"Oops! Don't be silly, don't be silly!"

　With such angry or impatient voices, Battleax is shaken down towards Ray.
　The blow would have been smashed on the head without knowing what had happened to an ordinary person.
　But Ray is right in front of him. As I've tried so many times, I'm going to put my left hand up gently, without even doing so.
　When he sees it, he smiles for a moment.
　Thieves targeting those returning from the imperial capital to their towns and villages after the competition.
　The band of robbers, led by men who had attacked and earned dozens of travelers, attacked them in the belief that they would end up doing the same.
　No, the judgment itself was not wrong. In fact, the three adventurers employed as bodyguards in the group of about ten travelers were able to be killed by numbers by their companions, who were nearly thirty. 　
　Then he killed his bodyguard, and was about to turn his tusks on his prey, when the plague... or death... appeared.
　Yes, it's literally a god of death. a person who is said to follow the Gryphon of the Sky
　I could not see my face because of the robe hood, but I could still understand that he was a small man.
　I was never off guard because I showed up in a high-ranked monster called the Gryphon.
　Trying to force them in with numbers like the adventurers I mentioned... when I saw a few people's bodies cut in half easily by a huge sickle blow that came out of nowhere, splashing internal organs and blood all around them, I realized that standing before them was a symbol of death.
　But it's already too late, and a huge sickle swings like dancing by the other party slaughter the thieves one after another.
　Some robbers tried to hold the traveler hostage, but he was easily blown away by a blow to the forefoot wielded by the Gryphon, and while wearing leather armour, he was killed, scattering his internal organs like a thief killed by a giant sickle.
　As the number of bandits dwindles, the leader of the band listens to the travelers.
　In other words, the runner-up of the competition, some of the top-ranked adventurers in the rank B... and the adventurer nicknamed crimson.
　The moment they heard it, the band's leader was stunned... within a few seconds, the band had already survived by itself.
　All of my men who have lived with me for many years are dying.
　No matter how you try, you can't come back alive from here. The man swings down the Battleax, which he held in his hand with a shout, to Ray, a small figure in front of him.
　a blow with all one's might
　Even a high-ranking adventurer would be one of the injuries if this were true. Maybe they could escape through that opportunity... or even take their lives.
　That thought passes through my mind for a moment.
　It had to do with crimson lifting his empty left hand up to defend himself, not the scythe he had in his hand.
　Since it was an immediate action, I thought I couldn't have prevented my attack with my left hand.
　But... the bandit leader's conviction disappeared in the next moment... and his consciousness fell into darkness.

"... Oh, my God. I'm afraid I haven't mastered it yet."

　With a slight frown, Ray releases the armour of the hegemonic king.
　At the same time, Ray's magical power, which had been compressed so densely that it could be visualized, disappears like a haze.
　The armour of the hegemony was in motion for only a few seconds. Immediately after the Battleax was shaken down, I tried to catch it, but I couldn't control my strength, so I destroyed it as easily as if I had broken through wet newspapers, and even the man's head was crushed easily with my hands stretched out without stopping.

"Even though we still have to adjust the power, is the magic power consumed enormous? There's a long way to go."

　If anyone could directly sense or see the magic here, you would have noticed how much magic Ray used to invoke the armour of the hegemony... in seconds, as if dozens of wizards had used all their might.
　Ray, who understands how much magic he has consumed, frowns slightly.

"In a few seconds, that's it. I wonder when you'll be able to activate as much as you like when you want, like noise."

　With a sigh, his head wiped out... he shook his head at the sight of the body of a thief, whose bones, flesh, and even blood were destroyed and scattered on the ground.

"And it's impossible to find out where these hideouts are."

　All the opponents he attacked in death size are dead, as are those he attacked.
　Originally, I was going to get the treasure that I had accumulated in the hideout of the bandits who were dying in front of me, but I was completely out of my sight.

"If you can't control it so much... it's hard to use it carelessly."

　In conversation with Noise after the competition, even if you use the armor of the hegemony, you will show it in a different direction from Noise, but how far, long, and far is the road?
　How can we get to the top of the mountain at the same height as noise? When Ray thinks of it, he gasps.
　However, in this regard, the difficulty of controlling the armor of the hegemony itself is also influenced.
　For example, should I describe it as running at full speed, holding a screw of less than 1mm, fixing the screw and turning it around with a screwdriver in an instant that passes right beside the place where the screw is stopped.
　It is almost impossible under normal circumstances, but it was the armor of the hegemonic king that he could finally master by enabling such impossible activities.
　And the noise, which is completely using the armor of the hegemony, is at the level of breaking eggs with his left hand and answering exactly what was spoken to by several people at the same time.

"Glu".

　As I look up at the clear autumn sky, I can't help but look away from the distance, and Seto, who is worried about Ray, rubs his face against me with a squeak.
　For Seto, who has been trapped in the stable for a long time, it is a great pleasure to run freely around the sky with Ray. That's why I didn't want you to look as sad as you are now, if possible.
　You've got it, haven't you? Ray also caresses Seto on the head with a small smile around his mouth.
　The bodies of robbers... or rather, what should be described as pieces of former robbers' flesh, are lying on the ground, and some viewers should describe it as hell, but one and one of them jeer at each other without a trace of concern.
　It was only because it was already a familiar sight, but it was just a familiar sight to Ray and Sett.
　For the travelers attacked by the robbers, the sight simply did not make them feel at ease.
　But as long as we were saved, we couldn't leave Ray and Sett alone.
　There is no doubt that he had the ulterior motive to replace the adventurer of the bodyguard who had been killed by the robbers at the same time.
　With that in mind, a man in his 40s, who represents the travelers, calls out to Ray, who is playing with Seto.

"Well... I think it's Mr. Ray in crimson, but thank you very much for helping me this time. The adventurer who escorted us was disappointing, but it saved us. Thank you very much."

　At last Ray notices the voice, stroking Seto's head.

"Oh, I'm glad you seem safe. But I can't believe there will be thieves in this place."

　The man nods in Ray's words.

"Originally, it should be relatively safe for the Imperial army to hunt for robbers in order to protect the safety of people like us who come for competitions... Why are there robbers this year only?" I hope you are a newcomer of thieves who don't know the circumstances."

　When the man says so, Ray nods outwardly, but denies it inwardly.

(Probably, information has been leaked somewhere that there is a civil war... or that there is a civil war. a thief's unique information network If that's the case, a lot of thieves may be gathered here. ...there will be a lot of damage. I wish the Imperial army would do its best in that regard.)

　Even Ray doesn't hesitate to do death-size when a thief comes out in front of him. However, it was more labor‐intensive to go out of my way to find out the robbers and destroy them.
　In addition, there are so many robbers that it is said that there are as many as thirty robbers.
　Of course, this place is not so many since it is located around the imperial capital, but it is not difficult to imagine how many robbers are gathering after hearing about the civil war.

"And what are you going to do now, Mr. Ray, with your help, though it is a little far from the imperial capital?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm going there for some business."
"Is it business? If you don't mind, can you tell me the details?"

　A man's gaze sharpens for a moment.
　Now that the adventurer we originally hired as a bodyguard has died, we must somehow get a new bodyguard.
　And the person in front of him couldn't have been better for a bodyguard.
　That's why I've heard that he's thrusting himself into it as if he's going to let it go, but is Ray aware of it or not aware of it? At any rate, he opens his mouth without any particular concern.

"I've got some business in the land of the Earl of Obrissin,"

　Indeed, the words that Ray uttered were a blessing to the travelers' representatives."Oh, that's... our village is actually near the estate of the Earl of Obrissin." If you don't mind, why don't you join me halfway? Of course, I won't tell you to do it for free. I'll thank you enough."
"Oh, no, no,"

　One of the travelers nearby hurriedly tells the man with a smile.
　What's wrong with you? When you look at a man like that, one of them... a woman of his age spins her words in a flustered manner.
　They must be afraid of the robbers' bodies and bits of meat lying in front of them. open one's mouth gently, looking away from Ray and Seto

"Look, Mr. Ray won second place in the competition, so there's an awards ceremony, right? We're just going back to the village, but Mr. Ray has to attend the awards ceremony..."

　Nevertheless, what lies in the woman's eyes is her fear of Ray.
　Of course I know Ray is as strong as the woman herself said. But it's just a fight in which rules are set so that no one can die.
　Several people were killed in this year's competition, which was also due to unavoidable force majeure.
　But Ray, who is now in front of her, killed the robbers easily.
　Yes, that's why they cut the lives of the robbers with a huge sickle as if they were cutting weeds.
　With that in mind, it's understandable that women are afraid of Ray.

"...but..."

　Even the man who represents the travelers doesn't have any fear of Ray. Still, I was convinced that it would be best to use Ray's help here.

"Well, you needn't worry,"

　Suddenly, when Ray mutters, the travelers' eyes turn to Ray.
　Ray glanced toward the imperial capital in silence to the travellers who asked him what he meant.
　Following the gaze, we see a group of people still quite small but heading towards us.
　However, a group is not the kind of bandit that attacked us earlier. Seeing everyone riding on horseback in matching armor, there is no doubt that they are knights.

"With them, you don't have to worry about the bodyguards for now. --and would it be helpful if you would show me the way to the Earl of Obrisin's domain?"
"...what? Oh, yes. I understand."

　When the knight comes, it's only natural for the travellers to want to rely on the knight instead of Ray.
　Therefore, when Ray heard it, he ran up into the sky on Sett's back, showing the way to the Earl of Obrissin's territory.