The stage for Ray's mock battle with adventurers was soon completed.
　It's a rather crude structure, because it's only good to have a mock battle on that day, rather than creating a proper stage like a stadium.
　But few complain about it.
　There are some people who have a feeling that it will affect their betting, and some of them have been somewhat concerned about it... that's about it's about it.
　A lot of people are enjoying extraordinary times, buying food from stalls that already have a lot of food.
　Meanwhile, Ray was in a hut prepared as a waiting room.
　This is not a freshly dug-out hut, but rather a solid room, and there are magic heating items inside, so it's not cold.
　However, Ray is originally wearing a dragon robe, so I don't think it's particularly cold at the outside temperature.
　Above all, if you think it's cold...

"Grull".

　It's warm enough to touch the set in front of Ray.
　The set, however, wants to go out looking out of the hut.
　There are so many stalls lined up that there's an appetizing smell coming out there.
　Especially for Seto, who has a keen sense of five, it is impossible to completely block the odor from outside, even if he is in the hut.

"Hold it in. If we go out in this situation, there will definitely be people coming in. To avoid that, we'll only look around the stalls after the mock war. ... Well, I don't understand how Seto feels."

　Calmingly caressing Seto, he takes the dried Gamerion from the mistling and feeds it.
　Ordinary dried meat wouldn't have satisfied Seto, but the Gamerion dried meat is simply delicious.
　Even Seto, who is appealing to go out for something to eat because he's hungry, had nothing more to suggest whether he was satisfied with the taste of the dried meat or to go out.

(I don't mind bringing him here, but I'm the only one who's going to play a mock game after all.)

　Ray seeps as he watches Seto eating dried meat.
　Ray's nickname, crimson, was not acquired by Ray alone, but by working with Sett.
　That being the case, if he had wanted to see his crimson prowess, he could have taken part in the mock war... but the adventurers and knights and soldiers who were going to take part in the mock war had waited for him.
　He says he can't fight Rank A monsters like Gryphon.
　Seto is actually recognized as a rare species, so it's a monster worth Rank S, but was it lucky or bad that you didn't know about it?
　Even if I knew that, it didn't mean that I didn't want to fight Seto.
　No, the voice would have gotten louder because it was more like Rank S.
　But Seth is here... at the request of Liberte.
　Show the people of the city the presence of Seto so that they won't be surprised if he walks around the city.
　If so, Ray has no choice but to accept it.
　In fact, it is very difficult for Ray and Sett to imitate, like Leodanis, the knights of the Duke of Kelebel, walking with them every time they go out of Anesis, and the knights are interrupted.
　That's why it was necessary to show the presence of Seto and show that he wasn't dangerous here.
　In particular, the atmosphere is close to the festival, so many people have become more generous in many ways.
　They probably judged that the presence of Seto in such a situation would be more acceptable to the people of Annesis than it was to live normally.
　Ray understood Liberte's idea and had no option of refusing it.
　If this incident ends successfully, you will be free to go out with Seto.

"For that reason, just for today, please be patient. I told Miranda to buy me some delicious food at the stall."
"Guru..."

　After finishing eating the Gamerion dried meat, Seto grudges at Ray's words.
　Seto is happy to be able to eat the food sold at the stalls, but he probably understands that it's best to eat it on the spot, not later.
　Ray doesn't understand the feeling, either.
　We usually eat the food we sell at stalls, but at these festivals we enjoy what we call the atmosphere of the place.
　It was a summer festival that was held when I was in Japan, and even okonomiyaki, which contained only a large amount of cabbage and only a small amount of other ingredients like sparrow tears, or takoyaki, which sometimes contained no octopus, tasted good enough while enjoying the atmosphere of the festival.
　Bringing that kind of food home and heating it up in the microwave the next day didn't make it taste good.
　That's how important the atmosphere of the festival is, so it's no wonder that Seto wants to eat in such an atmosphere if possible.

"Oh... what? After the mock war, if you still have time, why don't you go around the stalls?"
"Gruly!"

　At Ray's words, Seto exclaims joyfully.
　I was surprised to hear that kind of conversation from the guards outside the hut... or the waiting room.
　Some member of the nobility stood in front of the waiting room in order not to act strangely, and it was only natural that he heard the cry of a cet from behind.
　The reason why I didn't panic at the sound of Seto was simply because I was somewhat accustomed to it.
　Although some are still scared, fortunately not many guards have been stationed here, having taken Sett to the gardens and training grounds of the Duke of Quelevel.
　No, that's why I was sent to guard this waiting room.
　The guards look at each other's co-workers and smile at each other.
　It's not strange that the smile was mixed with a little bit of bitter laughter.
　Ray, who doesn't know it's happening outside, takes some dishes out of Mistilling and enjoys it with Seto.
　Then Ray was playing with Seto, but a little later he was knocked on the waiting room door.

"What?"
"I heard you're ready for a mock battle. You want me to come to the stage with Seto."
"All right. Then, Set... shall we go?"
"Glu".

　After finishing a stew of just boiled oak meat until it's tender, Seto grates at Ray's words.
　Looking at Seto with such delight, Ray decides that the presentation of Seto that Liberte thought would go well, let alone his own mock battle.
　When he went out through a larger door than usual to make it easy for Seto to get in and out, there was a man standing who would have contacted him to come to the stage with a security guard.

"Here it is, Mr. Ray."

　The man who contacted me was a little confused whether he was used to Ray or not... and told me so, in awe of Seto's appearance.

"Ray, we'll go with you as bodyguards... no, as far as the situation goes, I don't think you'
"Of course. How many battles do you think I've been through so far, Seto?"
"Grull".

　Being distracted by the irritating smell of leaving the hut, Seto chants as if he had recovered from Ray's words.

"Look, the stalls are behind us. We'll let you eat as much as you want with the amount you won."

　When Ray says so, he wags his tail as if to say it's a promise.
　As he stroked such a set, Ray remembered the bet Miranda had told him.
　The bets in this mock game seem to have been set in pretty fine detail.
　How many will Ray win against… Since the number of people who will participate in the mock battle exceeded our expectations, the players who will play the mock battle are grouped to some extent, and up to how many pairs Ray can win.
　Originally, Ray's total victory was supposed to be a big hole, but those who were at the bottom of the barrel must have gathered enough information. Ray's total victory is not a big hole, though it's a big one.
　Still, considering the amount Ray had left Miranda, it should have been easy to eat the food at the stall at the winning price.
　However, that's on the assumption that Ray wins the mock battle... Ray thinks there's no problem with that.
　He was confident in his strength and, above all, he felt that he couldn't afford to lose to someone he had fought against in mock battles.
　That being said, it was meaningless to be careless, so I was going to play the mock game seriously.
　Patting Seto, Ray heads for the mock battle stage with guides and guards.
　Some people were still around, perhaps to see Ray at first sight or before I went on stage.

(If it's a more serious stadium, I'd try to hide it from anyone when I enter the stadium. Well, it's a place that I built just for this mock game, so it's no wonder.)

　Ray thinks so, but in fact, the stage for this mock battle... and around this area where the stalls are being set up, there are knights, guards, adventurers, and so on.
　Adventurers, in particular, were pleased with Ray and others who didn't want to play mock battles, but were struggling for money, because they didn't want to play mock battles.
　In fact, it's very unlikely that monsters or bandits will appear in this place, right next to Annesis.
　Of course they would have to fight if they really showed up, but it was probably... the idea of the guards that there would be almost no such thing for sure enough.
　Unlike adventurers who have taken the job of their own accord, knights and guards are on guard as orders from above.
　It prevents us from enjoying this unexpected festival or watching mock battles staged by a notorious adventurer.In that sense, the knights and guards must have been unlucky.
　Thinking of those unlucky people, Ray was led to the mock battle stage with Sett...

"What!"

　Suddenly Ray stops and looks around sharply.

"Oh, hey. What's the matter?"

　A security guard on the move with Ray is bewildered by Ray'
　No, it wasn't just Ray who took the sudden action.
　Lie down lightly so that something can happen at any time and watch out for others.
　After about a minute, Ray finally releases his guard.

(Because of my imagination? ... No, that gaze directed at me definitely existed. I don't feel anything murderous. It's like I'm observing something.)

　But the gaze had disappeared the moment Ray reacted.
　It's as if the gaze I just felt was a lie.
　If the person who felt the current gaze was an immature person, it's no wonder that the gaze he felt might have been just imagination.
　All of a sudden, my gaze disappeared.

"Hey, hey. What's really going on? All of ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

　Judging from Ray's present appearance, the guards are afraid to say hello, perhaps judging that it is dangerous to stimulate him carelessly.
　Looking at the guards, I concluded that I didn't feel what they were looking at now.

"... a little. There was a strange look at me."
"Strange eyes? Well, Ray and Sett stand out, and I don't think it's strange that there are people who look at me like that."

　Relieved by Ray's finally returning words, the guards still tilt their heads, apparently unaware of what Ray is saying.

"That's not the case, though. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　Fighting a few skilled players was the only mock battle I was looking forward to, but I'm sure that those who have the current gaze cannot be measured on such a scale.
　Given that kind of opponent, Ray decides that he is probably taking part in this mock game and begins to make his way to the stage with Sett.





"Are you more sensitive to your gaze than I expected? ... Indeed, you're a tough opponent. Crimson? You look interesting."

　Instead of looking directly at Ray and Sett, he muttered... away.