We finally resumed our hunt when Freesia was starting to settle down some when she went out.
　Our immediate goal is to earn money, so we've come to the Stogar mine where we hunted with Dius and the others the other day.
　This time there were five of us, excluding Luna, and we were going to hunt into the mine's lowest level, which was a tunnel.
　We entered the mine and found pickaxes and wheelbarrows scattered here and there, as if they were from when we were digging.
　I wondered if something had happened while they were digging.

　Naturally, there was no light and it was pitch black, but that was solved by Esther's magic, who had obtained the Grimoire of Light.
　By twisting the sunlight into the tunnel, it's as bright as the outside.
　Magic is really anything you can do. There aren't many mages who can do this, though.

　It seems that light magic has an offensive version too, and I thought I'd ask you to try it out, but.......the usual, yeah!　Not--Gathering the Light of Annihilation, or something like that, I hurriedly stopped it as it began to chant.
　If I had let them fire at that point, the entire surrounding area might have been turned into scorched earth....

　Despite that, I have been making some progress through the tunnels and building up my position, and have been visiting for the past few days.

''Hmph!''

　Just as Dius and the others had done during the hunt, a gargoyle emerges from a wall of rock with a hole in it that only one of them can pass through.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''That's another one down!

Oh, it's working!　Crushing a gargoyle with a bow and arrow, Freesia is still amazing as always.

Heh, I've got a right to be doing this.

　When the gargoyle is defeated, he gives a gut punch and Freesia runs over to Noor.
　She scratches her own head on top of the hood with wolf-like ears on it as she receives the compliment, her mouth loosening up in a nymphetically pleasing manner.
　The hood he's wearing now is a hunting-only hood made by Noor.
　Even though he rarely encounters people, he might meet other adventurers or something in the middle of a hunt.
　That's why I asked Noll to make a special hunting food for me, just in case he wanted it made for me.
　Nolle was excited about it and started making it, and he's still working on other food items.

I'm sure you'll find that Freesia has mastered the hood. Do you like it that much?

'Yes!　It was a little hard to get used to at first, but now I feel safer wearing it!　And I love it because Noll made it for me!

I'm glad to hear that you are pleased. You may make some for Okura-dono and the others as well, if you wish.

You ... you want to see me wearing a cute little hood?

　I don't mean to sound like I'm wearing a hood with animal ears, but who wants me to wear a hood with animal ears on it....
　No one wants that.

'Oh, I'd love to see a brother like that too.

'Yes. Hello ... no, I'm sure you'll fit right in.

'You guys are just having fun saying that...'

　The people who wanted it were close by!　I mean, you're just being funny!
　That Sisuhas guy, hiding his mouth with his hand he's definitely laughing.

Oh, you don't like it?　 How about Estelle and Sisha-chan?

I think I'm going to have to steer clear of...

'Wow, I don't think I look good either, so...'

　I thought it was just me, but Estelle and the others are also getting screwed over.
　Estelle looks good, but Cisha is not so good.
　If Cis-Ha were to wear a hood, I would laugh out loud at her, but I don't want to because I'm afraid she'll get even later.

'Indeed, Okura-dono and the others are shy, aren't they? Freesia, I'm going out with you, so we'll go out together next time!

'Yes!　You're still so sweet, Nole!　I'm going to recommend you to Luna when I get home!

　I didn't realize it would fly to Luna, who isn't here...although I'd kind of like to see her in the hood.
　I know you're not going to like it, but I hope Freesia and the others will do well here.

　As we were having an exchange that didn't feel tense despite the fact that it was a hunting ground, the rock wall that was blocking the tunnel suddenly shattered with a crushing sound.
　And then an orange-colored object, a colossus, emerged from the dust cloud.

''Whoa, it finally came out. Yo, and!

　The colossus that came out was quickly luminescent and was about to use a shrinkage.
　But before that, I transfer my hand with my dimension bracelet and hit it on the head with my Excalibur.
　With the interference, the activation of the shrinkage stops and the luminescence subsides, and I quickly send a reminder to the silver liquid I'd pre-positioned on the ground, Centiturbra, and stick it to the colossus' leg to stop it from moving.

''Ei, one more addition, yeah!

　Without a moment's pause, Esther waves her wand and covers the colossus with a wall of hemispherical rock, this time pointing it forward.
　Then a magic circle appears at the tip of the wand and flames grow in a straight line. It's like a flamethrower.
　Inside the rock wall, Colossus is struggling to get burned, but he can't escape because of the entangled centipede.
　It continued to burn for a long time, and in the end, the hard-looking orange body cracked and shattered.
　At the same time, the centimeter bra that had been holding me back also shatters and the light particles return to the crystal I wear on my shoulder.

''Oops, that's the second one.

"Okura-dono continues to come up with excruciating tricks...

That's a bold idea, knocking over an entire centimeter bra.

'If it breaks down anyway, it's going to refill itself. So we need to put it to good use.

　I started hunting in the tunnels and had already taken down one colossus.
　The first time I failed to find the right time to stop the shrinkage, and I forced it down by stalling it with a centimeter tablature, but this time I was able to hunt it without danger.
　Even though I'm sacrificing the centimetersbra, I'll have no problem recovering the remaining numbers in a couple of days.

''Even so, that demon called Colossus is really hard to come by, it's surprising that after 10 days of hunting, only 2 of them have come out.

'That's it. When I came hunting with Dius and the others, it took me two days to get out of there, but I guess I got lucky with that one. We're in there and we're getting more efficient, and this is it.

But you can't get a high colotium without a low encounter rate. Besides, it's more than enough to make you money.

That too, I suppose.

　I retrieved the colotium that Colossus dropped in the magic bag.
　This is my second one, so even if I earn a simple 10 million Gs. In addition, there's also quite a bit of iron ore that I got from Iron Gargoyle.
　Even though it took 10 days, it was still enough to earn money. I'm not complaining about it.
　I'm just wondering if they could come out a little more.

'Then why don't we go further in?　Or rather, I'm wondering what's behind this tunnel.

'I'm curious too!　It's going to be fun exploring in here!

Of course!　Okura-san, let's go!

'No, no...'

　Sisha and Freesia are getting along strangely well with each other, even though they didn't seem to be that close to each other... but they're in a groove!
　I'm curious too, but I'm hesitant to go any further back. I'm grateful if more colossus appear further back, but it would be unfashionable if more than one appeared at the same time.

It's a good idea not to go any further, though I'm also curious. Even though Freesia and Sisja are there, it is still dangerous to be surrounded by gargoyles.

'Right. If we're going to go any further, we should at least bring Luna with us.

'Eh, let's go! A gargoyle is a gargoyle I'd take down in one blow!

　Noor and Esther seem to agree with me, and they seem to be in denial about going deeper.
　Still, Freesia seems to want to go, and she is pulling on Noll's arm and kneading him.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you are not allowed to have your selfishness. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.

But....

You can't let your guard down when exploring a demon's lair, even though it's always dangerous. If you continue your search, someone else might be in danger. I'm also curious about what's going on in the back, but I don't want to do that. Freesia will understand, won't she?

'Ummm... okay, I get it. But let's take Luna with us next time we explore!　It's a promise!

It's up to Luna, and I don't want you to promise me anything, but I'll do my best.

'Wow!　I'm counting on you!

　Freesia is jumping up and down, happy.
　........She's jumping up and down on Luna again, but it can't be helped.
　I'm actually curious about what's in the back of this place, so I guess I'll try to proceed to the back if I can convince Luna.

''Noor-san, you're completely used to handling Freesia-san. When I was taking care of you while you were away, you wouldn't listen to anything I said....

'They both seem to get along well, and Noor is very caring. But even Sisha would be good with Freesia, wouldn't she?

What do you mean? A lady like me can't be a match for a spirited girl like Miss Freesia.

　Ohoho, says Sisha with her hand over her mouth, and Esther is giving him a dumbfounded look. I think I have the same kind of eyes.
　How can you say that when you're usually doing things that don't sound like a lady.......

●

　We got the second colotium and we left the mine.
　Then Sisha and the others sent them home and me, Noor, and Esther came to the Adventurers' Association in King's Landing.
　We were going to tell Dius that we had obtained the colotium, to ask him if he had any new information to share with us.
　As for the colotium, it seems like it would be best to take it directly to Gantz-san, but.......it would be better to confirm it with them first.
　That's what I thought, so I went to the association.

"If you're Dius-sama and the others, since Sumika-san and the others returned the other day, they went out to request an escort.

　Widge-chan told me that.
　Well I'm afraid I'm a bit late. I guess I won't be able to give you the colotium for a while.
　I'll drop it off at Ganz-san's later.

'Well then, I don't think I'll be able to come back for a while. Could you tell him I got the colotium when I get back?

'Collotium?　I told you about the hunting grounds last time, so I thought you would pick them, but it's too early for that...

　Gee, if I'm surprised, it looks like Dius and his friends didn't tell us they got the colotium.
　Does that mean we shouldn't spread this around too much?　Let's not say anything else.

I agree with you about Dius-sama. In fact, there's something I'd like to tell Mr. Okura and the others about... the head of the association would like to have a word with you.

Oh my God, is it so important that that uncle wants to talk to you?

That's right.　We are going to talk to him right away!

Let me show you around.

　Oh, I didn't know the association president had called me. I wonder if he has any new information?
　Widge-chan checked me over and then took me to the reception room where I was led forward.

'I'm sorry you had to come all the way down here,'

No, that's no problem. You want to talk about, you know, the case?

　Once again, I was made to sit on the sofa to meet Christophe.
　Hmm, it's still nerve-wracking to talk face-to-face with the head of the association.
　Anyway, the fact that I was called in here on purpose, it must be about that black magic crystal and Diabolus.

The black flying demon that you defeated the other day, we have a report that we have found what appears to be the same demon.

Did you find that monster again?

But if it's a supposed demon, then it can't be that demon for sure.

　You're not just talking about finding the Diabolus itself, you're talking about finding it!
　If that guy is working in the dark, it can only be a harbinger of something bad happening again, but....
　But as Esther says, calling it a thoughtful demon is a bit of a weak word.
　The proof of this is that Kristof-san also frowns at her words.

''There was only a report that an unidentified demon was found, but we don't know if it is this one. The adventurer who discovered it only saw it while requesting to collect materials and did not fight it. But it looks very similar to the appearance that Okura-kun and the others told me about before, and it was also carrying a spear that had a three-pronged tip.

''It's ... most likely that demon. That's probably nine out of ten.

Hmm, but there's still a chance it's not that monster.

　So there's a good chance it's Diabolus, but they don't know if it's that guy or not.......
　There's never been a report of a discovery in the association before, so of course the adventurers who discovered it must not know about Diabolus.
　In that case, in order to confirm that.......you want us to go there?

So I'm going to ask you guys to look into this again, but do you think it's safe?

Well I'm not particularly busy, so that's not a problem.

Well, that's good to hear. Now, I would like you to proceed to the port city of Sevalia, as reported to us.