After that, we were officially assigned to an investigation team.
　The purpose is to investigate the demon's background and purpose.
　If possible, everything, including their weaknesses.

　At the same time, we were also entrusted with negotiations.
　In the guild, they are going to negotiate with the demons.
　It's unclear whether negotiations can be passed on to the person who is said to have destroyed an entire village, and whether there is a need to do so.......
　He'd rather not have to fight if he could.

　Well, half of it is probably just to buy time.
　Since the strike team will be working together with the knights, it will inevitably take some time to form.
　In the meantime, we'll find out what they're up against while we negotiate to buy time.

　If the negotiations are successful, that's fine.
　If it doesn't, we'll buy as much time as we can, and then we'll hit them with a strike force.
　That's the plan, I'm told.

　And so, once we'd heard the full explanation, we went home.
　After explaining our request to the people who were staying at home, they agreed to leave it to us. They are a dependable group of people.

　Then we got ready for our trip...
　And the next day.

"Yo.
Good morning.

　As I moved to the south gate of the city, I saw Axe and Cell already there.

'Sorry, did I keep you waiting?'
No, I don't. Well, even if I had to wait, I wouldn't mind it.
'Yes there. Stop talking nonsense.

　With a blank expression, Cell slammed an elbow into Axe's stomach.
　A violent relationship....

It's a big family.

　Cel looks at me and says, a little surprised.

'It's been a while since yesterday, Kanade-san. The others are, um.........
I'm Tania!　Humph, as you can see, proud dragon tribe.
'Sola is called Sola. I'll divulge it as you may know it, but it's a spirit race.
I am Luna!　I usually keep my wings covered.
Nina....

　Everyone introduced themselves briefly.
　And then.....

"Oh, so you're the Shiden you've heard of. Ho-ho, I see. I can see that. I'll be relying on you!　Oops, I'm late to introduce myself. I'm Tina, by the way!　Good luck.
"...Am I dreaming of something?　It looks like the kettle is talking...
'Cell, it's not a dream. I'm seeing the same scene.
That makes it even more likely that it's a dream.
What do you mean by that?

　They are confused.
　Well, it can't be helped.
　That's why you can hear Tina's voice from the kettle on top of Kanade's head.

''Uh ... to put it simply, Tina is a ghost.
A ghost...?
'I'm surprised you even have people like that in your ranks. But how come I'm hearing voices coming from the kettle?
'They're ghosts, they can't go out in the daytime, can they?　Then I wouldn't be able to accompany him on the trip and he would have to stay home all the time. I wasn't sure about that, so I tried to find a way to get them to go with me. And then....
We can possess things, but during that time, we seem to be able to go out regardless of time. So, I'm haunted by the kettle like this!
Nah, I see ... that's ... awesome.
I don't know what to say to that, but it's a hell of a thing.

　Their vocabularies had been reduced in surprise.
　Aside from Axe, Cell was also upset.

　It was probably a bit of a shocking sight, after all.
　When I saw it for the first time this morning, I couldn't speak properly for a while....

'I understand about you Tina but why do you have a kettle on your head?
It's because I can see better this way!

　Kanade replied with a smile.

　It seems that while I'm possessed by the kettle, I can keep a decent view.
　His point of view is the same as that of the kettle.
　That's why Kanade decided to carry the kettle on top of his head, thinking that a higher place would feel better.

　........When I explained that, the two of them got even weirder and weirder looks.

''What's wrong?''
It's just that.... there's a lot more to this world that I don't know... and it makes me realize how small I am.
Let's face it that's just the way it is.

　Is it really such a surprise?
　.........or should I be surprised?
　There was a ghost haunting the kettle, and on top of that, he was carrying it on his head.
　It was such a strange sight that I couldn't understand what I was saying.

　Well I'll just have to get used to it.
　I can't just leave Tina alone, you know.

'Isn't it time we left?　We don't have a lot of time to spare, and we'd better hurry.
That's right. All right, let's go!

　Axe walks to the front, and we follow.
　We headed out of the city and first to the Stride Bridge.
　Our destination is the southern continent beyond.

''Nyah.''

　Kanade was walking next to me, his tail twitching in a tantalizing manner.

'What's going on?'
I know this is not the right time for this, but I'm just so excited. I've never been to the southern continent, so..............................nyah, I'm excited.
'Hey Kanade, we're not traveling, are we?　It's a proper request, you know.
'Ugh ... that's true ... but ...'

　Tania chides me and Kanade shudders.

　But, well, I don't understand how you feel.
　You can't help but feel overwhelmed by the fact that you are going to a place that you have never been to before.

You can't help but feel calm. It's a good thing that you're not the same as me,
'Well, I'm from the southern continent, originally. This time it's more like a homecoming than a visit to a new place, so it's not that exciting.
''Oh, that's right. Rain, you're from the southern continent, right?
I totally forgot about it.

　I've only lightly touched on this before, so I don't think it's any wonder I've forgotten about it.

'Well then, come on then, after this request is over, why don't we do some sightseeing?　I'm sure Rain has a lot of things to stop by, too.
''Well yeah. If you can afford it, that might be a good idea.
Not a good idea for a canade.
Meow.

　Kanade's tail wagged with a gleeful flick of his tail.

''So...so that's it, and if possible, you and Rain...nyah...''

　He was mumbling something additional, but I couldn't quite hear it.

'Hey,'

　Axe, who was ahead of me, slowed down and lined up next to me.

''This is the kind of thing I'm talking about, but Rain and the others are pretty calm.
Hmm?　What does that mean?
This is a pretty big request. Normal adventurers would be scared out of their wits when they hear of an urgent request. And yet, Rain and the others are so laid back........oh, that's not a bad thing, right?
Just so you know, I understand the importance of the request.

　One village was destroyed.
　We're not stupid enough to understand what that means.

'It's just that we can't be weirdly nervous, can we?　Of course, that doesn't mean you should be distracted but I think it's better to be reasonably relaxed than that. If you're nervous, your thoughts will freeze up when the time comes.
I see.
We all know that, so I guess this is what it's all about.
That's Horizon's hero. We'll see about that.
So no heroes.
It's a compliment, okay?
'It's itchy. I mean, that was only because of everyone else. I didn't defeat the demon tribe by myself.
I guess that's the nice thing about being humble. I like Lane's people. Especially Tania.
Tania?

　They shouldn't have been able to exchange a few words yet...?

And as far as I'm concerned, she's good-looking.　She sounds like a beautiful lady, and she's got great style!　That fits my ideal. For once, I'd like to be trampled with contemptuous eyes.
Hey.

　That's what you mean.
　Besides, your proclivities are a bit too specific, aren't they?

If that's the case, would you like me to step on it for you?
What the hell, cell...?
'You want to be stepped on, don't you?　Here, I'll step on you.
'No, no. Cell's a bit ... beautiful, no doubt, but just a bit short of breasts, oh no!
Die.

　It seemed that he had stepped through the mines brilliantly and Axe was stomped.

　........Axe is also Axe, and he's not as nervous as he should be.
　Well, for the same reason as us, I guess he has a reasonably relaxed mind.
　I guess he understands that if he doesn't, he'll be crushed.

'Phew, that was a terrible mess,'

　A battered Axe lined up next to me again.

Isn't that a terrible idea, that cell guy?　It was just a little slip of the tongue.
I feel like I had it coming.
Don't be trite. You're supposed to stick up for your friends at times like this.

　When did we become friends?
　Well, I'm sure Axe and I would be good friends.

You're quite comfortable with that, aren't you, Axe and the others?
Well, I'm pretty confident in my skills. Besides, the location is good this time. If things get rough, hopefully we'll be able to end it easily.
And why is that?
There are brave men on the southern continent right now.
...what?
That's why we have a brave soul on the southern continent. I don't know if they'll be able to get along just fine or not but they'll be happy to be together.　After all, he's a brave man. There's no way I'm going to be able to get an emergency request out of the way.

　Axe spoke optimistically about such things.
　The public's opinion of the brave is high, and Axe speaks in accordance with the prevailing values, but...

...Arios is here, huh?

　I, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a strange sense of excitement.