After the awards ceremony ended and Ray disappeared from the stage. The audience in the general auditorium, the nobility and guests in the VIP seats, were on their way home because nothing had happened since the explosion, and there was a murmur in one of the VIP rooms.

"Hey, what happened to the sound of the explosion? I think I heard it from the castle."
"Well, what is it?" Well, Rodos doesn't care. Your purpose is Ray, isn't it? As you can see, Ray was in this arena when there was an explosion. If that's the case, it's clear that Ray, your target, didn't cause the explosion."

　Rodos looked back with a quizzical expression at Bratta's little shoulder shrug.
　In fact, since Ray appeared on the stage soon after the blast, it was certain, as Bratta said, that Ray was not involved in the case.
　Still, Rodos has cause for concern.

(In the original operation, Ray was supposed to attract the attention of the nobles in this arena and save the third prince whom Viehra and his men had been held in captivity.)

　mutter in one's heart the stories of Vihela and Theorem before entering the Empire, and the stories of Elk, Minn and Dasker before they reached the Empire.
　And given the explosion, it couldn't have been more obvious in terms of timing.

(But when you need to act in secret, do you want to do something so loud that you can hear explosions like this? Then it doesn't make sense to do anything...)

　Rodos was leaning his head inward, but he was so focused on it that he did not notice that some of the other princes' subordinates in the guest room were staring at him.
　I might have noticed it normally, but now I was thinking about Vihela inside, so I was concentrating on her.
　Indeed, Rodos infiltrated the First Prince's faction in rivalry with Ray. That's true, but that doesn't mean that the attachment to Vihela in Rodos has disappeared.

"Anyway, what you have to do is get the strength to fight Ray, right? You're still not strong enough. Even if you are given magic items by His Highness Kabazeed, you need to train yourself to use them."

　That's why it's training with me.
　The others in the guest room cast a subtle look on his face as he tells them so.
　But I will never say it.
　This is because if you say something, you might get caught up in the Perfir training.
　Perfeil is certainly relied upon, but it is well known that the training you impose on yourself is rigorous, and at the same time on others.
　In this sense, Rodos was associated with the training, and as a result, many of them were thankful that others had not been harmed by Perfiel, and many were grateful to Rodos.

"...I know. Perfeil's training is perfect to build up strength when fighting Ray."

　With a disgusting look on his face, Rodos still won't reject Perfiel's words.
　Perhaps he was happy about it, but Pelfill also opens his mouth with a smile.

"Well, if you know it, that's all right. Training is a good thing to do. I'm sure you know about Bratta, but you must understand it somehow."
"If you go out with your training, you won't grow up, you'll lose your health."

　Perfeel glances disconcertedly at Bratta's muttering words.

"Do you intend to work as a sword for His Highness Kabazeed? If you don't train more. Generally speaking, I wouldn't let you say that I didn't feel anything when I saw that final."
"...hmmm."

　Even if they belong to the same faction, they may not be able to get along with each other, so they have some sort of stingy interaction.
　They are the two of them, but there is no sign that the others in the state seat will say anything in particular.
　This is because we already understand that this is a means of communication between the two of us because of the communication we have seen so many times.

"More specifically, when will you get the magic items you give me?"

　Brasso breathes a teasing sigh at Rodos, who tells him he's stupid to go out with such a joke.

"Well, it's true that I'm going to give you a magic item, but do you think I'll get it so easily?"

　Rodos makes his face tense at the words.
　open one's mouth with sharp eyes

"What you're saying is completely different?"
"Well, that depends on Prince Kabazid's thoughts. I'm sorry, but I can't say when. Well, I think it's probably very soon."
"...I see,"

　Rodos thought like that, "Isn't he going to be killed for a moment?" But he breathed a sigh of relief that it didn't seem likely.

(However, I understood from today's game that even if I got some magic items with good performance, I would not be able to compete with Ray.)

　Noise that moves around at an unnoticed rate and a ray that can cope with it.
　When asked if he had the ability to compete with it, the answer was negative.
　Of course, that doesn't mean I'll give up. That's why I'm training myself in perfection.





　Ray and Noise were back in the waiting room after the awards ceremony.
　Rey sits on the sofa in the waiting room, no less than the best inn, the inn of Yuryu.
　On the other side of Ray, Noise sits down.

"...and why are you coming to my waiting room, with me? There must have been a waiting room for you, too.

　I deserve to be here. Ray asks the noise sitting opposite him, saying nothing was wrong, but he closes his eyes without a trace of concern.
　Watching such noise, Ray realizes it again.
　As was the case with the game, I'm not afraid to face the noise at all.
　It was the same when I woke up unconscious after losing the game, but it's the same when the awards ceremony is over and we're facing each other.
　When you look at the noise and think inside, the noise opens your mouth.

"What about you, Ray?"

　It was a short question, but Ray couldn't help but hold his breath.
　I wondered if he was saying that he was cooperating with Vihela and that he was probably heading for a civil war.

"What do you mean?"

　Until a few seconds ago, I didn't feel particularly tense when I was facing the noise.
　But still before us is the noise of the Rank S adventurer.
　Understanding this, Ray waits for the words of noise, suppressing the thought that was born within him.
　Contrary to Ray's expectations, however, noise doesn't seem to feel anything special.

"So it's time to go. The competition is over. Then you, the adventurer of the Kingdom of Mileana, don't you mean to be in the imperial capital? Are you going back to the Kingdom of Mileana with Larkus, who you came with?"
"... I see. That's probably the case."
"Is there anything particular you want to do when you return to the Kingdom of Milliana?"
"What do you want to do?" I guess that's because my hobby is collecting magical stones. I originally chose the remote guillem with that in mind."

　I tell you this with a lot of misrepresentation, but I wonder how you would react if the noise realized how many lies are in your words. That's how Ray suddenly thinks.

"I see. Is it a monster's magical stone?" Then... Hey, Ray. What are you going to do in the future? Why don't you go with me to the Mystery?"
"...what?"

　I wonder if the remark was unexpected to Ray, too.The Magic Mountain. It's a prize for winning the championship by Noise, a Rank S adventurer.
　In other words, even if you are a Rank S adventurer, you cannot enter without permission.
　Going to such a place is, of course, a quest for excitement.
　Then he invited Ray to head for the Devil Mountain.
　Ray understands that it's only because he's recognized, and of course he's happy or not.
　But...

"I'm sorry, I don't feel like that now."

　Ray couldn't nod to it.

(If nothing had happened after this, I would have been very welcome to go to the Devil Mountain. Of course, there are monsters who have never fought before, and you can get magical stones.)

　At Ray's words, the noise breathes out a small sigh.

"Well, if I had come with you, I could have told you about the armour of the hegemony."

　The words prickle Ray.
　Heio's armor, which is also a noise skill, is ready to be used. However, it's only useful, far from being able to use it.
　No, that clumsyness is probably an overstatement to use. He manages to activate the armour of the hegemony. It's right to express it that way.
　But... that's why Ray shook his head and opened his mouth.

"It is true that if I follow you, you will be able to use the armour of the hegemony just like you. However, in the end, it's nothing but noise degradation. Although he has the same skill in armour, I want to make the course different from noise. And... and when I think I can beat the noise, I'll fight again."

　At Ray's words, noise's face is instantly stunned.
　If there had been a member of the Vestian Empire here, he would have been amazed by the expression of a Rank S adventurer, immovable noise. Trajist, who is also a friend of noise, might have even laughed.
　Then, in a moment, a smile breaks out of my mouth.

"I see," Even if I wear armor of the same hegemony as myself, the place I aim for is different."
"I don't know if that's going to happen," Even if the effect is similar in the end, if you take a different path, it may look the same at first glance, but it may eventually be different."
"Well, it may indeed be," ...huh, no, this was certainly my courage. Well, I thought it would be interesting for me to challenge the devil with you."

　Ray also laughs bitterly at the noise with a somewhat regretful expression on his face.
　It's true that Ray turned down the noise proposal this time, but to be honest, I wanted to go with him.
　the magical stones, materials, or flesh of an unknown monster
　Especially when it comes to meat, higher-ranked monsters have higher magical powers, and as a result, meat tastes better.
　Ordinary adventurers can rot when they get large quantities of meat, but Ray has a mistling. Even if it's noise, I have an item box just like Ray.
　That being the case, no matter how high-ranking monster meat you get, you never had to worry about rotting it.
　It was a regrettable noise in many ways, but Ray cannot accept it.
　The noise was as if he had noticed something, but when he moved his eyebrows slightly, he stood up with a sigh.

"You mean we didn't get along this time. as far as you can see, there seems to be something wrong with you."
"Oh!? ... well, I'm sure I've got a lot to do, too.

　Ray's gaze, breathtakingly as if looking into Ray's heart.
　Something seems certain in the noise, but I don't know what it is.
　Ray also looks back at his eyes with such thoughts... a few minutes later, and then the noise rises.

"Well, that's all right. ... Ray, I don't know when you'll see me next, but don't try to disappoint me then."

　It's an overlooking remark from above, but now that he's defeated without actually making all the noise, Ray has no choice but to accept it.

"Oh, the next time I see you, I'll bring out all my noise skills and win."
"...I see,"

　He told them briefly, but in spite of his attitude, the noise left the waiting room with a slight smile on his lips.