Ray, who stores various supplies necessary for the Oak Conquest in Mistilling, breaks up with Bobbs, who says he still has something to do, and leaves the guild through the back door.

"Grull".

　Seth, who noticed Ray, greeted him with a happy cry and headed straight to the main gate of Gillum.





"Oh, are you asking me again to-day.

　Langa came out to deal with Seto as if she had gotten used to it.Even though ordinary guards are frightened by Seto, he is the captain... no, because he was the captain, Ranga was half in charge of Ray and Seto.
　Well, Langa is in charge of Ray because he is told to be careful by Larkus.
　He takes a guild card out of the mistling and opens his mouth, handing it over to him with Seto's demon necklace.

"It's a request, if you think of it.Didn't you hear that the oak was making a settlement?"

　Langa was thrilled by the explanation.

"Of course, I've heard that you're strong, but you're still in the G rank, right? Were you able to accept the request?"
"This time, it's an emergency request, and if you have the ability to beat an oak by yourself, the rank doesn't matter."
"... I see. Well, I think it's not a problem in terms of ability because I can beat the water bear."
"That's right. So the punitive party gathered in front of the main gate just after noon.It's still a little early in time."
"Glu".

　As soon as she rubs her head against him, she receives a guild card from Ranga.

"I'm sorry, but you've taken up your time.You and Seto would be safe, but be careful."

　He nods to Ranga's words and moves with Seto to a grassy area a short distance from the main gate of the city.

"Glu".

　Seto lying down comfortably on the grass and Ray leaning against it. It would be nice to wait for the other members next to the main gate, but only a few days have passed since I came to the town of Gilm.There are still quite a few people who don't know about Seto's existence, so Ray's own consideration is not to disturb them when they enter and exit the city.
　and Sett, too, was glad to be in the summer sun in the meadow rather than in the city, purring like a cat in the back of his throat.
　Originally, Ray is exposed to direct summer sunlight, which can cause heatstroke, but his physical abilities are different, and he is wearing a dragon robe, which can be called a simple air conditioner, so he leans on to Seto with a completely cool face.

"... is it Ray?"

　He left his surroundings' vigilance to Seto, and when he was enjoying a drowsy sleep, he suddenly realized that his name had been called, and his consciousness rapidly wakes up.
　In front of Ray, who opened his eyes, was a woman in her thirties, wearing a robe and holding a sturdy cane.Next to him was a middle-aged man with a funny face, and a boy about the same age as Ray, who had seen something incredible.
　The three of them were Elk, Min and Rodos, the axe of the god of thunder at the Rank A party.

"Is it about time?"
"No, that's the case, but... may I ask you one?"

　Ray nods to Min's words, anticipating what he will ask.

"I'm sure you're leaning on a Gryphon,"Why?"Even though he is a member of the Axe of Thunder God, he must be frightened by the monster Gryphon of the same rank.Min was afraid to ask, but Ray's answer was very short.

"Because I took the time,"
"Why, don't you play with the Gryphon like a Rank G adventurer?"

　Rodos yelled back at Ray's simple words, but when Seto looked at them with his eyes ringing in his throat, he was at a loss for words.
　It can't be helped.Although he belongs to the Rank A party, Rodos himself is nothing but a Rank C adventurer.It is no wonder that the Gryphon, called Rank A, is instinctively reminded of its biological status.

"Here, Set, calm down."

　Ray soothes Seto with a wry smile at Rodos' appearance.

"Glu".

　He spoke to Rodos, scratching his head as usual.

"I'll tell you, Seto doesn't care who he is and doesn't have any animosity.except for me and the one who harms you."
「……」

　Rodos could not speak any more when he said something, but felt that he would still be groaned by Seto.

"HahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahI've seen a certain amount of people taming monsters, but I've never seen anyone taming a Gryphon.may I touch you?"
"Father!"

　This is probably the difference between Rank A and C.Or is it simply a difference in term?

"Seto, what do you want to do? He wants to touch you."
"Guru..."

　Seto looks at Rodos, Elk, and Min in turn.A few seconds passed, and then he cried short and wagged his tail slightly.

"I've got permission,"
"I see! I'm sorry."

　Elk reaches out with a smile even though he touches a very dangerous monster called Rank A.His hand touched Sett's torso against which Ray leaned...

"Oh! What's this smooth touch?"I've never seen a Gryphon before, but I don't know if it has such smooth hair."

　The best way to express Seto's body hair is to have a silky smooth feel.
　Elk nods satisfactorily while stroking his smooth body hair.

"Well, Ray. Did you say Seto? Wouldn't it be possible to make something of the quality that could be presented to the royal family by making clothes out of his body hair?"
"Well, I don't know.I didn't care about it at all because I didn't intend to..."... Ray, may I stroke you?"

　Her curiosity must have been overwhelmed by Elk's words.Min also asks so.
　When Ray answers the question, he turns to Seto and wags his tail as he did in Elk.

"It doesn't matter,"
"Well, then," said he, "let it go, Elk.Give me a feeling of its smoothness."
"Mother! It's dangerous to approach the Gryphon!"

　Rodos stops her, but she can't stop Min, whose eyes sparkle with curiosity.

"Well, well, well, it's certainly very smooth to the touch.to the point that I want to touch it forever."
"What a lucky day it is to be touched without fear of being attacked by a Gryphon?"
"Well, Elk is right.The Gryphon of Rank A Monster is an invaluable experience to touch."

　Seth closes her eyes again after staring hard at Rodos, looking at them stroking her torso like that.

"d*mn it. You hated it, Rodos,"

　Watching this situation, Elk smiles and talks to Rodos, leaving Min, who is still caressing Seto's body.

`I don't care if the Gryphon hates me,'

　Elk sighs as if nothing had been done.Ray calls out to Elk.

"Bobbs told me that you and I will work together until we get to the oak settlement.Thank you very much."
"Huh!? Why do you have to take care of Rank G?"

　Of course, Rodos was the first to respond to Ray's words, but it was not Ray, but Elk.

"That's natural.Ah, of course I don't care."
"Father!"

　Elk opens his mouth to Rodos, giving a dumb sigh.

"Look, remember the meeting that took place in the morning.Was Ray in charge of transporting the supplies to be used for this Oak expedition?"
"Yes, I know it because I've heard it."
"And what do you think would happen if that ray were knocked down by an oak or another monster?"
"That's... Oh..."
"Have you finally noticed?Yes, if Ray is killed, all the supplies will be par.Now, here's the problem.What are we?"
"...Rank A Party, Axe of Thunder God""Yes, and furthermore, it's the only Rank A party participating in this Oak campaign."

　Rank A. Although the guild ranks one rank below S, there are only three of them in the world, so adventurers all know how much Rank A is right below them.And with only three Rank Ss, most adventurers have a considerable sense that those with a Rank A are actually at the top of themselves.
　and the Axe of Thunder God is a party to which two such Rank A adventurers belong.Even in the town of Guillum, the top parties and guilds are appreciated for their abilities and achievements, and that's not a mistake.

"We, who are considered the greatest military force in this expedition, will be escorting Ray, who is carrying supplies... Is there anything wrong?"
"I certainly understand the importance of goods.But we don't have to guard him at all.There are even Rank B and C parties."

　Rodos rebutts Elk half-intentionally.

(d*mn it, why should both my father and mother care so much about him?Gryphon and item box, it's not his own power, it's his power to rely on monsters and magic items.You don't have to go out of your way to protect us...)

　He turned his eyes to Elk, thinking so in his heartily.
　He was the only one who didn't realize that the antipathy toward Ray stemmed from Min's mother Min's acknowledgment of Ray.
　Of course, Elk, who was also his father and leader of the axe of the god of thunder, noticed it.

"Well, this is my decision as the leader of the axe of the god of thunder.I can't argue with you, nor do I act like I'm cutting corners with my bodyguards."
"... All right,"

　In the end, Rodos had no choice but to nod his disapproval to Elk, who was giving him an unusually strong order.

(Oh, did you spoil her too much? In terms of ability alone, she's a C-rank superior... I wonder why she's become so flattered with her mother.If possible, I hope this request will have a good influence on Ray.)

　Unlike Min, Elk doesn't have the power to sense magic.Still, Ray's ability and potential were dimly understood by only a Rank A adventurer.I feel like I've been able to grasp his personality in an elk-like way.It means that Ray has enormous power in his body, but he is by no means a villain.though he could not help laughing bitterly when he heard how to deal with Takanozume.
　Elk doesn't like the hawk's fingernails that involve newcomers to use for chores....I know it will have some effect on the development of newcomers, but I just can't like it.Therefore, he did not feel particularly uncomfortable when he heard the background or results of the conflict between Takanozume and Ray when he collected information about Ray after the meeting to subjugate the oak.Rather, he cheered, saying, "Well done!"





　Watching Elk worrying about his only son's behavior, Ray leans against Seto and turns to the main gate.
　There were people at the party I saw at the morning meeting, most of whom were glancing at Ray's attention as they talked.Most of them were directed not at the axes of the Elk Thunder, but at the Gryphon Seto.It is understandable that even those who have heard Ray's information inside the guild have actually seen the real Gryphon for the first time.

(But...as if he were observing me, not Seto)

　The gaze I had been following since I showed my mistling in the conference room, except when I was in the Wheat-tei at dusk.
　and he laughed inwardly at the prospect of a battle which he would never fail to expect, that it would be a preference for him to obtain his mysterious ring rather than for the conquest of the oak.

"Oh, you're here,"

　Ray turned his eyes to the main gate again in the murmur of Elk.
　where about eight horse-drawn carts were coming out of the city.and on the coach-stand of the leading carriage there was a figure of Bobs as well as the coachman.

"Those who are asked to put down the oaks, get together and ride in the carriage at each party! And Ray and Thunder God's axe are the carriage in the middle with me.Do you know why?"

　He called out to the adventurers who had gathered there, and asked Elk,

"Yes, to reduce the possibility of losing goods, right?

　When Bobbs said so, Elk exclaimed.Elk approaching towards the carriage.Min and Rodos follow suit, and Ray and Seto head under the carriage.
　The adventurers gathered near the main gate hurriedly into the carriage they had decided to ride, as if cramped when they saw Seto approaching.Elk and Bobbs went on talking, not caring at all.And...

"All right, we're off! We're going to put down the oak!"