How do you feel about...?
"...Yeah. I don't think there's anybody down the road. Let's go.
Ha-ha-ha.

　I used insects to search the surroundings and found no reaction from the phoenix tribe.
　There's no呀 wolf tribe either.

　After firmly confirming that, we move forward.

　Finia was determined to persuade Elfin-san and all of her friends to join us.
　However, the phoenix tribe people who went out to hunt me are acting with at least three people.

　It's not a matter of one on one, but when they're all together, the conversation often gets complicated.
　It seems that Finia, too, is indeed tough on several people all of a sudden.
　So, I decided to proceed without being spotted by anyone first.

　On top of that, if there was a phoenix tribe that was acting alone, Finia would persuade them to do so.
　If there are no phoenixes, she will go further back and aim at Elfin-san's place.
　That's the kind of strategy that will be taken.

''Fugu, fugu, fugu!　Mmmm!

　Leanne and Monica were still restrained and carried on Sakura's back.
　Carrying them around was nothing more than luggage, but they couldn't leave the two people who were the real culprits unattended.
　We have to take them both with us, and after Finia's persuasion, we have to turn them in to Elfin-san and the others that these guys are the real culprits.
　If I don't, even if I succeed in persuading them, I won't be completely exonerated.

　By the way, I kept my mouth shut because it was too noisy when I made a noise.
　Even so, they are still mooching and flailing around and are somewhat noisy.
　I wish I could use sleep magic, but as expected, I haven't mastered such advanced magic.

''Ohh........''

　Sakura spilled out a tired squeal, apparently fed up with Lean chirping on her own back.
　She seemed to be in a stifled state and her tail was hanging down.

　Monica, on the other hand, is quiet.
　Maybe she's looking for an opportunity to escape, be careful.

'I'm sorry, Sakura. I'm sorry to bother you.
On.

　Sakura barked, as if to say, "Don't worry about it.
　She's a sweet girl.

''I'll prepare a special meal for you once this case is resolved, okay?
Hahaha!

　Sakura seemed to have imagined that moment, and she was almost drooling.
　Seeing Sakura like that, Finia chuckled.

''Huh........Sakura-chan, you're a cash cow.
Off....
I'll make you a nice dinner, okay?
On!

　They are good friends of mine.
　I've heard that the gangster tribe and the phoenix tribe have been interacting with each other for some time now, and I'm sure they usually play well together like this.
　I'm not going to be able to find a way to get rid of it.
　At the same time, I felt a stinging pain in my chest.

　I brought the two of them into the fray by bringing an unnecessary spark.
　I'm sorry about that.
　I have to fulfill my responsibility at the very least.
　We have to resolve this incident properly.
　I made up my mind once again.

"...stop.

　I said in a hushed voice, and Finia and Sakura immediately stopped.
　They follow me and hide behind a tree.

　Gently, I looked out and looked ahead.
　Three men who looked like the phoenix tribe could be seen.
　They were slowly moving forward, as if they were searching for something.
　Although they are not armed, they are able to manipulate fire, so they probably don't need such things.

''D-Does, what should I do?　There's a place to hide up ahead.......................aha. Now, can we convince three of them?
No, it's okay. It's going to be all right.
What?

　I made a tentative agreement with the squirrel in the tree.
　
　However, this one isn't the strongest species, it seems to be a squirrel that evolved on the northern continent in its own right.
　I'd like to investigate and observe it next time if I have time.

　We asked such a squirrel to move and went to the bushes next to the phoenix tribe.
　There, I dared them to make a rustling sound.

　Naturally, the phoenix tribe was like, "What the hell!　And then he reacts.
　Once you've successfully gotten their attention, take the squirrel further away.
　Of course, at this point, I remember to make a sound on purpose.

　The phoenix tribe chased the squirrel...
　He just disappeared into the distance.

'Okay, it worked.'
....
What are you doing, pouting?
It's amazing.... how you can control animals like that.
'I'm a beast tamer, you know. It's easy enough to be a squirrel.
'What?　But.........that squirrel is a rare species that can even take down a demon called a needle squirrel.......Huh, I don't think it's something you can normally control.
...Is that so?
Yeah, yeah.
....
....
Well, okay.
You're sure you want to do this?

　What has been put to use is inevitable.
　Without thinking too much about it, let's rush ahead for now.

''.........Rain-san, you're such a strange person.
Really?
It's so strange it's hard to believe that I'm the person your mother asked you about. It's, uh ... it's like you're closer to me than I thought, well, that's how it feels.

　You're close, and that means....
　I guess that means they're somewhat familiar with you, right?
　I'm glad if that's the case.

　There's also the reason why I want Finia, the phoenix tribe, to be able to help me...
　Even if that wasn't the case, I'd still want to be friends with them if I could.
　So I'm glad if it's getting closer.

'Oh...!　Well, there were people out hunting again.
All right, all right. I'll take care of it again.

　Only the most powerful species, Finia has very good eyesight.
　Besides, she also has the ability to detect the presence of her own kind.

　Thanks to her, she was able to go deeper and deeper.
　We began to see many phoenix clans, and their numbers were increasing.
　If they were found, they would immediately be surrounded and that was the end of it.

　However, in other words, their growing numbers meant that they were getting closer to the village.
　You can't get a return on your investment without risk.
　Determined, me, Finia, and Sakura with me and our captives, proceed further back.

'Awwww.'
This is....

　Finally, the entrance to the village was in sight.
　But.........
　More than a dozen phoenix tribe members were standing guard around the entrance, looking tense and tense.