*

　Early in the morning--a large number of adventurers had gathered at the north castle gate of Rockwell.
　There were about fifty people, with about seventy percent of them being men.
　The majority of the races are humans and beastmen, with a few dwarves and elves.
　Judging from their behavior and equipment, there are not many veteran adventurers.
　Some percentage of the adventurers are looking at us and discussing something.
　Of course, their goal is not Mako, but Liv.

''Hey, he's a rib, okay?''
The ribs?
What's the point of a job like this?
What's the word on the street about you quitting the mercenary corps?
What's so stupid you'd do something like that?
I saw them. I saw them piling up tons of magical stones in the church.

　Hmmm, Mako groaned.
　Apparently, Liv was quite a famous mercenary.
　He was worried that it was really a good idea to do something like that that would throw his career away.
　Makoto turned his attention to Liv next to him.
　Yesterday, Liv bought a jacket and a pareo at Rogers Trading Company.
　It looked amazing, Mako let out a small breath.
　Liv wore a black leather jacket with a brightly colored embroidered pareo covering her lower body.
　Combined with the embroidery of a flame motif on the back of the jacket, it gave the jacket a Yankee look.
　Liv stood in front of Mako and threw out her chest with a smug look on her face.

'What do you think, this outfit?'
It's not a problem.
"Heh, right.

　When Makoto praised her appropriately, Liv smiled shyly.
　I can't help but wonder if she's really happy with this kind of appropriate praise.
　Perhaps feeling better, Liv stood in front of Fene, who was carrying a backpack.

''What do you think, this outfit?''
I guess it's okay.

　I thought I was going to criticize her harshly, but Fene spoke a compliment and glanced at me.

''Should I wear clothes like this too?
Oh, no...

　Suddenly, he stagnates when he's turned off the conversation.
　Apparently, Fene didn't care about Liv, but rather disciplined because Mako spoke up with a positive opinion.
　A guy who cares is a guy who cares.
　Anyway, I can't keep quiet about it.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it. It's the same as mine.
Yeah. They're together.

　Fene smiled triumphantly at Liv.

''Ugh, I wanted a matching coat with Makoto too, but I didn't have a size that fit me.

　Fene's smile deepened as Liv said excusingly.
　'Why do women like to fight over mounts?

'No, Liv looks good in it, you know. What can I say, it's kind of hardcore.'
Oh, yeah? That would be nice.
...my brother.

　Fene poked her lower lip out in frustration.
　What on earth should I do?
　He asked himself, but he didn't have an answer.

'You're irresistible,'
Want me to do it for you?
Ha, I'm kidding.

　Yuka snickered.
　This guy was left behind because of his personality, so why does he continue to mimic fighting in all directions?
　There is a saying that a fool learns from experience and a wise man learns from history, but what is she who does not learn from experience?
　No, maybe she's a bigger person than you might think, as she doesn't learn from experience and continues to stick to her guns.

'Aren't you tired of that sort of thing?'
What do you mean by that?
...that kind of thing.

　I wanted to ask him if he wasn't tired of imitating fighting in all directions, but he didn't have the courage to say it.

'Let's just say I don't get tired of it when it comes to my personality. I ... I've been wearing a cat at school and stifling my true feelings as much as I can over here, too.
Didn't they tell you they were going to complain about what was decided?
That's because my life was at stake. What's the point in discovering and dying for your life when your life is at stake?
You're not wrong.
Right?

　Yuka nodded with a sullen look on her face.
　It wasn't wrong, but I'm sure her classmates were thinking the same thing.
　If they were thrown out into a strange land and there were guys who disturbed the harmony in a situation where they had to cooperate, they would move in the direction of eliminating them.

''Just for the record........''
What?
Don't expect me to have a temper tantrum, okay?

　Yuka said with a straight face.

''Did you take your pills properly?''
Why?
You're going to have a hard time explaining to me why I'm not a slob.
I said pills!
That was a great improvisation.

　Huh, Makoto wipes his forehead with his sleeve.

'You don't think I've lost my mind, do you?
No, I was just questioning my sanity.
It's not the same!

　Yuka said, her face turning red.

''Anta, seriously--''
Hey, Mako.

　Liv doesn't read the air and interrupts and puts Makoto in a headlock.
　He may have thought he was squaring his shoulders, but the height difference is too great.

'If you interfere, you'll die.'
'Hey, hey, I'm going to go on a meet-and-greet, and you're not going to kill the leader.
Making the rounds?
We're going to have to make a name for ourselves now, so why not?
Well....

　Liv asked back, and Yuka answered after a moment's pause.

'Well, then, that's the way it is.'

　Liv waved a fluttering hand and turned her back to Yuka.
　The adventurers give way as if it were the Ten Commandments.
　It hurts to look at them, though, because they're still in a headlock.

'It worked, didn't it?'
Yeah. Thanks for the help.
Yuka's a funny guy.
You think that's funny?
Yeah, I don't get tired of it.

　Then Liv bared her teeth and laughed.
　How could he find that funny - is it that only cows have brazen nerves?

'Does Mako not like Yuka?'
He's a pain in the ass, but I don't hate him.

　You might think he's an interesting guy if you could see him from one more step away.

Good.
What?

　I ask Liv, who exhales in relief.

'You don't want the team to break up, do you?
Well, yeah.

　I have a feeling that if the team breaks up, Yuka will happily go out and kill the trio.
　I don't want to do that for myself.

''........Liv.
What?
I think it's time for you to step away.
Why?
Because...

　Liv said flatly, and Mako nagged.
　Just so, her breasts are right where her face is.
　It's a good idea to be able to show off your breasts.

You are admiring my tits, Makoto.
No, no. I can't look away.
Ha, you can rub it in if you like.
... "Don't spit out a line of dialogue that you can't react to.

　Mako let out a deep sigh.

'You're not going to rub it?'
I'm not rubbing you!
Okay.

　When Makoto raised his voice, Liv nodded with a divine look on his face.
　Apparently, the feeling was palpable.

'Then I'll let you rub it when we're alone.
No, it's not.
Tsk, that's boring. You could be a little more selfish, you know.

　Liv clicked her tongue adorably.
　Where would I go to if I was s*xually harassed?

'Oh, yikes!　Hey!
"-Oh!

　Liv suddenly jumped on the spot and waved her hands in the air.
　Her breasts shook violently as the beat hit Makoto's face.
　He'd said they were like this, but they were both heavy and soft.

'Oh!'

　A man standing a short distance away waved his hand in response to Liv.
　The man approached us as he squeezed through the adventurers.
　He was a man who was two times larger than Liv.
　Perhaps it was the same tribe, but his skin was sallow and dark, with slightly smaller horns.
　His voluminous hair and beard combined to form a mane.
　He has a stern face, but he is easy to relate to.
　He wears a leather jacket and a loincloth.
　He does not wear a loincloth.
　A child might cry if he or she saw it.

'Oh, ribs. It's been a while.
It's good to see you, Frank.

　The two men clapped their fists together.
　The man - Frank looked at Liv and raised his eyebrows quizzically.

'What's the outfit?'
Hey, Mako.
Yeah, I asked him to wear it.
What?

　Frank said in a dusky voice, wondering if it was a tribal taboo to cover up a loincloth.

'You know, is it wrong to cover your loincloth in the Bison Horn tribe way?
We believe that the less equipment we wear, the less bravery we can show.
Do the bravest in the tribe ever get naked?
No.

　Frank shook his head and Makoto patted his chest.
　It's unlikely to get along with a tribe where a naked guy is respected for his quirks.

''There was a tendency to do that in the past, but the rule changed when people said they didn't know if they were exposing their skin to show their bravery or if it was their own inclination.
Oh that's the way it's supposed to be.
It was a long time ago.

　Frank's cheeks colored with embarrassment.

'I have another rule,' he said, 'that when I have my way, I must use force.
Isn't that gonna be a lot of crime?
'Only when there is a disagreement and the chiefs see the benefit of both sides.
Well, I guess so.

　It is difficult to maintain and develop a tribe if it is endorsed to impose its will by force of arms.
　The law must be a way to maintain and develop the community.

.... so to speak.

　Frank held out his hand to me.
　I suppose I should think he wanted to shake my hand, but his fierce smile indicated otherwise.

'A contest of strength?'
'The fact that Liv is hiding her skin means she's lost the power match to you. So if I win, it's null and void.
Don't you need the chiefs' approval?
No.

　Frank assured him emphatically and bared his teeth.
　What a double standard.
　Honestly, I'd like to refuse for a suitable reason.
　However--'

'Hey, I heard that Frank the Bisonhorn is going to have a power contest.
You don't think it was Frank?
I heard you once killed a monster with your bare hands.
Who is that kid?
You're not a lover because you've got the Bison Horned Ribs on your side?

　There are too many galleries to refuse.
　If you make a weak statement here, you'll be licked by your peers.

'All right,'
Hmm, you can put your strength into it first.

　Frank smiled provocatively as Makoto squeezed his hand back.
　Apparently, he doesn't possess the skills to see status.
　Since he's said to be like a heroic warrior of the past, I wanted him to be able to intuitively see through his abilities even if he didn't have any skills.
　Is it wrong to think that way?

''Then, let's go.''
I'm ready for you--yeeeeeeeee!

　When Mako put some effort into it, Frank was on his back like a reactionary comedian.
　I didn't mean to put that much force into it, though.

''........Makoto.
I'm sorry.

　Letting go of his hands, Frank knelt there as if he'd run out of steam.
　He was sweating sluggishly and breathing raggedly.

'Are you okay?'
Yeah, I'll be fine.

　Frank stood up, rubbing his hands.
'....Ahhhh...'
Ha-ha-ha, you're a great guy. You can handle the ribs.

　What is this guy saying?

'Bless you,'

　With that, Frank went back to his friends.

'Hey, Frank's lost it,'
No, he was holding back.
So you let the kid hold the flowers.
You're the Frank of the Bison Horns. Not only is his armor top-notch, but his mind is top-notch as well.

　These guys' eyes are knotty, too, Mako let out a small sigh.

'Have I done something wrong?'
'No, that was fine. Because losing on purpose is the biggest insult of all.
"...ribs.
A victory tutu?
No, I think it's time to let me go.

　Makoto plucked at the back of Liv's hand.
　It's been under my armpit for a while now.
　To be honest, it's uncomfortable.

'Sorry, sorry, I need to feel better.

　Liv pulled away from Mako and said, without taking offense.
　It was not until some time later that the Rogers Chamber of Commerce's carriage arrived.