The night he brought the woodcutter, Ray was eating as usual in Marina's garden.

"And where did the woodcutters end up living?"

　Ray answers to Marina's question as she cuts bread with her hand, reaching for a skewer.

"It's the warehouse where the slums were staying when we were dismantling the gigant turtles. They seemed to have some other options, but they all ended up staying together."

　The fact that the woodcutters stayed together when they came to Gilmoo must have created a strong sense of solidarity among the woodcutters to a certain extent.
　Ray also predicted that the woodcutters came from outside Gilm, and that such men would be with him.
　At any rate, Ray has finished his first commission of transporting woodcuts, and he will have to do another commission to collect woodcuts from the forest of Trent for a few days from tomorrow.

"It was a little unexpected that there were so few woodcutters. Well, the extension work has begun in earnest, I guess."

　Vichela says so, following Ray's words.

"To be exact, he is a skilled woodcutter. I don't know, but he seems to have a lot of influence on the trees he felled because of course.

　As he spoke, Ray remembered the conversation of the woodcutters.
　Since this time we recruited skilled woodcutters, of course the woodcutters that Ray and Sett brought in have cleared the standard.
　That's why the woodcutters were talking about it when they were taking a break on the road or eating.
　We talk about the precautions and things when cutting trees, and then we both agree with each other, or we argue that it's different.
　When Ray cuts down trees, it's a death-size flash, and the tree falls flat.
　But it's only because Ray can do it, and it's not usually that easy.
　I could hardly understand why each woodcutter had a style, but I could understand it somehow.

"It's going to be that different? But you didn't really care about that last year."
"Last year was last year, and I was pretty busy. Didn't you even have time to worry about that? Or maybe that became a problem in last year's case and I started putting more importance on it from this year."
"I see. It's important to use your reflection."

　The longer the battle was on the battlefield, the more convincing Elena was about it.
　Others nodded convincingly at Elena's words.

"Well, as for woodcutters, that may be the reason why all the people I brought chose to stay together."

　Maybe it was because we talked about our techniques and styles that we were able to be encouraged.
　Yes, Ray says.
　The fact that they only brought skilled woodcutters means that they must have had the best skills where they lived.
　In other words, the other woodcutters were often unable to follow or understand the story, and in that sense they must have been happy to have someone to whom they could communicate.
　In that sense, there is no doubt that working in Gillum this time was a good incentive for the woodcutters.

"I see. But in that case, you'd better be careful?"
"What? Why?"

　Unable to understand Elena's words, though slightly serious, Ray nods his head.
　But Elena continues to speak to Ray in a deep tone.

"This time we happened to be compatible, so there might have been no problem, but sometimes even though we were in the same situation, it was the worst compatibility ... because we looked like each other, we couldn't forgive them."
"Oh, homophobia?"

　Although homophobia is not exactly the case, the nuance of Ray's words may still have been conveyed.
　Everyone but Elena -- except Bune, who is absorbed in eating -- nods to Ray's words.

"You should be careful because some people are hostile to each other because they are in a similar situation. Especially in this case, you come to work in a village or town, right? Then, I'm sorry to say, there is a possibility that the person will send someone with a problem in terms of personality, judging that he or she can work better if he or she is not in the village or town."
"... I don't think so. It's a request from Gillum. Mr. Dusker's name is well known in many ways. Don't you think it's bad enough to send such a person to a request from a place where Mr. Dusker is governing?"
"I don't know. There are people in the world who think they're the greatest, and that's why when everything goes their way, many people think so. Ray has had a lot of experiences, and you know that."

　While Ray nodded to Elena's words, he wondered if there was such a fool.





"Yes, I thought so..."

　Breathe in melancholy and look at the scene spreading before you.

"Look, I won't admit that he'll work with me, no matter what."
"Don't be silly! That's the last thing I want to do with you!"

　It's not the same village woodcutters who are arguing, but the woodcutters from a completely different village.
　A few days after I first sent the woodcutter to Gilm.
　The woodcutters were used to working in the forest of Trent, and after Ray had finished carrying them in the mistiling, he and Sett left the guillem to gather the woodcutters again... and the result was now spreading before us.

"I'm in trouble,"

　It was the mayor of this village who told Ray so.
　In other words, he recommended a woodcutter who is now fighting in front of Ray.

"Well, I wish I could have someone with a better personality."
"But there is no doubt that he is the best woodcutter in our village. So what do you do? We have already agreed to send him to work in Guillum, and we are preparing for his work until the winter."
"My arms don't have to be that far, but I'd be glad to see a woodcutter with a better personality."

　Ray said that the main reason for the argument now was that a woodcutter named Dertne was selling the fight the moment he met his gaze.
　Being a man in his mid-20s, and working as a woodcutter, it is no wonder that he is full of blood.
　But I honestly don't think it's right to have a fight when we meet.
　That is why I asked another woodcutter to do it."

"I'm afraid that the only woodcutter we can get out of our village is Deltne,"

　The village mayor simply says so.
　When Ray hears it, he wonders what to do... he makes up his mind right away.

"I'm sorry, but there wasn't this incident."
"Oh, don't you want a good woodcutter?"
"Well, I want a good woodcutter, but I don't need a man with such a problem in his personality as to interfere with his work.
"I'm at a loss for you, sir. As I said, we can only take out Deltonne. If you don't want Deltonne, who can take it instead?"

　Watching the village mayor tell her so, Ray had something to guess.
　Guillum must know that this case of gathering skilled woodcutters is quite sudden.
　For this reason, the remuneration is paid in advance to some woodcutters and their places of residence.

(that is, did the village chief want more of the deposit, or did he not intend to send a woodcutter with only the deposit from the beginning?"

　Ray wasn't convinced, but he was probably right.
　I'm a little annoyed by the mayor's attitude, but it's not that strong.
　As for the advance payment, it's probably not Ray's money or anything, but it's paid by the Gilm senior management who requested it this time.
　Even so, it would not be interesting if adventurers were to be underestimated, and above all, if this incident spreads, no one would be able to imitate this village mayor.
　Then Ray had decided what to do."All right. Then I don't need that woodcutter. You don't have to pay me back in advance, so get it there."

　Ray's words put an ugly smile on the village mayor's face.
　It's precisely because this village mayor has been able to make the most of his profits.
　Deltonne is a good woodcutter, though he has a problem with his personality.
　The deposit on sending Deltonne would be a good sum for this village.
　Having it and not having to send Deltone would have been the greatest benefit for the village mayor.
　...more, it's just about short-term profit.

"Is that really all right?"
"Oh, I'm afraid I'm going to have a hard time from now on, but that's the result of my own invitation. I have nothing to say."
"...what? What on earth is that?"

　Didn't you understand what Ray meant, or did you feel an ominous ring in his words?
　Although he didn't understand it, Ray continues without a trace of concern to the mayor's eyes.

"It's not that difficult,"

　He continued, looking at Deltonne, the woodcutters who were fighting with him, and the other woodcutters who were watching him.

"This case is to be reported to the guild. That alone won't decide everything, but I think the guild will still look into this village. If anything happens as a result... well, my condolences."

　It's easy for Ray to predict that this is probably not the first time he's had a conversation with the village mayor.
　If it is known to the guild, this village is understandably subject to some kind of sanction.
　Yes, for example, if a group of monsters were to live near this village, and they tried to ask the guild to kill them, they wouldn't accept it.

(It seems to me that there is no guild branch in this village, so I might have misunderstood it.)

　We could see the village from above before we got off to this village on a set.
　There is no place in it that seems to be a branch of the guild.
　...however, if it were to be a guild branch as it is in this village, it might be small.
　If so, it may not have been recognized just by looking at it from above.

"Stupid! Don't be silly! Do you think you'll be allowed to do that?"

　The village chief screams at Ray, completely changed from his first calm tone.
　It was easy for Ray to understand that the attitude he had just taken was that he was wearing a cat.
　However, no matter how much the mayor screams, there is no power there.
　No, this may be able to give orders to the villagers that he rules, but for Ray, who has fought against so many monsters and masters, he is only a little surprised at the sudden action.

"It's not for me to decide whether you're allowed or not. It's for the guild to decide. Well, if you don't have anything particularly to blame, it probably won't matter, so why don't you just take it easy?"
"Well... does the adventurous spirit think it's good for her to behave like that?"
"I'm thinking,"

　The village mayor thought he would be a little upset, but Ray simply says so.
　That attitude of saying that you are completely out of your sight hurts the mayor's strong self-esteem and turns red with anger.
　But Ray opens his mouth to such a village mayor with a blank stare.

"As I said before, if you don't have anything to blame for, there should be no particular problem. There may be a lot of difficulties ahead of you... Well, hang in there. That's why..."
"Wait a minute! You're not making up your mind about everything!"

　In the middle of Ray's words, the woodcutter in question... Deltonne clenches his fist and hits him.
　But Ray shoots the counter without looking at the blow, and Deltonne collapses to the ground, unconscious of the blow that easily penetrates her proud muscles.

"Well, here's what it is. ... Then, I'll go next, so go back to the set basket."

　Ray glances at Deltonne and tells the other woodcutters so.
　The village chief could not say anything until the Ray's disappearance, perhaps because he was so proud of his power in the village that he did not expect to lose so easily.