The rest of the way was fine, except that it took a while for everyone to get their minds back on track.

　If a demon shows up, we'll use magic to take care of it. Honestly, it goes so smoothly that if I was alone, the other adventurers wouldn't have been needed.

　The battle is usually over in an instant, so the speed of the cart's progress barely slowed down. So we arrived at the clearing point at a time when it was still too early in the afternoon.

　It seems that they usually arrived just before noon, which shows how long it took them to battle the demons.

　Naturally, it seems that if you don't have magic, you'll have quite a hard time. On the other hand, I was too lacking in crunchiness to be disappointed.

The best thing about this is the fact that it's going to be a lot easier to work today thanks to you. Thanks!

　Mr. Gon says as he hands me my lunch.

'Well, it's my job. This much.

No, you, I'm not being modest. You're very dependable, aren't you, boy? I wouldn't be surprised if you had a letter of introduction from the guild leader.

　And then Gong laughs loudly, ga-ha-ha.

　But his expression tightens right afterwards.

I'm sure that the young man may not take kindly to the way Karius talks about it, but he's still a passionate guy who cares about his juniors. I'm not going to ask him to apologize because that's his problem, but it's the young man's prerogative to stick up for himself. I'm sure you understand that he was worried about you, even if he doesn't have a lot of affection for you.

　With a mysterious look on his face, he uttered those words.

　Karius is the name of the elven youth who spoke to us when we entered the forest.

''Well, yes. That was us kids.

Heh. Don't be a smart ass, boy. Okay, I'm going to take a break for a while. I'm going to take a break.

　Until a moment ago, Gon-san, who had a tight look on his face befitting the leader of this group, but in the end, he still smiled with a nikah and waved his hand and walked away to hand another person his lunch.

　The two of us were left behind, me and Myl.

''Well let's go find a place to sit, shall we?

Yeah.

　Mr. Gon's advice was working. When you're treated like an adult like that, you're reminded of your own childishness.

　It's not that Gon-san is an adventurer. Naturally, he doesn't fight demons. But he has experience befitting his appearance and age, and that's why the words that come out of his mouth are so dignified.

　It reminds me vaguely of my father. No, he wasn't so burly and brave, but he never cheated.

　I used to admire that kind of cool back, but am I really worthy of it now? Such a question crossed my mind.

　We just found a flat, narrow stone that looked like a bench, and Meir and I sat down side by side there. If we looked up, we could see the green of the branches and leaves of the trees growing in a very languid manner above us, and even higher up, the clear sky was shining bright and clear to our eyes.

　The sun was shining through the branches and leaves, illuminating the place where we were sitting.

　The air was warm.

　There was no sign of demons around here at all.

　That's why the air was so laid back.

　If you look at it, the other adventurers who had appeared tense while coming here seemed to be loosening up now. I could see that there was an overall relaxed air in the air.

''Haha........''

　A breath that spilled out unexpectedly. I felt it mix back the calm air.

　As if by indication, me and Myl's stomachs grow together at the same time. We both looked at each other with a bit of a wry smile and opened the package of lunch that Gon-san gave us.

''Wow.....''

　Inside was a sandwich of steamed potatoes and then seared chicken with herbs. The potatoes had been cut crosswise and cut into the potatoes, and there was a slight hint of butter in the air.

　It wasn't a particularly sumptuous meal. However, this kind of simple food was pleasing to the body that was moderately tired after walking this far.

''Shall we eat........?

"Hum?

　I was about to make such a call to Meir, but she was already covered up first.

　I laughed too and started on my lunch. Then she was hungrier than I thought she would be. Soon both the potatoes and the sandwiches settled into my stomach.

'That was delicious!'

　And then Meir laughed and popped his own stomach.

　As I was unintentionally letting out a bitter smile in disgust at such a girlish gesture, the sound of crunching footsteps stepping on the undergrowth approached. When I raised my head, the one approaching here is an elven youth with a neat face - Karius-san.

''Ah........''

　I sounded delicately awkward. I was about to quickly utter an apology, but Karius-san waved one hand in the air as if to interrupt me.

　So inevitably, the mouth that opened to apologize was lost for words, and the line I ended up choosing was.

Well thank you very much.

　A word of thanks.

　But Mr. Karius was unmoved.

You have no right to thank me for this.

　And he cuts off my words with the same blunt manner as ever. His face doesn't even change color, a perfect poker face. It's difficult to guess what he's thinking from his expression.

　As it is, he walks right up to us. Next to him, Meir.

Uh.....

　He let out a subtle groan. Maybe he had a bad feeling about Karius-san. The stiff air he wore may have felt suffocating to Meir, who was a free spirit.

　I didn't know what was going on, but I sat down and looked up at Karius-san, too. Then the elven youth, with an unreadable expression on his face, thrusts his right hand out to me quite a bit.

''Huh?''

　It was Meir who reacted in alarm. She was on her back and almost fell backwards from her back, grabbing my shoulder in a hurry to reposition herself.

　But my eyes were focused on what was thrust in front of me. Grabbed by Karius-san's right hand, what is this........a ceramic container?

Eat.

　I took a look at the contents of the container and found a thinly sliced lemon, dipped in sugar and honey syrup.

　It was a so-called honey lemon. It exuded an attractive smell that included sourness and sweetness.

''Is........it's okay?''

'Don't you hear me telling you to eat?　Or are those ears of yours simply for decoration?　If so, some of the decorations are in your way. Would you mind if I cut them off for you?

I'll eat it!　I'll eat you!

　So don't stare at me with so much murder in your eyes.

　I picked up two slices of lemon from the container and handed one to Meir. We looked at each other and nodded at each other, and then cracked up and took a mouthful of honey lemon.

　The next moment, happiness spread through my mouth.

　What the hell is this stuff, it's so good. It's sour and sweet, and because the lemon peel has not been cut off, there is also an astringency and bitterness, but that doesn't interfere with it at all, and on top of that, the sweetness of the honey cancels out the harshness of the sugar, so it has a firm sweetness but a strangely clean aftertaste.

　It's only a honey lemon, but I have to say it's surprisingly tasty.

'Wow, it's so good.

I love it, too.

Hmm.

　Karius-san thrusts the container further out. Me and Myl's hands reach out involuntarily as well. But right before I stop myself.

Are you sure you want to do this?

　I asked.

　He stared at me with gleaming, awesome eyes. He kept staring at us with those eyes.

I've got plenty more where this came from. Or do you think I'm going to eat my food?

　They threaten me with things like.

'No, it's not!　Very tasty!

　The words came from the heart, but his voice was slightly shaky.

　As Meiru and I crunched down on the second and third honey lemons, Karius-san's mood gradually softened. His mouth even seemed to loosen up in a huff.

　After enjoying the honey lemons like that, Karius-san sat down next to me with a thud. And from the pouch on his hip, he takes out a lunch box that Gon-san must have given him and opens the package.

''Um, are you going to eat now?''

　And then I found myself asking such a question.

'Yeah. I've been going around handing them out to the other guys, you know.

'Oh, really?'

Yeah, yeah.

....

....

　It's awkward. I don't know what to say.

　Karius-san doesn't even seem to open his mouth. He is just quietly bringing the sandwich to his mouth.

　I turn my head towards Myl, as if I don't know how to interact with her and ask for help, and when our gazes meet, she hurriedly turns her gaze above her head. That gesture.

I don't get it either!

　And his voice was shouting at the top of his lungs. No, it's silent, though.

　After being betrayed by his allies like that, and being anguished alone, Karius-san's meal eventually ended. After all, since the first word or two were exchanged, none of them seemed to open their mouths.

''Well, it's not hard to understand.''

　As he folded the cloth wrapping, Karius-san suddenly muttered.

''Huh?''

I said it was understandable. I don't understand, I said, how a bunch of novices like you can be so chic and stupid as to disobey your elders. The new adventurer's idiots have a tendency to do that. I'm sure that if you have the ability to use magic, you'll think yourself special and disrespect the words of others.

Well that's, uh, well, I'm sorry.

　His words were quiet but poignant. It's true that I can use magic. I can wield more power than any other human.

　So naturally, I had come to think of myself as special. And that's without even realizing it, even to myself.

'No need to apologize. It's a path every kid goes down.

Eh....

I've been down this road before, of course. Of course, I've been down this road before, including getting seriously injured and not listening to the advice of others. It's a whole lot of experience, including that.

　Karius-san's words, spoken so matter-of-factly, but I no longer felt repulsed by them. I can see that it is advice from his own experience.

　And the fact that he conveys it to me, albeit in an unsympathetic manner, I can only think that it's because of the good nature of the people already.

　Come to think of it, Gon-san said. He said that the young elven man named Karius is a hot guy who cares about his juniors.

When I first started out as an adventurer, he once told me that I would never laugh at him. At the time I snickered and brushed those words off, but now I'm convinced they are golden words of the utmost truth.

　Karius-san doesn't even try to look at us. He looks at the only point in front of him and spins his words with the same clumsy expression as ever.

　........But even with such a cold demeanor, the care and warmth I can sense from his words is pleasant.

''Those who underestimate themselves sometimes get caught flat-footed. But the one who overestimates himself will always get hurt badly'. ........Once I got hurt, these words saved my life many times.

Yeah, what is it...

Rookie. Your power your magic is certainly excellent. As an adventurer, the better you are, the stronger you are. But a man who relies on his power doesn't have long to live. Even if you're stronger than me, the slightest thing can kill you. There are plenty of unforeseen circumstances in this place.

　Karius-san's words must be the truth. That's why I'm feeling mysterious as I listen to them. They resonate easily in my mind.

"Don't indulge in power. Don't overestimate your power. Don't act recklessly without thinking. Don't underestimate your enemies and demons. The man who raised me once told me that this kind of arrogance will come back to haunt you in a roundabout way.

... yes. I'll keep that in mind.

Hm. A newcomer can't understand what he's going through unless he's in pain anyway. But ... don't die, junior. When in doubt, it is also your power to rely on others when you don't know what to do. Those who can't do that will die an early death.

　While saying this, Karius-san threw a piece of paper at us without even looking at it. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier with the help of a map that looks like the place where the liquor store is located, with the name 'Forest Resting Place' written in polite letters that looks like a liquor store.

The map of what appeared to be the location of the liquor store was clearly drawn next to it. If you have any trouble, come to me.

Are you sure?

Death to a knowing face is not a good way to wake up. Or are you trying to stop me from sleeping?

　I shook my head in a hurry as he spat that out, and I shook my head in a hurry. When he glanced at me with a sideways glance, he sniffed with an arrogant "hmph" and stood up.

　I hurriedly tried to follow him, but

Rest when you can. It's no match for whining about how tired you are on the way home.

　He said to me, and so I put my hips back together again, which I had almost raised.

'Oh, yes. New guy.

　Just as he was leaving, Mr. Karius stopped for a moment.

　And then.

You made life easier for me today. I thank you.

　He said that in a pompous tone, and this time he walked away.

　After seeing him off, Meir and I looked at each other.

　And.

'Even if he didn't, he was a d*mned nice guy...'

　They had a dumbfounded look on their faces, and so they spoke up.