Moving one door, there was a hall about two turns larger than the lounge I had just been in.
A number of white tables lined up as if they were a standing party, and the walls were decorated with a white tone as well - in a way, the “venue” I imagined existed there.
"Here, what are you going to do?
He said he was ready, but what exactly was he ready for?
Schiff jumps on my shoulder whining about it as I step into the hall.
"The number of brave men is about thirteen combined with Chisato and Reefa. Some of them seem to have no squire, but when combined, there will be more than twenty of them here."
"Fine, that's a lot."
In the meantime, move to an empty table.
I don't have a chair, so I'll be standing and waiting, but, well, I guess that's what it is.
I think so, and I'm shocked like someone accidentally bumped into me from behind when I'm standing and waiting.
"Oops..."
Looking back, the blue-haired boy was holding his shoulder and staring up at me.
"Hey, where are you looking?"
"Oh, you..."
"You, which way?"
"Yes?"
One of the brave men who was advised to keep an eye out for what Marina was saying earlier... but was it you, Hekil? There are some followers in the back.
Why did you hit me standing by the table at the end of the hall?
Unless it's something else, I think the opposite is difficult.
And which is what?
"Which one are you, brave or squire?"
"... but a squire"
Answering that, the boy distorts his mouth after glancing at Chisato and Reefa asking what was going on.
"You think a guy like you is a squire?"
There was an obvious mockery in his eyes.
I see, is this the brave man Mr. Marina was saying you should watch out for?
I came mucky.
"Ha, you know what kind of place this is?"
……
"What kind of person doesn't have a piece of that personality? Can't poor people wear all kinds of clothes? Hmm?"
……
"Looks like Tamer as far as that black hairball goes, but you don't even have a weapon in your hand. Is that what you do as a squire?"
I don't snort and talk with a smile on my face.
It's definitely better not to let the waves rise like this.
For instance, I'm patient with the urge to make fun of my jacket, call my shiv a black, cute hairball, and beat the golden finger of sanctions (Decopin) right now.
But before that - trample down the shadow Reefa stretched out to you Hekil, who was getting angry inside.
Sounds never small to the venue.
Now it's time for everyone on the spot to turn their attention, and I'll keep my smile and bow my head to you, Hekil.
"--- I apologize for the disrespect. If it makes you uncomfortable, let's move somewhere else."
"Oh, oh..."
"Bye."
Luckily, I just need to move over there because I have extra tables.
Again, looking at you, Hekil, the squire's - his brother, Mr. Hart, had his head bowed to this one with regret.
Move to another table as you look out for Chisato and Reefa.
"Kite, well endured...!"
"That kid wo...!"
"It was actually critical!?"
"Looks beautiful"
"This one too!?"
No, I'm not the person you could have been so bad at meeting that you wouldn't be mad at me.
Yeah, I was able to handle that because my behavior leads me to appreciate the two brave men.
"But what was that?"
"I think it's harassment, and I can tell you I was watching this one react.... I'm not really sure how I got targeted."
Is it because I still don't have enough muscle?
I'm still going to be working out with this, but it's hard to get meat on, and more importantly, it doesn't leave the average range of height.
Is it still better to take protein or something after exercise, efficiently...!
"Either way, let's stay away from getting weirdly troubled. Neither I nor Reefa felt very good earlier."
"Right... that's better"
Nodding at the words of Chisato.
For now, we have to be careful not to get involved with them.
If you so decide, the venue will inadvertently be quiet full of hustle and bustle.
I wondered what it was and looked around, and I saw two men and women coming in from a different place than the door we came in.
One is a tall woman with three braids of gray hair.
Unlike the people who led me here, I know they weave beautifully decorated robes and are in a special position just at a glance.
The other, an old man with gray hair.
But his back stretches firmly, and his steps are astonishingly unwavering.
"Awesome..."
It's also powerful enough to make you so present that you can't see the bottom.
As she was more swallowed by the presence of the old man than by the woman walking ahead, a woman who moved from all to a visible position uttered words in a voice that often went through.
"--- I am truly pleased that you have responded to the call of St. Real this time"
Mr. Lion was a neutral voice, but this guy is a cool voice a little different from that.
Husky Voice?
"My name is Hilde Lugar and I am the chief executive of the central city of St. Real. This convocation will be a face-to-face meeting with the fierce chosen by the Brave Summoning Ceremony."
Chief Officer, you mean the greatest man in this city?
You're not ruling the country, so you're not the king or anything like that.
... but face-to-face?
You mean you and Reefa went out of their way to gather the brave men here to do what we did when we headed to the kingdom of Filgen?
"Of course, that's not all. In the future, you will form a friendship as a Demon King's Army, as well as a comrade who will deal with other threats. Sometimes you will rebel against differences in values. Some of you don't like to get used to it -"
"--- Don't be ridiculous...!"
Angry Caged Anger and Gashan! The sound echoes into the hall.
There was a man who hit the table with enough force to look at his voice.
Mr. Figlo, the brave man of the Kingdom of Hamgard, who was noted by Mr. Marina.
In this face, the oldest looking up, he glanced at Mr. Hilde as he let his anger dew.
"If you think you've been forced to call me here, to just get along with strangers on the upper side...? My hometown remains ravaged even while I'm doing this...!"
"Master Figuro of Hamgard, isn't he? I can understand what you're saying. That is why St. Real is offering us enough supplies and equipment to rebuild the Kingdom of Hamgard"
"That's not what you're asking!"
Hilde answers calmly.
But Mr. Figuro's anger, instead of subsiding, increases even further.
"When the country matters, why am I the brave one that has to come here for this!"
The Kingdom of Hamgard was devastated by the demon king's army and giant beasts.
It's been over two months since the Big Beast raid, but we should still be in the middle of rebuilding.
In that situation, I thought I couldn't help but be grumpy if they called me here.
Then...... I'm also concerned about Mr. Hilde's response.
"Is there anything inconvenient?"
"... ugh! What?"
"What can I do with you now in the Kingdom of Hamgard?"
Mr. Figuro lost his words to Mr. Hilde, who tilted his neck.
"I'm not underestimating your strength. I understand that if you were chosen by the Brave Summoning Ceremony, you have enough qualities to assume your role as a brave man. But with that in mind, I ask."
Mr. Hilde turns his gaze to Mr. Figlo.
"How many men are you a golden adventurer in your country?"
"... what, to?"
"The strength of gold adventurers varies greatly from country to country, so it seems that this question is somewhat unworthy of ——— that's what I mean"
... Even if you had the strength, would you say that's only enough to make it up to a few gold adventurers?
Sure, you're right.
I, my servant, have not yet reached Reefa, nor Mr. Snow, nor with strength.
Mr. Figuro, who was made to understand it without having to be put into words, has become quite upset.
"It's great to be conscious as a brave man. Because it is the emotions that lead to the will to protect the country. - That's why your mission as a brave man is not to help rebuild Hamgard."
"Then what do you say..."
"To be a brave man."
"What?"
Not just Mr. Figuro, but everyone on the spot leaks a distracted voice.
Become a brave man.
Aren't the men here brave?
"... I see, that's the thing"
"... Chisato?"
But Chisato next door seemed to have guessed what she wanted to say.
But I'm just confused around including myself.
"Don't get me wrong. We call you brave to discern you, but most of you here are not strictly brave."
"Then what are we?
"--- I will correct this occasion because it seems to be slightly misunderstood by countries because of the name Brave Summoning Ceremony"
Turning her gaze to the brave men and squire on the spot from Mr. Figuro, she speaks the following words slowly and clearly as she tells her child.
"You have all been chosen as brave men, not the strongest in the land. It's not because it's strong, it's just chosen because it has qualities (...) - it doesn't make anything"
……
"What misery or despair have you been able to move forward without stopping you? Did you confront and defeat the onslaught of giant beasts? Did you lead the warriors of your country to victory over the great evils? Heroes don't make their own names, they get their form by being honored by people."
Indeed, I thought you were right.
Though, as a matter of course, they recognized those who were called to the valiant summoning ceremony as valiant men, at the time of their election, as Mr. Hilde put it, they had accomplished nothing.
And that also applied to Reefa when she met me.
"Brave Summoning Ceremony is only something that finds nourishment. It is worthless for those who have been held hostage and stopped walking."
The hall dominated by silence.
There was no one to deny her words.
Even Mr. Figuro, who was making all that anger exposed, was just whispering.
"But some of you have already accomplished your feat as a brave man. If you're not comfortable with my words, you should talk to me."
Mr. Hilde's gaze is directed at Chisato and Reefa.
It also attracts the attention around me, and even I feel uncomfortable.
What she refers to as a feat would be about fighting and repelling Behemoth.
"Now this is the place for the qualified brave men of all nations to meet together. Whispering, we have prepared a meal for you"
Then, the door of the hall opens and dishes that appear to be upscale dishes continue to be transported to the table.
He said he was bitterly smiling when he saw Reefa make his eyes crisp like a beast at that sight - and, uh, he felt his gaze.
———
An old man holding back behind Mr. Hilde is looking at this one.
It has been determined.
Not that I'm powerful, but my eyes feel so temperamental that I don't think I'm an old man.
I was distracted from my gaze immediately, but for a while, I was distracted by strange tensions, and I couldn't move.