Well, what to do tomorrow...

You're not going to Queles, are you?

　After waking Luna up, we gathered in the living room and all decided to discuss what we would do tomorrow.
　The plan is to leave Queres once tomorrow and go to the royal capital a few days later and return the horses.
　Then we'll meet with Dius and Glynn-san and carry out the example plan........

Yeah, I can't wait to get to King's Landing.

What, have Heihachi and the others got some kind of problem?

'No, I didn't cause the problem, I just solved the problem...'

'They're looking for you, aren't they?　Then it's the same thing.

　As I was racking my brain to figure out what's going on, Luna looked at me with zit eyes.
　It's not that we did anything this time, we just got caught up in it, but... well, either way, they're looking for us.

''Was there any need to go to the royal capital in such a hurry?''

Hey, hey, hey, did you forget?　The only reason we were ranked B was to form a group to collect the magic stones, right!

Oh, yes. I had forgotten all about it.

　Sisha tilts her head and says what's going on.
　You've come all the way from surveying the ruins to here to collect the magic stone!
　How dare you forget that!

What's the point of losing sight of the objective?

Is that what Okura-dono is going to say? Okura-dono, I'm going to tell you the original purpose of this.

'Well ... uh ... gah ... I mean ... uh ... oh, I'm going back to the world. That's the thing!

　Gah, I was about to say, when Nole made a clattering noise and tried to get up from his chair.
　So I stopped myself from saying it and thought again and said it again.
　'Oh no, I didn't forget, but I haven't been thinking about that lately and it took me a while to remember, yeah.

'How's that, you remembered it right?

I don't mean to sound so arrogant, but...

"Huh, since you enjoy spinning your gacha and all, why don't you just live in this world forever?

No, no!　I just need to find a way to get home!

　Estelle smiles and says that it would be nice if we could stay here forever.
　It's true that you can spin the gacha and even get your own home, so the idea of living in this world forever is quite appealing.
　But I'm still somewhat uneasy about not looking for a way to return at all.
　I won't know what I'm going to do until the time is right, but I'm going to continue to look for ways to get back.

''So you're in trouble because you can't show your face to the Adventurer's Association unless you return your horse?

'Yeah, but. I'm going to start talking to Mr. Glynn and Dius around to form a group.

Is that so? Then why don't we meet outside the Society?

　Instead of going to the Adventurer's Association, you're going to see Glynn-san and the others in person?
　Well, I've had that idea too, but there's a problem...

I'm not sure when they'll be there, since Dius and the others often go to the association to request escorts. Besides, Glynn-san and the others seem to be away from home these days.......

We can't stay in front of the association all the time, can we? Besides, if you make a move, it's likely to give information to Christophe-san...

Hmmm, then I guess it's best to collect the horses and come back.

　Before accepting this request for an escort, I looked for Glynn and Dius and the others to see if I could meet with them to talk about forming a group.
　But neither of them were at the Adventurer's Association, so I asked the receptionist about their plans and was told it would take more than four days for them to return.
　They seemed to be coming back in the middle of our escort request, and there was no way I could ask them to wait until my escort request was finished.

　It's not always the case that he comes to the Adventurer's Association every day, and it's a tremendous thing to wait and watch for him to come.
　And even if we didn't go to the Society, if Christophe-san finds out from somewhere that we're in Brunne or Sting, it could get pretty messy.
　They'd probably say that we're already back or what's wrong with the horses....
　Even just that guy was interested in our painful parts, so we don't want to add more suspicion to the situation.

　Ideally, I'd like to go back to the royal capital and return the horse to him in a dignified manner, but I wonder if we can do something about it.
　.........wait?　Isn't it a mistake to think you can't get to Queles soon?

'Okay, let's turn this around!　We'll go to Queles tomorrow and collect the horses!

Oh, my God, are you all right?　I told my brother himself that that woman might be looking for him.

'Yeah, because the more time that goes by, the more people that woman might be able to talk to around her and look for her. In fact, the sooner we get there, the sooner we should be able to go without being discovered!

Are you sure you're all right, sir?

Don't worry. I'll think of something. Just know that I'll be there early tomorrow morning.

　If he escaped, you wouldn't normally expect him to be back any time soon.
　That happened just before the sun went down, and if it was just today, I don't think the story would spread that far.
　If that's the case, I'll take my horse and run away from Queles before the story spreads, and I won't go near it until the heat dies down.
　You wouldn't imagine that he would only come for the horses early in the morning of the next day and run away.
　As for Mr. Arderbel's request, I can go check on him every day with my Invisible Cloak.

　That's the perfect plan!
　Hmmm, I guess that means we can completely avoid that flag!

Oh, Esther and Luna can go back to sleep.

What? Why?

No, I'll be back soon.

　Tomorrow morning me, Noor, and Sisha are going to go and finish up in a puff.
　We'll get the horses out of the stable and have Noor and the others hurry up and run them outside, and then we'll use the beacon to move them all around.
　If they couldn't, I could even put them in the dimension room and let them out again at home.
　Then you can rent a petting shed in Moffoot, put the horse in it, and deliver it to King's Landing in a few days' time so that it won't look unnatural.

　The pet house comes in three sizes: large, medium and small, and can be transformed by pressing a button on the back to suit the animal inside.
　Noll didn't know that and tried to force his way into the small one for Moffat and got his ass caught in it.
　I found him and rescued him, but he was crying for real..........................I don't tell you that I laughed a little.

'Mmmm...'

Don't sulk, okay?

"Okay, fine. But be careful out there, okay?

Oh, thank you.

　Esther's cheeks are puffed out, as if she's not happy that she can't join us tomorrow.
　Still, I wonder if she understood me, and although her eyebrows were raised, she was reluctantly convinced.

That's all right with Luna, isn't it?

I don't mind. I'd rather it be that way.

You are as steady as ever, aren't you?

Luna-san, I like that part of you because it's adorable!

Mm, I don't like it when you like me.

'Please don't say that!

●

　The next day, under a dim, starry sky, we hid behind the building where we could see the Society of Adventurers of Queres.
　Phew, we made it here without a hitch!
　It's just as planned.

　Just in case, I opened the map app and checked the people around me.
　The inhabitants of the town were still asleep, and there were a lot of myriad blue dots on the map that didn't move.
　Most of them are inside the house, so I don't see anyone who looks like they're outside.
　If they're keeping an eye on us, there should be someone moving unnaturally, and there's no one hiding behind the building to keep an eye on the association.

　Then I take a look through the telescope at the stable next to the association.
　The door has a padlock-like lock on it, and apparently it's unoccupied at the moment.
　Hmmm, I'll have to ask the receptionist to open the door....

　Checking the inside of the association, there are seven blue dots.
　There's a possibility that they're waiting for me inside.......I'll have to go see for myself.

'There's no sign of anyone in the vicinity of the association. But there are a few people in the association, so we'll have to check it out.

Oh, could it be that Okura-dono's plan has worked?

You're very good at your job, Okura-san. You've got good instincts about these things.

I know, I know. You can worship me more than you want to, you know?

　Geez, we did it.
　It's a nice feeling to know that things are working out the way they're supposed to.
　It's not bad to be active like this once in a while, and receive praise for my work.

　I quickly put on my invisible cloak and approach the association to check out the people inside through the window.
　Uh, that woman in white........is gone.
　After a couple of checks, I go back to Noll and the others.

'Alright, alright!　I didn't see him inside either!　I've won this bet!

Then take your horses and get the hell out of here!

　I walk into the Adventurer's Association with the Nolls who were waiting for me.
　We talk to the receptionist inside, a different woman from yesterday, and ask her if we can get the horses we left with her yesterday out of the stable.
　She confirms our plates and names, and we get the key to the stable from the receptionist.
　Now all that's left to do is get the horses out of the stable and run away.

　Oh no, what was the tension of yesterday?
　I thought I was going to get into some trouble, but it wasn't like that.
　Haha, that's what you call folding the flag!

It's a bit of a pity that we won't be able to see the town now that we're able to come all the way to Queles.

'Sure, I'd have liked to see a bit of the town, but I guess I don't have a choice.

　On the way out of the association, Sisha was frowning a little disappointed.
　Now we won't be able to explore this town for a while, but it can't be helped.
　Maybe in a few dozen days, that woman will give up, and we can do the walking afterwards.
　In that case, we'd all like to go around Queres until we're satisfied.

　We leave the association and head to the stable next door.
　And the moment you put your hand on the key with the confidence of victory--''

''Ta.........''

　I heard some kind of screaming, screaming voice.

'Hmm?　What is it?

Oh, Okura-dono!　Oh, that!

Oh, really?　How are you doing?!

　As Noll and the others shouted in surprise, I turned in that direction and saw the woman in white from yesterday coming toward me at full speed.
　She seemed to be running while shouting, and her appearance was unusual.
　It's as powerful as Sisha when she's hunting a demon.

''I've found her!　I found it!

"Whoa!

　While I was stiff with surprise, the woman didn't slow down her running momentum and grabbed me straight onto my shoulder.
　Her eyes bleed and terrible dark circles appear underneath them, and she seems to be half-mad, screaming that she found it like a curse.

　Oh shit.... the flag I thought I'd avoided is now chasing me... or rather, how did they find me?
　It didn't show up on the map app, and if it's running, does that mean you were watching it from a distance?

Well, let's get on with it... hah, tell me a story... hah, tell me a story... hah...

Okay, all right, all right, let's just calm down, okay?

　He's breathing heavily due to the fact that he's been running, and he opens his mouth as he stares at me with a deathly look on his face.
　And since I don't think I can escape for now, let's start by calming her down....

　Then the woman held onto my shoulders for a while, and I breathed in and out.
　I can feel your strong will that you're not going to let me escape no matter what........

''Well, so........what do you want from us?''

You don't need to ask, do you?　I mean, that........where's the mage girl from yesterday?

Uh, I'm afraid he's not here at the moment.

　You don't have to ask, and what you're looking for is Esther.
　It's definitely about the doll yesterday!
　Oh no, I'm glad I didn't bring Esther with me.

'Oh, if you want to talk to me, I'll bring her in later, so please wait in the association until then.

　I lied.
　I said I'd bring Esther to get away from here. Of course I lied.
　I can't let Esther meet with such a dangerous person.

No.

What?

From the looks of it, you're trying to escape, right?

　How did you know...?
　She's even more of a pain in the ass than I thought.

''I'll go to where she is. All night long, I've been watching from a place where I can see this main street!　I can't let you go!

All right, all right, all right. Just calm down!

Please!　Please, let me just talk to her, just talk to her!　I'm not soliciting or anything like that, so please, please, please!

　Oh, come on, you don't mean to tell me you've been watching where you can see this place since then!
　Oh, shit this guy is a badass!
　The Noles also looked at the woman with a don't look at her.

　I don't know if they really want to talk to Esther or not, but they grabbed my shoulders even tighter and appealed to me with tears in their eyes.
　It seems that she has no intention of letting us go, no matter what.
　Kuh.........what should I do.......