The sky was already red by the time I completed the magic training, let alone the development of magic.
　To be precise, it is more appropriate to say that the red sky was almost blackened out.
　After all, it was becoming night while Ray was out of the village.
　How long has Ray been concentrating on training?
　It would be enough to understand it.

"Are you mad, by any chance?"

　Ray mutters as he heads toward the village.
　For some reason, he left Vyhela and Seto alone for hours.
　So it's not strange that Vihera and Seto are angry.
　However, Vihera was training with Centaur... more specifically, he was playing a mock battle, so if he concentrated on that, he might not be wondering if Ray would come back.

"Oh, but it must have been noisy when I was doing magic training, and you might have noticed I was doing something? ... I still can't use it."

　Ray's newly developed magic, called the Flame Spirits, was a very useful magic that allowed the user to fly freely in the sky.
　But... it's impossible for Ray, who specializes in flame magic, to use the magic of moving freely through the air with flame rings around his wrists and ankles.
　As a result, it was a magic that could be used only by Ray in this world, such as continuing to consume the enormous magical power of Ray and forcibly activating magic.
　In addition, the difficulty of manipulating magic is high, and although I have continued practicing until now, I have not been able to use death-size or twilight spears while using magic.

"How long has it been since I couldn't get my way like this? Is the two-pronged stream the last one? I have never had as much trouble as this magic."

　Death size and twilight spears
　Fighting with scythe and spear in both hands is a very bewildering way of fighting, as it is the first time for many people to see it.
　Moreover, the chances of surviving against Ray are very low, and the experience of fighting against the two-pronged school cannot be taught to others... It's like a kind of first sight.
　In any case, as for the two-pronged stream, Ray had been using a death-size or twilight spear, so he was used to both weapons.
　It was a little awkward because of that, but I was able to use it to some extent from the beginning.
　But... as for the Flame Spirits, it is very difficult to control them because there is no way to get used to them to some extent in advance.
　Ray wanted to be able to fight with death-size and twilight spears in the future.
　However, considering the current situation, it was quite difficult to say exactly when it would be.

"Ray!"

　When you enter the village, you are suddenly approached.
　When I turned my eyes to the voice, I saw a figure of Zai there.
　If you look happy somehow, it's probably something happened.
　Judging so, Ray talks to Zai.

"What's wrong? I think something happened."
"Oh, actually, we decided to send a reconnaissance team to find the headquarters of Dragonius."
"Well... I hope you'll like it..."

　Ray can't honestly please Zai's words.
　Ray also knows that the top priority is to find the home of Dragonius.
　However, finding a home ground had gone wrong before.
　To be exact, you may not say it's a failure because you've found the enemy's location, but in fact it's only one base, not the home base... and almost all the scouts that have found it are killed by Dragonians.
　If you become a reconnaissance party against Dragonius, you can't say that it's the best... but there's no doubt that elite people have been dispatched.
　Nevertheless, with this result, there is no doubt that the risk is very high.
　However, despite Ray's appearance, Zai nods with a serious expression and opens his mouth.

"You should be happy."

　Is that really all right?
　It wasn't that I didn't think so, but Ray nods, hoping that Zai will say so.

"Okay. ... but can we afford to go on a reconnaissance mission in this village?"
"I think Ray and Vihera's training is getting a little stronger than before. But... you can't get stronger as soon as you train."
"I guess so."

　After Ray and Vyhela trained Centaur for weeks, months... years and hours, Centaur's ability will naturally improve.
　Or there was a good chance that he could beat Dragonius alone.
　But... now that I've just started training, I'm not going to get that strong.

"That's why I'm going to talk to other villages as well as this one."
"No, but... is that why you listen?"

　In the first place, a village that still does not join the settlement of Zai has a large reason for either having some problems or clinging to its vested interests.
　Even if such a settlement tried to find the headquarters of Dragonius, it was unlikely that it would be willing to acceptance
　However, contrary to Ray's appearance, Zai opens his mouth as if he doesn't feel any particular problem.

"I think I can manage it. If you want to join this village, you may oppose it, but if you want to find the headquarters of Dragonius, you may send one or two, and those who have not joined this village will want information about Dragonius."
"...if you say so, is that so?"

　Even in a village that has not joined this village for some reason, we do not believe that we can beat Dragonius by ourselves.
　So it was only natural to try to gather information about Dragonius.

(However, it seems that selfish people will ask us not to participate in the reconnaissance party but just to send information from our village.) ...what would you do in that case?)

　Ray wanted to hear such a thing, but as far as Zai is concerned, it seemed useless to say anything.
　Anyway, it's not a bad story for Ray to have a scout.
　Going to many places means you have a good chance of finding the missing Anastasia and Phana in this world.

(Then, should I participate in it by any chance? No, but if that happens, the military strength to protect the village will disappear when Dragonius attacks.) Vyhela... If I say I'm going, she'll probably say she'll come with me. No, even if I don't go, will I go by myself?)

　For Vyhela, who is enjoying the battle against Dragonius, it is better to search for Dragonius himself than to wait for the enemy to attack in this village.
　If you were looking for a home ground for Dragonius, there was no option not to participate.
　But Ray doesn't really want to admit it.
　Because if... really should I find the headquarters of Dragonius, I feel like Vihera is going to rush in.
　It can't be normal.
　However, it is Vihera who does such an impossible thing.
　If that's the case, Ray wouldn't want Vihera to join the scouts...

(It must be difficult)

　Don't hesitate to say so.

"By the way, what about Vihera?"
"I told you... it didn't work? He was quite happy."
"I guess so. But as Zai may have realized, Vihera prefers to fight. That's the right word for combat madness."

　Zai looks satisfied with Ray's words.
　If you repeat a mock battle with Vyhela, you will naturally be able to understand the situation around you don't want to.

"So, if possible, Vihera would have liked to be part of the expedition... would it be difficult?"
"Perhaps,"

　Zai remembers the situation of Vihera and immediately replies so.
　For Zai, it would be totally unthinkable to stop the viola.
　Zai's eyes are directed at Ray, saying, "If you're going to stop Vyhela..."
　Ray understands what Zai wants to say, but he shakes his head.

"As long as I'm going, it's impossible to leave only Vyhela here."
"What? Are you going, Ray?"
"What?"Ray was honestly willing to go scouting.
　Go to a place you've never been to in this grassland.
　The chances of finding Anastasia and Phana are very high.
　And above all, the reason why Ray decided that he should go on his own...

"Without me, the scouts will have a lot of luggage. I don't know how many people they expect to go in, but the more luggage they have, the slower they will inevitably move. That's when Dragonius finds them, or they'll be late."
"That's..."

　Maybe Ray's words were to the point, but Zai can't say anything about them.
　In fact, when I went with Ray to destroy Dragonius' base, I realized that the presence or absence of luggage makes a big difference in travel speed.
　Above all, reconnaissance teams are naturally searching for the enemy's home ground, so there is a high possibility of encountering Dragonius.
　Therefore, if a powerful person like Ray accompanies them, they will be able to prevent the same incident before the scouting party was destroyed with one person left behind.
　Both Ray and the Centaurs benefit.

"So it's okay for me to participate? I don't have to worry too much about the night watch because of Seto, and I can fly in the sky and scout with Seto."

　It's not clear whether it should be described as reconnaissance, but that word is also very helpful for Zai.
　I absolutely hate to fly, but the information I get when Ray and Set fly is enormous.
　With that in mind, Ray's accompanying the scouts would obviously be a tremendous help.
　However, the next problem would be that if Ray were to accompany the scouts, Zai would have to join them.
　The two-legged Ray and Vyhela are undoubtedly unlikely to be amicable to Centaurs, who have gathered from other settlements.
　In that case, someone needs to act as a bridge, but as long as elite members gather from other communities, those who act as a bridge also need to be reasonably strong.
　In this village, two people, Zai and Dorat, have that much power.
　And Dorat can't flatter say he's building a friendly relationship with Ray.
　So, in order not to cause any unnecessary problems, Zai had to go with me.
　...More than anything, both Ray and Vihera are very belligerent from the point of view of Zai.
　If the opponent is belligerent, it will definitely cause a lot of trouble.

(Can't you help it?)

　It is also true that there are only a few happy moments in Zai while thinking so.
　I know I can do my best in the village.
　That's why I thought I had to stay in case Dragonius attacked me, but as long as Ray goes, I have to go.

"But then... it's about how to protect the community. Let's ask Dorat to stay..."

　Since Ray, Vihera, Seto, and Zai are no longer present in this village, it was necessary to have them to remain at least.
　If Ray's relationship was not good, he would have said that he would remain if he were told that he didn't have to act with Ray.

"Will Zai go, too?"
"As long as Ray and Vihera go, there is no option for me not to go."
"Is that the case?"

　Ray convinces me that if Zai says so, it's probably so.

"It's true that there are a lot of things going on. ... Anyway, I want Ray to talk to Vihera about this case. The answer is fixed."

　Ray also nodded to Zai's words.