We looked at the brunch menu on the board outside and everyone happily talked about it and decided what to eat. I decided to order the "sautéed soldier moose with spices".

　Apparently a moose is a deer. Terezia is also interested, so we decide to order the same thing. I tell her that it's not enough for her, so she can choose a couple more items.

"Brother, is this 'shield crab in a spicy sauce' perhaps...
"Probably a crab that the 'alliance' says has a monopoly on hunting grounds. It seems the demand for food is high.
'I'm interested in what they say is the highlight of the menu, but if we could hunt it ourselves, it would probably taste even better as a celebration then.'

　Igarashi-san is right. Once the monopoly is dissolved, everyone can hunt and eat the 'crab' by themselves - it will be better to eat then.

'We can also capture the other labyrinths to earn the required contribution. It's no longer the case that the 'Four Seasons' are stuck in a conquest, and we could dare not interfere with the 'Alliance' monopoly, but...
'Right. Part of it is wise to avoid complications... but even if the way the alliance does things isn't against the rules, there's no reason for other searchers to follow it. And the right to hunt 'crabs' isn't inherently anyone's right.

　They are in great demand as food and materials and are easy to defeat. There are naturally many explorers who want to hunt such demons, and it's highly likely that there are people who are second-guessing and smoldering due to the 'Alliance''s monopoly.

''As I'm sure everyone saw, the leader of the 'Alliance' wasn't completely uncommunicative. When we can dive into the 'Beach of the Falling Sun', I'll see how the 'Crab' is actually dominated, and if there's enough room for other searchers to get in at all, I'll try to negotiate again. Maybe get them to break up the hunt for a few hours.
''It's not just the 'Four Seasons', the guild is even aware of the problem, so they're probably just monitoring the appearance of the 'crabs' for twenty-four hours now...'''

　Is there a reason why he - Rolando - would want to move up to the sixth ward even to that extent? The experience of dropping to the bottom of the pecking order in District Seven once seems to have something to do with it.

'In any case, we need to keep the party strong. From now on, I'd like to think about the pace of our search, as well as the pace of our search, to be around two days off per week.''
'That sounds like a great idea, but I'm not sure what I'd do with a whole day off.
I guess we'll go shopping and just hang out. Oh, Ellie, didn't you say there's a theater too?
'Yes, I know. I think it's quite a spectacle to see, because there are people with professional experience on the stage too.

　Elitia recommends it to Misaki, but she doesn't give off the air that she wants to go.

　If you turn your attention to entertainment, you won't feel sorry for your companions who were captured by the 'Brilliant Sarukou' - is that what you're thinking about?

''For the time being, I think we should use our time off for the future. For the time being, I think we should use our time off for the future, because we can find all kinds of fun things to do in our daily lives.
'Yeah, I never get tired of just observing my brother. I might even chase him around on my days off for whatever reason.
'Well, well old man it's sad to say to myself, but isn't it fun to observe a good old man slouching?
Bawp, bawp.

　There's something about this Zion barking that seems to affirm the way I spend my day off - or perhaps it's something about wanting me to take a walk or something.

''...........''
Like Zion-chan, Theresa-san seems to have no problem spending her time that way.
'Well that's fine with me too. I like to sleep.
I think it's good for all of you to go home and relax.
'Yeah, I'd like to make sure I spend my time that way, too. That said, I'm sure I'll be moving around a lot, for whatever reason, but you guys should think about how you spend your time, too.
'Yes, all right. I'll be ready to leave whenever you are, so give me a shout if you need me to accompany you.
'Oh, yes. Why don't we get a schedule board so we can write down where we're going and what we're going to do when we go separate ways?

　Everyone agrees with Misaki's opinion. All I remember on the company's whiteboard is the memory of writing 'I'll be coming to work' even on my day off - and Igarashi-san remembered that, too, and she smiled bitterly, a little apologetically.

　　　◆◇◆

　After finishing our meal, we decided to return to our quarters to rest for a while - then we found a familiar figure in front of the quarters.

　A small girl wearing a robe like a wizard - though she's older than me, since she's a long-lived tribe from the labyrinth country.

You have been gone for some time. I flew over because I was asked by my master to make a business trip, so I decided to close up shop for the afternoon.
'Master has always been concerned about Master Atobe. Oh, you remember me, don't you?
Yes, of course. I'm sorry to call you on such short notice, Mr. Ceres, Mr. Steiner. And Ms. Farma.

　Mr. Steiner was still wearing the same heavy armor, and Ms. Farma was also wearing an apron outside the shop. I hadn't seen them for a few days, but their unchanged appearance made me miss them very much.

''Atobe-sama, I'm glad to see that you've continued to do well after that. It's been a long time since I've been to the Seventh Ward, but the atmosphere seems to have changed a bit.''
'Well, Mr. Falma has been here before when he was on active duty.
''Yes, when I was adventuring with my husband and his party I don't know about the wards ahead, but I can guide you to this ward to some extent. However, I was called in on business, so my stay is limited.
Well, we are in a very limited time frame, so we have to finish the job. Depending on the conditions, I may be able to make your stay flexible.

　That condition would be to make the 'special contract' that I was talking about with Louisa-san earlier? However, since it's not a good idea to talk about that early after having them come, I'd like to ask them to do some work first.

　As for the magic stones and runes, we need to think about which one to wear after we get new equipment. Then, the order would be after the dismantling by Melissa is finished, and after we confirm whether the equipment can be made with the demon materials--''

''........Ah.

　Melissa makes a small noise. Then, a man is about to come up the slope leading to a section of terrace houses - it's Mr. Rykerton.

'Hey, long time no see. Good, you didn't have to get lost to come here.
Well you called me up on short notice, was the store okay?
'Yeah, no problem. I've finished the work I got in by noon.

　It looked like Melissa was mainly dismantling the demons, but I could tell that Ms. Rykerton's skills were pretty good, too. So Melissa asks for support - and Mr. Rykerton seems quite happy to be called out by his daughter.

'Mr. Rykerton, if you came through the bulkhead passageway, it must have been pretty hard to get through.
''I was allowed to use the guild's transition door, so I was able to come here much faster than if I had walked. Even so, you live in a nice place... you're always in a bloody place, so the air in the high-class residential area feels refreshing.
''I miss the air in the store. I feel like I was a bit drawn to Arihito, though.

　When I first saw it, I was definitely freaked out, but that's not the case now. I'm sure I've gained my nerve, or perhaps I've gained my courage.

We came here using the guild's transitional door through Louisa's introduction.
'Yes, me too. The kids and my mother saw me off my mother told me to do it right. The kids said hello to Zion and everyone else.

　Sion, who has not seen his original master, Farma-san, in a long time, is sitting up and wagging his tail - but since I'm looking at him too, he might be a bit reserved.

''Sion-chan, it's been a while, so why don't you go ahead and do it?　I'm so happy it's coming out of my tail.
BOW!

　Sion replies and walks over to Falma-san. She bends down and starts stroking Sion's body, head, etc. - Igarashi-san is relieved, but I can feel a little bit of it too.

''Her fur is very nice, and I can see that she's being taken care of very well... thank you, gentlemen.
No, it's Theon who has helped me. He listens well, and he's very brave.
''I'm glad to hear that and I'm sure she's happy to hear that.......Theon, you must continue to listen to Atobe-sama well.

　Falma-san left Sion with a bit of a sense of remorse after she was happy to see him again for a moment.

''The reason you called me here this time is because of the black box.......''
The black box.........I knew the last time I saw you, you probably got that rune from a rare box. What kind of monster are you guys fighting against...?
There was one member who was lucky. That, and a lot of other things that happened, I had a lot of opportunities to fight 'named'...
It is said that luck is not the only explanation for this, even though the conditions for their appearance are not known and there are still named ones that have not been seen yet. It is said that some of them come from the other side and attack the seekers, but it is said that even encountering one of them in a month is considered to be a strong stroke of luck.
'Master, I understand your surprise, but our job is to make good equipment for Master Atobe and the others. If you have the Black Box, you might find some great materials and equipment in it.
"Hmmm... it's true, we can't help but admire each other. Ariecht, if you have summoned me, then you have obtained a new rune, haven't you?　

　Celes-san goes around behind me and looks at Murakumo with interest - I can't talk about Ariadne or Murakumo easily, but Celes-san and the others seem to have no problem talking about it when the time is right.

What an extraordinary creature. I have never seen a more beautiful katana in my life.
''This sword is not being considered for enhancement at the moment, but if it's possible I might ask for it. And as for the runes, I've found two new ones so far, and I was hoping to use them to strengthen my equipment if possible.
What do you mean?

　Celes-san changed into something unsettling, but I wanted to learn what kind of runes I was looking for first, so I used the nearby transfer door to lead him to the storage room - and then.

　The two runes found in the black box containing the Murakumo, two runes that were kept in the storage room as they were, and an unused magic stone - when Celes-san saw them, she began to tremble in a rut.

''........what a waste........''
Oh my God!

　Celes turned around vigorously, and then she stormed over to me. It was so sudden and unexpected that I couldn't keep up with the situation either.

　It's too good to be left lying around in a warehouse, and it's going to be haunted!
Oh, I thought so too, but I guess it was too good to be true.
Well, it's not hard to see why. There's only one RuneMaker in the Seventh Ward, and he must be booked with a lot of work. If the runes are found as infrequently as in District 8, you would have more time than I do.
'Yes, master. If Atobe-sama is willing to be our patron, why don't you make a 'special agreement' with him? Then we can be entrusted with their rune processing and equipment processing for a long time. Yeah, yeah, that would be great!

　Mr. Steiner says a little excitedly, as if he has come up with a good idea. It is certainly a great help to us if you do so - although it depends on what you think, Celes.

I've forgotten about the 'special contract' for a long time. But yes, that's the way it works. When I heard that you had already moved to the Seventh Ward, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. Does this mean that you will continue to be a client of mine after you come here?

　Celes-san says a little jokingly - the flaxen-haired 'Jade People (Jade)', she was as innocent as the girl herself in her mischievous expression, even though she had lived far longer than I had, even though she had lived far longer than I had.

　I thought that my connection with the people of the Eighth Ward would fade the more I went to the upper wards. However, with the help of the 'special agreement', that was never the case.

'I was hoping to ask you to do the same.
'Yes, it's nice to meet you too. Oh I'm glad I came right away to be able to open the 'black box' again.......

　Mr. Farma is ecstatic - he's still terrific and glamorous as ever. And if you look at her too much, the gaze of your friends stings.

　Mr. Rykerton has already gone to the 'storage room' with Melissa to start dismantling it. Of course, I'd like to talk about the 'special agreement' with him later as well - if the frame isn't already filled.

'Come to think of it, Leila from the mercenary agent's office seems to be worried about you guys too. She just came to the guild to inquire about your situation. Maybe you'll hear from him soon.
'Well thank you for letting me know. Theresia, you may hear from Leila.
..........

　Theresia nodded her head in a persistent nod - she hadn't lost her connection with Leila-san, who was also the benefactor who had brought her and me together. I want to thank Celes-san for teaching me about Leila-san, and I want to thank her again.

　I wonder if Rival-san is still rescuing new explorers in Akebono's Plain. I thought I would ask Louisa again about them and the others in the Arctic Star. It's a good thing to hear that they are doing well, because it will encourage us to do our best.