The flesh of a deer was bigger than Seto, but besides Ray, adventurers and knights, lizardmen... and, most importantly, Gaga and Seto, almost all of them were bitten by.
　Just in case, Elena, Marina, Vihela, Arra... and, above all, as a souvenir to Bune, I have left some parts of each.

(No, I never thought the deer's tongue would taste so good.

　Ray, who was eating cold fruit as an after-dinner dessert, was surprised that the deer tongue he had eaten in yakiniku was better than he had expected.
　Despite the unique texture of the tongue, it is still soft.
　Such deer tans were naturally so popular that they could not secure souvenirs.

(For the time being, let's say there was no food like deer tongue. Fortunately, Gaga still can't speak.)

　If there was a zozo, there was a possibility that the information might have been leaked.
　Zozo, however, was determined to remain in the Tower of Birth as interpreter in case something happened.
　That's why Ray thought that information about the deer's tan would never be conveyed to Bune...

"Deer, tan."
"...what?"

　Ray glances at the sudden voice, where he sees Gaga.
　Then Gaga opens her mouth again, looking at Ray.

"Deer, tan."

　Ray had his head in his hands when he learned that the words had definitely come out of Gaga's mouth.
　I'm glad that Gaga remembered my words. I'm glad, but... but I wonder why.

"Deer, tan."

　The same words continue from Gaga's mouth, wondering if she liked the pronunciation of the word.

"Zozo, why did you say that to Gaga? No, that's fine."

　Ray wanted to ask me why he learned such a word, but under the current circumstances he decided there was no point in asking such a thing.
　In fact, Ray could understand that Gaga didn't learn the word for any particular reason, but that it was somehow easy to learn.

"Mr. Ray?"
"It's nothing. But, you know. If you catch a deer next time, I'll take the deer tan home as a souvenir. That kind of deer won't come out again."

　Oh, my gosh.
　With such a sigh, Ray looks around him.
　Deer yakiniku, a gorgeous... that's what many of them seemed to be satisfied with after having had a fancy lunch rather than eating it in the cafeterias around town cafeteria.

(In the sense of morale, it definitely went up.)

　Should I be satisfied with it, or should I be dumbfounded?
　Even though he hesitates a little, Ray decides that he should be happy for now, so he looks around again.
　So were the lizards.
　There's no sign there that you've been more nervous than you need to be more tense a little while ago.
　For the Lizardmen, the adventurers and knights kept the Tower of Birth together, but there was still an unacceptable feeling somewhere.
　However, having eaten yakiniku together...so-called, having eaten the same pot of rice, he must have judged it to be somewhat reliable.
　In fact, they didn't trust everything immediately, but rather they spent some time together and showed the trust of the royal family such as Gaga and Zozo.

(But I think we really need to do something about the smell of yakiniku. ... In some time, I think the wind will get rid of the smell.)

　If we were in the woods of Trent, the trees would disturb us and not blow so much.
　But the tower of birth has moved to a place adjacent to the forest of Trent.
　The smell of yakiniku floating around should have been scattered soon as there were no trees and nothing to block the wind except the neighboring Trent forest.

"Well, how can you manage it?"
"What?"
"Think the smell will be dispersed by the wind before monsters and animals come to us because of this smell. Or maybe we'll gather in places where it's been bleached or disassembled."

　Zozo nods convincingly to Ray's words.
　The smell of grilling meat stimulates your appetite.
　And the possibility that monsters and animals would come by being caught was undeniable.

"But wouldn't you normally notice Seto's presence and run away?"
"It's possible, but if you lose your appetite, you'll attack Seto without thinking about it. ... And some monsters don't understand strength. Like goblins."

　It was a goblin worthy of being an overwhelmingly weak monster, but it was also so smart.
　Even though he is faithful to his instincts, he doesn't pretend to escape without fighting because of his instincts, and instead he even pretends to attack.
　Then, when they attack and are counterattacked, they finally find out that they are not going to win and run away.
　It's like a monster, though Ray doesn't know what?

"Anyway, I don't want you to talk about deer tans at Marina's house if possible. I want you to remember something else. ... What should I make you remember?"

　Ray says, thinking of the souvenirs in the mystery ring, whether he's going to let them learn back roast.
　In fact, the back loin was soft and delicious enough, so if Gaga says that, I'm very grateful that I'll raise my expectations for souvenirs.

"Shall I say that to Gaga?"
"No, you don't have to go that far. Maybe it's the only time Gaga has said that. ... If you do something that you hide badly here, it will be even worse if Bune finds out later."

　The appearance of Bune's name here vividly shows what Ray thought.

'All right, then, will you be escorting the Tower of Birth from the afternoon?'
"Do so. We need to keep a close eye on what's going on around us."

　While responding to Zozo, I predict that mercenaries will not attack us today.
　It's not a well-founded prediction, it's simply a gut reaction.
　There's no denying that some kind of monster or animal could attack you like a deer at lunch.

(Come to think of it, that deer horn. It was pretty fine, but... there's nothing particular to use it for. Is it just a decoration?)

　If it's a monster, horns can be some kind of material, but it's not a monster -- its size was substandard -- there aren't many uses for deer.

(Oh, but on TV I saw when I was in Japan, I heard that deer horns were used as a herbal medicine. I don't know if herbal medicine really has any medicinal ingredients, but would you like to bring them to Yakushi?)

　I know the word herbal medicine, but I've never actually used it.
　That's why I didn't know whether deer horns really worked or not, but if you were a pharmacist, you could use them only for making medicines.
　Also, since it was a magnificent horn of 1m, if you can't expect it to be effective as a medicine, it would be interesting to display it in Marina's house.
　Whether Marina would like it or not was another story.
　While I'm thinking about how to use the horns, the break time passes, and eventually I'll be working in the afternoon.
　Naturally, not everyone was absent just because it was a lunch break everyone.
　As long as he's a bodyguard, it's only natural.
　While about half were resting, the other half was very alert for any abnormalities around themselves.
　The adventurer who handled the deer, and Ray, who took care of Seto while grilling the meat, rested without taking turns.

"Then, Seto. You too should be on the lookout..."

　Can you do it for me?
　Ray tried to say that, but he noticed the children of Lizardman staring at him in anticipation.
　I could tell from the moment I was talking to Seto what I was looking forward to.
　It is understandable that the children of the lizard were not the ones on the back of the deer when Seto knocked it down.
　リザードマンも、身体に微かな模様がついていたり、身体の動かし方といったもので見分けが可能だ.
　あくまでも判別しやすい特徴を持っているリザードマンに限っての話だが.
　そして、レイが見たところでは全員がそうだと決められる訳ではないが、それでも見分けのつくリザードマンに限っては午前中に鹿を獲ってきた時、セトに乗っていたリザードマンの子供はいなかった.
　まだセトに乗ったことがなかったリザードマンの子供が見ているということは、何を希望しているのかは予想出来る.

「セトの背中に乗りたいのか？」

　身振り手振りで尋ねると、リザードマンの子供達に話が通じたのだろう.
　目を輝かせて、それぞれが頷く.
　自分達がやりたいことだったというのも、レイの身振り手振りを理解出来た理由だろう.
　そんなリザードマンの子供達を見ながら、レイはどうするべきか迷う.
　セトの背に乗るのはいい.
　だが、その状況でトレントの森を歩かせてもいいものか.
　セトの能力があれば、よほどのことがない限り安心ではあるのだが……背中に乗っているのがリザードマンの子供だけに、何かをやらかす可能性は十分にあった.

「ゾゾ、ちょっと来てくれ！」

　レイが呼ぶと、ガガと共にリザードマン達に何らかの指示を出していたゾゾがやって来る.

『何でしょう？』
「この子供達がセトの背中に乗ってトレントの森に行きたがってるようなんだけど、行かせて問題はないと思うか？」
『そう、ですね. 問題はないと思いますが……少々お待ち下さい』

　そう言い、ゾゾは子供達に話し掛ける.
　その様子から、明らかに注意をしているのだということがレイにも理解出来た.
　数分が経過し、やがてゾゾは再びレイに話し掛ける.

『子供達にはセトの背中で暴れたり、勝手に降りたりしないようにと言い聞かせたので、問題はありません』
「そうか. じゃあ、このまま行かせるけど問題はないよな？」
『はい』

　ゾゾが頷いたのを見て、レイはセトにリザードマンの子供達を背中に乗せて、トレントの森の見回りをしてくるように頼む.
　……その頼みの中には、若干、本当に若干ではあったがまた何らかの獲物を獲ってきてくれないかな、という狙いもあった.
　もっとも、そちらはあくまでも出来ればといった程度でしかない.
　獲物を獲るよりは、背中のリザードマンの子供の安全を最優先して欲しいというのが、正直なところだ.
　嬉しそうに騒ぎながら、リザードマンの子供達はセトの背中に乗る.
　それでも全員が乗ることは出来なかったので、取りあえずは半分ずつということになった.
　残ったリザードマンの子供達は羨ましそうな視線をセトに乗った仲間達に向けているが、それでも騒いだりはしない.
　ゾゾがしっかりと言い聞かせたおかげだろう.

「悪かったな. 助かった」
『いえ、レイ様に喜んで貰えて、何よりです』

　そう言うと、ゾゾはガガのいる方に向かう.
　いつもならレイの側にいることを最優先にするゾゾなのだが、今はガガと共に勉強をしている.
　石版がなくても、しっかりと会話が出来るようになりたい.
　そうなれば、もっとレイの役に立てると、そう思っての行動だった.
　レイもそんなゾゾの行動に思うところがない訳でもなかったが、本人が満足するのであれば、と. 何かを言うつもりはない.

「さて、そうなると……後は暇な午後になりそうだな」
「って、おい. また傭兵が襲ってくるかもしれないんだぞ？　なのに、暇ってのは、どういうことだよ？」

　レイの独り言を聞いた冒険者が、少し焦った様子で告げる.
　冒険者にしてみれば、自分で直接傭兵の襲撃を体験している分、レイの言うようにゆっくりは出来ないのだろう.
　そんな冒険者を落ち着かせるように、レイは口を開く.

「そう言ってもな. お前だってさっき焼き肉を食べただろ？　それで十分にゆっくりしていると思うが？　それに、セトがいる以上は誰かが近づいてきてもすぐに分かるし」

　ぐっ、と.
　冒険者の男は、レイの言葉に言い返せない.
　実際に焼き肉を食べている時に気が緩んでいたのは間違いのない事実なのだから.

「そんな訳で、取りあえず今はそこまで心配する必要はないだろ. それに、もしここに誰かが来ても、この戦力がいればどうとでも対処出来るだろうし」

　それは、間違いのない事実でもあった.
　元々ここにいるのは腕利きの冒険者や騎士で、更にそこにガガやゾゾ、レイ、セトといった者達がいる.
　また、普通のリザードマンもここにいる以上、並大抵の相手が襲ってきても対処するのは難しくはない.
　冒険者もそのことは知っていたのだが、それでも心配性な為か周囲を注意深く見回すのだった.