The last day of the Harvest Festival.
　I was separated from my friends and wandered around the city at random.

　The town of Ciclo is still very festive as usual.
　As I looked around, I noticed a store.
　There was a huge, tennis-court-sized tent, from which I could hear yellow screams and sounds of fighting.

　On the other hand, the shopkeeper didn't seem to be disturbed by the screams and noises, rather he was touting to bring in more people.
　As I stood there wondering what it was all about, I was approached from the side.

'A monster house?　What is this?
That's a children's attraction.
Elsa.

　The one who spoke to me was Elsa.
　She's wearing a familiar buyer's uniform and looks up at me, smiling.

'Are you curious about the Monster House?'
Yeah, what's it all about?
Simply put, it's an attraction that takes a specific monster that can't damage humans and turns it into an attraction, especially for children. It's especially popular with children. Kids love to be adventurers.

'Heh ...... there is such a thing as a monster that can't be damaged by humans. But doesn't that mean you can hunt all you want?
That's why the drops are so cheap.
I see.

　Is it like a haunted house?
　In comics, there are times when a character who can summon ghosts or spirits makes use of their abilities to create a safe and realistic haunted house, and I suppose it's similar to that.

　In fact, there's an entrance and an exit, and a boy in elementary school who came out of the exit even begged his parents who were waiting for him to do it again because it was fun.

　I understood, so I walked away from the monster house. Elsa follows beside me.

"Are you at work in that outfit?
'Yes, but it's okay. Like yesterday and the day before, the adventurers hardly come during the harvest festival. They're just enjoying the festival.
Really?
Would you like to go out for a bit?　I'll serve you some good tea and snacks.
Are you sure?　There's nothing to bring in.
Mr. Lyota is a big fan of yours.

　Elsa smiles.
　If that's the case, I'll just go by myself.

"Come to think of it, is she still around?
That girl?
She's been here since the day before yesterday. She came out of the village to become an adventurer, and she's looking for someone to join her party.
You're an aspiring adventurer.

Yes. But they've been rejected at every turn.
Why?
'They decided that we weren't talented enough. We were all judged to have a level of 1 and a maximum of 2, and our abilities were so low that we didn't merit joining them.
That's sad.
'Those kids aren't adventurers, they're the ones who naturally go the other way, but I think there are circumstances that prevent them from giving up. I hope they've already found it: ......

　She came to the buyer's shop with Elsa as she spoke.
　She fixed her sinking expression and opened the door with her usual smiling sales smile.

''Come on in,''
Sorry to disturb you, sir.

　The inside of the buyer's shop was just as rattled as Elsa had said.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more than just a couple of adventurers in total.

You'll need to be able to get a cup of tea now--
You're really going to let me in!

　A cheerful girl's voice echoed through the store, interrupting Elsa's lines.
　I looked towards the voice, a pony-tailed, how lively-looking girl with a ponytail, her eyes were shining.

　The other person was just behind the counter, and I couldn't see what kind of person she was from here.

'Is that it?'
'Yes. But I'm glad to hear you're going to join us.
I guess so.

Hmm, you have the makings. It's a quality that shines through in the dungeon.
Yeah?　This voice is ......
What's up, Mr. Lyota?

　I walked towards the girl, despite Elsa's doubts.
　I can see the shape of the other person hidden behind the counter.

　A well-groomed, energetic-looking, first-generation man.
　I recognize him, he's that guy in the dungeon who talks to his subordinates in the dungeon about "dreams" and "hopes" and forces them to work.
　The two guys that that guy brainwashed and worked them until they were torn to shreds.

　The two of them and the girl overlapped.
　I couldn't help but think about the girl's future.

"Come on, let's dream together in the dungeon...
"Wait a minute.

　I moved reflexively and stepped between the man and the girl.
　I glared at the man. The man who suddenly glared at me frowned.

'What is it with you?'
I'm going to need him as a friend.
What?
Me?　What, yeah, yeah?　Why all of a sudden, when I've been totally screwed up before?

　The girl looked at me and the man in turn and began to panic.
　I put her aside and glanced at the man.

"You interrupted me afterwards, isn't that rude of you to look at me like that?
I won't give her to you.
Do you know him?　If so, it's ......
You can't have it.
...... Mwah.

　Even the inside of the quiet, even if it was just a few people, the inside of the buyer's shop became more and more quiet.
　The few adventurers, the shopkeepers, and the girl in question were all watching with bated breath.
　Everyone was watching the proceedings with bated breath.

　The old man looks at me coldly, his eyes filled with hostility.
　I thought I heard the little boy say ...... to get out of my way.

　Looking into his eyes, I'm more and more convinced that I shouldn't let him take me.
　I don't have the power to undo a brainwashed person, but if I encountered them before they did, I would stop them at all costs.

　My hand reached for the gun at my waist, and at worst, it was all I could do to stop it.

"Well, are you sure you're going to join us, Lyota?

　A cheerful voice interrupts the tense atmosphere, it's Elsa's voice.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the subject of this article.

Congratulations, what a lucky girl you are to be invited to join the hottest Lyota family of the moment!
Are you a lucky girl?　Me?
'Yes!　Because it's the Lyota family.
''Yes, although they're a super small group, they're the most popular gang in Cyclo right now. We even got a big job as a dungeon chief a while ago when we were asked to do it.

　Following Elsa, my colleague Ena joined in from behind the counter.
　She's lifting me up as much as I can.

Is she really such a great person?
Yeah!
He's amazing.

　Elsa and Ena, two people I know, will lift me up - and that's not all I thought.

'So that's the rumoured Lyota Sato.
I heard you got that Neptune fiasco the day before yesterday.
'Seriously, Neptune, that Neptune from the Neptune family?

　A few adventurers have also lifted me up in the form of gossip.
　This has changed the way girls look at me.

　Respect, admiration, and that sort of thing.

".........

　The older man clicked his tongue, glared at me hatefully, and then walked away with a big grin on his face.
　I guess he thought the girl who visibly yearned for me was unfit to be brainwashed.
　In fact, the girl didn't see a man anymore.
　Elsa and her friends have been staring at me with sparkling eyes as the adventurers lifted me up with all their might.

　I watched him walk out of the store and secretly patted my chest as I watched him leave.

　I was relieved to find that I had just barely managed to save a child who was about to be captured by Black.