Many high-level treasure halls have a dangerous atmosphere that is easy to recognize.

The Castle of the Demon is no exception to this rule, with an atmosphere so alien that it can be understood even without knowing anything about it. It seems that the information that hunters gave up trying to conquer the castle just because they saw it from the outside is not spurious.

The Castle of All Demons was located on a hill above the cliffs. Thick clouds swirled around the countless spires that jutted out, and thunderbolts shone constantly. The walls surrounding the castle are so huge that it is impossible to see inside. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, there is no sign of any demons outside, a fact that shows the threat level of the treasure hall.

The Mana Material, the source of the Treasure House, is also attractive to demons. Therefore, the area around the treasure house is often the territory of powerful demons. A place where a level 8 treasure house can be built, it should be no surprise that a powerful beast such as a dragon would use it as its territory, but there is no such tendency in the Castle of All Demons.

It is natural to assume that it has been destroyed. And yet, it's still there.
And yet, the fact that it remains so quiet suggests that there are highly controlled illusions in that treasure house.

Phantoms with intelligence are terrifying beings. Although they rarely appear, there is a theory that if phantoms could maintain their power even outside the Treasure House, the world would have been devoured by the phantoms of the past long ago.

In other words, it is not a place that a certified fraud like me should enter.

The horses must have been eager to escape, because they were moving away from the Treasure Hall at a tremendous pace. Despite the strong wind and rain, Mr. Kuro and the others who were operating the carriage were also desperate.
Tino, who was not accustomed to seeing the high-level treasure hall, stuck his head out of the carriage window and went limp. He looked as if he was about to throw up.

He must have been overwhelmed. I've been to a lot of treasure halls in the past, and I'm used to feeling like I'm going to puke, so I can handle it, but I understand the feeling. It's a normal hunter's reaction.

At that moment, the not-so-normal Liz, who had been watching the treasure hall with the eyes of an abandoned puppy, turned around.

'Kry, by the way, did you achieve your goal for the vacation?

'Hmmm, ...... about halfway.'

'? I'm still halfway--sorry......Ugh......'

When you've got some distance to go, you might want to stop the carriage and get some rest.

There were three main purposes for this vacation.
The first was to pick up Luke and the others. I can't do that anymore. Well, it was a goal that I was striving for, so I guess it was inevitable that I ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The second was to go to the hot springs and get some rest. I'm going now.

And the third is to make sure I don't return in time for the White Sword Gathering in the Imperial Capital.
Needless to say, this is the most important. In other words, there was no purpose to this vacation.

I don't want to be at the Gathering of the White Swords, no matter what! It took me less than a week to get here. Assuming it takes that long to get back, that means I have to kill time somewhere for a week.
Even if I could meet up with Luke and the others, go to the hot springs, get some rest, and help Lise and Tino, if there was still time left, I wouldn't leave.

I'd rather be dancing around a campfire with Arnold and the others than getting caught up in a gathering of monsters. If it weren't for the party and the clan, I'd be fleeing the country alone.

'Well, it's Cry-chan's vacation, and Cry-chan can do as he pleases, but as expected, the [Manma's Castle] was still too much for Tino, and ......'.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

If Luke and the others are still around . I was going to wait outside until they came out. If I went into the level 8 treasure house, I'd be dead. I'll have that much common sense.

I looked at Tino with a blue face and tears in my eyes and said.

'There's nothing dangerous anymore. Well, I wasn't planning on doing anything dangerous to begin with. ...... hahahaha'

'Wow, that's not funny. More like ......'

Tino replies to my joke in a quiet voice.

I can't laugh either. But when I think back, I wonder if Arnold is responsible for all this.
There were a few near misses during this trip, but if there was anything directly dangerous, it was the mountain crossing. But if Arnold hadn't been there, we wouldn't have been forced to go over the mountain in the first place.

'It's all Mr. Arnold's fault, isn't it?

'Do you want me to take care of it?'

'I'm not going to .............'

What do you mean, 'clean up'? .......

All that's left is a relaxing vacation at the spa. It might be nice to take a week or so.
The only thing I'm afraid of is Arnold's pursuit, but I don't think he'll follow us without a clue. Coincidences don't happen twice or three times in a row, and the rain will remove the ruts.
If you bump into him at the hot springs, you'll have to assume that your fate is over. There are not many treasures that can be carried into a hot spring.

'Our next destination is the hot springs. Oh, be careful not to go into Gladys' territory.

It's pretty close to our current position. We'll have to make sure we don't forget.

'? Hey, Cry. Is there something in Gladys territory?'

Ryss gives me a strange look.
It's true that I've already reached the point where I can't just push through on a hunch. ...... I trust Liz and Citrie. And I trust Tino just as much as I trust you.

'Actually, ...... I've been asked to be a nominee, haven't I?

'What? From that hunter-hater Gladys? Cry-chan, that's great! What kind of request is it?

That's--I don't know.

I haven't received the request form, and I haven't decided to accept the request yet. In fact, I have decided not to accept it.
I will not accept it. I'm not taking it, I'm not. I'm sorry Luda, but you can go home now. I'm sure it's nothing to do with a request from a martial aristocrat.

On the contrary to the glittering eyes of Liz, Sitri proceeded as if he was easily convinced.

'All right. Then let's avoid Gladys territory. There's a small town nearby that's famous for its hot springs. It's right on the edge of Gladys' jurisdiction, but--'

Citri pointed at the map. As he said, the place he pointed to was not in Gladys' territory, but it was very close to it.
You can't do anything if you worry too much, right? I guess we should accept the fact that we're not in it.



Just make it clear that if they find out, you won't take the request.

'Is that a mixed bath?

'Hey, sis! There's no such thing as a mixed bathing spa today!

'Hmm, okay...'

I'm sorry about Luke and the others, but if it's a good place, we can take Luke and the clan members there again.
We'll release Kuro and the others after they've had a good rest in the hot springs.

The carriage drove on, making a splashing sound. Contrary to the weather outside, I was in a somewhat cheerful mood.







I ran as fast as I could down the carpeted corridor. I almost bumped into a maid, a young knight gave me a bitter look, but only now did I forget my manners and run, breathing hard.
He arrived at the back of the mansion, in the study of the current head of the Gladys family, Van Gladys. Van Gladys frowns at the sight of her daughter, who bursts through the door with such force that it seems to hit her.

Eclair, however, did not have time to pay attention to this and shouted in a high voice.

'Father, is it true that you've submitted a request for appointment to that "Thousand Transformations"?

''Eclair ......, if you are a daughter of the Gladys family, have some modesty.''

'Please answer me! Why did you ask for the Thousand Transformations?

'I don't have the right to answer ......, but as a nobleman, I can't leave the Hunter in debt.'

His sharp gaze was as if he was telling Eclair that it was your responsibility. She bit her lip as she met his gaze.

A request for appointment from a nobleman is a sign of first class and a sign of having connections with the nobility. If it was a request from a nobleman who was famous for hating hunters, the meaning of the request would be greatly expanded. For a hunter, the mere fact that he has received a request from a nobleman has a strong meaning.

Fame. It is the most valuable thing a noble can pay a hunter.
Money can be earned by accepting a commission from a large trading company, but fame is not easy to come by.

Van Gladys was silent for a moment, then bit her lip and continued to her silent daughter.

'But that doesn't mean that I'm not interested in ...... some man. This is a man who has reached level 8, ahead of the Rodin family. It's also a good opportunity to see what he's capable of.

The Gladys family has a reputation for hating hunters, but they don't just hate hunters.
They just have absolute confidence and pride in their own armor and in the knightly order they own. That's why he respects hunters if they are worthy of his respect, and in fact, he is very close to the hunters of the Rodin family. However, it can't be denied that the 'value of respect' is higher because they are nobles.

'So, you want that man to take down that barrel?'

'............ Who told you that?'

'Montor told me.'

'............ The man's only fault is that he's soft on you.'

Van Gladys sighs as she recalls the appearance of her vassal, the House Commander.

Perhaps he is trying to make her understand the consequences of her own mismanagement. Or perhaps he simply thought it was a topic Eclair would like.

Gladys' territory had been troubled by a group of bandits recently.

The Barrel Thieves.

Brutal and brave. A large bandit band of a hundred men, both powerful and cunning.
They ravaged the territory of Gladys, a place feared and shunned by criminals of all kinds, and attacked villages and towns all over the land.
Many times the Knights have sent out raiding parties, but all have come up empty. It was the difference in footwork. If they attacked in large numbers, they would flee. If they attacked in small numbers, they would be repulsed. It was humiliating for Gladys, who was known for her valor.

They're as strong as their dastardly deeds. Even former high-level hunters have been turned back. A large bounty has been offered, but to no avail.

As a nobleman, he had to participate in the auction event, but if things continued as they were, even criminals who had avoided the Gladys territory until now might come pouring in. The situation was unpredictable.

He planned to crush them with all of Gladys' strength in the near future.
In that case, he planned to ask for help from Ark Rodin, and this was a good opportunity in a sense.

A joint operation with the Order. Through this, he would be able to measure the power and depth of the Thousand Transformations.
And if the power is real, even the members of the Order, who don't like hunters very much, will surely recognize its power.

Rodin, for better or worse, is a well-known hunter in Zebrudia. After all, there are many members of the Order who look at him in a different light. But not the Thousand Transformations.
It's about recognizing that power. And by extension, it will bring change to Gladys, where hunters are looked down upon.

As Van narrows his eyes, Eclair asks fearfully.

'So, father. When will the [Thousand Transformations] come?

'I got word that they've left the Imperial Capital. It should arrive soon. You too should forget about your past feuds and prepare to be entertained.''

'...... I understand.

There is no such thing as a past feud. The only thing Eclair has for that man is fear.
For the first time, Van Gladys frowned with some concern as she shrunk her body and bowed her head.