Iris (Rene) flies over the silvery earth illuminated by the morning sun.

　Right next to her was Derrik, whom she had levitated with by magic.
　He looked like an ugly statue, with his limbs worn down to the roots and his wounds covered with magic. The sleeves and pants of his winter clothes are flapping in vain.
　He had a dazed look in his eyes, as if he had already lost his mind, but Iris (Rene) regularly made sure that he did not go to a happy world.

"So. The next thing is that the three "bouncers" have been informed about the emergency evacuation of the big boss, right?

　On the way (I don't know if that's the right word), Iris (Rene) continued to hear about the organization of Night Python and the situation at the headquarters.
　But when she looked to the side, Derrick was staring blankly down at the ground.

"............
You're late.
Aaaaaaah!

　Iris (Rene) grabbed Derrick by the hair, pulled his face up, and shoved a needle into his mouth.
　Blood dripped from Derrik's mouth. He struggled like a caterpillar in the air, but his magically lifted body continued to fly next to Iris (Rene).

"Answer my questions immediately and accurately.
Aah!
"Huh, you're barking up the wrong tree with a few needles. I've had 100 needles in one day.

　Iris (Rene) spat and looked ahead.

　The hills, mountains, and forests blocked her view of the road ahead, but at this speed, she would probably reach Wesara, the capital of Duke Gerald's domain, before nightfall.

　--But it's not as fast as I thought it would be. ...... Or maybe it's just hard to control.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try.
　The reason she can't increase her speed in this situation is simply because she can't keep up with her control abilities. It was not a matter of magic, but of technology.
　When he was flying at the maximum speed, he lost control and almost threw up (Derik threw up). I could have crashed if I hadn't been careful.
　So now he was flying at a reduced speed. I don't know exactly how fast I was going, but I think it was about the speed of a car.

　--But I'm moving at a speed that's impossible in this world. I'm ignoring the road and the terrain and keep moving.
　　　If the big boss senses something, he will not be able to react in time. ......

　The two unidentified flying objects continued to fly in a straight line, like arrows shot out of the sky.

　I'm not sure.

　The three members of the "Dragon's Whistle" who left the old road reached the city of Teeth at dawn.

　Thyss, the capital of the Marquisate of Arawen, is a city about the size of Eltarev.
　The three of them rushed to the Adventurer's Guild branch, which was open 24 hours a day, borrowed a map, and spread it out on the desk.

I'm sure it's heading in a straight line towards ...... Wesara, the capital of Duke Gerald's domain. At this speed, it should arrive in the evening.

　Diana asserts, superimposing the results of the detection by the crest on her chest onto the map.
　There are many spells that allow you to detect a location, and the distance (.) and direction come to mind. At least, Diana's crest was of that type. If a person is in a place you don't know, you can't tell exactly where they are or where they are going without a map.

　When Benedict and Hugh heard Deanna's words, they both nodded their heads.

"...... What brings you to Wesara?
I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the Night Pythons.　I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the Night Python, they're based here.
Iris's reaction was the same.
...... Oh. Iris's reaction is the same. I'd say it's the same now.

　Deanna said, choosing her words carefully. It's possible that the reaction of Iris and the reaction of the guy who killed Night Python are the same entity. It's a possibility we don't want to think about.

　After the explosion, Iris's reaction was stationary for a while. However, just as I thought I had closed the distance, it started moving at a very high speed, and I missed it. It began to move in a straight line along the road, faster than even the Wendigo.
　Deanna speculated that it might have started flying by magic, and the other two agreed.

　But why is the one who killed the Night Python moving to Wesara? If he's not the same person as Iris, then why is he with Iris? I don't know.
　All I know for sure is that there's a disturbing situation going on that I don't understand, and that Iris is caught up in it.

"What are we gonna do? There's no way to track this thing. It's faster than a Wendigo, and it's flying in a straight line, ignoring the road.

　Hugh exaggeratedly lamented, as if taking it out on something.
　But all the while, Deanna continued to stare at the map, and then said in a whisper.

"...... has hippogriff flights from this city.
"Oh, come on.
"I could probably sell three trained Wendigos and get a one-way charter. Luckily, it's a beautiful day.

　A black shadow crossed Hugh's line of vision as he looked out the window.
　A huge shadow with wings spread out in the blue sky,......, a monster with the wings and head of an eagle and the body of a horse. Hippogriffs.

　The hippogriff is a high-class horseman that is used in all regions. It is one of the easiest flying monsters to tame, and the most powerful.
　It has a wide range of uses. Aside from military use, ambitious and active wealthy people have made it a status to own a hippogriff as their personal vehicle. Hippogriffs were also used to transport goods, although the rewards were prohibitive.

　The Marquess of Arawen, with its wide, flat pastures, is the base for the supply of horses and cavalry to Ciel-Teira. Hippogriffs do not eat grass, but meat, especially horse meat, but there is no need to worry about food here.


　And the Transportation Guild in Teeth had the means to transport people by air as a matter of course.
　Though they usually only transported things, and transporting people was not their specialty.

That's absurd. You want me to carry us in a basket?
You say you can carry a little over 200 kilograms. You said you could carry a little over 200 kilos. You could carry the three of us on your day off.
It's not a question of if you can carry us. ......
At this speed, we can probably catch up. And if we don't catch up now, we might end up in a place where even my battle stigma can't track us. Wesara is not always the final destination.
"Oh my god!　I can't help it!

　Hugh slammed his desk in a tone of helplessness, and an adventurer who had come early in the morning to look for a quest looked at the three of them to see what was going on.

"Are you sure you want to go to ......, Benedict?
Yeah. I think I'll take a chance on that one.

　Benedict nodded his head in agreement with Hugh's question.
　He stood up immediately.

I'm going to negotiate with the Transportation Guild. Hugh, arrange for the sale of the Wendigo.
I'll do my best to get you a good price, but don't complain if I have to buy you out!
　I'll do my best to get a good price, but don't complain if they buy it!　They use Wendigo, too.
I'll go with you first, then.
　Deanna, go get ready while I'm gone. I don't think we can withstand that thing by normal means. Find me a potion, a magic item, something that will allow me to travel recklessly.
Yes, sir.
Make sure you have a way to recover your strength. It's a full-on job.

　The three of them make a list of what needs to be done and start to divide up the tasks to solve.
　Being an adventurer is a job that takes you off the beaten path.
　No matter how reckless it may seem, once you decide to do it, you just have to act. That's what makes a good adventurer.

I'd like you to go to the communications station and inform the Count of the current situation. I want you to go to the communications station and report the situation to the Count.
Will you cooperate?

　But Deanna had her doubts about Benedict's proposal.

If they're on their way to Wesara, we can have them meet us there and catch them.
　But what does Duke Gerald, a royalist, think of Count Keeley? ......

　"The Dragon's Throat is a party that is close to Oswald, but they don't have enough influence to talk to any of the lords. In fact, there are only a handful of adventurers who do.
　Whether it's help with an investigation or a warning to be careful, if it doesn't go through Oswald's mouth, it's unlikely he'll even hear about it.
　But then there's the matter of the struggle above the clouds.
　I can only guess how bad the relationship between Count Keeley and Duke Gerald is (and it can't be good), but it's hard to imagine that they would act on such an unfamiliar offer.

It's hard to imagine that they will act on such an unfamiliar offer. It's a form of advice.
I'm sure you're right. ...... But we still have to go after them. We're the ones who can help Iris.
Well, that's true.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　I'm not sure.

　When the servant brought a message from the communications station to Oswald in the lord's office, Catherine followed suit.

"Father, ......
Catherine.
"Where's Iris?　What happened to her?

　I'm not sure. She hadn't slept last night, and there was fatigue on her face.

"I don't know ....... At least he's not dead. ......

　"The report from the Dragon's Whistle seemed to hold a cloud over his head, but he was sure that something more was going on.

　Hearing Oswald's words, Catherine hung on to him.
　Catherine, who had perfected the behavior of a "little lady" even though she was a child, could not control her emotions and shouted.

"Please, Father!　Please help Iris!
　...... I still haven't heard back from Iris to see if she'll be my friend!

　His ashen and crimson eyes were wet with tears as he looked up at Oswald.

　Oswald was a little surprised.
　Oswald knew that Catherine didn't like Iris very much, but then she suddenly said, "I want to take time to talk to you," and now this.
　I'm not sure if you're asking me if I'm going to be your friend, but I think it's good that your daughter has someone she cares about that much. ......
　I don't want to see the tragedy of losing a loved one that you just got.

I'll do what I can. But we'll see.
"Oh ......!

　Clasping her hands tightly together, Catherine prayed.