Minori and the others were heading for the hills in the center of the Zantorif peninsula.

　There are no steep mountainous terrain on this peninsula. Instead, the entire peninsula is hilly and dense. There are water sources here and there on the hillsides, ranging in size from a pond to a small pond, and the fresh water from these sources flows into the Great Zantorieff River or directly into the sea.

　In the old world, the Elder Tail is only a few dozen kilometers from Tokyo, but in the alternate world of the Elder Tail, this place felt like a natural kingdom.

　In fact, by the time I got here, I had seen many small wild birds such as cormorants, titmice and kingfishers that I would have seen in the original world. We also saw deer. This kind of wildlife can now be seen all over the NSBA.

　The trees are also very fertile. We didn't see any mysterious old trees like the ones in Akiba, but we were astonished to see thousands of cedars reaching for the heavens, so thick that Minori and Touya couldn't hold them in their arms even if they were alone.

　Both Minori and Touya were born and raised in Tokyo.

　They had never felt the overwhelming power of nature like this before.
　Minori was just overwhelmed, but Touya opened his mouth and said, "Wow! He kept repeating the words "I'm not sure how many times.

(What a small vocabulary, even for my brother. I'm a little embarrassed as an older sister...)

　On the other hand, I am smiling at my brother, who is able to express his genuine surprise and joy.

　After a long walk up and down the hillside, we arrived at a clearing where a grove of trees had been carved out. As I kicked my toes on the rotten, leaf-covered ground, the cobblestones peeked out at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a huge torii gate, completely faded by the long snowstorm, slanting at an angle.

　It seemed to be the former grounds of a shrine.

　The fourteen men who had come with me dismounted from their horses and gathered in the center of the clearing. We left the school building before dawn and arrived at the site just before noon.
　They took a few breaks along the way, but Minori hadn't thought that traveling through the mountainous terrain would consume so much time.

　Standing in the middle of the new players were Naotsugu and Nyanta, and Rezalic, a man from the Black Sword Order who was sent by the Cleric.
　Then Nyanta points to a large rock door in sight of all of them.

That's the Shrine of Raglanda. It's a very large zone inside...." "That's the Shrine of Raglanda," he said. Roughly speaking, if you take the first T-junction to the right, you'll find an easier area. If you go left, you'll arrive at a slightly chewy area.
　The new players looked at the rocky door and gulped down their gulps and swallowed raw.

　In truth, they didn't need Nyanta to point them out to them, but from the moment they entered this small square, all of their gazes were glued to the entrance to the underground, a hut-like hut made of boulders.

　A shimenawa, albeit a tattered one, was wrapped around the snake-like ivy-covered crag, but there was no hint of holiness. However, there is not a hint of the divine. The only thing that exists is a rotten, poisonous air that can only be described as hindrance.

''Ah. There are some small magical beasts that come out inside, but most of them are undead.
　Naotsugu comments for attention.

--An immortal monster (undead).
　This is a general term for phenomena and moving monsters caused by the energy of "spirit bodies" that were unable to die for various reasons or remain in this world due to curses or evil reasons.
　Skeletons (skeletons) and walking corpses (zombies) are typical examples, but there are also disembodied monsters such as weeping ghosts (banshees) that are half-united with spirits.

This is a training camp for training your abilities. "This is a training camp for training your abilities," he said, "and it includes assessing your limits. Always think about the way back, make your own decisions and come back to the entrance.
Yeah, that's right. Save your life.
　Nyanta and Naotsugu give their verbal attention to each other.

'Me, Naotsugu, and Nyanta-san are here to prepare for the camp while waiting for your return. We will enter the dungeon every day while camping in this square. You don't have to attack all of them in one day. You will recover your health when you return to camp, so don't worry about that.
　Rezalik, the priest who was sent by the Black Sword Knights to heal, was a stern-looking man, but even so, he was said to be well taken care of. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make me feel better.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. Naotsugu-san isn't coming?
　Touya exclaimed. In response, Naotsugu nodded with a smirk.

That's right. This is the 'rookie player's training' this time, you know?　This is no training for a veteran. You're the vanguard, so you know that, don't you?　If I'm the wall, it's not going to be good practice for Touya.
　It's true, but Minori is also a bit flummoxed.

　It's not that he doesn't trust Touya by any means. I've heard that Touya is an excellent wallflower (for a rookie level, that is). What Minori is worried about is rather her own resilience.
　The key to Touya's endurance will not be able to fully demonstrate his endurance if there is not enough recovery magic he can receive.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. I'm sure that's why they entrusted me with the job because they believe I can do it, and it's my responsibility to live up to their expectations.

　I'm sure the newcomers look anxious, but I'm sure they share the same feelings. They nodded to each other.

　The next step was to divide them into groups.

　Since the dungeon was divided into left and right sides, the eleven newcomers would be divided into two groups, one at the top and one at the bottom in terms of ability. Naturally, Minori and Touya were in the lower group. According to the list read out by the person from the Treatment Priest, the nervous-looking rookies were divided into two parties.

　The lower level - that is, Minori's group was to be formed by five people.

　The maximum number of people in a group formation is six, so this is a state of deficiency in terms of strength. However, due to the level of the group, it was unavoidable.

　The cornerstone of the vanguard, the role of attracting and stalling the enemy's attacks, was played by Touya. He's Minori's twin brother and "samurai" (samurai). His level is 29.

　The middle guard is Isuzu. The tall girl is the Bard. She's been a friend of Minori's since the days of Hamelin, and is now a member of the Crescent Moon League. She's a bright girl with freckled cheeks, but she carries a two-handed spear, which is unusual for the Bard. She is three years older than Minori and her friends, so in reality she is a high school girl. Her level is 24.

　There are three rear guards.
　The first one is a young sorcerer. His name is said to be Rundelhaus-Code. He wears a rather flamboyant robe, and his speech and behavior are noticeable. He is not a member of the guild. He's probably a solo player. He's level 23.

　Next is a forest spellcaster (druid) named Celara. She took care of me the day I escaped from Hamelin. It's a good thing that you're able to get to know her better, because she's at the same level as you, and Minori was able to become friends with her right away.
　She's about the same age as Isuzu, since she's a high school student. It seems that Serara has a crush on Nyanta, and she's been riding next to him for the entire trip. Level 25.

　And Minori herself is a "Shingi Officer" (Kanagi). He's the weakest of the party, a recovering official at level 21. Shiroe has taught him that "movement in battle has nothing to do with level," but he can't help but feel uncomfortable.
　The only saving grace is the presence of Serara, the Forest Curse Master, in the same party. I'm sure that if you're with Celara, you'll be able to make it through the recovery process, which Minori alone lacks.

(I wonder if Squad Leader Nyanta understood that and put her there.

Okay, I'll have a strategy session in 15 minutes.
　That kitten is "Hajime! The guidance ended with a voice and a clap of hands.

　Minori and the others gathered in a lumpy line, unsure of what to expect.
　If you look up, you can see that the top parties, which are at least five levels higher than Minori and her friends, are forming a circle at a distance.

''Well, what do we have to meet about?''
　Touya opens his mouth as soon as they gather.

''Even if you tell me all of a sudden...''
　Isuzu looked around at the people around her with her eyebrows in a C shape as if she was troubled.

''Hmmm. I mean, that's it. Gentlemen. Why don't you get into it?
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for," said Rundelhaus confidently, holding a crooked staff in both hands. It's not a bad idea to have a good time with your friends.

"Well.........
'Right!　You're right!　You're about to go into battle. It's a dungeon!　Dungeons!　Spirits are important!
　As if to interrupt Minori as she spoke, Touya grabbed both of Rundelhaus' hands and swung them around.

'That's right!　You know what to do!　Spunk is important, elegant grace is important, but the essence of a man is spunk and fervor!
　Rundelhaus seems to have felt better with Touya's backing. For some reason, they hit it off.

(Maybe it means we should discuss the vigilance formation (patrol file) or battle formation (formation)...)

I see. Let's keep it up!　I heard we're going to be training in this dungeon for a week, and we're friends!
　Isuzu smiles, her freckled face crinkling into a smile.

(It's not the kind of atmosphere I can talk about...)

　When I glanced to the side, Serara also looked a bit troubled. I couldn't help it, so I smiled at her and she smiled back. That's enough to make Minori feel a little relieved.

　It seems that while Minori and the others were having such an exchange, the upper party quickly entered the 'Raglander's Company'. Minori noticed this when Nyanta said, "I'm going to do my best! And it was because of the loud voice.

　Minori, unselfishly, clenched her fists.

　It's been two months since I escaped from Hameln. It's not that Minori hadn't done anything either. In fact, she couldn't get used to the sub-vocation of seamstress that was forced upon her at the Hameln, so she left that training behind and let Shiroe and the others train her together with Touya.

　Her level, which was only 12, had risen to 21 thanks to that. However, Shiroe and the others often preached the evils of accelerated growth, and the pace of their practice seemed to be relatively slow.
　Most importantly, Shiroe and the other high-level guild members were always watching over them during the battles.

　However, this time, even though they were building a rescue camp outside the dungeon, we still had to explore the dungeon and complete the battle on our own. It was no wonder the tension was building up.

　I don't think I'm afraid of losing.
　I'm not afraid of losing, I'm afraid of imitating myself.
　The thought of possibly wasting Shiroe and the others' tutelage made him feel weak and fluffy, as if his knees had turned into a sponge.

'What's the matter, nyah?　Minori-chan.
　I look up in surprise when he suddenly calls out to me. There's the calm face of Nyanta, squinting as usual. Minori shakes her head and says, "It's nothing!" at the persuasive look on his face. Naotsugu replies.

　Naotsugu smiles at that and says, "You're a worrier, aren't you, Minori?

You know what? If you're in trouble, step forward. It's not your legs, it's your heart. It's a promise festival with me, you know?
　Naotsugu pats Minori on the head and walks away to address the others.

　Minori looks off behind him.
　Naotsugu and Nyanta go around giving encouragement and handing out advice to each member of Minori's party. Serara is so impressed that she just hugs him. Rundelhaus returns to tell them to leave it to the hawks. Touya promises a souvenir. Isuzu bows her head in thanks.

Isuzu says, "Well, the distance between us and the advance team should be open by now. Then, go for it!　Come on!

　Thus began Minori and her friends' first dungeon challenge.




　◆



　One night after the ball, Shiroe and the others were having breakfast the next day on the large terrace.

　The balcony terrace where Shiroe and the rest of the delegation gathered was decorated with a variety of plants that shone brightly in the summer light that filtered in through the crystal canopy.
　The terrace is about the size of a small greenhouse, with three tables set out on it. It was a surprisingly luxurious space.

　The menu was orthodox: freshly baked bread and sunny-side eggs, cheese and ham, jam and honey, and butter. Salads and assorted fruits. Several drinks. Each beautifully decorated in its own way.

　As for Shiroe, breakfast would have been fine as an "egg on rice" or something like that, but this hotel-style breakfast was breakfast and very satisfying. It's a good thing that it's a good breakfast, but if you ask Michitaka from the producer's guild, he'd say, "Hmmm, it's only so-so.

　In the past two months, the level of cooking techniques and cuisine in Akiba has been improving for a long time. I don't know what kind of ingenuity they're using, but Shiroe was astonished the other day by the appearance of a restaurant that served "beef bowl".
　More and more "typical" processed seasonings such as soy sauce and miso are being released. According to the story, it will take years to make them taste better due to the fermentation and aging process, but the taste was so pleasing to the palate that it brought tears to my eyes when I got used to the horrible food.


'Mmm. I want you to get the jam. My lord.
　While munching on a small piece of bread, Akatsuki asks Shiroe to do the same. Her idea of "ninja loyalty" is not the same as the one generally referred to as "loyalty", and other than calling you "lord", it's a very frank relationship.

"Your skin will be rough if you don't eat your salad, Akatsuki.
　Henrietta seems to want to leave Akatsuki like that, but Akatsuki's hips are subtly escaping on the chair.

''Eeeee, it's morning, hey!''
　As Michitaka would say, the sky is unusually blue this morning.
　There was no breeze on this glass-blocked terrace, but it was cooler due to the waterways here and there, and summer was not so much about the heat as it was about the dazzling light that just glistened.

'Yes,'
　Krusty, the Mad Titan, is calmly sipping a cup of milk tea. The rest of the attendants were also having breakfast of their own accord. To tell the truth, when we arrived at the terrace here, the three tables were farther apart and there was a clear difference in the ranks of the breakfast at each table.
　Perhaps that is the difference between the "nobility and their families" and the "squires" of aristocratic society.

　But the group who don't care about such things have brought the tables closer together and are eating what they want, passing the whole basket of bread around without dividing it. If it's not too much, they can get the preserves out of their luggage, and in fact it's the morning (because it's morning?) Some of the attendants were drinking a special green, thirsty drink.

''But it's very luxurious. Of course I thought you would give us accommodations, but I didn't expect you to go this far...
　Henrietta breaks off the words.

　Last night, after the ball was over, the accommodations we were shown to after the ball was over were in an area where the word "corner" was more appropriate than the word "facility" or "room".
　The southeast corner of this floor of the castle has 20 rooms, as well as a small conference room, this terrace, a private bathroom, a playground, a common room and even several reception rooms.

But this is..... Yeah.
What's going on?　Lord Shiroe.
　Michitaka asks, "Mr. Michitaka.

Mr. Michitaka asks, "Mr. Michitaka. Is there a chef in your group?
There's plenty of them.
I'll need reinforcements, a cook, a waiter, and some food. No more than three, no more than six, and they must be very good at it.
Indeed.
　Krusty nodded at Shiroe's words.

'What do you mean?　I mean, it's not like the food is poisoned, right?
　Shiroe responds to Michitaka's dubious words.

''No, probably because this size is intentional.
　.........It is assumed that your guests will come. I thought the duration of the conference was long, around ten days, but it makes a lot of sense.
　Probably a big conference is a big meeting, and it will be held there, but there will be a lot of individual meetings or requests for pleasantries before that. A tea party, so to speak.

'Probably so. To tell the truth, I received many invitations to a tea party during yesterday's ball.
That's what I thought.
"I've been suitably vague in my replies.
　Krusty concludes his words with a supremely cool expression. But under the circumstances, the invitations to the tea party will not stop in the future, and in some cases they may even come in rather forcefully. I must prepare for this, Shiroe thought.

'What's going on with the meeting today?
Hey, Mr. President.
　Michitaka calls out to the attendant he brought with him from his own guild. Michitaka instructs the young man, called Kahlu, to go find out what's planned for today's meeting. He reminds him not to forget to gather information as well.

　As Kahayu leaves cheerfully, Shiroe, Michitaka and Krusty go back to tea. The three of them are sitting at the same table. It's safe to say that the others are also at a table within easy reach if you call out to them, and they are sharing a topic of conversation.

''Well it looks like things are more complicated than I thought.
　Both Krusty and Shiroe nodded at Michitaka's words.

　The Free City Alliance Eastar has 24 noblemen. If the Roundtable joins them, the number is 25. Their domains are scattered throughout the eastern part of Japan. Each nobleman controls his or her own fiefdom - often just one fortified city, the surrounding farmland, and a few villages.

　The capital of Maiama, for example, ruled by the Duke of Sergiad, is the largest of them all. Even then, the number of inhabitants would be roughly 30,000.
　Of the three daughters who made their debut at yesterday's ball, the other two were the daughter of the Marquis of Leicester of Ou and the granddaughter of Sugana, the lord of the free city of Iwafune, but the population of both cities is around 10,000. Both have a medium-sized power among the nobility.

　This should give you an idea of just how big a force the city of Akiba, with a total population of 20,000, including 15,000 Adventurers, is. If one were to talk about population size alone, the city would be one of the five Free Cities of the Alliance of Eastar, not to mention the fighting ability of the Adventurers.

　Also, in this world, even in the eastern part of the country, there are countless extremely small villages that are not under the protection of any one nobleman or territory.
　These independent villages are not rebelling against the rule of their lords, as they are not displeased with the rule of their lords. They would rather be protected as fiefdoms if they can in this monster-ridden world, but it seems that the important thing is that the fiefdoms are not able to dispatch their troops due to the distance from the central city.

　The role of a lord is to protect the safety of his people and territory. In other words, they receive taxes in exchange for their safety.
　Of course, crimes do occur within the territory, and you may be attacked by monsters. However, such an unforeseen event and 'not being able to prepare enough military equipment to protect them in the first place' are two completely different things.

　If a village is only a day's ride away from the lord's castle, he may be able to give them protection, but for other villages, a resident army would be needed to protect them. In this world, travel and movement takes time. In fact, it is impossible to have a small number of troops traveling at high speed to protect a large area.

　Conversely, there are many "peasants" in this world who are still alive but not under the control of the aristocracy. As long as they could obtain enough troops cheaply, the lords could still "increase their tax revenue".

(Well, it was worth it to come to gather information just to find out roughly such a situation, though.

　It was there that the nobles turned to the Adventurers.
　This is why, since the days when the Elder Tail was a game, there have been an enormous number of quests to protect villages and travelers, and to destroy monsters.

　Even if they were mercenary-like, they would pay a lump sum of money to ask for missions that the regulars could not perform. They even go a step further and outsource the work of the regulars to them. That way, the regulars can fight in yet another region or on another battlefield.
　In fact, independent settlements without the protection of their lordship have often turned to the Adventurers for help when they are attacked by demons and sub-humans.

　After the catastrophe, many players, including Shiroe and the others, spend all their time figuring out the situation, surviving and retraining. Naturally, the demand for adventurers in these independent frontier villages should be increasing. I'm sure the lords know that in Akiba and many other places, adventurers are revolutionizing technology.

It seems they want to get us in on the action. It's understandable.
　Michitaka said on behalf of himself as he added some honey to his hot tea.

Now I understand what you said, Shiroe. --The 'relationship' with the Daichijin. This was definitely something that needed to be taken care of. If the city of Akiba had been disrupted by such a situation, we would have had no idea what kind of a cut-throat operation we would have had.
It's too early to let your guard down. It's not unlikely that they'll be able to cut us down now.
　Shiroe replied in a subdued voice.
　His insight, though somewhat delusional, does allow him to imagine some of the bad stories.

The story of the cut-down can wait. We'll have to figure out what we're up against and what our basic strategy is for the time being. Without that, we won't get started.

''Well.... What do you think, Shiroe-kun?
　Following Michitaka and Krusty's talk, Shiroe spoke out, choosing her words as she spoke about the situation she had been sorting out since last night.

''I think the aristocrats' aims are already becoming somewhat clear. At first, they came to gauge how much ambition they have for us, the city of Akiba and the . Also, for lack of a better word, they must have come to observe how 'barbaric' it was.
　But I think it's safe to say that that was dispelled to some extent at last night's ball. I've heard that you have the wisdom to turn and the common sense to the extent that you can at least talk to him, he said.
　If that happens, the next aim is to take in.
　As a matter of course, they'll give Krusty-san or the rank of nobility. To them, it's not much of a disadvantage. If they have a cat, they should put a bell around its neck.
　Up to that point, I think it's safe to say that the nobles' intentions are unified. Of course, there will be many noblemen who have a sense of envy and rebellion.
　But that will be put off as a matter of decision, and the individual uptake will begin at that earlier stage.

　As Shiroe speaks that far, the crystal door at the entrance of the terrace opens and a young man named Kahlu from the Oceanic Organization returns. He received Michitaka's nod, as if he had successfully obtained the information, and reported to him.

''Officially, we're expecting to hear from you shortly after noon, but today's lord's meeting has been cancelled.
　Krusty nods, "Hmm," he says. As Michitaka urges him to go ahead, Kahle continues.

''From what I've heard from the servants of this castle--the servants are in charge of this castle all year round--it seems that the lord's meeting is like this every year. It opens with a ball, and every day there are repeated luncheons, teas, evenings and dinners. That's why they bring plenty of squires for that.
　We seem to be quite small in numbers and baggage. So we have extra room. So, in the days before the last day looms, a meeting of the lords will be held, and the matters that have been rooted out will be spoken about, and it will quickly end with a majority in favor.

　Shiroe nodded.
　If you think about it, even though there were 24 participants, there was still a lot of difference in their abilities and the size of their territories. It's much smarter to talk about factional maneuvering around individual meetings and individual transactions than to repeat the lord's meetings and say "yes" or "no" to each other. This is nothing to be ashamed of, as the Japanese call it, "making things up as they go along.

Therefore, the flow of the next few days is pretty clear.
　Of course, Akiba's city has a high fighting capacity. If you fight them one-on-one, any lord will know that it's you who will perish. Therefore, it will be a cautious contact, but even so, in the current world, if you have the Round Table on your side, you will be able to obtain a large return.
　As Krusty and Michitaka mentioned earlier, there will be more individual meetings and invitations. There will be a lot of talk about attracting or hiring Akiva's city's strength, financial resources, inventions, items, and personnel, and that's exactly what will happen. For the time being, we have to work our way through these negotiations.

'So that's the basic policy.... Hmm.
　Michitaka frowned. This is a very difficult problem to solve.

''The Roundtable doesn't mind kicking the whole thing to the curb. I'm not going to accept anything and everything.
　But whether it's a fighting guild or a production guild, there are probably guilds that want to take advantage of such a request. It's a guild that will do it. It's also possible for a guild to take on a job on its own. If you try to keep an eye on the details, it's impossible.
　For example, purchasing something from Akiba's marketplace and then selling it in another city is not something that should be banned.
　It's the same for combat-related requests. If you ask for 5,000 mercenaries, you can say it's impossible, or you can say no, but if you want to hire a few adventurers, that's the end of the line if there are players who will take it on even if it's banned.

That's probably true.
　Krusty nodded.

　The city of Akiva is finally getting a new system in place. After two months of learning, most of the adventurers are beginning to get used to the combat in this other world. A back-up system of food and other supplies is in place.
　The next wave of adventurers will be exploring the world. Talk of investigating the Fairy Circle will also begin to take shape. When that happens, even the individual guilds will have more opportunities for quests and requests. That freedom should be guaranteed.

''As for logistics, if it occurs on too large a scale, we may have to think about tariffs and such, but.... I'm not sure what to think about that. Henrietta-san?

I'm not an economist, so I can't say for sure. I'm not a specialist in economics, so I can't say that for sure. --I'm not a specialist in economics, so I can't be that sure.
　But the only thing that comes to mind at the moment is that Akiba is not a town of primary industry. It's not a city that produces a lot of agricultural or marine products. If logistics is going to bring any kind of trouble, it will be in the form of processed exports. If all you do is import, you won't have any trouble. In fact, if you stop importing, there will be trouble.
　As for exports, considering the transportation capacity of this other world, what we need to be careful about is "a small but significant impact". Also, the biggest problem would be the outflow of people who have the technology.
　Henrietta comments as she repositions her glasses.

　Shiroe thinks about her words for a moment before continuing.

''That's right, this too, for the time being........ Well, it should be dealt with as an agenda item for the after this meeting is over. However, I don't think we can just leave it at that, without talking to the lords about it.
　Therefore, the Roundtable is ready to set up a contact point for the dispatch of forces, technology, and exports as soon as possible. If you make a formal request to that contact point, we will consider it and give you a response.
　Naturally, after this meeting is over, that contact point will need to be created. If the work is less than a certain amount of routine work, you can create a system to take care of it in an administrative manner. For example, if there is a request for "exterminating 100 goblins in the mountains", then a workflow that assigns the work to an appropriate combat guild under the control of that contact person is possible. If it's a request to order 200 sets of tableware, that window can handle it.
　If a project comes in that cannot be handled by a small or medium-sized guild, we can call a round table meeting to discuss it.
　Shiroe was thinking of an idea like organizing the former quest system via a window.

''It's not an unreasonable idea,''
I think that's reasonable. I think it's reasonable for all three of us to proceed on our own until that point. I'll give you a telegram to that point.
　Michitaka and Krusty nodded.

''However, I don't think the aristocrats will be satisfied with that much. If the entire Roundtable won't move, even if the request is only for the Maritime Organization and D.D.D., they will somehow try to negotiate a secret pact during the time of this Lords Conference. How to deal with that..... I can only say that we have to be flexible. I just don't want to be taken advantage of.
　Shiroe runs out of words there.

　Shiroe can't formulate any specific measures on the matter. He can suggest guidelines, but not tactics, because this is a decision to be made in the field.

''I suppose that's our domain,''
　Krusty nodded hawkishly. His composure and reassurance are indeed the head of a large guild. You can see his natural charisma oozing out of him.

It's a good idea to get information out of them so that they don't make unwise contracts.
Yeah, I think that's the way to go.
　Henrietta agreed with Michitaka's words.

　Afterwards, with the accompanying staff, questions and answers to several possible situations were also considered. We can expect bribes and backroom deals. The breakfast meeting of Shiroe and the others came to an end after confirming that they would be exchanging information as closely as possible.


　◆


　Raynesia's mood continued to be low.

　Flying low was a metaphorical expression; it actually meant rock bottom.

　The one thing that differentiates her from the so-called rock bottom is that she is the granddaughter of the Duke of Sergiad, the largest aristocrat in the East.

　In other words, neither her position nor her duties allow her to personally withdraw to her room or any other place to feel depressed.

　The word "depressed" conjures up images of a depressed atmosphere in which one cannot move, but she has a personal maidservant who follows her around perfectly, making her change her clothes every morning and attend various events whether she wants to or not.
　In that sense, rather than fixing your position and falling into a "rock bottom", it's more of a "low flight" where you move low, but inwardly I think it's closer to "being dragged around".

(Hmmm...)

　She sighs.
　This is one of the many hanging gardens in the 'Old Court of Eternal Ice'. She forces her handmaidens to leave her alone. The current time is early afternoon.
　...There should be no daytime tea party today, but there will be a dinner party after dark. My grandfather, the Duke of Sergiad, along with my father Fennel, my mother Saraliya, and others, and several noblemen must be received and thanked. It wasn't a particularly difficult or labor-intensive thing to do, but it was quite a daunting task.

　She weakens and languidly rests her forehead on the table of the Shi'a.

　It wasn't that there was anything particularly painful about it.
　She is innately of this temperament. She is timid, shy, dwells on trivial things, is pessimistic and apathetic. She thinks of herself as such.

　She's the kind of person who, if left alone, would feel at home counting stains on the walls in a corner of the room. My roots are dark, or rather, there is a devastating lack of light. I'm not saying this, but I don't think she's a woman I'd want to associate with, humanly speaking.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. She is a beautiful girl with an overall slender impression. She has dark blue-gray eyes that look mysterious and melancholy. The volume of her breasts and other parts of her body is modest, but that is within the realm of my taste, and I don't think any man would deny her beauty.

(Ahh~)

　Nevertheless, the sight of her prostrating herself at the table in Shi'ar is that of a pretty bad person. Even if it's her, people around her praise her beauty, and she's aware that it's a lot.
　But 50% of that is because of her grandfather, Sergiac

　She depresses the table in a self-deprecating mood while thinking like that. I'm sure I'm a very complicated and troublesome person for thinking about this kind of thing day in and day out, but I can't help it because I can't quit.


It's really a good thing that the army has a commander like you. Their strength is exactly the same as that of the Knights of the East.
"-No, our forces are not that strong. Especially in terms of our immediate response system, we still have a lot of work to do at the moment.
　The sounds of approaching footsteps and talking were like those of the nobles.
　The voice of the middle-aged man on one side was impatient. The other was young, but with a calm strength.

　As soon as she heard the voice, Reinesia straightened her back in Shi'ar.
　As the daughter of the Corwin family, she can't show weakness in this court full of intrigue. Reinesia was an apathetic girl who sulked at the world, but that didn't mean she couldn't defend her family's honor.

'You should come to my estate once. Oh, how do you like it?　I have a home brew. The sun is about to set, so let's have a drink.
Hmm. The alcohol..... I'm sorry.
　A few figures appear on the orderly route around the corner of a rose planting with a kaleidoscope.

　To the left of the two in the lead is Marquis Kiriva, the lord of the city of Tukuba. He is reputed to be a hard-working man who runs the city of Tukuba, where the power of the Academic Guild is strong. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to find a way to get to the bottom of it.

　In the meantime, a young knight was walking next to the Marquis Kiriva. No, he looked like a knight.

　His hair was cut short and he looked intelligent in his glasses, but his body was stocky and large, and he carried himself seamlessly, as is typical of those who live on the battlefield. Although he only walked slowly, the overwhelming presence that emanated from his surroundings was the very air of a young general.

(That person..... I saw him yesterday)

　Memories of Reinesia flicker.
　It must have been one of the 'adventurers' my father taught me. I couldn't greet him in person, but I remember my grandfather talking to me at length. According to my father, for better or worse, he was going to be the eye of the storm for the Free Cities Alliance.

　There was a considerable distance between the group passing by and Reinesia.
　Reinesia was a little relieved that to the other side, she would look like "some princess enjoying tea at the Shiar at the edge of the garden". As long as she kept up the conversation, she wouldn't seem to get involved in any troublesome conversations.

　However, perhaps coincidentally, at exactly the right moment, she met the young knight-like man's gaze. Reinesia reflexively bailed. It's a smile that the young knights in the castle say is a beautiful smile like a flower struck by rain. This expression is very popular, and it's useful to Reinesia for a variety of purposes.

　Then the young knight paused for a moment and smiled. ........it looked like. The expression was now difficult to recognize due to the glasses that shone from the reflection of the light.

To tell you the truth, I have an appointment. I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm sorry.
What is the promise? Hey, this is Princess Reinesia.
　The man was coming more and more towards the square where Reinesia was. To be honest, Reinesia was troubled. Or rather, it was drawn out.

　I think that the Marquis of Kiriva believed the knight's words of promise in his hesitant gait. For a while, he compared the knight and Princess Reinesia, "Don't be a wild man, wild man. Well then, Mister Krusty. I'm sure you'll be able to get to know each other better later on.

　The knight known as Krusty turns to the marquis Kiriva at the entrance of the arena and gives him a polite bow. When the figure left his sight, he walked into the arena where Reinesia was frozen in confusion.

(Wow. You're tall, aren't you.......

　He would be over 190 centimeters tall. Knights with good physique can be seen in castles, but this young knight, despite his physique, had no wildness, and his rational profile was even graceful.

''Ah, um. I'm Maihama, the daughter of the Cowen family, my name is Reynesia. What is that, promise........?
Oh. My name is Krusty. I'm an adventurer.
　The knight said this, and sat down in a position that separated him from Reinesia.
　The square has several long marble chairs with leather and feather cushions on them. A similar marble table was of a lower height, an ornate one for elegant tea.

'Promises are a convenience, sir. I apologize if I've caused you any inconvenience, but...'
　Krusty says in a tone of voice that doesn't feel a bit bad.

(That's......... Does that mean you used it as a dupe?　(I don't think he's a bad person by any means...)

　Reinesia can't grasp Krusty's true intentions. But if her father's words are correct, then this young knight is the eye of the storm in the Free Cities Alliance. I can't afford to disrespect her. Like the daughter of a noble family, she waited for Krusty's words in a submissive manner.

"Now, you must be thinking, 'I'm tired.'
What?
　You'll be able to see that you're not the only one.

"On the contrary, as soon as our eyes first met, you thought, 'This is going to be a problem,' didn't you?"
Huh!
　Krusty smiled at Reinesia, this time in a frozen state. His was an intelligent and gentle smile, but to Reinesia, the smile appeared devilish.

''Do, do........''
Why?　Is it? --Just a hunch. Well, I have a sister back home. I know because she has the same attitude.
　Krusty muttered like that. He didn't even look mean, he just stated the facts, as nonchalantly as the results of his research.

(......This person was a bad person!

'No, it's not. Hmmmph.
　Raynesia smiled in her special ladylike manner, but her movements were as awkward as a well-oiled machine.

'It's not like I'm trying to eat you for another, so don't be nervous.
'You say that..... The
''I've been chased around by the lords since this morning. If you are old lord Sergiad's grandson, I'm sure you would be more than willing to give him some space. Could you talk to him for a while, please?
It's...

　To be honest, I don't like it.
　It's troublesome and somewhat scary.
　This calm young man, who seems to be able to see not only into his own hands, but also into his own inner heart, gives Reinesia the feeling that she was not able to get a head start in the first place.
　If she wasn't even the daughter of a nobleman, she would be tempted to apologize abruptly. I'm sorry, I'll be careful from now on, so please forgive me" - I don't know what to be careful about, but I'm tempted to say something like that.

(But I haven't felt like that since the time I was reprimanded by an angry grandfather...)

You must have felt like you were in the wrong place.
Huh.
　It read me again.

　Isn't this "adventurer" a "brain-eater"?　Reinesia snorted. I want to cry about how she has so much insight. But Krusty, on the other hand, is a very gentlemanly man, and he's even smiling.

"I don't mind it,
Yes, I'll have that tea...

Let's have it.
　Krusty nodded. Reinesia thought as she took out the tea cups that were always available at the Shi'ar. It can't be helped.
　It's not that I don't like this knight, it's that I don't like this knight, it's all about meeting other people. And even if you run away from this young "adventurer," it doesn't change the fact that you'll have to talk to another person in the evening.
　Rather than being sent on blind dates with the sons of other lords, it was better to languish in the arena than to be sent on blind dates with the sons of other lords.

　This "adventurer" seems to have unusually good instincts, so if that's the case, you don't have to act like an outgoing lady. I'm sure you'll be able to find out.
　With that in mind, Reinesia made tea for two and plopped down on the marble table with a crunch. Reinesia is shameless enough to do this kind of thing without a care in the world, having quit wearing the cat's head.

(Hmph.......be afraid.)

　The duchess of the duke's house flattens her forehead against the marble and enjoys its cool temperature. There are lords and ladies in the room, and they ignore her completely, without conversation. What kind of luxury do you have?　No, no. I can assure you that there is no such thing. Long live the loneliness. Long live the neglect. Let the horse eat it," she said, "and don't make eye contact with others.
　A minute or two passed, however, and Krusty seemed to be enjoying his tea in silence.

　I can hear the sound of birds.
　Is that chirping sound perched on a tree in the courtyard? Or are they there to wash their feathers at the watering hole?

(And yet, you're not a caring person...)

　If you are a normal knight. It's not a bad idea to have a lady of strange age prostrate herself on the ground. It's not a bad idea to have a good time with your friends. In some cases, it's a doctor or a curser.

　It's a good thing that you're not the only one.

I'm the hottest person in the court at the moment. If you tell them you've been drinking tea with them, you'll have an excuse to skip the events and tea parties. I'm sure your parents will be happy to oblige.
　Krusty's words stopped Reinesia's thoughts for a moment.

　Her cheeks turn bright red as the implications seep in. She's really glad she's lying face down on the marble table, she thinks. She hadn't shown this kind of distraught appearance to her parents in the last few years.
　The embarrassment, the lack of reassurance, and the somehow sweet sense of security made her knees go weak.

　The words Krusty said were the very reason why she had joined him for tea.

'I'm talking to myself, so don't worry about it.
　Unable to reply, Reinesia had no choice but to keep her cherry-red expression down on the table.