The Augusto party guarded by Ray had been able to advance through the desert without being attacked by monsters after the almost impossible battle with Sand Serpent.

"If we go on like this, the rocky desert will disappear completely and become a sand desert. Gorsuch is an oasis-centric development with several oases in the center. Well, there are a lot of troubles, but basically it's a good city."

　Sitting on the coach's wheelchair, Zarroost controls his trap, Ray looks around.
　Now that you mention it, there was much more sand than where Ray had knocked down the sand serpent.

"If I were to build a town, I think I'd rather have a rocky desert than a sand desert."
"I understand that, but without an oasis, we can't make towns and villages in the desert."

　Now that you've said it, I can't help but agree to it.
　Water sources are essential for people to live in, which is why towns and villages are built around oasis.
　The oasis was also scattered through the desert, and it was only natural that some places were large and others were small.
　And the size of the oasis also determines the size of the town or village.
　Naturally, the size of the oasis was finite, and the number of people who could benefit from the oasis was fixed.
　Also, considering the number of merchants and adventurers who come there, it is impossible to raise the maximum allowable number in the city.

"...Gosh, given the circumstances, owns many large oases, and is one of the largest cities in the Ferris Desert."

　It was Zarroost, who told me so, but he turned his concerned gaze back... toward the carriage in which August was riding.

"What's the reason?"

　Originally, I had a vague expectation that I would get into trouble when I put myself in, and Augusto has a very favorable impression compared to the merchants who gathered around me in guillem.
　That's why I didn't mean to get involved in a dispute, but the flow of the conversation asks so.
　...there was nothing for Ray to get angry at, even though he knew that Zarroost had successfully led the conversation towards it.

"Oh, actually, there's been a certain business in Gorsuch recently. Mr. Auguste has been harassed against it."
"Oh... that's all to do with it."

　Zarroost nods to Ray's words, which he believes will not be as bad as Azot's.

"Elema Shokai was originally a medium-sized shop in Gorsuch, but when I replaced my son from the previous president, it has grown in power all at once. And that son is at odds with Mr. Auguste, and he is trying to put him under his wing to contain it."
"I often hear that,"
"Well, yes, I hear it a lot, but when you actually experience it, it's quite different story. The package that was supposed to come in didn't come in, and my order was suddenly cancelled and I was given a bad reputation... to be honest, I think Mr. Augusto is doing well in that situation."
"In such circumstances, Zarroost often took on the escort of Auguste. It's not a special bodyguard, is it?"

　No ordinary adventurer would take on a job from someone who is in such trouble.
　Saying so, Zarroost sniffs uninterestingly.

"Are you there, too?" ...that's not to say it's bad, but I've had a lot of attention from Mr. Auguste's father. I don't want to forget the kindness. It is the same with those who are now on guard."
"Rookie, too?"

　Zarroost breathes a small sigh when Ray tells her that he is not impressed to involve an adventurer who is still a rookie and not skilled.

"It was sudden this time. I was desperately short of military strength. I've chosen the best newcomer among them. Besides, there are many people who have been asking me to take them with them for a long time."

　The reason why he frowns subtly while saying so is probably because he understands that Zarroost is also reckless.
　Still a monster in the desert...it's the least sincerity of Zarroost to select a person who has the ability to defeat a dessert goblin.

"Do you see the tree growing over there?"

　What Zarroost showed as if to divert from the subject was a tree growing out of the sand.
　Ray is a little surprised at the sight of trees growing out of the sand.
　Ray's perception is that basically all the plants in the desert could come up with was cacti.

"That... tree? Why in the desert?"
"It looks like a tree... well, it's definitely a tree, but it's a magical plant. That's not a carnivore, either."

　Zarroost describes trees in remote locations.
　This carnivorous plant is said to grow only in the Ferris Desert, attracting nearby monsters by giving them the smell they like, and letting them sleep with it.

"It's a monster, isn't it?"
"No, it's a magical plant. There's no magic stone."

　What makes monsters a monster is, of course, the magical stones that are possessed by monsters.
　As long as the magical stone does not exist, it means that what Zarroost has shown is not a monster, but a magical plant.
　I understand that, but even if it's not a monster, I think it's dangerous if it's such a magical plant.

"Don't worry! That magical plant... the Tilla tree does no harm to humans at all. There is nothing wrong with people approaching us."
"...what kind of tree is it?" Isn't it too convenient for humans?"
"I think so, too. But it is also true that the number of monsters in the Ferris Desert is controlled to some extent by the Tilla tree, so I can't touch it carelessly."

　Call in monsters and kill them. Nevertheless, there is no harm done to humans.
　It was a magical plant that was entirely convenient for humans.

"Then that tree... was it the Tilla tree? Wouldn't it be easier to move in the desert if it was increased?"
"What do you think?" Erema's business is planning it as Ray said.Augusto opposes it."
"Why?"

　It's a magical plant that reduces the number of monsters and doesn't harm humans. In that case, Ray understands the idea of increasing the number.
　Therefore, it was doubtful whether August would oppose it.

"The Tila tree is a magical plant. It doesn't matter if it increases naturally, but if you try to do it intentionally, you can't predict what will happen."

　Augusto, who stood out of the carriage window, told Ray so.

"Is that so? ...I think it would be useful for me to live normally."
"Well, I really hope so."

　Auguste, however, denied his words as if he had been convinced of something.

(Is there something?)

　Looking at Auguste's situation and wondering if he was proceeding...

"Grull".

　Suddenly, Seto whistles as he turns his eyes to the dunes a little out of the way of the merchant corps.
　The cry is a sign of vigilance.

"An enemy?"

　Ray, who has known Seto for a long time, naturally reads and quickly tells the feeling of the song.
　Zarroost, who is the bodyguard of the merchant corps, looks sternly on Sett's face...His eyes were on the dunes.
　Usually it's hard to decide whether to be vigilant just by the sound of Seto, but Zarroost, who sees Ray's ability with his own eyes, tells everyone to be vigilant, hoping he has full confidence in him.

"Mr. Auguste," What shall we do? Shall we just shake it off, or shall we pick it up here?""Which bodyguard do you recommend?"
"I don't want to be chased endlessly, even if I give up here. Especially when you think of the danger of being attacked at night, as we must camp out to-night."
"You'd better attack him,"
"Yes. If you don't have any newcomers in your bodyguard, you can make a surprise attack on the person who made the night attack... but I doubt if you'll be off guard if he's a monster."
"It's probably a man. It's probably a thief."

　Ray interrupts Augusto and Zarroost as if to interrupt.

"...how do you know?"
"There are very few monsters who approach me when I have Seto. Well, it's not like there's nothing. Like a goblin, a dimwit. But it's more likely that thieves who don't feel the signs of Seto are the ones who don't. I can't say for sure."

　If you sense the presence of Seto, a Rank A monster, most monsters run away, judging that they are the ones you can never beat.
　If it was time to hunt, Seto, of course, would not be able to sense his presence, but if he was now guarding himself, it would have been different.
　When you're here, you keep monsters away by showing them that way.
　If you felt Seto's presence but were coming towards you, it was likely someone, not a monster.
　After hearing about Seto from Ray, Zarroost makes an instant decision.

"I'll pick you up here," Thieves... when the bandits are against them, they're sure to pursue them persistently. It's quicker to kill him here than to camp and ambush him. And..."

　It was no wonder that Zarroost's gaze was turned to Ray.
　If we were the only ones who could have been damaged by the bandits... if they had substandard powers of Ray and Sett, it's only natural to expect their fighting power.
　Ray nods to Zarroost's gaze without any particular sensation.
　Having liked Auguste and been employed as a bodyguard, there was no option to escape here.

(But a bandit? Well, it's the name of a bandit working in the desert.) bandits and pirates)

　Ray bowed inwardly at the unfamiliar word of bandit, but in the end he had decided what to do next if he thought he was a kind of bandit.

"Why don't I go scouting? I don't mind destroying the robbers from above."
"... very radical, isn't it?"

　One of the adventurers nearby muttered the word annihilation.
　Apparently newcomers, they were surprised that Ray had said he would kill the bandits easily.
　But Ray only shrugs at the adventurer's words.
　In the first place, Ray came to be called a bandit eater because he repeatedly destroyed numerous bandits in the kingdom of Milliana and robbed them of their treasures.
　Of course I don't hesitate to deal with thieves, and I don't have any mercy for them.

"And what shall we do?"

　The newcomer asks Zarroost, but Zarroost shakes his head after a moment of thought.

"No, I don't want them to know about Ray and Sett. and, if known, there is a possibility of escape."
"...Wait. Is that an insult? If the thief runs away, and I and Sett can't catch up?"

　Ray, who had repeatedly exterminated the bandits, could not accept the words from Zarroost.
　But Zarroost opens his mouth to persuade such Ray.

"That's not the case. But isn't this the first time Ray has fought against bandits, so wouldn't it be better to wait and see how they attack him at first?"

　Once he pauses, Zarroost turns to a new adventurer who has just reacted sensitively to Ray's words of annihilation.
　Fished by it, Ray also looks at it, but the adventurer looks at it, wondering why he doesn't understand what he's being seen.

"I've got the strength of Ray at the moment. I couldn't give them the experience of fighting in the sand serpent, and I thought it was just right... what do you think?"
"... All right,"

　I'm very good‐natured. That's how Ray nods.

"Here it is! A bandit!"

　One of the adventurers screams sharply.
　When Ray turned his eyes to the bandit's coming...

"What?"

　Ray's mouth gives an unexpected voice to the scene he sees from there.
　It was the same with the likes of Zarroost and August.
　for... it was a ship of its own size that emerged over the dunes.