Legend

"Ray, get up. It's time to see the city of Abu Ero."

"Hmm? Hmm..., ah..."

Speaking up, Ray's consciousness awakens rapidly.

And when I looked around with open eyes, the first thing I could see was in the carriage.

"... oh well"

I look around with my half-sleepy eyes and nod as if I finally understood where I was.

The surrounding sights were moving through the carriage windows, proving that the carriage currently on Ray was moving.

After all, I've been asleep since I left.

Ray whines inside and stretches out big.

That much finally clears my mind and reminds me why I was asleep in the carriage.

Yesterday night at the camp, 5,000 meals were served out of the mysteries, and the tent for the night was similarly prepared. After that, I also had a hard time retrieving the huge pot and frying pan that contained the meal.

The giant pots and other things that were cooked with the help of people who could use the magic of water were washed, so it wasn't that much trouble when collecting them, but it was still a lot of pots containing 5,000 people's meals. It will naturally take a lot of time to store in the mistering.

Fortunately at this time, the soldiers had decided to manage their own utensils. If not, Ray's fatigue would have gone deeper.

Besides the meal, the tent in the night camp folded into smaller pieces just wondering if this was still the case, and put it in a bigger bag, and put the bag in a bigger bag, so I put out about 10 of those huge bags and I could do something about it.

And while physical fatigue healed the fatigue by sleeping well with the mental fatigue of doing unfamiliar things, that is, exchanging with strangers for long periods of time in the replenishment work anyway... the guards will wake them up as they prepare for breakfast.

If you think about it, naturally, those who prepare breakfast must wake up earlier than the others.

I was driven out to prepare breakfast with my tiredness still not completely out last night, and as soon as I thought it was finally over, I left.

Ray was just exhausted, and Dusker told him to rest in the carriage.

Ray is the only one resting in the carriage most of all, and Seto, who is always in action with Ray, is alert to his surroundings along with the other adventurers at the head of the queue as he did yesterday because of the sharpness of his senses.

If this was an adventurer in another city, it could have been confusing to see Seto. However, since it is an adventurer in the city of Gilm who is already accustomed to the existence of Seto, the Larks Army was taking the streets without making any particular noise.

No, if I tried to be some other adventurer who had been interested in Ceto for a long time, maybe I was just about to want it for putting it up in a nostalgic Ceto. Because I was able to give him dried meat and nuts, where he had them against Seto.

"Ray? What's wrong?

"No, it's nothing. You said you arrived in the city of Abu Ero more than that?

"Oh. That said, don't stop by the city. I'm leaving right away."

That's what Luno tells him as he turns his gaze toward the city of Abu Ero, which he has seen at the end of the street.

Yes, Luno was supposed to be at the head of the Larks Army guarding his surroundings, but there are other members who are good at reconnaissance when it comes to vigilance, and because of the presence of Seto, he was in the carriage with him by order of Dusker, who found out more precisely that Ray was mentally fatigued, to escort him while he was asleep...

This is of course for the reason that Luno is familiar with Ray, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the Bestian Empire will not take any action aimed at Ray sleeping, or that he will be prepared for those who are blinded by the various magic items Ray has among the Larks territorial army.

Beyond that, Ray and Luno were not the only ones in the carriage, but also about two Knights people on board, so that each other could monitor each other.

"... hmm? There's an army in front of the city of Abu Ero."

Ray squeaks unexpectedly at the sight he sees through the window.

Ray's gaze had a solid view of the group gathering in front of the city of Abu Ero. That number is obviously high when it comes to being a resident of the city who came to see the Larks Army, and a number of people are equipped with armor and weapons. Yes, as if it were this Larks Army.

Such a ray question proves correct with a knight sitting across the street from Ray nodding.

"The city of Abu Ero is as neutral as Master Dusker. The same neutralists, we'll move on together."

"Heh, was the city of Abu Ero also neutral? So, what about the city of Subrusta?

"The city of Subrusta is a nobleman. However, we have been contacted that we would like to march together in advance, so we should head to the battlefield together."

"... no faction. What's wrong with acting together?

Ray asks while removing the cold fruit water he bought last summer from the mistering in order to wake up from sleep.

The knight nods small as he opens his eyes to the fruit water that suddenly emerges from a space of nothing.

"If you try to be Master Dusker, you'd think it would be ridiculous to hold factions to war with powerful countries like the Bestian Empire and drain their troops, and the same goes for those dispatched from the city of Subrusta. Whatever the quantity, it brings reassurance to the soldiers to act with the Larks Army, the premier force of war in the kingdom of Mireana in the sense of quality.... sooo bad"

Ray takes out three similar things to the fruit water he is drinking as he listens and hands them to Luno with two knights.

"But as far as this city of Abu Ero is concerned, I know it's unlikely that it will be raided by monsters... from here on out at night, monsters won't show up as far around the Guild, right?

"That's certainly true. But when you leave the border, the bandits come out instead of the monsters. Of course, it's unlikely that the bandits will make a detour against the army, but some of them are bloodthirsty rabid dogs who enjoy murder. They don't know what they're thinking. Maybe he'll come in ready to destroy himself. If you're going to deal with them like that, you're going to decide you should stay with us, not just ourselves. Especially when it comes to the meritocracy that the Duke of Keller, the central figure of the aristocracy, can also be taken by civilians if it helps.... Well, the deputy lord of the city of Subrusta doesn't really ask for a good reputation."

Luno, who was listening to the knight, leans his neck with a strange look.

"You're a central figure in the aristocracy, but if you have the strength, you can take the civilians too? That wouldn't convince the other nobles, would it? I'm literally a nobleman and I'm proud to be noble."

"Even a foolish aristocrat who is only proud of his house and has no brain can defy the Duke of Kelevel. I guess that's what scares the Duke of Kelp. That's why Master Dusker is also wary of the Duke of Kelp"

"... If that's true, the Duke of Kelp is amazing."

Ray was immersed in his inner thoughts, beside Luno, who was admiring the story of the knight and nodding.

(Perhaps the bandits who enjoy murder are the ones who raided us when we passed near here with escorts. There's a chance there's a similar guy besides those guys... but I didn't know there was a ton of them... No, wait. Bandits. Yes, bandits. If we go past the city of Abu Ero, we should naturally fall within the realm of activity of the meadow wolves. Then it's not hard to connect with eggs...? If I can get a connection, I think I can get my old debt back. Intelligence is more important than it is a war, and you can expect it on that side only from a group of bandits and armies. Worst case scenario, you can expect only combat power)

Having determined the means to be taken, Ray turns his gaze to the knight and opens his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Larks, but I'd like to have a word with my border uncle. Tell me maybe I can pull in some unexpected reinforcements and get in touch with you?

"Hmm? What the sudden. Of course I know you're a key figure in this war, so I can't... I can't say right now. Here, look."

Ray, who turned his gaze to the words of the knight toward the city of Abu Ero, sees there a knight in a luxurious full plate mail smiling and speaking.

"Viscount Vipere to take command of the army leaving the city of Abu Ero."

"... Could it be Lords of Abu Ero?

"No, I think he was a deputy chief of the Knights or something under the Lords' surrogate"

"You're surprisingly talented when you say neutral."

Ray shrugs unintentionally about what he can afford despite wearing full plate mails as he sees a man called Viscount Vipere.

(Feels like I saw it this way, in my late 20s to early 30s? If at that age you are speaking of a deputy commander, you are probably the owner of the strength to be the next Knights Commander or something)

Looking at it that way, it eventually joins forces coming out of the city of Abu Ero and begins to take the streets.

It was a road trip that could never be said to have been faster, but Ray had felt that its speed of travel had dropped even further in this rendezvous.

Because I didn't have the time to carry supplies, the Larks Army traveled fairly fast compared to normal armies... It was the Larks Army who acted with Rays in the first place, so it really felt dull to act with a carriage full of supplies in Rays.

(Well, that's why I'm not willing to increase my burden any more)

It was a completely unlikely story for Ray to take further care of the Abuelo army, even though the Larks Army alone is mentally tired of all sorts of things. If Dusker had asked for it, he probably would have turned it down.

And join the Abu Ero army, about 30 minutes after they start taking the streets again. One of the knights who decided it was time to get up from the seat where he was sitting.

"First, I'll contact Master Dusker. It's about Master Dusker, I think he'll probably be summoned soon, so get ready."

"Okay. Please."

Nodding at Ray's words, the knight leaves.

He drops off the knight and calls out to Ray as the remaining Luno looks strange.

The other knight was also leaning his neck against Ray's sudden request for an interview.

"So, Ray. What did I suddenly say I wanted to see Uncle Larks?

"I have a little handover for you. Perhaps we can thicken the faction of the Larks Army a little bit."

"... thick?

"Well, the details are a secret. Larks, I can't tell you anything without your permission....... hmm? You're back early."

Among the moving sounds of the carriage, Ray's ears could hear the metal rubbing of the approaching armor.

He was a knight who was about to question Ray's words somewhere like that, but soon the carriage door opens to give him a startling look.

It should also be noted that Luno is not particularly surprised because he already sees the magic of understanding that Ray does not fit into the normal human frame.

"Master Dusker is going to see you. Come to the carriage."

"Okay.... What about these two?

"I'm your escort, including myself. Let me go out with you."

"Right."

Even Ray had no particular objection, so he went straight to the carriage with Dusker so that he could take the three of them.

"Nice to meet you. Are you all right with your body now?

"Yes. Fortunately I was not physically tired but mentally tired, so if I fell asleep well I would have no problem"

Ray runs his gaze into the carriage as he returns his words to Dusker.

The carriage Ray was riding in was quite comfortable, but this carriage wasn't rocking enough to make him feel any vibrations.

Dusker smiles somewhere good at watching Ray like that.

"This carriage is a kind of magic item made from monster materials that are only on the edge, or similarly processed with alchemy"

"... oh, I see"

Ray is convinced that it's the same substitute that Elaine and I used when we went to the dungeon.

Most importantly, there is no financial room for the Duke of Keller, so the grade has fallen considerably.

"So, what can I do for you? He said he might be able to attract some unexpected reinforcements."

I don't suppose there's a reason I can afford to lead the Larks Army in time. Instructions to the troops, coordination with the Abu Ero army, gathering of information, etc. There are many things to do.

I can't even afford to spend it on a conversation with Ray, who's only an hired adventurer if he's supposed to be, but what I still allowed would be Ray's possession of such things as an item box and an exorcist ceto. As a position, I am an hired adventurer, but I can say that its role in being able to carry about half of the supplies personally is already close to the core of this expedition.

Ray opens his mouth with a thin grin at Dusker's words allowed for this purpose.

"Dear Dusker, do you know a band of bandits called Meadow Wolves?

In one of those words, Luno gave a flashy look, while at the same time the two knights gave Ray a startling look at trying to draw the bandits to their side, and the Dasker at heart had a funny grin.