Arios and his group were still staying in Horizon.
　Now that they had obtained the Shield of Truth, they had no use for this city.
　They had to head to the next city to continue their journey to defeat the Demon King.

　However, there was something that was lacking.

　Gold is the cost of defeating the Demon King, which means that an enormous amount of money is provided every month.
　Supplies such as armor, food and water could also be procured locally as long as the names of the brave men were given.

　What is lacking is human resources.

　With Rain leaving the party, there is no one to support Arios and the others in the shadows.
　There was no one to carry the food and water that would be a reasonable amount and weight if they were put together.
　There was no one to map and map the area.
　No one to negotiate with the people of the city and get lodging.

　........and so on.
　With Rain leaving the party, all sorts of chores arose.
　Normally, that should be done by Arios and the others........
　Arios and the others, who have a sense of being the chosen ones, seriously believe that such a chore is not something they should be doing.

　Hence, they tried to bring Rain back but.......they failed.
　So they decided to find a replacement.
　I asked the Adventurer's Guild to send out a notice to recruit party members.

　The effect was excellent.
　A lot of people applied for the chance to be part of the brave party.
　The number of people gathered was indeed several dozen.
　As expected, they couldn't take them all, and as I said to Rain, they didn't need to be slowed down.
　Arios and the others would have to interview and carefully select the members...

You're disqualified.

　In the interview room, which was held in a rented room at the inn, Arios coldly told the adventurer man who came to the interview.

　The adventurer man was a Beast Tamer, just like Rain.
　His abilities were high and he could tame not only animals, but also lower level demons.
　The man knew that he was going to be behind the party, and he had almost completed the conditions that Arios and the others were giving him.

　However.........

If you can't fight as if you can't fight, then what's the point?
''But that's what Beast Tamers are for... and I can use demons to fight them if I want to!
'How much of a demon can you use?　For example can you use the most powerful species, as opposed to a demon?
Mmm, please don't be ridiculous. It's not possible for a person to use the strongest species. Even if you talk about such an impossible thing...
Well that means you're not as good as him.
That guy...?
'Even if we could use a demon, it would still require a lot of work, wouldn't it?　You want us to help you?　Is the demon you were able to use in this way really useful?　You can't get it up, can you?　Besides, the tamer can only use one of them, right?　If you use a demon, who's going to support the supply line?　Is that you?　Do you carry a lot of bags and food and water for me?　In that case, well, that's fine.
Uh.....
'What we're looking for is someone who can, at the very least, fight, and yet still provide proper logistical support. You do not meet those requirements. Therefore, you are disqualified.

　The man had nothing to say in response to Arios' harsh words.
　He slumped his shoulders and left the room.

'Totally ... so many of you are useless.

　Arios clicked his tongue as he couldn't seem to control his irritated emotions.

　As a matter of fact, the man who had just been disqualified was very well suited to support Arios and the others.
　He could make even a bear tame him and carry his pack, just as he had done to Rain.
　Furthermore, the man was a good talker and a good negotiator.

　But Arios and the others weren't satisfied with that alone.
　Rain could fight, to an extent.
　At least, he could protect himself during the battle.
　He was untouchable.

　That kind of awareness was working, and it was lowering the man's reputation.
　I couldn't help but compare him to Rain, but somewhere along the line I would be aware of it.
　After continuing the interview in such a manner.......

Mina. Can you call the next one up?
Well that's the last one.

　Mina, who was conducting the interview with me, said awkwardly.

'You mean, wiped out...'
Um ... isn't Arios a bit of a tough selection criteria?

　Mina said, unable to watch.
　At first, she agreed with Arios...
　When you've flunked all of the dozens of applicants, as expected, you'll want to say a word or two.

''........Mina, do you think my decision was wrong?　Is that what you're trying to say?
'No, no. It's not like that...

　Like a frog staring at a snake, Mina froze.

　Arios' anger was clearly felt.
　Before, this wouldn't have been the case...
　Mina was confused.

　And she hadn't realized it.
　That before, Rain had been acting as a lightning rod, catching Arios' unreasonable anger.

　Now that Rain wasn't around, to whom would Arios' anger fall?
　Who is going to take it out on you?

''I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I think Arios made the right decision.

　Fearing that she would be directed at him with unreasonable anger, Mina fled.
　She blindly followed Arios's words as he was right.
　Formal, empty words.

　And so what is created is ... nothing.
　It may look fine on the outside, but it's empty on the inside.
　What little party ties there may have been are slowly disappearing.

　Mina and Arios are oblivious to this, of course.

It can't be helped. We'll stay in the city for a while longer. Maybe Aggus and Lean, who are separated, will find someone good for us.
But the journey has been delayed...
You've been through a lot lately. You need to rest your body once in a while, or it won't last. Right?
'Well.......... I'm sorry. You've been looking out for us, haven't you?
Of course. We're on the same side, aren't we?　It's only natural to care about your fellow man.

　There is nothing more empty than words that are not accompanied by substance.

　Are you aware of this, or are you unaware of it?
　Arios smiled as if he was concerned for his companion.

'Mina should take some time off, too. You must be tired from all those interviews.
'Well I'm sorry, but I'll have to do that.
Yeah. You should take your time.
What about Arios?
I've got some things I need to do.
'Don't take it too hard. Arios is a brave man, and if he collapses or something, the world might be in trouble, not metaphorically.

　Mina's words seemed to concern Arios, and she didn't look at him.
　She was not concerned about Arios personally, but about the existence of the 'brave'.
　In a way, he didn't care about Arios in the slightest.

　It's as if he's worried about the individual, but he doesn't look at the individual.
　It's an empty exchange.
　Had Rain been here, he might have raised an eyebrow.

'Yeah. I'll be careful.

　Is he aware of the meaning of Mina's words, or does he dare to pretend he doesn't notice them?
　Arios responds normally and looks away from Mina as she leaves the room.

''........''

　Once he was alone, Arios took out his tool bag.
　From inside, he picked up a ring with a mischievous colored gemstone framed in it.

　It was obtained through a certain route when he was alone.
　Its price was 50 gold coins.
　From the point of view of the average person, it's an astronomical number.

　The gold Arios has in his possession was entrusted to him by the state.
　In other words, it is a tax on the people.
　But Arios bought the ring without hesitation.

　Not his own money, but money entrusted to him by the state?
　A tax on the people?
　It doesn't matter.
　It's a necessity.
　It's essential for a certain purpose.
　That's why I bought it.
　There is no such thing as a waste of money.
　Rather, I want them to be happy that they were able to be useful to a brave man.

　Arios was seriously thinking about such things.

''........If I use this thing.......''

　A ring is not just an ornament.
　It's an item of magic, and it has a certain effect.

　And one more.
　If the wearer was caught up in negative emotions, it could lead to a terribly horrible and dangerous situation.
　It was like sending salt to the natural enemies of humanity.
　An act that could put innocent people in danger.

　Arios was aware of all of this.
　
　I'm not going to choose any means to achieve my goal.

I'd like to use it right away, but as expected, I can't use it myself. It would be a hassle to get your foot in the door. 'Do you want me to have Aggus do it?　The last time I saw you, you took the liberty of saying some joke like bringing Rain back to the party...

　Aggus was supposed to be one of them, but Arios said something that was disposable.
　This was a manifestation of Arios' current state of mind.
　Aggus and the others might at least still think of themselves as a bonded party.
　But Arios.........

'Well no, let's not. It will still be a mess when it turns out that my people did it. My reputation will be tarnished.

　Arios gave a dark........gloomy look as he rolled the ring in his hand.

'Well I wonder if there are any good pieces lying around somewhere?　Is there a convenient piece that could use this guy and make Rain disappear...?