
"Huh? Oh, because crimson has entered the egzil of 儂. I had my subordinates watch me because I was notorious, but... they offered me a stray party, and I heard they refused. That's why young people these days are useless."

　When the man hears the explanation, he glances contemptuously at the old man who is confident of his advantage.

(Pretend to be silly.) If you do that, you'll only be suspected over there. If you're going to watch, if you're going to watch from afar... or if you're crimson, you're going to notice that you're being watched by someone who's following this man. Considering that, the result would have been the same anyway. But then what are you going to do with him? Will you use a cover‐up robe to monitor it? Then you don't have to worry about finding it. I don't have one, but...

　A man who shakes his head slightly because he can't move while using it.
　But I guess he misunderstood something when he saw it. Schaffner nods and opens his mouth as if you understand.

"As far as I can see, are there many of your men who are they?"
"...yes,"

　a man who nods without hesitation at Schaffner's words
　When he saw it, Schaffner smiled at his lips... without realizing that the man's gaze was at him, that it was him who was said that he could not use it, he poured wine into another glass from which he had just knocked it to the floor and carried it to his mouth.

"Well, well, well," You'd better take care of yourself while you're young. 儂That's what I used to be."
"You must have had a lot of trouble,"

　Tell them so, and say that it is troublesome for them to get involved in the damage of old age in front of them.

"Then I'll excuse myself," We have to work out countermeasures against crimson from tomorrow, and above all, we need to observe the abnormal conditions of course."
"Huh? Well, I see. ...you know, it is because of the presence of 儂 that the Lord and others are allowed to work in this Exil. And if the power of 儂 is strengthened, so will the Lord and others. Don't forget it."
"I understand," I hope you will have the protection of the Holy Goddess of Light."

　a man who bows gracefully and leaves
　Seeing the man's back off, he grimly distorts his faint smile and puts his mouth on a glass of wine.

"Well, what is the holy goddess of light?" Disgusting. They were able to produce mutants because of the experiments that he had originally ordered them to do. But why don't we leave it to them because they're more technically expensive? ...I don't think they'll be loyal to the Levisor family. Then you'd better do something for a rainy day."

　mutter, close your eyes as if you were thinking.
　...and a few minutes later. When the butler of the estate turned up, there was only a figure of Schaffner, scratching his bump and sleeping.





"…we must make sure that we know who we should join hands with." In any case, the partner you join hands with and the disposable tool you need to use are different. That's the way it is."

　Looking up at the falling moonlight, the man's words, which had been talking to Schaffner until now, melt into the evening's egzil.