Mr. Okura, I have a favor to ask you, if you don't mind.

　When I headed to the Adventurer's Association in Queles as usual, the receptionist asked me to do so as the first thing she opened.
　It's been a long time since the last time I explored the bamboo forest, so it's been a long time since I was asked to make a request.
　I've only shown up since then, but I've been so focused on collecting magic stones that I haven't received the request itself.

　Hmm, I've already accumulated more than 600 magic stones, so I have some leeway.
　However, I still want to collect more magic stones, so depending on the contents, I'll have to decline the request.

''What kind of request do you have in mind?

''Yes, it's a request regarding the magic light stone that Okura-san and the others brought in the other day. It's a request from the laboratory that is analyzing it.

　From the lab........and they are asking us for help.......

There seems to be a material that we want to use to analyze that magic light stone, and we'd like to ask Okura-san and the others to help us obtain it.

The material?

Isn't it unusual to find materials in a laboratory?

　I knew it was related to that magic stone.
　It seems that the analysis hasn't progressed very well since I entrusted it to him, so maybe he's trying to use various means.
　It's a very good idea to ask for something that seems to be magic-related, even though it seems that Queres would have it all together, it might not be something that doesn't come around very often like Nol said.

''That's right. It is said that we need the magic elemental stone that can be obtained from the demon Lupes Rex, which is located in the Lugen Valley to the north of Queres.

Demonstone it's the first time I've heard of it.

After all, it's something I'm not familiar with. It's something that's only used in laboratories, and there are a lot of people who don't know about it, even adventurers.

　Another stone. I feel like there are a lot of stones related to mages.
　Well, it's for magic light stones, so it's no wonder....
　But still, a ravine and all that. It's a very steep place again.
　The name of the monster called Lupes Rex is also quite strong.

''It seems like he wants to use a whole one to analyze the magic light stone that has been broken up, so....... I'd like to request the reward of 3 million Gs, is that alright?''

Well, 3 million g's.... Okay, I'll take it.

　The association asked the institute to analyze the magic light stone, but to get the materials needed for it and even get paid for it.....................and that's 3 million G.
　It's something that concerns us too, so if they're willing to go that far, we should do it.
　And if it's us, it won't take us more than a few days to move. All we have to do is just go there and defeat Lupes Rex in a flash.
　We decided to accept the request, asked the receptionist about the Lugen Valley and Lupes Rex, received a map to the valley, and left the association.

　Based on what the receptionist had told me, I was thinking about the Lugen Valley when Nol approached me.

'What is the matter with you, sir, with such an anxious look on your face?'

''Oh no, just fetching one material and getting three million g's worth of rewards, is the Demon Yuan Stone that hard to obtain?''

Hmmm, that's true. From what I've heard, Lupus Rex is quite a nuisance.

　Apparently the fastest way to get to the Lugen Valley is to take a horse from Cueres to a village on the way, and then go on foot.
　Even so, it seems to take more than 10 days each way, so it seems to be farther than the distance from the royal capital to Mount Remri.

　Lupes Rex seems to spring up in the valley where the river flows between the rocky mountains.
　Lupes Rex is said to mimic a part of the rocky mountain and is difficult to detect and painful to defeat.
　Its movement is slow, but its defense is high, and it seems that there are few adventurers who can defeat it.
　The only attacks that seem to roll in are fast, and we were told to be very careful.

　There are other rock-mimicking monsters in the valley, and it is said that they also drop gemstones and other materials.
　It seems hard because they also look like rock monsters, but if you can defeat them, it might be a relatively good place to earn money.

The only thing that's not a problem is beating them. It's still weaker than Grandis or something.

That's true. I've been collecting magic stones again lately, and it seems like a good way to change your mind.

　It would be a large canyon, and it would be harder to find them than it would be to fight them because they would be mimicking each other.
　We were told that it's relatively easy to find Lupes Rex by hitting a slightly larger rock to find it.
　It's easy for us to defeat them once we've encountered them, so we'll just have to think about how to find them quickly.

●

　Once home, I told Estelle and the others about this request and immediately left for the Lugen Valley.
　It's going to be a long trip, so just like before, Sisha and Luna will be waiting at home, and me, Nol and Estelle are doing the trip.
　It'll probably be about two or three days on the magic carpet, so we're going to leave the beacon and go home at night, and then come back in the morning to move again.

　Luna had a terrific smile on her face when I told her I wouldn't be collecting magic stones for a few days due to the long distance travel.......

''It's been a long time since I've requested this, but this time the place looks very far away again.

'Yeah, looks like it's going to take more than ten days on horseback and on foot. If we travel by carpet, though, it'll probably take a couple of days.

It's called a ravine, and it's going to be hard to get around even after you arrive. Is Estelle okay?

　If you ask me, I wonder if Esther will be okay with exploring the rocky mountain canyon.
　There will be slopes and places where it's difficult to walk, and I'm worried about whether she'll be able to hold on physically.
　But since we are dealing with hard demons, her ability to attack with magic is indispensable.
　When I was worried about what was going on, Esther, who was sitting on my lap, turned around and showed me a crisp profile.

'I'm trained in my own way, too. If you'll just move slowly, you should be fine.'

''Well I see. But if it looks like you can't, don't be afraid to tell me, okay?

'Yes, I know. I'll have to ask your brother to hold you then.

Oh, I'll take care of it and I'm going to be a pain in the ass myself.

I think it should be cool to the end, but...

Hmm, he's your brother. I like that about you.

　If it's a normal road, I'll be fine, but if it's a place like a mountain road, even I'm going to be heaving, even if it's a light Esther.
　If that happens, I'm going to do my best as much as possible, but.......if it seems impossible, I'll have them do supportive magic or leave it to Nol.
　It's my policy to honestly say that what's impossible is impossible!

'That said, I'm a little excited to go to the Lugen Valley. I hear there's a demon that drops gemstones in the rough.

Oh, does your brother like jewelry?

I'm not saying that, but... it's kind of... romantic, you know?

As for me, I'm happier with demons that drop food, but wouldn't they drop an edible rock or something?

What's more likely to happen is that we'll find rock salt.

　I was excited to hear that there were demons dropping gemstones in the rough...but it seems that Nol and the others aren't so sure.
　I thought the girls would like shiny things.
　Are the Noles still only interested in food? He's talking about how there aren't any edible rocks.
　Estelle also doesn't have a particularly interesting reaction when she hears that it's jewelry.
　I think she'd be more pleased with a magic light stone or something like that.

　Then, as we proceeded to chat for the next few hours........

''Come to think of it, brother, there was something I wanted to ask you.''

Hmm?　What is it?

What's going on with Sisha lately?

　Esther unexpectedly asked a question that made me nervous.
　What ... what ... why?　Why are you asking me that?
　I didn't think he knew about that incident with Sisha the other day...............................no, that's not it.
　Even Sisha, as expected, wouldn't have told me about that.

　I asked him several times to ask him what it meant before I left after that, but he didn't tell me until the end.
　Even though I didn't really intend to touch her, I didn't want Estelle and the others to know that I was pressing her to squeeze her breasts, so I didn't really touch her after that either, but.......

　I don't know how I got the idea, but I'll just give a safe response.
　If you react in a strange way, you might get suspicious.

I don't have one.

Really?

Yeah, I really don't.

Oh yeah.

　When I answered shortly with a straight face, Esther also gave a short reply.
　I'm starting to feel like I'm being suspicious, but........no, I'm fine, I'm absolutely fine.

''Is there something that is bothering you, sir?

'No, sort of. Your brother has a bit of a habit of looking at Sisha lately.

Are you imagining things?　What habits do you have?

　Habit?　Don't tell me you were aware of Sisha and reacted in some strange way...?
　Come to think of it, Esther said before that she was brother-watching or something........................so she didn't find out?

　I accidentally asked Esther what kind of habit I had, and she smiled and replied.

'Huh, a secret. But if it's nothing, it's probably just my imagination.

That is the way it must be. I see Okura and his men every day, and they are the same as always.

'Umm, yeah, I guess so. It was my imagination, my imagination.

　Noll told me it was my imagination, so I decided to take advantage of it and push that I was imagining it too.
　Oh no, that's helpful.

''Well yeah. I'm sorry, I know it was in my head. I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound so weird.

No, don't worry about it, ha ha ha.

　Estelle paused for a bit, and then apparently got swept away, which made sense to me.
　I laughed and faked it, too, and we continued with another round of idle chit-chat and proceeded down the magic carpet to our destination.
　After I fooled around, I feel like Esther has somehow gotten closer to my body with a lot of effort, but that's probably just my imagination too....