The sun sneaks through the blind curtains.

　The air in the office is languid before noon.


　Everyone in the editorial department of King of Adventures is a night owl, and at this time of day, they are still not in high spirits.

　Especially on that day, it's not long after the end of the school day, and some of my colleagues are on their way to work here and there.

　People yawning.

　Someone is looking at a magazine in another field.

　At the far end of the room, the editor-in-chief was reading a newspaper while holding a non-smoking pipe in his mouth.


　Gasagosso......

　I hurriedly packed the materials I had spread out on my desk into my bag and left my seat.


　Tucka Tucka: ......

Hey, editor!

Hey, what's going on? Mr. Christia.

　I'm bashin'! When I tapped on the desk, the editor jumped up and almost dropped his non-smoking pipe.

''I've found out where the [Eiga's Domain] expedition is headed. Hafeh...... Uh, I'm Hafehn Felt. Please let me go to interview you right now.

'I see. Hafenfeld, the city of Kelmut culture.

Yes. Well, I'm off then!

Well, ......, just wait and see.

　As I bow and turn on my heel, the editor-in-chief stops me.

''What is it?''

Yeah. It's true that ...... your article on Aiga's Domain was very well received. It was even the fifth most popular article in a reader survey. That's really unusual for a beginner/intermediate article. I've been evaluating your abilities, and I haven't lost my eyesight, I guess. Hahaha.

I'm sorry. ......

However, if the quality of this article had dealt with an S-level party, it would have been more well received.

' ...... What do you mean by that?

　I'm a little miffed at the way the editor-in-chief talks to me.

''Yeah. I'd like you to be in charge of the articles of that heroic party [Miracle Five] from now on.

　The Miracle Five is .......

　I think that's the party that fired Mr. Eiga!

'Wait a minute! I am ......

I know. You've been an Intermediate Adventurer fan. But hey, ...... that's not enough to make you a good editor yourself. I'm just saying this for your own good.

　It's true that the overwhelming majority of the world pays attention to the top-ranked S-class parties, so the editor is right.

　But ......

'Mr. Editor! This is still something I'm covering when I see the potential of [Eiga's territory]!

What?

''The [Eiga's Domain] is going to get stronger from now on. That's why I want to chase after it now!

You. Don't tell me that [Aiga's Domain] is going to be able to perform advanced quests?

'Of course! That's exactly what that Aega Janis, who raised the [Miracle Five], is going to raise? I'm sure that someday, they'll say it's the Demon King class: ......

Demon Lord?

Yes!

'Pffffff ...... hahahahaha (laughs)'

　The editor was laughing for a while.

　And then, suddenly, with a straight face.

Don't work ...... too much, or underestimate the adventure.

　And then he didn't take it up again.



　◇



　Huh!

　Editor's Clueless!

　If this happens, I'll do a perfect job of covering the [Miracle Five], and I'll cover [Aega's Domain] in my private time!


　With that in mind, I immediately headed to the inn where the [Miracle Five] were staying for an extended period of time.

　Their inn is not far from the Adventure King editorial department.

　I haven't made an appointment, but I'm wasting my time, so I'll barge in as soon as possible!

　When I was enthusiastic in front of the inn like that.


'Yes, Morrie. I'll have to get you a bra today, too.

'Eh, that's embarrassing!

No. My tits are swelling up.

'Boy! Then how about bikini armor?

Rejected.


　Just as I was about to overhear such a conversation, which I don't know if I can call it 'girl talk' or not, to my surprise, two of the 'miracle five', Morier and Tiana, as well as the world's number one woman, Greco Fontanier, came out of the inn together!

　I was taken aback by the suddenness of the situation, but I can't do this.

'Oh, um! Wait a minute!

Yes?

Are you familiar with the Miracle Five and Mr. Grieco?

　I ask, and Tiana van Raal raises a questioning eyebrow.

'Um, and you?'

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late. I'm such a thing: ......

　I held out my business card to her.

　Tiana only takes a glance at the business card: ......

'I'm sorry, but we're off. Why don't you come back to me for an appointment?

　He says, stabbing.

'There, somehow. I just need a little bit!'

Let's go to ......, Morier. Let's go.

　Tiana turned away while she combed her hair and went to her feet without answering.

Oh, wait a minute! Tiana, little girl!


　Ugh .......

　Her dislike of the media is just as rumored.

　Why is that?


　But when I saw her up close, she was an amazingly beautiful woman.

　I'm sure women like that don't have any problems at all.


　I'm sure she has no worries.


　Thus, unfortunately, we didn't get to interview both Morier and Tiana, but we were fortunate enough to find Cross Andrew when we entered the inn, undeterred.

　They are drinking coffee in the lobby.

......

　But the real thing is a little different from the image.

　It's more cheerful, and that's what I imagined. ......


　The cheekbones that seem forlorn.

　The pensive eyes in front of the swaying blonde hair.


'Um ...... sorry.'

What?

If you don't mind, I'd like to do an interview.

　When I held out my card, Cross Andrew took it and said.

'You're interviewing me, ...... yeah. That's fine. I just had a free appointment.

Are you sure?

Yeah. Come in.

　So when Mr. Cross offered me a seat in the middle of the room.

　Pilla, Pilla: ......

　Two tickets fell out of his pockets.

You know what? These fell out. Is this the ticket for the activity photo (Eiga)?

'What? Oh, that. That's okay. You can go to ...... and I'll give it to you, uh, Aqua.

Yes, but ......

If we miss today, we're going on a quest again. It seems that the motion picture machine is going on a world tour by the time we return. It's your ticket to the world tour, so you can go with your boyfriend or girlfriend. It's being done in the Zahalbert this week!

I don't have a girlfriend.

'Heh, that's surprising. Well then, my friend and I will go to .......

　I don't even have any friends: ......

　But I thought it would be awkward to say that before the interview, so I took it without saying a word.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

　I refuse to do so and sit down in front of Mr. Cross and take out my notes and pen and lean forward.

　Now, it's time for the interview!

　I'll get into the spirit of it, but ......


I guess we'll just take it one fight at a time in that area, no matter what happens.

...... Sorry. There, be a little more specific.

Yeah. All I can tell you is that the fight is not over yet.

......

　When I actually interviewed Mr. Cross, the answers are so abstract that I don't really understand them.

　Maybe he has prepared a pattern of answers for his interviews.

　I have to bring out the "real" Cross somehow: ......

'Well. So, for example, are there any parties that you think are going to become rivals in the future?

A competitor?

　Huh?　I got a flash, didn't I?

"A competitor, huh? That's right: ....... Magic Swordsman Grieco. A party of wise men. A party of female heroes, if you will.

　God!

　You just lined up the first three places in the rankings!

　If this happens, you might get angry, but ask for a pinpoint.

For example, what about [Eiga's territory]?

What?

　Mr. Cross's calm face stiffens for a moment.

'...... I'm not going to answer those curious questions,'

What?

'I didn't get into a fight with Aega and we didn't get separated. It's just that our fighting levels were so far apart that it was better for both of us to go our separate ways, and that's what Eigha understands, and I still respect Eigha as my best friend. I'm sure Eigha understands that, and I still respect him as my best friend.

　Finally, I can see the "real" Cross-san.

　But that's not what I want to hear.

''I heard about that from Eiga-san.

"? ...... Have you ever met Eiga, Aqua?

I did the interview. I did a feature on it in the paper.

'Heh. That article was written by Aqua at ......

'Yes. So that's not what I meant by my question either.

Isn't that what you mean?

''Yes. As it is, I mean what do you think of [Eiga's Domain] as a future rival.

What? ...... hahaha.

　Cross laughs lightly as he crosses his legs.

I read that article too. It's true that the idea of 'completing quests based on territory' is a crazy one. I think it's interesting because it's just like him. ......, but adventure is a world where the spark of talent is all that matters. No matter how many heads you have, it will be difficult to rise to the top with that.

Is that right?

Yeah. Yes, even Eiga knows that much. Perhaps he's already decided to make his adventures a hobby for his own level. He's a realist who can look at himself objectively.

......

　If you peel back that pragmatic adult skin, I think Eigha is full of childlike 'sore losers': ......

　They've known each other for a long time, but they didn't understand that part of it?


　And then.

　After Eiga's talk, Cross became much more eloquent, and the interview went much faster than before.



　◇



　A month later.

Huh. ......

　Indeed, it was worthwhile to cover the [Miracle 5] if I tried.

　But it still seems to be difficult to cover 【Eiga's Domain】 in parallel with that.

　After all, it would take a good number of days to travel to the Kelmut culture area: .......


　But, however.

　Then one day, I heard one of the following words.


Christia! That's good news!

Huh. What is it?

　I wasn't expecting much, because that's what the editor said: ......

''The [Demon King Class] quest has been assigned to the Miracle Five!

' ...... Is it finally happening?

　I knew it was only a matter of time, though, since Morier-Laxtrame was back, too.

So, what's the content?

''Hmm. It was [foretold] that the 6th Demon King Animus would appear in Goeteburg Castle. I heard that I was chosen for that defeating party.

'! ...... Goetheburg Castle?

Haha, I can't believe you were assigned the Demon King's level quest right after you were in charge of covering it. I guess I wasn't crazy about it. Hahaha!


　I left the editor-in-chief to his own devices, and I was all alone in my gut.

　The "Goeteburg Castle" is a castle in the Kelmut cultural area.

　It is a castle located upstream of the river that flows through Hafenfeld.


　In other words: ......

　That means we can now cover both [The Miracle Five] and [Aega's Domain]!