Well, let's get going then, Nole.

Yes, sir!

　A few days after we defeated Grandis.
　Today, I'm going to report that Grandis was in Alde's Forest and give the magic light stone to Chrystia-san.
　Since then, I went to Alde's Forest to look for the magic light stone, but I only found two.
　It seems there were because I hadn't explored the first day yet, but it seems to be rare for them to be generated even in the forest.

　I'm at level 68, and I currently have 350 magic stones.
　As expected, the leveling up is a little slow and the accumulation of magic stones is also slow.
　It can't be helped since I'm prioritizing leveling up, but it makes me miss the northern cave.
　Well, in the Alde Forest, Estelle and the others are having some fun with the mushroom hunting, so it's fine.
　Yesterday's pot full of mushrooms was delicious, but the color was awful........

''Mmmm, all Nol is cheating. We haven't been going together since we started working in Queles.

''It can't be helped.......Esther stands out in that town. Besides, this time we're going to Chrystia-san's place, so we can't take her with us, even more so.

　Esther looked at me as I called out to Nole to go, and she looked unhappy with her mouth agape as she looked at me.
　Ever since I started going to Queres, I made sure to take only Nol with me when I went into town.
　I can't take Estelle with me because she's a mage, so she stands out, and because there are dangerous people there, so I can't take her with me to prevent her from meeting them for a while.
　And since we're only going to go there to check the defeat certificate, it's enough for Nol and I to go there.

''Esther, I'll take care of Okura-dono, so I want you to be at ease.

You're my protector...

　Noll is beating his own chest and saying confidently.
　

'I don't worry about those things because I trust the Nolls. I just don't like the idea of spending less time with your brother.

Oh, oh, well.

　I'm curious what kind of concern you have, but Esther said something so straightforward that I can't ask her about it.
　It's not like I'm going to be away for long enough to worry about it, but I'm glad to hear it.

'I understand, I understand that feeling. It's hard for me, too, when I can't spend time with Luna-san.

Sisha understands this feeling.

Yes, of course.

　Sisha heard this and nodded repeatedly.
　Then, while eye to eye, they started to give each other thumbs up and something in tune with each other.
　Hey, hey, I feel like there's some kind of scary camaraderie brewing!

Ki, I know how you feel, but I can't take you with me. Please understand that.

'Yes, I know I shouldn't go with you. I'm not going to force you to go with me.

　I was expecting her to say that she really wanted to go, but Esther pulled back easily.
　She looks unhappy, but she seems to understand.

''In return, you must come home soon, brother.

Yeah, I get it.

　Clenching her hands and holding them out in front of her chest, Esther asked me to ask for a favor.
　

●

　Esther and the others saw me and Noll off and came to Queres.
　The first thing I planned to do today was to go to Christia-san's place to give her the magic light stone and get a certificate.
　As soon as I walked up to Chrystia-san's laboratory, the entrance to the building that looked like a factory was opened and I saw a group of about 10 young men and women and Chrystia-san inside.

'Hmm?　There's some people here.

Mm, they're all dressed the same, aren't they?

I don't think those people would want to be told they're dressed differently by Nole...

Hey, if you say so, it's Okura-dono!

I haven't said anything about being different.

Ggghhhhh...

　I was teasing Noll, but it's true that the men and women at the lab are dressed in unusual attire in this world.
　The difference is that the men wear trousers and the women wear skirts, but the men and women are all dressed in the same uniform black outfit.
　They also wear capes, and their appearance is that of wizards.

　What is it, they all wear the same clothes and look like a uniform. Are they people who belong to someplace?
　He's young and he looks like a student... no, it looks like there's a school in this town, and he's a student, not like that.

Oh, Okura-san.

Sorry to interrupt your session. I've come to deliver the Magickal Stone.

'What? You already got it for me?

　As we approached and looked inside, Chrystia-san was explaining to the young people with some kind of magic tool.
　When I was wondering if I should say something to them, Chrystia noticed us and called out to them.
　Then the people who were listening to the explanation turn to us in unison.

　Ka, I hope you'll give me a break.......I get nervous when a large group of people look at me.
　Let's just get it over with and leave.........

''This is so hard to find, isn't it? I looked around quite a bit, but I only found 7 of them.

''Eh........could it be that the contents of that bag you're carrying on your back are all magic light stones?

That's right. It's a bit big and heavy.

Oh, wow, Mr. Okura and Mr. Noll!　I knew it was the right thing to ask!

Oh, I see...

　One of them was pretty big, so I had to divide the magic light stones into multiple bags.
　When I placed the magic light stone inside the institute and asked Christia to check it out, she shook her head and shook her hair bunched up behind her neck, buzzing from side to side in delight.
　The young people also shouted in surprise when they saw the magic light stone that was inside the bag.
　From a mage's point of view, is this magic light stone a pretty good thing?

'I'll get the certificate now!　Just give me a minute!　I'm sorry, but the students of Listeria Academy will have to wait for a moment!

　To get the certificate, Christia-san ran towards the two-story house with a speed that was unbelievably fast for a researcher.
　And the remaining Lystaria Academy students and us were left waiting with an indescribable air.
　Well, it's a bit awkward.

　A little while after Cristia-san disappears, I feel a gaze from the students strangely.
　I glanced at her out of curiosity, and my eyes met with a girl with short light blue hair and eyes.
　Wha, what?　Why is she looking at me?
　I'm not in full gear today, so there shouldn't be a problem with my outfit.......

''Um........Okura-san, right?''

'Eh, yes. Yes, but....

Do you know a girl named Esther?

How did you know about Esther...

So it's that Okura-san, isn't it?

　As soon as their eyes met, the girl opened her mouth.
　And for some reason, Estelle's name comes out of her mouth.
　How does this girl know about Estelle.......and what is that Okura? Which Okura.
　Could it be that Chrystia-san said something?

'My name is Myra. I've heard a lot about Okura and the others from Annelie.

Are you a friend of Miss Annelie's?

Yes, I do.

　It looks like she's a friend of Annelie's.
　I didn't expect to meet them here...................it's a great coincidence.
　It's true that these students look close to Esther's age when you look closely.
　Did Chrystia-san say my name and realize I'm Okura, the adventurer, on the certificate?

'I heard that Esther, the mage girl, is awesome... but she's not here today?'

'I didn't bring him with me today because I'm only receiving my reward.

Well I'm sorry.

　I knew you were telling your friends about Esther........
　But if she's a friend of Annelie-chan's, maybe Esther can get along with her.
　Even if I bring her over and have her meet him in a place where Chrystia-san isn't there--''

''Esther, she seems to be a mage about the same age as us, but she's so strange being an adventurer.

Well ... uh ... it's definitely unusual.

　.... hmm?　I think she's acting a little strange.
　Myra is smiling, but her eyes aren't smiling, or perhaps her mood is a little dark.
　It seems like her words are strangely thorny.
　Maybe it's just my imagination.

''Is that boy really able to make a pillar of water or a small rainbow appear in the palm of his hand?

Yes, I can do that.

''........I see. I'd love to see it in person, even if it's just once. Annelie was like that--

Oh no, here you go!

　Myra-chan looked at me with her eyes peeled back and said something while looking at me, and just as she was about to say something, Chrystia-san came back.
　Annelie was like that...?　What the hell was I going to say?
　I mean, the way she was looking at me at the end was kind of scary.

Oh, Myra-san and Okura-san, were you talking about something?

No, I'm fine.

Oh, well, I guess I'm okay.

　Myra turned away, as if she wasn't going to say anymore.
　I'm curious, I'm curious, but I don't think it's best not to pursue it too much.

'Yes, I did indeed have it. I will continue to go to the Alde Forest, should I get it?

Of course I do!　Keep bringing them in!

I understand. Well then, I'll keep bringing them back when I find them.

　I received the certificate that Chrystia-san brought with her.
　That's 2.1 million G's earned at once............................a tasty profit.
　If I can earn this much while going into the forest, this request is pretty good.

''Well then, excuse me. Sorry to have kept you waiting, everyone.

'Thank you very much, Mr. Okura. It's my fault for making you wait, so it's not Mr. Okura's fault. I'm really sorry that you all came to visit.

　I apologize to the students for making them wait because of us.
　Chrystia continued to apologize and followed up by saying it wasn't my fault.
　Maybe she's usually crazy, but she's basically a good person.

'Okura-dono, that Myra girl was kind of scary...'



　As we were walking away from the institute, Noor said that Myra-chan was scary.
　At first I wondered if she would get along with Estelle, but from the way she looked, I was suspicious....
　Even though I hadn't even met her, she didn't seem to feel well about Estelle.
　There's no doubt that Annelie-chan is involved, but I wonder what happened.
　I'm also worried about what Myra-chan said to me at the end... I'm sure I'll see Annelie-chan in the future, so I have to tell Estelle about today's event.


●

　After going to Chrystia-san's place, he now came to the Adventurers' Association.

''That's what happened. Ah, this and this are the materials that the demon dropped.''

　After submitting the certificate I got from Chrystia and receiving my reward, I reported to Grandis and showed the receptionist what I got from defeating her.
　The drop item for that tree was a thicker, darker brown, huggable size log than Trent's.
　And a palm-sized stone shaped like a green egg.
　I'm sure you'll find that this stone contains a lot of magical power and is something like magic light stone.

I'm not sure if this is a jewel.　When it comes to a rare species of Trent, it's a Timber, but we don't drop these things.... May I look into it?

Yes, that's fine.

　The receptionist checks the dropped item, tilting her head to check it out.
　Then she looks at the jewel and says that this isn't one of Trent's rare species.
　She said she would check which demon it was, and the receptionist staggered a bit, holding the log and taking it to the back of the association.

'I thought that was a rare species. I looked at its status and it was named Grandis.''

It's not an ordinary demon, is it? That's certainly not an ordinary monster.

　Apparently, Grandis is not a normal rare species.
　If that's the case.......what the hell is that demon?
　In terms of strength, they were comparable to the guys in the labyrinth....

　After that, I waited for a while while talking with Noll about what that was all about.

''Oh, Okura-san!　Hey, that's Grandis!　This is a big deal!

"Huh?

　Suddenly the receptionist went to the back and came running towards us, screaming at us.
　Then, excitedly, she told us the story of what that demon was.
　Grandis seems to be a demon that would be the target of a great defeat.
　It seems that in the past, it has a record of coming out of the forest with a group of Trent's people and defeating them with the army and high-ranking adventurers in Queres.

''Haha........That was a demon that was the target of a great defeat.......''

No wonder he was so tough to beat.

''It's not a demon that's just strong... but I didn't expect a single party to take it down...''

　I didn't think it was the monster that would be the core of the Great Defeat. That's why they're so formidable.

But if Grandis' outbreak was the cause of Trent's anomaly, does that mean this is the solution?

'I can't say for sure if it's been resolved or not, but I'll report back to the head of the association and then decide what to do about it. I will report back to the head of the association and then we will decide what to do. As for the compensation, I'll give you that at a later date.

　If the recent outbreak of torrents around Queles was due to Grandis, this would have solved the problem.
　But the receptionist says that we don't know that yet.
　Indeed, I can't say it's solved until I see that the torrents have stopped appearing in this.

　As for me, I'm still concerned that my phone didn't notify me of the big defeat achievement when I defeated Grandis.
　Is it because it hadn't developed into a big defeat yet, or is it something else...