"Heels.

　I used my magic to heal Hornwolf's wounds.
　Fortunately, I should say, there were no deep wounds, and I was able to heal them with my heels.

　But what if I had a deeper wound?
　What if he's been poisoned or something?
　It might have been difficult at the time.

　Maybe I don't have enough healing magicians in my party.
　Sola and Luna are good at attack magic, so it's not easy.

''Okay, it's over.''
On!

　As I healed my injuries, the hornwolf chirped cheerfully.
　As it was, it rubbed its head against us.

''Oh?　All right.
On!
Nina's not the only one who's missed you.
I think she understands that Rain is a good person.
It would be nice to know that.

　He stroked Hornwolf's head and his eyes narrowed pleasantly.
　Honestly, it's cute.
　I want to keep it together, even take it home.

　However, this guy has his own life.
　Besides, it's hard to keep an animal that is designated as protected.
　Too bad we have to give it up.

See you later. Take care of yourself.
...on!

　The hornwolf looks back at us once....
　Then he ran deeper into the forest.

'....Be well, dear.

　Nina waved her hand in the air.

'So I guess it's all over now.
Yeah. Now all we have to do is hand these guys over to the guild.
"Hmm.
What's going on, Luna?
I feel like I'm forgetting something.
Yeah?

　We got the hornwolf to safety.
　We got the poachers.
　Was there anything else I should have done?

That explosion, it was coming from around here.
It could be a clue to the poachers.

　From deep in the forest, Aug and Kreuz emerged.

'Ah.'

　Kanade gave me a look that said.
　Everyone.................I'll get a similar look.

　Which of us can capture the poachers first?
　I was just about to compete with these two, I remember.
　It was rather unimportant, so I had forgotten all about it.

''Hmph, you're late!
If they were poachers, we'd have caught them.

　Kanade and Tania are beating their chests.
　They should have forgotten about the game too...
　As soon as I remembered, I got good at it.

'What, are you saying you guys got him?
'Nonsense. There's no way he's getting ahead of us.
That was rather easy, wasn't it?
Look at all these people lying around. Now, take a good look.

　Tania told me to check out the poacher who had been left unconscious by Ogg.

''Well it sure looks like a poacher,''
What kind of trick did you use?　It's not something we would normally do, such as catching poachers before we did.
'What?　Isn't it just a difference in skill?
Gulp.

　To Tania, who said plainly, Kreuz pulled a face.
　As if to follow up, Kanade makes a scowl.

''Hmmm, I guess we've won this game!
You'll give the job to us, just like you promised.
'Gghhhhh...'
''I don't think that's acceptable.
Cat?
'It's not normal for them to find the poachers before us. There is no way that we would lose to a newcomer who has only been adventuring for a month or so. You must have used some kind of trick, don't you?
'Yes, that's right. Actually, we already had the poacher's location and then he offered us a game. Didn't you?
No....

　What are they talking about, these two?
　Of course, there is no such thing as a fact that they knew the location of the poachers in advance.
　In the first place, it was Aug and Kreutz who wanted to take the fight to the poachers.
　You can't do that because you have to plant something in advance.

　You just want to complain?
　No, no....
　Do they not want to admit they lost?

This game is off. Is that clear?
I hope you'll refrain from doing anything that would disgrace the name of the adventurers.
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
You remind me of some brave man.

　You're not making any sense.
　However, the other party is an adventurer as well.
　We can't just use our powers and.......what should we do?

Uh ... for now, why don't we put the matter of the request on hold for now?
What did you say?
'Are you going to try to cover it up by saying that?
'No,' he said. It's time to play the game again, isn't it?

　I looked at the sky and saw that the sun was starting to set.
　Apparently it was taking longer than I expected.

'It's going to take us a long time to get back to the city, even with the prisoners in tow. We'd better get ready for the encampment today, wouldn't we?
That's, well ... yeah.
Apparently there's a base camp nearby that's used by poachers. I'll take advantage of it. We'll get back to you tomorrow to discuss the request.
...All right. I understand.

　Oh, good.
　They're okay with that for now.

"We'll get the prisoners out of here. You two want to check out the camp?
What, are you gonna tell us what to do?
'It's just a suggestion. The poachers have the numbers, and it's easier for us to do it with more people, right?　It doesn't mean anything.
"...Org. This is.........
Well yes.

　Something about Aug and Kreuz made meaningful eye contact.
　What were they thinking?
　I hope you're not thinking of something nonsensical

　I have a subtle bad feeling about this.
　My intuition in these situations is a rather good one.
　I hope it's just my imagination, but what happens?



----------



　Aug and Kreuz moved to the base camp used by the poachers.

　Multiple tents were arranged in an open space in the forest.
　Apart from that, a prison with a pulley.
　I suppose they are used to keep their prey in captivity.

How about that one?
There's nothing to it.

　Maybe there were poachers lurking around, working separately.
　They determine that, and search the base camp.
　As a result, they come to the conclusion that there is no one there.

'We thought there was something in there, but to think there's nothing like this...'
It's a bit of a letdown, isn't it?
Well, it's good that it's easy. More than that...
The question is, what's the request?

　Aug and Kreutz were both reluctant to go together.

　The request was intercepted by a newcomer who had been an adventurer for less than a month.
　He was dealt a cowardly hand.
　It was unforgivable.
　As a veteran adventurer, I won't feel good if I don't show him the right way to be.

　........In fact, what they're thinking is completely off the mark.
　There doesn't seem to be any chance of them realizing that.

'What do we do?　If we don't, they're going to take the commission away from us.
'Well...'
That's bullshit... you're a hundred years too young to make a request in front of us. He needs to be made to understand that.
Well I have an idea for one thing.
Oh, that's my boy. What kind of moves?
'It's simple. We'll just have to accomplish the request first.
Yeah?　What's that supposed to mean?
I mean....

　Aug and Kreutz discussed the future with each other.
　Although the content of the discussion is nothing more than what I would call 'cowardice'.......
　They never doubt that it is the right thing to do and that they are the righteous ones.