The lord's mansion is located in the center of the new city, while a part of the mansion is used as the office of the Solistair Trading Company.
　This mansion was a long way from the old city, and it was relatively close to the villa where the former lord Creston lived.
　The villa was about a ten-minute walk from Xellos' house, and if you think about it, it would be faster to take a carriage from the villa and head for the lord's mansion from there.
　The problem is that even though the old town is a long way off, the time difference between the old town and the new town is not much, and if you consider the time required to go through the forest path from the villa to the old man's house, the time difference between the old town and the new town is not much.
　The only difference is whether you enter the crowded new town earlier or later, and if you avoid passers-by and carriages parked on the street, you will lose time by that amount.

　If you go from the villa to the lord's mansion, you will lose time because you have to drive at a slow speed through streets with horse-drawn carriages and turn many times at street corners with many intersections. If you go from the old town, you'll have to take the straight and narrow route, which is the same for both routes.
　This time, since Dantis was at the lord's mansion, he chose the relatively paved route through the old town, considering the carriage that would pick him up.

　The old man was looking out the window of the carriage at the view of the city, but to be honest, he felt uncomfortable.
　Even though the interior was elegant, it was a carriage used by noblemen.
　It is a carriage used by a nobleman, and it is full of a sense of luxury, which is a difficult environment for a small-town man.

　From the window of the carriage used by the nobleman, the old man found a familiar figure.
　This is the sight of Lena, one of the female mercenaries in the party, coming out of the inn, but for some reason, her face was glowing, and the five young mercenaries who came out later, who looked like boys, were pitifully pale.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's not always easy.

I'm not sure what you're doing here.　No, I know what it is, but why are you so shiny?　
　And what happened to the boys, they're exhausted!　You're human, aren't you?　You're not a vampire or a succubus, are you?

　The only time the old man saw Rena was when he asked her to take down the Wild Cocco, and when he took his eyes off her, she disappeared before he knew it, and he hasn't seen her for several days. She wasn't even at the church, which was also an orphanage.
　She waved to the aging boys and parted ways with them in front of the inn. Her steps are very light.
　She seems to have "eaten" the boys. The boy mercenaries collapsed after a few steps, indicating that they were weak in the waist.
　It looks like he did something terrible to them.

"Let's pretend we didn't see ・・・・・・.
"What?

　Dandyce reacts to a casual murmur.

　It was a morning when I realized how meaningless my common sense was in this world where polygamy and polyandry are accepted.
　The fact that the boys were mercenaries meant that they were already recognized as adults, probably 14 or 15 years old. They are old enough to be the target of ravenous beasts, and once they step out as mercenaries, they are entirely responsible for themselves.
　It was a harsh world in which one had to take responsibility for one's actions once one entered society, and even if one had relations with a nasty prostitute or a person with perverted tastes, it was all one's own fault.
　In this world, laws for the protection of minors are vague and underdeveloped.

　The old man offered his condolences to the boys. 　
　The carriage arrived at the lord's mansion, feeling unhappy.

　It is a beautiful building with little ornamentation, but with a sense of character. It was the second time I had been here, but I could not help but breathe a sigh of admiration.

It's always a beautiful building, isn't it? It's a work of art. ......
The building is a symbol of the city, so we put a lot of effort into its appearance and interior. Everyone who comes here praises the beauty of the building.

　The old man knows that buildings built with the best of architectural technology are considered important cultural assets after a long time. This lord's mansion had enough beauty to deserve it.
　However, considering the fact that it was the dwarves of Hanba Civil Engineering who renovated this lord's house, and that they were dancing around while they were working on it, he couldn't praise it honestly.

　Let's imagine. Imagine a group of workers restoring a historical cultural heritage site, moonwalking, doing backflips, twisting, and dancing like in some musical: .......
　Normally, I'd be concerned, "Can we trust these people? But their work is flawless. But their work is so perfect that it's frightening.
　The old man was too experienced to make a comment.

　The old man was led by Dandyce through the doorway.
　As is the case with carriages, coming to a nobleman's house like this makes you feel uncomfortable.

　Inside the house, servants and employees of the Solstair Trading Company were busily coming and going.
　The area where the staff and the duchesses live seems to be separated, and although it looks like a nobleman's mansion, it reminds me of a scene from some company.

　--Bang!

　Suddenly there was a loud bang, and I turned around to see a man opening the door from another room with great force, moving his head busily to look around as if he was looking for someone.
　He was acting suspiciously, as if he was addicted to some kind of bad drug.

"Annie, where's Annie?
What's with all the noise?　I'm working!
I like you. I love you. I love you so much!　I love you so much, I want you to marry me!
What?　What's with the random ......?

　A man's sudden confession is very upsetting to a woman.
　The woman was not upset by his confession, but was simply upset because she was worried about what people would think.

I love everything about you. I love you to your ...... a**h*le!
I love you to your a**h*le!

　The woman's fist was instantly twisted to amplify its power and hit the man's chin cleanly. It was a painful blow that could have targeted the world.
　The man flew high in the air and fell headfirst in a gekiga style, "Gwashaaaaa! and falls headfirst into the air in a gekiga style.
　Seeing the man, the woman smirks and says, "......".
　It's a lousy marriage proposal in many ways.

"Corkscrew Upper ......
That's a great shot. She's upped her game again. It was perfect.
Is it always like this at ......?
No. Today he just happened to have the love syndrome. That was a great confession.


"Love Syndrome!　What is that? !

　Love syndrome. It's also known as estrus.
　This is a phenomenon in which two people of the opposite s*x suddenly start confessing their love for each other in a screaming state and pledge their love to each other.
　This is a joke of a phenomenon in which the opposite s*xes are attracted to each other and their emotions run rampant, drowning themselves in lust wherever they can, due to the characteristics of magical power affecting the mind and instincts.

　People with relatively high magical power are affected by this phenomenon, and one day they suddenly and loudly confess their love to each other or propose to each other in a spectacular manner, but it is not always successful.
　In love, there is always a partner, and no matter how much you confess to that person on instinct, it does not mean that you are compatible with them.
　No matter how much your instincts, amplified by magic power, desire the other person, if the person you confess to is not willing, you are completely rejected, and if you are accepted, it means that you are compatible with each other.
　On the other hand, if they are accepted, it means that they are very compatible with each other. If they are successful, they can build a happy family, but if they are rejected, it is a troublesome phenomenon that leads to the worst possible outcome.
　Such a scene is often seen on the streets, and it happens all year round, but it is especially common in early summer and early autumn.

　As a living creature, it is instinctive to seek for a strong factor for the next generation, but this instinct is combined with magical power and induces a runaway phenomenon by modifying the mind. As a result, if things go well, the family is guaranteed to be happy for the rest of its life, and in some cases, there will be many polygamy and polyandry families.
　Well, if it doesn't work out, we already have an example: .......

　However, for some reason, no major problems occur within the family, and monogamous families tend to cause more problems than polygamous families.
　This is because the more families there are, the easier it is for wives and husbands to discuss family problems with each other.

　Not all large families are amicable, but they tend to be less prone to family breakdown.
　Incidentally, there are many farmers with large families, and they do not have to worry about the shortage of labor.
　In addition, large families tend to be relatively poor in terms of family income, and can pay less in terms of taxes.
　However, there are always advantages and disadvantages, as in any society.

　Zveit's outburst was also largely due to this phenomenon, as his brainwashing magic was incorporated in a strange direction, and he went out of control and acted in a disgusting manner.
　However, the old man was horrified by this phenomenon in a different way.

What a terrible phenomenon. ....... I don't know what I would say if I went out of control. I'll die socially.
"It's funny to watch, but it's scary to think of myself making a screaming confession like that.

　Despite being scared, Dandyce remains unfazed.
　If this phenomenon is a common practice that is recognized as a normal part of everyday life in the world, it means that I am a heretic for being astonished. The old man, who has learned that there is a troublesome providence, is once again afraid of this world.

"Oh, ......, Woh Hong. It's a shame to be rejected by ...... pfft!
I'm sorry.　f*cking -------!
He's ...... disgusting.
I didn't know he was such a pervert!　I didn't know he was such a pervert! He's got a nice face, but ......
People will be saying to me for the rest of my life that I'm the guy who loves a**h*les. ...... Hahahahahahaha!
I'm sure they'll keep saying that even after they die.　Guffaw!　Hahahahahahahahaha!
You can't propose to someone like that, no matter how much you want to. ....... Poor guy. ......

　If you make a bad screaming proposal and it fails, you'll be the laughing stock of the world for the rest of your life.
　If you fail, you will be laughed at for the rest of your life.
　The scene was so pitiful and tragic, even though she was carried away by the heat.

"He's ...... going to be dying alone on a street corner tomorrow, isn't he?
It's not too late to smile. You can smile while you can, because your turn may come soon.
Scary ....... What a frightening natural phenomenon. Tomorrow is mine. ......

　The love syndrome is a bad disease that can lead to a happy family if it goes well, but if it fails, it can leave an indelible scar on your heart for the rest of your life. Love sickness is a common name for it.
　When he thinks that he too has the possibility of making such a screaming proposal, the old man can't help trembling. The black history that I had in my early years is not so bad.
　The physiological phenomenon of nature sometimes blows away reason and turns vicious in a different way. .......

　The old man, tormented by the anxiety that stretched across his back, headed for the office of the Duke of Delsacis.

　I'm not sure what to say.

"Sir, I've brought Lord Xellos.
"Thank you, come in.

　When he entered the office, Duke Delsacis, who was currently at work, was struggling with a stack of papers.
　It's just a matter of looking through the piles of documents and stamping them, but he's doing it at an unusually fast pace and seems to understand the content of the documents at the same time, so he separates the problematic documents and piles them up.
　Fortunately, his two wives were not there.

"It's been a while. Duke Delsacis, what can I do for you today?
"Well, I have a request for you, Lord Xellos. It's a bit of a tricky matter, and I decided it would be best if he was as skilled as possible, but as far as I know, he's the only one I can think of who is.
A request. ....... Something smells fishy.
You are correct. In the near future, the Istor Academy of Magic will be heading to the Rahmah Forest for actual combat training, and to put it bluntly, I would like you to be Zveit's bodyguard.
Let's hear the details. I'm not sure what to make of this.


"Well, it's a bit of a long story, but let me tell you more about .......

　It all started when Zveit returned to the academy.
　The faction to which he belonged, the Weasler faction, which researched national defense tactics using magic, had broken out in a war of division.
　The two main factions are the military research faction, which pursues the ideals of the faction together with Zveit, and the pure-blooded magic aristocracy faction led by Samtroll, who is obsessed with power and has been collecting money behind the scenes to intimidate those around him.

　Tsveit defeated Samtrall's power orientation and poor tactical theory, which led to a split within the faction and a serious confrontation because the other side seemed to be using brainwashing magic.
　The problem is that the opponent, Sumptroll, the second son of the Marquess of Weasler, has a bad behavior and has shown himself to be in direct opposition to the idea of defending the nation with magic tactics advocated by his family.

　He has become obsessed with the desire for power, to the extent that he has begun to intimidate various factions with the shield of widespread annihilation magic, which has yet to be researched, and has even begun to connect with underworld organizations. He was not expected by his family, the Weaslers, and his outbursts were apparently too much for them to bear.
　There were those who denounced him outright, but he used his family's authority to silence them and began to harass them in other ways, becoming a nuisance to the academy.

　The same is true within the same faction. He is the representative of the school faction because of his bloodline, but his position is now in danger of dying out.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.　That ...... cold guy is your parents' house.
It's a thumbtroll. ....... The Weaslers have given us permission to punish him as we see fit. I've heard that the Weasler's got permission to punish you as they see fit.
"Ah~ ......, so things got out of hand when they started bothering your parents?
It's a little late for that. He's a fool who thinks he's superior to everyone else. He is a fool who thinks he is superior to others, and when denied even a little, he resents it and plays tricks behind the scenes. No one will be bothered if you destroy him.
So your parents have abandoned you. ....... So you're an unlovable fool.

　The Weasler family has strong ties to the Knights, and is one of the most prominent families in the country when it comes to military defense.
　The problem is that some members of the family have become pedigreed and have formed cliques with others of their ilk and have run amok. In the end, they became involved in criminal activities through their connections with underworld organizations.
　The Weaslers are a relatively decent family, and are not well regarded by the bloodline nobles.
　The Weaslers are a meritocratic family, and if they are incompetent, they will mercilessly cut down any member of the family.
　Even so, Samuthror had not abandoned him until now because his mother was from a powerful family that could not be ignored.

　However, the situation began to take a sudden turn.
　The reason for this was the rapid expansion of the authority of the Solistare faction, and the man in front of him, Delsacis, was leading the charge. He has been crushing those who stand in his way, both behind the scenes and in the public eye, and has been welcoming those who are capable with appropriate treatment.
　In addition, his own hobby business was quite profitable, and he had more money than the other factions. As a result, the problematic factions have become cash-strapped, and now there is no end to the number of mages in the city who have left the faction and switched to this side.

　In the event you're a mage, you're going to need to spend a lot of money on research, but Delsacis has begun to run an efficient organization by separating the magic research department from the department that dispatches mages.
　Mages who could not even conduct research unless they belonged to a faction were now given a relatively free place to conduct research and use magic, and traitors began to appear from each faction.
　The snobs in the name of the Weasler faction began to have difficulty raising the funds to run the faction, and were unable to keep the large number of mages together. They are being rolled around in Delsasis' hands.

　As mages are human beings, they must earn money to live. However, even if they stay in the current Weasler faction, their lives will still be difficult. The St. Germain faction, which is the same faction, earns its own money through research and the production of magic potions, and all the mages in that faction are research workers.
　The Weasler faction, which had forcibly taken funds by force, now had no funds for its activities and could not afford to take care of its mages. Furthermore, since Zveit has started to reform the faction, only the Bloodlineists are left to oppose.
　Since the Bloodlineists are all nobles, they can only rely on their family's authority and cannot make money on their own. It was only a matter of time before they fell.

I'm sure you'll understand. I'm not sure what to make of this. And then they force you to pay for something you don't have, and send in an assassin from a criminal organization you know well. ......
"Idiots are difficult to deal with. They should be quiet, but once they get a taste of power, they'll stick to it. And it seems that the organization he's working with is Hydra.
I'm not sure what to make of that.　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.　It seems that even if you destroy it, another head will grow back. ......
"Yeah, they're a nasty bunch. I've had to deal with them since I was young and I've gotten rid of at least ten of them. But the organization still won't go away. Most of the rival organizations and their people have been taken in by us. ...... Gosh!　Forget about that.
When I was young, ...... what do you do on a regular basis?　It's not what a lord would do!

　I don't know what this lord is doing behind the scenes either.
　When the old man asked him a question, he just brushed it off by saying, "Life needs stimulation.
　Perhaps he is enjoying confronting the organization behind the scenes.

"But you've made a sudden request. Is there something wrong?
"The other day, a black marketer in conflict with the Hydra was eliminated. The room was locked, and from the small amount of magic power that was left, it is believed that he used the [Shadow Dive].

Shadow Dive is a skill used by assassins and mages who can use dark magic, allowing them to move into the shadows.
　It's not necessarily a spell that can be used anywhere, however, as it cannot penetrate magical barriers or wards. In addition, hiding in the shadows required the use of magic power as needed, making it a spell that consumed a lot of magic power.

　In the event you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at a few of the best ways to do this.

It was possible to enter the academy from anywhere. The nobles always have magic tools to deploy magical barriers. It would be too risky to break in and assassinate them.
"So you're using ...... as an excuse for a school event. I'm not sure what to do.
I'm not sure what to make of that. In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.
It's a good thing you're joining as a mercenary, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be guarding Mr. Zveit, does it?
I'll have to ask you to do something about that. I can't tell you what the academy will do. If you want, you can use the help of other people you trust, and we'll fund it as a formal request.



　The old man was honestly puzzled.
　If he joined as a mercenary, there was a good chance he would be separated from his guards. If that's the case, we'll have to think of another way.
I think I'll make a magic tool to warn them of an emergency. ....... And I'll take those three birds with me. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　The old man began to think of a number of possible moves and construct a plan to stop the assassination.

I think he'll take care of it.
The one being targeted is my student, you know. I'm sure you can't say no to that. ......
Take care of Zveit for me.
I've made some useful equipment for you. I'll do what I can, but I don't know if I can stop it completely.
That's fine. I'll do what I can, but I don't know if I can stop it completely. - That's fine. ...... Are you here to start a war?　I think your equipment is overkill.
That's what everyone says. Unfortunately, I don't have any formal attire on me. This was relatively decent.

　The old man's gear was a bit out of place.
　He may look like a mage, but his equipment is so evil that it can take on a whole country.
　If he were to meet with the lord with such equipment, it would be as if he had come to declare war.
　Xelloss was seriously thinking about getting a new suit.

I see. ....... Okay, I want you to use that gear when you escort me. If they know you're skilled, they won't be able to move as fast. It will be a good check.
...... Can I hide my face?　I don't want to stand out.
...... Isn't this a little late for that?　Well, I'll leave that to Lord Xelloss.
When does the field training begin?
In two weeks. If possible, I'd like you to leave for the academy a few days early. It'll be quicker by boat.
All right. Then let's go back now and start preparations. Fortunately, we have mercenaries who are not busy.

　Thus, the old man started to prepare for the escort request.
　It's a bit of a hassle, but he didn't want to leave Zveit behind.

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.　Are they sending agents to blend in with the general public?
The less you know about ......, the better off you'll be. Only those who are prepared to set foot in the underworld.

　He didn't seem to want to answer, but his words revealed that he had his own agents and that they were working in the dark.
　This was the moment when he realized that the Duke of Delsacis was a dangerous man who should never be made an enemy of.
　At the same time, it is certain that there is no one more reliable than an ally. .......
　There are many mysteries about a successful man.

　At any rate, the old man met his student again.
　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, you can call us at the web site.

I'm sure you've heard of it.

　As a side note, the old man bought soy sauce, miso, and vinegar at the Solstair Trading Company.
　He said that it tasted like tamari soy sauce and went well with cockerel eggs.
　Now he only needed to make sake and mirin, but he did not know how to make mirin.

　I'll be back in a bit.　

　The time goes back a little.

　The woman went into the back alley and entered a deserted bar at the end of the alley.
　The bar is filled with men who look like they don't have a proper job and are drinking.
　When the men saw the woman, they smiled lowly, but were stopped by the master who was pouring drinks at the counter. The moment she says something, the men pale and just watch her back. 　

　The woman goes to the back of the bar and pulls a lever hidden next to a shelf of liquor.
　The sound of something being released echoes through the room, and the shelf in front of her slowly begins to move forward. The liquor cabinet was a hidden door.
　Go down the stairs that appear behind the shelf and head for the underground passage, and all you have to do is walk straight ahead.
　The city that used to be above ground has been reclaimed over time, and a new city has been built on top of it, turning this place into a stronghold for those who live in the underworld.

　As she walked along the path illuminated by the magic stone lamp, she saw a ruin that had been used as a merchant's mansion in the old days, and was now used as a room for her employer.
　The woman opened the door without hesitation and found several men there.
　No, they seemed to be too young to be men, and from their pale appearance, she judged that they were rich men.

　The woman took one look at the youths and walked over to the man in the suit across the table from her and leaned on his back.
　The man is wearing a suit, but he prefers a shade of purple that is not in good taste, and he wears several rings with unusually large jewels on his hands and a gold necklace around his neck.
　He looks like an underworld don, not a real person at all.

"Oh?　Darling, you've been dealing with a customer?　You look awfully young. ......


"You're back. ....... So, how did it go?
It was a piece of cake. What did Darling's men do to deserve that kind of time and effort?
That's good. Now we've lost one of our annoyances. Now that we've lost one of our eyesores, we'll be able to monopolize the business for a while.
"Mmmm ...... nice. There's going to be a lot of money coming in.

　The man puts his hand on the woman and lovingly strokes her bare skin.
　The youths, annoyed by the conversation of the two flirting in front of them, slam the table with a powerful "Dang! They slap the table vigorously.
　Rather than being short-tempered, they can't stand the fact that they are being ignored.

I'm in the middle of a business meeting. Are you going to take the job?　How about it?
"Kid, if you want the job, you're gonna have to learn how to be an adult. We'll take care of anyone you want as long as you pay us.　Who are you gonna kill?
This guy. He's the one that's gonna put a crimp in our relationship. ....... I want to get rid of him while I can.

　There's a picture on the table.
　It's a photograph, but it's more like an elaborate drawing of a figure captured on paper with a magic tool. But for the person behind the scenes, that one photo was enough.

"Hmmm ......, you're pretty good looking. Did your first love steal you from your side?　Boy.
Who's a boy?　You'll just have to kill him like he told you!
Watch your mouth, kid. We don't have to take the job, okay?　I hear your faction's been on the skids lately. You've lost all your funding.
"Ugh. ......
You're the only ones in trouble, we're none of your business. Don't forget that we're only dealing with kids like you as a favor to the agency that took care of us.

　The man is much better than you, he already knows the identity and internal situation of the people here, and he can make you understand who is in control with just a little information.
　The youths have to accept the request, and they have no choice but to remain silent.
　At this point, we have already found out who is the better player.

But he's the son of the Lion of Silence. You've targeted a troublesome opponent.
Oh, is this kid that famous?
My father. He's destroyed most of our organization. He's really trying to destroy the Weaslerites. ....... He's a tough nut to crack, you know?
"What?　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　I'm not sure what to say.
　I'm not going to go into the details of what I'm going to do, but I'm going to give you an idea of what I'm going to do.
　Not only were his many attempts to kill the man turned against him, but he also took most of the organization's resources. He knew that his target's parents were very dangerous men. He was given the nickname "The Lion of Silence" by the underworld because he could not be detected by his opponents.
　Eventually, the two names leaked out to the public, and he came to be known as the Lion of Silence, the Lord of Silence, and the Strongest Scarecrow.
　As for the last name, it is said that he was given this name by jealous bastards because women would come on to him just by drinking in silence.

To be honest, I was surprised when he became the head of the duke's family. ....... He may look cool, but he's worse than us.
"That's a very nice story. It's so titillating.
He's a scary guy. If he's on the move, the Weaslers are dead in the water. All we can do is tell them to give up.

　The youths were speechless.
　If we kill his son, his parents will try to destroy us.
　And with a monster that had crushed a major power in the underworld as their opponent, they felt they were too much for them. At worst, he was a dangerous presence who could destroy not only their faction but also their family.

"Oh well. I'll take your request, since you'll be the target anyway.
No, no, ...... we're ......
You think you can get away with this now?　You think you can get away now? They already know about you when you come here. He's not only good at using people, he's a man who'll move on his own if he has to. ...... And that's the most dangerous thing of all.

　The youth know despair. They had stepped into a place from which there was no turning back.
　In order for them to survive, they must eliminate all of their opponents or they will not be able to sleep peacefully. They know now that they have unknowingly jumped into danger and made enemies of the most dangerous people in the world.
　They could be called children, but they were far from immature.

"Well, maybe we can get even with him by taking out this target. These boys will take all the blame, and it won't hurt us.
"Oh?　So you're taking this job?


"Oh, ......, Sharanra, can you do one more job?　I hear they've got you all set up.
I don't blame you. If that's what you want, darling, I'll do it. But you'll have to buy me some things when you're done.
Oh, I'll buy anything you want. You're a lucky man.

　The die is cast.
　The young man, Sumptroll, couldn't stop shaking as he realized that the result of just trying to get rid of an annoyance was that there was a bigger fish to fry than he expected.
　If it was just one target, Zveit, there would have been no problem, but his parent, the Duke of Delsacis, was even more dangerous than his son. No, he was a monster that even Zveit could not match.
　He is a monster that even Zveit can't match. He is insane to challenge a backroom gang and almost destroy them all by himself.
　And if they were still alive, it was no exaggeration to say that they were monsters.
　They finally realized how foolish they had been.

　But there is no escape now.
　The consequences of their unthinking actions would be the same whether the assassination was successful or not.

　The Samutrolls now regret that they have opened the door to hell.