After I finished my report, I went out to the lobby to join my friends who were waiting for me outside. And the sight of deja vu gives me some headache.

'What are you talking about?'　What kind of authority do you have to make up for lost members?

　The one that Elitia pointed her sharp words at - a man with gray hair and dressed in black. It was Gray from the Alliance for Freedom.

''Elitia Centrail. When I see a talented explorer like you 'dropping out', I usually call out to any party. I thought I might have seen you before, too.
''Well I haven't heard anything about that. If you can't afford to recruit, why don't you try to help your leaders?

　When the word 'drop out' was mentioned, Elitia clearly showed a killing intent - but she didn't question the meaning of it, as if she realized it was a provocation.

　Gray described Elitia's activity in our party as 'dropping out'. After all, it seems to be an incompatible partner with us, from the root.

'I'm the leader of that party, young lady. And my former leader Rolando thinks very highly of my work. He said he would give me the leadership if anything happened to him.

　--The second I heard that, Theresa looked at me.

　He (Gray) is lying. It was obvious, but no matter what kind of stand he took, it really seemed that Gray had taken the position of the leader of the 'Alliance' - the remaining members at the entrance of the 'Green House'.

''........I'm sure the 'Alliance' has Roland-san's wife, right? I wonder what the reason is that she won't be taking over the leadership.

　I hadn't heard Igarashi-san's voice this cold in a long time. There were times when the temperature of my voice would visibly drop when my business partner was being unfair, or when he made a joke that sounded like s*xual harassment.

　He was seriously angry - and Gray gave a drawn-out laugh in the face of his power. He cupped his hand to his slackened tie, but was that a habit he had when he was upset?

'I'm sorry to hear that, Daniela, but the man was due to retire soon. She was rushed to the medical center with her former leader earlier, but she was ... you know what I mean.　As a couple, that kind of thing can happen at any time. The leader is a can't help it, but we didn't blame them and their wife for their lack of planning. It's unfortunate that this happened, but 'it's inevitable', right?

　That was something I was a little concerned about, too. When we were about to move up to the sixth ward, Daniela-san had accompanied Roland-san with her heavy body.

　However, under the current circumstances, it seemed as if Gray had been swooped into the position of leader because of Mr. Daniela's inability to make a strong statement.

'The 'man in the suit' doesn't seem to be doing anything from the looks of it, he's just following behind. We have more jobs than that party, and we can organize the first party with you as the ace. And if you do that, don't you think your goal of being known as the "Death Sword" will come true sooner than later?

　Gray looks around the circle to the rest of the party, not just Elitia, as if to say he's made a good speech. Misaki is smiling affectionately, but she's got a die in her hand - she's angry enough to want to smash it, but she's barely holding back.

　I'm the same way, but when I get past the anger, on the contrary, the emotion is nothing. If I have something to say, I can let him say it all he wants. If it's been decided from the beginning that you will never allow that to happen.

Now, let's raise hope again. We, the 'Alliance for Freedom', will take a bit of a detour, but we will certainly choose to move up to the sixth ward and go further. There are six new members to be recruited... for now, all of you here now, why don't you join us?

　I think I'm gaining confidence as we talk, and I think I'm ready to finish it off in a mess.

　Then I realize - why is Gray so confident?

　◆Current Situation ◆.

　Grey" activates "Trickster" → Grey's skill activation is hidden

　On the streets, everyone only activates the skill when they really need it.

　But what if there is a skill that 'hides the fact that it is being activated'. There could be a danger that the person in front of you using the skill with an innocent look on their face and not even notice it.

　-- but I was able to detect its activation. This is because "that skill" did not miss the slight discomfort shown by Gray.

　Current Situation◆

　Arihito activates Eye of the Hawk → Grey's skill is not covered up.
　Gray activates the "Gentle Parfum" to improve the impression of the opposite s*x.
　Gray" activates "Negotiation" → Success rate of negotiation increases.

　The Black Clothes sometimes requires a skill to recruit the cast of the shop. That's what Gray was given by his arrival in the Maze Country.

　But I never imagined an ounce of what could happen if.

　Gray holds out his right hand to Elitia. He smiles like a good-natured young man, almost expecting to succeed - but.

'Unfortunately, I can't duplicate the teamwork of the 'Alliance' people. Can you hit on someone else?
"...oh, hey!　Well, wait, at least one person........!

　Elitia looks back at me and smiles. And everyone realizes that I'm there - to no one else, Gray's skills hadn't manifested their effects.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Judging the trustworthiness of Aricht's party → "Negotiation" is disabled

　First of all, Elitia walked past Gray and out of the 'Green Pavilion' with the members of the alliance by her side. After that, the other members followed in rapid succession.

''I'll tell you one thing, don't use your colors on the members of the 'Four Seasons' anymore. They won't like you if you're persistent.
What the hell...
''There are still a lot of members of the 'Alliance', don't you think?
'We will continue to have a competitive relationship as explorers, but I wish you all the best.

　Igarashi nails it, and Misaki jokingly brushes off the solicitation. Suzuna bows her head politely, but doesn't look back at Gray as he tries to follow her.

　When she finally passes by Gray, she assumes, but she still blocks the path and makes a causal connection - she's no longer anything but a Thug.

'I don't have to tell you, do I?　You don't deserve the sword of death, do you? You'll tell me, won't you?　They want me to move to 'The Alliance'.

　He doesn't know what's going on and says whatever he wants - but that's how attractive my party members are to Gray.

I don't want to be a bad person. I'll give you enough money to live in this ward even if you're left alone. What's a thousand gold pieces worth?
'Is that money hard earned?　Well, even if I did, I don't think I'd take it.
"...what?　Don't you know what you're talking about, old man?

　You're quite annoyed that you couldn't pull my guys off, but for us, it's not right to be pissed off about that.

The members of Triceratops were much more decent people than you. To me, it doesn't sound like Mr. Rolando was making the woman in Ward Seven cry either.
It's not a good time.

　The moment I was about to raise my voice for threats - I was relieved that 'she' had stepped up.

''..........''

　Theresia is standing behind Grey. When Grey realizes this, he begins to slump and break out in a cold sweat and raises his hands to see what he's thinking about.

'Ya, you're going to do it... if you do me here, you'll be in prison...'
'I have no intention of doing so. The fact that you've transitioned with an injured comrade is understandable... but if you're going to get more unreasonably involved, we have an idea.
"...you're watching me, aren't you? You're just standing there, all cocky and shrewd and you're all pimping out with the sword of death and the girls, aren't you?　Don't preach to me like that.
'Maybe so. I've never been this unworthy, not even before I was reincarnated.

　Preaching to others is not my thing, and I don't want to talk about it in a way that could be taken as such. I don't see the point in spending any more time talking, and I walk past Gray.

''Well, I'm not done talking........hi.......!

　It's up to us to decide if it's over or not - and we don't have to say it out loud.

　Surprised by Theresia, who just turned around, Gray sat there in surprise. With that, he's the new leader of the organization that was running at the top of the seventh district, so I can't imagine what's to come.

　I walked with Theresa. She was following a little behind me, but eventually she quickened her steps and came alongside me.

''--I'm not going to let this go on!　I'll look forward to seeing you guys fail!

　What do the members of the alliance think of the abomination that Gray shows - all we can tell at present is that it's not a good look.

　Thomas is among the members in the lineup. He himself realizes that Gray lied to him to become the leader, and for some reason, he's probably not revealing the truth.

　There are some things I would like to hear from him, but right now it seems difficult to do so. That's what I thought, but as soon as I got outside, only Mr. Thomas came running after me.

　He was prepared for what Gray might say to him later, but he still chased after him. With that in mind, it was impossible not to listen to him.

''Well I know that I have no right to say this. I'll apologize for Gray's rudeness from me and then I'll ask you to do something for me.
What do you want me to do for you?
'I'd like you to meet Daniela-san. She was the deputy leader of the 'alliance', so she has the authority to be the leader instead of Roland-san in the system. Gray being the leader is just a temporary thing. But if that guy urges Daniela-san to transfer it to him, he'll be the official leader in the near future... but...

　Mr. Rolando is still alive. Mr. Thomas hasn't given up, but he can't move the alliance to enter the "Beach of the Falling Sun" either - that's what he's saying.

　Everyone shows by their attitude that they have no objection. Thomas gives us the number of the hospital room that Daniela has entered, and we head to the medical station.