The next day, me, Illtimina-san and Solstice headed to the Adventurer's Guild.

'Oh, you're here.'

　A guild building that looks like a chalk tower - in front of its entrance, Kirt-san and Poe are standing in front of it.

　Kirt-san was dressed in a shirt and trousers, and his rich silver hair was in a ponytail in everyday mode.

　Poe, too, was unusually dressed in a skirt.

'Heh~ You look good in it, don't you?'

　Solstice complimented the young blonde girl.

　Though expressionless, the young girl was depressed and seemed a bit embarrassed.

(Haha.)

　I'm kind of smiling.

　Kilt-san and Illtimina-san are also laughing gently.

''All right, let's go then.''

　As usual, Kirt's command sent us on our way to the city center of Mulia, the royal capital.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Today, we're going to eat at a restaurant that Kilt says he's familiar with, to celebrate his return from the Dark Continent and Solstice's birthday party.

　The five of us walked down the busy street.

　Eventually, we arrived at one small restaurant.

(.........more like a restaurant or a place to eat?)

　Solstice raised an eyebrow.

'Here?'
"Mm.

　Kilt-san nodded widely.

　The bespectacled girl might have imagined a more luxurious store, as it was a store attended by the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter'.

　Iltimina-san also looked at the store's interior as if it was a rarity.

''Is this your first time coming here too, Iltimina-san?''
Yes, sir.

　Hmmm, yeah.

Come on, let's get in.

　While saying this, Mr. Quilt walks into the store.

Poe is pushing Solstice, who has an expression of "muuu~" on her face, on the back.

　Following the three of us, Illtimina-san and I also went inside.

''Welcome!

　A loud voice greeted me.

　The restaurant looked like it was going to be filled to capacity with about 20 people. Perhaps because it was still before noon, there were only four or five sets of customers, and the seats were only about half full.

　And there is a large man wiping an empty table with a rag.

　He had an apron around his waist and looked like the owner of a restaurant.

(Is that his loud voice now?)

　He stopped wiping the table and looked at me.

　Then he said, "Oh? I make a face.

　The shopkeeper laughed at the owner of the store.

'Here he is, Pogo.
'Oh, a quilt!　I've been waiting for you.

　The owner, with short hair and a beard, smiled, showing his white teeth.

　His right eye is a prosthetic eye.

　The shopkeeper, called Pogo, shook hands with Mr. Kilt.

　Then he looked at us.

'Is this what you're doing with your quilts now?

　I said.

　Mr. Kilt nodded, 'Mm.

'Hello. 'Nice to meet you,'

　I bowed properly and smiled at the owner of the store, who seemed to be good friends with Mr. Kilt.

　He laughed.

'Oh!'　I'm Pogo Azilia. Nice to meet you!

　Then he holds out his right hand.

　I took his hand in mine.

　Cue.

(Hmm...?)

　In Mr. Pogo's hand was a sword dacoit.　

　Surprised, he smiled at me, showing his nicks and white teeth.

'I see. I see, you're the rumored disciple of the quilt.
...What?

　I think they've noticed the sword-dollar in my hand, too.

(Or is that a rumor?)

　His left eye looks at me with interest.

"But to think that that rambunctious kilt would take an apprentice....... And what's more, he's such a little kid. Was that your hobby?

　The last word was to Mr. Kilt.

　Mr. Kilts.

"Telling.

　And a Buddha's face.

　Then his expression falters.

Well, it was just a fluke at first. But now I'm in love with Marle's swordsmanship. I want to see how far he can go.

　That's what he said.



　I never dreamed that he would think of me like that, and I couldn't help but stare at Kirt-san's profile.

''Nuh...?''

　Mr. Quilt noticed and, looking a little embarrassed, scratched his cheek with his finger.

　At the sight of this, Mr. Pogo

...Oh, yeah?

　I chuckled.　

'I never thought I'd see that demon princess Kilt look like this. I can't believe you used to be like this.
Let it go.

　Mr. Kilt, I'm back to my Buddha's face again.

　But I'm blushing a bit.

　And Iltimina-san, who was watching the exchange, suddenly interrupted me.

''Excuse me, but have you and Kilt known each other for a long time?''
Hmm?

　Mr. Pogo turns around.

　He gazed at Ms. Illtimina with a jittery stare.

"...I see. So you're the new Golden Mark demon hunter, Iltimina Wong?

　He muttered.

　Ms. Illtimina continued to stare at him in silence.

　Ms. Pogo ruffled her short hair with a large hand.

'Ah, well, you know, it's the kind of face I've known since the young quilt was naughty.

　I said.

(Naughty?)

　I nodded my head.

　Kirto-san tells me, "This pogo is called the pogo of the rock demon.

This pogo is called the rock devil's pogo. He was in the company of Naruda the Red Devil and Mumpa the Crying Muppet when they were part of the bandits known as the Oni Onda (Demon King) in Warawa's Kingdom of Arun.

　What?

　We are surprised.

　Even Mr. Pogo is like, "Oh come on, you can't tell me that much? I was surprised.

　Ms. Kilt laughed, "No matter.

　Then she looked at Miss Illtimina.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that he was one of the founding members of the Adventurer's Guild Gekko no Kaze with Warawa and Mumpa. Well, he's also a great mentor to Irna.

　I continued.

'Well, I see,'

　Ms. Illtimina also rolls her crimson eyes.

　Mr. Pogo chuckles.

　With her thumb, she indicates the prosthetic eye in her own right eye.

It's why I retired from being an adventurer for a long time now. Well, I'm running this restaurant in a second life.

　I smiled brightly.

　I see.

(The remnants of which still had the sword-dako in their hands.)

　I agree.

　Mr. Kilt put his hands on his hips.

'We can talk about this later, can't we? Pogo, I think it's time to take your seat.
Oops, that's right.

　Mr. Pogo hurts himself.

Since it was a long overdue appointment, I've reserved a private room on the second floor for you. --Since you made a reservation, we have a private room for you to sit upstairs.

　With that, he finally calls out to the back of the store.

'Yes,'

　That was the reply, and the female waiter came over.

(.........Huh?)

　I blink my eyes.

　Illtimina made her beauty look a little stronger.

　Solstice said, "Oh? Surprised, Mr. Kilt laughed with a prankster's face of 'I did it'.

　Only Poe, who didn't know her, nodded his head.

　The female waiter had her habitual, glossy red hair pulled back behind her head and her skin was brown like sweet chocolate.

　Her eyes stare at us - at me.

'Oh, it's been a while, Marle.'

　He sounded a little embarrassed.

　Memories of the past overlapped with the present, and I uttered the name.

''--Renu-san?''

　He was happy to be remembered, but he muttered, "Oh..." and his smile immediately popped.

'Yes, I'm Renu!'

　It was a woman I once met in the Tet Tetet Confederacy, a woman who had returned from a demon to a man - Renu Widert.