*

　Makoto, Fene and Liv formed a circle with Yuka in the center.

''I use transition magic, but have you forgotten anything?''
Nope.
No.
No.

　The language is different, but the content is consistent.

'Let me ask you one question, okay?'
What?
Should I relax when I use transition magic?
You'll be fine.

　Maybe, Mako muttered quietly.
　In Ranobe and other novels, having a strong chi can neutralize magic.
　It was the result of action judgments in TRPGs being incorporated into novels, but if this rule was adopted, there was a good chance that Makoto would be left behind.
　This is because Mako's status is higher than Yuka's and she has acquired a skill called magic resistance.

''Well then, take it easy...''
I just said it's okay.
It's just my mood.

　Fene lunged at him, but Yuka didn't take it up and poked his staff.

'Luno Kesta Agata!　O Periolis the Imperishable, like a corridor joined together, be the path I walk!　Reveal!　Transfer (teleportation)!

　The chanting was complete and a glowing magic circle unfolded beneath his feet.
　The light emitted by the magic circle gradually increased, making Makoto feel dizzy.

''Oops.''

　I close my eyes and shake my head.
　When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in front of Rockwell's southern castle gate.
　Apparently, they had successfully made the transition.
　Yuka, of course, as well as Fene and Liv are there.

'Oh, hey, you guys.'

　The gatekeeper approached me without fear.
　He is an older man with white in his hair.
　His skin is tanned and his leather armor is faded, as if to testify to years of hard work.

'I'm sorry to surprise you,'
Was that transference magic?

　'Oh,' said Makoto, nodding.

'I've been a gatekeeper for forty years, but this is the first time I've seen transition magic. Did you use it?''
Yes, I do.

　Yuka puffed out her chest and puffed out her nose in a proud manner.

''Ha~ I didn't know you could do transference magic at your age. I'm sure you'll become a great wizard that will go down in history.''
Not so much.

　He may think he's being modest, but his irreverence exudes from every word and action.
　I can't help but think he's quite interesting.
　It's a good thing that you don't want to get carried away with your ragging, so Makoto intervened between the two of them.

''I need to get into town, are you okay?''
Yeah, let me see your pass.

　The gatekeepers checked the passes in the order of Makoto, Yuka, Fene, and Liv.
　He must have checked the status as well, because he squinted intently.

''Okay, no problem.
I appreciate it.

　I mutter to myself.
　I've always wanted to sleep in a warm bed, and it's not good for my mental health that I can't have my hopes fulfilled when I have money.
　The stress of not being able to stay in a hotel or get into a comic book store when you have the money is crazy.

'Open the gates!'

　The gatekeeper shouted, and the gate slowly opened.
　Mako and the others ducked through the gate and proceeded straight down the front street, illuminated by a streetlight.

'Mako, what do we do now?'
...back to the inn.

　I swallowed the words "I need a good night's sleep" as quickly as I could.

''Let's talk about redeeming the magic stone. How's Liv?
What?
The inn, the inn.
Yeah, I got rid of the old inn. I'm at the Golden Fleece now, on the third floor.
When did this happen?

　Well, if you think about it, we weren't together at all hours of the day.
　You could find yourself staying on the third floor of the same inn.
　When you enter the alleyway from the main street, it instantly gets dark.

''Well I can't see my feet underneath me.
"Why don't you get some night vision?
No.

　I think it's rather useful for being an adventurer, but Yuka doesn't seem to think so.

''Miss, I'll lend a hand.
Thanks.

　When Fene shook her hand, Yuka thanked her.

''........Ha~''
Sighing makes you run from happiness.
I don't need the happiness of running away from it.

　Yuka said back, sounding miffed.

'So why are you letting out a sigh?'
I've been trying to figure out when to change lodgings.
Miss, are you leaving the team?
The inn, not the team. The inn.
Why?
It's dangerous.
...?

　Fene tilted her head as if to say she didn't understand why.
　Perhaps she didn't understand how Yuka felt, having lived in a poor environment.
　Another alleyway was entered, and after a short walk, the 'Golden Sheep' pavilion came into view.
　The door to the first floor was still open, as if it was still business hours.
　When I walked in, Sherry was sitting at the counter.

''I'm home,''
'Oh, sir. You're very late. I was just about to close up shop.

　When Makoto called out to her, Shelly stood up and moved across the counter.

'Would you like to eat?'
Please.
Just give me a second to reheat it.
'Oh, and I need to talk to you about something important and I need you to let me close the shutters...'

　Shelly stopped and raised her eyebrows quizzically.

'Does that mean you want me to close up shop?
You can take it as you will.
It's kind of urgent, isn't it?

　Shelly crossed her arms thoughtfully.
　She regretted that she should have discussed it in her room, but it was too late to regret it now.
　Maybe she was in a hurry because she was tired.

'It's fine. We won't have any visitors anyway.
I'll pay extra for it.
I don't want it. I don't want it.

　Then he gives me a look that says he's out of his mind.

'No, I made a lot of money there this time. And yet you're not going to take advantage of a favor.

　Spatial magic stones are 1 million A, Arachne's magic stones are 20,000 A, and even Papyrusag's magic stones would be several thousand A.
　It would be wrong to make such a profit and not give it back to the people involved.
　Mako walked over to the counter and stuck her hand into the pouch.
　A piece of magic stone touched his finger.
　It's a somewhat large shard.
　I thought a smaller shard would be fine, but there's no point in being stingy here.
　I'm going to put the magic stone shard on the counter.

''What about this one?''
It's a piece of magic stone. Sorry to say it's a gift in kind.
Your husband is a very responsible man.

　Shelley's lips twitched in a sultry way.
　It's not necessarily a fruitful deal considering the hassle of cashing in.

'Why don't you just spoil it honestly?
I have my pride.
...phew.

　Sherry let out a small sigh and tucked the magic stone shard in the counter drawer.
　''Now we have a deal.

Let's close the shutters.
Yes, sir!
Yeah, I get it.

　Fene and Liv split up and started to close the shutters, but Yuka took a seat at the center table and plopped down.
　I wanted to tell her that you should work too, but it was no use.
　She's a creature like this.
　I close the window and take a seat at the table with Yuka.
　Somewhat late, Fene and Liv took their seats.
　By the way, Fene is next to Makoto, while Liv is facing him.

For now, let's check the results of the battle.
Okay.

　Fane took out a large cloth bag and a spatial magic stone and placed it on the table.
　That's enough to make it impossible to put anything else on it.

''Put it out too, Anta.''
I'm not trying to hide anything.

　Mako took out a crushed magic stone from the pouch and placed it on top of the cloth bag.

''For what it's worth, that's quite a lot.
Yeah.

　Yuka responded briefly, but with a hokey face.

''I wish we could process it ourselves.
You're asking for too much.

　You're right, Makoto nodded.
　In the future, they will set up their own workshop and have their own brand - is this too much to ask?

'How much do you think it will be, ribs?
Well, I'm not exactly a businessman.
That's pretty much it.
''The spatial magic stone is a million A, and the magic stone in the bag can be 20,000 A, can't it?　The Scorpion's magic stone is about 1000A?　Well, it's hard to say for sure since the price of a magic stone is affected by its purity.

　Liv said, raising her eyebrows in difficulty.

'Now I can pay my brother back, ssss.
Do you owe Mako money?
I know it's not a good idea to borrow money from your friends.

　When Liv said in an accusatory tone, Fene's lips twitched in a sultry manner.

'There's a bit of a situation with this,'
'You say that, but debts among friends can lead to trouble.
I know that too. I've got a good life ahead of me in this one, you know.

　When you lend money to someone else, assume you won't get it back.
　That's the lesson I learned from being swept up in my father's debt.
　Well, I wish I had learned this much of a lesson painlessly.

'Pay off that debt.
I know that.

　Fene stared at Liv with determined eyes.

'Liv, can you handle it like you did with the demon bear (Evil Grizzly)?
It's impossible. At this rate, it's beyond my capabilities.
It's not helping.
I'm a mercenary.

　Liv said, sounding miffed.

'With this much, wouldn't it be best to get the church to mediate?
'I heard the church doesn't buy material?'
We don't buy them, but we do act as a go-between. They charge a lot of commission, so I don't use them if they have a route.
So I guess I'll have to rely on the Church.

　The commission is painful, but it's a necessary expense when you consider that you can use the church's connections.
　Even so, if you're mediating, I wish you would tell me you're mediating.

''Is it okay to have the church mediate and sell the magic stone?''
No objections.
I don't have a choice.
I don't blame you.

　There's no other choice, but it's unanimous.

'So, does that mean I'm going to church?
Is Makoto going?

　Liv questioned back with a frustrated look on her face.
　Perhaps she felt evasive about the leader doing the chores.

'That's not the only reason I'm here, though.

　Mako stood up and spun around on the spot.

'Why are you dancing all of a sudden?'
I'm not dancing. Look at my back and my sides.

　I can't get to the back of the stone, so I point to the side of my body.
　My coat, chainmail, and shirt rip open, revealing bare skin.

'Oh, your new gear. Why don't you get Sherry to fix your clothes?
I can mend your clothes as much as I want.

　When Yuka looked at the counter, Shelly said as she placed the food on her plate.

''Well I feel so sorry for you.
'After all that you've given me. You don't have to feel sorry.

　'Besides,' continues Shelley.

'I'm just glad I have a brother.
My brother.

　Mako moaned softly.
　Although he's rejuvenated, he's still Alafore.
　And yet, to be treated as a younger brother--.
　Speaking of which, I'm often told that I'm 'too old' for my age~ and I let out a sigh.
　I thought I was an Arouette, but maybe I didn't grow up to be as old as I am inside.

'You're lucky you're not my son.
My son is a....
If I was five years older, I might have felt that way.

　Shelley said, sounding a little pleased.

'Just in case you're wondering, how old do I look?'
We're the same age at most.
I'm in my mid-teens. By the way, I'm 15.
It's the same with me as it is with Fene.

　So you're telling me that they think I'm around fifteen years old.
　Makoto let out a sigh of gloom and doom.