"...is that really all right?"

　The knight asks Ray so.
　About 50 spears are under Ray.
　Some of them lack ear tips or have cracks in the handle, but most of them are common spears, not the ones Ray likes to buy at blacksmiths or arms dealers.
　It was a spear where the bloody‐edged weapon in this hideout was laid down.
　Although it is a mercenary group centered on cavalry, infantry is common. Spears were prepared as weapons for such infantry.
　This time, in addition to the magic item, a pocket watch, Ray wanted the spear as a reward for his request to kill the bloody blade.

"Oh, I didn't have any other magic items I could use, and I've had enough money. Death-sized weapons are enough for everyday use, and there are many knives, including spare ones, to remove the material. We have a certain amount of spears in stock, but we use them as basic throwing weapons, so we just need to have some spare spears. And..."

　Ray glances at the spear under his feet and smiles a little.

"These are not broken spears that I collect, but most of them are common spears. In addition to throwing, we can give it to our friends in case of emergency."
"If Ray is satisfied, that's fine, but... he's not greedy."

　The Knight muttered somewhat dumbfounded, and Langa smiled bitterly at it. Shrugging his shoulders against them, Ray puts all the spears lying on the ground in the mistling and turns his eyes back into the tent.
　Soldiers in the expedition were also able to gather as many treasures as possible from the Goblin.
　However, according to Everogi, the head of the bloody blade, it is half gone.
　That's how Ray thought and suddenly catches his eye on the jewels in the tent.
　Large green gems are illuminated by the sun's setting through the trees.
　It's a large emerald measuring about 5 cm.
　Strangely eye-catching, I pick up the emerald and suddenly think of Tradesh.
　I didn't ask him why, but he still seemed to be in need of money.
　That's enough to refrain from hiring a bodyguard adventurer.

(...yes, yes. I've been taken care of by them after all.)

　muttering inwardly to Langa and the Knight.

"I'll take this emerald, too." So I'd like to ask you a question, how was the business force that I used as a trap?"
"Huh? They'll be waiting outside the forest with a bodyguard. I've caught the people who've been making a lot of noise lately, but there are monsters as well,
"All right. Then I'd like to show up over there, would you mind?"

　In response to Ray's question, Langa and the Knight look up at the sky.
　The summer sun was already setting, and the setting sun was pouring through the trees into the hideout of bloody blades.
　Looking at them, Ray immediately pulls out his watch and opens the lid.
　It's past 6 p.m. It's time to have dinner already.

"Well, what shall we do?" It's difficult to get back to Gilm with the captives now and become Abuero. Then I think you ought not to move so carelessly, but to pass the night here, and leave early to-morrow morning."

　Langa nods and opens her mouth to the knight's words.

"Then I'd like Ray and Sett to help me... what do you think?"
"All right. Then how about meeting Tradesh and finishing his business and coming back here?"

　When Ray says something, Langa and the Knight communicate with each other, and then nod softly.

"Well, then I'll ask you," I'll put a lot of pressure on you, but thank you for your cooperation."
"Don't worry. I've been paid enough for that."

　Play with a watch made of misrils in the palm of your hand, put it in a mistling, and then leave.
　After seeing Ray off, Langa and the Knight began to give orders to their men to spend the night there anyway.





"Set, will you fly a little out of the woods?"
"Grull?"

　At Ray's words, Seto shrieks his throat, looking towards a bloodstained blade tied with a rope.
　Understanding what it means, Ray says, caressing Seto's neck.

"The tidying up here is almost done, and the soldiers of the punitive force have a lot of room to spare. If you try to run away, you'll only be killed easily, so you don't have to worry."

　Ray's gaze at the blood-stained blade is surprisingly cold.
　One of the reasons for this is how the woman, the survivor of the attacked merchant force, was treated. Perhaps even more because they heard soldiers knighting Langa about the treatment they received by the goblins and the eventual death they reported.

"And even if you run away... in that case, you and I can always find you, and they'll have enough experience to regret being born."

　Feeling the anger and murder contained in the word, those tied up with ropes almost reflexively stop moving.
　No, that's not all. The punitive party, who had been watching the bloodstained blades nearby, had been paralyzed.

"... ah,"

　A word leaked from the mouth of a punitive soldier dissipates the sanguine spirit of Ray's body.

"I'm sorry. I'm a little too much.
"Yes, no. It's all right. It's no use thinking about what they've done."

　The soldier next to the speaker shakes his head, tells him not to worry, and pats his co-worker on the shoulder.
　That must have been the signal. Soldiers who have been unable to move finally come back to themselves and express shame at the disgrace they have shown themselves.

"Then, please come here for now,"

　Saying only that briefly, Ray runs up into the sky on Sett's back in a few steps.
　Looking up from the ground, soldiers tell it in a piercing tone.

"...I honestly thought I was going to die."
"Oh, so do I,"
"Not at all, you were a little too angry to be fashionable,"
"... well, given what they've done, it's no wonder."

　I could hear such voices, but none of the people with bloodstained blades showed any movement.
　It was the same with even Everogi, who was leading a bloody blade.
　The last time I felt the murder and anger released by Ray, I held it in my heart was absolute death.
　It was such an overwhelming fear that if I could move my fingertips a little... no, I knew that my death would surely come without doing so.

(...not lucky.) I can't believe I was hostile to such a fellow.

　Everogi, unable to move himself, still manages to mutter and bite at his misfortune.
　I had already lost all my desire to escape.
　If we knew that we had escaped, we could imagine Ray coming.





　Within a few minutes of riding a set over the forest, you'll see three horse-drawn carts parked by the side of the highway.
　Soldiers were around it, watching out for monsters and bandits.
　In the midst of this, Ray, who, of course, was at first pointed his weapons at the soldiers, immediately recognized Ray... more precisely, when he saw Sett of the Gryphon, he lowered his sword.

"Ray, don't be surprised. I thought it was a monster or something."

　One of the soldiers who knew Ray's face puts his sword down in a sheath, deftly mimicking him to complain and smile.
　With the other soldiers holding their swords in scabbards as well, Ray turns to Tradesh, who is somewhat absent in front of the carriage."Mr. Ray, have you cleared up that you are here?"
"Oh, that's about it."

　At Ray's words, not only the merchants, but also the soldiers who were left as bodyguards, burst into relief.
　No matter how much you trust your boss and colleagues, and how much you understand that there is a substandard force called Ray, you never know what will happen in real life. Therefore, it was very helpful for the soldiers to be informed of the results properly.

"Well, congratulations," Do you go out of your way to let me know?"
"No, I have one more thing to do," ... here it is. It's your share."

　muttered and handed over a large grain of... or rather a huge emerald.
　The jewel reflecting the sunset was clearly a very expensive thing.
　Yes, it's worth so much that you can't easily buy it in the trading force led by Tradeshia.
　You can't just throw it around as easy as Ray did.
　Understanding the value of the emerald, Tradeshia and her fellow merchants open their eyes wide.

"What? Well, Mr. Ray. This is..."

　When Tradeshia asks the emerald, who is suddenly handed over, Ray replies, giving Seto a sandwich from the mistling.

"That's why I told you, isn't it? It's exactly your share."
"No, that's why. Why are we supposed to get a share?"
"Did you play the role of a bloody blade, which is necessary for finding out their hideout? That's why I've been able to do it all, and I'm well deserved to get my share."

　At that moment, Tradea's face is twisted intricately.
　I'm happy, I wonder if it's true, and I'm suspicious that I'll be asked to send something else.
　Tradeshia has such a complex expression on her face, but after about 30 seconds she holds the emerald tightly and bows her head to Ray.

"Thank you very much. If you had a horse and this one that Mr. Ray had handed over to you... the house...
"Well, don't think so hard. I couldn't have drawn in the bloody blade without you, and it would have taken more time for the matter to be resolved. You can think of it as a fair reward."

　Ray doesn't know why Tradesh's business is so badly off.
　Or maybe there was some grand story, but I didn't mean to get involved in it in the present situation.
　However, since there was someone who needed money, and the problem that had been a big problem with the person's work was solved, I could only think that there should be a reasonable reward.

"...thank you very much. I'm sure I'll be indebted to you one of course.

　He bowed again, and a few drops of tears fell from his face to the ground.
　Ray, who was watching Tradesh, shrugs his shoulders lightly and turns his eyes to the soldiers of the expedition.

"And what are they going to do now?"
"Ah... I see,"

　The soldier was surprised to see a series of conversations, but then he looked into the air as if he remembered something.
　But before the soldier recalls anything, another soldier opens his mouth.

"Anyway, this case has been settled, hasn't it? Then we'll take them to Abuero. Langa used to say that."
"Really? Then, please."
"Oh, leave it to me," After all, there was little we could do, no matter what the punitive force. and if you don't do that, you won't be able to face Mr. Dusker."

　With a small sigh, Ray opens his mouth with a rare little smile at the soldier's words to do at least what he has to do.

"Well, then, please," -- oh, if you're hungry, eat this."

　A basket of sandwiches, taken out of Mistilling, for about 10 people.

"Oh, thank you. But is it all right? Your share... No, not to mention it."
"Well, my share is in here,"

　show one's misty ring in one's right hand
　Guillum's soldiers know that Ray has an item box, so that's probably the only way he got it. The soldiers laughed happily and accepted the basket.

"Well, I'll be back now, but be careful to get to Abuero."
"Yes, sir... thank you very much!"
"There were many doubts, but I'm glad I believed you."
"For the time being, I'll just thank you. It's a relief."
"Tell Mr. Langa that you want him to take care of me."

　That's how Ray rode back to where Langa and the Knights were waiting, listening to the words of merchants and soldiers.