Geez.

That's a terrible reaction, Leme.

　It was right after the day's work was over and I returned to the inn when Fenix came in.
　His face is hidden by the hood of his robe, but the one standing in front of the door is 【Brave Man of Fire】 Fenix himself.

　.........Inn, I didn't tell you.

　Come to think of it, it seems that since I became a regular employee, I can enter the dormitory that the Demon King's Army has prepared for me.
　It seems that each race has a different building, but I'll be in the demon's dormitory.
　It seems that Mira-san was planning to put me in the vampire's dormitory, but something happened and it ended in failure.
　Lately, I've been asking myself, "What's the difference between antennae and horns.......I'm a demon, aren't I? He was mumbling, but I left him alone.
　More importantly, now I'm an unexpected visitor.

'No, you, try being the one who got stuck at the inn by your friends when you didn't tell them.

　Fenix tried to imagine it, but his face was delicate.

''Well, it might be a little scary.''

"Yes.

'But you're you too. If you've got the job, you can tell me.

　You asked Mr. Aerial about it. You said it was the same inn or something.
　Fenix looks a bit grumpy.

'Before that, how did you find me?

　His tone is a little rough only for Fenix, but I guess it's because he's an old friend of mine.

'I talked to Mr. Aerial and found out you work in this city, so I decided to look for you. You wouldn't take a fancy inn, and even if you were to save money by leaving the party, you'd avoid the filthy, cheap inn, right?　So I searched for every single inn within a reasonable price and not far from the tavern where I met Aerial-san and checked for magical reactions.

Are you stalking me or something?

　Magic detection is an extremely delicate technique.
　Thus, the magic reaction is like a palm reading.
　It's like being able to see the palms of the people around you when you focus on them.
　I think you will find it difficult to identify an individual with this.

　The only difference is that people with tremendous magic power are different. A person like that has a picture on his or her hand, or the hand itself is very large.
　In my case, I keep my hand below the human level, so there's no way I'd normally be able to find it.
　But when it comes to my friends from childhood, I can tell if they are close enough.

　In the old tales, there is a story about how they saw through the mimicry of a demon that was disguised as someone close to them and exterminated it, but maybe that was a magical detection that revealed that it was a different person.
　Well, I'm the same way, but I can at least recognize my friends. It's just a matter of spending a few years together and learning.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something to talk about.

I know.

　If they had gone this far and said 'I just wanted to see your face', I would have closed the door.

'Besides, if it's magic detection, aren't Reme better at it than you? I haven't done much.

No, I'm not talking about technology, I'm talking about energy.

You'd be worried if it was the other way around.

　In this case, it would be better to oppose the whole [Position (Job)].
　I hear that [Black Mage] Fenix has left the group and has found a job somewhere else. But he doesn't even show his face to me, nor does he give me any news. Even though we were familiar with each other in the past and had been partying together for a long time.

　........Well, it's impossible not to care about it.

'Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I don't know why I didn't want to see you.

　It's not that I don't have something to talk about.
　When I raised my hands in surrender, Fenix made an apologetic face for some reason.

''No, it's me...''　

　....?

Well, all right, let's go get a drink. We can talk about it there.

"...oh, oh. Are you sure?

Hmm?　That's not........well I should have asked you. Should I stop drinking since we're attacking tomorrow?

''That's okay. Hangovers aren't carried into the magical body (avatar), and the [brave] don't get crushed by alcohol in the first place.

　The whole thing is substandard.
　He also eats quite a bit of rice, despite the fact that he looks like this. Making a lot of magic consumes energy, so it's meant to compensate for that, and that's the same for me.
　But in the case of 【Brave Man】, his basic metabolism is also high, probably.

''Even so, you never drank the day before, I believe.

One or two cups are fine. A glass or two of water and a glass of milk are fine, if you don't mind.

　Yeah, we're here to talk, so drinking isn't mandatory.

That's fine. I'm not in the mood for booze either.

　I also put on the hood of my cloak and we leave the inn together.
　The extremely suspicious duo is complete, but I used magic as usual in that area, so no passersby look at me strangely.
　We decided to go to a nearby bar I know. The food is good, fast and cheap. It's amazing.

''Did you spread the press around properly?''

Yeah, I jumped on top of a building on the way up and ran across the roof.

　That's a tough sell.

And you're the one who should be doing it?

What?　There's something wrong with you now.

'No ... well ... I just thought you'd be mad at me.

　Fenix mumbles in a rambling voice, as if it's hard to say.

'What?'　Stalking?　I know it's creepy, don't worry.

　I'm used to unique people and beings thanks to my workplace, so I wasn't surprised.
　I said teasingly, but Fenix's expression didn't clear.

'No it's about the party.

　Huh?
　Oh ... uh ... I see. So you're heartbroken about that. I didn't kick him out myself, in fact, I was trying to keep him back, but he still feels guilty that I was left out?
　It's very much like him.

'You're an idiot. If I was angry like that, I'd be angry when I found out you're a [brave man].

　Ten years old. When I found out the [Position (Job)] in the temple, it wasn't a shock.
　When I found out that Fenix was a 【Brave Person】, I wasn't able to hold a hundred percent blessing.

　Even so, I was able to say "Good for you" or "That's great!" because I knew.

　He was a bright man who could think deeply about things, a kind man who didn't have a vengeful streak against bullies, and when I got hurt in a fight with a bully, he was the kind of good-natured guy who was more worried about my injuries than his own.
　So I was convinced.

　Oh, I see. That's the guy. Well, you have to admit it.

I'm sure you're right. I'm sorry, Leme, for making you suspicious.

　How could I be mad at him when he hadn't done anything wrong?

'Yes, yes. Then it's your treat. I'm on the payroll.

　When he said that, Fenix finally laughed.

'Oh, okay,'

　I'm at the bar. Enter.
　There was a noisy group of people, but well, it's a bar, so there's no need to complain.
　We sat in line at an empty counter seat.
　We ordered food and water as we saw fit.

Speaking of which, Leme. I heard you got a girlfriend?

Mr. Aerial, that's none of your business.

　Well, I didn't keep my mouth shut, and I was chasing after him, holding his hand to answer him. It would be hard to think of it as something I wouldn't want people to know about.

'You smell like water, let me say hello next time.'

　The Fenix guy looks kind of happy.

'First of all, I'm not a lover.'

'Well disloyalty is not good. I heard you sunk your face into your chest in public.

　Mr. Aerial?　Is that it?　A junior who had few friends and was so worried about his friends that he finally even had a girlfriend....did he tell people about it with such joy that he couldn't help but tell them?

Friends, for now.

　Snuggle buddies, to be precise. That's what Mira says.
　What is this, this is so embarrassing.

"Yeah, well. It was really good.

''Shut up. Anyway, 【Black Mage】 is a non-motivated 【Position(Job)】. What's more, what's the story?

When did you meet him?

"Listen to me.

　I hit him weakly on the shoulder as I pushed him, and Fenix laughed funny.

'No, I'm sorry. Mr. Aerial says you're a wonderful woman, you say. I was just curious.

I could go on and on about all the women you've been with.

Let's cut to the chase.

Do it.

　You don't want to talk about it, I know you don't.
　I think these things are really a personality thing. Some people want to talk to people, and some people want to keep it quiet.
　No, Mila, you're not really a lover.

'So, tell me this time, okay?　What's the story?

　After taking a sip of the water brought in earlier, Fenix opens his mouth.

'About the other day, I just wanted to check in with you.

　I think it's a matter of leaving the party. I can't think of anything else.

Why did you decide to leave by yourself?