"Ah... I'm free."
"Hey, do you remember hearing that line last time? You were attacked by that band of thieves while you were saying that, so don't be careless."
"No, but," I'm glad you were attacked by that band of thieves, right? For the Goto guys, it's a relief to be able to clean up before the band of thieves comes to where they live. We also attacked the hideout of the band of thieves, and gave them the treasure which had been stored there, and gave them a good old age."
"...I don't deny that,"

　The man who was speaking to Dietz agrees.
　a band of thieves who had attacked Goto in the hours or so since leaving Goto a few days ago
　As Dietz said, the result could not have been better for the rest of the band.
　Even the band of thieves might have had to make a little money at this time of winter, but there was some savings in the hideout that they had heard from some of the attackers.
　The savings were divided among those who took part in the attack, which amounted to a considerable sum of money.
　though he was held in Ray's Mistilling, unless he could redeem his treasures in the course of the journey.

"I've had several requests from the band of thieves, but I've never had such a good result. Don't you think Mr. Ray was strangely used to it, though he had been attacked several times before he entered the Celemus Plain?"
"Well, that's an undeniable fact. but, considering that he was called a thief-eaters, he must be literally accustomed to it in the same sense as you say."

　His skill in killing the bandits was nothing short of a notorious adventurer.
　He turned to the Gryphon at the head of the carriage and to the adventurer at his back.
　Ray himself doesn't look like such a great adventurer, let alone the Gryphon.
　As far as wearing robes that seem to sell everywhere is concerned, he looks like a good adventurer.

(Even though he looks like that, he's good enough to beat a Rank S adventurer... if you think he's a goblin, and you start attacking him, and the next moment he'll rip the skin off the goblin and get a dragon?...it's kind of not stylish.)

　The man who was talking to Dietz chills down his spine at his own thought.
　Well, what we call a mimicry is a terrible nuisance to our adversaries.
　For the assailant, nothing but the worst.

(The least salvation is to have Seto. If I could find that out, I would be able to survive.)

　That's also difficult.
　Even if we're leading the way, we'll inevitably have a bigger eye... towards a pack of horse-drawn cabs.
　And once you're ready to attack, it's hard to say that you're not actually a thief.
　Ray is the only way to escape the terror of thieves. The only way to survive is not to be found, to shrink and contact Ray.

"But it's nice to have come to the kingdom of Milliana like this,"

　Diet muttered boredly, looking around.

"What?"
"No, I don't think the Empire of Bestia, nor the Kingdom of Milliana, will change after all."
"That's true, isn't it? We are still in the country. The imperial capital... No, if you go to the royal capital, you'll see the difference well. though we are headed for a remote guillem."
"The frontier of the Kingdom of Milliana," Are we supposed to recognize that it's around the devil's mountain?"
"...isn't that probably all right?"

　While answering this question, he spoke in such a way that he could only understand how the men were different.

"I've heard a little from Mr. Ray that there are many skilled adventurers in the frontier. Rumor has it that there are quite a few nicknames. Look, I'm on good terms with Ray...The father of a fellow named Rodos in that carriage seems to be the axe of God of Thunder."
"You know it,"

　It was Ray, who was the most knowledgeable man in the group, who broke into their conversation in that way.

"Oh, Mr. Ray," How long will it take to get to Gillum if we keep going like this?"

　Rey nods at Deet's words.

"Well, what do you think?" It is certainly much earlier than when we marched in the Spring War."

　Ray tilted his head as he stroked Seto's neck in front of him.
　As far as Ray is concerned, he doesn't look like the kind of person who ultimately kills all the thieves.

(This difference may be the secret of Ray's strength.)

　The man who had been talking to Dietz until now thinks in his heart.
　Ray, who doesn't think that way, opens his mouth to a group of other horse-drawn carts.

"At that time, I was not able to load a lot of things or rush down the road to suit the formalities. There were infantry, too. In that sense, I think we'll arrive much earlier than then."

　There are very few things left in the carriage, as all the furniture and stuff for the move are in Ray's misty ring.
　Food is basically pulled out of Ray's mistling, and everything he uses in the camp, such as tents, is stored in the mistling.
　Then the heaviest would be the people in the carriage.
　What we can't do about it is that we're reducing our luggage to the limit.
　Then, of course, the speed of movement would be considerably faster than that of an ordinary carriage.
　Furthermore, when Dusker moved, as Ray said, he was not in such a hurry to move.
　With that in mind, it's safe to say that the speed of movement between the Rays and Dusker is very different.

"At the end of the day, I can only say that it will not take so many days. -- well, I must be involved in some strange affair."
"Strange incident? Like the last thief?"
"Oh, that's it. For some reason, I am often involved in such unexpected incidents. --no, in the case of robbers, they earn a lot of money, and they turn to me."
"Wow... that's why they call us robbers eaters."

　mutter one's deetzily

"I'm not very pleased to hear that bandit-eating has spread. If possible, I want crimson to spread."
"Do you care about that?"
"I don't care about it, but crimson would be better if it were robbers and crimson."
"... I see,"

　In front of Ray, he nods, but he doesn't seem to be convinced.
　As for Diet's feeling, robbers and crimson are probably similar.
　As we walk down the street talking like that, we encounter a group of merchants coming from the front.
　The road itself is so wide that it is not difficult to pass each other.

"I don't think so, but be on guard for the time being. A thief pretending to be a merchant can't give up the possibility."

　Quickly direct them, and move back from where they were... back to the top of this group.
　At Ray's words, each driver gently draws his weapon close to him so that he can respond to whatever happens, and prepares to act immediately in the carriage.

"Do you think it's your enemy?"

　Vichela, who approached Ray, asked, but Ray tilted his head.

"I don't know. I made preparations just in case. Generally speaking, it's hard to imagine an attack even if there's no one around me. and I think it'd be a little extraordinary to see someone attack you."
"Glu?"She turns to Ray on his back, asking him if he called her, but Ray shakes his head and caresses him on the back of his neck.
　Seth purring with delight at Ray's conduct.
　Others were preparing to fight at any time, but they didn't look nervous at all.

(Well, it's only natural considering Ray's power.)

　muttering inwardly as she looked at Ray, Vihela wanders into an invisible carriage so that she can take advantage of her lightness in an emergency.
　Those who seemed to be from the other side of the business probably noticed Ray. He looked a little nervous.
　There's no need to be so vigilant on this road, unless we're walking along it.
　Or even if this is close to a village or town.
　But far from the village and the city, no one else was seen around, just Ray and his party and what seemed to be a company of merchants from over there.
　It was no use being wary of each other in such a situation.
　Stay tense, and the distance between us approaches.
　Beyond, Ray sees an adventurer ready to walk out of his arms.

(No, you're still immature.)

　Some of the men behind Ray were equally eager to fight without hesitation in the event of tension or emergency.
　Then the distance between us approaches... and then the merchant corps on the other side stops moving.
　Normally, people pass each other by saying hello, such as raising their hands lightly.
　Nevertheless, stopping without doing so meant that they had some ideas.







(Well, I wonder what they thought of doing this.)

　Ray slows down, too, as he realizes the vigilance of the people in the back carriage has risen a notch.
　Then, of course, the carriage behind Ray would slow down... and eventually Ray and his party would stop at each other's feet on the road.

"Hello, my name is Gaylen, a merchant. Is it by any chance the crimson-den of the Rank B adventurer?"

　The first person to speak to was the one who seemed to be leading the merchant force on the other side.
　a middle‐aged man in his 40s and 50s, a little fat
　Ray looks surprised at the voice that comes out with an amusing smile.

"It's true that I'm called crimson, but... you knew me very well."
"Hahaha, I've never heard of anyone but you who is subservient to the Gryphon." a bodyguard?"

　While Gaylen talks, Ray turns several times to the adventurers he thinks are guarding the merchant corps over there.
　They watched the conversation with some nervousness, perhaps because they understood that they were notorious adventurers.
　It's only natural that we have to stand in front of Ray when it comes to the crunch.
　Of course, I didn't think that a notorious adventurer would turn into a thief, but as long as he was a bodyguard, he still had to be prepared for the worst.

"Well, a bodyguard is a bodyguard. I'm on my way to Gilmoo. What about you?"
"I have business to do in the village ahead,"
"... then why did you stop and call me? In such cases, you would normally say hello lightly and pass each other."

　When asked with a faint suspicion, Gaylen replied with a smile as if she had been waiting.

"Of course, it was decided because I wanted to get to know Ray. a notorious Rank B adventurer at that age It was a coincidence that I met him in such a place, but I really want to thank him for that coincidence."

　Gaylen's words give Ray a few steps of warning.
　It's because I understood their aim.
　It would certainly be useful for a merchant who is leading a company to know him as a notorious adventurer.

"Well, it was Gaylen," I'll remember the name. However, my usual activity area is not around here, but in the remote area. I don't think there's any good in it if you get to know me here."
"No, no. It may be so now, but I may eventually be able to have some sort of relationship with you. It is never too early to remember my face from now on."

　Ray was at a loss how to respond to Gaylen's words with a smile, but he didn't feel any particular harm, so he just nods back.

"Well, if you're going to go that far, I'll remember it." . . . . . . . . and
"Oh, I'm sorry to have taken up your time." Well, we're both in a hurry. It would be a great loss to be attacked by thieves here. Please accept this then. It's something you're familiar with."

　When Gaylen got out of the carriage, she approached Ray and gave him a portion.
　From what Ray sees, it seems like an ordinary part.

"What about this?"
"This is the part that my business unit deals with. It's not particularly effective, but it's a good deal for money."
"...huh,"

　The price Gaylen told us was certainly a little cheaper than buying it at Gilm, and not just Ray but others who heard it responded to it.
　Some people pay Gaylen to buy some portions.

"If you're an adventurer, you won't have to worry about having a potion. This is also temporary, but we have done a good business in our own way. I'll leave now."

　Gaylen tells him so and goes back to the carriage.
　Ray also waved lightly to say that his business had been done before resuming his journey.