"My name is Mr. Cuken, and I work for Mr. Theoreme. Thank you for accepting me despite the suddenness."

　The woman, identified as Cuken, bowed her head deeply to Dusker, who was just in front of her.
　Of course I was going to meet Dusker, so I had already taken off my wet robe and dressed for mobility.
　Although she didn't look nervous from the sidelines, the woman who identified herself as Cuken instinctively feels the unbound strength of Dusker in front of her eyes and, above all, Elk, who stands by as a bodyguard, thinks she'll listen to one or two complaints about Theoreme when she goes back over there.
　Dusker nods back and opens his mouth, apparently unaware of Cuken's appearance.

"Oh, I've heard that you're going to send a man with a dagger with this mark as your liaison." I'll give it back to you, just in case."

　When Dusker gives his dagger to a nearby knight, he approaches Cuken and gives him a dagger.
　Putting the dagger in his pocket, Cuken bows his head slightly and then opens his mouth.

"Thank you very much. So, I'll take a moment to say..."
"Oh, it was a messenger," What is it about?"
"First of all, Mr. Theoreum is expanding his military strength with the help of His Excellency Vihela. Of course, it would be troublesome if people from other factions knew that the third prince's faction was doing such a thing, so it would not be found."
"I've heard about it. Vichela is very popular, isn't it?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, we are gradually gathering our military strength. ...however, the number of people that are increasing is gradually increasing, as the main premise is that they are reliable partners."
"I suppose,"

　Elk frowns slightly when Theoreum's name comes out, but immediately removes it from his expression and nods to Cuken's words.
　The duel on the Celemus plain made him understand the other side's position and convinced him, but it seems that he can't pretend to let everything go to the water right away.
　As a wife...or rather, his intuition as a companion who has walked with Elk for many years makes him feel calm and gently pat his back.
　Cuken, who doesn't realize he's having such a conversation, goes on to speak.

"And next time, to be honest, it would not be too much if I were sent this time to inform you of this information."
"Oh? Pompous, but... what kind of information?"
"There is an organization called the Bell of Souls, which undertakes dark things like assassination, kidnapping and incitement in the Bestian Empire. Of course, there are other organizations like this, but this organization is known as the Bell of Soul Restoration."

　Cuken's words make Elk's eyebrows frown again.
　Basically, for Elk, who has a straight personality, I don't like the organization at the back of his hand very much.
　Of course, I know it's a necessary evil, given that I'm a high-ranking adventurer, Rank A.
　Although he may not have seen Elk speak for himself, Cuken continues his account of the bell.

It is also said that the bell of repose of souls places importance on duty as a back organization, and returns kindness and betrayal. In fact, it is said that the aristocrats who tried to keep their mouth shut while asking for behind-the-scenes work met with such a terrible end that they wanted to avoid putting it into words.'
"Is it an organization behind the scenes of duty?" I don't know if I'm loyal or not, but I've already had contact with such a thing."

　Cuken bowed apologetically at Dusker's words.

"Yes, I heard about the town I stopped by before coming to this village. If I had come a day earlier, I could have handled it a little better... I'm sorry."
"Why, don't you mind?" Our bodyguard has not been particularly damaged. The wound is light, and it is expected to recover in a few days."
"Thank you,"

　Seeing Kuken bowing, Min suddenly opens his mouth as if he thinks of it.

"You said Cuken, didn't you? How much do you know about the organization called the Bell of Souls?"
"Unfortunately, the details...we are originally a secretive organization, so we don't have much information on the personnel we belong to." In this world, if you have a certain level of skill, your name usually spreads quickly."
"Well, by the way, who can use a complete stranger without fighting for himself? And he has the ability to paralyze pain in that object and make it much stronger than usual."

　After thinking about Min's words for a few seconds, Quken opens his mouth to see if there was anything in mind.

"Perhaps he is called a puppeteer by that trick. However, I don't know much about the details. It doesn't mean that the person I caught would die, but it seems that they would fall into a coma... as long as it was such a trick, they would rarely appear outside, and before I knew it, they came to be called puppeteers."
"Puppeteer?" I'm sure there were some like that."

　You must have remembered last night's battle. Rodos muttered abominably.
　Rodos, who, along with the other knights, was guarding the stairs, felt no pain in the mobs trying to climb the stairs... and even remembered that there was a man of unusual strength.
　Because of the small number of people, they were able to break down their joints and incapacitate them, but they were also in a coma, as were Ray and Sett.

"That's what a troublesome man has been after." Are they employed by the nobles of this country?"

　Cuken nods back to Dusker's disgusted question.

"Yes, but even though you are a noble, you are not a noble in such an important position."
"Well, it was the upper echelon of this country who invited me in the first place. I don't think you'll let me have an assassin even if you're displeased with him. But then --"

　After a moment of contemplation, he immediately looked convinced.
　You don't have to wonder why you were attacked.
　In fact, Rodos, Ray, and the knights reported it.

"Those whose families and acquaintances were killed in the war?"
"Yes, especially in this war, many soldiers, knights, and nobles have died." Of course, they include heirs, fiancees, and friends."
"...not to mention so." It's a war? I'll tell you that you're a member of the Vestian Empire, but it was the Vestian Empire that attacked you in the first place. We just intercepted him."
"For the time being, I can't say anything about it in my capacity... but there is no doubt that it was hired by someone who had a grudge against Larkes and the crimson."

　Even Cuken wouldn't find it interesting to be bothered by something like this.
　That was only natural. Originally, he had to move with Theorem and Vihela to rescue the third prince.
　Even for the liaison this time, the person below should have made a regular report. However, having caught the movement of the organization behind the bell, Cuken was unable to imitate it.

"But one thing. There's something I want you to be careful about."

　The eyes of those present are on Cuken, who tells us in a formal manner.
　Dasker, Count of Larkes, Elk, the axe of Rank A Party Thunder God, and his wife Min.
　Cuken continues his explanation unabashedly, under the gaze of all three of them.
　An explanation so majestic that if someone had been watching Cuken sitting on his back watching Seto, he would have doubted his eyes.

"The bell of repose of souls, which is famous for its prodigy in the Empire of Bestia. Since it's such an organization, we can't touch it easily. In other words, we can't ask for it either."
"But the people who actually attacked the city before me are the bells of repose, aren't they?"What are you talking about? That's what Rodos says, and Cuken nods.

"Yes, as far as I have heard, it is certain that it is the work of the bell of repose of the soul, especially considering the ways in which the unconscious man has gone." I mean...
"Well, as long as the person who could not make the request originally is making the request, is there any possibility that there is something wrong?"
"As the Count of Frontiers L'Arcus says he. That's why I'm late in delivering this information. When I got the information that the bell of repose was involved, especially when I saw the names of the people who employed it, Mr. Theoreme at first judged it to be a rumor or something. However, as a result of investigating the information because it was too specific, the information was backed up and I was dispatched."

　At the remark, Dusker frowns.
　I didn't feel uncomfortable with Cuken, but I felt uncomfortable with someone behind the scenes.

"It's troublesome. ... Don't you know who's behind you yet?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Theoreme is doing his best, but... the third prince's faction is small in number..."

　The popular Vihela is trying to manage the small number of people.
　However, there was no way we could do anything about it soon, and it was obvious that the struggle would continue for some time.

"... well, isn't it okay? Ray's job originally attracts the eyes of the empire. I don't know what the mastermind is up to, but it has succeeded in attracting the attention of the majority."

　Elk announces as if to blow away the gloomy air.

"And if you know there's someone behind you, that'll do you any good. Especially that Ray, though I can only think of the sight of him biting the throat of the person who set the trap."

　The reason why everyone is convinced of the word is probably because they are fully aware of Ray.
　For some reason, Cuken nodded in agreement, but this is because he saw Sett, Ray's follower, up close.

"I've heard from His Highness Vichela and Mr. Theoreme that crimson... No, is Mr. Ray amazing?"
"It's definitely great, if you say it's great." What? You were in the war under Theoreum, didn't you see the tornado of fire?"

　Cuken shakes his head with a wry smile as he asks Dasker in wonder.

"I'm afraid I wasn't part of the Spring War. I was a little out of the force under the orders of Mr. Theorame."
"I see. Well, I understand a lot of things, so I shouldn't ask you what you've been up to."
"Yes, that would be a great help," I'd like to see a tornado of flames I hear about at least once. I can't afford to ask you to show me casually."
"That's natural, isn't it?" Ray has already become famous for that matter. Especially in this Vestian Empire, the name is better known than in the Kingdom of Milliana. with the tornado of flame that has become synonymous with crimson."

　a mumbling dasker recalling the scene seen on the battlefield
　Even as a Dasker, he knew Ray was a good man from the time he beat Oak King.
　But it was completely unexpected that he still had that level of ability.
　It's true, however, that Dusker was disappointed in a good way.
　Hearing Dusker's words, Cuken recalls how a tornado of flames engulfs, burns and tramples people, even though he hasn't actually seen them.
　Perhaps it was because of the words of Dusker, who had seen the scene in person.

"... well, that's for that matter." That's off the subject. Let's return to the subject of the bell of repose of souls. Do you think we'll set it up on our way to the imperial capital?"
"To be honest with you, I don't know. But if revenge is the motive of those who commissioned the bell, there is a good chance. Don't be too careful... No, I don't need to say that there are lightning gods' axes and crimson. I'm sorry.
"No, don't worry. But what are you going to do now, Kewken? Are you going to stay here for a night and then go back to the bottom of the theater?"
"Yes, I'd like to do so if possible. To leave in this rain at once --"
"All right. I'll tell the village mayor to prepare a room. There are inns, but considering your background, you'd better stay with us."

　Cuchen bowed to Dusker's words, and ended up staying at the village chief's house the next day, leaving the village with Dusker and his party and breaking up on the way.