It had been a while since I heard a cry for help from Sheila.
　Me and K'ena killed a bunch of wyverns. Or rather, most of them had been defeated.


　I wondered if it was time for a break now. Most of the group members are down. Sheila is barely sitting in a triangle, too, but she seems to be at her limit. Her eyelids can be seen forcing her to pry them open heavily.


　In such a situation, Sheila explained. What is happening in the Kingdom Knights right now? And what is that thing on the necks of the members?
　Quena opened her mouth.


''Huh, I knew it was a slave collar.


　Quena looks at the necks of the group members as expected.
　It was hard to see around their necks, but if you looked hard enough, there was a thread-like line that reflected the light.


''Is it this hard to understand, slave collars?''
No, I'm pretty sure he was bigger and stockier.
''Exactly. Unlike the traditional ones that flaunt their slaves, the Knights crafted it so that it wouldn't be exposed. According to the commander, he had a production drawing, so it was easy to make it.


　Sheila explained, feeling somewhat better after resting.
　Quena seemed to agree with Sheila's explanation. She opened one hand and clapped her other hand together in goo.


'That's right, it's a banned magic item. All you have to do is keep your mouth shut to the members of the group, and the only person who can get a sense of discomfort is Zied.'


　I'll let it go that I was treated like an outsider.
　However, this is a stinky story that has landed again.
　Call it the commotion in the Holy Republic, I can only say that the Knights of the Kingdom are losing their blood.


What do you think I should do? ......


　Sheila let out weakly. Her knees and forehead together, her face down.
　Her appearance was like a lost puppy.
　She must have thought it through in her own way. She couldn't go against her father or the Order. However, she has a sense of justice that she wants to resist. Such conflicts made her suffer.
　The result is this. She fought ahead of the members of the Order, who were forced to wear slave collars, and tried to reduce her losses as much as possible.
　But fatigue was at its peak, too tired to withstand the wyvern's attack.


Jied: "Jied: ......


　Sheila looks up and looks at me with reddened eyes.
　I knew the rest of it.


'Help--'


　So I was going to agree to those words, too.
　But Kåñëa interrupted the words.


''Oops. Don't use the word 'help' so easily to us adventurers. The only word for adventurers is 'I want to request', that's all.
......!


　At first glance, the statement seems cold.
　But it is a relief to Sheila.
　Kåñëa had shown that there was still hope.


'Don't try to cheapen the S-rank, either, Jeed.
'Hahaha ...... yeah. But when you see someone in trouble, you want to help them, don't you?
That's why you're too good for people: ......


　Kuena holds her forehead down and shakes her head from side to side, 'Oh dear,' she says.
　She's right.
　If I were to help you so easily, there would be no more requests for the guild. All you have to do is ask me for help.
　Then there would be a line of people in front of my house, and the mailboxes would be flooded with papers asking for help.
　You have to say it firmly. 'Please make a request.
　Seniors can help.


'I want to ...... request ......!


　Sheila said, with a burst of energy.
　These are words from the heart.


'Hmph, well then, let's start with the client money.
Hey, requisition money. That's right, the first thing to do is request money. But I've just become a knight and shouldn't even spend my house money ...... and even if I collected it, I'd only be able to collect five gold coins ......
What are you talking about? Doesn't have to be cash, okay?
It doesn't have to be cash: ......?


　Sheila is stunned by Kuena's words.
　She doesn't know what they mean.
　Kåñëa looks at Sheila in a mischievous way. That's exactly what she's doing, licking from toe to head ......
　Sheila finally understood when she was done that much.
　Buck covered his hands to protect his body.


'You are still young and quite a beautiful girl. If the era of slavery has been revived, you can't put a price tag on it with gold. I'm sure the auction would lightly exceed a thousand gold coins.


　Kåñëa tells a joke with Nimanima. The age of slavery isn't coming back, you know. It's just the Knights of the Order using slave collars.
　Well, Sheila is certainly something else.
　She has big eyes, long eyelashes, small peach-colored lips and a beautiful nose. Each strand of her bright golden hair is thin and flutters easily, even in the breeze.
　It's a pretty face that doesn't fade even when fatigue is at the forefront.


　But I thought that was too inappropriate a word to use.


'Hey, the situation is the situation,'
I know. The irony of this country. I'm just so angry at the lack of control at the top.


　Unusually, Quena seemed to be angry.
　He must have learned something that tugged at her heartstrings.


　But in contrast, Sheila blushed at Kåñëa's sarcasm.


'Oh ....... ......, if it's okay with my body, then ......!


　Sheila uttered boldly.
　The arms that had been hiding her body retreated.
　She closed her eyes and turned her face away from the full extent of her embarrassment, her skin turning a bright red.


'Hey, hey. You can't be serious!　You're making me feel embarrassed too!


　Even Kåñëa next to me is smiling bitterly in embarrassment.
　Then don't say it in the first place, I thought, but in her own way, it's the result of trying to break the hard, heavy air. You can't say anything.


But to take on the Royal Knights of the Kingdom for five gold coins: ......!
Absolutely not.
That's right: ......


　Sheila's shoulders slumped in a huff at Kuena's absolute denial.


'It's not that you're trying to pay me now, you've got a stakeout payment or something. Clumsy.'
Oh.


　Sheila clasped her hands together at Kuena's suggestion.
　Tokshin seemed to say.


'Still, how much do I have to pay you?'
Hmm. I don't know. That's exactly what we're going to have to do, we're going to have to prepare for a thousand gold coins.
"What ...... then I really have to pay with my body ...... already.


　Sheila looks at me with her lucid eyes moistening.
　I don't want her to look at me like such a small animal. ......


Five gold coins are enough. I'm not going to be the only one who can do that. I'm not going to be the only one.
But, by the way...
'I've never felt sorry for leaving the Order.
...... Huh?
But that was only for the commanding officer level, except for Sheila. I'm sorry I left you and the rest of the team behind.
...... That's it.
This is a good opportunity for you, my friend. I'm worthy of five gold pieces.
Jide, Jide, go to ......


　Sheila bursts into tears.


The first time I saw him, I knew I was going to have to do something. Normally, no matter how much money is asked for, he would never accept a request like this so easily.


　Kuena says something extra.
　You don't need a weird one.
　But Kåñëa's words fell on deaf ears, and Sheila said in a nasal voice as she picked up the tears that were spilling out.


'Thank you ...... thank you ......!　I'll be sure to repay this favor at ....... ......!


　I was relieved by her appearance.
　Her tears are for the members of the Order. It's something that sheds tears even though she's not in any harm's way.
　She is kind and has a strong sense of justice.
　So are the other corps members. They are not stupid enough to not think about deserting or revolting. But they still followed it foolishly, to protect their country, their families and their friends.
　They are the ones who volunteered to be knights and soldiers for that purpose.


　There's no way I'm going to forgive them for being injured and ripped apart by an incomprehensible argument.
　That's why this request will definitely--we'll succeed.