a section of the dining room in a long‐standing empty house
　There was now a toast in the hands of the whole party of Daskers.
　The reason for the celebrations is of course that they have passed the preliminary round for today's competition, with Ray and Rodos in the lead roles, but for some reason there are also three of the fangs of Luzzi, Veicur, and Most.
　For a few days, Dasker invited him on the grounds that he had sweated with Ray and Rodos.
　Vaicur and Most were reluctant at first to join the celebration, as some of the aristocrats...and some of the three major factions of the kingdom of Milliana, but Luzzi, without seeming to care at all, followed Dusker's words.

"Well, I heard from Rodos, but don't do your party very often."
"Yes, yes, yes," Even if it looks like this, it's still well known as a Rank C party. though our names probably haven't reached the kingdom of Mileana."

　Enjoying cold and cold ale, skewers and stews, viscera and beans, Luzzi drinks a glass of elk and ale.

"No, no, wait a minute. He's the axe of the famous Rank A adventurer, Thunder God, in the kingdom of Mileana. Why is my Luzzi talking so normally?"
"It's no use saying it, Vaicul," Because it's Luzzi, isn't Ruzzi."

　In a flustered manner, Maast says to Vaicul, already resigned.
　It's been almost two years since the three of us formed a party, but we can't help but rush into the party leader Luzzi's words and actions.

"Well, my father looks like that and doesn't care about decency. I don't care in particular, unless you're so playful."

　With a glass of ale in his hand, Rodos calls out to them.
　Veicul, who drank to the glass he was offered, smiled and replied.

"Oh, Rodos. Congratulations on getting through the preliminary round."
"Oh, well, there were a lot of challenges to win. You've passed the preliminary round, right? You're doing a great job."
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Sure, Luzzi did win without danger, but I acted as if I were not to be found by anyone, and I felt like I had won by taking advantage of others' battles."

　At Vaicul's meaningful words, Morst brings a wry smile to his mouth, diluted with water.

"Well, that's a natural choice for victory,"

　Toward such a ghost, Vaicul casts a somewhat dumbfounded glance.
　But Rodos nods that it's natural, contrary to such a veicul.

"The Wizard must play the part of the wall before he can win. With that in mind, it wouldn't be so strange to team up with someone close to you on the stage. There is no rule that participants should not form a group."

　Yes, what Morst did when he got through the qualifying round was to bring in those with big bodies and confidence in their defenses.
　While the avant‐garde strengthens his defenses, Maast casts a spell on the enemy.
　Of course it didn't all go well. Up to three players per block can win the preliminary round. If that happens, we can't have more friends than we can't have more friends.
　Other than one warrior who had become a wall, he could have been among his companions, but it turned out that there was no one fit for Most's glasses, so they were going to fight together.
　Then, naturally, the other participants wanted to defeat the dangerous magician as soon as possible, so they were attacked intensively, and the man in the wall could not hold it down by himself, so in the end, Morst himself was forced to use the dagger he had learned from Ray, and managed to win.
　Ultimately, Maast and the avant-garde man, and the bandit man who kept out of the attack until the end, succeeded in overcoming Maast's block.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah However, this case was only made in the form of Battle Royal. What should we do about the tournament in this case? Wouldn't it be better for me to shake a scythe like Ray?"
"That's not the case, is it?" Are you by any chance...?

　Veicul snuffed away the glass from Most's mouth at what he would not normally say.
　The smell of alcohol definitely floated from there.

"Well... I knew it." I don't mind drinking a little, but you're not good at drinking, so be careful."
"Huh? Is Morst not good at drinking?"

　Vaicul turns his head to Rodos, who asks him as if he had heard something unexpected.

"What? Are you a bad drinker, too.
"No, it's not me, it's Ray." Of course, having a drink or two doesn't mean you're going to collapse right away. Personally, he doesn't seem to enjoy alcohol very much."
"Oh, isn't 30 percent of your life lost?"
"I can't go that far, but it's a pity that I don't understand how delicious it is."
"Not at all. I can't stand a drink after work. You can drink cold ale at such a high-class restaurant as this."

　Morst glances amused at the two men, who drink up their ale in high spirits.

"I don't think such bitter taste is good."
"No, you were drinking before, weren't you?" It's certainly stupid of you to go out of your way to drink something that's not delicious."

　The reply to the muttered voice as if it were talking to itself was frightening.
　Looking back, I saw Ray with chicken thighs on a plate.
　It's probably steamed with plenty of herbs. An appetizing scent drifts up to the most.
　I didn't bake it directly, so I could tell just by looking at it that it was moist and not crispy.

"Well, it's pathetic to look at someone who gets drunk and gets involved with others in the first place. --especially my Luzzi."

　Looking at their party leaders laughing with Elk, Ray shrugs his shoulders as if he agrees and hands them a plate of chicken thighs.

"Well, thank you for your hard work today."
"What? Is it okay?"

　Most knew that the food he was given was reasonably expensive, even though it was served in the inn's cafeteria.
　It's only natural that chickens that are specially raised are infused with rare spices and herbs.
　However, Ray offers the plate without a trace of concern at all at his words.

"The Wizard has won the preliminary round for Battle Royal. I don't mind having this much of a role, do I? I'll be a wizard, too, just in case."
"A wizard... a wizard, right? In the first place, ordinary wizards don't use scythe like that."
"Hmm, do you not want this? If you don't want the ghost, I'll eat it."
"Oh, I'm sorry," It's a lie. Mr. Ray is a good wizard enough.

　Smiling at the fluttering comments, I just put the plate in front of the ghost.
　But there's no reason why Veicur and Rodos, who have been drinking such a good smell at the same table, don't notice.

"Oh, it's cunning. Why are you eating something that only seems delicious?""Yes, give it to me, too.
"Noisy, this is a present for the Wizard. It's not like warriors and bandits like you winning."
"I'm partial, I'm partiality.
"Absolutely. Aren't you always too strict with me?"

　I guess he's already drunk enough. Hit the table over and over again, talking about a weak sound you would not normally hear.

"That's not the case, so be quiet."

　Even though it's a celebration, it's only held in the restaurant of the long‐standing Kutei. Naturally, the restaurant is not reserved, and there are many other customers.
　Of course, most of the other guests are in the imperial capital on business related to this competition, and some are also participating in the competition.
　Many of them, like the laymen, are celebrating.
　However, the fact that the Rays have passed the preliminary round naturally means that some of them haven't made it.
　No, considering the number of people, it's only natural that there are more people who lost in the preliminary round.
　What would it look like if those who advanced to the main battle in front of them were to cheerfully shout out loud like Rodos.
　Naturally, there were many people who were not interested in it, and there were a few who were looking at it with displeased.
　The reason why no one is involved is probably because the Rays are known to be part of the Dusker party of the Milliana Kingdom, and there is Dusker himself in the celebration.
　At the same time, the fact that as many as five players have participated in the main game is also a deterrent.
　After all, 60 players can play in the finals from the preliminary round. And there are five of us here. In short, about 10 percent of the contestants are here.

"Oh? It's all right. Whatever happens, I'll do something about it when I'll play in the main game. Hah!"
"Oh, that's wonderful! But I didn't lose either!"

　They shout joyfully and stand up on the spot.







　These two...more precisely, looking at Vaicul, put the steamed chicken thighs back on the plate and look at Ray.

"Oh, that's no good. Mr. Ray, will you help me hold down Vaicul, for I shall be in trouble at this rate?"
"...is it troublesome?"

　At first, Ray didn't know what he was saying, but suddenly he picked up something that fell on his head.
　It's clothes. It's clothes that I've seen a few seconds ago.

"Hey?"

　By any chance. I looked up and saw what I had expected.
　the figure of Veicur in a sort of black running shirt
　The clothes that were there until just now don't exist because they are in Ray's hands.
　Now that you've come to that point, it's not hard for Ray to understand what's going on.

"Ray, I'll ask you".
"Ah... well, I can't help it."

　Almost everyone at the celebration is drinking and making a fuss.
　Currently, only a few people, including Ray and Most, are sober. 　
　Even Min, who usually doesn't get carried away, is smirking at wine because Rodos has decided to play in the finals.
　Ray breathes when he can't help looking around.
　It would have been better if Vaicul had worn the leather armour he wore for the game, but this is the dining room. What's more, it's a celebration. People who wear armor in such places don't usually exist unless there are good reasons to do they?

"Look, don't go wild!"
"Why, I'm going to show you what's good about me, and that's all right. Don't you want to see Ray? At that age, you're a little interested in women, aren't you?"
"I'm not saying I don't have one, but I'm not saying that I don't have one,"

　Reverting, Vaicul's hand reaches for a black running shirt.
　Then, as Ray holds it in, he swings down the cane that Most had on Vaicul's head.
　the sound of bruises ringing around

(Well, how is that?)

　Ray muttered inwardly, looking at Veicul, who was unconscious at one blow and fell straight to the floor.
　I think it's better to teach them the art of walking sticks instead of daggering them.
　It's no wonder that Ray thought that way with his cane.

(Come to think of it, Min also used a cane as a weapon. and with enough force to sink the Elk at one blow...)

　As he thinks like that, he hangs the clothes Ray had on Vaicur, who has fallen to the floor.

"Is there nothing we can do about drinking too much in the habit of being weak?"

　Rodos glanced at me, muttering.
　As Rodos watched the series of conversations, he nodded silently many times, as if he were sober in an instant.
　Of course, if you are serious, it's not difficult to avoid that kind of blow. However, it is only as usual. It was a blow that had the speed and power to shut up when asked if it could be avoided while intoxicated.
　Rodos, who has seen similar attacks from Minn many times, or by Elk, has a habit of not avoiding it half instinctively.
　Although he may not have understood Rodos' feelings, Morst opens his mouth with a small smile.

"I won't tell you not to make a fuss at the celebration. But have a good time with moderation?"

　Rodos could only nod silently to the remark.