The tension inside the Adventurer's Guild was more tense than at any other time.
　The anomaly of the Jorno Forest was well known to many people, both young and veteran.
　But they did not perceive it as a clear threat. Forest mayhem happened every few years or even decades, and some veteran adventurers had first-hand experience with it.
　For them, forest mayhem was a great danger, but it was also a time to earn money.
　Emergency requests were issued every time there was a disturbance in the Jorno Forest, and adventurers of D rank or higher were eligible to participate in these requests and would be paid for their participation. In addition, depending on the number and quality of the battles, they would receive additional rewards, as well as the chance to hunt monsters, which were the very materials of the deep.
　The risk is certainly great, but there were only a few people who felt a clear sense of danger because fighting beside the risk of life is the job of the adventurer.

　But that's not the case now.
　It is obvious that everyone is confused, frustrated and restless.
　Some had their heads in their hands when they looked at the request form, others were discussing what to do with each other, or arguing at parties, and few kept their cool.

　The air was a different place than it had been three days ago when Nacht had arrived here.
　There were no adventurers chatting with each other with food and drink in hand, and the gaze that had licked Nacht and gazed hotly at him was nowhere to be felt. The nostalgic air that Nacht had felt was not there.
　It's probably proof that they don't have the luxury of time.

''You've changed a lot--''
　Nacht mutters.
　Seeing the adventurers in games and novels in real life was a bit mind-blowing, but they weren't what they used to be.
　The air in the guild was as heavy as it was offensive. There was a pervasive fear that pervaded such an air, and it was somewhat boring.

''Everyone has a difficult look on their faces--''
　Aisha says anxiously.

'Houseman was adored by so many adventurers, so--'
　The reason why Nacht was called in this time was to hear about the unidentified thunder dragon, and also because Christa herself had proposed to the guild leader to ask for assistance in this emergency situation, since Houseman had investigated the strange situation in the forest and reported that he had engaged a pair of women, and that they were alive and dead.
　Many of them had seen Hausman's disciples, Fuuka and Kite, who looked exhausted.
　But that wasn't the problem.
　A-class adventurers were a cloud to ordinary adventurers.
　Of course, they all trust him immensely as a workmate. Even such a houseman can't handle the situation. There is no adventurer who can't be intimidated by that. I had heard some of the reports as well. Just hearing that there were gryphons in the depths, he didn't even have the energy to confront them anymore. And yet, there were rumors that an ancient demon race had appeared inside. Even though they are adventurers, people who ignore danger cannot live long. The adventurer's guild in the trading city also teaches that you should build up your strength before risking your life.

''Hmm, well, that's a bad thing--''
　Krista tilted her head slightly at Nacht's words.
　Although she said so with her mouth, it wasn't that Nacht was feeling guilty.
　Of course, it could be said that it was Nacht's fault that that houseman or something like that had been dispatched and gone missing, since it was probably due to the ancient demon race that Nacht had freed.
　However, this is a trivial matter to Nacht.
　Nacht himself did not do it intentionally. It would be irresponsible to leave it alone, but within Nacht, there was nothing that could be called guilt. This was probably also the effect of becoming a half-man, half-dragon. If it was the former Toru, he would surely have fallen to his knees alone in his room.
　But now, he found himself even enjoying this situation. Nahat was definitely rejoicing in the fact that he was able to meet the unknown of the ancient demon race.

　In the first place, Nacht did not agree with the situation of keeping a solid named Ancient Demon Race locked away.
　Even though we don't even know what the ancient demons did in the ancient times, Nahat doesn't like to bind their freedom with legends and common sense for as long as they can.
　What he does now that he is free is the responsibility of the ancient demon tribe. In fact, it's probably the fault of the people who hated the Ancient Demon tribe in the past.

　However, if the ancient tribe is planning to attack this place where Nacht lives now, it is a different story. Nacht has a number of reasons why he must not let this place be destroyed.
　I shall ask you to leave quietly.
　I'll at least take that level of responsibility, Nacht thought. That's why Nacht opened his little mouth with a wicked smile.

''That's pungent - a bunch of cowards, even if they're adventurers - let's get on with it and see the guild leader.
　Many were irritated by Nacht's arrogant and irreverent words.
　I could hear the sound of cups slamming on the table and chairs being kicked off.
　Aisha's voice could clearly be heard as she huffed and panicked.
　In the midst of the adventurers manifesting their frustration, a tall young man with a sword belt stood in front of Nacht and shouted loudly.

''Tenmei!　And you act so high and mighty!　Don't get your panties in a bunch, kid!
　Krista saw this and hurriedly tried to restrain the man, but Nacht restrained him with her hand.

'Pompous?　Well, that's just me, but that's okay.
　You are dissatisfied, young man. But, you see, I'm not happy either, you know?　I'm bemoaning my inability to do anything about it, and I'm disgusted by adventurers like you who are out there screaming their grievances and even trying to win me over.
　Nacht showed him an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders as he said, "Oh dear.

'Tenmei!　I'm not an adventurer, I'm just a kid, a rank C adventurer, so don't get cocky with this Henri!　All right, listen up!　This city is done for!　There's nothing we can do about it!　The bastard Kite says he's not just seen the griffons, he's seen the cannibal demons (man-eater) and flying dragons (wyvern) too!　And that's not all!　By the looks of it, I must have seen something even worse!
　Henri was someone who was in sync with Kite and became an adventurer.
　That's why I thought it was unusual to see Kite shaking and crying.
　Kite was an excellent man, still more talented than Henri, who had risen to C with excellent grades. He was always calm and decisive, always able to accurately assess the situation and make decisions. Kite was a target for Henri.
　This time, too, he was supposed to follow the A-level steeplechaser Houseman, who was known to everyone in the trading city, and carry out his requests. Although envious, Henri also felt something akin to trust in Kite's hard work and enthusiasm in the way he did his job.
　But on his return, Kite muttered to Henri.

''This city may be no better--you, you and your people should flee to the royal capital.''
　That would have been his advice to his friend. At least let the people you know live, he told them.
　But on the other side of his words, he also implied that he was telling them.
　'You guys are useless at your level,' he said.

''The guild will issue a request to adventurers of D rank and above to defeat the demons. The guild will issue requests to D-ranked adventurers and above to take out demons. But I don't blame them for that. We're just commoners trapped in the daily grind. If you don't have any feelings for it, just change the place you earn money, that's all...
　Nacht looked at Henri with a bit of amusement.

'You're not going to run away, are you?'
　Henri replied sarcastically to Nacht's words.

''Ha, I'm an adventurer in a trading city. My family is in town and I'm a commoner, so I can't run away. If I'm the only one to run away, it would probably be to my detriment. Most of the people left here are bound to this place in one way or another. Then all we have to do is fight and wait for our time to die.......
　Henri's expression was somewhat distorted and gloomy.
　But Nacht, by contrast, was smiling happily.

'What's so funny, lass?'
　Henri says to Nacht.

Ha-ha, no, I just thought it was interesting to see how interesting some people can be. Despite the resignation and melancholy in their mouths, they have a certain fighting spirit in their hearts. You were properly willing to fight to the death, weren't you? But in order not to involve those around you in it, you also care to tell them the reality and let those who can escape escape. Was it to avoid exploding the frustration of those around you when you came at me? No, it's moderately interesting--
　Henri says, cowering his shoulders at Nacht's words.

''Heh, you're quite the delusional little girl.
　And there, for the first time, Henri remembered the existence of Nacht.
　It was three days ago, as I recall, that I heard a rumor that a beautiful princess who looked as if she was clothed in a dark robe had visited the Adventurer's Guild. The woman was said to have defeated the legendary mercenary Duran and saved the A-class adventurer Christa Niese Bran Richter.
　A beautiful girl of immense beauty with an elven squire--

Well, you're the one who...
　Henri didn't know how far the rumors were correct, but part of him looked at Nacht, thinking that he was certainly right.
　His seamless appearance told him that he was a competent person by itself, but before he could feel that, he was dazzled by his good looks. When he was shouting in anger, he didn't see his appearance, but once again, it was truly exceptional.

'Haha--I feel good now--which is why I'm going to show all of you who are despairing here one thing: hope.
　Nacht proclaimed on a high note and drew the eyes of everyone around him in unison.
　I know it sounds like he was acting on his own, but Nacht took the stage as if he was just enjoying the moment.

'Come on, Henri and company, draw your swords--'

Huh?
　Nacht calls out again to a bewildered Henri to draw his sword.
　He nodded with satisfaction at Henri, who reluctantly pulled out his sword.
　Seeing this, Nacht held up one finger.
　Everyone looks at the index finger, which is as clear as art, and the finger that looks like a crimson ball.

'Well, then, come on, give it your all. I'll give you a handicap, of course. I promise that I will not move from this place even a single step, plus this one index finger is what we will use to attack.
　On a high note, Nacht declared.

'Huh?　What are you talking--

He said, "I said I would show you hope. "I will not be your ally, but I will show you my strength, my power to help you. I will allow my overwhelming, absolute, and inexplicably fearful power to be the hope of victory.
　As if no more words were needed, Nacht gave a signal with his finger.
　The atmosphere around them was somewhat upbeat, and Henri couldn't help but pull back.

''Injured, I don't know if you're hurt!
　It was a well-known fact that Henri was quite skilled among the guilds in the trading city.
　There were many rumors that he could be ranked B in the next promotion exam.
　To deal with that with the snap of a finger, it can only be called impossible at the earliest. It was like asking him to go ahead and slash wherever he wanted.
　The first move, Henri had intended to beat Nacht down with the belly of his sword.
　That was a literal handful.
　Against a defenseless girl, there was no way Henri would seriously challenge her, either.
　The blow that he fired to avoid injuring her as much as possible--.

Hmm, didn't you hear me?　I told you to come as fast as you can, didn't I?

　--popped.
　It's a dull sound like metal bending.
　The side-napping blow, which was aimed at the copper, was flung off by a single finger that Nacht had moved at some point. It wasn't just Henri who widened his eyes, but the people around him as well. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking at, because the sword strike that looks so heavy was flung off by a finger so slender that it could break if you touched it.

''What--?''
　It doesn't make sense.
　Henri was tame, but he should have put his weight on and put enough force on it to stun him. Nacht, on the other hand, hadn't moved an inch from the spot as declared.

'Come with all your might. If you can use magic, go ahead and use it. With all that you have - come at me with the intention of killing me.
　A moment later, Nacht's fighting spirit exploded.
　Gulp, Henri's throat rumbled.
　Tame?
　Don't be silly.
　I felt like beating myself up without thinking about my earlier self.
　Because what was there was something, something that transcended ordinary human knowledge.
　Henri circulated his magic power and strengthened his physical abilities. The people around him, even the top-notch ones, and even the third-rate adventurers, realized that Henri was serious.
　That was never a good thing to point at the girl.
　But Henri had the blade of his long sword pointed straight at Nahat, and he even looked like he was releasing a killing intent.
　A sharp step through the floor of the guild.
　Henri drew his sword held in front of him to unleash another side-nagging attack.

''Martial art (arts)--Water Cleave!
　It was a strike that emphasized the speed of the attack.
　Nahat's dragon's eye certainly catches the sword flash that cuts through the water surface without even making a ripple.
　A moment.
　A high-pitched sound was heard, riiiiin.
　When he heard such a sound, Henri's hands were paralyzed beyond numbness. There is no sword in that hand that was spread out to grab the sky.

''Hm, a good blow. You will continue to devote yourself to it.''

　Suddenly, I looked up at the heavens, and there was a sword pierced into the heavens, shining forlornly.

''Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh!
　The crowd cheered.
　Nacht smiled in satisfaction at that.

'You, no, what the hell are you...?'
　Nacht laughs at Henri's words.

'My name is Nacht. You may call me Nacht, dearly, Nacht.
　Nacht declares on a high note.
　Hearing the loud cheers and courtship, etc., Nacht nodded as if he was satisfied.

''Mm, after all, this is how a guild should be.
　Nacht said this so that no one could hear him, and he remembered his former abode (the guild).
　In such a situation filled with excitement--.

What's going on here?
　Guild Chief Nigurd, aka White Bear, had come in with a girl and a boy.
　The guild leader looked around and when he spotted Nacht, he happily spoke out.

'Oh, Lord Nacht--just came--'
　But he could not speak beyond that.
　The atmosphere that had filled this place creaked.
　The golden eyes disappeared, leaving only a residue of light.
　Nacht's figure seemed to have disappeared from the guild leader's - former A-class warrior's eyes as well.
　A tremendous wind, a tremendous wind that should be called a gust of wind, a shock, blows away the desk and chairs.
　Nacht was beside the guild leader as if he had moved in an instant.

''What, what........''
　Nacht didn't answer the guild leader's words either.

''Huh...?''
　A girl dressed in black let out a threatening voice to Nacht, who appeared in an instant right beside her.
　Nacht grabbed such a girl and--
　He stripped off his black clothes.
　Nacht grabbed it without regard to the hostility-like intimidation emanating from those around him.

''You've been tracked--''
　At the same time as the half-naked girl screamed.
　A black lizard was creeping around in Nacht's hand that had been pulled out of her chest.