"Well, then, to commemorate the accomplishment of my first request-- cheers!

　After submitting Sharp Rabbit's claws at the guild's counter, we decided to have dinner at the facility's tavern.

　The four of us gathered at a round table, and Mize proposed a toast.
　There was no alcohol in the toast, just fruit juice in each glass. In this country, people over the age of 18 are allowed to drink.

Well, I'm glad that went well.

Yeah. I was surprised when there was a sudden explosion nearby. ...... What was that all about?

I was expecting a demon to be on the loose, but so far I haven't heard anything about it.

　Gran, Elysia, and Mize are chatting as they pick at their food.

Gran, Elysia and Mize chatted as they picked at their food.　The explosion.

Yeah, I heard some loud noises on the way to ...... the Dovecote Forest, but I was too far away to make out anything.

Yeah. Well, if you were close by, you might have been caught up in it, so you were lucky.

　I nodded and tipped my glass to Gran's words.
　The herb-roasted chicken was brought in. Gran took the meat first, and Elysia, who was watching from the side, made a dumbfounded face.

　--I've missed this.

　After everyone has done their work, they all gather around the same table to eat.
　I've had this experience when I was in the agency. I didn't particularly appreciate it then, but ...... I might feel differently about it now.

　Not all of the soldiers in the agency were picked up at an early age like me. Some of them were adventurers, some were mercenaries, some were doctors, some were scholars.

　This custom, which was often prevalent in after-work dinners ...... at the agency, may have been a consideration for them now that I think about it. It was a consideration for those of us who only knew the extraordinary, as they knew the ordinary.

I'm going to go to ...... for a while.

　I said no to the three of them, and left my seat.
　If I'm not careful here, my past colleagues will laugh at me.

　I left the guild and took out the "Correspondence" from my pocket.
　I went into the alleyway near the guild and called Chris.

"Chris, is this a good time?

"Yeah. ...... is pretty noisy. Where are you?

The Adventurers Guild. I'm still out here at .......

The guild is usually at its noisiest at this time of night. The guild is usually at its noisiest at this time of day. I could have gone to ....... It looks like you're enjoying your life to a certain extent.

"If you can call skulking around in the shadows a routine.

"If you learn from this, don't owe the Bureau anything.

　I shut my mouth in response.

"So, what do you want?

　Chris's question reminded me of my main point.
　That's right. I don't have time for chit-chat right now.

I need more men. I can't protect the mise-en-scene by myself any longer.

　I'll tell you what I need.
　I'm not whining. --It's a change of plan.

"Mize signed up for the guild the other day. He'll probably be going out of town a lot in the future. The other day Mize signed up for the guild. "We're probably going to be out of town a lot. ...... I'm not sure I can handle being out there by myself, let alone in the city with so many people watching. I barely escorted her this time, but I don't know if it will work next time.

　This time, there were two cases where the escort failed.
　One was when the escort was obstructed by a demon living in the forest.
　The other was if the bandits had split up from the start and were aiming for the mise-en-scene in a sort of pincer movement.

　It is fortunate that neither of these cases applied to me.
　However, in a mission where lives are at stake, luck is not to be trusted in the least.

If I could just lock Mize up in the city, I could protect him by myself. But ...... you don't want to do that, do you?

"...... Yes. I've been asked by the client not to restrict his actions as much as possible. Strictly speaking, they don't want you to provoke him.

"Provoke"? ...... Another vague request.

Yes. But it doesn't change what we do.

　We'll continue to protect you as we have in the past, without the mise-en-scene knowing.
　What we have to do hasn't changed. But the situation has changed.

"As you can see, we need additional men. Preferably someone with firepower I don't have.

Copy that. Or rather, I already have.

"...... What?

I agree with you that this one was a close call. I've been talking to the agents who are available as well as disposing of the bodies. ...... They should be on their way to you now.



　Are they already on their way?
　You're so good at what you do that you can't say anything.

"Who is it?

　Suddenly, from behind me, I was robbed of my vision by two hands holding my eyes.
　At the same time, a question was asked in a young girl's voice.

　I've heard that voice before.

"......02.

"Haha, no, no!

　The girl's hand that was covering her eyes came away.
　The girl who turned around was a bright-faced girl with orange hair.

"I'm Oz now. Nice to meet you, Twight (・・・・・)?

　The girl smiles happily and says.
　The girl was a former colleague of ---- mine.