"No, it's not me,"

　It was Augusto who answered Ray's question so.
　Today was the end of Cathy's delicious meal and the rest of her meal break.
　Ray, who suddenly felt the watchman disappeared along the way today, asked if he was Augusto's hand, but the answer was no.

"No? I was observing the state of the house, and I thought Auguste had ordered Zarroost."
"No way. He's on friendly terms with me, but he's not my subordinate. "Well, I wish I could have him under me if I could, but I don't have that kind of money at the moment."

　Zarroost is clearly an Augustist among the adventurers in Ghosh.
　It is an overwhelmingly inferior force to the Erema Chamber of Commerce led by Dharidra, and it can be said that it is valuable considering it.
　However, he is not August's subordinate, but merely an outsider.
　He is in a different position from the guards he employs, who have gathered money from neighboring towns and countries.
　The inability to do so was, after all, due largely to financial problems.
　Zarroost is a well-known figure in this Ghosh.
　This made it impossible to keep Ray on long-term employment, if not permanent, for a short period of time as a bodyguard as he did when he encountered him.

"Then who got rid of the one who was watching me? No, it wasn't such an aggressive way as to call it a exclusion."

　Augusto is now at odds with Dallidra.
　But even though they're at odds, Daridra, who is also the president of the Elima Chamber of Commerce, is overwhelmingly superior in terms of military strength, power, economic power and influence.
　The only reason why August is still safe is because his personality has been accepted by the inhabitants of Gorsuch.
　As you can see in the house where Ray now lives, August's ancestors used to have a strong influence in Gorsuch as merchants.
　But now that it's ruined, we can't expect its influence.
　In other words, there is very little power to side with Augusto at present.
　Many people in their hearts feel familiar with Augusto, but most of them can't even put it into action.
　That's why Ray wondered why anyone who was watching them today had disappeared along the way.

"Didn't you leave because you didn't know that anyone else did anything, and that there was simply no point in watching Mr. Ray any more.
"...do you really think so?"

　It's not good to say something that you're not convinced of. Augusto carries the glass in his hand to his mouth with a slightly timid smile at Ray's words with such as much thought as possible.
　It's not liquor... it's water.
　But it was the water Ray produced from a flowing dagger, and in this Gorsuch... it was what only a limited number of people could taste.
　Augusto continues his words, enraptured by the taste of the water.

"It's just a possibility," However, Dallidra doesn't want to make Ray angry either. I don't think he'll do anything to keep tabs on me."
"...wasn't the one who was watching Dari Dora'said he.

　Ray asks suspiciously, but Auguste nods back, taking his hand off a glass of water.

"Yes. For Ray, who lived in Guilm, the kingdom of Milliana, this gosh may look like a small town, but it is still one of the five largest in the country of Sollein. Of course, there are various forces here..."
"Any power other than Erema's?"
"Probably," So when Dharidra found out about it, she probably told him not to touch the forces that were monitoring it."

　Auguste's prediction was not accurate but in line with the facts.
　Precisely, Ruebrand, the lord of Gorsuch, was interested in hearing about Ray and had him monitor the Auguste estate as part of his collection of information.
　When Daridra learned of it from reports from her subordinates, she hurriedly pulled it up.
　If not all, is August's ability to predict the general extent?

"Is there a third force involved?" ...it's troublesome, and if things go on like this, it might bother you. Wouldn't it be better for me to leave this house?"
"Don't be silly,"

　It was Kathy holding a plate of simple food who interrupted me.
　Just finished the meal, but it's a quick stir-fry of Sandlizzardman meat served by Ray, perhaps as a snack to drink.
　... though Ray and Auguste drink water, not liquor.

"Ray is still young, so you don't have to worry about people. Take it easy on yourself to think of this as your house. Fortunately, there are more rooms left. You know what?"

　Kathy turns to August, saying so.
　Augusto nods with a smile as he reaches for the meat of the sand lizard.

"Yes, of course. If Ray stays, I can concentrate on my work without worry."

　For Auguste, there were many benefits to letting Ray stay at his estate.
　The biggest benefit of this was that, again, Dallidra couldn't do anything strange as long as Ray and Sett were in the house. ... yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
　Now, Ray's greatest advantage in staying at his estate is that he likes it.
　If this meant Ray was in his thirties or forties, it might have been disturbing to leave him and Kathy in the mansion, but Ray is still in his mid-teens.
　Auguste's beloved wife, Kathy, also sees Ray as her child, not a man.

(This is probably because I can't have children.)

　be momentarily overwhelmed with grief
　Auguste and Kathy were, by all accounts, a very close couple.
　It's natural that we should have a baby, but that's not the case at all.
　Maybe it's either me or my wife's fault. I didn't think so, but it's also true that I can't come up with a solution when I know it's true.
　Anyway, for Kathy, Ray was like her own child, albeit artificially.
　... both Cathy and Auguste are in their mid-30s, and Ray looks in his mid-teens. It may be a little unreasonable for me, but I don't mind having a child as old as Ray.
　Moreover, Ray's face is not as severe as the word adventurer can imagine, but rather a delicate woman's face.
　It's no wonder that Kathy wants to take care of course.

"... and what did you mean?"

　Feeling something unfamiliar to her, Ray opens his mouth to do something about the atmosphere.
　As an Augusto, I could have enjoyed the atmosphere a little more, but I couldn't ignore Ray's words and spoke.

"There's a third force," -- oh, of course Mr. Ray doesn't have to leave the house."
"Is it really good?"

　Ray asks me to confirm, but Auguste nods back to his words.

"I hate to say this, but my current situation is far from reassuring. I'm sure Mr. Ray knows that very well."

　The words reminded Ray of the bandits who had attacked him on a sandboat.
　The result of Dhalidra, the president of Elema's business, trying to get rid of Augusto, who is in the way.
　Of course, there is nothing to prove it, so you can't judge Dharidra.
　But, conversely speaking, if you have evidence, you can judge...

"Didn't you get any information out of that bandit?"

　Augusto opens his mouth with a look of a little surprise to Ray, who asks in wonderfully.

"Didn't you know that all the bandits at that time were killed by someone the next day?" It paid me a little more than I sold it to slave traders."

　It was obvious that the money meant hush money, and in fact Auguste was told so by the guards.
　上手く売ればより多くの金が手に入っただけにオウギュストも完全に納得した訳ではなかったが、それ以上何かを言ってもどうにもならず……それどころか警備兵に悪印象を与えるとあっては、大人しく引き下がるしかなかった.

「殺された？　警備兵に捕らえられていたのにか？」
「ええ. そういう相手がいると考えれば、やはりレイさんにはこの屋敷に逗留してもらうのが私としては助かるんですよ. キャシーも喜んでくれているようですし、ね」
「……分かった」

　レイにとっても、自分を可愛がってくれるキャシーには好意を感じている.
　勿論その好意は女に対するものではなく、母親に対するものに近い. 親愛の情と呼ぶべきか.
　元々人付き合いが決して得意という訳でもないレイだったが、キャシーはそんな自分を温かく迎え入れてくれたのだ.





　そんな相手に好意を抱くなという方が無理だろう.

「では、この話はこれで終わりにしましょう. ……それで、レイさんの明日の予定は？」
「出来ればギルドで討伐依頼か何かを受けたいところなんだけどな. もしくはサンドリザードマンの死体が結構あるから、その解体を依頼として頼みたい」

　ザルーストがサンドサーペントの解体を無料で行ってくれたが、それはあくまでもレイに対しての借りがあったからだ.
　その借りが返された以上、ザルーストに無料でやってもらうということは出来ないだろう.

（ああ、でもザルーストなら信用出来るか. 報酬としてサンドリザードマンの素材を幾つか渡すということで引き受けてくれれば、こっちとしても助かるんだけどな）

　ザルーストが律儀な性格をしているというのは、これまでの付き合いで理解していた.
　付き合いそのものはまだ一週間と経っていないのを考えると、実はザルーストの性格は表向きだけが律儀……という可能性もあるのだが、その辺は何となく大丈夫だろうとレイは考えている.
　何の根拠もない、ただの勘なのだが.

「サンドリザードマンの解体ですか. ……そうですね、それがいいかもしれません. 第三勢力が出て来たとなると、街の外に出れば色々と面倒なことになりかねませんし」

　そう告げるオウギュストの脳裏にあるのは、やはり砂上船を使った砂賊の襲撃だろう.
　普通であればそうそう出来る手ではないだけに、どうしても強烈な印象を与える.

（その結果砂上船をレイさんに奪われてしまったのを考えると、向こうにとっては最悪の結果でしょうが）

　それとは反対に、自分はレイとの縁を深いものに出来たのだから、世の中何がどうなるか分からないといったところだろう.

「ま、そっちについては俺に手を出してくれば対処させて貰うさ. 二槍流の練習もしないといけないし」
「二槍流、ですか？」

　レイの口から出た言葉に、オウギュストが不思議そうな視線を向ける.
　二刀流といった言葉は聞いたことがあっても、二槍流という言葉は聞き覚えがなかったからだろう.

「実際にそういう言葉があるかどうかは分からないけどな」
「言葉から予想すれば、二本の槍を使うんですか？」
「それに近い. まぁ、片方は槍じゃなくてデスサイズだけど」
「デスサイズというと……あの大鎌ですか？　それで二槍流というにはちょっと無理があるのでは？」

　レイの持つデスサイズを思い出したのだろう. 不思議そうに尋ねてくるオウギュストにレイは小さく肩を竦める.

「ま、勝手に俺が作った言葉だし. 分かりやすさ優先で決めさせて貰った. ともあれ、その二槍流を使いこなすのがなかなかに難しいんだよ. 訓練だけじゃなく、実戦でもある程度慣らしていかないといけないし」

　一度の実戦は十日の練習に匹敵するって話はよく聞くしな、と言葉を続けるレイ.
　オウギュストはそんなレイの言葉に複雑な表情を浮かべる.
　レイの実力は知っている. 知っているが……だからといって、片手で槍と大鎌をそれぞれ別々に使うことが出来るのか？　という疑問を拭うことが出来なかったのだ.
　それでも言葉に出さなかったのは、それこそレイがどれだけの強さを持っているのか自分の目で確認したからだろう.
　レイならば、もしかしてそんな無茶もどうにかしてしまうのでは？　そう思ってしまってもおかしくはなかった.