Okay..........what do you mean? Because, eh?

　I could see that Thor-san was confused.

　I don't know how the Demon King-sama came up with the story, but if I heard that the general staff would be dispatched from the Demon King's Castle, it's certainly not unreasonable to think that it's a plan to gather people with the mention of 'there's a demon who defeated Fenix'.
　Or rather, it was a proportionally strong idea in my mind.

　Until I heard about their obsession with beginner level dungeons.
　A dungeon for new adventurers that I inherited from my grandmother. I didn't want to distort this, until I heard that he didn't want to distort it.

'Because even if it's irrational, there are things you can't change, even if it's only a loss.

　As I was myself.
　But," I continue, "I think if you're going to go through with something, you have a responsibility to solve the problems that come with it.

I think if you're going to follow through on something, you have a responsibility to solve the problems that come with it.

　If the 【Black Mage】, who is said to be useless, is going to be in the party, I must at least let my friends win.
　The more I can't gain popularity, the more I have to support my friends in battle so that they can gain more popularity.
　You can't gain popularity, you can't contribute to victory, you can't contribute to victory, and you're not good enough, but you're still in the party. This isn't fortitude or consistency; it's parasitism. Just like Alba once thought of me as such.

　I glance at Kay.
　She pulls her chin back slightly and addresses Kash.

'Master Kash, I think you two are going to have a long talk, so let's make some tea in the other room. We'll also have some delicious baked goods for you to enjoy.

Baked goods. I'll be there.

　Mr. Fulkus answers before Kash does.

　The baby girl glanced at me. I nodded, and she shook her head in a lump. Then she clenched both fists and let out a fuming breath. ''Good luck...! pose.

　It's strange because that's all it takes to make me feel better.
　When I smiled, Kash returned the smile and then left with Mr. Kay.

　It seems that Ms. Kay and Mr. Thor are not only boss and subordinate, but also have a personal rapport. There will be things that they don't want to be heard, things that they don't want to say in front of her.

'Se-, responsibility is, well........feeding your subordinates, right? In the meantime, I can pay your salary until the end, or at least I think that's the least I should do.

'Yes. But once it's over, everyone has to start looking for a job.

Some of them have already quit, but I'm hoping to introduce them to each other as best I can.

　Good. Mr. Thor is beaten down, but he is still thinking about the future of his men if the dungeon is over.
　He's not someone who just bends the knee in despair, it's enough to know that.

''So the people who are staying behind now, they like this dungeon?

'I don't know........ I hope so, but maybe we're still waiting to see...

Kay, too?

　Only then did he look me firmly in the eye.

'Kay's not,'

　After all, it seems that a relationship of trust has been built between her and me.

''If you have even one ally, isn't that enough?

　When I smiled at him, Thor-san opened his mouth, but eventually laughed overflowingly.

''Haha........you're a much more positive person than people say, aren't you?

You can't stay in the fourth place party because of your negative thinking.

Maybe.

　A little light seemed to return to his eyes.
　Alright, I resumed the conversation.

''After it became basic to leave the Adventurer Training Organization, there isn't much benefit to taking the beginner level. There's a pattern for making a flashy debut, or for the [brave] to do a local low-difficulty dungeon first, but...''

　I studied under a master, so I don't go to a training institute.
　There shouldn't be a problem since it's not mandatory, but sometimes agency graduates tend to look down on non-agency graduates.

''That's right.... It's really a waste of time to be a beginner in elementary school.

　'Fellow is the name of the Demon King's father, I believe.

''In fact, he did give you some assistance, didn't he?

Yes. It was almost entirely wiped out on everyone's salaries and other expenses.

'No matter what your contract is, it's a given that you have to pay back the money you owe. Don't think too hard about it, just earn the money on time and aim to pay it back.

'Oh, um. Do you really think you can do that, Leme?

　A look of disbelief. And rightly so. The person who appears out of nowhere reaches out, and this is the second time he has done so. After Mr. Fellows, it's me. It would be funny if I wasn't so skeptical.

'On two conditions.'

What is this?

One is this. Do you know what my ring is capable of?

'If you're Leme, and you're the same person as Lemegeton, does that mean that the ring is the true identity of the summoning magic?　........Oh, but my grandmother told me that's the Demon King's equipment.

The Demon King gave it to me.

　I thought something was wrong, but was this something originally equipped by the Demon Lord?
　We don't have any footage of the previous generation, and the previous master didn't use a ring. Prior to that, it was extremely difficult to obtain footage, but I don't think the previous generation used it either.
　I guess he didn't need it since he was the most powerful basic being.

'If anyone is willing to sign up with me, can I sign up?　Of course, we'll confirm our schedule here in advance when we summon them.

　After being formally recognized by the chief of staff, the part of the Demon King-sama's initial statement of 'limited to contracts within the Demon King's Castle for the time being' was cancelled.
　I didn't invite him, but I also made a contract with Fenix. But that wasn't ignoring orders either.

'Ah, yes. That is, if he's okay with it.

'Thank you. The other one is very difficult.

What is this?

　I heard a gulp and a spiteful sound.

'Never give up,'

"Huh?

'Being a dungeon master means you're the leader. You can't have someone who should be following you staying back.

　I kept waiting for him to answer.
　How long had it been, a minute?　Two minutes?　The silence was long. But not forever.

'Oh, if we don't give up, can we protect this dungeon?

I don't know. But if we give up, we'll just lose it. We're here to help it survive. It's your choice.

　The decision is always his to make.
　He was shaking. He was trembling, but he suppressed it.

'Please, Mr. Leme. 'No, Mr. Remeghton. I'll do whatever I can to help you, so please help me protect this dungeon.

　I looked into those determined eyes.

'Yes, of course.'

　I responded by saying.

　◇　

Hey, guys!　My Prince.

　When I returned to the tent prepared as an anteroom after the show, I was embraced by a girl.
　In the anteroom, a cocoon is placed to connect the magic body (avatar) and the spirit. The source of the magic power is a magical stone the size of a rock.

"It's not yours, Leila.

　Leila is the 【Thief】 of my party. It's not a good character, and it's a rather unpopular job, but it's not as good as [Black Mage] or [White Mage].

　They are able to move without the sound of footsteps or signs of movement, and when standing as a scout, viewers can share in the tension, and their 'assassination' by taking the rear without being noticed by the enemy excites the viewer to the point where their deftness is brilliant.
　This is the type of person who likes to play that kind of activity, although it's unassuming.

I'm not a fan of that. You're going to put me in the trash when I'm popular~

　She resists me when I try to pull her away and presses her face into me gingerly.

"No way. I'm counting on you in the dungeon," she says, "I'm just not yours. "No way. You're counting on me in the dungeon. I'm just not yours.

"Be nicer to me! You can count on me in everyday life!

　I managed to pull Leila off the lying and crying.

'That was alright. But your performance is still stiff.

　The one who entered the tent was a young man with dull silver hair and glasses.
　He's my brother, [The Brave].

''You're no match for [actor].

　It was my brother who invented the current style of my character, the White Silver Prince.
　My brother and I, who had been fumigated as adventurers, grew in popularity once we established my prince character.

　For some reason, my brother's relationship with Layla also added to his popularity.
　There are even people who call her the 'Princess of Thieves'.

　..........................It's getting farther and farther away.
　I feel like I'm getting farther and farther away from the brave person I admired in the beginning.
　The rankings are rising, but why is that?

'Oh, Leila. Come to think of it, you know, I don't think I saw him in the crowd.

'He?　Who?

Well, you see, that's the thing, that's what he is. I admire him.

　That seems to have gotten through to them both.
　Leila's expression changes, as if she is dumbfounded and her brother can't understand, as if he can't understand.

''Eh, you mean [Black Mage] Reme?''

'Yeah, well a man-horse and a dog subhuman and a human girl?　I just felt like I was with the I'm here to find a job, I guess. I was just wondering what a weird member of the group was.

I don't know. I mean, I don't know how many times I've heard it. Why do you long for it?　That dull guy.

That's not a nice way to put it. It's cool, it's like you're being yourself. It doesn't matter what anyone says, you always have that fire in your eye. And I'm doing my job. They say he's incompetent, but in fact, I think the fenix party since he's been gone has been lackluster in its movements. So that's what I mean--

Hey, Nicola. Don't say that out there. I don't want to get burned by defending a guy who's been kicked out of the fourth place party. I'll just avoid the nasty stuff.

　My brother's words are always cold.
　I can't resist, and I have a weak heart.

"I'm not going to tell you, but...

''That's fine. You might see that guy as a hero who's carrying himself and getting results, but in reality, he's a scum who's a parasite on [the brave man's] best friend. It's not that the Fenix party is out of shape, it's just that the Demon King's Castle is such a tough dungeon. Aside from Fenix, our friends weren't at the right level.

　The manner in which he spoke to me was so rude that it was indeed annoying.
　My brother is not a bad person, but he has a terrible way of saying things. Sometimes it's too much.

"Dude, they're way better people than we are.

No, they're more popular than us. But that's only because they've always had an appeal through traditional dungeon exploits. This show will give us a foothold, and we'll be on the cutting edge.

That's great. But it's not nice to look down on people who work so hard in the same arena.

　A red-haired demon entered the tent.
　Her name is Fellow. And he's the one who got us a job in the show.

This is Mr. Fellow. I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm going to be able to express my concern for my family members alone. I will try to speak my mind when I go out there.

'Hmm........ Well, I can't bind you to what you think in your heart, you know. However, when you are working with me, please do not forget to respect others.

Yes, of course.

　My brother nodded with a false smile.

'So, have you decided to enter the positionless tag team tournament?

That still seems to bother my sister.

'It would be hard for the audience to get in if everything was new. For the first time, we're thinking of having more combinations of adventurers and adventurers and sub-humans and sub-humans. We're going to give priority to the Nicola Party members who have also helped us with this project to get a slot...?

I'd love to be a part of this, sir.

''A [brave] brother and sister is a rare thing, and I'm sure it will attract some attention.

Yes, Master Ferro is right.

　My brother has become obsessed with being popular.
　But he's not the cool, brave man I always wanted to be.

　What should I do?

　What would you do if you were the one who stuck to your guns, no matter what anyone said about you?
　What would you do, Leme?
　Or is my admiration for you the result of my own desires?

　I had no idea at the time.
　I never imagined that I would be the one to team up with him for the championship.