The next day, I took everyone with me to the guild. We had the idea that we might be able to see Ende, but we also thought it was time to raise our guild's rank.
　The current rank is green for Yumina and blue for the rest of us. As we moved up the ranks, Black ▷Purple ▷Green ▷Blue ▷Red ▷Silver ▷Gold, I wanted to be at least as high as the red rank, which is considered to be the best adventurer.
　To begin with, we have already killed the black dragon, but if that was the target of a request to take out the black dragon, it would be the equivalent of a red rank. In other words, we practically have that ability.
　In the meantime, the more requests you do and the higher your rank, the higher your reward will be. I'm not quite sure what I want to do yet, but no matter what I do, I'll probably need money. It's not like I'm relying on everyone who is my fiancée for that.
　We're already familiar with Tokoto and Amber following us, but the turtle and snake that floated and followed us fluffily, i.e. Coral and Black Sun, caught my attention quite a bit.

''Since you guys are conspicuous, why don't you just stay home quietly?
No. Where the Lord goes, they will go too.
That's right. And I know that amber stands out enough.

　All three of them are in town, so they're talking in telekinesis, but I can hear them all. The reason why the coral and obsidian stand out is because they are floating, and if I hold them, they probably won't be so noticeable. When I asked him about it, he refused flatly.
　They said that their pride wouldn't allow them to walk around the town with it. Well, I'll just say "it's magic" if I'm confronted with floating.
　When I reached the guild, I looked around the buzzing halls, but Ende wasn't there. I wondered if she had already gone to another town.
　Everyone went to the board to look at the request form, but I grabbed the sister at the reception desk who had handled Ende yesterday and asked her about him.

''Oh, you're the one with the scarf? Yes, I completed a request to kill a unicorn wolf yesterday and received the request fee and went.

　A unicorn wolf. I guess that's appropriate for a beginner black rank. It was my first time taking down a unicorn wolf, too.

It's just that...
"? What's going on?

　The sister stammered with a bitter smile. I wonder if Ende has done something to her.

''The request was to defeat a unicorn wolf, the number of wolves we killed was five, but that one hunted more than that...''
"The part to be killed is the horns, right? How many bottles did you bring?
I think there were more than 50 of them.
More than 50?

　What's that number? You're hunting too much!

''The number of requests to take down the animals was five, so we were only able to give a flat rate for the request, but we bought the remaining horns at market price. They were very happy.

　But still, more than 50 of them........ Yes, and that guy must not have had a weapon. Was he a wizard, after all? If that's the case, it's no wonder there's this number...
　...Well, it can't be helped if you think about it. And it's not a good idea to pry into other people's affairs too much.
　I went back to the four people who were sticking to the request board with a bite.

''How's that? Do you have any good ones?
''Ah, Fuyao-san. Here's the thing....

　Yumina points to a board with a red request form on it. Hmm? We're only supposed to take commissions up to blue. This is a board one rank higher than ours, though.
　Anyway, I read the request form Yumina pointed to.

'Mithril...golem? Is it a golem made of mithril?
''It's certainly cheap, but the other party is a mithril golem. Its body will be sold for an unbeatable price as a material. Depending on its size, it could fetch a tremendous amount of money.

　I see. It's like a treasure in itself. Well, that's a good story, I suppose. But I can't take the job anyway, so...?

And yet, as long as you have a Class A title, this request does not require any rank...?

　Is that a title, or is it something like "Dragon Slayer" that you got the other day? As I recall, there are other titles like 'Gryphon Buster' and 'Demon Killer' as well?

'Dragon Slayer' is a class A title. Therefore......
'What? So, do we get this request, too?

　We peel off the request form and take it to the receptionist. We have the title of 'Dragon Slayer', but Yumina doesn't. In that case, would we be able to accept this request?

''Yes, in this case there is no problem since the majority of the party has the title. Would you like to be asked for more details?''
Yes, please.

　The request is that a mithril golem has taken up residence in the quarry of the steer mine in the foothills of the Melissia Mountains, making it impossible to excavate in the mine at all.
　At any rate, the opponents are not very hard. In addition, it is said that Mithril is a characteristic that makes it move very fast, even for a golem. Light and hard, that's what mithril is. I've heard that some miners have already been killed.
　They won't allow anyone to invade their territory. That's why there are wizards and other wizards who use the golem as a guardian of the treasure.

The request is to defeat the mithril golem. Can you accept the request?

　I'll check with everyone again and take the request. The area to be defeated is the central core of the golem. If we destroy it, the golem will stop moving.

''Just like we did before, if Fuyao Yao uses 'apports' to draw the nucleus in, wouldn't it be an easy win?

　Else said something like that when he left the guild. Sure, it might be easy if he could do that, but the nukes were transparent to me when it came to Fraise. Golems don't work that way. Linse seemed to have the same idea, rejecting her sister's idea.

''...And when it comes to a core the size of a golem, it's this big. You can't attract it with 'apports', can you?

　Then Linse indicated with both hands the size of a volleyball. Indeed. The maximum size for 'apports' is about as big as you can hold in one hand's palm. With that size, it's probably impossible.
　If that's the case, we'll have no choice but to fight it head on....... Naturally, it's going to be hard. When it comes to hardness, Freys is the best opponent so far, but it's probably even harder than that. Well, it can be said that the golem is better just because it doesn't have the ability to regenerate.
　The most effective ones are Linse's Explosion and Bubble Bomb explosive systems, and Yumina's earth attribute Rock Crush and other crushing systems.
　Else might be able to get some damage through with her right-handed Gauntlet of Increased Destructive Power. The problem is Yae. She uses slashing with her sword as a weapon, so she is not a good match for hard enemies.

''I'll be acting as a decoy this time, that I am.

　If I accomplish this request, I'll have to get that mass of mithril to strike the eightfold sword first.

''So how do we get to the Melicia Mountains? Do you want to rent a carriage again? I mean, would you buy it?

　It's true that Else is right, it's easier to have a carriage, but I'll go another way this time. There's no way we can afford not to use what we've got.



Well, we're off. Then we're off, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't get up from your seat.
You don't have a seat at the table.
I don't know if I'm in the mood. It's only a matter of your mood, Master.

　It was worth it to call the Hanging Gardens up to the royal capital of Belfast for a few days. If we move with this, we can reach our destination in a few hours.
　We were currently flying at an altitude of about 200 meters. It's lower than Tokyo Tower, but there are no high buildings or mountains, so this height is sufficient. Thanks to the stealth function, no one pays any attention to us. I don't understand the logic, but the amazing thing about this feature is that not even a shadow appears. What's going on here? I wonder if this is also the power of ancient magic.

'Our plan is to arrive in about an hour.

　Sheska said that in front of the control unit set up in the center of the Hanging Garden. At a glance, this control device looks like a large black stone slab. It's a so-called monolith. There is a language and a simple map on it that I can't read. Perhaps this moving light is a hanging garden.
　I leave Sheska and the monolith, lay down a sheet in a corner of the garden, and return to the everyone who is holding a tea party.

'They'll be there in about an hour or so,'

　I sit down between Yumina and Yae and Yae hands me a sandwich. It's a simple ham and cheese sandwich, but I take a bite and nod my head.

''What's wrong with you, that is?''
'No it's different from my usual taste... but I guess it's possible. Tasty.
That's right!

　Yae patted her chest in relief. The flavor was rather strong for something Claire-san made, or perhaps the salt and pepper was too harsh... oh, by any chance.

Does it have a double?
Yes, that it is. In addition to the sword, I also need to be able to cook, as Fuyu-dono's wife, to teach Lady Claire a few things.

　I see. I'm glad I didn't speak out of turn. I ate my sandwich with a crunch and thanked Yae for her help.

I made this sandwich too. Try it.
Yeah. You too, Else. Well, be my guest.
Oh, that's...

　What was offered to me was a fried chicken. Linse was about to say something, but before I could, my hand was bringing the fork-stabbed sole to my mouth.

''Ka........''
How's that? Is it good?
"C'mon...! Hot, hot! It's not just hard, it hurts! There are.........!

　I gulped down the water that Yumina offered me, but I couldn't keep up. Linse magically produced ice the size of a basketball, so I managed to put my tongue to it and get out of danger.

''........what kind of food.......what kind of food.......''

　I couldn't help but feel like a merchant in Kyoto with my lines, but these flowing tears have a different meaning. What's with this extremely spicy chicken!

Well, is it really that hard?

　Else casually tosses it into her mouth and eats it without a care in the world. Why is it nothing! Linze, who was beside her, opens her mouth apologetically.

''...Sis, she's unusually strong in spicy food. And when she cooks, she has a habit of making everything spicy, so I never let her stand in the kitchen at my parents' house.

　I wish you had said that sooner. I never thought I'd feel defeated before I fought the golem.
　Anyway, let's forbid Else from cooking in our house as well. This is a potentially fatal situation, you know.
　Ugh, my tongue still hurts........