Legend

"Is this the village I was asking Ara about?... a lot of people."

"Gru."

To Ray's words, Seto, walking next door, rings his throat and agrees.

About two weeks after I traveled through Gilm, I finally arrived at a village where I could get in touch with Elaine, but the village didn't have that many people and the residents were somewhere idle.

What surprised Ray more than anything was that, although the gatekeeper at the entrance to the village was surprised to see Seto, he would not have been afraid.

So far Ray has stopped by a lot of cities with some kind of threat around them. That's why few people panicked half the time when they saw Seto, a griffon...

"I guess a peaceful village is a testament."

When you circle your gaze, you see a village of considerable size for the number of people.

Anyway, the farmland is in the village grounds, so it looks exactly like it's being described as pastoral. The majority of people still work in the field without losing the heat of summer, and on the contrary, very few realize what Ray and Seto look like.

He greets Ray and Seto with no fear.

As far as the children are concerned, they come in cheering the moment they see Seto.

(Well, I guess that's all there is to threaten around this village)

I shrug inside, watching a few children stroking Seto.

Because it is outside the border, the threat of monsters is overwhelmingly low compared to that of Gilm, and there are few bandits by the rule of the Duke of Kelp, who is ruling the land. I guess that's why it's a long idle landscape.

Walking through such a long idle village, I speak to one man who just took the street.

"I'm sorry, can you tell me where the liquor store is in this village?

"Am I? Is this a liquor store from this middle of the day? No, well, I don't know if you want to drink and make a scene in this weather... travelers are good. And the monsters I carry are adorable."

Chirali, and the villagers with their cuckoos open their mouths with envy as they gaze at Seto.

At first glance, it's a village that can be described as idle and pastoral, but still seems quite comfortable doing farming in this blaze.

(I don't even like alcohol, but I wonder if they still see me drinking from day to day)

Ray, who is not so fond of liquor, snorts into the man's words, sighing in his heart.

"I've just come to this village. I want to go to the tavern first to gather information."

"Hmm, well, fine. There's only one liquor store in this village, right? It's a small village, as you can see."

"That's convenient."

"... convenient?

The man leans his neck strangely to Ray's grunt, who finds out he doesn't need to cross many liquor stores.

He shook his head that it was nothing to such a man, and Ray asked where the liquor store was.

It may be natural in some ways that there is only one tavern given the size of this village, but it was convenient for Ray not to have to look for someone who has the means to contact Elaine while crossing many taverns.

"Well, I have work to do, so I'm gonna have to excuse you around here. It's a village with nothing, but at least take your time."

The man with the Xu in his right hand waves his left hand gently to Ray and leaves.

Dropping off after that, Ray also goes down the taught path again...... go on for about 10 minutes to find one store.

From the side it only looks like a slightly larger normal house, but the liquor sign in the cup near the door indicated what the building was.

"Well, I guess you basically only have about as many guests as the inhabitants of this village....... hmm?

I think about it so much, I realize.

If the main guests of this tavern are only residents of the village, is it possible that the tavern will be open during the day when the residents of the tavern are busy doing field work?

"Gru?"

What's the matter with you? and Seto tilting his little neck and honking his throat.

Hearing that chirping, I make a light decision about whether I should play with Seto until I open it if the tavern hasn't opened yet.

"No, it's nothing. Okay, I'm sorry, but Seto needs to wait here for a little while. That's the door. It's going to be tough for Seto to get in."

"Grrrrrrrrrr"

I just rattled my throat when I knew what Ray was saying, and rolled over to sleep near a tree a little further from the tavern.

Fortunately, there is only summer and plenty of grass growing down there, and I guess it feels like a soft carpet for Ceto.

... Most of all, if you turn it into Ceto, which is a griffon, it will have no effect on the ground, the meadows, and even if it is a rocky mountain, it will have no effect on falling asleep.

I take a glimpse of Seto like that and hang my hand on the door of the tavern... I enter the store surprised that it is not locked and can be pressed lightly.

"There you are."

And the voice emanates from inside the store the moment Ray enters the store.

When I turned my gaze to you, it was an old man in his 50s.

He was smiling, but his eyes looked sharply at Ray and his expression was completely different with his mouth and eyes.

But that's just for a moment, too. As soon as I smile in my eyes, I turn my gaze toward the counter seat.

"Sit down, please. What do you want to drink? It's this heat, and I knew it was Ale?

"No, just water or tea"

To Ray's words like that, the man frowns small.

"Well, this is a tavern."

"I don't really like booze.... Then you are. Give me the wine diluted with water. After that, I'll have something to eat."

"Ha, you should have guessed when the kid came. Wait a minute."

Tell them with a sigh, take the wine from the counter and put it diluted with water out in front of the ray, then continue to serve the nuts, mushrooms and sausages on the plate quickly.

"There you go. Two copper coins."

"... that's cheap"

Place two copper coins on the counter, surprised by the low price demanded by the man.

"Ma, booze, food, everything was made in this village. This is still profitable enough. … so. Is that your name Ray?

I inadvertently stop trying to reach for the cup to the words of a man who was whined casually.

Watch as you stand still and observe the man, carrying the cup to your mouth.

Naturally, there could be no such thing as a magic item for cooling in such a village, and the water cracking of the wine in the glass could not be said to be very cold, but Ray opens his mouth without looking concerned about it.

"Did Ara tell you that?

"Oh, I've heard so much about you from Ara's lady. A red-haired and blue-eyed boy in his mid-teens who looks like a wizard apprentice at first glance. But you have a big attitude for that."

Hearing the words, convincingly, he stabs the stir-fry on the plate with a fork and transports it to his mouth.

(Ma, it's only natural that you're conveying my traits more than you know I'm coming this time of year)

"Then even if you think you know why I'm here?

"Oh, I'll fly a bird to Anesis later"

Niyali, a slightly necked ray to a man with a grin.

"Bird?"

"That's right. It's only a day's ride from here to Anesis, but it won't take that long if it's a bird. Perhaps by the end of the day, Anesis will know that you have arrived in this village."

"For being a day's distance from Anesis, it's a village that's been idle for a long time or underdeveloped. Aren't villages that are usually in the aisles of such large cities supposed to develop accordingly?

A man with a small shoulder to shoulder to such a ray's natural question.

"This city is halfway there. There are streets, but they are not so well maintained. Besides... well, it's a village like this intentionally for a number of reasons."

I stopped the words along the way. I was curious about that reason, Ray, but decided there was probably a Duke family situation or something, and I'd give up asking any more.

It won't be a substitute, but it opens its mouth as it pierces a fork in the nut.

"So, how soon will Elaine arrive in this village?

Elaine, and the man who reacts with Pickle when he hears Ray call it off.

(I'm talking about the former Knights of Guardianship, and was it unsavory to call it off?

Even though I think so for a moment, I decide not to care about the matter that if Elaine came to this village in the end, the story would be the same.

But the man never missed the call.

"Ha ha. I didn't expect you to abandon that princess, General Elaine. Ara's lady said it was a fact that there were complications."

A man who laughs instead of being angry for some reason.

That was totally unexpected by Ray.

Speaking of Ray's known Knights of Guardians, Custe and Ara are still impressive. And both of them had strong respect for Elaine.

Custe, in particular, would probably have waved the demon spear if Ray had called without honoring Elaine.

The face of a man who didn't thoroughly fit his personality until he was on the verge of dying eventually passes behind his head.

Custe and Ara are the most special, and there are many decent people in the Knights of Guardianship. Especially Machen, who is an assistant to Ara, can be said to be typical of that.

It's the first time I've seen him, and he's just leaving a strong impression, though maybe Ray can't help but drag that impression.

"So, how long have you been in touch?

Ray asks the guy with the laughter on top of him.

To Ray's words like that, the man shrugs his shoulders small and shakes his head.

"I can let Anesis know you arrived this way by the end of the day, as I was saying. But since Elaine has Elaine's convenience, I don't know when it will be. If you can get out soon, you'll arrive tomorrow, and if you need anything, that's all you'll be late for."

"... I see"

It's a good story, Ray, I'm not convinced.

With such a look at Ray, the man also puts out another glass of wine with a grin.

"I thought you said booze was weak.

"Don't worry, this booze is not for you. My share."

"Do you drink your own goods..."

Ray whines somewhere to the man's words.

But the man snaps a glass of wine at once, regardless of how Ray looks like.

"Pfft... don't say that. There have been a lot of eye-catching events, so give me a drink, too.... By the way, you said Ray. You, Lady Elaine, you have no place to stay until Miss Ara arrives in this village, do you?

"No, well, that's true. That's what they say..."

"Ha ha. Well, this is a small village, and not many travellers. There are some lodgings, but they're not that big. So why don't you stay at my house? Let me know more about your relationship with Lady Elaine and Miss Ara."

"I don't mind that...... can I stay with a stranger?

Or maybe it's because it's a long idle village.... Ray's words I thought that way, but the man pours the wine into the glass again and carries it to his mouth.

"Ha, never mind. I don't have any trouble getting stolen. Even so, it's about a handmade preserved meal. It's more important to listen to you than that."

"Well, if that's what you're going to say, I'll take care of you for one night or so... I'm taking Griffon with me, what about you?

"Griffon? What a great monster you have. Uh, it's just like no stables, so I'll be outside, okay?

"Outside, like the table at this store?

"Oh, it will. I don't care if it's okay there. I'll serve the food in the store until it's full.... What do you say?

Ray was slightly concerned that Seto's sleeping place would go out, but he decided that Seto, who was still a griffon, would have no problem and would rise from the seat he was sitting in once.

"I'm sorry, Seto... I'm gonna go talk to the griffon I'm taking. Just give me a minute to get back to you."

"Aye.... but Griffon? I hear adventurers have changed a lot these days, unlike when I was in Elaine's Knights of Escorts."

Ray was somewhat troubled by the man's words, but in the meantime, he clasps his shoulders small and opens his mouth.

"You look like a Gilm adventurer."

"... Gilm, it seems a lot different than I know... have you changed a lot in the last few years?

Keeping the man twisting his neck against the common sense of the Knights, Ray leaves the tavern and approaches Seto, who is sleeping under a nearby tree.

"Seto"

"Grrrrrrrr?"

What's the matter with you? and Ray opens his mouth as he strokes Seto's head as he tilts his little neck.

"They're asking me if I want to stay in this tavern, but can Seto sleep here?

"Gru."

To Ray's words, Seto snorts that there is no problem at all.

Thus, Seto's problem, which was a concern, was resolved lightly, and Ray's inn was decided.