-- shortly before Luke, the Knight Commander, came face to face with Eversol of the Asropolis Council.

　Noir, along with his companion Sakura, went out to the root of the great tree that housed the Great Council Building and the Inn for the time being, and looked up at the morning sunshine with a dazzling look.

'Well, then, let's get on with it. It's a pity we can't go too far.
"Yes, that's right, ......, but if you're lost, ...... is a big deal. ......

　The companions had been instructed to wait in the city until progress was made, and Noir, the black wizard, had been given time to move freely.

　The use of the waiting time was different for each person.

　For example, Edward, the squire of the brave Ezell, asked Lionel of the Golden Fang Knights to instruct him and train his martial arts.

　Perhaps because of his position as a knight and a researcher of ancient magical civilizations, Hild of the Rainbow Scales Knights was happily summarizing the events he had seen and heard about in the recent one in his report.

　The brave Ezell looked at it as if he didn't understand much, but Noir could understand Hild's feelings painfully well.

　It was a very strong area of interest, and if he had discovered something that no one else knew about, it was only natural that he would forget to sleep and eat and get lost in it.

''It would be nice if there were some magic tools that might be helpful in the future. Because the magic tools made by Noir-dono are very useful in our lives as well.
...... um, yeah. The demon tribe's technology ...... absorbs, and if you can, you can .......

　The purpose of Noir's outing is to shop (shopping), so to speak.

　Just like the technology of the demon king's army, the magical tools made by the demon tribe sometimes exceed the common sense of earthly people.

　And if you can get grimoires other than grimoires, it will be a great harvest.

　In particular, this Athropolis was made up of a wide variety of demonic tribes, and the expectations of obtaining a wide range of knowledge were quite high.

''Come to think of it, the Demon King's Army was here too. Maybe we can learn something about the technology used by the Demon King's Army. ......)

　The last days of his twin sister, the white wizard Bran, come to mind.

　In exchange for her life, she surrendered to the army of the Demon King Gandalf, and after repeated acts of hostility against humanity, she was finally able to have the spellprint of the prototype stage summoning magic carved into her left arm.

　And then the spellprint was driven out of control by Noir's hands, and he disappeared from this world in the form of being dragged into the void.

　...... Normally, one might expect to find out the means by which the brave Falcon and the female swordsman Julia were converted into dragons, rather than Bran and the like.

　This is even more so since several Golden Fang knights have suffered the same thing.

　However, perhaps because he was the only flesh and blood, the first thing that came to mind was inevitably Bran's last form.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. You are not looking very pale, how do you feel?
No, it's not ...... anything. It's okay, it's ...... departure, let's go ......

　Showing his empty energy to Sakura, who was concerned about him like this, Noir stepped out into the streets of Athropolis.

　For a while from there, Noir was able to enjoy walking around the city without much trouble.

　As a member of a party that had regained the light of the ceiling, he was always the center of attention, and there were more than a few people who spoke to him without hesitation, but Sakura kept those people at bay.

　If I was on my own, I would not have been able to handle it, so I have to thank Sakura for accompanying me.

How was the result?
Wah ...... not bad, I guess. ......

　I asked Sakura to help me with my luggage, and we headed back to the big tree where our lodgings were for the time being.

　I procured some grimoires that seemed worthy of analysis, and although it looks like an introductory book, I also got a grimoire of the demon race.

　I can say that this is a good first battle result.

...... Next time, I want to prepare more ...... money and go ...... out with more money.
This time, all of the war chest money was earmarked by the superintendent. We can't waste too much money, and I think this is about right for today.

　In the end, he had left Sakura to do nothing but escort and carry his luggage, but she seemed to be enjoying her stroll through Asropolis in her own way.

　Maybe it was just a walk in the park for her personally, but it would be better to thank her for something later.

　With that in mind, as I walked into the entrance of the big tree, a dog-headed beast who happened to pass me turned around, tossing his heavy black robe.

''Oh?　Look who it is, it's Bran. Is your master back already?

　-- my thought process freezes.

　Every thought that had come to mind is erased and I feel as if I've been pierced by ice down my spine.

　The blood rushes out and your mind can't work properly.
　I can't breathe as if my trachea has been squeezed directly through it.

　I manage to move my trembling legs and turn to the dog-headed beast, holding my breath.

'Did you just ...... bran, said ......, or ......?'
'Hmm?　Excuse me for this, I think I misunderstood. I don't have good eyesight, by all means, because of my race. I guess I made a mistake because of the similarity in smell and stature.
Do you know Bran?

　He raised his voice so loudly that even he was surprised, and not only the dog-headed beast, but even Sakura rolled her eyes.

　Sakura should have been as surprised as they were to hear A(⋅)'s(⋅) name(⋅) before(⋅), but she was even more astonished by the intensity of Noir's reaction.

　The dog-headed beastman was bewildered by the human woman (Noir), who suddenly revealed her passion, but she mouthed her response to what she was asked.

'And speaking of knowing, you do. I'm not particularly close to you, I'm just a follower of someone who has held the same position.
"Squire ......, whose ...... is that, exactly?
"I'm a member of the House of Representatives. I've been out of town for a while for a local inspection, but it's about time for me to go back to .......










"I'm a member of the People's House of Representatives, but ...... what does that matter? ......?

　It was a statement that had to be unheard of, yet there was no indication that Ebersole was lying.

　In fact, there was no point in presenting false information at all in the flow.

'...... It's completely new to me that there are people who visited Asropolis before us. Neither the Adventurer's Guild nor even the ...... earthly royal palace is aware of such a fact.
'My God!　But, you see, that man did indeed call himself a human, and Master Fraxinus identified him as such. Isn't there some mistake?
No. ...... It's not surprising that someone might have stepped into the labyrinth unnoticed. But ...... who the hell is this person?

　In the midst of their mutual bewilderment, a snake crawled in from nowhere and broke in.

　The snake crawled up Ebersole's body and emitted a shrill, squealing sound in his ear.

''Hmmm. What a thing to say about it if you talk about it. It seems that the person in question heard the rumors about you guys and came up here. Oh, just in time!　Come in!

　Eversol motioned for him to enter, and the door slowly opened to reveal an old man.

　His wrinkled face and long, white, unkempt hair give you the impression that he has a straight, straight spine and his eyes are full of energy.

　Your face looks familiar - no, it's not. There's no doubt about it.

　There is no question about it, she has the same face as the man I know.
　It was a cunning duke, and the bones of his face were very similar to those of that cunning duke.

　You will need to make sure that you have the right amount of time and energy to do this.

''Oh no, congratulations on this guy!　So the guild's adventurers have finally come this far!
You're ...... no way. ......
'Oops!　You were the first to say hello. I've never met you before. My name is Algernon. I'm currently serving as a council member or something in this town.