Today is the day that Esther promised Myra the other day that she would go to see Annelie.

''Are you sure your brother won't come with us?

Hmm, I don't think I'm going anywhere.

　On the way to drop Esther off in front of the Adventurer's Association in Queles, where we were to meet, she raised an eyebrow and asked me if I wanted to come with her.
　I'm going to see her off to the Association today and then I'm going to leave. I don't think it's a good idea for me to go when I'm going to hang out with girls my own age.
　But maybe she's worried that I won't be there for her, or maybe she's had a complicated expression on her face ever since I said I wouldn't go with her yesterday. It's the first time you're playing with your friends, and it may be a mixture of joy and worry, but it's also the first time you've looked uneasy.
　

'Don't be so anxious. It's my first time, so I understand how you feel, but I'm just playing.

'Yes, but I'm kind of more nervous than fighting a demon.

　I don't know if it's more comfortable to fight demons..................but I'm getting more anxious listening to it.
　Well, even for me, I think it's more comfortable to just go out and hunt as normal, rather than meet with people.
　I'm not going to say it out loud, though!

Esther will fit right in. Just go out there and have fun in your usual natural way.

''.......That's true. It would be rude to look so anxious when you're going to meet him.

That's it. Keep it up.

　As the association neared, Esther finally made up her mind, and her expression turned a little tighter with a small gut pose.
　It looks like she'll be fine at this rate. Well, Estelle is solid and there's nothing to worry about that much. ........As long as we don't have a battle, we won't cause any problems.

　Once Estelle had regained her composure, the Adventurer's Association finally came into view.
　And Myra was already waiting in front of the association.

''Oh, I'm sorry I'm so late. I'm sorry for making you wait,''

'No, no, I've just arrived myself. Besides, the carriage hasn't even arrived yet to pick me up, so I'll be fine.

　I thought we came a little early too, saying that it would be bad if we made them wait.......but I didn't expect Myra to be there first.
　When Estelle calls out to me, she replies with the same red cheeks as before this, smiling happily.
　Hmm, your reaction has changed like a different person from when you were really facing hostility.
　I wonder if Estelle's magic was that intense........

'Take care of Esther today, please.

I'm just so afraid you're going to ask me for help!

'Haha well don't be so awed, it would be nice if you could get along with me.

　I ask Myra to do a favor for me, and she seems to be buzzing her hands in a panic.
　I feel like I'm exaggerating a bit too much, but.......well, we haven't talked that much yet, and I hope things will improve from now on.
　Estelle also chuckled a little when she saw the situation and started chatting appropriately.

　A short while later, there was a carriage in front of the association.
　Then a person jumped out from inside and stepped in between Estelle and Myra and hugged the two of them.

'Esther, Myra, here you are!

'Yikes!　No more ... don't hug me all of a sudden.

Heh, I'm sorry.

'Annelies are always like this...'

　Being hugged by Annelie-chan, Esther's cheeks are red and confused.
　Oh .......................Unusual. Estelle's looking really embarrassed.
　She makes an unconcerned face and says embarrassing things to me and others, but she's like this to a child of her age?
　Myra-chan is already used to it, and she accepts it with a wry smile.
　Annelie-chan is a girl who hugs you a lot, isn't she?

　With these impressions in mind, I called out to Egon-san, who was the carriage driver.

''Egon-san, it's been a long time.

'Yeah, long time no see. I see you're dressed normally today.

Haha but I don't have any clients today.

　I'm not going on a hunting trip, so I'm not wearing armor right now.
　Do they think it's stranger to be dressed normally........
　After finishing a light greeting, Esther and the others quickly got into the carriage.

I'll be waiting for you here again before evening. If you need anything else, call me with that. If I'm not there, you'll be waiting inside the association.

Yeah, I get it.

　I'm going to have Annelie's carriage to take me back to the front of the association.
　I'll be back here before the sun goes down to pick up Esther again.
　I told her to call me on the walkie-talkie if she needed anything, and after seeing the departing carriage off, I went home.

●

Welcome home.

Hey, I'm back.

　When I walked into the house, I was greeted by Noor, who was brushing Moffoot in the living room.
　Moffoot was lying sticky on the cloth, pooing and cooing, and Moffoot looked comfortable.

'How was it, Esther?'

He looked fine.

Is that so? That's a good thing.

What, were you worried about Noll too?

You've been looking anxious since the plan was set, you know. I'm relieved to hear that you're not worried.

'Oh, I didn't know that. I've noticed since yesterday, but I didn't realize you'd been looking so anxious for so long.

　I didn't expect her to be so anxious for so long..........I took pride in being a perceptive person in such matters.

'So, what do we do while Esther is not around?　Are you going hunting, sir?

No, I'll think about whether I'll go hunting later, but I'm going to take my time playing with the synthesizer first.

'Oh!　You are going to start synthesizing in earnest, aren't you!

　Since Estelle isn't here, I'm not going to do a full-scale hunt today. Even if I do go, I'll only be going to collect some magic stones.
　It's time to start using the synthesizer again.

That said, I don't have any good materials.

What about compositing Trent's logs?

Yeah. I've got a lot of them, let's mix it up.

　I was going to try it, but I haven't gotten any significant materials since the last time I added poison to it.
　Behemoth horns are too good to waste and I can't bring myself to use them yet.
　So Nol suggested I try using Trent's logs, so I decided to mix them up.
　After finishing the escort request, I continued to collect the magic stones, and I've currently accumulated 625 of them, so if I want to use a few to prevent the synthesizer from disappearing, it's not a problem.
　So, here's what I successfully mixed into Excalibur for the 12th time.

　------
Excalibur☆29
　Attack power +3290
　Action speed +190%.
　State Failure: Poison (small)
　Wood Special Effect: Damage +10%.
　------

What about it?

Are you going to be a lumberjack?

No, you won't!　Well, it could be used to take down Trent...

　
　Well, it's better than nothing. I'm wondering if I should spend any more magic stones to put it on.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Look at this shine.

I don't think the shine has changed, although the performance is certainly admirable.

　When I look at Excalibur again, it really does have a fantastic gold glow to it.
　Noor says it's just my imagination or something, but this one says it's definitely more radiant than the first one. I'm kind of getting attached to this crowbar.
　As a token of my gratitude for his constant help, I started to take care of the crowbar near Noll, who was taking care of the Moffoot.
　And I was playing with the blade-like part of the tip.

'Itch!'

Are you all right, sir?

Yeah, it's just a little cut on the tip of my finger. It's a crowbar, but the tip is not very sharp.

　I just slipped my finger through it for a bit and my fingertips snapped a bit.
　As is to be expected of the 28 times they've been reinforced........

It's not the time to be calm, you know!

Hmm?　What's the matter, why are you in such a hurry?

　As I was slightly impressed with the sharpness of my own crowbar, Noll suddenly began to fuss.

'Poison!　That's a poisonous addition, isn't it!

'Oh...oh!　Oh, shit!　Sisha, Sisha, come on!

　Well, that's a poisonous addition!　Even though it's small, it's bad enough to keep it that way!
　I also shouted in a panic and called out for Sisha, who was somewhere in the house.

''Totally I didn't know what was going on when you called me out of the blue. I didn't expect someone to be in a poisoned state at home.''

You really got me. Whoever poisoned Excalibur?

Okura-dono you must be very careful when you take care of them.

　Sisha seemed to be in her room, and she came out as soon as I called her.
　And while dumbfounded, he's casting a state recovery spell on me.
　Well, for the first time since I came to this world, I was in a poisoned state.

''Hmm, well then, I think it's time for us to go hunting.

Where would we go without Estelle?

''Hmmm, well I'll have to pick you up later, so let's go for a light black oak. I can hunt that much on my own, so the Nolls can continue to do what they want.

　After I finished what I had to do, I finally started thinking about whether I should go hunting.
　I'm going to pick up Estelle, and I don't want to deal with any demons that would tire me out, and
　Then again, the other party is the Black Oak.
　As expected, it's not a good idea to make them accompany me every time, so I told them I'd go on my own this time, but....

You can't do that!　It's dangerous for Okura-dono to go alone!

'Yes. And it's not fair to go out and kill them all by yourself. I'll go with you.

Oh, yeah?　Then I'll go with Sisha....

　Noor and Sisha said no with their different arguments.
　........Isn't Sisha's side saying something fussy?　Well, well, it would be great if you could come with me.

●

　I hunted lightly with Sisha and collected about 30 magic stones and ended today's hunt.
　Then, after returning home, I traveled by beacon to Queles and waited for Esther at the association.
　A short while later, the carriage where Egon-san was playing Gosha again arrived, and Esther and Myra, who were smiling and looking happy, got out.
　Finally, Annelie-chan lightly hugged Esther and the others again, and with a wave of her hand, she rode back to the carriage.
　Then, we also separated from Myra-chan on the spot, and I went home with Esther.

''Fufufu, it looks like the fears were unfounded just like your brother said.

'Right?　I'm just going to go play, so that means it's not something to be so nervous about.

　As if the anxious expression on her face when she went was a lie, Esther has been smiling happily ever since she returned.
　Apparently she was able to get along with Annelie-chan and the others, and she seems to be very happy with them.

''........Heihachi seems to be stiff and nervous when it comes to that situation.

Oh, shut up!　Don't say anything else!

Are you sure?

'Okura-san is really easy to understand! He's as interesting to watch as ever.

　Luna, who got up before the evening, is saying unwanted things after hearing my words.
　Zu, there's no mistaking the figurehead but that's not the point now!　I mean, look at me, Sisha isn't enjoying this!

'Myra told me about your classes at Listeria Academy and stuff, and it sounds like you're doing something interesting.

'Wow, is it enough for Esther to be interested in this?

　Is the Listeria Academy doing a pretty amazing job of making Estelle sound interesting?
　When I asked her about it out of curiosity, she briefly explained what she had heard.
　First of all, it seems that the Listeria Academy is divided into two groups: mages who aim to be in the military and mages who make and research magic tools and other tools.
　I've heard that Myra is on the path of making magical tools, processing magical stones and making potions and the like.
　That's why he was allowed to visit Christia's laboratory the other day.

　And as for the military, they don't seem to know much about it, but they're training for magical combat and riding a flying monster called a wyvern.
　A wyvern is just like a dragon........

I'm not sure why a mage is training to ride a wyvern.

"It sounds like fun to be on a wyvern!　

But that leaves the Noles with no way to attack.

Oh that's just the spirit!

Is it a matter of spunk that can be worked out...?

　Noll laughs suspiciously at what he's imagining.
　Well, riding it seems to be no problem, but you can't do anything with a sword as a weapon Noor, even if you ride it.

　But still........could it be that this country's military is solid in its own way?　I can't believe they're even preparing for air power........

''I would be able to attack with my spear, so it's good to ride the wyvern. Isn't it great that I can attack without moving?

The criterion for choosing is still whether it's easy or not...

Of course. If I move, I lose.

　As I was admiring the greatness of it, Luna said something else that made me feel uncomfortable.
　It's good that she got along with Sisuha, but she can't cure her lazy personality.......