The three of them, Riknas, Chyristic and Melanesia, who seemed to be completely in love with the Three Dragons Pavilion, have been going to the Three Dragons Pavilion every night since the first day I showed them around.

　Riknas had also brought his squire, Sleena, the dog person, with him since the second day.
Wow, this is really good.
　Slina was eating her food while buzzing her tail as she said this.
　That tail movement is just too amazing.
Oh, you know, dog lady, it makes me so happy to see you so happy.
　And the proprietress of the little demon (goblin) was very pleased and served Sleena a special soup.

''You're already the lord of a frontier small city, aren't you, Gossage?
　Melanesia asked as they ate.
'Yes. I'm doing my best with everyone's help.'
　Melanesia thought for a moment as I replied, and then she turned her gaze again to me and
'Um, if you don't mind, can't we take a tour of the city once during our next vacation?'
　Huh?　A tour?
'Yes, I grew up in the King's City and ideally I would like to run a city without discrimination between sub-humans and races, but I've never seen a city actually run that way...'
　As she said this, Melanesia leaned in closer to me.
'Please!　I honestly wasn't at all happy with the training I got the other day at Rebecombe. Please, I thought I'd help...
　As she said this, Melanesia clasped her hands together in worship to me.

　It is true that Lebecombe was a racially supremacist city, so it's not hard to understand what Melanesia was saying.

　Well, I was just going to go back to Liberty, too.
Yeah, I was just planning on going back to Liberty, so that's fine with me.
　When I told him so, Melanesia
'Yes!　Thank you!　Thank you!
　He jumped up on the spot while saying that and was happy.
　It's rare for someone to be able to express their emotions so straightforwardly, even though they're still a student and young, isn't it?　I couldn't help but giggle at Melanesia's emotional outbursts.
'Then let me join you. Since you prefer Melanesia, of course it won't be a problem, will it?
　Kiristic also said that to me.
　Maybe it was my imagination, I didn't feel like I was staring at Melanesia with a somewhat miffed expression on my face, but.......well, I don't think I'm going to mind that.
''Then I'd love to be a part of it...''
　Riknas also raised his right hand as he said this.　
　Then Thrina, who was sitting beside him, hurriedly held his hand and
No, Master Licnas, no.　Master Riknas must return to Urinacombe this weekend, Bau!
　That's what he said out loud.
　At Slina's words, Riknas began to cover his face with his hands.
''d*mn, is it just me and my own animal?
　As he said that, he wore a look of deep regret.

　Well, Riknas's Urinacombe and my Liberty are located quite close to each other, so I think it would be easy for us to meet after the training is over.
Well, you know, Riknas is within striking distance of something in the future.
　But when Riknas heard my words, he nodded his head and said
It's said that a journey is a road trip!　I wanted to go with you guys!
　Then he sat back in his seat.
You're gonna get burned tonight. Gossage is paying for your drinks tonight.
How can that be?
　I couldn't help but go into it at Riknas' words.
　Melanesia and Kiristic were watching our conversation with smiles on their faces.

　This is how we were able to finish our meal.

◇ ◇.

　The next morning, I headed to breakfast a little early, and I went to the kitchen first.
I'm not sure if it's a good morning, Mr. Gossage, but.......well, did you have something rough to do?
　The monocular Menoko, the cook of the mansion, noticed me and was looking at me with a surprised or frightened expression on her face.
　Menoko has always had a frightened look about him, and sometimes I feel bad about talking to him.
　I'm such a menoko.
Lately, I feel bad about the fact that I've been coming home for dinner out all the time.
　Menoko's food is always good, but I had a hard time saying no to a friend of mine who I met during a training program.
　Menoko chuckled as I told her this.
No, no. I'm sure you don't mind me saying so. I believe that networking is an important part of a lord's job.
　And because of that, I'll be working hard to make breakfast for you, so you can count on me.
　I thanked Menoko again for saying that, and I moved toward the room where breakfast was being prepared.

　Again, we ate Menoko's delicious breakfast before heading to the training.

　After today's training, we'd have two days off tomorrow.
　We're supposed to take Melanesia and Kyristik back to the small frontier city of Liberty with us tomorrow morning, but first we have to make sure we do our exams from this afternoon.

　This week we had only half-day training on laws and ordinances, so the scope of the exam was quite narrow, and all the trainees were able to get over 90 points.
　So, all the trainees got over 90 points.
I can't help but make careless mistakes.
　Riknas, who got one question wrong and got a 98, looked frustrated as he said that.
　
　We each had to prepare our own luggage for the day, so we didn't go to the Three Dragons Pavilion, but we had to go back to our respective places of accommodation.
"I'm going to the Three Dragons' pavilion!
　Riknas was the only one who said that and took Sleena with him into town.

　I said goodbye to Melanesia and Kiristic and went back to the Quinn Chamber of Commerce.

'Oh, Gossage-sama, we've been waiting for you.
　One of Quinn Trading Company's Kobolds - the head of the customer service team, as I recall - who found me after I returned from training, came running up to me.
''What do you mean, there are a few people waiting for you, like the head of the sub-human mercenary group or something.
　I had an idea of what those words meant.
Thanks, I'll be there in a minute.
　As I said this, I moved to the reception room where the commanders were waiting for me.

　There were three sub-humans sitting there, waiting for me.
　When I walked into the room, the three of them
Oh, Mr. Gossage?
　With that said, everyone got up in a hurry.
I'm Gun Bird, leader of the Gun Bird Mercenaries, introduced to you by the master of the San Long Pavilion.
"Like me, the head of the Laramire mercenary group, Larami.
This is Mirele. Nice to meet you.
　They each bowed to me as they greeted me.

　The three of them were representatives of the mercenary group that I had asked the master of the Three Dragon Pavilion to be willing to come to Liberty as guards.

　According to the three of them, according to their explanation~.
　The Gunbird Mercenary Group is a mercenary group formed by the eagle man, Gunbird, and the bird race, with a total of 11 members, led by the eagle man, Gunbird.
　The Laramilele Mercenary Group is a mercenary group formed by the Reptilian race, centered on the twin sisters Larami and Mirele of the Serpent People, with a total of eight members, all of whom are women.
We've been out of work since the royal capital strengthened its policy of eliminating sub-humans, and we've been wondering how we're going to feed our members.
　Gambard was smiling happily as he said that.
　At Gambard's words, Larami and Mirele also nodded and
It's all the same to me.
''I used to have a job escorting the noble ladies, but that policy was tightened up and all of that was suddenly cancelled...''
　As he said this, they both shrugged their shoulders.

　These two mercenary groups have both unanimously agreed to go to Liberty.

''There are other mercenary groups that have a difference of opinion among their members, but in this kind of situation, good things must come first.
　Gambard laughed at that.

　As Gambard said, even Liberty can't accept any number of people unconditionally.
　Liberty's Chief of Guards, Gugs, has asked for an increase of about fifty men for now, so it seems that both of these mercenary groups will be able to accept them without any problems.
I'm going back to Liberty tomorrow. If it's possible, if the Commander alone can go with me, I'll be able to get a briefing from Guard Captain Gugs...''
　I was about to say that.
'You talk so fast!　If we are the Gunbird Mercenaries, we can call out to them now and they'll all be ready to go to Liberty in the morning.
　Gambard snickered at that.
　Then, Larami and Mirele were also in a hurry.
Wow, so do we. I'll have them ready to go right now.
Yes, I'll make sure it's done by tomorrow morning!
　Yes, I raised my voice.

　I told him that he didn't have to push himself, but Larami and Mirele didn't have to.
'No!　It's okay!
　Because of this repetition, the conversation has been progressing in the direction of meeting tomorrow morning in a steady stream.

　I excused myself from my seat once here and called the rabbit Raylins, who is in charge of managing the operation of the regular magic ship at Quinn Trading Company.
''........so, can we get 19 more people on tomorrow's regular magic ship?''
Well I can handle the general seating without a chair, if you don't mind.

　This chair-less observation room means that you will stay in the observation room until you arrive, so you are free to stand in the chair-less observation room or spread something on the floor and sit or lie there.
　
　I went back to the reception area.
I'm all set to take a seat on the mage ship without a chair, if that's all right with you?
　When I told them that, Gambard, Larami and Mirele looked surprised.
'What?　Well, the magic ship!
　As he said this, the three of us began to blabber on about it.
　I listened carefully.
Hey, can you guys afford to pay for all these people?
(Don't be ridiculous I'm just trying to make ends meet these days.
　So the three of them were whispering to each other about it.

　And when I heard that story, I was like.
"Liberty will take care of the money for the mage ship, so all you have to do is meet up with us. Also, here ... sorry it's not much, but can you take this as a reserve?
　As I said this, I handed some of the money I had to hand over to Gambard and Larami.
　Then the gambler looked at me with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh, you're lying!　Will they pay for all that travel? .........I thought we were going to travel in our own carriage.......
　Beside them, Larami and Mirele were also stunned.
''And even a reserve fund...You're going to get this much?
'That's more than a month's worth of escorts, this...'

　I smiled at the three of them who were perplexed by various things.
I don't know what we do here in King's Landing. It's the small-town, out-of-the-way Liberty way of doing things, and I'd like to welcome you all.
　I told them so.
　Then the three of them.
Oh, thank God!　What a generous lord you are!
They're not all that different from each other.
Yes, really.
　He said that and asked me to shake his hand.
　I exchanged smiles as I shook hands with the three of them stiffly.