"You're busy, too,"
"No, not at all. I wanted to rest a little more."
"Grull".

　Ray shrugs back to what the guards at the main gate say, dumbfounded.
　By Ray's side, Seto was also screaming as if he agreed.
　Leaving the lord's residence, Ray joined Sett, who had been playing in the garden as usual, and went straight to the main gate at dusk, telling the landlady, Lana, that he would be away from Guillum for several days at the request of her.
　The reason why I told Lana that I was going out of town when I was staying for a few days is purely because it was a message for a customer who came to see me for a set.
　Ray used to stay at the Wheat House at dusk, but most of his luggage is stored in a mistling.
　Therefore, ordinary adventurers would have to take the trouble of taking out and disposing of their belongings when they left the regular inn, but only Ray could easily leave the inn because he didn't have to worry about it.
　However, in this case, you don't have to be so nervous because you're just going to be away for a few days.

"Well, if Ray and Sett would go on a business trip to get rid of the thieves, I'd rather be happy than happy."

　The look on the guard's face as he speaks to Ray looks grave.
　As a security guard... and, above all, as a resident of the remote Gillum, he understands the seriousness of the continuing attacks on merchants.
　Not all merchants are attacked, of course, as long as they employ a bodyguard adventurer.
　Many were attacked and repulsed, but in this late summer season, there were many merchants who came to Gilm.
　Many of them underestimate the frontier, and many of them do not pay for their bodyguards.
　As a result, more merchants were to be attacked by thieves.
　Moreover, the bandits in question are cunning enough to kill all the attackers and hide their clues as much as possible.

"Say hello to Captain Langa,"
"Oh,"

　After completing the procedures, Ray is seen out of the gate by a guard.

"Oh, it's Seto. She's as cute as ever."

　Ray walks a short distance from the road with Seto, watching the adventurer who was just taking steps to get into the guillem smile at him.

(I think Setto has become quite well known, and I don't think this rule should go away any longer.)

　Thinking this way, Ray makes sure he's well away from the main gates and highways before straddling Sett's back.

"Well, let's go,"
"Roll-rolling.

　He was singing sharply at Ray's words, and after a few steps of running, he ran up in the air with his wings flapping.





"... Guru?"

　While flying through the sky to Abuero, Seto makes a quizzical cry.
　When Ray heard the voice, he looked down and found a remarkable sight on the earth... or, in a way, a very predictable sight.
　a group of about three horse‐drawn carts and horses chasing them
　The most surprising of all was the number of people riding the horse, though it was a common composition in this world.
　A rough count from above would have found nearly thirty horsemen.
　That's no longer the number of bandits. The army or mercenary corps of some country is more right.

"Well, I see," the mercenaries?"

　Ray feels very much convinced by the words that suddenly come to mind.
　It is not unusual for mercenaries who have no real job to switch to bandits.
　However, because there are powerful monsters near this frontier, even if they become a band of thieves, they are easily destroyed because there are many powerful monsters or adventurers who defeat them.

"But what if the mercenaries were strong enough to do something about it, then they would naturally be heavy on the strength of the city guards, or even the small number of knights sent to Abuero?" --it's just my guess."
"Glu?"

　As Seto asks her back, "What are you going to do?" Ray asks her to think a little and head towards the carriage.
　At his request, he descended to the side of the carriage fleeing from the pack of horsemen chasing him from behind.
　The first person to notice Seto's presence was not the three horse-drawn carts desperate to escape, but the cavalry who were chasing him from behind.
　It would have been natural given the distance.
　and as soon as he knew that it was Gryphon who came down, the leading cavalry gave a signal.
　In an instant, the cavalry moves away from Ray, Sett, and the carriage, not chasing it.

(It's a leadership move, isn't it? Now the possibility of being just a thief is reduced. ...or, in fact, a well-disciplined thief.)

　Thinking this way, Ray talks from above to the coachman still desperately driving.

"Well, there's no more thieves said.
"What? ... what!"

　The coachman exclaims in astonishment at the voice suddenly heard right next to him.
　It's no wonder. I was being chased from behind by bandits on horseback when I was suddenly called out to do so by the next to the carriage.
　Moreover, Sett was running on the ground rather than flying to make eye contact with the coachman's gaze.
　In that situation, it's fair to assume that you've been caught up with the robbers who attacked you from behind.
　Ray soon notices the coachman's cramped face, and even then he sees a merchant in his 40s holding his bow, shaking from the carriage platform, and breathes a little sigh.

"Don't worry... You may not feel safe, but I'm not a thief. He is an adventurer of Gilm."

　Tell him so, and pat him on the neck as he drove next to the carriage.

"Have you never heard of an adventurer who is subservient to the Gryphon?"
"... ah,"

　The word must have stimulated my memory. The merchant muttered a word and lowered his bow.
　and as the carriage slowed down, so did the other horse-drawn carriage which had been running around.





"Excuse me!"

　a merchant bowing to Ray
　This is the man who was bowing from the loading platform to Ray.

"No, don't worry. In that situation, it's no use mistaking me for a thief. but there are very few of them."

　As many as three horse-drawn carts were working together, Ray thought there were about 15 people in total, but the number of merchants who came down was five.
　It didn't seem like a commercial party with as many as three horse-drawn carts.

"... yes, sir..."

　Another merchant, who held his bow at Ray, opens his mouth as if it were hard to say.

"I never thought that the thief had such a horse. I thought a few cavalrymen would do something about it."
"Didn't you have a bodyguard ready?"
"...yes,"

　Merchants may have various reasons, but in today's situation where large-scale robbers are rampant, it seemed as if ducks were walking with leeks on their backs and cooking utensils such as pots, knives, chopping boards and chopsticks.

(That number of bandits, of course.) It was strangely disciplined, and I don't think it would have been any better if there were two or three guards.)

　If you think like that, one of the merchants opens his mouth in a way that seems difficult to say.

"And, um... it would be helpful if you could escort me to Abuero, of course, and I'll pay the reward."
"Oh, we can't afford it..."
`But it would be meaningless if you cheated on the price of the bodyguard and lost all of it!'
"... d*mn it."

　Watching the merchants arguing like that, Ray also hesitates about what to do.
　I understand that there are some special circumstances from the conversation, but I also have to join the Langas in Abuero as soon as possible.When I think that far, it suddenly comes to my mind.

(In the first place, the matter is so complicated in defeating the band of bandits who are supposed to be mercenaries. Isn't it a bad thing to reduce the strength of the band of thieves before you meet Langa? or, if things go well, we might be able to do it all together.)

　He talks to merchants who are still at odds over whether to hire Ray as his bodyguard.

"If you accept these conditions, I may give you a bodyguard for free, but what do you think?"

　The word "free" stops the merchants arguing and turns everyone's eyes on Ray.
　Then a merchant who drew a bow at Ray opens his mouth nervously.

"What are the terms? I'm sorry, but we don't have much to pay for."
"I'm not asking you to give me anything else instead of money. Actually, I was on my way to Abuero, and the reason was to deal with the band of robbers who had attacked this carriage earlier. and I wish to reduce the strength of the band of thieves by a little for the future."
"But if you were there, you wouldn't attack me, would you?"

　Ray nods at another merchant's words, looking at Set.
　As for the important set, he lay down on the grasslands beside the road, closed his eyes, and was wary of the surroundings.
　Who knows nothing... ...for example, to the merchants in front of Ray, they'll probably only look like they're basking in the sun.
　in the heat of over 30 degrees Celsius

"Oh, I'm sure I won't... but with Seto, the band of thieves wouldn't show up. So let Seto follow me away. and I will hide in the carriage and await the arrival of the band of robbers."
"...wait a minute. I mean, don't you mean to lure the band of robbers with us as a trap?"
"Yes,"

　Ray readily agrees with the merchant's words.
　In response, a blood vessel stands out on the merchant's forehead, and he continues his words as if to control his attempt to yell loudly.

"Don't you think I'd be better off as a bodyguard even if I were used as a bodyguard, rather than as a bodyguard? I promise you that I'll avenge you if there's a thief."
"Oh, my God, that's..."

　The man who tried to shout choked up.
　That's for sure. Since it is impossible to pay and hire Ray, we can either give up guarding him or follow Ray's words of turning them into enemies.
　The former are in danger of their lives, but the latter must suffer the humiliation of being preyed on to attract thieves.

"I think a merchant would make a choice in his own interest?"

　Rey's words silence everyone... while the timid merchant who bowed at Rey opens his mouth.

"All right, let me take you on the proposal."
"Hey!"

　One of the merchants screams involuntarily, but the timid merchant shakes his head before the words are uttered.

"What he is saying is right. As long as we can't afford the reward, we really need his help to protect ourselves from thieves. The power of an adventurer called crimson."
"That's..."

　Information is the life of a merchant.
　And in Gillum, Ray... more precisely, there was some information that Seth had returned, and the merchants naturally heard of it.
　As long as there is no adventurer other than Ray who is subservient to the Gryphon, it is easy to identify that person before him.

"And I don't think it's such a bad story, because it means that we can get rid of all the robbers who are trying to get at us." Now that he's there, even if they attack me again, I'm sure they'll be wiped out at that point. ...right?"
"That's what I'm going on.

　Ray also intends to use the merchant force in front of him as a trap, but of course he doesn't mean to hurt.

"...are you sure you can trust me?"

　Shrugging at the merchant's words, Ray opens his mouth.

"If you don't believe it, you don't have to believe it." I don't have to be so particular about you. There are many other merchants and tradesmen who go back and forth between Gilm and Abuero."
"That's..."

　He glances at the speech-strapped merchant, turns to the timid merchant who is likely to be the leader of the company, and asks, confirming his last intention.

"And will you accept my suggestion?"
"Yes, please."

　Contrary to his weak nature, the merchant bowed his head immediately.
　While somewhat surprised by the way it looked, Ray liked the way such a merchant looked.