The incident in the lake is, fortunately, still little known.
　The lake's transition must have been in large part right next to the tower of birth.
　The people in charge of guarding the Tower of Birth are gathered as trustworthy adventurers and do not leak information easily.
　Nevertheless, there is a good chance that if you go to a bar and get drunk, you'll eat it, and if you sleep in a brothel, you'll be able to tell a story.
　With that in mind, it won't be long before one of the lakes becomes known.
　If it were a tower of birth, some would be interested in it because it was a mysterious building, but there's nothing to worry about.
　However, when it comes to lakes, it is not a mystery building, but a direct connection to life.
　Naturally, the Tower of Birth will be of overwhelming interest to many.
　If this happens, information about the tower of birth will be leaked without doubt... many people will come here.

"And may I ask you what Mr. Dusker will do about the lake?"

　In response to Ray's question, Amonai, who was changing his mind by looking at the lake's breadth, comes back to life with Ray's words.
　Amonai, who had lost all his attention to the magnificent lake and had forgotten all of his recent busyness, was slightly dissatisfied to be recalled from the situation.
　Still, given the current situation, Amonai can't express such frustration and opens his mouth.

"Well, it's hard to hide this case, so we'll have to announce this lake in the near future, and then we'll have to announce naturally the Tower of Birth. ... I just hope the Lizardmen don't feel uncomfortable."
"I don't think it'll be easy. That's why anyone who gets something wrong can fight Lizardman to get into the tower of his birth."

　To Lizardman, the Tower of Birth is a place to protect eggs and children.
　Anyone who attempts to enter such a place without permission would naturally be fighting.
　But the problem here is that the lizard is in the tower of birth.
　a lizard man... that is, a monster.
　If you've met Zozo and Gaga, including Ray, or if you know the situation to some extent, you can understand that Zozo and Gaga are not ordinary lizards.
　But for those who don't know it, you'll wonder why monsters can't attack it.
　It could, as a result, have a negative effect on the guillem.
　Does Dusker, the lord of Gillum, take the shoulders of monsters instead of inhabitants of Gillum?

"And the King's faction seems to be moving,"
"...what?"

　The words that come out of Ray's mouth may be something that Amonai didn't even know, but he looks so keenly that he doesn't think he's a civil servant.
　For Amonai... no, for Dusker's men, the royalists are the ones who have caused so much trouble from last year to this year, with red cloth, cobold, and huge eyes.
　That being the case, Amonai cannot ignore Ray's words.

"Where did you hear that the King's faction is moving?"
"Information, or rather, a woman of the royal faction ... who said she was serving a self-styled royal family came in contact with me. She said she had also come in contact with Mr. Dusker, and so I thought she understood that... didn't you know that?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, I don't know, though, I'm not taught anything that I don't need to know, unless I'm a subordinate of Mr. Dusker's confidante."

　That's what I'm convinced of.
　Ray, as an adventurer, has been involved in a variety of disturbances, and understands that information can be advantageous if something happens, but on the contrary, having it can be disadvantageous.
　That's why there was no particular reaction to what Amonai said.

"By the way, are you on the royal side? It's troublesome because there are many people who support the King's authority."
"Really? I've met some royal nobles, but that's not the case."

　Marka is still too young to use such authority, and Marka himself has a high magical talent.
　Ray forgot who he heard from, but there was a rumor that the royalists wanted to make Marka a symbol of Elena in the aristocracy in the future.
　Marka is still young, but she still looks like she'll definitely be beautiful in the future.
　Therefore, the idea of making it a symbol of the royal faction is not wrong.
　...but whether Marka will accept it or not, apart from that.

"That's lucky, though, that there are quite a few decent nobles in the royal family, considering that. But if you ever come into contact with a nobleman, be careful, especially an adventurer of a different name like Mr. Ray, you might want to have it under your control."

　To the aristocracy, having a high-ranking adventurer under one's wing means a lot to themselves.
　In this world of quality that surpasses quantity, a high-ranking adventurer may in some cases be powerful enough to reverse the battlefield.
　It is a great achievement to make a big face for other nobles just by itself.
　Even more so, if it's a notorious adventurer, it's even more meaningful.
　And not only is Ray notorious, but he also has an item box that is a rare species and has only been confirmed to exist in this world.
　The aristocracy wants Ray by any means possible.
　The greatest advantage of being a royalist... many people will use the fact that the king is behind them.

"If the royals come out, don't worry, I'm not going to let anyone use their backing. ... If the royals come out, they might be driven out of the country."

　It showed that they were not willing to forgive, in some cases royal.

"If you do that kind of thing..."
"Well, it's all right, if anything happens, to escape into the Empire of Bestia. ... It's just a matter of whether Elena will come with her, let alone Vihela and Marina."
"So, so, so! Don't be so careless!"

　I guess it's because of impatience. Amonai goes from his usual polite language to a bit of a mess.
　Ray pats him on the shoulder.

"It's a joke, a joke. It's just a joke."

　As he laughs and tells Ray, he's relieved, but... he laughs at Ray's eyes, who says he's joking, but finds a faint but serious light behind them and chills down his spine.
　If... the royals were to force Ray to have his own way, Ray wouldn't hesitate to attack his opponents.
　and that if he could no longer be in the kingdom of Mileana, he would go to the Empire of Bestia.
　For the Westian Empire, it is unlikely that Ray would turn down if he were to come to his country.
　Not many people will know Ray as well as the Empire of Bestia.
　The war was badly damaged by Ray and Sett, which led directly to victory and defeat.
　He demonstrated his ability in the competition, and in the ensuing civil war, he showed his ability even more than in the war.
　Who wouldn't be pleased to have such a military power in their own country?
　However, many say Ray killed his family, friends and girlfriends for his rampage against the Empire of Bestia.
　It's definitely impossible to get along with such people, and there's bound to be some sort of uproar.
　But the emperor of the present-day Vestian Empire believes that power is everything, and that what he wants should be taken away by force.
　In a way, it seems to be the father of Vihela.

"Are you kidding me?"
"Oh, of course."

　As Ray nods to his words, Amonai decides he should tell Dasker.
　For Dusker, Ray is an extremely powerful sword.
　It causes a lot of problems, but it also helps.
　I should never have wanted to let such a person slip by the nose.
　It would protect Ray, in some cases, even in conflict with the royalists.

"Well, now that I've seen the lake, I'll be back soon. I still have a lot of work left."

　Say so, and Amonai heads for the carriage.
　It's true that there's actually work left, and we need to report the lake to Dusker.
　But more than that, he had to talk to Dusker to protect Ray.

"Really? Then don't ask me to report on the lake. I need to do something about it."

　レイの視線の先では、リザードマンの子供達が嬉しそうに笑いながら遊んでいる.
　今はこうして楽しく遊んでいるが、まだこの湖の調査が終わっていない以上、いつ何があるかは分からない.
　そうである以上、セトだけではなく自分も何かがあった時の為に見ている必要があった.

（もっとも……）

　レイは少し離れた場所で、子供達の様子を見守っている何匹か……いや、何人かだったか、とリザードマンに視線を向ける.
　本来なら、モンスターを数える時は一匹、二匹といった数え方が普通だ.
　だが、ゾゾやガガ達はリザードマンはリザードマンでも、この世界のリザードマンとは大きく違う.
　その上でダスカーの客人という立場にいるのだから、それを区別する為にも、数を数える時は匹ではなく人で数えた方が、ゾゾ達は普通のリザードマンと違うと、そう示せる.

（それに文句を言ってくる奴もいたけど、ダスカー様が匹じゃなくて人で数えろって言ってたし、それに文句を言ってくるような奴はその辺で押していけばいいか）

　ゾゾ達を普通のリザードマンとして扱いたい者達にしてみれば、ダスカーのこの対応には不満を覚えるだろう.
　普通のリザードマンであれば、倒しても問題はない.
　だが、ここにいるリザードマンは特別なリザードマンなのだから、そのような対応をする訳にはいかないと示されているのだから.

（後は、ダスカー様がリザードマンについて周囲に知らせるといった真似をすれば、ゾゾ達に手を出すような真似は出来なくなるんだけど）

　そう思いつつ、レイの視線は湖に向けられる.
　ゾゾ達についてしっかりとした公表をするにも、この湖の件がどうしても影響してくる.
　もしこの湖が転移してくるようなことがなければ、もう少し早く動けたのだろうが.
　あるいは、この湖が転移してくる前にリザードマンについて公表していれば、湖の件で余計に大きな騒動になっていた可能性もあるのだから、結果オーライといったところか.

「●●、●●●」

　何人かのリザードマンが、湖で遊んでいる子供達に声を掛けながら、自分もまた湖に近づいていく.
　それを見たアモナイは、レイに小さく頭を下げると馬車に向かう.
　この湖の件を知らせるつもりなのだろうと判断し、レイは小さく手を振ってそんなアモナイを見送る.

「グルルゥ」

　リザードマンの大人達がやって来た為だろう.
　セトは子供達の相手をそちらに任せ、喉を慣らしつつレイの方に近づいてくる.
　一緒に湖で遊ぼう？　と、そう態度で示すセトだったが、レイにしてみれば一応現在は仕事中だ.
　何かあった時……それこそ、湖から何らかのモンスターが出て来た時、すぐに対応する必要がある.
　生誕の塔の護衛を任されている冒険者達も、湖を羨ましげに眺めてはいるが、実際に湖で遊ぶといった真似はしていない.
　この場所を任されるだけに、冒険者達も相応に責任感を持っているのだろう.
　もしこれが、その辺にいる適当な冒険者を雇ったのであれば、生誕の塔の護衛という仕事は放っておいて湖に突撃していたんだろう.
　……レイも含め、湖に興味津々の者は多かったが.
　遊ぼうと誘ってくるセトに、レイは悪いなとそっと頭を撫でてやるのだった.