The Adventurer's Guild holds a lot of information about the adventurers who belong to it.

　What is their level? What materials do they use for their weapons and armor? Which system of magic, earth, water, fire, and wind do they practice, and to what realm can they use it?

　These are all vital information for adventurers, and for this reason, guild officials are required to have a high sense of ethics and responsibility in handling secrets.

　Naturally, Parfait was aware of this. Even though he was young, he had been working at the guild's reception desk for more than a year, which is a hard job. He knew the distinction between good and bad information to convey.



　Parfait spoke of information about Sola in response to Goz's question, but he didn't divulge a word about the information he heard from Sola during his time with the guild. The same is true of the events that occurred after Sola's expulsion from the guild.

　What he told her, then, was the saga of Sola. It was the story of her heroic deeds that Sola had shared with Goz and the others to promote her clan, the Sword of Blood and Smoke.

　It's not valuable as information because it's something that can be obtained on the same day if you go into Ishqa and do some research on Sola - Parfait began to speak with that kind of preface, but for information that is less than a single copper coin, Goz bites into it with surprising force.

　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find a way to make your life easier.

　It's not as overt as Goz, but you can tell that the other two are interested in each other as well.

　Even Klia was deafened, and even Klimt, who was frowning and looking away, did not interrupt or leave his tent.


　Parfait thinks.

　It is definite that there is some kind of connection between the three of them and Sola. If we find out what that connection is, we might find out the secret of the three of them' s brazen strength. And that was supposed to coincide with the reason why Sora, who had long been at level [1], had grown so rapidly in a short period of time.

　Liddell, who was silently observing the situation, was having the same thought, and the two receptionists exchanged glances and gave each other a small nod.



◆ ◆ ◆



　After the two guild emissaries left the tent, Goz wrinkled his brow and sank into his thoughts.

　Of course, it was Sora that he was thinking about.

　The information uttered by the duo who called themselves Parfait and Liddell was fragmentary, and it didn't give him any certainty that the adventurer named Sola was the Gokensora he once knew.

　Goz chuckled as he found himself unconsciously tapping the hilt of his sword with a thump.


He said, "If this Sora is not a young man - no, not Sora-dono, that's fine. But if it was Sora-dono...


　Goz's concern for Sora's identity was not driven by nostalgia of any kind.

　No, or more accurately, nostalgia. There is, but that's only one small reason.

　As it turned out, Goz guessed that Sora had mastered the mind outfit.

　In order to make the connection between "Sora's military service" that Parfait and others talked about and "Gokensu's ability" that Goz knew, the element of "mind attire" is essential.


　Of course, this is just a guess. It is also possible that Sora, who was banished from the island, gained a good teacher during the five years, and after going through the toughest real-world battles, his abilities blossomed.

　But if you ask me whether a boy who was unable to handle the dragon soldier at the age of thirteen could grow up to be able to defeat Scylla and the griffon alone in five years or so - the answer is a negative one.

　It's still more convincing to think that Sora has somehow mastered the mind outfit.

　And if Sora had come to the depths of the Illusory Itto style on his own--


I'm sure Mikado-sama will agree to let you off the hook.


　As long as Laguna was around, it would be difficult to return to a legitimate son, but that doesn't mean it's impossible, depending on the sky's mind-set.

　When I thought of that, my heart naturally lifted.

　However, I have some concerns.

　It is not necessarily true that Sora, who was banished from the island, still has feelings for his hometown.



　What would happen if Sora did not return to Onigashima?

　Speaking of personal feelings, it's enough to know that Sora is doing well off the island. I'm sure his sister Cecil will be happy to hear that.

　But as a swordsman, Shiba, he couldn't leave a person who had mastered the inner workings of the Illusionary Itto-Ryu style off the island.



　Itto-ryu is a martial art that is not to be missed. Once a student joins a school, he or she is not allowed to leave the island as they see fit.

　They are required to swear that they will never use it or talk about it for the rest of their lives.

　This is not a superficial written or verbal oath. They would have their fists crushed and would never be able to hold a weapon again, and they would be silenced with a spell. The same procedure is to be applied to those who are banished for their crimes.

　If a person left the island without permission for fear of this, an assassin would immediately be released to take his or her life.

　This was the rule of the Itto-ryu school of thought.



　Sora, who was expelled from the island five years ago, was able to evade this measure because he had not yet officially joined the school.

　What would the swordsman do if it turned out that Sora had mastered the mind attire?

　The fact that Sora came to the depths of the art after leaving the school, it was Sora's own power that had nothing to do with the Illusionary Itto School - such an argument would not pass.

　It's been three hundred years since the first Sword Sage created the Illusionary Itto-Ryu. The power of the heart outfit has been monopolized by the swordsmen. If the secrets of the heart outfit were to leak out to the world, that alone would damage the influence of the swordsman.

　Therefore, all mind-dressers had to be under the control of the House of the Sword.

　As the Swordsman's Librarian, Goz was in a position to force Sora to make a decision.

　If he agreed to return home, good. If he refuses, I will drag him back to the island, even if it means dragging him forcibly. Otherwise, I will crush my fists and make my body unable to use the Illusionary One-Dimensional Style again.


''....Totally. I'd rather pretend I never heard of Sora-dono's name.


　Goz blurted out in a whisper that didn't fit his massive body.

　If it had been just Goz alone who heard the receptionists, or maybe he would have done so. But there were Berch's sisters and brothers in that place. He couldn't pretend that he hadn't heard them now.

　If that was the case, rather than putting the matter off, he should quickly get it over with. If you confront a demon with a disturbed mind, you could be unexpectedly unaware - Goz did not overestimate his own abilities.




　When Goz told the other two of his thoughts, the first to react was Klimt.

　The white-haired young man said in a biting tone.


'We're fighting to atone for the monk's (Jijinbo's) callousness, aren't we?　After deciding to do so, how could Shiba be the first to leave the battlefield? It's not too shabby, even if it's the morning after the war.

I'm not going to be away for a day or two. I'm not going to be away for a day or two, but with the power of the javelin, the journey to and from Ishqa will not take more than a moment. I'm sure you'll be able to get away for a day or two without being seen.

Don't change the subject. I'm just saying, you need to take responsibility for your words and actions.


　Klimt raises his eyes and glares at Goz.

　It was rude to his superior opponent, but to Klimt, it looks like Goz is just now trying to act selfishly because of his personal feelings. There was no need to be polite to such an opponent.

　With that in mind, Klimt continued, eliminating the call for "Shiba".


I'm not sure what to do if the demons come to you during the hour you're away.　The Stampede can do without you, but don't put the blame on me and my sister for the responsibility you have to carry. If you want to see the empty one so badly, you can go see him as much as you want after you've taken care of Stampede.


　Then I won't complain, Klimt chuckles.

　Neither Klimt nor Cryer is a private vassal of Goz. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do if you're not going to be a part of it.

　It's true that if you think about it without taking it personally, you should focus on the Stampede now. Goz must have thought the same way if he was in Klimt's position.

　Goz opened his mouth to take back his statement, but someone else opened his mouth earlier.

　It was Klimt's sister, Cryer.


''In that case, I'll take care of Shiba's share.

What?　Sis, what are you talking about....


　Klimt was taken aback by his sister's unexpected words.

　Even Goz was surprised and looked at Cryer with his right eyebrow raised.


'Are you sure?'

'Yes, sir. Klimt said it was a private act, but I don't think so. If that adventurer named Sora that the guilds talked about is really the Sora-dono we know, then he may have been involved in the death of Jirinbo-dono (which).

Mm.


　Goz growled at Cryer's words.

　Goz thought that Sora might have mastered the mind attire, but he did not connect that to Jirinbo's death.

　He had subconsciously thought that Sora, a heir of the Gokens, would never have killed the Seirin Kishi.

　However, five years have passed since he was banished from Onigashima. It is quite possible that Sora's personality has changed.

　It's a good thing that Goz and the others are more satisfied with the fact that the heart-dresser Jirinbo was killed by the same heart-dresser, Sora, than by the amateur, Lord Dragunot.


It's a good idea to have a conversation with the guild master, Elgato, at least once if you are going to be working under the command of the Adventurer's Guild. This is necessary in order to avoid a relationship where the other side is giving us unilateral orders. However, if the three of us move at the same time to do so, it will create a hole in the line of defense. Therefore, I would like to ask Shima to go and talk to them as our representative.


　And there's nothing wrong with finding out about the sky when you do, Cryer said.


'Isn't that right, Klimt?'


　Smiling, Klimt had visions of multiple angry marks on Crya's temples as he smiled.

　Cryer seemed to feel that his brother's attitude towards his superior (Goz) just now could not be overlooked. Klimt flinched inwardly, knowing that this sister was scary when she made him angry.

　In addition, it was none other than Klimt who declared to the earlier receptionists that they should tell Elgato not to tell them what to do. It was my sister's suggestion in line with that statement, there was no other choice but to nod.


''Well, I have no complaints then.''

I'm sure there are other words you'd like me to say.

'.............................I'm sorry, Shima. My words were out of line.

'I apologize to you as well. Please forgive my brother for his rudeness.


　Cryer, who bowed deeply to him, and Klimt, who followed his sister's lead, even though he was clearly sulking.

　It's a good thing that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away with the fact that you can't get away with the fact that you can't get away with the fact that you can't get away with the fact that you can't get away with the fact that you can't get away with it.