The thieves had one thing in common.
　They had all purchased their armor from Gantz's shop.
　Moreover, they hadn't been favored by Ganz, but had been grabbed by Namakura.
　When the other adventurers pointed this out to them, the thieves who knew the truth thought of retaliation.
　Simply beating up the guntz was not going to be enough.
　They would have to break Gantz's pride as if they were the ones who had been mocked.
　Thinking so, the thieves snatched Mithril from the side and made it impossible for Gantz to make armor.
　They take away the pride of the craftsman, the soul.

　That was the revenge the thieves had in mind.

　After handing the thieves over to the guild, he made such a statement....
　And today, I tell Ganz as it is.

"Well....that's what I thought....

　Ganz looked depressed.
　It was no wonder.
　His high pride was causing him to choke.
　He didn't have the same energy as when we spoke before, and he looked about a year older than his actual age.

I may have been conceited, believing that the armor I make is the best, and looking down on ordinary people as being impossible to use, and no matter who the customer is, making armor is what a craftsman does. I'm the one who does it. And yet, to judge a guest as stupid and to cut corners... the biggest fool of all is me.
Maybe so.
Hey.
Lane?

　Kanade and Tania are flustered, but I'm not going to do anything like rubbing salt in the wound.

'Gantz is going to admit he was wrong, isn't he?
Yes you are. I was wrong.
Then change your mind.
What?
''Next time, why don't we just do our best to make armor, one by one?　It's not like it's an irrevocable mistake. We're going to fix it. Don't you?
...you make it sound so easy.
'Ganz is a man who can properly admit he's wrong. At least that's what I think.
'.........hahaha!

　Ganz laughed vigorously and regained his energy.
　He has the same strong will in his eyes as before.
　You can feel the spirit of a hot craftsman.

''To hear that from a little boy who hasn't even lived half my life.
You displeased?
No, it's a pleasure. You couldn't be happier.
You're looking good, old man.
The happily ever after?
'Lane's totally woke me up!　I thank you again.
'I can't have my armor made in my sleep, you know.
You're right.

　Ganz chuckles.
　I chuckle at him.

'Yes!　You can't keep worrying about what's past. What matters is what happens now!　From now on, I'm going to put my soul into each and every one of my armor!
That's the spirit of it, and I want you to take care of one of my armors as well.
Oh, you can count on me!

　Ganz thumps his chest with a don.
　He looks many times more reliable than before.

'As promised, I'll make you the best armor I can!　And now that we've got the materials back. Rain, what kind of armor do you seek?
'Will you make me a dagger?　Also, I need you to make me a small hand.
Hm?　I know about the dagger, but a small hand?　If you want armor, I'll get you a breastplate, a full plate, whatever you want.
'I can take care of the armor myself. But more importantly, I want a special little hand. I just need you to cram some of my ideas into it...

　I tell Gantz about an 'idea' I've been thinking about for some time.
　He smiles like a child plotting a prank.

"Hmmm, sounds interesting.
Right?
But it's going to take some time, okay?
'No problem. I've been doing a lot of commissions lately, so I figured it was time to take a break.
Off!
I need something good to eat!

　Kanade and Tania were the first to respond.

'Are there any sights in this city?　Sola wants to enjoy the sights.
"I am all about fun!　Also, I hope for something sweet!

　Sola and Luna were also smiling.

　
　Since we're now a party of five, I've been working hard to earn more road silver than ever before, but.......
　Maybe we were all just tired.
　I have to reflect on this.

How long will this take?
Well it's been a week.
All right. Then I'll come back in a week.
Hmm. I'll be waiting for you.

　He greeted Ganz and left the store.



----------



""Kanpai!"

　We go to a diner that is becoming our favorite place to eat and toast with a drink.
　The fruit wine we are ordering is a fruit wine with a refreshing aftertaste.
　The moderate sweetness of the drink is pleasant to my tired body.

''Phew, it's no exaggeration to say that I'm alive for this drink!
Tania, you look like an old man.
'Nk...............................hmmm. So good!　Can I ask for another drink?
Of course. Don't be shy, order as much as you want.
You said it.　You will not be allowed to revoke it later, will you?

　Luna's eyes glittered as if she had found her prey.

'Well, I'll take three more bottles of this fruit wine, three more. And some ale, too.
You're asking a lot...
No?
'No, I don't mind. You sure you don't want Sola?
Well then, I'll have to order the same as Luna.

　Sola had also ordered a ridiculous amount of alcohol.
　Did she like it so much?
　I'm worried that I'm going to get drunk.
　Kanade, who seems to have sensed my concern, says

Nya. The spirit race likes to drink alcohol, right?
Is that so?
'I've heard that they drink alcohol like it's water. And yet, I've heard that you hardly get drunk at all.
''Half of the spirit race is made up of alcohol, you know!

　Luna says something that I don't know if she's joking or serious.
　...You're kidding, right?

Well, you have nothing to worry about. Just ask all you want.
'Um ... are you sure you can ask for as much as you want?'

　I can see the reserve in Sola's eyes.
　It's like a child looking at the face of an adult.
　I don't want you to look at me like that, so I .......

Don't be shy.
'Oh....'

　Popping, he patted Sora's head.

''It's a welcome party for the two of you, you know.
Sora's...
Welcome party...?

　The two of them look at each other blankly, and Kanade smiles at them.

''When we make new friends, we all eat dinner together! That way, everyone gets along with each other.
It's a very simple idea.
'We all had dinner together when Tania was there. I know I'm saying this, Tania, but you seemed happy.
No, I'm not! I don't mean to sound happy, but I'm not!
That's why we're all so close to each other.
'Well, that's what I'm talking about. I'm a little late, but it's a welcome party for both of us so don't be shy. In fact, I'd rather you be brazen.
That's a weird request. But it's not bad.
Haha!　I'm confident in my ability to be brazen. I can be number one in the Brazen Championship!
'What's with that weird competition.............Also, Luna needs to learn to be reserved.
'Only just now, Rain told me not to hold back!　So I'm going to reject that proposal.
'Luna's right, you really don't have to hold back. We're on the same side, so let's not do that.
Rain I understand. I will.
That's Rayne!　You know the story. And while you're at it, I'll ask for Rain's, too.
Then Sora will take care of Canade and Tania.
I'm not a very strong person but, well, sometimes it's nice.
Rain, come drink with me. I'll pour you a drink.
Oh, come on!　That's what I was going to do.
Would you like me to pour you some Sola?
I'll do more than pour you a drink, okay? I'll do more than pour you a drink.
No, I don't think I'm gonna...
""That's a bad idea."

　For some reason, the four of us are in agreement.
　How can this be?

'People get along better when they drink together, don't they?　Nya, I wish I could get to know Rain better...
I don't really care about... what about Rain?　Well, we're still friends, right?　You know, the kind of thing you've got to interact with?
'Thora would also like to have a drink with Rain. I'm not quite sure how to put it into words but she would like to be with Rain.
"I'm the same as everyone else!　If I'm alone here, lounging around, I'm going to get a big lead on you. I have to work hard too.
What the hell are you talking about?
""This man is so slow..."
Well, that's what I'm saying, but that's okay. Anyway, let's have a drink today. Let's make this a good time.

　........the adventurers' feast lasts late into the night.

　Drinking and eating........
　It was just that simple, but I felt like our bond was getting deeper.
　I'm sure that's because we are spending the same time together with a smile on our faces.

　We'll continue to be together.
　The fun time passed as I thought about that.

　And.........

　The next day.
　The next day.
　Reflection.