Me and Phil are now standing in front of Daimon, the gateway to the city of Akram.

The reason we're here this time is not to go hunting outside, but because we've been forced to leave this city.

Because one of the things I did at Merry's made it difficult for me to stay in the city.

"I'm sorry, Phil. Because of me, I left so suddenly."

"Yeah, it's not Mr. Singh's fault..."

[Fenrill] 's guild members were penalized by faculty players for empty nest charges.

That brightened Oogie's departure from the city, but at the same time my strong way of giving evidence.

I don't even hate killing people if I'm to catch the killer. Brutal, outrageous Earthlings [player].

Such rumors spread not only to Cloclo players, but also to the Earthlings.

As a result, I decided to leave the city, coming to the conclusion that there would be trouble for Mary and the van if I stayed here.

"... but it's too late. What the hell are they doing?"

But when I told her that we had decided to leave the city, Mary offered me one suggestion.

That's about strengthening my gear, the Great Shield of the Necromancer, which I hadn't yet let Mary touch.

Instead of saying goodbye, I heard Mary apply a certain enhancement to the big shield, and I shook my head vertically with joy.

The reason I didn't let Mary touch the big shield was because I didn't trust her, but now I have no such doubts.

She was surprised to learn of the performance of the Great Shield of the Necromancer, but she should come to us with proper enhancements.

"... and have you finally arrived"

With that in mind, Mary and Van came about five minutes behind schedule.

"You've kept me waiting. I'm sorry."

"Did you take the time to strengthen it?

"Well, that's the place. Come on, take it."

Mary handed me the big shield with a mild apology for the delay.

Great Shield Curse of the Necromancer (0 > Equipped when MND Numerical) Skill 'Flame Disabled' Endurance Value - (Auto Repair) Weight 10

STR + 4 VIT + 44 AGI-4 MND × 4

The Great Shield of the Necromancer was equipped with a passive skill called 'Flame Disabled'.

As a result, if flame magic, braces, etc. were to be prevented by this shield in time, it could be completely eliminated.

My armor already has "Flame Resistance", but I can't prevent my face, hands, etc. from doing so, so it's very user-friendly to have "Flame Disabled" on the big shield.

Unlike armor, shields can freely decide where to protect them.

However, this "Flame Invalidity" is naturally not a "Flame Resistance" ratio, but is extremely rare.

"I granted it using a secret material that Atashi accidentally acquired before. Take care of yourself, okay?

"Oh, I know. Thank you, Mary."

I bowed my head as I thanked Mary.

In addition to this enhancement to our departure from the city, I was asked to thank Mary for her empty nest arrest.

She was in trouble because she looked at our gear cheaply, strengthened it, and even attached it to Leveling.

Even with regard to the empty nest thing - although it was a little too much - it's what I did to reward Mary.

Yesterday, the possibility that Fenrill members had evidence on that occasion was subtle.

It was never unlikely that anything stolen from Merry's store would have been hidden somewhere safe, assuming that it would have been sold.

But I won the bet.

On the basis that if I were you, the newly acquired equipment in the game would first be used by me to ascertain its performance before I sold it, I thought it was no surprise that if it was the day after the theft was done, I would still have it hidden inside the item box, and went on such an outrage.

Until then, if you tell me this isn't based on anything.

It's just that I would do that.

Don't you want to say goodbye to me?

Yeah, I know.

And that's where the van that was next to Mary spoke to me.

In fact, this incident would have been vain for Van.

My own girlfriend was the victim of an empty nest, and the killer who did it was the allies of the guild. I'm just not sure if I can be angry or cry.

Even if you have feelings of impatience, it seems natural.

"... but I appreciate Mary's store mon being able to take it all back. Thankful."

"You're welcome."

But they're honestly happy that the stolen items are back.

Bang stuck his right fist out when he grinned nicely at me.

"I'll see you around. Be prepared when you don't lose."

"A duel presupposes... well, if you get a chance"

"Whoa!"

And I lifted my arms, too, and put my fist in the fist of the van with a knack.

Thus me and Phil left Akram.

We rode in Gardia, and as we heard the farewell words we heard from behind, we turned forward and headed back to the continent of Wolds.

"... I wonder if this was really a good idea"

When I got away from the city to the point where it was time to reach the Sulphur Forest, I was thinking about Mary and the others while traveling across Gardia.

"? Is there a problem...?

"Oh, sort of."

Then a voice of doubt came up from Phil right in front of me, so I decided to tell him what I cared about in this case.

"I thought it might have been a bad thing to expose what Fenrill's people did at Mary's."

"Bad things?

If I hadn't done that, Mary might have joined Fenrill's guild.

That's the result of Fenrill's backwork, but that shouldn't be a bad story in itself.

Looks like Mary didn't join the guild because she wants to have one of her stores, but if she's going to keep leveling, she'd better join the guild and hang out with the guys in the same level band.

Also, once in the guild, Gilmen should be able to accommodate materials used to create and enhance gear, etc.

Plus, if Mary entered the guild, she would be that guild's exclusive blacksmith, so her troubles with the rest of them would have been reduced.

It doesn't feel good if the Alliance surrounds valuable production jobs from the rest of us, but it's not a bad story because production players themselves are protected under the Alliance's asylum.

So I can say that Mary has more advantages in joining the guild.

"Didn't you say anything then and it would have been better if Mary had joined the guild?

There are many advantages to entering the guild.

I shared another concern at the same time as I did.

"Besides, maybe they'd feel awkward if they met in real life?

Events in this world called Earth spill over into our relationships on Earth.

In the wake of this one, Merry and his fellow Fenrill members will have had a difficult time looking at each other.

"So I was wondering if maybe I shouldn't have found the killer then."

…………

When he heard my explanation, Phil roared, "Hmmm..."

"That's not what Mr. Singh thinks... I think those people think..."

"... well"

Well, yeah.

Relationships, who should have acted like what, that kind of thing is a matter for us to think about and not for others like me to think about?

But still, one thing still bothers me.

"But if I hadn't let Merry and the others help me with the levelling, it wouldn't have happened."

I wonder if Mary would have never left the store if she hadn't gone with our leveling and would have never gone into an empty nest like this one.

If you think about it like that, one of the causes of that incident is that I feel sorry for Mary.

"Leveling has nothing to do with empty nests…"

"... you think so?

"Yeah. It was just not a good time..."

Sure, Phil's right.

Merry's attachment to our leveling wasn't the main cause of the empty nest.

It inspired me, but I guess Fenrill's members were willing to crush Mary's shop sooner or later, so I can't help but worry too much.

"But if you think Mr. Singh is in pain... split that pain in half with me... Leveling wasn't just for Mr. Singh, it was for me..."

And that's where Phil said that to me and smiled.

Leveling was for me and Phil, so even if something goes wrong, is the blame half on both of us?

Don't get comfortable saying that to me.

Didn't I have to worry about it alone?

"Mr. Singh thinks too much on his own... and I think I can take it a little easier..."

"Oh, okay. You said something weird. Bad, Phil."

"You don't have to apologize..."

"Thank you. I'm so glad Phil's here."

"Oh, no..."

When I said thank you, Phil blushed and, as usual, began to hide it with a muffler.

Phil is always cheering me up where I'm feeling like I'm sinking.

True, she's a sweet girl.

"Want to"

"Hmm? What's up, Gardia"

and gardia has been ringing out to that place.

It's mostly time to call attention.

So me and Phil look around and start to be vigilant.

…………

Then we saw the direction of our journey, the smoke coming up in the sky from the Sulphur Forest.

According to information examined in Akram, there is a small village near the entrance to the Sulphur Forest.

In view of that...... maybe things are going wrong.

"Maybe we should go through here...... go, Gardia"

"Fuck off!

After all, I couldn't decide not to see the emergency that was going on there, and I skipped the instructions for Gardia.

It feels like it's hard to leave again.

I wonder why the trouble keeps going so far.

I reached a village near the Sulphur Forest, saw the tragedy going on there, and couldn't help but think so.

The village was in the middle of being attacked by massive monsters.