"Congratulations on Ray's runner-up... Cheers!"
"Cheers!"

　A long‐lasting empty house. Luzzi's voice echoes through the dining room.
　It's already dark outside, and the moon is shining brightly on the ground in a cloudless sky.
　Watching the moonlight from the dining room window, Ray recalled a conversation he had had with Elena a short time ago in pairs.

(She's a nice woman, isn't she?)

　Ray, who remained here and told him he would take part in the civil war.
　Hearing it, Elena seemed to have a lot to say, but she eventually admitted it.
　but with the promise of not dying and returning to the kingdom of Milliana.
　Under normal circumstances, Elena would be absolutely opposed. This time he will clearly participate in the civil war as the third prince, if only he could attract the attention of the upper echelon of the Westian Empire by participating in the competition.
　As an adventurer, it would probably be no problem if Dusker took part in the civil war after explaining to others that Ray was no longer under his supervision.

(but... yet it is absolutely important for me to devote myself to the battles that take place here.)

　Despite a tropical night like midsummer, Ray mutters inwardly while drinking cold fruit water in a cool dining room due to the effects of magic items.
　a real fight rather than a few days of training It's often said that I've been here for about a year and a half. Ray had to agree with the words after going through a battle that no ordinary adventurer could imagine.
　Because of this civil war, there is a view that you will be able to master the skill of armour of the hegemonic king stolen from noise.

(I'm not wearing the armor of the hegemony right now.) It's like being used in the armor of the hegemony.)

　muttered inwardly, reaching out to the oak steak on the table... just as the fork sticks into the steak, the fork protruding from the side sticks into the steak and disappears before Ray's eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey More like this... Come in the middle!"

　When Ruzzi tells her, pouring wine into the steak she threw into her mouth, Ray turns his eyes and opens his mouth.

"Well, it sounds good to hear you're second place, but you lost the final in the end. But congratulations!"

　Whispering reluctantly, reach for a assortment of fruit near the steak plate.
　We lost in today's battle, and the result is runner-up. Second place sounds familiar to me, but in fact it's nothing short of losing.
　And yet, when I was told to celebrate it... and after a pair of oven conversations with Elena, I forced myself into the room and had a victory party, and he was taken out.
　You can't enjoy yourself in such a situation.

(... well, it must have been a fact that it meant encouraging me.)

　a muttering ray
　In fact, when people come to the cafeteria for a celebration, many people talk to them.
　There are words of comfort and words of blessing.
　I had a lot of thoughts about the words, but I couldn't have complained about them when I saw them saying so from the bottom of my heart.

(And I guess it also serves as a farewell party for those who stayed at this long-standing empty house during the competition.)

　Whether it's just a period of competition... or not, that's why I think it's worth breaking up with those who have had such a good time together.
　In fact, having stayed at the same inn in this competition has led to new businesses, connections among aristocrats, and some young people have developed into romantic relationships.
　Usually, just staying in the same inn doesn't make it that way, but it's probably because we spent the entire period of the competition together.
　To add to that, this is the best inn in the Vestian Empire, called Yuyu no Kutei, and there is no suspicious presence as long as you are a guest here.
　There is, however, Ray, the most suspicious figure in Elgin.

(Even an adventurer would know roughly what the consequences would be if he caused a disturbance in an inn where aristocrats and merchants would stay.)

　In many ways you'd be scared of the consequences if you created a meaningless disturbance in this place where important figures gather.
　Even people from other countries, like Ray, cannot rest assured that the countries of the Westian Empire are different.

"What are you talking about?" Did you really intend to beat that noise in the first place? Well, it's true that you actually got better than me. I admit it. But I don't think it's possible to think we can beat that immovable noise."
"... well, what did you say before you fought?"

　Luzzi's words were convincing because he was defeated by the same noise.
　Almost reflexively, Ray retorts.
　It was a half-outrageous act, but Luzzi takes it with nothing special.
　As I said earlier, the attitude is attributable to losing to the same opponent.
　For Luzzi, however, it is true that it is amazing to be able to fight so well against noise.

(I'm afraid you can go that far with that noise.) a child like this)

　Compared to themselves...or even smaller than the smallest and thinest of their fangs.
　He is physically inferior to a woman's Vaicul, though he is superior in body thickness to the wizard's Most.
　Such an opponent showed off that much fighting. That alone left me dumbfounded, but I even stole it just by looking at the noise skills.
　Not only Luzzi, but also Veicur and Most, who were watching with him, were so surprised that they couldn't speak.

(After all, it was not a mistake to ask Ray to train us. ...as expected of me.

　As he praises himself for speaking to Ray before the competition begins, he suddenly stops his hand and sees himself staring at the fruit.

"What's wrong with you? You won't tell me you fell in love with me, will you?"

　I have a bad feeling about the serious color of my eyes, and I can't help telling such a joke.
　That must have been good. Ray also shrugs his shoulders and relaxes his gaze with a wry smile.

"Don't be silly. I don't have that kind of taste. I just wanted to ask you something."
"...what do you want to hear?"
"Oh, you guys... exactly what are you going to do with Furyu's tusks from now on? The competition is over today... Oh, the official awards ceremony at the castle is not over yet, is it?"
"Well,"

　Luzzi is inherently averse to troublesome things. When asked if he wanted to go out of his way to attend the formal awards ceremony at the castle, he would answer no without a moment's hesitation.
　Actually, if you are a member of Furyu's Tusk, you can participate in the awards ceremony held at the castle if you want to.
　However, to do so, they had to rely on the nobles who had come to scout them, and if they did so, in many ways, they would undoubtedly be a nuisance to Luzzi's dislike.
　In the first time of the competition, the whole party went on to the finals, and Ruzzi, the leader of the party, has a reputation that if the opponent had not been noisy, he would have gone further.
　There have been numerous stories of withdrawal from places such as aristocrats and tradesmen, saying that such people are not to be missed.
　Of course, Luzzi refuses all of them, but if she participates in the awards ceremony held at the castle, she has to rely on her.
　Of course, I'm not going to serve him on his own terms, but I'm sure he'll have to accept requests preferentially if something happens in the future. Also, the number of requests for nomination increased, and in the end, the outer moat could be buried in order to serve.
　When Luzzi answered briefly, Ray said, "

"I see. If you have no particular reason to remain in the imperial capital, you'd better leave the capital as soon as possible."

　Luzzi reacts sharply to what Ray says.

"Why?"
"Well, let me just say that if things go on like this, they may be troublesome."

　I can't say anything more. Ruzzi frowns faintly at Ray, who tells him so implicitly.

"About the assassin?"
"Well, maybe,"

　Rousy understands that Ray is not saying anything about the assassin.(But what happened other than the assassin?)

　Thinking inside, I immediately thought of the explosion that I heard before the awards ceremony.

(Rumor has it that a thief disguised as a princess of this country tried to sneak into the castle and was repulsed, but is that related to you? Then, is there any possibility that he is a thief?) I don't think Ray will cooperate with the bandits.)

　Ruzzi had heard of several robber hunts from Ray during the break.
　Normally, robbers who attack people are attacked the other way around, and they receive the treasure that is stored in the robbers.
　It's usually a dangerous thing to do, but it's Ray who has the ability to beat even Rank A adventurers. They are nothing but affordable partners in the world of thieves.
　A man of justice, whether he is a thief or a murderer, is a veteran adventurer. We couldn't have said such a blue thing, and certainly didn't have that idea... we seriously considered whether we could hunt for thieves ourselves.
　It was never conceivable for Luzzi to cooperate with the bandits.

(I mean, if Ray becomes a thief, he'll be the strongest thief.) and that is the extent to which ordinary adventurers would easily be killed even if they had touched it.)

　If that happens, that's all we'll have to do to get rid of the noise.
　Since Ray has the ability to match the army individually, poor intervention is nothing but a reduction in our own military strength.

(...what? Wouldn't it be bad to use this tool in the event of war with the Kingdom of Milliana?)

　Ray boasts the mobility of Seto, who can fly in the sky, and overwhelming firepower from a long distance. Moreover, they have the ability to compete with the noise of Rank S in close combat.
　It's very difficult for people to find it because it's an individual unit consisting of one person and one.
　What would happen if such an opponent entered the Empire of Bestia during the war against the Kingdom of Miliana? It was as clear as fire.
　Ruzzi's face twitches rapidly at the sudden thought.
　Ray asks with a curious look whether he was suspicious of Luzzi.

"What, I suddenly fell silent..."
"Oh, no. It's nothing. But could you tell me why I should leave the imperial capital as soon as possible?"
"Well, what do you think?" I've already said what I can say. and then you'll be able to judge... the fangs of the wind-dragon."
"... the fangs of a wind dragon?" All right, I'll talk to both Veicul and Most."

　As soon as she tells him that the difficult story is over, Luzzi reaches for a nearby skewer.
　Ray also reaches out to the same skewer -- but fish -- as Luzzi agrees.
　In addition, in the Westian Empire, which is not bordered by the sea, the term "fish" basically means freshwater fish that live in rivers and lakes.
　Sea fish are very rare and expensive because they have to go through the Kingdom of Mileana. And I couldn't bring raw fish because of the freshness problem, so it was only processed like dried fish.
　"However, there was only the best inn in the Empire of Bestia, Yu no Kutei, and today's meal was served with fish from the sea."
　It's not dried fish, but grilled raw fish with salt.
　The salt splashed on the skin stimulates the tongue, and then the soft touch of the fish's flesh spreads through the mouth.
　The sweetness of the white fish strongly asserts itself, but the taste of salt that is not too salty is strangely harmonized in the mouth.
　One bite, another bite. And another bite of the food must have bothered Luzzi. reach for fish skewers

"And the awards ceremony at the castle... three days later?"
"Oh, so whatever decision you make, you'd better make it early."

　I'm going to have to taste the fish skewers, but before the fuss gets bigger... I think I'll have to teach the chef what I promised him before tomorrow. With this in mind, Ray ate to his heart's content, stopped the drunken Veicur from coming off, and managed to avoid the liquor recommended by his guests, while the celebration, attended by Elk, Minn, and even Dusker and his knights, continued into the night.