"Oops!"

　Screaming, a man falls to the ground.
　The woman who was watching it muttered dumbfoundedly.

"Oh, I can't believe you'll really come to the night attack, as Ray feared. Well, maybe it's because we're late in getting together, but it's not yesterday, it's today's. I understand you don't want to fight Ray, but you're still too honest. Besides, his skill is low for the attack."
"No, no, it's nothing to be told. You're pretty good at it, though, and it's hard to deal with them, and it's worth ranking D."

　Here, too, mutters a huge hammer-in-hand dwarf.
　Several figures were lying under the dwarf.

"Huh, whether it's Rank D or not, if you're beaten by the shaking hammer of the ground that Brasso has, you can't do anything about it. But this one is better, but..."

　As Fluorocarbons turned his gaze in the middle of his speech, he heard footsteps approaching him as if he had been waiting for the right time.
　It's already dark and a little early to say that it's midnight, but the only brightness is the magic of the lights in the house and the moon in the sky.
　It would be the best environment to be escorted if the snow stopped and the wind was not so strong.
　It was a familiar face to break through the darkness of the night.
　He's one of the adventurers of Ray's acquaintance.

"Mr. Fluorocarbons, there are three intruders here. I succeeded in arresting them all."
"Don't do it a lot. I was expecting that much skill when I knew Ray."

　It's definitely a compliment that came out of Fluorocarbons' mouth.
　But the man who receives the compliment looks slightly displeased.

"Well, indeed, we were entrusted with this duty of bodyguard by Ray's introduction, but it would still be a problem if we were expected to have the extraordinary power of Ray's?"

　I can't stand being with someone like Ray.
　The man's eyes turn to Fluorocarbons and Braso when he expresses his feelings.
　Ray had asked them to be escorted, but before that he had spoken to the two in front of him.
　That would mean that we have more trust in these two than they do in ourselves.
　I didn't want to be with Ray, but I was a little more envious of the two who were trusted by him than they were.
　You must have noticed the man's gaze. Fluorocarbons tilt their heads and open their mouths.

"What's the matter?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing. But... I never thought they would really launch an attack."
"Well, they're not going to back down, are they?" You hear from Ray that they bet on the duel."

　Brasso snorts grumpily at the words from Fluorocarbons' mouth.

"Well, he's a typical stupid nobleman. Even if you saw Ray with your own eyes, you probably couldn't see through his ability. So I can only say that I'm incompetent because I've only found out what kind of guy Ray is and I'm just getting my hands on him."

　Blaso's words clearly have thorns, perhaps because he interrupted his drunken life.
　But there is no doubt that the statement is true.

"If you understand what Mr. Ray is like, I think you should call off the duel itself." No matter how legally it has been dealt with, what will happen if there is mutual agreement?"
"Yes, but in that case the nobility... was it the Countess of Ariel? The nobility was disgraced." for he surrendered all the way to a lower peerage than himself."
"It's the Earl of Eriel," …is it your honor? Sure, face is important as a noble, but I think losing face is less damaging than dealing with Ray."

　Fluorocarbons and Blaso both nod their heads in agreement, but... it's also true that this is the reason why they're attacking at night.

"What would you do with these faint people?"
"Well, catch me for the time being. I don't know if they're in the hands of the Earl of Eriel, but if so, they can be used for negotiations after the duel. and if I were not of the Earl of Eriel, I might be able to trace it from my employer."

　As he told them, Fluorocarbons looked coldly at the assassin who was unconscious and lying on the ground.





"Don't be silly!"

　The fists waved with angry voices hit the glass on the desk.
　It was a glass cup that the common people couldn't afford, but the next moment it fell to the floor and broke.
　The man who cried out... kept his impatience in the air and turned to the full toss in front of him.

"I tried to assassinate the poor baron in accordance with your suggestion... that the result was total destruction!? And what does it mean that most of them were captured alive! Some of them, though thin, have a connection with me!"
"As for that matter, don't worry. I don't think there will be any consequences for Mr. Keep. but I never expected to have the bodyguard so soon. I'm sorry."
"I'm not telling you to apologize! I'm telling you to do something about the current situation!"

　It's frustrating to see the look on the face of the keepers yelling at the full toss of their heads bow.
　Because I knew how good Ray was, I understood what was going on.
　The raid on Baron Cisne's house, which was disguised as a thief, was carried out as a means of dealing with the desperate situation.
　If Ray couldn't beat him, it was done in an attempt to manage his duel partner, Omoto.
　But the result is exactly what Keep is saying now.

"What do you want me to do, and what do you mean by a festival?"

　Another reason why the keep is mad.
　It was proclaimed this morning by the lord, Dasker.
　In other words, a festival held three days later.
　The highlight of the festival, which will be held under the guise of this duel, was naturally a duel.
　With so many eyes, if the next head of the Earl of Eriel's family were to lose the peerage to his younger counterpart, it would be a disgrace to his family.
　Moreover, half of the property of the Earl of Eriel is lost.
　It is certain that his father, who is the current head of the family, will abandon him.
　No, if you're not good at it, you may not only be able to cut it down, but you may also be able to cut it down in a literal sense.
　That was absolutely unforgivable for a keeper who had absolute confidence in his own lineage.

"What should I do... What should I do? Isn't it wrong that Ray is so strong?"

　He asked the Furtos with a ray of hope, but he returned, shaking his head.

"I looked into various things thinking maybe... but there was no doubt that Ray was strong. We have received testimony from those who took part in the war that broke out in the spring."
After all, it's adventurous. Aren't they just trying to make themselves look as big as possible and spreading the rumor?"

　Furtos shakes his head at what he wants to believe, even though he keeps telling the truth.

"I have reached out to the knights who serve the Earl of Larx, and gathered information. There is no doubt that the rumor is... no, it may be underestimated.""Well, what do you want me to do... wait. I understood that Ray was strong. But after all, he's an adventurer, and there's no doubt about it?"

　Suddenly, there is a light of hope in Keep's eyes, wondering if he has come up with something.
　Furtos nods slightly, even though he has a slightly unpleasant feeling about his master.

"Yes, it seems that he is sometimes employed by the Earl of Larkus as he did during the Spring War, but he is not a subordinate of the Earl of Larkus."
"... well, I see. Then, after all, it's like an adventurer. Give me a little money and I'll take your orders. Well, that's right. I'd rather have that guy, Ray, serve me directly. He is nicknamed crimson. It will be of some use. And you've got the Gryphon as a slave, and that's a good look, too."

　They probably think of themselves with Seto and Ray. Keep's mouth is filled with a satisfied smile.
　Furtos, watching it, admires without thinking that it's a good idea for him.
　Winning the enemy over to your side is a worn-out tool, but it is often used because of its effectiveness, and is therefore worn out.
　If the keep's idea goes well, it's an opportunity to turn the tables.
　However, there was a great pitfall between Keep and Furtos, who had no doubt that Ray would serve the nobility.
　Ray himself is basically unfriendly to the nobility.
　But he has a different story and affection for Elena, Dusker, and some other nobles.
　Rumors would therefore have failed to tell what Ray thinks of the nobility.
　...though it is also true that during the Spring War the aristocrats were on the brink of death at Ray's hands.

"Yes, sir," That's certainly a good idea. If things go well, we may even be able to make them lose in the duel."
"Well, then I might as well go into the duel as I don't have to hire anyone." and I shall have the honour of defeating a notorious adventurer without trouble."

　It is fair to say that you don't count your raccoon dog's skin completely, but the keeper himself doesn't doubt that his plan will succeed.
　It would have been too much of an adventurous treatment to serve himself as the next head of the Earl of Eriel.
　Although Furtos is not as good as the keepers, he determines that there is no small chance that this plan will work.

"Keep, I think you ought not to go into the duel. I don't mean to say this, but as Mr. Keep says, he's an adventurer after all. I don't think they're going to attack you seriously because of some mistake."
"Is that so?" That's right. He's an adventurer after all. Don't you understand any reason?"

　If the inhabitants of Gillum heard it, they would say, "Don't say it!" and the keep turns to the full toss and nods back.

"All right, if it's settled for a little money, that's a good idea. You can get that woman, the Assier, and the adventurer, who is notorious. -- well, I'll give you a few gold coins."
"A gold coin? Isn't that a little too little? He's an adventurer who became famous in his mid-teens. I'd rather have a white gold coin, for I'd
"You want me to give up so much in the spirit of an adventurer?"

　Furtos probably didn't like what he said. The words of the keep take on an unpleasant color.
　Furtos bowed down immediately after seeing such a keep.
　I've known over the years that people are prone to irritation, so I've been accustomed to dealing with them.

"I don't understand why you feel uncomfortable about it, but by showing great measurement here, Ray will have deep loyalty to you, too."
"Huh? You're generous... You're generous." Well, that's right. Do you understand my greatness if you think that much about adventurous spirit? I see, I see."

　You must have liked the word magnanimity. Keep smiles and opens his mouth as if the discomfort of a few seconds ago was a lie.

"Well, that's all right. Put your hands around at once."
"Yes, immediately,"

　Furtos quickly bows his head, shaking the flesh of his cheeks and jaws.





　After dinner Ray was gazing at two magical stones in the evening Wheat House.
　The magical stones of the auger and the magical stones of the regular Gamerion are in their hands.
　Both are things we haven't absorbed yet.
　But... Ray doesn't look very happy when he sees it.

"Gamerion's Mystery, let alone AUGER's Mystery,"

　mutter, remembering the person who was obviously smaller and weaker than the usual auger.
　Even if you absorb the magic stone, if it is from a weak opponent, it will weaken.
　It absorbs the magical stones of weak monsters like goblins, but in this case it was concerned that they were the magical stones of weak individuals in the AUGER tribe.
　As I lay on my bed looking at the magical stone in my hand, I was wondering what to do... suddenly I heard a knock on the door of my room.

"Excuse me. May I speak to you, Mr. Ray?"

　At the sound of such voices coming from outside the door, Ray puts the magical stone back into the mistling, gets out of bed, wears the dragon robe he has taken out of the mistling, and heads towards the door.