"...how did this happen?"

　about two weeks after the Azot deal was settled After the late autumn has already passed, we are heading towards winter, and even though the temperature outside is already getting chilly, we can breathe out without thinking.
　But no matter how cold the surrounding temperature gets...or even if it gets hot, the Dragon Robes themselves have the effect of keeping the user comfortable, so it doesn't make him feel comfortable.
　Ray is now in the guild. I've spent the last couple of weeks relieving my fatigue, buying the tools I need, and reading books in the library, but I've come to the guild, deciding that I'll get a job done before winter really comes. ...but just as I was looking for the right offer, I was suddenly approached by an adventurer. And when asked for his name, he identified himself as Ray, and suddenly he was bowing deeply, which made no sense.
　Ray hates crowds, so he visits the guild during the morning and afternoon. It's roughly set at around 10 a.m. The number of adventurers in the guild was not so large in itself, but there was still a certain number of adventurers in the guild. Under such circumstances, he suddenly bowed his head deeply. It's natural that Ray and the adventurer bowing down should stand out very much from the people around them. Yes, that's like a show.
　I don't particularly care about Ray's conspicuous appearance because it's already too late, but he still lets out his sigh as if he's not going to treat him like a show.

"Put your head up for now,"
"Then will you listen to me?"

　I sigh again at the remark that I should never raise my head until I hear a good answer.

"…I see. hear a little bit of talk Well, save me a seat in the bar. I'll be there as soon as I finish my business."
"Really? Thank you!"

　Ray was able to raise his head and see what he looked like when he had bowed for the first time.
　On the outside, Ray is about the same age as Ray... No, if you think he's about 15 years old, he's about 18 years old, a little older. He's already old enough to stand on his own feet in this world of Elgin. She has blonde hair... or rather yellow hair, and looks somewhat serious. It was equipped with armor that seemed to be reinforced here and there with metal armor parts, perhaps for ease of movement. A long sword at the waist, but what is unusual is that the long sword is unusually thin. Naturally, the sheath in which the long sword is housed is as long and slender as the ordinary long sword.(A weapon called an estock)

　Estock. It's as delicate a sword as it looks. It is basically a sword specialized in thrusting rather than cutting, and it is impossible to imitate the attack of the enemy with the blade. No, if you want to do it, you can do it, but if you don't take it too well, you'll easily break it. As for the thrust, which is the most distinctive feature of Estock, Estock itself will be broken if it hits the right metal armor, and it can be said that it is a weapon for professionals who have to aim at places such as uncovered parts and joint parts. At least it's not something novice can handle.

(Then... are you an adventurer with some ability?)

　muttering inwardly, he watched the man head to the bar inside the guild.
　It is true that the footwork was that of a person of some ability.

"Well, I hope it's not another disturbance... or something like that."

　about two weeks after the Azot struggle for power Finally, the chaos of arms dealers has subsided in the streets of Gillum, and the usual hustle and bustle is back. It was such a meaningless mess for the general public, but it was quite a hassle for an adventurer who needed weapons. Well, that's why Ray was off for about two weeks.
　We should at least have a peaceful winter, as war with the Vestian Empire is certain to break out next spring. Ray heads to the counter, brain-crazy thinking.

"Ah! You stand out, Ray."
"Hey, Kenny! Don't say that often. So, let's see, Mr. Ray. What do you want to do today? I don't think I have a written request."

　Shake your head slightly at Lenora, who talks while glancing at Ray's hand.

"Well, if you knew anything about the man, I'd like you to tell me. It was the first time I've ever experienced a sudden bow."

　Or if there were any adventurers in the guild who knew Ray, they might have given him some information. However, the number of adventurers inside the guild is not so high, as it is now before noon and ordinary adventurers are at their beck and call. And none of them were adventurers Ray knew.
　This, on the other hand, is a reasonable number when you become an adventurer who knows Ray unilaterally. Ray was originally a prominent figure, but his ability and relentlessness became more known than ever because of his flamboyant struggles with Azotian adventurers through the Bornter and Galahatian affairs. There are few people who speak to Ray on their own account."Well, I don't mind telling you if it's of general reputation rather than ability."
"That's all right,"

　Rey nods to Lenora's words.
　Then, just as Lenora tries to open her mouth, Kenny pushes her aside.

"Oh, then I'll tell you since I'm free."
"Hey, Kenny!"
"I know more about it than Lenora because I'm better at dealing with people."

　Kenny, a cat beast, gurgles his throat like a real cat and looks up at Ray.
　...and the reason why he looks up is because Kenny is sitting down, and Kenny is actually a little taller in terms of height.

"Oh, that's right,"

　Ray glances toward Lenora, but when he sees Lenora shrugging his shoulders as if it were Lenora, he nods a little.

"All right. Then, please."
"Leave it to me, Mr. Hasta. a Rank D adventurer from this city I was ranked D about a year ago, so I guess I'm a veteran. As you saw earlier, Ray has a straightforward personality when you think about it. My parents seem to have a restaurant near the library."
"Oh, there's a dining- ...what? A party, let alone a Rank D adventurer?"
"Hasta, like Ray, is a soloist."

　Kenny's words surprised Ray a little.
　Of course I knew there were other solo adventurers besides myself. Ray's own acquaintance says he has a magical eye that can see magic. But it's also true that soloism is by far the least common. Are you confident in your skills, or are there any members who have problems with your personality to organize a party? And is there a secret like Ray himself that he can't tell others?

"As I say, it's rare for me to be it. Is there any reason?""That's because Hasta's aim to become an adventurer in the first place seems to have been to help the house. As I said, my parents still run a restaurant. So if you use the meat of your monster, the cost of ingredients will be much lower, right?"
"…I see. If you have a party and fight, you'll need your share. But I think we can separate it between meat and magical stones."

　Kenny frowns slightly at Ray's sudden question. At the same time, so was Lenora, who was listening behind Kenny.

At first, as Ray said, there were times when we had parties about magical stones and monster meat. But fight it out with your share. The party eventually broke up. I was still a Rank E adventurer at the time, but Hasta has been working as a soloist since then."
"I see. It certainly looked like I was going to stand up."

　Ray convincingly recalls how to move when he leaves for the bar.

"I see about it. I'll decide what to do after listening."
"Yes. Um... help me if you can?"

　Backed by Kenny's words, a little anxious, he went down to the husta waiting in the bar.





"I'm sorry, let me wait."
"No, it's okay! I'm sorry that I took up so much time."

　Ray also takes his seat, with Husta bowing sideways as if he were sticking his forehead to the table.

"Oh, I'm going to treat you to my business today. ...but I don't have much money, so I'd like a cheap one."

　He nods to the embarrassed smiley husta and orders a set of warm soup, skewers and bread from the waitress who approaches him. It's a little early lunch. ...for Ray, who is not fuel efficient, this kind of food is more like a snack than a lunch.

"Then I'll do that too."

　They must have been glad that it was a cheap set. Hasta had also ordered a similar dish.Then, seeing the waitress heading to the kitchen, she puts down the hood of her dragon robe and looks at Hasta's face again.

"Wow, you're really younger than me."

　I was surprised to see Ray's childish face. But Ray, who is already used to such a reaction, opens his mouth without any particular concern.

"Well, what do you want of me, if you meet me and ask me to bow out of the blue?"
"...yes. Actually, my family runs a restaurant. So my father and mother are using the meat of the monster I've fallen."

(Did I ask you to sell me monster meat that I had in the mystery ring at a low price?)

　that's what Ray expects so. Because there's a set that's two meters long... and it's getting bigger these days. Ray's Mistyling houses a large amount of monster meat to feed the set to the fullest. a lot of oak meat that is getting scarce, but still remains, and a lot of water monkey meat that has been attacked in dungeons. Ray also has a wide variety of monster meat. That's why I thought Hasta's purpose was only his own meat...

"No, it's not,"

　After seeing Ray's face and understanding what he was thinking, Hasta denies himself before he can say anything.

"I've heard many rumors that Mr. Ray is carrying a Gryphon, and is collecting monster meat for it. That's probably why I came here for that, but what I'm looking for is for Ray to help me."
"...will you help me?"
"Yes. Actually, from autumn to winter... yes." Monsters appear and disappear in this season. in the grass about half a day away, not near the town of Gillum."

　a meadow about half a day from the town of Gilm After hearing this, Ray's mind passed through the meadow where he and Seto often used to learn skills.

"Is that the meadow that you see on your way from the town of Gilm to the Devil Forest?"
"Oh, did you know?" That's right. I want you to help me defeat the monsters that appear there.""...cooperate, dear," Wouldn't it be all right to make a request?"

　As Ray turns his gaze to the request board, Husta shakes his head slightly with a wry smile.

"If you hire an adventurer, it will cost you a fair amount of money. I don't have enough money to pay, in particular. ...so I thought I'd go and beat the monster myself. However, it's hard for me to do it alone, so I'm able to talk to Ray, who is working as a solo artist, because he's ranked the same as me. Of course, there are other reasons why I chose Ray..."
"I see,"

(Is this also the sort of person who asks an adventurer directly without going through a guild?)

　open one's mouth, muttering inwardly

"By the way, what kind of monster do you want me to help you down?"
"I'm Gamerion."