Now that we have completed the attack on the Lost Forest, we return to Horizon.
　Including the movement, it took a total of 2 days.
　I guess I was able to capture the forest rather quickly.

　I moved to the inn where Arios and the others are staying and asked for their rooms.

Hi, Rain. What's going on?　You're not going to tell me you've given up on the attack, are you?
It's the other way around. The attack is over.
What?
Here's the shield of truth.

　He took the shield of truth out of his luggage bag and handed it to Arios.

'Oh, no way!　
There's no way. If you doubt me, you can look all you want.

　As he said this, Arios began to examine the truth shield.
　He equipped it, checked the front and back, and used appraisal magic.

　He's a skeptical guy.
　There's no point in preparing a fake one, though.
　However, I guess Arios can't trust me, just like I can't trust Arios.
　When I thought about it, it made sense.

''Well it sure sounds like the real thing.
Right?
Hmm. So you can at least run errands for the kids?
Meow you didn't even say thank you.
You haven't even apologized for suspecting him of being a phony.
'Is this the brave one...'

　On the road, we've been talking lightly about Arios...
　Sola and Luna don't like it either, and they look grim.

'Do you want to do it?　I can do it, okay?
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Stop it.

　The four people behind me were having a tumultuous conversation, and I stopped them in a hurry.

'What the hell, those two?　There are more faces I don't know, but...
Don't worry about it.

　Sora and Luna have them use hallucinogenic magic and the wings on their backs are invisible.
　If they find out they're the spirit race, they'll be in a lot of trouble.
　Kanade and Tania are rare, but they don't come down to the human village.
　But if a spirit race that had cut off contact with them two hundred years ago appeared, it would be a big rumor.
　They could be harmed in some way.
　It might be tight, but we need to have them do this in the city and other places where people are watching us.

'So, what's the reward?'
Oh, man, we'll soon be talking about money.
'Of course. You wouldn't work for Arios for free, would you?
You say one word too many.
Do you mind if I check it out?
Do as you please.

　I open the leather bag I received from Arios and check inside.
　There are twenty gold coins.
　It fits.

"Just as we agreed beforehand. We have no problem with that.
There's no chance of it being a fake so yeah, no problem. We have a deal.

　We've done our job.
　We're done here.
　Let's get the hell out of here.

　With my back to Arios.

Wait, Rain.

　Aggus, who had been watching the conversation, stopped me.
　I turned around, thinking that it wasn't very popular to ignore him.

'What?'
Why don't you come back to the party?

　Aggus' words were completely unexpected and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
　However, it wasn't just me, apparently Arios was as well.

'Hey, Aggus. What are you talking about?　I haven't heard anything about bringing Rain back to the party.
'It's my sole discretion. You may have a lot of thoughts on this, but I'm afraid you'll have to let me handle this one.
....

　When Arios was silent, Aggus continued his story.

'Unlike before, I promise to welcome you as a proper companion. Of course, I also promise to improve your treatment. Of course, I will also promise you better treatment, and if you want a reward, I will promise you that too. How do you like that, Rain?　Not a bad story, is it?
What, are you going to travel with this guy again?
'You understand that we need Rain's support after recent events, don't you?
It's a lot of trouble to search for it and all that, but it's okay if that's the case. I can give you special recognition.
How's Mina?
'Well he doesn't seem to be aware enough in terms of having a noble mission, but at this point, let's compromise. I don't mind, either.
What about Arios?
....

　Arios does not respond.
　Perhaps interpreting the silence as an affirmation, Aggus proceeded on his own.

'So that's why. Why don't we let bygones be bygones and travel together again?　I'm sure the strongest species Rain is using will also be useful in defeating the Demon King.
....

　I was silent.
　Nope.
　To be precise, I was so stunned that I couldn't even speak.

　They kicked us out on their own and then came back because they needed us after all....
　Are these people insane?
　I wouldn't be able to say this very well.

　Besides, it's a supercilious way of saying you can come back.
　I'm not saying it's humble, but there's a better way to say it.



　Starting with Kanade, everyone was making angry faces.
　Seeing everyone's faces like that made me feel strangely calm.

　It's about me, but I have friends who are as angry with me as I am with them.
　That seemed to make me very happy.
　If they are there for me, that's fine.
　I don't need anything else.

　He turned his back on Aggus.

'Are you going to say no?'
Do you need to ask?　Did you think I'd be happy to go back to the party?
"Once we defeat the Demon King, you'll be free of position, fame and fortune, right?
I don't want that.

　Kanade.
　Tania.
　Sola and Luna.

　I look at everyone and answer Aggus.

'That's all I need, as long as I have company.



----------



　After Rain and the others walked away, Aggus let out a sigh.

''Oh dear ... you failed?''
　You've got to be kidding me!　I knew I didn't need a garbage bug.
A mere civilian without a mission it was impossible for you to understand our noble principles.

　The three of them began to badmouth Rain as they pleased.
　A child who can't see the big picture.
　A trash worm who doesn't like it.
　An ordinary person who can't understand the meaning of the mission.

　How did it all turn out like this?
　Why did they refuse to invite you to the party?

　They didn't try to understand that they were the cause of this, and without a shred of awareness, they just continued to talk about how Rain was responsible for it.

　In the midst of all this, Arios was silent the entire time.
　He remained silent.

'Hey, hey, you think so too, don't you Arios?　We don't need him at our party, do we?

　Lean spoke to Arios, without any particular intentions, asking for a counterpart.
　Arios gave a small nod in response to her words.

''....Ah. You're right.''
I know, right?　I don't want that guy!
'Well I don't need someone like Rain. You're not needed.
Arios, you know what I'm talking about.

　Leanne is in a good mood, thinking her story was affirmed...
　As a matter of fact, Arios hadn't listened to Lean at all.
　He didn't listen to the other three and let his dark thoughts run through his mind.

　Arios gently held his cheek.
　It still throbbed where Rain had hit him the other day.
　The pain was making him angry and hateful.

''Well I've had enough of Rain. Yes ... he's not needed. That's something we have to eliminate.

　The other three are so engrossed in talking in their own defense that they don't notice anything unusual about Arios.
　Arios smiles darkly and spills out a voice filled with hatred.

"I'm going to turn it off...