Thor and Asmo will give us recommendations on where to go, and me, Eric and Ra-chan will follow.

　We pass the entrance to a giant pumpkin, a street of stalls that smells great, and even a square that is used as a resting place.

　The stalls are sparsely open and the number of villagers passing by is moderate.

　The number of people passing by is moderate as well. Some people are tired of being crowded with people and are just chatting with each other, while others bring their food from the stalls to eat.

We've come to a residential area, but are there really any interesting food stalls here?

We don't run a food truck where we're going. "We don't do it in a food truck, because that's where the noise will come from.

　If they are nagging me, it's probably because they have something to be ashamed of.

　As I was feeling uneasy that I was being followed after all this time, I heard a boisterous voice coming from the house.

'We're here. Rick's backyard is the venue.

　I see that this is an event held in the backyard of the villagers known as Rick.

　I'm sure they're holding some sort of event, given the heated voices that are rising.

　As I followed along with a half-hearted sense of anxiety and anticipation, Thor knocked on the door of the house.

'Rick, we're going to have to mix it up!

'Oh, Thor!　You've brought the money right today, haven't you?

　Then a jovial young man with a monkey face came right out.

　Wait a minute. Is it okay to have an event where you are suddenly asked if you have money?　And if you're going to do business, you wouldn't do it in this obscure place.

'Monkey?'

　Ra-chan tells the truth as he sees it.

　We laughed at her too direct words.

''Who's the monkey - you mean, nobleman!　Hey, hey, Thor!　Behind you are a lord's son and a guest, a nobleman.
Hey!　That's a no-no!

　Rick showed an impatient look when he saw us.

　It's obvious we're noblemen by the way we're dressed and by the way we look at Loretta, our maid of honor.

''It's okay. You know the rumors about Al and me here, right?

........Well, he's even a member of the village's bad boy trio, even though he's the son of the lord. And I've heard rumors of his erratic behavior.

'Wait. How can you be the son of a lord and be part of the village's trio of bad boys?

　I've never heard that information before. I'm very unconvinced that I'm being put in the same category as bad boys like Thor and Asmo.

''Well, it doesn't really matter, does it?''

　No, it's not a good idea for me at all. If it's not good, I might have to rethink my relationship with Thor and Asmo.

'But hey...'

　Rick looks reluctant when he sees me, Eric and Ra-chan.

　He doesn't want me, a nobleman, to see some of the things he doesn't want me to see.

'This guy ain't one to be tipped off.

'Master Alfried, yes, but the people in the back...'

Lady Rana is from another realm and unlike the women in this village, she is pure. And Master Eric is Al's friend.

I see. So the little boy's a bad boy, huh? Okay, all right.

I'm not comfortable with being convinced on that basis.

　I can't stand Thor and Rick's words, and me and Eric's rushing in overlap.

　I don't understand why my friend = bad boy.

'Lord Rana, let's not do it here. It's suspicious that this is an event you want to keep secret from the nobility.

　Rick opened the door and urged him in, but Loretta urged him to stand still.

'If that's what you think, you don't have to come in, okay?

　Rick doesn't care what Loretta says. Rather, he wants to say that it would be more helpful.

　As expected, I'm not going to be led to a meeting of bad boys either.

　Just as I'm lost, a cheer goes up from the backyard.

"Race three is over!　The winner is Rabbi!

'Yes!　My Rabbi is the best!

　The air is filled with tension, out-of-place dialogue and joyful voices.

　I was anxious, but I was also curious about what was going on behind this, on the contrary.

　It was the same for Ra-chan, or maybe it was just the same for her, and she was so nervous to see it.

''Loretta-san, wouldn't it be fine if we just took a look inside for a bit?　If anything strange happens, just get out there right away and you'll be fine.

　To be honest, I'm more concerned about what's being done than I am about my anxiety right now.

'But...'

'Ra's showing interest, you know?　To cheer you up, right?

Loretta. I want to see it.

　I tapped Ra-chan's shoulder without it, and she turned her moist eyes to Loretta.

''........I understand. If there's anything weird going on, I'll be right out.

　When asked by Ra-chan to do so, Loretta reluctantly agreed, as if she was unexpectedly weak.

　Probably wouldn't work if it was the oopsy maid I saw in the royal capital.

　When Loretta gives her permission, we follow Rick around the backyard.

　Then there is a lace table made of wood, with animals that look like rats lined up in a separate course.

　The villagers were sitting on couches looking at the animals and engaged in a serious conversation about which one of them was the fastest.

　Just by looking at this scene, I understood what was going on here.

Oh, it's Ratton!　Cute!

　The animal is called a ratton, just like Ra-chan said.

　It is a stocky animal that looks like a slightly plumped-up rat, and can be seen walking around in the forest sometimes. They are a gentle animal that doesn't attack humans, and if you give them a glimpse of something to eat, they will easily come to you, which is why they are so popular among children.

　It seems that Ra-chan knows them too.

'What do you do with all those rattons lined up like that?

Are we all going to pet it?

　You will find that you will be able to get a lot more than just a few minutes of your time.

　You can find no joking or teasing in Ra-chan's unblemished eyes, and it's obvious that there's nothing to joke about. I can understand why you are upset.

'No, no, no. We're going to make the Rattons run and compete.

It's called a Wratton race.

Isn't that gambling?

　Loretta, perhaps guessing what was going on here from Rick and Thor's explanation, made an accusatory noise.

'No, no, sir. We're just running the Rattons in here.

But the villagers behind you are collecting coins!

That's a private thing I'm doing on my own. I'm just showing everyone my lovely Ruttons.

　But it is clear that their actions are organized, as they have exactly the number tags ready and exchange money in a crisp manner.

　Gambling itself isn't strictly regulated in this world.

　It may not seem like a good idea to bet openly, but that doesn't mean it's illegal.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it, but I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

"This is not a place for Rana-sama, I'm going home--

'Sounds interesting!　I want to watch the Ratton race!

　Loretta tried to pull away, but Ra-chan was sitting on the couch, her eyes shining as bright as ever.

'Lady Rahna!　Master Eric, please don't.

Hmm, that sounds interesting. I'll take a look.

　Loretta asked Eric for help, but Eric himself was curious and took a seat.

'Well, me too,'

　Loretta gave me a sullen look, but I dared to ignore it and sat down.

　Ra-chan, who hadn't been very energetic, has a very good look on her face. I don't want to interrupt her if I can.

　Besides, he had never played slingshots or horse racing in his previous life, so I'm curious to see what it's like.

'Heh, I knew Al would come around.

Master Eric is surprisingly flippant, too.

All right, everyone, let's go for race four!

　Loretta stood dumbfounded as the villagers responded to Rick's voice with fervor.