So you guys can go back to the inn and wait, or just go sightseeing if you want.

　A demon tribe that the grand master knows who might be able to fix the rusty sword.
　I'm the only one who can take him there.
　For some reason, demons must be a very shy tribe. That's the kind of thing I can understand.
　If Rebecca-san or someone else suddenly brought a lot of strangers with her, I'm confident I'd be scared to death. ......

　And I'm talking about an audience OK because I'm a rogue.
　I think he's the type of person who will reject you if you're dealing with someone who seems clean and innocent.
　For example, he's drinking in the daytime, looking middle-aged, overweight and balding ......, making his wife work and goofing off at home instead of working himself ......, and pinning his wife's earnings... ..., like yelling at me to buy booze .......
　How can it be such a stereotypical rogue of the Showa era?

　But even though it's a different world, human society isn't going to change that much.
　It's not impossible: ......

You're going to be able to find out more about this.　To the demons.

　Marina asks me with a scowl.
　Oh Marina. Didn't you understand?

''I guess it's just one person, or maybe it's just you and Grand Master ....... It seems that demons seem to be very shy. If a large number of people come to your home, they may not be in a good mood and may not be able to fix your rusty sword.

　Either way, it's too much for all of us to go together.

Marina is a slave.
Hmm?
Marina wants to follow you, sir. Slaves do not count.
Doesn't it count?

　Really?　Maybe?
　Are the slaves treated as tools, and in this case, are they allowed to accompany you?

'Really?　Master.
No, no, ......, that's not the point.
No.
'Ah, ....... But the Turks. If you're ......, you're good to go if you're just that kid.
It's okay.
It hurts!

　The master gives me permission to scratch my cheeks.
　Slaves don't count, apparently.
　Wrong. It's like it's OK because they're Turks.
　But then you'd have to go to ......

But I'm a slave, so why shouldn't I be? I'll go with you.

　Deanna's coming on strong. That's the default line.

Hmmm ....... Master Elf is, well, you know: .......

　The big master with a troubled face.
　He can't be evil to Deanna, who is an elf, but I guess he feels that it's too delicate to take her with him.

　Speaking of the demon race, they are probably a race that specializes in handling magic power.
　It is also evident in the fact that they do something using the magic crystal.

　And the elves are a race that specializes in handling spirit power.
　It's a good thing that you're able to do something with spirit stones, and that's what elves do with them.
　If ...... then demons and elves are a pair of species, aren't they?

　Deanna is a worldly, no-nonsense princess, but in general, there are stories about demons and elves not getting along with each other or ......?
　Is it possible?
　If that's the case, you'd better not take Deanna downstairs. ......

'Yes. Deanna's staying at home.
What? Why?　If you like Marina, why not me?

　Deanna seems to think of Marina as a sister figure, and usually shows a sisterly ease. And yet, she hates being outsmarted by Marina.
　She's conditionally kind, and she's very narrow-minded.
　But that's what a sister is. I have an older sister and an older brother, so I understand.
　And, well, ...... Deanna is basically a princess.

　I talk to Deanna in a whisper so that the big master can't hear me.

You know. The Grand Master doesn't hesitate to tell you, though, that the demons probably don't like elves.
Why? Why?
'I don't know about that, indeed, but ....... Anyway, I'm sure there's some kind of situation. In the unlikely event that 'Wow, it's an elf!' And you don't want them to shoot magic at you. It's not like there aren't things like that.

　That's speculation.
　But it's possible.
　If a race that is good at magic uses fire magic like the sorcerer in The Magician's House that I saw during the festival, I'd usually be stuck.
　So I want to crush the risk.
　...... Or rather, I'm just following along and Deanna is just being selfish.

It's a good thing that you don't have to bring Marina with you if you must, because it's just me and the grand master. To be honest, you don't need a bodyguard. At least I have a sword with me.
But .......
It's just me and Marina are the only people with weapons. Think about it. Okay, I'll put Marina on you and you can all play and wait for me.
But then, your master will go to ......
I'm fine.
'Ugh. Yes ......

　It was reluctant, but I got him to agree.
　In the end, I decided to leave Marina behind as well, and it was just me and the grand master going to the demon tribe.

'Oh, yes.'

　I rummage through my bag and take out a walkie-talkie and hand one of them to Rebecca. It was tested before it came to us.

Here, I'll give it to you. "Here, I'll give you this, just like I told you how to use it. Let me know if you need anything else. I'll let you know if I need anything else.
Yes. ...... Is that me?
Oh, well. There is no one better than Rebecca.

　I'm indescribably uneasy with Deanna, Marina is out of the question, and Elepippi seems to be a bit of a motormouth.
　Etowah could have been ...... If it wasn't for Rebecca, Etowah would have been fine. He's pretty clever with that one.


　◇◆◆◆◇


'Sir, you must be very rich to have an elf-sama as your slave. What kind of a rich man is he?

　On the way to the demon tribe, Grand Master Dwarf and I parted from the others.
　It seems that he's been curious about it all along, and the Grand Master asks him about it.
　The elves are a very valuable race in this world. They are the only race that has good eyebrows, longevity, and above all, can control spirit magic.
　That's why they are so expensive.
　It's an unpleasant analogy, but if you compare it to a car, it's 'very cool' and 'long-lived and durable (can be driven forever). The most important thing is that it's high performance and can fly.
　It is not a car any more, it is not a car.
　Of course it is expensive.

　That's why they are interested in the young man who is enslaved by such a thing.
　I could have told a lie to the Texan, but since I was going to, I told the story of how me and Deanna met.
　It's not exactly a secret story, you know.

　We talked briefly along the way.

I mean, that's like a half-assed attempt at a frame-up.

　And Ochikata. I'll tell you clearly.

It's like, I'm pretty sure I was set up half the time. I was blue too: ......

　Even if you try to play it cool with ......, it doesn't eliminate the fact that Efta did a good job of it. In general, that guy said something like "10 spirit stones" with a silet. It didn't ring a bell at the time, but now I know how much it was worth. In fact, I'd normally go bankrupt.

"Did the Turk who bought you that time?
Yes. Isn't she pretty?
'Oh, you miss them a lot. Your husband doesn't have that ...... sense of discrimination against the Turks, does he?　Here's a confirmation.
Not at all, sir.
They even use the elves as slaves. Well, if you don't, I wouldn't ask to see the demon race.

　I wonder if it has anything to do with whether or not you are enslaving the elves and whether or not you feel discriminated against by the Turks?
　Well, there is. I've heard it said that the Turks are despised as false elves. And it's probably because they have a strong respect for elves that they get that idea.
　He said that in other countries there is not that much discrimination against the Turk tribe, and in this country where the power of the Great Spirit is strong, the Turk tribe will have a hard time living.

　Well, I love them, of course I do. I love the Turks.
　Come to think of it, I wonder if there's a village full of Turks somewhere.
　I might be more interested in this than the village of the elves.

　On the way to the guild, we stopped by the guild and bought a moderately large crystal of magic for a single gold coin.
　I heard that demons often spring up in the tunnels, and there is a large stock of magical crystals. A single gold coin is quite an expense, but it can't be helped.
　I was asked if I didn't need to bring something like a souvenir, but in that case, I bought some rice on the way.
　We bought some rice as a hand-me-down. It was very practical.



　We followed the big master, who is surprisingly strong for his small stature, and he was advancing rapidly.
　Luklaera is not as well maintained as Elishe, and the roads are not paved with stones.
　We go on a dusty road.
　The mountain, or more precisely, Mount Luclaera, seems to be a major mine, with entrances to tunnels here and there.
　We heard that many of them are now abandoned, and many people use them to make their homes. I heard that some of the dwarves in the grand master's home are like that.
　Even at the foot of the mountain, there are many shabby houses lined up in a disorderly fashion.
　The center of Luklaera was also neat and tidy, but when you get to this area, it's quite chaotic or sparse.

''...... sir. I'll trust you to meet the demon tribe today, but don't do anything that will make me lose face.

　The grand master made sure of it.
　Apparently, the demon race is something that is treated extraordinarily delicately in these parts.
　I said, "Whoa!　Demons!　I'm calling the cops! I wonder if they are afraid of making a fuss about it, or if they are afraid that later they will say, "Heh heh heh heh heh, Mr. Military Police, there's a demon tribe living in hiding over there.

It's okay.

　I mean, if you have that kind of fear, you shouldn't have to introduce me to it, but that's the effect of the feared 'con artist' vocation. Like, "It makes it easier to get credit.
　...... No, maybe they thought they shouldn't have to dare to tip me off simply because I'm rich. As I recall, if you have a smuggler in the country, you get 3 silver coins for a tip. It's not the same as a smuggler, but it's probably only one gold coin at most.
　Well, it's not about the amount of money, though.
　Even if I was given how much, there is no way that I would snitch.

　I go on a rustling, roadless path.
　The grand master pushes his way through the trees with a strong gait. Occasionally he would whip away unwanted branches with the machete at his side.
　There are no roads anymore.
　For a shortcut, this is a very drastic route choice.

　At the foot of Mt. Luklaera (but not a single mountain), the remains of a number of tunnels are gaping open and breathing air. It's as if the mountain is breathing.
　As Luklaera is the largest mine in the imperial capital, there are many wooden tunnels that remind us of its history, as well as traces that look as if the mountain itself had been carved out of the ground rather than drilled, and the surrounding area is dotted with piles of dirt and stones.
　This one is not as popular, and most of them seem to be the remains of old tunnels. There's no sign of people living here either.

　...... I mean, is there really a demon tribe in a place like this?
　I heard it was about a 30-minute walk, but it's farther than I expected.

　And suddenly, I came to an open place.

I'm here. I'm in here!
There you are.

　In front of the ruins of the old tunnels.
　This is where the people seem to live in hiding, and there is a sense of life outside the tunnels.
　Ropes attached to trees and wood are used to hang laundry on the floor. Washing tubs are placed on the ground. There are signs of cooking outside.
　There is a crude wooden table and two chairs.
　This is the kind of place we live in. I guess people rarely come here. So, they might have a cup of tea while sunbathing once in a while.

I'll go ahead and go talk to them, so just wait for me.
Yes, sir.

　I'm left alone.
　Try sitting in a chair or something.

　...... But it's a demon race.
　I should have asked you ahead of time what you looked like.
　This world is quite different in appearance between races. It's not so much that they are different.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.
　Maybe they are lizard people, ice people, fire people, or crystal boys.
　I'd be horrified if it was indeed Cribbo: .......
　Let's just be prepared for that.

　I've been bonging around for a while, and then I hear a rustling sound of someone approaching me.
　I get up from my chair.
　It's unlikely that someone will be here.
　What is it, an animal?
　It's a place like this, it could be a magical beast or monster.
　I braced myself so that I could slip through the sword at any moment.
　Through the rustling grass--

Hmmmmmmm. Today's dinner is lailaila~. Natural Lailaila Laila~

　A girl - a woman old enough to be called - appeared, humming and holding a bird as big as a turkey in her hands, as if it were heavy in both hands.
　I guess there are hardly any visitors here.
　She didn't notice my presence.

"Mush the feathers, gut the bird, stuff it with rice, scald the surface--

　And the moment he turns to me, he notices me.
　I freeze as if I've paused.

　It's a girl with beautiful, cool, light blue hair.
　The hair color is a bit unusual around here.
　I've heard that light blue hair is more common in the imperial capital, that is, in the north.
　Her age is probably a little older than Orica.

''...............''

　Red red eyes like the female moon "Wrinkle Me".
　The depression (・・・・) black tattoo of entanglement like a snake in all visible areas of the body.
　In contrast to the tattoo of Deanna's colorful and congratulatory feeling, it is evil.
　I feel like I've heard it somewhere.
　Red eyes, black tattoos.

............ Hello.

　For now, I'll just say hello.
　I wonder if this person is a demon race. It's not quite what I was expecting, but maybe it's not something you can tell by looking at.

　The fiery red eyes that look at me as if stamping out prices.
　The color of caution - I don't think there is such a thing as cautionary, but it's clear that they are wary.
　But that doesn't mean he's going to be in a position to run away immediately.
　A mysterious calmness. It's a bit like Deanna.

'...... Where are you from?'

　The girl opens her mouth. 'A hand person is .......

'I'm not of any hand, sir.
Are you here to kill me?
I'm not going to kill him.
So you're a bounty hunter.
Are you a bounty hunter?
Don't play dumb!

　You hummed and hummed and hummed, but you're a pretty sharp girl.
　The bounty reminds me, she's a thing.
　It's a violation of the spirit contract, and it's called a "burnt-out" state.
　I remember hearing from Rebecca on the way to Luklaera from Rebecca that she violated the spirit contract and after a while, she lost her blessing, her body was covered in black tattoos, her eyes became red and she couldn't produce power.
　It is said that if you call in a tip, you can get a gold coin or something.

Did I say 'Gokumon' or something like that: ......

'How dare you!　Whose fault is that!

　You're a very angry person. Your head is on fire.
　I think I should just calm down and prep Laila.

'Oh, well, wait a minute. I don't know you, and I don't know you, and I don't think we've met completely. I don't know what I might be misunderstanding, but it's a misunderstanding anyway.
'Oh ...... either way, no more ....... I can't bother her any more ....... I'd rather not bother her anymore .......

　It's not gonna happen. I'm not listening.

　In the meantime, you take out a gorgeously made dagger from your chest.

　I've seen this design somewhere before.

　The ebony scabbard with exquisitely twisted wooden scabbard was decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, and the scabbard's protruding tip, mouthpiece, brim and handle were beautifully carved with gleaming blue-white metal.
　The handle is made of ebony, the same material as the spiral-shaped scabbard, and also has beautiful wooden patterns.

Oh, it's a cool dagger!

　I mean, she's serious.
　He pulled the dagger out of its scabbard and looks like he's about to commit suicide.
　Cool dagger!　I'm not. We have to stop it.

　Before she could rush over to stop it, a voice emanating from the tunnels caused the Polar Crest Girl to stop moving.

'That's it!　That man is my guest. Relax. I'm not the pursuer.

　A figure comes out of a tunnel with the grand master.
　White hair.
　Not long, but slightly pointed ears.
　Brown skin similar to Marina's.

　And suddenly, a vocation board pops up.

　Meet the Nightmare Tribe 1/3 → Defeat the Argeese at the Altar Seat (Alter) 2/3

　The guidance goes on.
　The intensity of the next phase is great, but that's not the point now.
　The guidance has progressed, which means--

Nightmare Tribe: ......

　You're not a demon!