........It has been about a month since the Iris incident.
　It was a case of an unprecedented scale, so a lot of things have grown up after the fact...
　There was also more fatigue associated with it.

　So I decided to take a break for a while to nourish my spirits.
　And so a month passed...

　I've decided to resume my adventuring activities again.

'Hello,'
Oh, Mr. Shroud. And Tania. Welcome.

　When I asked about the Adventurer's Guild, Natalie greeted me with a smile.
　It feels like it's been a long time since I've seen this smile.
　Iris' case took a long time and...
　I've been busy with post-processing and stuff after that.

"Humph! Rejoice! We've decided to get back to work today.

　Tania says with a great deal of pride.
　Tania's words make Natalie smile.

'Well, is that so?　
'No, you don't, do you?　There's a lot more adventurers out there than just us, you know.
''That's true but when it comes to adventurers as powerful as Shroud-san and the others, we're limited.
No, you don't.
''It's possible. At all........Shroud-san and the others are now one of the leading adventuring parties in this city, right?

　Amazing.
　When did that happen?

　It's a little embarrassing to be told that much.
　But.....
　It made me feel proud to think that we had all been able to build up and get to that point.

'Do you have any requests?　I'd like something crisp and flashy that would be appropriate for our return.
'Hey, hey. I don't make those decisions on my own.
Ouch!

　I knocked Tania's head off.

'Uh ... what are you doing, Rain?
Don't go out of your way to ask for fancy packages.
But I haven't done much physical activity lately and I thought you'd like to get fit for the first time in a while.
I don't have any idea.

　But if you suddenly move your body, your body might be startled and cause an accident.
　We need to do some preparatory exercise first.

Is there anything you want me to do?　Preferably something light and not so onerous.
'Ummm, well...'

　Natalie took a file from the shelf and flipped through the paper.

'Then how about defeating a pack of hunter wolves or something like that?
Hunterwolf.
'A farmer asked us to help. They seem to be acting in herds lately they are causing damage to their livestock and other animals. We need to protect the livestock and exterminate the herd. Those are the two requirements for completing the request. I think it's just the right case for Shroud-san and the others.
'Well it's a little less spectacular, but oh well, I'll have to do it. I'm fine with that.

　I checked with Tania with my eyes and said something like that.

　Then I tried to gather my thoughts.
　A Hunter Wolf would pose no threat.
　We'd have to split the party in two when it comes to protecting the livestock, but we wouldn't have a problem with that either.

''Well yeah. Well then, I'll take care of that request.
'Yes, I understand. Well, I'll take care of the formalities then.

　And thus, for the first time in a long time, we're begging for a request.



----------



　The damage caused by hunter wolves is increasing every day.
　It's a serious problem for farmers, as livestock can be attacked.
　So we decided to get to work on our request that day.

　Kanade, Sola and Luna to protect our livestock....
　The rest of us decided to take down the Hunter Wolf.

　Me and Tania.
　We walked through the forest away from the city with a party of four, including me, Tania, Nina and Tina.
　According to the client, the hunter wolf makes its home in the forest.

''Hmmm, my arms snapped at the thought of being able to go on a rampage for the first time in a long time.
'Just don't go easy on me, okay?　Without overdoing it and burning the forest or anything like that.
Lane thinks it's me, okay?

　Tania gave me a zit stare.

　But hey.....
　Tania is a dangerous thing to say at times, isn't she?
　When we just met, I think she said something about burning down the forest with all her enemies without a care in the world.

　Well, I don't think it's always been the same since then, but....
　I'm still worried that I'm going to overdo it.

It's a refreshing feeling to be able to move freely, even in the daytime. It's a refreshing feeling to be able to move around freely, even in the daytime.

　Above Nina's head, Tina, who had taken on a humanoid body, was humming with glee.
　She looks very happy.

　But still.....
　Whether it's a kettle or a doll, it's always in place at the top of Nina's head.
　What is it that you are so particular about?
　Is Nina's head comfortable?

Bulls, don't bully the goats, monsters......... I'll do my best, okay?

　Nina was fired up.
　Her reason for trying her best was smiling.

　However, Nina isn't much of a fighter, so don't take it too hard.
　I mean, is it overprotective to think so?
　If Nina heard this, she would sulk, 'I can fight too.

'Hey, hey, Rain.'

　Suddenly, Tania spoke to me.

'Yeah?'
Aren't you going to look after me?
"...How come you're thinking what I'm thinking?
Hmm. Rayne is so easy to understand. You can tell by the look on his face.

　Oh, crap.
　I don't think I'll be able to think of anything weird in front of Tania in the future.

You're not going to be able to get away with it. You're going to have to keep it that way.
Is it a compliment or a tease?
Oh, that's surprising. It's a real compliment.
That's the trouble with me, because I don't think so.

　.........well.

Well, enough chatter...
Yes, I suppose so. I think it's time for us to get to work.

　Me and Tania got defensive and...
　Nina and Tina follow us.

　Soon after, a tense killing spirit hits us.
　One hunter wolf emerges from the trees, one by one, and then another.
　They bared their vicious fangs and let out a low growl.

'Fifty head in all?'
Hmmm. This is pretty easy. If you're gonna have to deal with me, you're gonna have to stay a hundred times longer.
No, that would be crazy.
I can do it.

　Where does that confidence come from?
　But the fact that you can't call bullshit is what makes Tania so scary and dependable.

'Well then, let's go!

　Tania shouted out loud....
　We charged at once.



----------



Ha!

　A flash of Kamui vertically.
　Hunter Wolf's body is cut in both directions and he rolls to the ground.
　Perhaps it's because Ganz has maintained it, but it's very sharp.

''Hmph!''

　Looking closer, I saw that Nina had transitioned over the Hunter Wolf's head and kicked him from directly above.
　There, Tina used her telekinetic power to crush him, a brilliantly coordinated move.

　And then.........

That's it ... that's it!

　Our ace Tania waved her tail like a whip and cleaved the three hunter wolves together.
　The hunter wolves that received the painful blow were unable to stand up and, as it was, transformed into magical stones.

''Well, I guess it's something like this?''
Be on your guard. There could still be survivors.
Yeah?　But there's no sign of........eh, wait a minute. What is this?

　Tania searched for any sign of her surroundings, her face tightening.
　What is it?
　What the hell is going on...?

　I was about to ask a question, when.

'Kishaaaaah!!!'

　There was a sharp yell that ripped through the atmosphere.
　I hurriedly ran towards the direction of the voice, and what we saw there was....

Dragon?