"Oh, it's Seto-chan, Seto-chan! He'
"Oh, really set," I heard that he came back yesterday... and I wonder if this will make the guillem lively again."
"No, no, it doesn't mean that the guillem was dark just because Seto wasn'

　As Ray and Sett walk around the city, those who see them hear such voices.
　Among them, street stall owners look particularly happy.
　It is already close to noon, and stalls are busy preparing for it.
　Nevertheless, each stall owner talks to Seto, steaming and cooking in this cold weather.

"Oh, it's Seto, isn't it? Long time no see, shall we eat? The skewer is cooked well!"
"It's been a long time, Seto." How about a soup full of vegetables and meat that we serve when it's cold?"
"Set, do you want to eat a sandwich? The bread is fresh from the oven, and once you eat it, you can't stop it!"
"This is boiled udon." It's not hard, but it's soft and delicious!"

　That's how Seto goes and gets food from the stalls around him.
　...and of course it's not free, Ray pays for it every time and buys himself.
　However, more food has been passed to Ray than he paid.
　The reason why they serve Ray so much at the stalls is probably because Ray not only buys a lot of things at once, but also because he eats the food he serves at his stall deliciously.
　Ray and Sett. Those who see one and one of them eating make them want to eat too much.
　This was partly because it was noon, and partly because many people were hungry.

(If the Miredog had been here, most of the food in the stall would have been bought up. and if it continues, I will not have enough money to pass the winter, and I will accept the winter's request with a great deal of effort.)

　Remembrance of a friend who went to inform two of his companions that the seeds of warning in his body had disappeared, Ray smiled a little.

(It was only natural that even the Mire Dog should have chosen the former in the matter of warning and in the matter of set.)

　Satisfied that he had not forgotten his responsibilities as a leader of the Rank C party, though he loves Seto, Ray heads to the guild for the first time in a long time, shopping heavily at a guillem stall.
　The closer you get to the guild, the more stalls for adventurers and, of course, the more adventurers.
　If that happens, many people will look to Ray and Sett...

"Hey, that... Ray, isn't he?" How long have you been back?"
"Ah... I've heard something from you that you came back yesterday."
"As always, it doesn't look like a Rank B adventurer. I can tell them apart because they have Seto, but if they don't have him, they could be mistaken for beginners."
"Well, that's not it. If I took off my hood, I could tell by my face, but I usually wear it."

　Adventurers who know Ray talk to their companions.
　Since Ray's appearance in the city, Ray has been involved in a number of disturbances, for better or for worse.
　For that reason, adventurers who have worked in Gilm and seen it recognize it as a bad match.
　There are many people who think that the sight with Seto is soothing, not so bad as to be normal.
　But it's also true that Ray doesn't look strong just by his pure appearance."

"Hey, is that really crimson? Isn't there a lot of rumor going on? I don't think such a small and delicate guy would be so strong."
"Well... perhaps that Gryphon has made her so famous, hasn't it? Hmm, hold her on her back?" It's a very good place to be."
"But isn't he quite a good hand at being a Tamer with a Gryphon?"
"What? What are you talking about? After all, Tamer can only hide behind monsters, can't he? That's one shot for us, one shot. would that Ray shut the little boy up and steal the Gryphon?"
"Stupid! No matter how weak Ray is, he's a Gryphon. Do you think you'll be safe if you touch him.

　A short distance away, adventurers gather to talk about Ray, who may have seen him for the first time since he came to Gillum just as he was traveling to the Empire of Bestia.
　In a way, it is a familiar sight in Gilm, and those who know Ray look at such adventurers with some warmth.
　...however, some have a keen eye on those who aim for Seto.
　It was almost inevitable in Gilm that such people would appear.
　The guillem is in the frontier, not to mention those who grew up in guillem and became adventurers, but... those who come to guillem from other regions have some skill and confidence.
　This guillem is often treated as a newcomer as a result of the gathering of skilled adventurers, but of course he is confident in his skills and has a certain amount of self-esteem.
　No, self-esteem alone is fine, but many people take it for granted that their skills will work even in guillem.
　Many people cannot understand their unimaginable existence because their abilities have come this far.
　For these people, Ray, aside from his skill in taming the Gryphon, determines that his ability as a pure fighter is only a growing rumor. end up doing…
　Of course, there is a rumor that Ray himself is very strong, but that rumor is also short and doesn't seem to have much muscle.
　If you look at Ray, it's no use thinking that the whole rumor is not false, or that the outcome of Gryphon's battle is spreading incorrectly.
　If so, I'll strip you of the ghost.
　With that in mind, several adventurers tried to talk to Ray...

"Look, stop it, stop it." You can't beat Ray with all your strength, can you? Besides, when it comes to Ray, many troublesome things happen."

　In such a voice, several adventurers who were trying to talk to Ray stop moving.
　They tried to shout back at the words that they despised, but when they realized that he was a muscular man with enough power to see him in front of their eyes, they couldn't speak and were swallowed up with their breath.

"If you're scared at me, you can't beat Ray by any means."

　That's how the adventurers who had just come to Gilm escaped being baptized by Ray.





"... you know,"

　Ray mutters when he sees several adventurers who have turned a malicious glance at him being taken by adventurers he remembers seeing in the guild several times.
　If he keeps getting involved with himself, he'll fight for self-defense and try to knock out some kind of weapon or protective gear... especially Ray, who was looking at the spear that one of his men had, and when the trouble was gone, he thinks that's all right, and continues to shop at the stall and heads for the guild.
　When you come to the guild, you already have more food than you can carry, and you store it in the mistling because you think it's a waste to keep the rest cold.

"Well, it may take some time, but ... don't you get bored?"
"Grull!"

　in the usual waiting-room for demons and horse-drawn cabs, a voice that roars in high spirits.
　Already around Seto, there were nearly twenty inhabitants, ranging from five-year-old children to old people in their sixties, each stroking, talking to and feeding him.

"Seto-chan, Seto-chan, Seto-chan!"

　Among them, Ray, who seemed to have seen him in the Wheat-tei stable at dusk, told himself that it was probably just his imagination, went straight into the guild.
　There are not many people in the guild because it is already close to noon.
　The fact that many adventurers have already prepared for the winter, and there are no such people, is probably the reason why there are fewer adventurers than usual in the daytime.
　It may not be a substitute, but there are quite a few people eating and drinking in bars attached to guilds.

"Ray!"

　When I look around in the guild, I hear a voice like that.
　Looking over there, Ray saw a cat beast jumping over the counter.
　This is Kenny, the receptionist of the cat beast, who likes Ray.
　Despite the impersonation of jumping over the counter, the short skirt never flips.
　Kenny would say that this is another accomplishment as a receptionist.

"Hey, Kenny!"Lenora screams reproachfully for Kenny's sudden behavior.
　But Kenny runs up to Ray's side, completely unconcerned by his friend's voice.

"You said you had been to the Vestian Empire. Were you okay? You said you were with Mr. Dusker, but when you came back, you were very surprised that you weren't there?"
"Ah... I'm sorry." I had something to do over there. in the course of events."
"What's going on... well, I don't mind." Aren't you hurt.

　After telling him so, Kenny reaches out to Ray's face and body inside the dragon lobe to check for injuries.
　If this had been someone trying to steal something from Ray, Ray would have immediately stopped it, but he simply silently accepts Kenny's actions because he knows it's out of concern for him.
　Kenny checked Ray's body and breathed a sigh of relief... and then when he saw Ray's hand, his gaze glued to it.
　Beyond Kenny's gaze was a ring on Ray's finger.
　A ring is usually a gift to the opposite s*x who likes it.
　Some wear it individually, but at least Ray doesn't care about fashion.
　In other words, someone touched Ray.
　In an instant, Kenny turns to Ray in a jingling motion.
　...and many of the few adventurers in the guild watched Ray and Kenny interact with each other with interest, but the moment they saw Kenny's current movements, they somehow hardened themselves.
　Despite not only low-ranked adventurers but also Rank C adventurers.

"... Hey, Ray," What's wrong with this ring? Who gave it to you?"

　But somehow unaware of the atmosphere Kenny unleashes, Ray opens his mouth without a trace of nervousness.

"Oh, I got it from Theoreum."
"...what?"

　Kenny pauses as if time had stopped.
　The reason for stopping the movement is something different than the one I saw before.
　No wonder. Theoreum is a man's name, no matter how you look at it.
　In other words, Ray is wearing the ring he got from the man...
　Some of the women eavesdropping on Ray and Kenny's conversation somewhere in the guild screams an inextricably yellow scream.
　At an instant, Kenny's eyes glared sharply at some of the adventurers and guild officials who raised their voices and silenced them.
　Being let go by Kenny, who silences even adventurers, is a demon.
　Still, when you look at Ray, you can say it's Kenny's way of looking at him.

"My dear Ray," Why is a man named Theoreum giving you a ring?"

　For Kenny, it was an ominous question with a hunch that Ray, who was in love with, might not be interested in women.
　I'm asking as if it's nothing, but behind the tone there's a lot of tension.
　But Ray, unconscious of Kenny's appearance, opens his mouth easily.

"I had a little request from the Westian Empire." I got this magic ring as a reward for solving it."
"...what is it?"

　Kenny breathes relief at the remark.
　I completely lost my mind when I saw Ray wearing a ring, but Ray finally remembers his hobby of collecting magic items.
　I wear bracelets other than rings, but I guess it's because Kenny's a maiden that I still focus on rings.

"Well... it hurts! What are you doing all of a sudden!"

　When Kenny tried to breathe relief, Lenora's fist fell to his head.
　Kenny tried to complain about Lenora, but he couldn't help but swallow her words when he saw a smile floating around her mouth.

"Kenny, what are you thinking about jumping over the counter?"

　All Kenny could do was smile amiably at Lenora, who smiled but didn't smile at all.