The day after the Ray's meeting with Pleas towards the slums... Ray was in front of Azimov's house.
　I found myself in the security and spent the day... but by the next day I was back in my house.
　Ray didn't know it, but when he met a security guard around the city, he was told so and came to see if it was true or false.
　There is nothing wrong with the appearance of the building.
　Seto crashed into Azimov's lab, which was not visible from here.
　That's why there's nothing wrong with what you see from the outside.

"... well, it's still Azimov, and of course he's doing something about it."

　Given Azimov's character, I don't think he's doing the same once he's attacked.
　When Ray mutters this thought, Vihela nods next to him.

"Well, I'm sure you're getting ready to fight back."
"I don't think there's a Pamidor coming to this house, and I don't think there's any need to intercept him without question or answer."

　The reason why I can't say for sure is probably because the target is Azimov.
　Considering Azimov's personality, it's not impossible that the moment he knocks on the door, he explodes... or anything like that.

(There's no problem, right? ...Yes, I think it's okay.)

　Mumbling to himself, Ray eventually makes sure he wears a dragon robe before knocking on the door.

"Is Azimov there?"

　Call out from outside the house, relieved that there is nothing special about the knock.
　After a minute or so, the door opened.

"Who is it? Oh, Ray?"

　As a matter of course, Azimov appeared.
　Especially, something unusual... doesn't seem to have the after effects of an injury.
　Relieved about it, Ray opens his mouth.

"Not to mention coming back from the guard post, isn't it careless of you to stay at home alone? Why don't you hire a bodyguard for a while?"
"I don't really like it," Besides, there are many adventurers who can't be trusted at this time of year."

　Even Azimov, who is often enthusiastic about his research, probably knew the situation as long as he lived in Gilm.

(No. Is it natural that you are an alchemist? It's still a good idea that if you hire a clever adventurer as your bodyguard, he'll disappear with your bodyguard... If you don't do well, it's very likely that you'll be attacked by a bodyguard adventurer.)

　Ray admires Azimov when he sees him.
　But... it is only dangerous that the target man should not be escorted.

"You don't have to choose a newcomer, do you? If you're an adventurer who's been in Gilmoo for a long time, you'll have some credibility."
"...even if you say so." I'm busy with research, so I know very little of an adventurer. I've only heard the names of a few Rank A adventurers and nicknames, except for the Lays."
"You're just a good hand at it, don't you think that adventurers will come and ask you something?"
"I'm coming, but most of them don't deal with me." No, I've met a few people, but... there are more people who don't remember their names. as you may see on his face."
"And you remember me very well,"
"In Ray's case... there was Seto, too." A Pamidor brought me here."

　Being a freak, I don't really understand Azimov's way of thinking.
　That was Ray's honest feeling.
　I wouldn't say anything, though, as long as I know it doesn't make much sense.

"Well, why don't you introduce Ray to a bodyguard? If he knew Ray, he wouldn't want to steal anything from this house, would he?

　Marina and Bune and Seto, who are not yet on their way to the courtyard, nod in agreement to Viehra's words.

"Do you know me?"
"Yes. What do you think?"
"Even if you say so..."

　Vihela's suggestion stifles Ray.
　Ray is by no means as broad-faced as Azimov.
　No, many adventurers know Ray's face.
　The face of a dragon lobe without its hood is also spreading in its own way.
　But... it's just that he knows Ray's face, and it's not that much that he knows his partner.
　Ray's strength is the same, but that's his personality.
　The personality of being unrelenting to an adversary can be awe‐inspired, but rarely affectionate.
　Of course, not everyone was afraid of Ray and didn't come close to him.

"The Mire Dog said he had another request from today,"

　Although Mireinu was happily playing with Seto yesterday, he has attracted attention as a young hope and is often asked for nomination at this time of year.
　Also, without it, it was just spring, and I should have received requests to somehow increase the funds that had fallen during the winter.

"Then... Elk? No, isn't he in Gilmoo?"

　There is also a rehabilitation issue, and now the Elk... No, the Raijin's axe is out of Gillum.

"Well... it's hard. Why don't you go to the guild and think about it? Maybe there's someone in the guild. Or rather --"

　So Ray pauses and turns to Marina... to look at the person who had been the guildmaster until a short while ago.
　They probably know what kind of opinions they're asking for. Marina opens her mouth with a little thought.

"Well, I'm sorry, but in this situation I should stop showing up at the guild and interfering with the guild. and you'll have a lot of misunderstandings.
"Then, not in the guild, but here?"
"... if you're going to say so, I can't help it, but... you'd better stop it if you could."
"Why?"

　Vihela interrupts Ray and Marina's conversation.

"This is the action of the Red Lotus as a wing, isn't it? Think about the future, and if possible, don't rely too much on authority, not on my ability. That's fine with Gilmoo, but you should get used to it now, right?"

　For a moment, Ray wondered if he didn't have to do it now, but Marina thought that the experience was very important.
　It's not that difficult if you leave it to someone when there's nothing.
　But in this case, in a situation where we don't have time... What do we do when other adventurers are too busy to contact?
　Marina, of course, was going to ask an adventurer she knew, but she's not going to say it now.
　Anyway, as long as I was going to act as a wing of the Red Lotus, it was a matter of urgency to gain experience as a party leader.

"…I see. Then why don't we go to the guild first? Azimov's bodyguard..."
"Yes!"

　...why?That was Ray's honest feeling.
　Why is Bune running for the bodyguard of Azimov?
　Basically, Bune is less willing to do something himself. ...except when it's related to food.
　For some reason such a Bune has proposed himself as the bodyguard of Azimov today.
　It's only natural that Ray should question.
　No, Ray wasn't the only one to question. Marina, who was not yet acquainted with Bune, and Vihela, who had known her for a long time, were the same.

"What's the matter?"
"Yes,"

　Bune answers Vihela's question briefly.
　But that alone would have understood Bune's will. Vihela opens her mouth to Ray, thinking a little.

"I think it's best for me to remain... that's what I think?"
"What about Bune? I can tell from this conversation. -- not yet."

　It has always been known that Vihela and Bune can understand each other's intentions without having to put everything into words like themselves and Seto.
　Ray wondered for a moment whether it was telepathic, but immediately shook his head to get rid of unnecessary ideas.
　In fact, it's not a bad story for Ray that Bune will stay here as a bodyguard.
　Bune is not as strong as the other three, but he is still much more aggressive throughout the winter training.
　at least to the extent that it seems acceptable in terms of escorting
　Besides, being a thief, he has the ability to get rid of his presence, so he is arguably the best of all.
　The biggest problem is that Azimov and Bune are unable to communicate properly.
　Of course, I can communicate with you at least by nodding and shaking my head.

"... well, I can't help it." OK. I'll stay here too, so go to the guild in Ray and Marina. Seto..."
"Well, let's leave it here for the time being. Is that all right, Seto?"
"Glu".

　Seto, who seemed sleepy after losing the Ray's story and the spring sun, immediately reacts to Ray's words.

"Well, that's how I'm going. Azimov, I'll find someone in the guild to guard you, will you?"
"I don't mind if you don't interfere with my research." But is it necessary to do so?"
"Don't you not realize that you were about to die?"

　At Azimov's words Ray muttered somewhat dumbfounded.

"You may say so," I fainted when I was attacked and found myself in the guard post completely intact. Isn't it a little unreasonable to feel a sense of crisis?"
"Ah... yes. Maybe."

　Azimov must have been lucky to have been attacked and knocked unconscious.
　That's what Ray thought, but that's it's this.

"Still, there's a possibility that you'll be targeted again. Once you've been targeted, it's not always safe anymore."
"Well, I suppose so,"
"How much money do you have?" -- "No, not to mention this."

　Azimov must be a very skilled alchemist, making twilight spears and improving Slapnil's shoes, though he has some problems with his character. That being the case, there was basically no need for money.
　What we basically assumed here was that it was normal.
　An alchemist's main job is to make magic items, but he also needs a variety of materials to make them.
　Normally, I would be satisfied with a certain amount of material, but in the case of Azimov, since he can use various materials because he is not good at it, he wants rarer materials, higher performance materials, etc.
　If you think about how much material you put into your twilight spear, you'll understand Azimov's obsession with the material.
　But with a slightly worried look on his face, Azimov nods to leave it to him.

"For the time being, I can take up to five gold coins at once."
"...because the pay isn't that high."

　Of course, it depends on the person you ask, but five gold coins for a bodyguard is still too expensive.

"First of all, a few days... so I'll wait and see, if you need a little more time, I think it'll be an addition. What's the problem?"
"I don't care. You have to get in my way."
"Well, that's the way it is," Vichela, I asked."
"Yes, leave it to me. Ray, pick a good bodyguard."

　Waving her hand lightly, Vihela pulls Bune and Azimov into the house.
　Seto also heads to the courtyard, a little disappointed to leave Ray.
　When I saw them off, Ray and Marina were the only ones left.

"Well, let's go. -- it's a little unusual to be alone with Ray, if you think about it."
"Is that so? ... Come to think of it, that's right. For some reason, I think we spent the winter together, but there weren't so many of us alone."
"Yes. So you're pretty happy to look like this now? Of course, I know you need a bodyguard for the Azimov case, and that's why you go looking for one."

　Head to the guild with a glamorous smile Marina.
　Marina wears a party dress, and that alone makes it look like she's escorting a date.
　...if Ray was wearing a dragon robe, and Marina, wearing a party dress, had not carried a bow and a barrel.
　and they went out into the street and headed to the guild."

"Ah! Ray!"

　A voice like that suddenly rang out in front of the guild.