It's a big place.
'Oh. Awesome.
　A lovely sound-produced Bugs Light illuminated it, and a steamy, rocky bath emerged in the darkness of the night. They said there was a bath, but it wasn't installed in the inn's room; it came from the back, in a hollow a few minutes' walk down a gravel road.
　Trees blinded us just right, and hot and cold river water cascaded down into the rock bath. It was more of a hot spring bath, apparently made of a mixture of hot water from the source and cold water from the River Riquale.
　The building that looks like a shed is probably a changing room. After a quick look at the rock bath, Serara and Minori and Isuzu entered the small building.
　The same is true of the rock bath, but the changing room is also unmanned.
　The night is early for an ordinary 'Daichijin'. The Nekobites have good eyesight at night, and they can also use phosphorescent stones, just like in the inn's dining room. Most families have lanterns in their homes, too. But in order to use these lanterns, you need fuel and preparation, and they do not easily illuminate a large space. Taking a bath with a lantern is a hassle.
　It's not a good idea to prepare a light for nighttime activities, but it's a good idea to do your business while the sun is still shining and go to bed early.
　The owner of the inn said that the inn was unmanned and that they were on their way to take a bath, which is natural, but he was sure.
　Celara knows she is a petulant little girl who would cringe at the mere mention of such a key word as "private", but the Adventurer has a magic light that allows her to enjoy the rock bath without any inconvenience, even at this hour.

　After undressing briskly and putting her hair up, Isuzu wrapped a towel around her and looked back at the exit of the changing room.
　Serara was impatient, but she couldn't help but falter.
　She was dreading it herself, but even if the only people around her were her friends of the same s*x, it took courage to take off her clothes, Puyo-chan, even if she was the only one around.
　There was no way she was going to attract attention, so that was a blush of self-consciousness.
　Serara hurriedly gathered up her hair at the back of her head with the bath hair clasp as fast as she could, and then slipped into the rock bath, using the bath towel to cover her front. Defense is important.
　There, Minori was smiling at me with narrowed eyes.
'It doesn't seem to be too hot. There's a stone pavement over there, would you like to wash yourself down?
　Her younger friend looked cheerful.
　Smiling and nodding, Serara headed in that direction.
　The 'additive-free shampoo and rinse' and 'prototype creamy soap' that she brought from Akiva are not that high-class products compared to those in the original world, and their performance is probably not that good. But the Daichijin treat them as ultra-high-end products, and they are sufficient for practical use. The three of them used it to wash their hair, using loofah nuts and towels.
　It was at times like this that Celara realized how much she had changed since the catastrophe had ended.
　Even things like washing herself seemed to have improved. The old Celara was clumsy, sluggish, and unorganized. On school trips and the like, she used to take long baths by herself, causing trouble for her team members.
　Whether it was because of the housekeeper or my life in this world that I changed, I don't know.
　Even when I was in my old world, I didn't dislike cleaning, laundry and other menial tasks, and I often took care of them. However, I was never more than humanly possible.
　Becoming a 'housekeeper' in this world and doing housekeeping for a long time has made her more adept at many things, it seems.
　It would be nice if this was due to her own proficiency, rather than a sub-professional game-like bonus, Celara thinks.
　Even now, I'm far from being another dexterity, but I'm still much better than I was. She thinks it's nice to be a young wife, competent and well aware of the housework.

　Minori and I take turns washing each other's backs and running our hair at the same pace.
'We're done over here, Serara.
It's over, too, Minori-chan!
　They looked at each other and smiled, and then pounced on Isuzu, who had a pouting expression on her face, and began washing her hair.

　Isuzu's untied hair is wavy and long enough to reach her waist.
　Minori and Serara have noticed that Isuzu, who says "I don't look like a girl", "I'm not a girly girl", "I'm a spindly skinny guy", "I'm freckled", "I'm just an ordinary high school girl out there", actually cherishes this long hair. It's clear from the fact that she takes time to carefully and carefully wash her hair, even though she swears every time she takes a bath.
'Isuzu-chan's hair, I'll make it fluffy,'
I brought two kinds of combs with me.
Okay, it's a pain in the ass. I can do it myself!
No, no, no, that's part of what housekeepers do.
"An apprentice apprentice does not run away from any task.
Do you have an itch?
Oh, Serara.
You'll get bubbles in your mouth when you talk. Isuzu-san.
Minori, too.
It's an exercise for little Selara's future.
What?
I'm just practicing my new marriage.
'What?'
　Minori's earnest tone of voice made me wonder, is that so?　Really?　How could it be!
　The three of them laughed in the rock bath as if they couldn't hold back, but still, Serara didn't let her hands rest on them. She knows that washing long hair is actually a lot of work, and trying to ruffle Isuzu's hair is an event that Minori and I have been discussing for some time now.
　The opportunity came up here on the trip, and it was great.

　With the lights of the magic lights spinning in the air in a good mood, Serara is slowly soaking shoulder deep in the large rock bath. The warmth of the hot spring water slowly permeates her body, and she feels like she's in heaven. The two men next to her also seemed to be squinting and letting out a breath of happiness.
　The rock bath is large, measuring about five meters square. It was more generous than the cat's leg bathtubs in the luxury lodges of the Daichijin, so deep that if you stretched out your legs in the water, you could touch the tip of your chin to the water. There are even deeper places.
　There are two streams of water flowing into this rock bath, one hot and one cold. Finding the right temperature, Serara and the others sat down in harmony.
''Mmmm, nice hot water!''
　A smiling Isuzu declared.
　Minori is laughing too, and Serara is happy.
　Half the moon and magical lights in the sky. The three of them looked up and giggled for no reason.
　The Adventurer's body was surprisingly strong, and despite the fact that they had traveled a long time, including in the field, they had no muscle aches or pains, nor did they feel noticeably tired. Nevertheless, I was still feeling tense, and I was grateful to be able to stay at an inn where the three of us could take a hot spring bath together.
　To tell the truth, part of me was a little frightened to hear that we were traveling in the wild.
　Minori said that this area is a tourist destination in the original world. I heard that the fish was delicious and that it was famous for its dried fish.
　I'd like to come here with Nyanta-san one of these days - Celara thought vaguely.
'It's so warm.
You're warm.
Hey,
　The three of them had such a conversation, swooning and weakening.
　Even Isuzu, always full of energy, smiled like a cat taking a nap. Serara saw that and puffed her mouth on the oyu to cover her laughter.
　After such a pleasant bath, all humans would be turned into feline animals, I suppose. Even Serara herself felt like taking a nap. Maybe she even had cat ears.
'Serara-san has a cheeky face, too.
So does Minori-chan.
　At any rate, it's warm to the core of my head, so I can't think of anything too complicated. It doesn't help that the conversation is silly. Serara replied in her own defense.
'So, does Celara want to take a bath with Nyanta-san?
　It was Isuzu who shattered such a fluffy mood with a single blow.
　Perhaps it's payback for earlier, she hides a little bit of meanness in her smiling face and pursues Serara.
''It's not like that.''
But is Nyanta-san cool?
Nyanta-san is dandy, good-looking and smart.
　Isuzu hugs Minori's shoulders and has a big smile on her face as Serara talks back. Minori looks at Isuzu and Serara in turn and has a puzzled look on her face, but Isuzu doesn't try to break her high-pitched "Minori is on our team, right?" attitude.
''If you're going to say that, then Isuzu-san is the one who is doing this with Rundelhaus-san?''
Hmm?　Rudy's my walking buddy, okay?
　Serara was dismayed by Isuzu's dismissive reply.
　Normally, Isuzu and Rundelhaus should look a lot more like a couple than Serara and Nyanta, but for some reason Isuzu doesn't seem to notice that either. Her cheeks are stained with the heat, which is separate from the bath, and she is still forced to hide the lower half of her face in the hot water to cover it up.
'Serara-san will make a good wife,'
　Even more so because Minori followed up with a cheerful voice.
''I wonder if Minori will be Shiroe-san's secretary if she says things like that.
''Ugh.... It's not like that, though.
'But you're in love. I'm rooting for you, though.
　Serara was relieved to see the contrary.
　Isuzu is happily fiddling with Minori, but even from Serara's point of view, Minori is an amazing girl. She has changed her sub-job to "Apprentice Apprentice" and now spends her days working at the Eighth Shopping District when she's not hunting.
　He is such a super junior high school student.
　When I get to know my friends, I see that he is both cute and clumsy in many ways, but his sense of responsibility and his skillfulness are something I would like to learn from. But I want to learn from their strong sense of responsibility and skillfulness. Whenever I'm cleaning up or setting up, I think that Minori is the only one who always finishes the work before I do. It's not that he's so quick at every single action. It's not that he is quick in each action, but that he is quick in connecting tasks and preparing for them. Serara can't help but feel that there is a difference in intelligence, or perhaps a difference in cleverness. Minori is amazing.
''If Minori-chan were my secretary, everything would work out.
It's not like that. I'm just trying to do a little bit of good.
Again.
Again.
　Serara laughed as well, riding on Isuzu's ass.
　It's a strange feeling. I never imagined that I could laugh like this when I was in Susukino. It even feels as if years have passed since then.
Then what will you become in the future, Isuzu-san?
"Huh?
　Isuzu, who had been teasing Minori and Serara, looked surprised when the question was directed at her. But the expression was instantaneous, and then she returned to the conversation with a serious, grim face.
''I'm normal. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier, but if you don't, you'll be able to hunt and do quests, run errands for the Round Table, and sing at the Music Fest every week.
Isuzu-chan, are you going to be a singer?
'What?　It's not like that.
　Isuzu half-smiled and waved her hand crisply.
'Nah, it's not like I'm a singer or anything. Isuzu's not a singer or anything like that. I'm just a regular guy. I'm just a guy who occasionally splashes out in restaurants. When people are in a good mood, I'm the background musician, Rudy and I.
　There was nothing dark or depraved in the expression on her face as she stammered on, so Serara thought that she meant it. If you think about it, it's natural to be like that, and being a musician (artist) is not something that everyone aspires to. Isuzu likes music, but I guess she's not interested in that kind of thing.

'The future?'
　A voice from nearby startled the three of them into jumping up and down.
　They hadn't expected to find any bathers other than themselves.
　Roe 2 nodded hawkishly to the three of them in a hurry and glinted at his glasses, which were fogged up by the steam.
'You guys are young, aren't you?'
　For some reason, Serara nodded honestly at the gentle voice. Roe2 was a strange woman, sometimes reacting like a child, but occasionally she would unexpectedly show an all-knowing gentleness as if she were older.
'Roe2-san...'
Of course, as I'm older than you, I have a physical advantage.
　Serara was surprised by Roe 2's statement.
　The one who wasn't surprised was Isuzu. Her mouth was gaping open.
''Eh, uh, well,''
Big tits.
　Isuzu was twitching and upset, and Minori was terribly depressed for some reason, and Serara tried her best to encourage her. They protested to Roe 2, were placated, and for some reason, they talked about love, about Earth, about the city they lived in.
　Time flew away like a gale, but the topic never went away.
　Serara had noticed that she had never once experienced boredom with Minori and Isuzu, but Roe 2 had easily jumped into the circle.
　It was as good a time as Pippi's visit to the Settergren siblings. Of course, good time comes with a price, and the four of them got very fatigued.


　◆


　Voxult.
　The name is well known in the arc of Yamato.
　Originally the name of a mountain range, it became the name of a region, a mountain pass, and a fort.
　There are several roads from East Yamato to West Yamato, but all the ones on the Pacific side must pass through the Boksult fort. It is almost the only trade route except for sea transport, and it is also a strategic location.
　In the Earth world, that place was called Hakone, and of course Touya knew about it. I'm pretty sure we did it in social studies class, and I've also heard that a friend of mine went there on a family trip.
　The strongest impression I had was of a travel program on WebTV.
　There were often such programs playing at dinner time. My mother loved to travel, and the only trips I could take Toya, who was crippled, were to hot springs and sightseeing spots, so I often watched such programs. The only impressions of Hakone that I saw through the monitor were of lakes and hot springs, though.
--It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Nearly half a day had already passed since they entered the mountain road, but Touya and the others were still in amazement. To say they were stunned would be an understatement. It was a real mountain road.
　They might say, "What are you talking about, you idiot?" but that was Touya's untrue impression. The path was only about three meters wide, just barely wide enough for a carriage to pass. There were occasional parts that were reinforced with curbs and stakes, but much of it was red dirt and looked like it would be muddy if it rained.
　Such an unstable path wove along the slope. On the right hand side is an uphill slope leading to the top of the mountain, with dense trees like cedars, and on the left hand side is a downhill slope leading to a valley, with a dizzying view of the drop.
　If it was only scenery, the road, which clings to the mountain surface, was subject to the whims of the terrain, going up and down again, meandering left and right, and sometimes even turning back. The mountains in March were still in the grip of winter, but nature's life force was strong, full of the smell of dark green and rustling.
　In other words, that was enough to shock Touya, Minori, and Serara, who were accustomed to Seldesia after the Catastrophe, but were only city kids in their origins.
　Isuzu was more accustomed to the idea of "nature" than the three of them, but this was on the level of "nature" in the form of a landowner's hill behind a field, a jokingly wide riverbed overgrown with tall weeds, or a mysterious watermelon from an unkempt vegetable garden behind a school building. I'm used to it,'' he said, seemingly dumbfounded by this jokingly uncivilized mountain path.

　In the first place, this world should have been filled with the remains of the Divine Generation.
　In a different world where there are many crumbling places, there is even a Metropolitan Expressway, and one wants to complain about why the pass over Hakone is the only one that has no asphalt.
　It's not even a walkway through a forest with soft, decaying leaves. Huge, wet black boulders, twice as tall as Toya, jut out of nowhere, and the trail is sometimes diverted just to avoid them.
　Only Rundelhaus, the only one with experience, nodded knowingly and said, "So I told you to get into it today on your way out in the morning, didn't I? I'm sure you're not going to be disappointed.
　That being said, even Touya can't help but be fired up.
　The only thing that saved us was the presence of Roe 2, who offered to accompany us, and the "Pale Horse" (Pale Horse) we summoned. This pale, bloodless horse is powerful, and even after being summoned by Loe 2, who has lost his level through the Master Teacher System, it is still going ahead with more traction than the previous two horses, with only one horse.

　On this mountain path that undulated up and down, even riding in the carriage was painful and did not increase in speed, so Rundelhaus and Touya got out of the carriage and walked to lead the way in front of it.
　The women lingered in the covered wagon and sometimes walked from behind.
　A round, white puppy ran up to Touya's feet and entwined itself with a dignified, proud face. It looks just like a white shiba-inu to Touya, but according to Serara, it's a wolf-chan. They are summoned by a special technique called squire summoning magic, which means that they don't disappear unless Celara orders them to. For that reason, aside from sleeping in the inn, they are often able to keep a vigilance on the periphery like this during the journey.

''I can at least send out a warning spirit myself, though.
'No, no, I'll refrain from doing that. Lady Roe 2.
　Rundelhaus turned and nailed Loe2, who was slackly sitting at the governor's table. As a Summoner, Roe 2 is an expert in summoning, and his repertoire is beyond the reach of Serara, who has summoning as a part of her abilities.
　However, Roe 2's "Dead Spirit Bat" (zombie bat), which was shown to me in the morning for a test drive, looks quite grotesque. It was so grotesque that Serara crouched down and got teary-eyed. Also, the plan to patrol with the Deadly Spirit Bat from Roe 2 was dismissed because it was not enough to warrant such a high level of caution. It was also determined that it would take too much mana to maintain because he had already summoned the Faded Horse.
It's cute when you get used to it.
　Roe 2 is a Summoner, specializing in the art of summoning. He is a sorcerer who summons a wide variety of summons to act on his behalf. It is said that because of their extremely broad range of skills, they have become the most popular profession in this world since the Great Disaster. The Undine, which creates water and manipulates cold air, and the Salamander, which creates flames and manipulates heat, are just two examples of these skills.
　Minori reminds us that there are four main types of summoners. The Elementalists, who control water spirits and fire lizards. A beast tamer who works with unicorns and carbuncles. The Archemic summons eccentric, artificial creatures such as slime and golems. Finally, there are the Necromancers, who use skeletons and phantoms to summon strange and artificial creatures.

　There is no clear distinction between these two styles, and the normal summoner creates a style in between: "I've made a contract with a spirit about 70% of the time, but I also make a contract with a phantom at one point. Minori read out her memo, saying that this is the best part of the Summoner's skill and the best part of it.
　Touya surmised that this was mostly Shiroe's take on it.

　Among them, Roe 2 is a genuine 'Necromancer', he said. The only servants and summons he contracts with are death-type monsters, and he has not learned any other types. This is a pure build. Touya had heard from Naotsugu that the Necromancer had fallen out of favor after the Great Disaster. The reason for this is because they look scary and grotesque and are difficult to communicate with.
　Looking at the wolf that Serara summons, it's no wonder, he thinks.
　This white puppy-like monster is brave when it comes to battle, of course, but it's curious and sweet, and it's like a pet. Even Touya could predict that these bushy guys would be more popular if they were to be in regular contact with each other.

'Touya,'
I see you. Brother Rudy.
　There are very few straight lines of sight on this trail with poor visibility.
　Instead, when you go around the protruding mountainside, there are parts where you can see as far as three or four corners of the road ahead.
　I'm sure you'll find two carriages stranded on the mountain road about fifteen minutes away from Touya and the others. There is no atmosphere of being attacked by monsters, so they must be in some kind of trouble. What should I do, Touya thought.
　Just from the atmosphere he saw, that carriage was heading in the same direction, that is, to the west. Under normal circumstances, there would be no problem. However, if that carriage is stopped there, it's a different story. This part of the mountain road isn't wide enough to pass each other, so there's no way to overtake it. If the adventurer has the stamina of an adventurer, he or she might be able to solve the problem recklessly, but the situation is still unclear.
'Looks like we're stuck.
Yes.
What's going on?　What's going on?
　She heard Roe 2's voice from the Gosha seat. She was limp and uncomfortable with the sunlight, and unlike Touya and the others, she must have missed the scene earlier.
'Three or four carriages stopped around a bend three or four doors down, where there seemed to be trouble. There were two of them.
We may not be able to pass each other, Roe2.
Mm. Yeah. I'm the big sister.
　Roe 2 thumped his chest pointlessly, but he didn't seem to have a particularly good idea.
'Whatever it is, let's go there.
Let's do it.
　With Minori's consent, the group went further up the mountain path, and as expected, they met a merchant unit that was stuck in place.

'Hey, would you like to buy a sword?　It's an Akiva-made gem. It's got ten and twenty equipment levels.
　It was the first voice that was called to me.
　It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new one.
　You will be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.
'We're on a much higher level. I'm not going to use that kind of sword though. What's the matter with you?　Merchant.
　It's a good idea to make sure that you have the right tools and equipment for the job. That's right, almost all of their luggage was unloaded. One of the two carriages seemed to have a broken axle.
　The carriage Minori and the others were riding in was about twenty meters away. This is because it would be easier to avoid getting too close to the carriage if it had to turn back or change directions. The place is extremely narrow and there is no room to pass each other, and if you go off the road, you'll be tumbling down a steep slope covered with thin trees.
'd*mn, Touya,'
Yes.
　Perhaps, but if all that baggage was an iron sword, then they had overloaded the carriage in the first place. The solution to this situation was simple: drop the broken carriage to the bottom of the ravine, load the remaining luggage into the other carriage as far as it could go, dump the remaining luggage into this spot and move on. But the luggage was naturally bought by the merchant as a purchase, and it was surmised that he would not be able to take the plunge.

'I've spent another day and night here since the axle broke. Please forgive the merchant lord if he is rude.
　A soft looking woman stepped down from the carriage that was visible in the back of the room.
　She had pale brown hair like ears of silver grass that shone through the sun, a bolero and long skirt coordinated in various pastel yellows ranging from daisy to dandelion, and a large hat. She was a beautiful woman with softly curved eyebrows and compassionate eyes.
　There was a slight scent of missus in the air, and Touya felt troubled and melancholy. She had no reason to feel that this woman, who only seemed to be kind, would do terrible things.

'My name is Dariela, the traveler's scribe.
　The woman greeted her, picking at her skirt in a cute, silly gesture.
'You're young, but you're the 'Adventurers', aren't you?　I think it would be hard for the merchants to spend another night here as it is. Would you be willing to carry a few crates, if only to Boksult's fort?　If we can get the adventurers to cooperate, I think we can overtake them in the pass a while down the road, and the merchants should be able to get out of this jam.
　The plea of the woman who called herself Dariela was soft but to the core.
　Her words were gentle but persuasive, so much so that both Touya and Rundelhaus couldn't help but nod their heads.
　There was actually no other option in this situation.
　The two of them decided to head back down the mountain path to consult with Minori and the others.


　◆


　The merchant wagon's axle had broken off, apparently because of the sharp indentation of the mountain road. The wheels, which were slightly covered with dirt and hard to distinguish, had been driven up on a protruding stone and had fallen over a step immediately afterwards, landing on another corner stone. The step was only about an inch or so, and under normal circumstances such an accident would not have occurred.
　But the greedy merchant had packed the wagon with twenty-four crates of steel swords. The impact was so great that the wheels of the wagon were said to have broken off.
　Minori and the others had no trouble lifting two or three of the crates, while the Daichijin would have a hard time lifting one. After twenty minutes of walking along the mountain path with the crate in their arms, they reached the part of the path that juts out like an observation deck.
　In this place, carriages could rest and pass each other, and of course, they could load the crate.
　Serara had her lunch ready at that spot, and it was about two hours later when Minori and the others finished carrying the crates. The carriage with the broken axle was unfortunately dropped on the side of the valley floor, and the merchant came to this place with the carriage that was safe. He and his guards seemed to have run out of steam and roots and were now taking a nap.

''We spent the night guarding our load on a mountain road where demons might appear. It's no wonder we're exhausted.
　The scribe, Dariela, smiled softly at Minori.
　She was a woman of the Daichijin, whose age was hard to tell. She may be older than Minori, but I can't imagine how much older she is. She seemed about the same age as Marielle, even if I estimate it high. But as we talked, she suddenly showed a cute smile that made me wonder if she was the same age as Minori.
'Are you the merchant's wife, Dariela?
　A surprised look on her face made Dariela chuckle.
'No, sir. I was just given a lift in a merchant's carriage to return to Minami.
Oh, right, Minami. That's the same direction as Icoma.
Yeah, it's not far.
　Roe2, who had gathered, called out to him and Dariela returned.

　The merchant's safe carriage, along with the merchant's safe wagon and a pile of goods, and even Minori's and the others' carriages, were lined up in what looked like an overlook of the pass. Surrounded by a wooden fence that didn't seem very robust, the square itself jutted into the air of the pass. Outside, there is a spectacular view down the valley.
　The merchants look really exhausted.
　One of the guards has managed to sit down and lean on his luggage, while the rest of the men have fallen asleep in the carriage for shelter. Serara tried to distribute the soup, but there was no sign of them getting up.
　Minori and the others decided to have a late lunch here.
　The wind was still cold, but it was crisp and refreshing across the mountains, with a distinct moisture that was different from the city of Akiva.
'What kind of soup is this?'
It's miso soup with sweet potatoes and carrots.
This long one is....
Leeks.
　Minori stifled a chuckle as she listened to the conversation between Roe 2 and Serara, who was a bit distant.
　Lunch at the pass was fun, like a lunch. Isuzu was sitting on a fallen tree, swinging her legs, and Rundelhaus was bustling next to her, scarfing down onigiri. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
''Touya, does your stomach hurt?''
I don't think so.
　Minori called out to Touya, who was alone and somewhat preoccupied, but his firm brother replied with a grin.
Minori is the one who's all right? Don't you miss your brother?
Not anymore.
Well, that's okay. We're a long way from our destination when we get over the pass.
Yes, and the steel-tailed pterodactyl, the wyvern, right?　According to Shiroe-san, it's not impossible for them to appear in the mountains around here as well. Flying monsters should have a much wider range of activity...
Yeah. So you'll have to be careful.
　Minori noticed Touya's gaze as she looked up at the sky, and Minori noticed it too.
　There was a group of people approaching Minori and the others.
　It was a group led by a heavily armed knight in full body armor.

　There are more than a dozen adventurers in all, which gives a somehow gloomy impression. They soon became the focus of Minori and the others, coming up the mountain path. The route would come from the direction Minori and the others were traveling, and would lead them to the foot of the mountain.
　Minori quickly checked the status.
　A warrior named Ishiijiro was the leader, his guild affiliation was|〈Plant hwyaden〉 and his level was ninety. The next member of the guild belongs to the same guild and is at about the same level, and there are 14 of them.
　There aren't too many PKs (player killers) on the current Yamato server. At least in the Akiba area, it's a practice that is almost unheard of anymore. However, Minori and the others couldn't hide their nervousness at meeting this group of people in this mountainous place.
　Rundelhaus had casually moved next to Touya.
　He looked like a nobleman as he stood in a model-like pose with his cloak flipped up, but Minori knew that his position was shielding Isuzu and Serara behind him.
　The group was walking at a steady speed, not in a hurry.
　At a higher level, they would have possessed highly capable horsemen, but none of the adventurers were riding. The fourteen of them almost formed two lines and approached the mountain path.
　This is a square, so there's no need to pass each other in a narrow space. You just have to look away. Minori was relieved by that fact, though she thought it might be cowardly.
　The four men in the center of the group were supporting a huge package.
　It looked like a portable shrine that was dedicated to a shrine. It was decorated in a very Western style, but it was surrounded by thick sticks on the well, and it was being carried by four men on each side of the well who were holding it.
This is the Mobile Temple of the North Wind (Boreas), isn't it?
　Dariela mused.
What's that?
　Roe2, the only member of the group who doesn't seem too nervous, asks in a matter-of-fact tone, "I haven't seen many of them either.
'I haven't seen many of them either. I haven't seen many of these, either," he said, "but they are carried around in various places by the Knights of the Odyssey. I've heard that they are sacred objects used by the Adventurers.
"Hmm.
　Isuzu and Serara have a dubious look on their faces when they hear those words.
　Minori has never heard of such a thing either.
　The same is true of the term 〈Odyssey Knights〉. Just by hearing it, it had an unsettling sound, like a cold wind blowing somewhere in the distance. To begin with, according to what I have just learned, they are supposed to be members of the Plant hwyaden, the Adventurers.
　If you think about it that way, the Knights of the Odyssey is not a guild.
　I'm sure Minori doesn't know what it is.
　I've heard of the word "Odyssey" before.
　It is supposed to be an organization with the supreme goal of returning to the original world. That alone is not unreasonable, and in a sense they should represent the feelings of all adventurers, but the gossip I overheard while helping out at the Eighth Shopping Street in Akiba's Guild Hall all seemed to have a gloomy tone to it.

　The group was getting closer, and I could already make out their equipment and even their individual faces. Everyone's equipment was clean and neat. It seemed to Minori that they were rather too disciplined. They didn't waste time talking to each other and walked at a constant speed. The inexhaustible physical strength of the Adventurers, and a group of ninety levels of adventurers, gave the impression of a group of exhausted walkers, even though not a single gesture like that could be seen.
''I heard that the Mobile Temple of the North Wind is going to revive the Adventurers.
　Dariela, the Earthling, would not understand.
　The words had a somewhat distant, otherworldly sound to them.
''Also, I don't know if it's because of that, or if it's a side effect, but it's said to stir up the voice of the mind. I suppose it's important to you adventurers.
　Minori exchanged a glance with Serara.
　It's the first time she's heard of such an item. I'm at a loss for a reaction. I didn't even understand what Dariela was talking about. It was as if something inside Minori was refusing to understand.
　If one listens to the words honestly, it sounds as if the Mobile Temple is a replacement for the temple, a place to revive the adventurers who lost their lives nearby, as if it were an alternative to the resurrection point, or rather, the resurrection point itself (...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,).
　It is a literal blessing that increases the adventurer's immortality, but it is also terribly ominous.
　Minori anxiously muttered the name to her brother's back.
　I've been in the front line among Minori and her friends for a while now, standing in the front line, staring at the Odyssey Knights. So Minori can only see his back.
　Touya did not reply.
　But Minori's twin, Minori, knows that her body is filled with a sense of urgency and wariness that is as strong as that of a battle.

　The group approached the side of the plaza, and without any special attention to Minori and the others, they walked on at the same speed, keeping the same pace, as if they were being led to search for something.
　It felt like a very long time had passed, but on a cooler note, it would have been only enough.
　They didn't cause any trouble, they just walked on by.
　But Minori couldn't get rid of the buzzing in her chest.