It took me and Marin about four days to get on the ground.
　Of course, I didn't do anything to be a gentleman. That's only natural, and I slept rather leisurely because I was able to leave Milo and Gilanka in charge of keeping me awake.
　In total, I calculated that I had been hiding in the labyrinth for nearly a month. I'm aware of the smell of my own body. I have a change of clothes with me, but I really wanted to at least wash my body before that.

''Hmmm...finally, an exit.

Oh, thank you, Master Noah.

No, I'm good.

　Well, I guess this is goodbye.
　Since the labyrinth is a tourist attraction, there is a ride-along carriage. If you ride it, you can go straight to the nearest town, which is very convenient.
　However, I don't have my ID card, so I won't be able to enter the city. At best, I'll only be able to enter a conscientious village. It's needlessly strict in that area, so I'm already used to camping out, bathing in the river, and washing clothes.

''Hmph........''

　I let out a big sigh, squinting at the first rays of sunlight I've had in a month.
　There are no other people around, no other people in sight. Well, even though it has become a tourist attraction, it's a remote area and the carriage only comes here twice a day, so there's never that many people gathered here. In fact, we didn't see anyone on our way home.
　Well, I didn't want to meet someone and be surprised that I had a minotaur and a red cap with me. Anyway, even though I have a demon with me, I have to prove that I'm safe when I go in somewhere. I don't know how I'm going to prove it.

''Well, I'll be here then.''

Well aren't you going to get in the carriage?

'I'm a free-spirited traveller, you see. I don't use carriages.

Really, I see...

　Forlornly, Marin's face fell.
　It's cute, I can't help but think. I'm a man, too, and I like girls in their own way.
　But I can't ride in a carriage anyway. When you get in the carriage, you have to enter the city directly, so you have to show your ID when you get in. It's better to walk quickly and travel on foot, since it's too much trouble to get into an argument there.
　Also, I haven't gained any friends besides Milo and Gilanka as a result of continuing to defeat the enemies in the labyrinth in one blow because Marin praises me. Let's test it out with another demon, even if it's in the forest around here.
　Well, if you just walk around the watering hole, you'll probably find it sooner or later.

Then I'll see you later.

Yes. May St. Muller's blessings be upon you.

Thank you.

　I know that's a common phrase for Mullerian priests to say when they say goodbye, but I'm grateful for that in a nutshell.
　Traveling alone with a pretty girl didn't seem so bad, but I'm my own pace after all. Since I was finally able to find the desired job change book and abandon the 'brave', I might as well sit down somewhere else. For example, you could live a relaxing life in a village somewhere.
　Thanks to exploring various labyrinths and obtaining treasures and rare weapons and such, I have a good amount of money to spend.

''Grul........''

Kiki....

　Walking with Milo and Gilanka, we walked into the forest.
　First, let's find a river, wash up our bodies and clothes there, and have a proper meal. As expected, we've been eating only dried meat, which is preserved food, so the truth is that we're already fed up with dried meat.
　I've never been to this side of the labyrinth, but I'm sure I can find at least a river. The other side of this forest is a neighboring country that is different from the empire where I was born and raised. There would be no border guards on the streets, or even in this forest. The depths of this forest are infested with reasonably strong demons. It's not a bad idea to go straight to a suitable village in a neighboring country and settle down.

　And as I was walking, I found a clear stream. Relieved, we washed up, built a fire, and made soup with appropriate nuts and wild vegetables. I threaded a rope between the trees and dried my clothes, a wisdom I had gained on my long journey.
　Of course, when they peeked at my bathing, "Kyah! It's not like that. I mean, I don't see any people in this forest. And I'm a man to begin with.
　As for the rest, I slept in my cloak while letting Milo and Gilanka check the surroundings, and the night passed.

''Huh........''

　I stretched lightly and collected the laundry. As expected, it had been left overnight and was well dried. Then I drank the remaining soup and headed further into the forest.
　So far we haven't encountered any demons, but will we--?

''Oh.''

　I saw a demon from my line of sight.
　The other side doesn't seem to notice me, but there was a huge body with a stocky red body, a single horned head, and a club in the cloth that hides only the waist - an ogre was there.
　They live in groups of several, building nests, and are a threat that can appear even relatively close to human settlements. I'm not sure how many deaths they've caused for fledgling adventurers, as their physical strength far exceeds that of humans and their tough bodies are so tough that I can't even tell you how many deaths they've caused.
　Of course, it's not a threat or anything to me.

''Milo, Gilanka, you guys wait.

Guru....

Ky....

　They were about to jump out and fight at any moment and stop them.
　Again, it's time for verification here. Just as well, there is only one enemy and no opponent to look good.
It's a good opponent to find out if the demon capture is triggered by the condition that I don't kill it with a single blow. If I go easy on them a bit, they won't die in a single hit.
　At the moment I jumped out of the bushes, the ogre turned around.
　It distorts its ugly face and roars at the same time.

''Goooooooooooooh!

Okay, come on!

　Where to attack to defeat the ogre with a single blow - this is engraved in my body.
　However, I dare to control my own automatic movement like that and let out a very relaxed fist. The movement is uncomfortable for me, who is at the P.E. level of 88.
　The ogre was blown away by such a powerless blow, and it hit a nearby tree and stopped. If I was serious, it probably would have penetrated that tree as well. Rather, the ogre's body might have been shattered first.

　Slyly, the ogre's body fell off the tree and fell to its knees.
　It shouldn't have killed him. Because the ogre is not weak enough to be able to get rid of it with a blow of this magnitude.
　Now, what happens - I look at the ogre with such expectations in mind.

　A silver collar was wrapped around its neck.

'Good!'

　The verification is a success.
　After all, if I didn't kill them with a single blow and took it easy, they would become my friends. Monsters that are too weak are unlikely to join me, but if they're tough, like the Minotaur or the ogre, they can join me.
　From now on, let's try to make more friends without defeating them in one blow. I don't know how many of them I can join, but I'm going to push the limits.

"Oh, my head...

　Hmm?
　I wondered. The ogre in front of me sounded as if he had spoken.

''Hands ... you obey ... orders ...''

Huh?

　Clearly, it sounded like a word.
　Or rather, I guess it would be more accurate to say that I converted the words. The ogre's mouth is obviously not moving like that, but the words that reach my ears are the ones I know.
　It's as if I've come to understand the language of demons - as if I've come to understand the language of demons.
　Because.

'As expected of our Lord. I only bow down to your authority.

"Shut the f*ck up, little man. You're my junior, so shut the f*ck up.

'Don't say that, it's huge. There's nothing wrong with praising my Lord.

Hm. But he's a cheeky newcomer, isn't he? You'll have to give him a good lesson.

Why are you guys talking?

　Behind me, like that.
　Because Milo and Gilanka were talking.