The result of the battle is 31 Goblins and 1 Hobgoblin.

　The objective of the quest is 'defeating 15 goblins', but since there seems to be a bounty for the surplus, I secured a total of 32 ears, the 'proof of defeat'.

Well, the bounty is cheap, though.
But isn't that an invaluable income for a newcomer?　And the hob is a bit more expensive.

　He said.
　According to the three of us, one hob-ear will get 30 rides, and 16 gob-ears will get 160 rides as a reward.

(So that's about 19,000 yen?)

　Yeah, I'm kind of happy about that.

　Then I stuff the 32 ears into a waterproof bag and fit them into my backpack. It's a bit heavy.

　So the four of us leave the forest.

　A grassland that looks like an ocean of rippling waves and gray rocks 10 to 30 meters high grow there, and a road that leads to the capital.
　We arrived at the side of the road.

　The plan was for 3 hours until the carriage arrives to pick us up.

(The quest ended sooner than we thought, didn't it?)

　We sit down on a reasonable rock.
　It's very cool in the shade of a large rock and there's a breeze across the meadow.

　It feels nice.

　I close my eyes, shaking my brown hair.

'Merle.'

　Hmm?
　I opened my eyes at the sound of Mr. Kilt's voice.

　The silver-haired beauty was sitting in front of me.
　On either side of her, those beautiful sisters were also sitting.

　The three of them were looking at me.

"..........

　Noticing the look on his face, I quickly straighten my posture.

　It's finally here.

　-- the announcement of the test results.

　As expected, Kirt says.

"Let's work on that first. Your quest went off without a hitch. Congratulations, Merle.
Yes.
And, as we've said before, your performance here will determine whether you will be allowed to accompany the Warriors on their next quest. Whether or not you succeed or fail in this quest is a different decision. --and based on that, I will tell you the results of the test.

　............
　So, you're saying that clearing the quest to defeat the goblins doesn't necessarily mean you'll pass the test?

I see.

　Maybe I'm a flunker when it comes to putting it this way.

　I was shocked.

　But I did my best.
　Let's be proud of yourself for that.

　You know, these three don't mean to sound like a bunch of jerks. They're making tough decisions because they're worried about my life.

(But that's heartbreaking.)

　The painfulness of the situation made me sullen.

　And the Golden Mark demon hunter told me in no uncertain terms.

I have passed.

　.............

(Huh?)

　I looked up.
　All three of them were laughing.

'What, do you look so stupid?　You've passed.
...Sol, Tis?

　I was stunned, and Solstice chuckled at me, stunned.
　Kilt-san nodded widely.

''Your quest selection, baggage preparation, field exploration, and combat skills are all fine. Marle has enough qualities to be an adventurer.''
"...Mr. Quilt.

　My heart shuddered with a buzz.

　Ms. Illtimina stepped forward, kneeled in front of me, looked at me, and held my hand in both of her white hands.
　And with a gentle smile.

You've done well, Merle. Now you are officially one of us.
..........

　Crimson eyes stare at me.
　I almost cry a little bit in response to that.

(Hey!　(Don't cry, me)

　I scold myself.
　Noticing me, Illtimina-san smiled like a compassionate mother and gave me a fluffy hug, hiding me from the two people behind her.

''Please keep up the good work, Marle?''
Yes ... yes!

　In his arms, I nodded repeatedly.

　The wind across the meadow caressed us.

　--This is how I finally became an official member of Illtimina and her party.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　It was about 2 o'clock.

　Since there was still some time before the carriage arrived, we decided to have a late lunch.

　Munching and crunching

　Portable food, like shortbread in a previous life, is diminishing at a tremendous rate.

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

　The two older demon hunters are stunned.

　Yes, their tremendous appetite is not only that devouring girl.
　What's more, I'm a part of it myself.

(..........I've been strangely hungry lately....

　Especially today, because it moved?
　I've already finished today's quests, and I'm already working on the portable food I prepared as a backup.

　Gulp, gulp, gulp...

　Suddenly, my eyes meet with the girl next to me who is also eating.

''Hmmm, you do it, Marl, don't you?　But I'm as good as anyone else.
It's me!

　It was a quick eating contest for no reason.

　Illtimina-san laughed as if she was troubled.

''Both of you, in moderation please, so as not to upset your stomachs?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Don't worry about it, sister Irna!

　We answer together and we eat again.

　Illtimina, the sweet sister, puts her hand on her cheek and sighs.
　Kilt-san chuckles.

"Well, I guess that's just how it is,
"...quilt.
Aside from Sol, Merle is working too hard today. It's only natural that he has a need for energy.

　Miss Illtimina, for a moment.

Yes.

　I nodded.

　Looking at us, Mr. Kilts said, "I honestly didn't expect Marle to go this far.

'I honestly didn't expect Marle to go this far,' he said. He took the quests, found traces of goblins, scouted, defeated the goblins, found their nests, flushed them out with a brilliant strategy and wiped them out, and finally, defeated the hobgoblins. ........What did the strawmen do?

　Illtimina-san also chuckles.

'You only took down a few goblins. And that was Marle's idea of a rope trap for the goblins that fell down.
I don't even use magic, Sol?
Yeah.
Well I didn't expect a novice kid to go this far.

　Kilt, you're a bit distant.

　Mr. Illtimina smiles a bit happily as she looks at me.　

'If I were a kid like Marle, and a novice adventurer, I would have wanted to party with a leader like Marle.
Hmmm, yes.

　Kilt-san also laughs.

(............)

　I imagined it for a moment.

　What if they were both the same age and were novice adventurers...?

　Ms. Kilt.
　Is she a spirited girl with silver hair in a ponytail and double teeth when she smiles?

　He's the type who wields a big sword and makes suicide attacks.
　He's easily injured, scraped and slashed, and seems to always have a bandage on his hops and arms.

　But his energy always seems to energize everyone.

　Next up is Illtimina.
　She has beautiful dark green hair, about shoulder length?
　But he has a painful past and is a bit of a gloomy person...

　But he's a very serious person, and he's the type of person who uses his long spear to support his friends on the front lines and does his best to do so.

　He's not used to being praised, and is easily embarrassed.
　But she's a very, very kind girl who really cares about her friends.

　..........
　Hmm, I really want to have an adventure with the two of them.

　I think so, rather seriously.

　Mugu Mugu.

..........

　These girls have grown up and are now overlapping with the two girls in front of us.
　One of the grown-up girls looked at me.

''But such as that, Marle, we're going to be together now, you know.
Well.

　The other one nodded.

But this next quest will not be the same. This time, the werewolves will have to get their shit together.
Yes, sir.

　The two older demon hunters nodded to each other.

(.........Next quest, huh?)

　I stopped eating.

'Speaking of which, guys, where are you going on your next quest?'
In the Kera Desert.

　The Kerala Desert?
　Solstice indicates the west with muggy, muggy, portable food.

'It's in the desert, near the border of the Arun goddom.
Oh, yeah?

　Next, the desert.
　The pyramids and the sphinx and other images that come to mind, like Egypt in a previous life.

　Kirto says.

The next quest request for Wara Wawa is to defeat the sand worms that appear there.
...Sandworms?
These are carnivorous worms of between 10 and 30 mesos in length.

　............
　In the desert sea of images, a giant snake-like monster swam out of the desert sea........

(Gosh, a goblin is a demon that isn't an eye, isn't it?)

　As I froze, Illtimina-san said softly to me.

''This is the Quest for the Golden Mark, you know. Next time, Marle, please prioritize surviving.
Uh-huh.

　Mr. Kilt laughs.

From now on, you are my leader. You will do as you're told, won't you?
Okay, okay.

　I give up the leader.

"Phew, that was a short time in the sun, wasn't it, rag?
..........

　I didn't mean to do that.
　But seeing Solstice looking kind of happy makes me frustrated... ugh.

　Mr. Kilt took a bite of his portable food.

I can't help but think that the Warawa is the 'Demon Hunter of the Golden Mark'. There are many times when I am appointed by clients, and there are quests that only Warawa can do, and the appointments are crowded. And because of that, I can't take much time off.
..........

　I let them use the time off for me.

I'm sorry, Mr. Quilt.
No, I don't mind. This vacation has been quite pleasant, unlike any other.

　He smiled, showing his white teeth.
　There, I couldn't feel the lie.

(For Kirt-san, I wonder if defeating goblins is part of the vacation...?

　She changed her expression.

'But tomorrow, you'll be on a quest again.
Yes.
You may not be able to return to King's Landing for a while. Isn't that what you'll be doing?

　Yeah, I'm fine.

As long as I can be with you guys, I'm fine.
Okay.

　Kilt-san laughed, a little relieved.

　Illtimina-san hugs me happily, "Marl," and gives me a cheeky hug. Soltis chuckles and gives a small shrug, "Hehehehey.

　Tomorrow, the Kera Desert.
　Beyond that, a different quest awaits us.

(I wonder what days are about to begin?)

　I looked up excitedly at the sky.

　--That's when.

　Towards that sky, a ray of light ran from the ground.

　Paaaaan.

(...what?)

　With a terrific sound, another sun was born in the blue sky - a magical light that gives the illusion that it was born.

　That light, I would never forget it.

''Is that...a luminous signal round!

　I look back at the three of them without a second thought.
　The three's amazing good looks are also illuminated by their magical glow.

''It's pretty close, isn't it?''
Hmm. It's in that direction, I think...
The ruins of Dior are there.

　Dior ruins!

So, was it Asbell-san and the others...?

　We looked at each other.
　Immediately we are all united in our determination.

"Hmm. Let's move.
Yeah!
Yes, sir.
I know.

　We gathered up the bags we had spread out and started to run in unison, aiming directly beneath the light shining in the sky - the light.