The merchant who was watching the scene didn't know what had happened at first.
　No, I understand. There's probably a stronger sense of unwillingness to know exactly.
　the two women, Vihela and Bune, hired to guard the carriage... exactly one woman and one girl
　Bune was a rare person who spoke very little and communicated with only a few words, but he was able to communicate normally, and most importantly he was able to do so.
　And the other... Vichela, acting like a guardian of Bune, is dressed to provoke a man with her gaudy beauty, and the merchant can't help but be caught in the eye.
　She had seen quite a few beautiful women as merchants, but it was undeniable that she was the most beautiful woman in her life.
　It's only natural to like yourself and others because they treat you in a friendly manner.
　It was quite natural for that favor to be transformed from the beauty of Vihela to the goodwill of men and women... into love.
　This merchant is not the only one who favors Vihela. The same goes for my partner's merchants who travel together in this carriage, and it's not uncommon for them to get excited about each other's stories when they go to bed at night.
　I was a little quick-tempered, but when I arrived at Gilm, I was going to ask them to hire me directly, not in the form of a request.
　The decision was never made solely by Vihela's good looks. He has been attacked several times by monsters and bandits, but his ability to defeat all of them in one hand has been more than reliable as a bodyguard.
　And in the future, I want you to be my wife and live with me.
　I even had such a feeling, but when I see the scene in front of me, I have to realize that it was a fleeting dream.
　I've seen Vichela smile many times while she's being escorted, but I've never seen her smile as she's now in front of my eyes.
　If you know who the smile is on you, you don't even think you're going to be a rival.
　It was the first time I had seen him in person, but as a merchant I knew of who was riding a Gryphon and carrying a sickle that was taller than I was.
　He became famous in one or two years, and it is said that he alone destroyed the army of the Westian Empire in the war against the Westian Empire last year.
　Ray, a Rank B adventurer nicknamed crimson.

(Goodbye, my first love...)

　The merchant gently turns away from the two lips and realizes that his first love is over with ease.
　Then the merchant saw his partner look sad, and decided to drink to-night.
　Leaving these poor merchants alone, Vichela smiles happily and rejoices with Bune to see Ray again.

"And then, Ray," Why are you here? I wish you had picked me up."

　Vichela asks, wondering why Ray is here, whether he is satisfied for the time being.
　That's only natural. I've said before that I'm going to Gilm in the spring, but it was unthinkable for Vihela to appear in such a timely manner.

(If you really knew that I was coming and came here, do you mean fate? ...I'm afraid Elena's going to get in trouble.)

　Vichela had the illusion of being the prince of a white horse who came to help her when she was attacked by thieves, but it was nothing but a fantasy.
　It was true that he had been attacked by a thief in the first place, but since he had attacked the thief in return and provoked him to stop by pretending to run away, it was somewhat impossible for Vihela to play the role of princess.
　Given Ray's words and deeds and the huge sickle of death size, it would be difficult to be a prince of white horses.

"Why not?" It's only a coincidence that I passed by chance.
"By chance? ... have you been somewhere?"
"Oh, I was an instructor at a military academy in Gracial upon a little request during the winter."
"...what a very unexpected turn of events again."

　Rey replied to Vihela, who looked at her and said, "You did something again, didn't you?" with a vague smile.
　In fact, I don't think this would have happened without the duel in Gilm, but it's no use what's already happened.
　That's all I think about, and suddenly I think of a matter about the Holy Light.
　If he was targeted as a great enemy, Viehra and Bune, who worked with him, might also be targeted.
　Noticing this, Ray tried to open his mouth and Beune, who was nearby, pulled the hem of Ray's dragon robe.

"Yes!"

　Short as usual, Bune pointed to the robbers lying on the ground.
　Some are dead, most of them unconscious or unable to move.
　Bune's words, "Leave the thief alone and don't mess with him!" were correct.
　He that can't move with pain, will be able to move again with time.
　Given the presence of Ray, Sett, Vihela, and Bune, it may not be possible to do anything even if you are able to move, but you cannot help thinking about the possibility.

"Well, then, let's tie the robbers down for now." ... oh, yes, yes. We were going to go to Gilm under the escort of those merchants, but what about Ray?"
"...whatever you say," I don't have any particular business to attend to, and if you don't mind, I'll be with you."

　Requests for instructors at the military academy have been made through guilds in the form of nominations.
　However, there are also political circumstances there, and it is not difficult to adapt to them in various ways.
　For example, it takes some time for Ray and Sett to return to Gilm.

"Really? Then I'll ask you, can you wait a little while?"

　He must have been glad that Ray was going with him. Vihela runs toward the carriage.
　At that time, Vihela's thin clothes swung in the spring breeze and showed her her body, but she decided not to look away.

"Yes!"

　Bune pulling on Ray's dragon robe.
　I could easily tell what I meant by pointing at the thief.

"Set, I'll bind the thief, so don't ask him to look out for you."
"Gruly!"

　Ray's words make a set, and when Bune sees them, he relaxes his eyes a little, albeit with little change.
　Bune is also attached to Seto through his experience of Egzil, and he must be happy that Seto hasn't changed.

"Well, Bune," I'll tie up the living thief first."
"Yes!"

　Bune immediately nods back to Ray, who takes the rope out of the mistling and tells him.
　They choose robbers who are unconscious or unable to move because of the damage and tie them up with ropes.
　Some of the thieves were trying to get away with it.
　However, Seto, who was asked to watch, could not forgive this, and the damage was so severe that he could not move well, and eventually he was tied up by Ray and Bune.
　In the meantime, I guess I've come to terms with it. Vihela approaches Ray with a happy smile.

"How did you feel?" -- "Needless to hear that."
"Yes, basically there's no problem," I think they knew about Ray, too. I'd like to talk to you for a moment, so can you go and do it for me?"
"All right,"

　Rey nods without hesitation to Vihela's words.
　Usually, it's not strange to say something to worry about Vihela, but in the case of Ray and Vihela, they understand each other's character and abilities well.
　Passing the rope to Vihela, Ray heads to a carriage a short distance away.
　Two men in their mid-20s were waiting there.
　One has a good-natured expression and the other has a slightly sullen expression.

"You asked me to do something?"
"Yes, you will join us in everything, but... in that case we will travel together for a short time to Gillum." So I thought I needed to know your personality."When a good-natured man says so, a sullen man opens his mouth to interrupt it.

"To be honest with you, your reputation is far from good. Well, it's true that there are quite a few good ones. When I think about it, I can't put my full confidence in it like the Vihelas."
"I can't deny that,"

　In the first place, Ray had repeatedly lost his preference for robbers, had been hostile to aristocrats, and even had a dispute with the Azot merchants, who had the greatest power in guillem.

(...what? When I think about it, I'm actually quite... I mean, I'm pretty dangerous? From the perspective of it, it's no use thinking that I don't want to get involved...)

　When Ray suddenly recalls what he's done, he's quite convinced that it's only natural that he's been warned like this.

"Well, I'm glad you understood it. "Well, the rumor may be exaggerated, given that we, as merchants, don't use violence when we are told like this."
"That's why I told you, that you don't have to be so vigilant because you know Vichela. and it's a good opportunity for us to employ an adventurer of a different name."
"...I hope you say so,"

　The grumpy merchant says so, and no more complaining.
　To tell the truth, I didn't want to act with Ray.
　This is because considering Vichela's eyes on Ray, who is close to falling in love at first sight, the period from here to Gillum seemed painful.
　You can see your favorite partner flirting with his girlfriend in front of your eyes. It's almost a form of semi-psychological torture.
　The least salvation would have been that neither of the two merchants had expressed their feelings for Vihela.
　If I had conveyed my feelings, I'm sure I felt helplessly uncomfortable.

"Well, then, don't take care of me for a short time."

　Ray, completely unaware of the two merchants' feelings, turns his back on them and turns to Vihela, who is interrogating them.

"... all right?"
"Oh, of course. There's no point in saying anything now, is there? Then it's better to have his... crimson-named adventurer guard you."
"You're so presumptuous".
"Is that so? Well, my first love doesn't pay off. Wouldn't that be all right?"

　The two merchants kept their thoughts on Vihela in themselves, telling each other to make fun of their broken hearts.





"What do you think? Did you throw up the hideout?"
"Yes. He told me as soon as I asked him gently."

　Vichela smiled and said, but it is not difficult to imagine what kind of behavior Vichela would have been if you saw the ground tucked in the shape of hands and feet near the bandits.
　But I have no intention of blaming Ray for it.
　Considering the acts that the robbers bound by the sight of them would have done, as Vichela said, it was kind... no, because I think it was too kind an interrogation.

(though it seems pathetic to think of how harsh the interrogation would be, if handed over to the Guard. I'll be a slave after that. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　They must be aware of the treatment that awaits them in the future. A glance at the depressed robbers opens their mouths to Vihela.

"And where is the hideout? Well, it was the Vihelas who were attacked this time, and I wouldn't ask them to share it." "Oh, but the spear I used when I first attacked was broken, and I should be glad if you let me replenish it."
"You know the spears used by the robbers?"

　Beyond Vihela's gaze, the spears used by the robbers had fallen to the ground, as he said.