"Hmmm, maybe it's time for a new weapon?"



　I was taking care of my equipment in my house in King's Landing, and I was thinking about such a thing as I looked at the deterioration of my sword.

　The parts of my sword had been deteriorating rapidly because I had fought against special poisonous creatures like Venom Beet and demons living in a special environment like the Volcanic Turtle that lives in the sea of lava.

　Especially the replacement parts are in bad shape.



"Oh, you're buying a new one?"



　Gyro-kun shouts happily when he hears that we are going to change the equipment.

　Yes, new equipment is very exciting.



"You're an idiot, Lex, you'd be better off making it yourself than buying it.



"Oh, that's right."



"Yes, indeed. I'm sure Rex can cut a wooden stick better than any sword out there.



　Mina's words convinced Gyro and the others.

　No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.



"No, it's not. The weapons made by dwarven craftsmen are of far better quality than anything I could make.



　Yes, the skill of the dwarves I have met in my previous and past lives was so great that even with poor quality iron they could create weapons that were better than those made by blacksmiths of other races who used fine iron.



"Dwarves?　Oh, you mean Mr. Gordov. But he's your brother's apprentice.



　Hearing of a dwarven blacksmith reminds Mr. Gyro of Mr. Gordov, who works in the town of Togai.



"I'm not sure why Mr. Goldof took me on as an apprentice, but his mastery of dwarven techniques is truly amazing.



In that area, I think Mr. Gordov is actually one of the younger dwarven craftsmen, isn't he?

　And perhaps a strict master threw him out into human society in a half-human state on a dare to train him.

　In human society, it is unthinkable to throw out an apprentice at half a man, but it is not so in the case of other species.

　In my previous lives and the lives before, other races acted with a different common sense from humans, and I have been surprised more than once or twice by the difference in common sense among races.



"Dwarves. I don't see many other races, so I don't know what other dwarves' skills are like.



"What?　You don't see different races?　What does that mean?"



　I was surprised to hear this from Liliela, who has the longest career as an adventurer of all of us.

　It seems that Liliela has mostly specialized in the town of Hexi, or rather the forest of magical beasts, and has never been to other towns, but even so, if she had been active in a large town, she would have heard about other towns and encountered other races that had stopped by the town.



"I don't know about this, but I think that the different races stay in their own country and don't go out much.



"Oh, really?"



　Surprising. I've seen them in my previous life and two previous lives.

　Has the way of thinking changed in this time?



"But now that you mention it, I can hardly remember seeing any other species. The most common other race I've seen is the ...... Majin, I think."



"""""No, no, no, that's the one you don't see the most: """""



　When I reminded them of the different species I had encountered most in this life, they all denied it at once.



"I mean, I didn't even think that demons were real until just a few months ago..."



"That's right. How many times have I encountered demons since I left the village?"



I think I've seen enough demons to last me a lifetime.



That's true.



　Well, I don't know how I feel, since it seems that the demons of the present age have stopped coming out to the public with their various schemes behind the scenes.

　However, as someone who has memories of my previous lives and the lives before, I feel more strange in the present age when I don't see any demons.



　Hmmm...but if we're talking about that, I'm wondering why the different races have come to stay in their own country...

　I don't know anyone who is familiar with the situation of different races or ...... but I don't know anyone who is familiar with such a pinpointed situation. ......



"Ah!"



　Yes, there he is!



"Let's ask Mr. Goldoff!"



"What?



　Yes, that's right. Mr. Gordov is a member of a different race, and he would be the best person to ask about the situation!



"But why him?"



"Yes, as I said before, it's time for me to get some equipment made by a proper craftsman. I was going to ask Mr. Gordov where the dwarves' village is. And while I was at it, I thought it would be a good idea to ask him why the different races don't come out to other countries anymore.



"Wow, a dwarf village..."



　When they hear that we are going to the dwarves' village, they all show interest.



"The wares forged by dwarves are of high value even when they are not used for armaments. A town where such dwarves live might have great treasures ...... that is, I'm very interested in it."



"Megli is speaking at length. This is serious."



　Ah, so that's how you judge Mr. Megli's willingness or unwillingness. You've known me for a long time.



"All right!　Then tomorrow I'm going to the town of Togai!"



"""""Oh!!!""""""



　So we decided to go to Gordov's store to get some new equipment and to ask him about the different species.



　We went to the shop to get new equipment and to ask him about the different species.



"Hello!"






　We came to the town of Togai by flight magic and immediately went to Gordov's store .......



What's that?　I wonder if Mr. Goldoff is here?"



　Not only were there no customers in the store, but there was no sign of Mr. Goldoff.

　I guess I'm just being careless and not locking the door.



Wait, I can hear them talking in the back.



　If you listen carefully to Liliela's words, you can certainly hear people's voices coming from the workshop in the back.



"Excuse me!



　When I call out to the workshop, the talking stops and Mr. Gordov comes out.



"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm a little busy right now.



　Mr. Gordov sees my face and sounds strangely surprised.

　Did I startle you because I came so suddenly?



"It's been a while, Mr. Gordov. ......"



"Just in time!　We were just talking about the master!"



　I wanted to say hello first before starting my business, but Mr. Gordov suddenly shook both my hands and said something like that in a happy tone.



"What?　My story?"



　What on earth were you talking about?



"Hey Sharaza!　Come here!"



　Mr. Gordov calls out to the workshop, and someone comes out from the back who seems to be the person with whom he had the conversation earlier.



It was """"""""""""



　And when we saw who came out, we were surprised.



"What's going on, Gordov?



　The person was very beautiful with long silver hair.

　But what was even more striking were her ears.

　Unlike the rounded ears of the races, her ears were pointed.　



""""""Elf!



　Yes, this man is an elf.

　Forest tribe elves. They are a race that lives with spirits and forests and thrives on different technology than humans.

　In their previous lives, they were one of the common alien races, but according to Liliela, the elves also keep to their own territory and seldom come out.



"I never thought I'd meet elves at this time ......"



　I was just talking about different species a few minutes ago, I was really surprised!



"Rejoice, Sharaza!　This is my master I was just talking about!"



"What?"



　With these words, Mr. Gordov pushes me back and takes me in front of the elf he calls Sharaza.

　But Sharaza was looking at me with a puzzled look on her face.



"Master. This is an old friend of mine, an elf named Sharaza. We're in a bit of trouble back home, and I was hoping you could help me out.



"Is this a situation in your hometown, Mr. Gordov?"



Huh?　Do we mean to say that elves and dwarves live together?



"Yes, as a matter of fact, I'm ......"



"Wait, Goldov, what do you mean?　Wait, Goldov, what is the meaning of this?



　I was about to ask Mr. Gordov what was going on when Mr. Sharaza suddenly shouted and came at me.



"No, my master is a human being, as you can see! Didn't I tell you that?"



　When Mr. Gordov replied, Mr. Sharaza's face turned red and he became angry.



"I didn't hear you!　All I heard was that your master is an S-rank adventurer!　But a human child is his teacher?　Do you think I'm an idiot?



　Well, I'd be surprised if I knew a dwarf who was apprenticed to a young human.

　Especially since I've only just come of age in this life, it's no wonder people mistake me for a child.



"Hey, you!　I don't know if you're an elf or what, but you don't know anything about my brother, and you're talking out of your ass!"



　But that didn't satisfy Mr. Gyro, who took a swipe at Ms. Sharaza.



"Yes, I know. I know that you humans look young and your age is proportional to your age. And only skilled adventurers can become S-rank adventurers, right?　Then it is impossible for a young, inexperienced child to be the best of adventurers!



　Well, I'm the least convinced about that.






"Oh, yeah, that's true, but..."



"I know how you feel.



"That's what you would normally think."



If we didn't know any better, we would have thought so, too.



"Hmm."



""""" but it's my brother/Lex/Lex-san so """""



　Oh, that?　Isn't that a strange conclusion?

　Why do I have to agree?



"Sharaza, it's true that Master Lex may look young, but ......"



"What!!!!"



　Mr. Gordov came out to calm the agitated Ms. Sharaza, and at that moment Ms. Sharaza made a move.



"What?



Brother!



　Liliela and Gyro reacted, but Sharaza's sword was already at my throat.

　Sharaza drew her sword and stared at Mr. Gordov with cold eyes.



"Look at the stupid face of this little boy! He couldn't react at all to my pause. I still think your daughter and the boy have more chance.



　With that, Sharaza put down her sword and turned her back to us.



"It was a mistake to ask you, who is not from our township, for advice.



"Wait, Shalaza!　The master is really ......."



　But Sharaza did not listen to Gordov's words and put his hand on the door to leave the store .......



　Boom!



　Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the store.



"What the hell?



　We ran outside to see what had happened, and then we saw it.



"What the hell is that?



"And it's huge!



A huge monster!



"How big! ......"



　No wonder everyone was surprised.

　The monster was really big.

　This town ...... and most towns have tall walls around them to prevent monsters and bandits from entering the town.

So you usually can't see the demons attacking the town from inside the town.



But we were able to see them.



"...... that's ridiculous."



　No wonder Ms. Sharaza is surprised.

　After all, the monster is so large that it extends beyond the walls that protect the town.

　If you include the parts you can't see, it's probably bigger than a dragon.



"Gyuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"



ohhhhhh!""""""



　Hearing the monster's yell, the townspeople come to their senses and begin to panic, rushing to escape from the monster.



"No!　Everyone's panicking!　We have to help evacuate the townspeople first!"



We'll take care of it. Our attack power will be too strong to hit that huge body.



"Well, the Adventurers' Guild and the Guard will lend a hand."



　Mr. Norbu and Mr. Megli told me so.



"I'm going!　We've got to slow him down."



"Well, of course. I don't know if he'll notice us.



"Wait for me!　I'll use my magic to get your attention first, and then you can jump in!"



　Then Gyro and Lilieira's vanguard group and Mina, a magician, begin discussing how to draw the demons away from the town.

　Then, I will play the role of pulling the demons away from the town by magic with Mina.



"That's why, Mr. Gordov and the others are ......"



　I was about to tell her to take shelter when suddenly Ms. Sharaza jumped out as if she had been thrown out of the room.

　That too, toward the monster.



"Ms. Sharaza?



"You stay out of this!　I'm the one it's after!"






　Without stopping, Ms. Sharaza said this and disappeared into the crowd.



"No!　We'll go after them too!"





　We rushed after Ms. Sharaza as she ran out.

　I don't know why, but the moment he saw that monster, he looked so unusual.

　Maybe that monster is the reason why Ms. Sharaza was looking for me, or even an S-rank adventurer.



Wait, Ms. Sharaza!



　Fortunately, I was able to catch up with Ms. Sharaza soon.



"Hey!　You know that demon?



"That's none of your business!　I'll lure him away. In the meantime, you two, get the townspeople away from the gate in the opposite direction!"



　Sharaza's face shows a slight mixture of surprise and annoyance when she realizes that we are following her.



"You guys!　Why did you follow us?　You're slowing us down, get the hell out of here!"



"That's not how it works!　This town was our first stronghold!　We'll fight with you!"



　Mr. Sharaza urges us to evacuate, and Mr. Gyro replies.



"That's what I meant. To be honest, I don't really have any obligation to get involved, but I can't just leave the situation as it is.



　In a slightly teasing tone, Mina agrees with Gyro-kun.



"I told you that thing was after me!　If you don't want to get involved, get out of the way now!"



　With that, Ms. Sharaza rejects us.

　Well, this population tone is harsh, but she doesn't seem to be a bad person.

　It's more like he's trying to keep us away from him by saying things in a harsh way. ......



　And now that we are in this position, we can see someone fighting with the demons.

　It seems to be the guards who are firing their bows and magic on the wall.

　Maybe Mr. Og is there, too.



But their attacks seemed to have no effect on the demons at all, their arrows were bouncing off without piercing.



"His shell is hard. It's impossible to penetrate it with a half-hearted attack!



　I see, it seems that the opponent is a demon that has confidence in its hardness.

　But I don't recognize that monster at all.　I don't remember seeing such a demon in my previous or previous lives.

　As I was thinking that, the demon spits something out.

　Then a part of the wall that was hit by it started to melt in an instant.



"Ah!　The barrier melted?



"It's acid. A mere stone wall won't stand a chance against that thing. If you don't want to die, you'd better run now!



　I knew Sharaza was trying to keep us out of this.



"I'll get his attention and draw him away from the town. You guys take the people who didn't make it and run out the other side of the gate!"



"Hey!　Why do you go to such lengths to try to use yourself as bait?



"So that they don't target the people of this town!"



　Sharaza's eyes were serious as she answered Liliela's words without a pause.

　She's really trying not to get us, the people we just met, and the people of this town involved.



　Oh, I see!　The obvious pause earlier was an act to keep us out of it.

　The reason why you didn't seem to be trying to kill us at all is because you didn't want to put us young people in danger!



"Understood!　Then we'll use our magic to pull him away from the barrier!"



"That's why I told you to run away ......!　Oh my god!　If we're going to do this, it's going to be earth or wind based impact magic!　His shell is too thick for magic to do much damage!　Don't even think about damaging it!　All you have to do is distract him!"



"Yes, sir!"



　I see, you have acquired a pseudo-resistance to magic by mastering the thickness of your body.

　They're a very troublesome type of demons.




　I was thinking, "I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not," when Ms. Sharaza let out a sigh and approached me.



"You seem to have the heart of a righteous warrior even though you are inexperienced, that you have not lost your will to fight even after seeing that monster. Well, I take back my rudeness earlier."



　With that said, Ms. Sharaza makes a big, conspicuous leap.

　Well, he's a good guy after all.



"All right, then, we're going to cover for Ms. Sharaza!　Let's go!　Triburst Impact!"



　I fire a spell at the monster that was about to enter the town through a gap in the melted wall.

　This is the magic for large crustacean monsters, Tri Burst Impact!

　It is a striking magic that instantaneously delivers a series of three impacts like a hammer over a large area!

　With this, we can tear that huge body away from the protective wall. ......



　Boom!



"Oh, what is that?"



　I was going to pull it away from the barrier first, but for some reason, the demon exploded after only the first impact.



"......Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..."



　I was able to blow it up more easily than I expected,...... or rather, I am puzzled that I was able to defeat it.

　Sharaza, who had been trying to get ahead of me, was standing on the roof of a nearby house, looking puzzled.

　He turned around and asked me, "What did you do?　He looked at me and asked.



"Well, ...... it looks like the shell was surprisingly thin?"



"No, no, no, no!　His shell is so hard that no weapon or magic could even scratch it!　There is no way that mere magic can make it look like that!"



　Sharaza is raising her voice to say that it's impossible, but we are also surprised at the difference from our prior information. ......



"Oh, maybe it was just after molting like a crab?"



　That would explain the softness. ......



"No way!"