In the midst of the peaceful atmosphere, we received a report from the Imperial Guard that the next town was in sight.

I had been worried about the potion that Citri had thrown, but it seems I had been too worried.
To begin with, my premonitions rarely come true. Partly because I've had a lot of bad luck in the past, but also because I'm petty at heart.

He pulled himself away from the tightly clinging Liz and poked his head out of the window to check out the town.

The town of Zebrudia is generally well developed. This time's destination is also a town with a good amount of defense capability, surrounded by thick outer walls. It's much smaller than the Imperial City, but I'm not particularly fond of big cities.

What I saw when I peeked in, excited beyond my years, was a city with a more somber atmosphere than I expected.
Outside the magnificent cocoa-colored exterior walls, an unusual number of soldiers patrolled the streets, and I could see a number of mages in robes. The top of the outer wall was lined with a number of soldiers standing guard, and a red flag with vertical lines fluttered in the air, signifying caution.
Since they are not restricting the entry and exit of the city, there doesn't seem to be a big problem, but the number of carriages leaving the city is clearly higher than the number of carriages entering.

Sitri pokes his head out from behind my silence and rolls his eyes.

'Oh my. It looks like there's some kind of outbreak. ...... A flag with vertical lines on a red background - it looks like a demon-related problem.'

'What? What is it? Is it bad?'

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

'What, just a red flag? It's not like we're on high alert, it's just boring.

You're too ...... used to the incident. It's true that there have been more red flags in our adventures than I care to remember.

The standard of the flag is somewhat uniform inside and outside the city. I've seen them in the Empire and abroad, and in rare cases I've even seen them in small villages. In towns near demon habitats, it's not surprising to see them pop up here and there, and in this case, there seems to be a forest nearby.

In my experience, the probability of getting into trouble when a red flag for demons is raised is about 50%, and only about 20% of them become really dangerous.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on. We couldn't predict how long it would take to conquer the Night Palace, so we ......'.

'It was a halfway point to take a break. And I wasn't tired.

'Mataa: ......'

Perhaps reading my hesitation, the carriage came to a screeching halt.
Tino was the only one who raised his voice in anxiety. I felt reassured by Citrie and Liz, and at the same time I could empathize with Tino's feelings.

I crossed my arms and thought seriously for the first time in a long time.

This time, the situation was different from the previous Elan. I can't predict the arrival of the thunder spirits, but this time I know that something is happening (regardless of the details).
We don't need to resupply right now, and we don't need to stick to a schedule. The usual me would choose evasion without even thinking about it. It's enough for Liz and Luke to run into danger.

'......'

But, but, but.
I would have chosen to avoid it, but ...... Gula is a town famous for its chocolate. As I have a secret sweet tooth, it's too good to avoid.
Chocolate itself is so famous that you can get it even in the Imperial Capital, but the manager of my favorite confectionery store said. There is a store in Gura that serves a special chocolate parfait. You can't eat this without entering the city.

I was torn. Do I want to be safe or do I want to be sweet?
From my experience, I think there is a good chance that the level of alertness is not a big deal. At the very least, if a thunderstorm were to appear, there would be a bigger fuss.

...... I want to eat something sweet.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

I see Tino, who has been as quiet as a small animal on the trip with his two sisters.

It's not just that I'm curious. I have a secret sweet tooth, but more than anything, I want to feed this healthy, hard-working junior a chocolate parfait that will make him swoon. Liz and Cicely don't like sweets, but it would be nice to have something like that once in a while.

He put his cheekbones on the table and muttered to himself.

'...... I wish I could give Tino something delicious to eat.

'Eh! I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to say. I'm sorry.

'Yay Cry-chan! But you're pissing me off, so I'll give you 2,000 push-ups later.

The problem is, when you enter the town, you'll most likely be asked to help solve the problem.
When you enter a town, you will be required to present your ID. In the case of hunters, their identification card shows their certification level - well, it's true that this level plays a role in their credibility, but when a state of emergency like this is declared, they are almost always approached.

A high level is essentially a sign of competence, and the empire gives preferential treatment to high level hunters, so I was in no position to complain, but I was fed up with this fact.
You can simply refuse the request for cooperation, but because I'm carrying the Footprints and the Ghost of Sorrows on my back, and more than anything, because I'm easily influenced, I always end up doing something about it. Like dumping her on Tino.

'Hmm. It's a vacation. ......'

I wonder if there's anything I can do. I wonder if Citri will help me.
I sighed, trying not to look at him, and the ever-reliable Cicely patted me on the back.
In a low voice, he whispers in my ear.

'Mr. Kry, this may be a bit of a rude question, but you want to get into town without being identified, right? I have--I have two options. Which do you prefer, changing others or changing yourself?'

'Ah, why don't you just sneak in over the wall? I'm fine with that!

Change others or change yourself,......, what are you going to do?
Citrie smiled and waited for an answer. It's always been my job to decide.
I nodded loudly while stopping Liz from stroking her bad head, which had a blown spiral.




'Hey, where can I find something like this ......?

'If you have the money and connections ......'.

Citry said very happily to my question.
Citri's plan was to use another form of identification. Apparently, he had been preparing this new ID for a long time in case of emergency, and it even had his picture on it, which smelled clearly like a crime. It's not only for me, Liz, and Cicely, but also for Tino.
The names and dates of birth are bullshit, and there's no certification level on them. I turned it over a few times and stared at it, but it looked real to me.

As a hunter, it is sometimes necessary to do things against the law in pursuit of criminals.
For better or worse, it's rough work. I don't believe that everything will be all right just by doing the right thing.

Killing is one thing, but another identity is more acceptable. Even if I were to be found out, I have a feeling that he would forgive me if I were to just say something like this.



As expected, the three men we had hired did not have identification, so we decided to go our separate ways. We dismounted from the carriage and headed for the gate on foot.
Outside the gates of Gura, it was noisy, as if they were expecting a demon attack. Mages were reinforcing the outer wall and drawing a magic circle on the ground, which Lucia sometimes used.

My turn to be judged was coming. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to pass, but Citry's ID card looked like the real thing (or rather, it seemed to be the real thing), and the examiners didn't show any signs of suspicion, quickly checking my ID and letting me through.
There was no sign that he noticed that I was a level 8. It was a good thing that I had tried to hide my face as much as possible.

'Um, the flag ......, what happened?

Citri, who is not much of a hunter after me, asks the male soldier in a natural way.
I love that kind of seamlessness.

The soldier replies, not even trying to hide his troublesome attitude.

'............ Ah. A pack of orcs have taken up residence in an abandoned village nearby. ---- A hunter who recently visited the area said that a fort had been built. We've been preparing to intercept them for a few days now, just in case.

Orcs are a kind of subrace, a humanoid boar-like demon to put it simply. They have the same level of wisdom as goblins, but their strength far exceeds that of ordinary humans, and their thick fur is a nuisance. In addition, they have a tendency to form large groups, and in the worst case, they can even create a huge kingdom.
That's probably the pattern that this town is watching out for.

However, they are not very strong among demons, and can be hunted by hunters of level 2 to 3 without much effort. Even the rare and outstanding individuals, the higher species, are not that powerful. I can't defeat it, though.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Citry confirmed with a slight look of trepidation on his face. The soldier smiled reassuringly at the question, which had a hint of acting in it.

'We're calling in reinforcements from nearby towns to clear them out. Some of them are heartless enough to leave the town, but they won't be a problem while you're here. Have a nice trip.

They saw me off and I entered the city of Gula safely. The town was in the midst of flag-raising, and there was a tense atmosphere in the air.
The fact that armed hunters could be seen everywhere, perhaps having been summoned, also added to the tension.

On the other hand, I was a little relieved to know the cause.

The orc fort ...... was no big deal after all. A crowd of people and a lot of higher-ranking individuals is certainly a threat, but compared to the higher-ranking spirits of Elan, it's a downgrade.
Well, for an ordinary citizen, an orc that attacks out of instinct might be more frightening than an unrestrained thunder spirit, and from my point of view, both of them are helpless opponents, but the time to be afraid of them was over long ago.

I can't even remember how many times I've fought a pack of Orcs. They usually show up in packs, you know. It was annoying that they attacked us only when we were exhausted.
Liz seemed a little unhappy at the mention of the orcs.

'Oh, that's boring. I was expecting ...... orcs or something like that, and I'm already past ...... that, and I'm not a butcher.''

I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. It doesn't matter how many Orcs you have.
The only one who doesn't seem to have any experience fighting Orc packs is Tino, who looks around and asks fearfully.

'How many packs have you killed with ......?

'I don't know. Luke and I used to compete to see how many we could kill, but we got tired of counting.

I don't know which battle you're talking about, but there's an endless supply of them. I thought I was going to die when I was swallowed by a wave of Orcs at the very beginning, before Lucia learned mass attack magic.
It was a battle where I learned the horror of numbers. They were second only to goblins in fertility. This is also the reason why Lucia learned range magic a few steps ahead of me.

Tino shuddered a little at Liz's curt, yet true, words.

'It's ............ terrifying ......'.

'Well, I'm not going to fight this time.'

'What ......? You're not going to fight?'

Tino rolls his eyes. I thought I had shown him my stance in the first town, but I guess he still didn't trust me. ...... What do you think I went to the trouble of using a different ID to enter the town for?
If they find out you're a hunter who doesn't want to work, you're screwed. You keep your voice low so that no one can hear you.

'Don't worry, there are other strong hunters who can take them out for us. If we're out of options, we might ask Lise or Sitri, but we'll be fine.

Since we are prepared to intercept them, a pack of orcs is nothing. This is a vacation, let's just think about the sweetness.
I comforted the uncomfortable Tino, straightened my back, and breathed in the city air, which smelled slightly sweet.

Come on, let's go eat a chocolate parfait.


In the midst of the peaceful atmosphere, we received a report from the Imperial Guard that the next town was in sight.

I had been worried about the potion that Citri had thrown, but it seems I had been too worried.
To begin with, my premonitions rarely come true. Partly because I've had a lot of bad luck in the past, but also because I'm petty at heart.

He pulled himself away from the tightly clinging Liz and poked his head out of the window to check out the town.

The town of Zebrudia is generally well developed. This time's destination is also a town with a good amount of defense capability, surrounded by thick outer walls. It's much smaller than the Imperial City, but I'm not particularly fond of big cities.

What I saw when I peeked in, excited beyond my years, was a city with a more somber atmosphere than I expected.
Outside the magnificent cocoa-colored exterior walls, an unusual number of soldiers patrolled the streets, and I could see a number of mages in robes. The top of the outer wall was lined with a number of soldiers standing guard, and a red flag with vertical lines fluttered in the air, signifying caution.
Since they are not restricting the entry and exit of the city, there doesn't seem to be a big problem, but the number of carriages leaving the city is clearly higher than the number of carriages entering.

Citri pokes his head out from behind my silence and rolls his eyes.

'Oh my. It looks like there's some kind of outbreak. ...... A flag with vertical lines on a red background - it looks like a demon-related problem.'

'What? What is it? Is it bad?'

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

'What, just a red flag? It's not like we're on high alert, it's just boring.

You're too ...... used to the incident. It's true that there have been more red flags in our adventures than I care to remember.

The standard of the flag is somewhat uniform inside and outside the city. I've seen them in the Empire and abroad, and in rare cases I've even seen them in small villages. In towns near demon habitats, it's not surprising to see them pop up here and there, and in this case, there seems to be a forest nearby.

In my experience, the probability of getting into trouble when a red flag for demons is raised is about 50%, and only about 20% of them become really dangerous. In the event that you're in a situation where you'd like to get rid of the problem, you'll be able to do so in a few minutes.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on. We couldn't predict how long it would take to conquer the Night Palace, so we ......'.

'It was a halfway point to take a break. And I wasn't tired.

'Mataa: ......'

Perhaps reading my hesitation, the carriage came to a screeching halt.
Tino was the only one who raised his voice in anxiety. I felt reassured by Citrie and Liz, and at the same time I could empathize with Tino's feelings.

I crossed my arms and thought seriously for the first time in a long time.

This time, the situation was different from the previous Elan. I can't predict the arrival of the thunder spirits, but this time I know that something is happening (regardless of the details).
We don't need to resupply right now, and we don't need to stick to a schedule. The usual me would choose evasion without even thinking about it. It's enough for Liz and Luke to run into danger.

'......'

But, but, but.
I would have chosen to avoid it, but ...... Gula is a town famous for its chocolate. As I have a secret sweet tooth, it's too good to avoid.
Chocolate itself is so famous that you can get it even in the Imperial Capital, but the manager of my favorite confectionery store said. There is a store in Gura that serves a special chocolate parfait. You can't eat this without entering the city.

I was torn. Do I want to be safe or do I want to be sweet?
From my experience, I think there is a good chance that the level of alertness is not a big deal. At the very least, if a thunderstorm were to appear, there would be a bigger fuss.

...... I want to eat something sweet.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

I see Tino, who has been as quiet as a small animal on the trip with his two sisters.

It's not just that I'm curious. I have a secret sweet tooth, but more than anything, I want to feed this healthy, hard-working junior a chocolate parfait that will make him swoon. Liz and Cicely don't like sweets, but it would be nice to have something like that once in a while.

He put his cheekbones on the table and muttered to himself.

'...... I wish I could give Tino something delicious to eat.

'Eh! I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to say. I'm sorry.

'Yay Cry-chan! But you're pissing me off, so I'll give you 2,000 push-ups later.

The problem is, when you enter the town, you'll most likely be asked to help solve the problem.
When you enter a town, you will be required to present your ID. In the case of hunters, their identification card shows their certification level - well, it's true that this level plays a role in their credibility, but when a state of emergency like this is declared, they are almost always approached.

A high level is essentially a sign of competence, and the empire gives preferential treatment to high level hunters, so I was in no position to complain, but I was fed up with this fact.
You can simply refuse the request for cooperation, but because I'm carrying the Footprints and the Ghost of Sorrows on my back, and more than anything, because I'm easily influenced, I always end up doing something about it. Like dumping her on Tino.

'Hmm. It's a vacation. ......'

I wonder if there's anything I can do. I wonder if Citri will help me.
I sighed, trying not to look at him, and the ever-reliable Cicely patted me on the back.
In a low voice, he whispers in my ear.

'Mr. Kry, this may be a bit of a rude question, but you want to get into town without being identified, right? I have--I have two options. Which do you prefer, changing others or changing yourself?'

'Ah, why don't you just sneak in over the wall? I'm fine with that!

Change others or change yourself,......, what are you going to do?
Citrie smiled and waited for an answer. It's always been my job to decide.
I nodded loudly while stopping Liz from stroking her bad head, which had a blown spiral.




'Hey, where can I find something like this ......?

'If you have the money and connections ......'.

Citry said very happily to my question.
Citri's plan was to use another form of identification. Apparently, he had been preparing this new ID for a long time in case of emergency, and it even had his picture on it, which smelled clearly like a crime. It's not only for me, Liz, and Cicely, but also for Tino.
The names and dates of birth are bullshit, and there's no certification level on them. I turned it over a few times and stared at it, but it looked real.

As a hunter, it is sometimes necessary to do things against the law in pursuit of criminals.
For better or worse, it's rough work. I don't believe that everything will be all right just by doing the right thing.

Killing is one thing, but another identity is more acceptable. Even if I were to be found out, I have a feeling that he would forgive me for this level of behavior.



As expected, the three men we had hired did not have identification, so we decided to go our separate ways. We dismounted from the carriage and headed for the gate on foot.
Outside the gates of Gura, it was noisy, as if they were expecting a demon attack. Mages were reinforcing the outer wall and drawing a magic circle on the ground, which Lucia sometimes used.

My turn to be judged was coming. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to pass, but Citry's ID card looked like the real thing (or rather, it seemed to be the real thing), and the examiners didn't show any signs of suspicion, quickly checking my ID and letting me through.
There was no sign that he noticed that I was a level 8. It was a good thing that I had tried to hide my face as much as possible.

'Um, the flag ......, what happened?

Citri, who is not much of a hunter after me, asks the male soldier in a natural way.
I love that kind of seamlessness.

The soldier replies, not even trying to hide his troublesome attitude.

'............ Ah. A pack of orcs have taken up residence in an abandoned village nearby. ---- A hunter who recently visited the area said that a fort had been built. We've been preparing to intercept them for a few days now, just in case.

Orcs are a kind of subspecies, a humanoid boar-like demon to put it simply. They have the same level of wisdom as goblins, but their strength far exceeds that of ordinary humans, and their thick fur is a nuisance. In addition, they have a tendency to form large groups, and in the worst case, they can even create a huge kingdom.
That's probably the pattern that this town is watching out for.

However, they are not very strong among demons, and can be hunted by hunters of level 2 to 3 without much effort. Even the rare and outstanding individuals, the higher species, are not that powerful. I can't defeat it, though.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Citry confirmed with a slight look of trepidation on his face. The soldier smiled reassuringly at the question, which had a hint of acting in it.

'We're calling in reinforcements from nearby towns to clear them out. Some of them are heartless enough to leave the town, but they won't be a problem while you're here. Have a nice trip.

They saw me off and I entered the city of Gula without incident. The town was in the midst of flag-raising, and there was a tense atmosphere in the air.
The fact that armed hunters could be seen everywhere, perhaps having been summoned, also added to the tension.

On the other hand, I was a little relieved to know the cause.

The orc fort ...... was no big deal after all. A crowd of people and a lot of higher-ranking individuals is certainly a threat, but compared to the higher-ranking spirits of Elan, it's a downgrade.
Well, for an ordinary citizen, an orc that attacks out of instinct might be more frightening than an unrestrained thunder spirit, and from my point of view, both of them are helpless opponents, but the time to be afraid of them was over long ago.

I can't even remember how many times I've fought a pack of Orcs. They usually show up in packs, you know. It was annoying that they attacked us only when we were exhausted.
Liz seemed a little unhappy at the mention of the orcs.

'Oh, that's boring. I was expecting ...... orcs or something like that, and I'm already past ...... that, and I'm not a butcher.''

I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. It doesn't matter how many Orcs you have.
The only one who doesn't seem to have any experience fighting Orc packs is Tino, who looks around and asks fearfully.

'How many packs have you killed with ......?

'I don't know. Luke and I used to compete to see how many we could kill, but we got tired of counting.

I don't know which battle you're talking about, but there's an endless supply of them. I thought I was going to die when I was swallowed by a wave of Orcs at the very beginning, before Lucia learned mass attack magic.
It was a battle where I learned the horror of numbers. They were second only to goblins in fertility. This is also the reason why Lucia learned range magic a few steps ahead of me.

Tino shuddered a little at Liz's curt, yet true, words.

'It's ............ terrifying ......'.

'Well, I'm not going to fight this time.'

'What ......? You're not going to fight?'

Tino rolls his eyes. I thought I had shown him my stance in the first town, but I guess he still didn't trust me. ...... What do you think I went to the trouble of using a different ID to enter the town for?
If they find out you're a hunter who doesn't want to work, you're screwed. You keep your voice low so that no one can hear you.

'Don't worry, there are other strong hunters who can take them out for us. If we're out of options, we might ask Lise or Sitri, but we'll be fine.

Since we are prepared to intercept them, a pack of orcs is nothing. This is a vacation, let's just think about the sweetness.
I comforted the uncomfortable Tino, straightened my back, and breathed in the city air, which smelled slightly sweet.

Come on, let's go eat a chocolate parfait.