After meeting up with Mina, I returned to Echigoya.

　I asked Echigoya to let Yukinojo, who was working with Mina, rest.



"Lex, is Yukinojo alright?"



　Mina-san asked me worriedly if Yukinojo-san, who had been poisoned, was all right, and I assured her that he was.



"Yes, the low grade all-purpose antivenom that Mina-san gave him is working perfectly.



"Well, that's good."



　Mina breathes a sigh of relief when she realizes that the medicine has worked.

　We then decided to exchange information about our time away from each other.



"I see, so the high ranking nobles were working behind the scenes to prevent this Yukinojo-san from becoming the head of the family.



"That's what I heard. I didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the nobles, so I didn't ask about the circumstances that Yukinojojo and the others wanted to keep secret.



"That's better. If you get involved in the affairs of the nobility, you will get into trouble.



"I know, right?"



　However, Mina-san decided that solving this problem was the quickest way to join the others, so she decided to take the job without asking for details.

　She decided to take the job without asking me about the details of the situation. She also prioritized joining up with me, whose whereabouts were already known, in order to prepare her forces, instead of going to the place where the ceremony to assume the head of the family was to be held.

　Thanks to his decision, he made it in time for the battle against the demons, so I can say that Mina's decision was the best one.

　Well, I think Mina-san could have managed a demon like that on her own.



"Still, I'm surprised that the medicine I made was useful for Mina-san.



　I was a little surprised when I heard that my low grade universal poison remover was useful in treating Yukinojo-san who was poisoned.



"That's my line. I didn't think you'd come all the way down here to see what Lex made. But thanks to you I was able to save Yukinojo. Thank you."



"No, no, I'm just helping Echigoya-san because I feel bad that I have to be indebted to him all the time.



　Then the conversation turns to my side of the story.



"...... I see. You helped the owner of the store you wanted to visit, and you got the help of the people in the store to gather information about us. But he didn't feel comfortable just waiting around, so he helped the shopkeepers by making medicines and stuff.......



"Yes, because of the storm and the roadblock, they were having a hard time getting the ingredients for the medicine. Echigoya's store is big enough to handle the problem, but other small stores seem to be in a life-and-death situation.



"In addition to the mysterious storm, Yukinojo's family has a house problem. ...... I don't care how big the commotion is, it's just too big."



　I know what you mean, Mina.

　Even if it is a family problem of a noble family, it would take a very powerful nobleman to approach several fiefdoms to block the road.

　And since this is not about his own family, but about the succession issue of other noble families, it is quite an uproar.



　If the matter has become this big, Yukinojo-san's family must have a lot of power.

　After all, they are making the nobles who think of prosperity of their land first, do what they want to do at a great loss.

　The nobles would not listen to him unless there is some merit to it.

　In that sense, Yukinojo-san's family must be a noble family, almost like a royal family, right?



　Oh, did Seibei-san tell me that the general of this country has passed away?

　Maybe Yukinojo-san's family disturbance is ...... too shortsighted.

　It may just happen to coincide with the unfortunate accident of a high ranking nobleman.



　It is dangerous to rush to an answer when there is so little information.

　For now, let's just consider it a possibility.



"Then, as for our future course of action, we should try to make Yukinojo-san's succession ceremony to the head of the family a success while searching for everyone else, is that correct?



"Yes, I'm sorry to make this decision on my own, but I need your help."



　Mina-san said apologetically, but I would have made the same choice had I been in the same position.



"No, I think your choice was the best one for the present situation.



　Yes, I think it was right to prioritize the lifting of the blockade as long as we don't know where everyone is.



"Besides, there's something else that's been bothering me."



"What's bothering you?"



　Mina tilts her head and wonders what is bothering her.



"Yes, it's about the involvement of a demon in this matter.



"...... Ah, yes. That's for sure.



"It is an unnatural situation that a demon is involved in the mess of a noble family in the human world. And a mysterious storm affecting the whole country. It's hard to believe that these things are completely unrelated.



　Yes, I did not understand the purpose of such a wasteful act that would affect the entire ocean of the country.

　But if they were demons, I could understand why.

　It is definitely to bring misfortune to this world.



　I think it was a good decision for you to accept the request.

　After all, you were able to catch the tail of a big plot to blockade the whole country.



"In that case, we'd better ask Yukinojo what's going on.



"Yes. It definitely has something to do with the situation at Yukinojo's house.



"...... huh, I didn't want this to happen, so I've been keeping my distance and not asking."



　Mina sighs, looking deeply annoyed.



"It can't be helped. I'm sure the demons already recognize us as enemies because of our involvement in this matter.



　In fact, the demons involved in this case are probably not the only ones we defeated earlier.

　As long as they are using such a method to blockade a whole country, there is no doubt that they have friends.



"For now, we'll just have to wait for Yukinojo to wake up.



　After giving each other information, we decided to have a smoke to digest what we had learned.




　But still, a demon. They really are everywhere.



　As I was relaxing, I heard footsteps approaching from outside the room.

　At the same time, I hear the voices of several people talking.



"Yukinojo seems to have woken up.



　It seems that Yukinojo-san woke up and came over.

　His footsteps sounded panicky and buoyant.



Mina's here!



　Yukinojo-san comes into the room, opening the sliding door with great force.

　I didn't know what kind of person Yukinojo-san looked like since I saw him unconscious, but I guess his energy is a little like Gyoro-kun's.



"You look good."



"Mm!　I heard Mina got you some medicine!　Thanks for saving my life!"



　Yukinojo-san thanked Mina-san and tilted his head toward me.



　"Hmm?　Who is this man?"



　Come to think of it, Yukinojo-san was unconscious from the poison, so I guess this is the first time we've met.



"Nice to meet you. My name is Lex.



"Lex ......?　Huh, where have I heard that ......?"



"Yukinojo, this is one of the people I told you I was looking for."



"Hmm, I remember you saying something like that!"



　Mina-san explained, and Yukinojo-san tapped his head lightly, saying he remembered.



I see, so you are Lex. Okay, then fight me!"



"...... what?"



　For some reason, he suddenly challenges me to a duel.



What?



What are you talking about?



　It's true!　How could you do that?



"Don't stop me, Mina!　This is a matter of manly honor!"



　Menz?　Why is there a question of honor here?



"Lex... Mina's told me a lot about you. I hear you're the man Mina trusts the most.



"What?　Is that so?"



　When I confirmed this with Ms. Mina, she affirmed it with a troubled look on her face.



"No, well, I did say so, but ......."



　I see...I'm pretty dependable, aren't I?



I'm sure you are.　Then I must defeat the man Mina relies on the most!"



　So how could it be?



"Fighting the strong is the true spirit of a warrior!　Especially when it is the love of the woman I love!"



"The woman I love!"



　Mina and I both involuntarily scream at the sudden confession of love.



"What?　Was that so?"



"No, it's not!　Why are we even talking about this?



　Yukinojo nodded with a serious face when we asked him.



"Well, Mina said she is relying on Lex. But Mina is a strong woman who has not only held her own against assassins that would make the elite of our country go unnoticed, but has even gone toe-to-toe with them!　A man in whom Mina has complete trust cannot be just another friend!　He must have special feelings for you!"



"Uh, uh, ......"



"No, no, no!　I never looked at Lex that way!"



　Mina assures me clearly that it is not.

　Of course she's right. If that's the case, there are people more suitable than me by your side.

　We're just friends.






　So why did Yukinojo-san think so?

　I was accompanied by an attendant behind Yukinojo-san, Haruomi-san, I think it was. I look at him for an explanation.



"...... sorry Lex-sama. Waka is a little bit, or rather, a very conceited person. ......"



Haruomi, what do you mean by that?



"It is exactly as it is, you idiot!"



　Mina-san's face turned red as she tsked at Yukinojo-san's disapproval.

　Well, I didn't know Yukinojo-san was this kind of person.

　I thought he looked like Gyro-kun, but I guess not.



"Anyway, that doesn't matter now!　Fight me, Lex!"



　...... This is not going to convince me.

　There were people like this who never listened to others in previous lives.

　But I'm Mina's client, so I don't know what to do. ......



"Oh, okay.... Go ahead, Lex.



"What?　You want me to do it?"



　Mina-san sighs and tells me to fight.



"This idiot won't give up until it's settled. Then you'd better show him the pain and cool your head.



"Hahaha!　That's my girl Mina!　He understands me very well!　But I'm the one who wins!"



　Mina is right, it looks like we have no choice but to fight. ......



"It would be helpful if you could avoid getting hurt if possible. ...... haha!"



　Haruomi sighs loudly and looks down, as if he has given up.

　No, this is him saying that by not seeing the scene in front of him, he's going to pretend from the beginning that all the commotion that's about to happen never happened. ......



"Come on out, Lex!"



　Yukinojo-san is already waiting for me in the garden.



"I guess it can't be helped. ......"



　I guess I'll just have to deal with him now.

　I went down to the garden and stood a little distance from Yukinojo-san.

　I can't hurt my client, can I?



"Are you planning to win without sheathing your sword?



I intend to.



　If you pull out your sword against a nobleman, even if it's a non-life-threatening match, you risk being accused of something later.

　Then it is better to fight with the sword in its scabbard from the beginning even if it is a little disadvantageous.

　Considering Yukinojo's character, it seems unlikely that he would do such a thing, but I don't know about his vassals.

　I mean, in my previous life, I got into trouble because of it.

　We must not make the same mistake as in the past.



Then let's go, my love!　Taaaaah!"



　Yukinojo-san rushes forward, sword in hand.

　He had studied martial arts, and his movements were very graceful.

　However, perhaps because he was weakened by the poison, his movements were too sluggish to be considered a trained warrior.



"Uh ...... yeah!"



　It was very easy to counter Yukinojo's weakened body and my blow hit him cleanly.



"Gwaaahhhh?



"Wah, young man!"



　Yukinojo-san was hit by a perfect counterattack and was easily blown away. Haruomi-san noticed this and hurriedly looked up to take care of the fallen Yukinojo-san.



"Yes, Lex the Winner~. Now it will be quiet for a while.



　Well, it was so beautifully done, I wonder if I should have at least waited until the poison had completely worn off.

　But they were the ones who challenged us to a fight. ......



"Uh, are you sure this is what you wanted?"



　I'm worried that I'm really going to win because I'm not satisfied with the way things turned out.



"It's okay. Whatever the reason may have been, you challenged him to a duel without checking out his abilities and without preparing for a fight. It's all Yukinojo's fault. And Lex won without even pulling his sword out of its scabbard. If he complained now, he'd be disgraced. He's a proud guy. Don't worry about that.



　Ho, are you sure this is a good ......?