As the date changed, I returned from the tavern to my room on the third floor with Mr. Kilt.

'Merle,'
Hmm?

　She calls to me as I enter the room.

　As the moonlight shines through the window, Ms. Kilt looks back at me.

"We're leaving for King's Landing in the morning.

　I said abruptly.

　Eh....?

(To King's Landing ... tomorrow morning!

　I am stunned by the sudden development.
　In front of me, Kilt-san gives one big, "Huhhhh," and one big, missing smile.
　Then she scratched her rich silver hair with her hand.

Every request has a deadline. With Irna's disappearance, it has taken me several days to complete the task. --You have an early start tomorrow morning, so sleep well tonight.

　He smiled at that and laid down on his own bed.

　Soon, I could hear regular sleep breathing. Hey, you're a good sleeper.......is it because of the alcohol?

　I, too, lay down on my bed, stunned by Quilt-san's simplicity.

(Tomorrow....?)

　I didn't think it would be this sudden.
　But I was going to be there at some point. That's just the way it turned out tomorrow.

(Yeah, that's all I know.)

　That's what I told myself in my futon.

　But tonight, I'm so excited that I might not be able to sleep, and I'm worried that I won't be able to, but then I remembered what Illtimina-san told me before, so I tried to reassure myself, 'If I can't sleep, that's okay.
　Yes, I felt a little lighter.

(Futon, it's so soft.)

　It's like being surrounded by clouds.
　Then, as I closed my eyelids, I began to feel strangely sleepy.

(Okay, I'm going to King's Landing tomorrow.)

　I made up my mind, and before I knew it, I fell into the world of sleep.

　--And so I greeted the morning of my departure.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Click, click, click, click.

(Hmm...?)

　The sound of scraping metal wakes me up.

　I lifted my heavy body onto the bed and opened my eyelids. Then I saw the three of them in the still dimly lit room getting ready to leave.

'Oh, you're finally up, rags?'
..........

　Solstice turns around and calls out to me in dismay.

　But that outfit is no longer the girl with glasses.
　It was the same figure I saw in the forest that night as an 'adventurer' in leather armor and holding a large staff that was longer than her height.
　The gap between them made me a little nervous.

　Behind her, there is also Kilt-san and Illtimina-san wearing their own armor.

''Hmm, you're up.''
Good morning, Merle.

　Two smiles are turned on their faces.

　On the wall near the girls, that great sword of lightning and white spear is propped up against the wall. On the floor, there was a large backpack piled with the fangs of a red fang dragon and a large leather bag that looked like a sandbag. The leather bag was probably Kirt's luggage.
　It already looked like he was fully prepared to depart.

(I see. I'm going to the royal capital today, right?

　The sky from the window was still white.
　It was really just the early morning hours, with the sun peeking into the eastern sky.

　Kotz.

(Yikes?)

　The tip of the big cane was tapping my forehead.

'Look, don't be spaced out, I'll get the rag ready too!
Uh-huh.

　I jumped off the bed in a hurry, pissed off at Solstice.

　However, all I had to do to get ready was change into the travel clothes that Illtimina-san had bought for me.
　But compared to the three of us who are used to traveling, my outfit still feels like I'm being forced to wear something.

(I'm sure it'll all fit together in time...)

　As I was thinking about this, Illtimina-san approached me.
　She got down on her knees in front of me.

It's a little bent out of shape here, don't you think?

　That white hand fixes the collar.

'Oh, thanks.'
No. --Huh, it looks great on you, Marl.

　He compliments me with a gentle, sweet smile.

　Looking at that smile, I suddenly thought.　

(Illtimina-san..............mood, has changed a bit?

　What?　I had trouble answering him, but his expression seemed to clear up and brighten. Did my confession that night change anything in my mind?

　That gentle smile, all the more beautiful and clear.

(Kind of makes me feel prettier, doesn't it?)

　I'm a bit fond of it.

'?　Merle?
Oh, no. It's nothing.

　When she scowled, I came to myself and gave a panicked, deceitful laugh.

　Turning to us, Kirt-san's voice says, "Are you done with the preparations for Merle?

'Are you done with your preparations Marle?　Well, then, I think it's time to leave.
Uh-huh.
Yes, sir.

　We nodded and Mr. Illtimina stood up as well.

　Kilt-san carries a large sword wrapped in a red cloth and a large leather bag strap on her shoulder and lifts it up. Solstice throws a white spear to her sister, "Hoi, sister Irna," and Iltimina-san catches it with one hand. She then carried a large backpack on her back as well.

　She looked around at all of them.

Then let's go.　

　Ms. Kilt's voice announced, and she began to walk to the front of the line.
　Soltis followed suit.
　And then Ms. Illtimina's left hand gripped my right, as it always did.

Let's go, Merle.
Yes.

　We laughed at each other and followed them out of the room.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　Perhaps because it was early in the morning, there wasn't a single other adventurer in the tavern on the first floor.

　But there was one person who wasn't an adventurer in sight. His plump physique was easily recognizable at a glance.

(Arsen-san?)

　Yes, it's Mr. Arsen Polk, the innkeeper.

　He sees us coming down the stairs and calls out to us calmly.

'You're off, gentlemen.'
Mr. Arsen, what's going on so early in the morning?

　I ask, and he smiles at me.

'Good morning, Merle. --no, I just thought I'd like to see you all off.

　What?

Is that why you got up so early?
I have to prepare breakfast, so I'm always up at this time.

　Really?
　I was surprised, but Kirt thanked me.

"I'm sorry, owner," he said. Thank you for everything you've done for me during my stay.
Oh, no, it's the least I can do. --But if you ever need anything else, you are welcome to stay with us.
Of course I do. I love your food!

　Solstice cheerfully assures me.
　Yeah, I agree with that.

　Arsen-san smiles happily.

　And in front of him, Illtimina-san advanced and bowed her head.

''I'm sorry about yesterday.

　It was probably a matter of a barroom rampage.
　But Mr. Arsen shook his head mildly.

'No. That's how important you were to Marle, wasn't it?
..........
'I think I know how you feel about your loved ones. What, I was in a hurry at the time, but when you run a store like this, you're bound to have a rough patch or two, right?　Please, don't let it bother you anymore.

　Then he looked at me and Miss Illtimina.

I'll be praying to the Goddess Shrien that you two can be together forever.
Mr. Arsen....
..........

　Ms. Illtimina spilled her beautiful hair over her shoulders and bowed her head deeper and deeper.
　I bowed next to her, too.

　The good-natured owner laughed at our appearance, a bit annoyed.

　--And so we left the inn.

　We started walking down the street and turned around.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I wave back, too.

(He was a good shopkeeper.)

　The first inn I stayed at in another world - the adventurer's inn "Arsen's Delicious Rice".
　I will never forget this inn and its name.

　Looking up at the early morning sky, I squint my blue eyes as I think about this.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Unlike the early morning, Medis Boulevard was sparsely populated with tourists, unlike the daytime.

　Instead, there were several carts and dragon wagons parked in front of the shops that lined the boulevard, carrying goods, and people with loads of goods pacing back and forth between the shops and the carts.

(Something tells me there are a lot of workers and beastmen.)

　I'm sure they are more powerful than humans, which is why they are hired for these jobs?
　Other stallholders are busy assembling their shops and preparing them for the opening.

　We walked down the main street, with them by our side, towards the main gate on the city wall.

(Are we going to keep walking out the gate and down the street?)

　When you think about it like that.

A little further on, there's a stagecoach drop-off point.

　As if reading my mind, Illtimina, walking next to me, told me.

'The boarding and disembarkation area for the rideshare?'
'Yes. There's a carriage that runs from there to the royal capital, Mulia. We're going to take advantage of it.

　You're a carriage?

(Wow, maybe I've never ridden in a carriage before, including in a previous life!)

　I'm a little excited.
　At my condition, Illtimina-san laughed gently.

''We expect to reach King's Landing in three days. It won't take us more than five days at the latest.''
"Uh-huh?
'For the night we will stop at a village on the way and stay at an inn. However, it's not a fine inn like the one in Medis, so don't expect much.

　Oh, that's okay.

I'm a girl who's okay with 'leaf bedding', you know?
Huh.

　She chuckles as she remembers.

　As they walked along in this conversation, they eventually came to a large circular square near the city walls.

　There, dozens of carriages were neatly parked there.
　They range in color, shape and size from small carriages that can hold two people to large ones that can hold about 20 people.

(It looks like a taxi stand or a bus stand in a previous life, doesn't it?

　The four of us walked into the boarding area.

　Among the many carriages and dragon carriages, Kirt-san called out to the person in the dragon carriage, a person with a six-seater. ''There are four of you, why do you ride six?'' But when I thought about it, we had a large backpack and leather bag of luggage over here. I'm sure it's a six-person carriage with that in mind.

　And the dragon pulling that carriage is a four-legged dragon of about 3 meters.

(Wow, that's big.)

　At first glance, it looks like a giant lizard.

　Its entire body is covered with gray scales.
　A metal restraint is loaded in its mouth with sharp fangs, and sharp claws sprout from the ends of its limbs.

(...a bit fishy, isn't it?)

　But I can feel the strong life force that is typical of a 'dragon' from its strong-looking body.

　There were two gents.
　An older man and a younger looking man. Perhaps they will take turns controlling the dragon during the journey.

(Dragon?　(See you for the next three days, okay?)

　Calling out in my mind, I look into the grey dragon's crinkled eyes.

'Hey, kid!　Don't go near the dragon!　It's dangerous!

　The young master warns loudly.

(What, dangerous?)

　The moment I thought that, Illtimina-san's white hand grabbed my collar and pulled me back with a guffaw.

　Boom.

　A long gray tail passes in front of his face.

'.............

　As I stiffen, Illtimina-san smiles as if she is troubled and tells me.

'Marl?　The dragon in the dragonwheel has a muzzle, but there are occasional accidents where he gets hit by those claws or hit with his tail. They are trained, but they are still 'dragons'. They are not like pets, so please be careful.
Stupid, raggedy rags?

　Even Solstice gave me a dumbfounded look.
　I couldn't help but nod my head cocooned, with a face as if my soul had been drained.......

　Now, during my shameful act, Kirt-san was talking all the time with the elderly gyoza-san.

　Apparently, it seems to be about the fee.
　It seems that the price of the dragon car is determined not by the number of people, but by the weight. Since we are quite heavy luggage, it seems to be a considerable amount of money, and when paying, several silver 1,000 Lido coins were visible in Kirt-san's hand. Wow.........

　Eventually, after finishing his story, Kirto-san returns.

'Sorry to keep you waiting. Your departure is set for 20 minutes.

　Twenty minutes later?
　Kirto tells me in wonderment, "There's also a chariot and a dragon carriage on the way to King's Landing.

"There are also carriages and dragon carts that will take you to King's Landing. It's to go with them. It's a good idea for the carriage guild to have fewer guards, and it will also cost less.

　Oh, yeah.

In the meantime, why don't you guys go to the bathroom? You can do whatever you want with it.
Yes.
I understand.
Yes, sir.
But I expect you to be back here five minutes before departure.　--Okay, then, you're free to go.

　Kilt, you look like a lead teacher.

(But it's my first time in a group, so for me, thank goodness.)

　In my heart, I'm grateful.

　Well, at any rate, so we get about 15 minutes of free time.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　After doing my business in the public restroom in the square, I had nothing more to do.

(Well, I guess I'll just relax and wait.)

　Taking it easy, I sit down on a bench built into the boarding area.

'Oh my God, rags?'

　Then, just at the same time, Solstice sat there too. In her hand, she has a bag of fried sweets that she seems to have bought at a nearby stall.
　As expected of a gourmet girl.

Hello, Solstice.
Do you want to stay here and wait for us to leave?
Yes.
Hmm?　Well, there's nothing you can do in fifteen minutes.

　Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

　As she says this, she tosses one of the fried pastries, which looks like surter andagi, into her mouth.

(That looks so good.)

　As I was admiring her, she looked at me.

'If you want to eat, I can give you one?'
'What?　Are you sure?

　A bit of a surprise.
　I thought she was the possessive type.

"Okay. You can tell me all about it later in the tower, right?

　Oh, that's what I mean.
　She laughs, and I agree with her.

"Yeah, sure. --Can I have one of those, then?
Here you go.

　So, I'll take one.

　Mug.

Delicious.
Right?

　Solstice seems happy for some reason.
　Then she plucked another fried pastry and threw it into her mouth.

　It was kind of a peaceful time.

　I look around and see the other two adventurers.

　Illtimina-san was helping the two Gosha-san to put that large backpack on the back of the dragon cart. Since it was quite heavy, she must have thought it would be hard to leave it to Gosha-san and the others alone.

(Yeah, yeah, Illtimina-san, that's sweet, right?)

　By the way, when I tried to help, I was like, "Marl can't do that, okay? And he refused with a smile. Shucks.

　And then there was the other quilt.
　She was now surrounded by about ten adventurers.

　They noticed that she was Kirt Amandes, a demon hunter of the highest rank 'Golden Seal', and they approached her.

　But she didn't have a single disagreeable look on her face and politely responded to each person who approached her. She says that if she doesn't interfere with the alcohol, she won't be treated as coldly as she was last night. And that's a good way to gather a lot of information, Illtimina told me earlier.

(But it sounds like a lot of work to deal with ten people.)

　And then Solstice noticed the way I was looking at her.

Well, it's no use. The quilt is a 'golden seal'.

　I laughed.　

　Yeah.........
　But still, 'Gold Seal', huh?

(Come to think of it, I remember Illtimina-san once told Uncle Dwarf that she was an adventurer with a 'silver seal'.

Hey, Solstice?　How many ranks of adventurers are there?
Hmm?　Five.

　Licking her sugar-covered fingers, she bends them over one by one.

'From the top, gold, silver, white, blue and red.

　Huh?

Is it the same color as the Lido coin?
Yeah, yeah.

　Solstice nodded broadly.

(Okay, that's pretty obvious.)

'Hmmm,' I learn, and she gives me a slightly dumbfounded look.

"Rags and rags. You are so naive, aren't you?
I'm not happy about it.

　It's a bit depressing when he says it so bluntly.

'But while I'm being facetious, one more thing ... so what mark is Solstice?'
Hmm?　The White Seal.

　With that, she turns the back of her right hand toward us.

　POW.

　There, a magical emblem appeared, emitting a white light.

(Eh....?)

What's that?
That's why it's the Adventurer's Seal. When you register with the adventurer's guild, you are given this kind of magical symbol. It's kind of like an adventurer's identity card.

　Heh, cool!

　When the white light disappears and the magical sigil disappears, only white skin is left.

''As you rise in rank, the color of the light will change as well.
'Right. So Solstice will be the next silver lining, then?
Yeah.

　She nodded and cowered her shoulders.

'But surely it's a long way off?　It was only last month that I became a 'white mark'.
Really?
'Well, if I do say so myself, I've only been an adventurer for three years, and at thirteen years old, I'm a 'white seal', I'm a pretty fast one.' --Yes, you can respect me, rags?

　Solstice laughed teasingly.

　Haha.
　But she was still good at it, wasn't she?

　Solstice, who taught me a lot of things, popped another piece of fried pastry into her mouth with a delicious smile.

(Hmm, I'd like to thank her for something, too.)　

　I thought for a moment and took out the magic stone pendant around my neck - but the grayed-out magic stone.

'Solstice, this is for you.'
What?

　Suddenly, she scowls as it is placed around her neck.

　She plucks the gray magic stone with her sugar-covered hands and stares at it suspiciously. Immediately, her crimson eyes widen as she realizes its true identity.

''Wha........you, this!　The life...?

　Yeah, but it's been used, right?

You know, I used this guy when I died. I don't have any magic powers anymore, but can it be used as a research tool?
'Nuh-uh!　Eh ... but are you sure?
Yes.

　It's useless for me to have it, and if anything, I think Solstice would make use of it.

(And I have another one that I don't use, too.)

　I put my index finger to my mouth.

"Don't tell anyone else, okay?
Okay, okay.

　I nodded coyly, and then Solstice looked at me curiously.

"A raggedy rag....is that....a very nice person?
What?

　I chuckle.

　She compares my face to the gray magic stone in her hand in turn.
　Then she laughs.

"Thank you, Merle!　I'm so happy for you.

　...........
　It was a sparkling, beaming smile.

(A little foul.........)

　Solstice is a young girl, but she's incredibly beautiful.
　It made me laugh unguardedly and, moreover, the sudden name calling - I'm ashamed to admit, I was thrilled.

　But she doesn't care about me anymore and is now looking at the gray magic stone in her hand, letting the sun shine through it, enraptured by it.

'Oh, you two seem to be having fun, aren't you?　Is something wrong?

　Then Iltimina-san, who had finished loading, came over.

　Solstice hurriedly hid the gray magic stone under her shirt, and I hid her behind my back and smiled at Illtimina-san.

''Ah, yes. Well, Solstice shared some sweets with me. They were delicious.
Well, that's unusual, isn't it?
Ha-ha. --You must be tired, Iltimina, for all your hard work in loading and unloading. You must have been busy.
'Phew, I'm fine. Thanks for worrying about me, Merle.

　Illtimina-san smiled, then looked at the dragon car.

''It's time to leave.''
Yes.
This time, including our dragon car, three vehicles will be heading to the royal capital. And I heard that five adventurers will serve as our bodyguard, too.
Yeah,

　Solstice lightly cowered her shoulders.

''It's not that we don't need an escort, though~''

　Well, all three of you are strong.

　Iltimina chuckles at her sister.

''There are some civilians in the other carriages. That's important for a safe journey, isn't it?'
Okay.

　As we were talking like that, Mr. Quilt came back this time.

'Hmm. Everyone's here, aren't they?
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Of course.

　She looked at the three who answered and nodded broadly.

''Good. Then everyone get on the dragon carriage. We're leaving for King's Landing.

　At being told, we stand up.
　Solstice pours the rest of the fried pastry into her mouth, all of it, in a coarse, raspy fashion, and chews it forcefully. Her puffy cheeks look like a squirrel.

　Me and Illtimina-san giggle.

　But Kilt-san doesn't even laugh - or rather, he doesn't even notice Solstice's condition, he just looks at the Daimon we're about to head to.

(?)

Mr. Kilt, what's wrong?
Oh, no...

　It was unusually crisp.
　She let out a short breath.

I heard a rumor from the other adventurer I was talking to earlier that was a bit disturbing.
"Rumor?

　Kirt-san stares at my face as I ask him back.

　And then he smiles a little and strokes my head as if to fool me. Wha?

Oh, it's nothing. --It's time to leave. First, we'll get into the dragon car.
Uh-huh.

　In front of me, who holds my messy hair in my hands, Kirt-san walks into the dragon carriage.

　The three of us remaining look at each other.
　The answer, of course, is not forthcoming.

Anyway, let's go.

　At Iltimina's urging, we, too, climbed into the dragon car.

　Galang, Galang.

　The sound of the bells at the boarding area echoed, and the dragon carriage with us in it started to move, leaving the city of Medis here with two other carriages - and that's it.