"... I'm free,"

　mutter Marka in a carriage
　Beyond that gaze was Ray looking out of the window.
　Of course, as long as Seto is on guard around the carriage, most monsters don't touch it even if it's moving off the highway.
　There are monsters and animals who attack at times without understanding the difference in power, but all of them are easily ended by the blow of Set's forefeet, and are confined to Set's stomach.

"Even if you say you're free," Why do you think the Duchess and Duchess are taking part in the rank-up examination in the town of Gillum, where the King's nobles rule the neutral Dusker?"
"Huh? Well, my mistress and Coan came to this town originally for the purpose of determining what kind of person they were. He had asked his father to bring him into the Duke of Quent, but if he could not, he would tell me what kind of person he was. It's part of that."

　Marka explains with a smile whether she was happy to have Ray deal with her.
　Sitting next to her, Coan listens to their conversation with a smile on his face, perhaps happy that his lord, Marka, was pleased.

"Didn't that end when you went to your mansion?"
"That's true, but wouldn't you be able to see everything just once you met once?"
"...however, in the case of a young lady, there is a reason why she feels lonely about breaking up with Ray and Sett, who have become friends with her."

　Marka's cheeks turn red with embarrassment at Koan's casual muttered lines.


"Go, go, go, go! What's wrong with you?"
"Wasn't it?"
"Well, well, it's true that I wanted to have a little more contact with Ray and Sett. I'm willing to admit it. But, you know, even though I forced her into the rank-up exam... No, that's why she makes Ray's standards stricter than others. I don't think I can be accommodated by the friendship of my mistress."

　Marka, sitting in a carriage, pokes her breast and points her finger at her.
　From the sidelines, the appearance could be described as lovely, but no one here bothered to mention it.

"And it's true that monsters called problem bicorns are a lot of trouble. Even if the city of Gilm is a neutral stronghold, it is no substitute for being the only remote city in the Kingdom of Milliana. It is true that, even without the fact of factions, there are many problems when materials that can only be obtained in remote areas are delayed."
"Well, this town of Gillum is one of the most important bases in the kingdom of Milliana. but it was in such a place that my father had built his house in case something should happen."
"... I see,"

　Rey nods in agreement with Koan and Marka's explanation.

"Why do you think there is a royal residence of the Duke of Quent in the city of Gilm? Why? Wait, then, why is there no house for the Duke of Quelevel?"

　I recall the time Elena had come to the city of Gillum and ask.
　At that time Elena was staying at the lord's house. If there had been the residence of the Duke of Kelebel in the barony... or those who had been with him like Arla, he would have stayed there.
　But the only answer to the question was the figure of Marka shaking her head slightly.

"There will be some influential people in the aristocracy who have their own residences, but not everyone has to have their own." To the extent that he collected information, he would have judged that the other aristocratic residences would be sufficient, even if there were no other residences of the Duke of Kelebel himself. ...Oh, as expected of Seto. I've got another one coming up to me."

　While explaining to Ray, Marka exclaims with joy at Seto's performance as seen through the window.
　At the age of seven, he has the sense of nobility, and at the same time he is innocently pleased to see someone who suits his tastes like Seto.
　The two sides make Ray look surprised.

"Well, Seto is cute." I'd love to have a concubine. -- Ray, don't you know where the Gryphon is but Sett?"
"No, I don't think so,"

　Shake your head and open your mouth, remembering the settings you prepared for yourself.

"Seto has grown up with me since I was little, and he's become so friendly. I've never seen any other Gryphon except Seto. Besides, if I should make a Gryphon other than Seto a subservient, it would be difficult, to be honest, to be as kind as Seto."

　In front of Ray's answer, when he swings his claws at a group of five wolves, thrusts them with a poke, or kicks them up with his hind legs, the group of wolves is instantly wiped out, and the tender meat part of the wolf fits in Seto's stomach.
　If only someone had seen the scene, he would not have been able to nod to the explanation that he was certainly friendly or kindness.
　It was so one‐sidedly trampled down that it could not even be called a battle, as if it were literally a touch of armour.

`Well, I see,' As a concubine, I'd like to have a devil like Seto. ...I envy Ray."

　Contrary to what was seen outside, there was a murmur of Marka in the carriage.





　On the other hand, the last carriage, Arnicht and Orchide. The appearance of the carriage was so bad that it could only be described as a bad taste, but it would have been a relief to the rider that it was gorgeous inside but not so bad taste. But the carriage was now full of silence.
　Arnicht looks out of the window, ignoring Lovre, who does not respect the nobility, and Orchide is enjoying his sleep, as if he were not willing to stick his nose into such a situation and get involved in any trouble. Lovre was not concealing his opposition to Arnicht, who seemed to be nothing but a proud nobleman, and never spoke out to him.
　In the meantime, only Stee sometimes talks to Lovre and Arnicht in an effort to get them together, but nevertheless, a few words or two make them silent again.

(A little bit) What do you want me to do in this situation?!)

　Stee complains privately, but as long as everything is said to be the basis for evaluating the rank-up exam, she can't help but deal with the aristocrats who look displeased in front of her like Lovre.

(I didn't expect, above all, the worst aristocrat to go with Lovre. ...but it would be terrible if you had a strange eye on him to ride in a carriage with the Duke of Quent or a child of a very large caliber." However, if I ride in a carriage prepared by the guild, I'm afraid it'll be a negative assessment. but I wish you would do something about this heavy silence.)

　Stee, breathing softly and looking out the window. Just then, at the right time, Seto was waving his paw at the wolf and crushing the wolf's head.

"Oh, I can't believe that monsters aren't my match, but wolves are so overwhelming."
"Well, it's a Gryphon, I suppose. Since they are Rank A monsters in the first place, wolves are no match for them."

　Did you get excited at the time or get tired of the silence? Alnicht opens his mouth.
　Though surprised by the sudden remark, Stee opens her mouth with a small smile around her mouth, thinking it would be better to remain silent.

"Yes, sir. When I think about that, I can only say that Ray is amazing."
"That's not all," Of course there is a Gryphon who is a slave to his name, but above all, his ability is remarkable. If not, I'll..."
"Arnicht".

　Arnicht was about to say something, but he couldn't help but choke at the words of Orchide, who seemed to have been asleep.

"Mr. Arnicht?"
"No, it's nothing. Don't worry."
"Well, Ray may be strong, but we haven't lost either. Don't worry, Stee."Even though he was an adventurer of the same rank, he probably didn't like it when his girlfriend praised him. Lovre interrupted in spite of his decision to ignore Arnicht.
　But it was Arnicht's sigh, with Stee's consenting nod.

"What? Do you have any complaints?"
"...no matter what a person like you may say, it's just power. I'll be able to fully understand that later, so I won't say anything more."
"What!"

　Lovre is told by word of mouth that he is just a man and tries to grab at him, but just before that, Stee, sitting next to him, holds his arm and stops moving.

「……」

　As expected, Lovre follows his girlfriend's request and exhales deeply into his seat.
　Stee decides that any further conversation would only make Lovre and Arnicht feel bad, and then she spends the rest of her time silent instead of saying anything in particularly.
　Unlike Ray's horse-drawn carriage, the horse-drawn carriage moves forward in a heavy silence.






『……』

　a guilded carriage Only two of them are on board: Ones and Residence.
　But this carriage was silent from the beginning of its journey.
　It was because Onds was silent and didn't speak meaninglessly, and likewise the residence didn't act like asking Onds anything.
　But it wasn't as heavy a silence as the Lovre's in the carriage, but it was a natural silence that almost made me cry if Stee had been in the carriage.
　As the silence continues, the residence looks out of the window and mutters.

"Here we are?"

　A carriage arrives where a herd of bicorns has been spotted.
　and these were the first words that Residence and Ons said in the carriage.
　When they reached their destination, they could not have found Bicorn as soon as they got out of the carriage, and the first thing they had to do was to find a herd of Bicorns, who were also targets, and at the same time prepared to defend the carriage, the driver of the carriage, and the nobles who had come this far.
　Normally no aristocrat would come to such a place, but this time the examination is in the form of a rank-up examination. Therefore, they also have to deal with the protection of nobles.

"And what do you do about the division of roles? Will Stee and I go on a quest?"

　Lovre, who tells us that as a race of beasts, we can find a bicorn with five senses sharper than others.

"If I were to say that, I and Sett could find a flock of bicorns in the sky, and Oons would be good for reconnaissance, for he is a thief."

　In this case, the unfortunate thing would have been that everyone who was taking the rank-up exam had more or less of an ability to search for enemies.
　The keen senses peculiar to the beast, his experience and ability as a thief, and the vision of Seto, who is also a Rank A monster, and his target.

"With all this reconnaissance available, I'm not sure who we'll send out."
"Isn't it easy if we go?"

　Lovre mutters that he does not want to stay here with the nobles, but Stee shakes his head at the remark.

"We certainly have a sharper sense of smell, hearing, and sight than the average person. However, in this case, I think a set with a panoramic view of the surroundings from the sky. Fortunately, there are very few forests or forests here in the meadow where the bi-corns can hide."
"That's... but... oh, wouldn't it be all right for me and Stee to get on the set and scout?"
"No, sir.

　Ray flatly rejects Lovre's remark that he suddenly came up with a good idea.

"Why?"
"First of all, Seto can't fly freely with two adults on board. and secondly -- or perhaps this is the main reason -- that he doesn't like to have anyone but me on his back."
"Well, that's..."
"You don't want to be forced to ride and tossed off in the air, do you?
「……」

　Look up at the blue sky with few clouds and nod.
　for it was unlikely that a race of beasts would be safe if they were dropped from a height of about 30 or 40 meters, even though they were physically more capable than ordinary humans.

"Then you don't mind me and Seto coming out for the reconnaissance?"

　Just to be sure, Lovre nods reluctantly, Stee nods lightly, and Ons nods without changing his expression.

"That's it. Set, we'll head for a reconnaissance right away."
"Grull".

　Seth, who had rubbed her wolf's blood on the grass growing near her, creaks her throat and approaches Ray.

"Well, I'll let you know as soon as I find a herd of bicorns, and you'll be ready to leave here at any time."

　He told her so, and after a few steps of running over Sett's back, he ran up into the sky, flapping his wings.