The Mithril Mine is located just on the border between human and demon territory.

　This may be one of the reasons why this land was subjected to a long battle.

　But even more significant than that is the unique added value of being the only place in the world that produces the world's finest metal mithril.

　Over the centuries of warfare between demons and humans, the mithril mine has changed owners.
　It was all because mithril was too good a material for weapons and magic tools.

　Right now, the Mithril Mine belongs to the human race and is under the strict control of the Adventurer's Guild.
　This was also to prevent the misuse of mithril, which could pose a serious threat if misused, from leaking out unintentionally.

　Therefore, it is forbidden for any unauthorized person to approach the mine.
　They have even gone so far as to prohibit entry to the transport route leading from the village of Lax to the mine in partnership with the village of Lax, which is the first place where mithril is taken out of the mine, and allow only authorized personnel to pass through.

　The arrival of a stranger at the Mithril mine, where such comings and goings were currently controlled, caused a bit of a stir.

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Führer, Führer.
Hmm?

　Bestfred, the chief executive of Mithril Mines, was known as the Governor in the field.
　He had once held the key position of Director of the Center Guild, but he had stepped down from that position to take up his post in such a remote area.
　It would be enough to call him an eccentric.

''What's the matter?　Have you run out of three o'clock snacks to hand out to the knockers?
Yes, that's all there is to it, but...?　A patrolling adventurer reported that there was something out there on the west side.
A hint?　How can that be...?

　The Mithril Mine is a mine where the comings and goings of people are strictly controlled.
　There was no way an unscheduled visit would occur, and if someone was going to come, there was sure to be an advance report from Lax Village with the approval of the village chief.

　Furthermore, it is unique in that it is located in the west.
　There shouldn't be anything to the west of the Mithril Mine, and when the convoy from Lax Village came, it was always from the east side.

''........They could be bandits or something. Put the adventurers on alert.
I understand.
Be very quiet so as not to alarm the Knockers. And if it's the wrong guys, there's no way it's a diversion. Tell them not to only focus on the noise.
Yes, sir!

　Quickly giving out instructions, Bestfred himself heads to the west side where the problem is.

　The Mithril Mine is packed with about fifty D- to B-class adventurers who are tasked with guarding the mine, as well as administrative personnel to measure and manage the mined mithril.

　In the past, the Mithril Mine was driven to the brink of collapse by an attack of fiery demonic beasts, and based on the lessons learned, the Mithril Mine has put in place a solid defense system.

　Best Fred was the one who stood at the forefront of that effort.
　Although his age was no longer at the age of sixty, his running gait was firm and he was able to reach the western face of the mine immediately.

　Several guarded adventurers had already gathered and were on alert.

''What's going on?''

　It's a good-natured one, and the adventurer responds to the short question with a wise and precise response.

It's like we're intruders after all. And they are in a group.
A group...?
From what I can tell, there's a big group of a hundred of them. They're headed straight for us.
'Nonsense!　There's nothing west of the mine but wilderness!　It's so full of mountains and forests that people shouldn't even be able to walk properly!

　It was not possible for a large group of people to rush into it.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time.
　I'm sure the scouts, from the direction, have returned to do their part.

'Leader!　Leader, it's tough!
You must report directly to the Governor.

　The adventurer who had been exchanging words with Bestfred up until now was also the older man who was organizing the security.
　Receiving a thoughtful gaze, Bestfred nodded.

''Please........!
Well then...!　I ran when the leader told me to look for a way in for the mysterious group. Bypass the group and exit unnoticed to the back.

　Then he saw it.

'In the middle of the mountains, where there was supposed to be nothing, there was a big road!
A road?　You mean a road?
Huh?　What's the difference between a road and a road?

　If I had to correct the minor differences, I wouldn't be able to make any progress, so I ignore it.

'Trees and stuff had been cut down, the ground was well leveled, and it was clearly a man-made path!　I thought they came through there...!

　If a group of people had come through the mountains, there was no other explanation for it.
　Best Fred stroked his chin, trying to gather his thoughts in confusion.

''That's right...!　It's better to know who they are and what they want than how they came to be right now...!
If there's a path, you can follow it, and you'll know where they've come from. We'll know who they are.

　The leader adventurer had a good point, but the young adventurer who came back from scouting shook his head and said.

I thought so too and tried to follow the path, but it was too long and I didn't think I'd be able to get there soon enough. I gave up and came back. I figured what's the point if I can't report back before the other guy arrives.......!

　It was a good decision by the scouts.

　Just the knowledge that a mysterious group of people had carved out a mountain forest to build a road and were walking leisurely over it was a harvest.

The opening of a road is a huge undertaking. "Opening a road is a huge undertaking, and they have the financial and organizational resources to do it...?
'Not only that, but building a new road means you need public permission, right?　The safety of each community is a major concern, especially here in the Mithril mine area. This is even more so here in the Mithril mine area.

　The leader adventurer was right.
　If it's just a hair's breadth of the beast's path, but if a hundred people can line up to pass through it, it's already a street.

　If such an authentic road can be built by bandits, it's a big problem.

　If not, then the hundreds of people approaching here now belong to some kind of public organization.

''Don't tell me it's the Demon King's Army?　No, that's the wrong direction too...?''

　As Bestfred pondered, he came up with one possibility.
　The fact that he had been warned by Dariel village chief, who was well acquainted with him.

''Uh...!''

　Best Fred scurried around his feet.
　He looked like he was looking for something, but he picked up a tree branch that happened to be lying around, and scavenged the ground at the end of it.

　The adventurers around him wondered what in the world was going on, but.......

''It's.......this mark.

　Best Fred drew on the ground with a branch, a sort of crest with a curious geometric pattern superimposed on it.

'Didn't the group that's heading this way right now have a symbol similar to this one!　With a flag or a banner or something!''
I only know one thing.
Viceroy, you're not very artistic...!

　There was no need to mention that, Best Fred thought.
　It didn't matter what his assessment of his descriptive skills was, what mattered was whether the group carried this mark.

'That being said, this picture in the example is too squishy to collate. It's more difficult to identify them, don't you think?
'Then frankly, I'd like to know if they're in the Chamber of Commerce!　If he did, he'd have the Mark of the Chamber of Commerce on his back, wouldn't he?
That was the Mark of the Chamber of Commerce?　They don't look anything like each other, do they?

　They say raggedly.

''........Ah!　They did indeed raise a flag with some kind of symbol on it!

　Several of the adventurers who served as scouts said among themselves, "I thought I saw that mark somewhere, but it was the Chamber of Commerce.

It's the mark of the Chamber of Commerce.　It's exactly the same as we've seen in some town!
''I wonder why I didn't notice it first!

　It's a good idea to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It is not directly related to the adventurers, so their memories tend to fade.

''But the Chamber of Commerce is here...?

　I've been warned in advance by Dariel village chief.
It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.
　I've been told to be cautious of the Mithril Mine, the main camp, because of the conspicuousness of this movement in recent years.

　The head of Lax Village, Dariel, is a powerful and resourceful man who is both flexible and tough. I've known him for more than five years now.
　The fact that Dariel told me to be careful is something I should pay attention to.

"But I didn't expect them to approach me in this way...?

　A whole new road would be opened to reach the Mithril mine.
　I thought that only a powerfully capitalized Chamber of Commerce could do that, but now was not the time to be impressed.

　Even while he was doing so, the other party was right in front of him.

''Well, well, well, well, well, we're very sorry to be greeted by you.

　A group of a hundred men, a cart drawn by a horse and its attendant. An armed group that seemed to be an escort. In addition to that, there was a handful of beautifully dressed groups that looked even stranger.

'My name is Litges, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. From now on, let's get along with each other as co-managers of the Mithril Mine.