About an hour's walk from the oak settlement, the Oak Expedition, which started from the town of Gilm, stopped their carriage and the leaders of each party gathered in a tent filled with bobbs for a strategy meeting.Ray is also invited to the conference because he is a soloist and in charge of transporting goods.
　Adventurers are on the lookout for oaks and other monsters around them, but most of them don't seem nervous.
　In the first place, the adventurer's party was at least ranked D, except Ray, and above all, Gryphon's Seto was on guard.

"Now that we have reached this point in time, I wish to begin with a minimum of reconnaissance of the state of the oak settlement.Is there anyone to run for office?"

　The party leaders at the conference silently reply to Bob's words.
　Even Elk is the same.Raijin's axe party consists of two warriors and one wizard.There is no one in charge of reconnaissance, so that can't be helped.
　Some parties are carrying thieves, but I'm not sure if they think it's too dangerous.
　However, Ceryl, the leader of the nighttime star with a thief like Murgas, had a different aim.

(for Mulgus must keep an eye on the new boy,I have ordered you to take away the item box if you have the chance, and I can't assign you the trouble of scouting the oak villages."

　I was thinking about it in my heart, and when Bobbs's gaze was directed at me, my gaze swam for a moment.

"Ceryl, was there a thief in your dark star? How about that?"
"I'm sorry, but it's a bit of a character to send an oak village for reconnaissance.You're basically a coward.Well, that's why there's a bandit who can be the first to find the enemy."

　Incidentally, the term "thief" here does not mean to steal someone's property.Prospective reconnaissance and trap creation during adventures.Or, in a labyrinth, robbers in the sense of releasing traps or unlocking treasure chests.

"...I see,"

　Ray raises his hand and asks as he watches the meaningful Bobs and Ceryl exchange.

"I will ask you, in this case, if you go on reconnaissance, will it be recognized as a credit to the guild?"
"Oh, that's natural,"
"Then I will undertake the reconnaissance,"
"...what?"

　Bobbs, who couldn't understand what Ray was saying for a second, asks back.

"That's why he says he doesn't mind if I take charge of the reconnaissance."
"Wait a minute.Do you have the skill of a thief?"

　One of the party leaders near Bobbs asks, but Ray shakes his head silently.

"I haven't learned that kind of skill,"
"Then I will object.Sure enough, I can't get thieves out of my party, but I'm against reconnaissance on the assumption that they'll be found.Let's find it.and the night-attack will be par."
"Well, I'm sorry, but I agree with you."

　Other party leaders agree with the first man's words.
　However, seeing this, Ray even smiles and opens his mouth, even though his opinion was rejected.

"I certainly don't have any reconnaissance skills.and I understand the opinion that if I were to go on a reconnaissance and be found, the night-attack would be ruined.But, as you know, I have Seto."
"Oh!"As soon as Ray said so, he must have understood what he meant.Elk screams.
　Ray continues to talk as the members around him turn their eyes to Elk.

"Seto is a Gryphon,"In other words, you can fly.and since I am taming that set, I can naturally ride that back."

　Now that we've come to that point, everyone on the spot probably understood how Ray would scout.He looks at Ray with an admiring expression.
　...except for Ceryl, who looked bitter.
　The reason why people here did not notice reconnaissance from above, as Ray said, is that the magic of flying is very sophisticated and the number of people who can use it is very limited.
　At the same time, there were of course beasts among the adventurers in the Oak Expedition, but in the first place there were no beasts of birds among the tribe, and no one could even think of the means of reconnaissance from the sky.
　Incidentally, some knights in the country are called Dragon Knights, but most of them are stationed in the royal capital belonging to the country's military and do not exist in remote areas such as the city of Gilm because it takes a lot of time and effort to hatch a flying dragon from its egg state and raise it with a candidate for Dragon Knights.

"Bobbs, would it be a problem to scout the oak settlement from above on Set?"
"No, I don't. I mean, if you will do it, I'm very much welcome."

　Bobbs grinned and nodded with a fierce smile.

"What are you going to look into?"
"First of all, the number of enemies, and the extent to which the settlement is formed.Also, it is better to know where the defense of the village seems to be weak.Also, if possible, I would like to know what kind of monster is leading the oak.Is it a rare species or a superior species? ... I wish it were at least."

　It is a rare species and a superior species.If I were to say which one was more troublesome, it would still be a higher class.Rare species are only one of the most capable species, but there are so many higher-ranked species as their name suggests.Bobbs explained that it would not take much time to kill rare species in this case if they were led by only one of them, because the ability of the rare species in this case was not much different from that of the superior species.
　I nodded to Bobbs and left him.
　with a hateful glance at his back.

(d*mn it, if possible, he wanted to steal the item box before the fight against the Oaks began.You go out of your way to scout yourself? Well, I don't want to go that far and flatter the guild.

　Bobbs talks to the party leaders on the spot, knowing Ceryl's innermost thoughts.

"This is a breakup.When Ray comes back from reconnaissance, we'll get him together again, so if you stay close, you can do anything."

　At Bobbs's word, those who were there went back to the bottom of each party.





"Grull".

　Seto sings happily in his throat when he sees Ray coming down from Bobbs.Several adventurers, who happened to be around him, watched him with squinted eyes.
　Apparently, many people's fear of Seto disappeared by keeping watch together.

"Seto, I'm coming out for a second."
"Glu?"
"Bobbs is in charge of reconnaissance.Wouldn't you be able to make a safe reconnaissance if you could fly over the oak hamlet?"
"Grull".

　He cried softly as if to say yes, and turned his back towards Ray.

"I beg you said.

　He stroked his back lightly and straddled it, and after a few steps he spread out his large wings and ran up into the sky as if he were stepping on the sky.and the adventurers watched him enviously.





　The blue summer sky, the white clouds, and the glare of sunlight.In the midst of this, Seto is flying with his wings spread out, and since he is flying at a very high altitude, it is best to judge that the oaks on the ground are birds or something if they happen to look up.
　Riding over his back, Ray observed the oak settlement below him.It would be difficult for ordinary human beings to see the ground from this height, but the body was made by combining the magical powers and techniques of the Zepail family, and they could explore the ground without any trouble.
　Bobbs said that there were at least 50 oaks, but the size of the settlement was larger than expected.There are probably nearly 100 oaks.But on the contrary, it was unfortunate for the Oaks.The settlement was not completely completed, and the eastern area was almost untouched.Still, he must have been on the alert for the time being, and he could see from the sky that several oaks were sentry on the east side.

"The larger building in the centre is probably the home of the man who leads the oak."

　The other buildings inhabited by oak are as poor as straw or wood.However, the building in the center is obviously more laborious than the surrounding one.and yet it is a poor comparison with the houses in the town of Gilm.

"We checked the number of oaks and the situation in the settlement.I wish I could see the oaks leading the oaks... well, I suppose, in any case, I cannot tell whether they are rare or superior to me?"

　As he muttered, an oak came into Ray's eyes.The oak is about one centimeter larger than the ordinary oak, and while the other oak is naked from the upper part of the body, the oak wears some kind of armor, although it is a poor one.

"Is that the individual leading the Oaks?"
"Glu".

　The muttered Ray, with Sett's song, warns the village of Oaks, and the Oaks a little further away from where he had seen them before,

"... I see,"

　Oak at the spot indicated by Seto.The oak is also about one size larger than the other and wears something like armour.
　and when he carefully examined the state of the village, he found that there were other oaks similar to those in the village.

"Then those armour are not like the officers or the generals among these oaks."Huh?"

　The next thing I saw was an oak gathering place.A shack to the north of the village, surrounded by nearly 20 oaks.

"What's that? The pantry or something?"

　The next moment, when I thought something had sprang out of the hut, I ran straight out of the hamlet... and was held back by the oaks beside the hut.Ray's eyes, much sharper than usual, confirmed something that had sprung out.She is a woman with a cloth on her body that is thought to be the wreckage of her clothes and is almost naked.
　When I concentrate my attention on my ears, I hear a faint voice saying, 'Oh, stop it! Please don't get me any more dirty!'
　While frowning at the appearance, he recalls that Zepyle's knowledge that the oaks use human women in breeding.

"Do you want me to help you? ... No, I can't."

　I'd like to plunge into the place and kill all the Oaks there, if I were to speak of my personal feelings alone.but that would certainly clean up the oak near the hut, but it would have alarmed most of the others.This could eventually be a factor in the failure of the night attack, which was supposed to take place tonight, and would ultimately lead directly to the sacrifices of the punitive force and the number of oaks fleeing.

"...tonight. If you work hard until tonight, I'll help you.So don't give up."

　muttered in a small voice, knowing that the woman who had been pulled into the hut could not hear him.
　Ray himself consciously looks away from the woman who is being taken back to the hut, determined to vent his anger against the Oaks in the night's attack.

"Most oaks have swords and clubs, after all.And a few shields... ...have some bows."

　Oaks with bows in their hands and arrowheads on their backs were seen walking through the village.And...

"Do you have a cane?That's Oakmage."Although there were a few of them, they could also be seen holding sticks.k.a. cane.

"Well, that's enough for the reconnaissance.Let's go back."
"Grunt!"

　She sings sharply at Ray's voice and spreads her wings to return to the place where the Oak Punishers are forming their positions.

"Tonight, Oaks, is your last day.Enjoy your precious time till night at best."

　Leave the cold words Ray left.





　When Seto glides to the ground, the adventurers around him greet him with applause.
　But the adventurers who tried to talk to Ray with a smile probably understood what had happened in the village of Oak when they saw the cold smile on Ray's face.and let him go down under the bobs.

"Glu".

　behind which several adventurers gave dried meat and patted their heads to the anxious chirping Cet.
　Lei was heading under Bobbs, leaving him alone, but the crucial Bobbs was coming to greet him.

"Ray, are you back?"
"Oh,"
"How was the reconnaissance?"
"I've seen most of it,"
"Okay, the party leaders have already gathered since they reported that you are back.Come on."

　Rey follows Bobbs, who feels a little strange about the situation, but now decides that listening to the results of the reconnaissance is paramount, so he goes to the tent, the meeting place is.
　The party leaders are certainly there, as Bobbs says, and each of them breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of Ray's safety.
　It was the same for Ceryl, who was aiming for Mistilling.Ceryl, however, was relieved that his prey had not been killed by the Oaks on a scout.
　Bobbs opens his mouth when he sees Ray sitting down.

"Now, Ray, please report the results of the reconnaissance at once."
"Yes. First of all, the number of oaks far exceeds our expectations of 50.There are probably a hundred of them."

　100 dogs. Party leaders twitch their cheeks as soon as they say that.
　It is understandable that the punitive force intended to deal with 50 of them.

"Calm down! I told you first.The number of oaks is at least 50.I expected the number to increase."
"But I haven't heard of doubling.Wouldn't it be all right to think about going back to town?"
"...and overlook the oak damage in the streets of Gillum?"
"That's..."

　Even those who have suggested withdrawal cannot persist in their opinions because they are told that withdrawal will damage the city of Gilm.He also has friends and acquaintances in the town of Gilm.If they were to say that it would be a good sacrifice to the Oaks, they wouldn't agree.

"And there is a reason why the number of oaks is more than we expected, but the settlement is still in the works."The east side is almost untouched.But instead, we confirmed the existence of sentry.""Well, there is not enough on the east side.That's good information.I will use it as a reference in the event of a night attack.'
"Do it for me.And there was one of the oaks who was about a size larger than the ordinary oaks and armed with armour."
"...Oak General.It's one of the top oak species."
"I also checked several other archers and cane holders.The individuals leading the Oaks were unfortunately not found, but they were probably there, for there was a better building in the centre of the settlement."
"Oak Archer and Oak Mage... the centre of the village."
"Yes. ... and one last thing."There is a shack to the north of the village, and I found a human being there."

　Man in the village of oak. The others who heard it stiffen their faces, and Bobbs opens his mouth.

"Is that a woman?"
"Yes, the oaks must have been scratching from somewhere for breeding.He was still alive when I saw him."
"Well, what else did you notice?"
"No, that's all."
"Well, I see.Then you can rest till night.I will explain the strategy at dinner."

　He nodded to Bobbs and left the tent.
　Only a few hours were left before the night attack began, and each of them began to prepare for the battle.