"Well, I'll go to bed soon,"

　Then Anastasia leaves the bonfire for her own tent next to Ray's magic tent.
　Some of the adventurers around the bonfire look very disappointed at Anastasia's appearance.
　Anastasia, the intelligent Elf beauty, was naturally invaluable to men.
　...some thought it was another Ray woman at first, but everyone looked satisfied when Dusker introduced me to him and said I was helping him.
　Regardless of his perception, everyone here knows that Ray is considered a dasker's sword.
　That being the case, Ray won't get in the way of wooing Anastasia.
　Of course, it was just a matter of peaceful persuasion, except for the case of violent impersonation or forced advances.
　That is why there was an unseen fierce battle going on around the bonfire, especially among the adventurous men near where Anastasia was.
　Ray doesn't seem to notice any sign of this, but instead leans on a lying set and eats bread with nuts kneaded into it.
　It's a little hard black bread, but it also matches the taste and texture of the nuts kneaded into it.
　...it may be too hard to eat if it's cold, but fortunately it's freshly baked bread in Ray's mistling.
　That's why Ray can fully appreciate the deliciousness.

"Grull...rullllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

　When Ray gives Seto a bite-sized slice of bread, Seto chews the bread well with a kuchibashi, relishes the taste and purr.
　There is no sign of concern about the Anastasia battle going on around.

"Come to think of it, Ray. Do you know what Anastasia likes?"

　Suddenly, one of the adventurers asks Ray that way.
　After all, Ray is the best friend of Anastasia so far.
　That's why Ray must have some information about Anastasia.
　That's what I thought, and I asked...

"Well, yes. You seem curious, so you like the unknown."

　That's by no means wrong, but that's not what adventurers wanted to hear.
　Specifically, it's your favorite food, drink, or flower... that's it.
　But from what Ray looked like, I could see that he probably wouldn't know what it was.

"Well, thank you. I'll refer to you."

　The adventurer who asks Ray makes a mistake by saying so.
　...however, I thought it might be useful to be interested in unknown beings when we woo them.

"Do that. ... Well, I'm getting sleepy, and I'm going to bed soon. I can leave the lookout to you, can I?"
"I don't mind. You can just count on Setto, can you?"

　Seto's sharp senses were a very convenient substitute for keeping watch here.
　That's why it's only natural to want to be close to a powerful set if possible.
　Ray asks Sett just in case, as others look at him in a similar way.

"What do you think, Seto? You want me to help you keep watch again today... Do you want me to help you?"
"Gruly!"

　It's all right. And I'm going to let you know.
　When he caresses Seto on the head, Ray stands up.

"Sett seems to be cooperating, but don't forget to check the surroundings... well, I don't think I need to say that."

　All of the adventurers here have been more adventurous than Ray, and Ray has been involved in a number of uproar, resulting in a rush up the ranks like he is now.
　Compared to Ray, others have steadily taken their time, thus gaining the trust of the Guild and being entrusted with guarding the Tower of Birth.
　Ray has a longer history of adventure than Ray, so whatever he says here, he will preach to Buddha.

"Oh, leave it to me. If anything happens, I'll let Ray know right away."

　Say so, nodding to the adventurer, Ray heads to his magic tent.
　There were signs of something doing in the Anastasia tent next to the magic tent.
　Perhaps you'll find out what you're doing or what you're doing, and you'll go into the magic tent without talking to them.

"Now,"

　Ray usually plays with Seto a little more around the bonfire and chats with other adventurers.
　Or talk to Zozo about something or play mock battles with Gaga.
　Why he came back to the Magic Tent so early in the day... was obvious when he took a pair of oves out of the mystery ring.

"Grim, can you hear me, Grimm.

　I call my name, but Grimm doesn't respond.
　Come to think of it, I think something similar has happened before, but I keep sending messages without a break.
　And about ten minutes later...

'I'm sorry. I was a little tied up, so I was late.'

　A pair of oves show Grimm's skull as usual.

"No, I got in touch with you all of a sudden, too. ... By the way, is it about that whisper that you couldn't get your hands off?"
'Well, I'm trying to interfere, but I can't be so careless of myself as to be so precious. I'm having a hard time about it.'
"Well... I'll tell you, I beg you very carefully. If things go well, that whisper may be a clue to my hometown."
'Oh, Ray's hometown... interesting. When Ray goes, why don't you go with him? You may know something about Zepyle.'
"No... there were no monsters or anything like that in the world I was in, and of course there were no undeads, so if Grimm came to me in that way, it would definitely be a disturbance. ... But if it were a haunted house or a place like that in an amusement park, wouldn't there be Grimm?"
"Well, it's rare that there are no monsters."
"Traditions and fairy tales are quite common."

　Ray is probably familiar with subcultures such as games, novels, anime, and comics.
　It's not unusual for monsters to appear in the fantasy genre.

'Whoahoo. That sounds interesting, too. ... So, Ray. Is the matter I contacted you about the Elf with whom you were with your master?'

　Ray is surprised to hear that so easily.
　Of course, as long as that underground space is connected to Grimm's lab, it's no wonder that Ray and Anastasia went into the underground space.
　But it was surprising that Ray had sensed without feeling anything.
　However, since the other person has lived far longer than himself, I take it for granted and nod.

"Yes. That elf is Anastasia. He seems to be a trustworthy partner to whom Mr. Dusker, the lord of Guilm where I am based, has been taken care of before."
"... Anastasia?"

　Grimm angrily inclines his skull to Ray's words.It's like Grimm is familiar with the name Anastasia.

(Oh? But isn't it that strange? I don't know what Grimm usually does, but he's definitely a researcher. And Anastasia is very interested in unknown beings that she doesn't know. So, wouldn't it be strange if these two met for some reason?)

　It was quite a forceful story, but it was still a reasonable one.

"Did Grimm ever meet Anastasia?"
'No, I don't think so. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Oh, from tomorrow, I'm going to look into that whisper in earnest. I mean, I'm in that cave. Are you all right?"
"If possible, I'd like you to refrain from doing so. It won't be a problem for now."
"It's helpful. Other than that, if you don't want to put something like a magic item around your wish, it's helpful if you don't want to. If you put your hand down badly, that's what Anastasia is going to think about."

　It must have been somewhat unexpected for Grimm to say so.
　Grimm, who has been transferred to a pair of oves, looks a little troubled and opens his mouth.

'That's a bit of a problem. I'm afraid I'll be able to produce some results in a little more time.'
"You say so. If Anastasia finds it when she searches for Whisp, she'll certainly be in trouble?"
"Well,"

　Ray's words make Grimm worry.
　In fact, given the current situation, it's true that it doesn't taste good to be seen in Anastasia.
　Still, Grimm couldn't stop it.

"'It's a waste... very waste, but shall I use it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you don't mind if that elf doesn't find it?'
"What? I don't mind that, but can you do that?"
'Yes, but you need to use some valuable materials.'
"Precious..."

　If others say it's valuable, it can be understood that it's a reasonably valuable material.
　In this case, however, Grimm... said that Grimm, which has existed since Zepyle was alive, was a valuable material.
　I wonder exactly how valuable the material is.
　I was a little scared to hear it, but I still managed to speak.

"Well, how valuable is it?"
'It's a dried fruit of a plant called Dasulnica, which is said to have been wiped out by environmental changes some two hundred years ago. ... It's probably not true, except that it's at 儂.'
"And again..."

　Ray can only marvel at Grimm's words.
　That means Grimm has plants that are essentially extinct.
　Of course, there are quite a few places left untouched in this Elgin.
　It is an undeniable fact that there are many other beings, such as plants and animals, that are supposed to be extinct in such places.
　But it would be in Grimm's best interest to have at least plants that are considered extinct in this situation.

"Is it Dasulnica? Don't you grow that plant?"
'I'm just increasing it, but it's hard to raise.'
"... I see,"

　Ray doesn't know if what Grimm is saying is true or not.
　But as long as there was no way to confirm it, Ray now had no choice but to believe it.
　... to begin with, there's no point in Grimm's deceit of Ray in this matter.

'Anyway, with Dasulnica, you can mislead what you put on the ground. Then there's no problematic?'
"Well, I honestly want you to stop, if possible, but that's impossible, isn't it?"
'Well, and... if things go well, it may be possible to bring that kind of spirit to its senses.'

　The spirit of the wind sealed in the emerald recalled Grimm.
　Ray doubts that the spirit, which for some reason has gone mad, will come to his senses.
　Whisp's ability has shifted from a different world.
　But why would you put an emerald containing the spirit of the mad wind and bring it to its senses?
　Ray couldn't tell the causal relationship.
　As a wizard and researcher, however, Grimm is superior to Ray.
　Ray is overwhelmingly superior to Grimm in pure magic alone, but when it comes to magic skills, Ray is no match for Grimm.
　As a researcher, Ray couldn't magically reach Grimm.

"For the time being, I'll leave it to Grimm. I'll try to move this way, and I'll try to do everything I can, but... you know? I'll ask Anastasia not to find me."

　So said Ray, who enjoyed chatting with Grimm for a while.