Legend

"Ray, I'm sorry, but can you hang out for a second?"

At the end of the opening ceremony of the martial arts tournament, Rodos, returning to the long empty pavilion, calls out to Ray.

I don't know what you normally asked me about, but if I saw how Rhodos was doing right now, it was obvious what I was expecting.

Yes, Ray isn't the only one struggling with the existence of a Rank S adventurer.

Just as it is a testament to that, there is so much struggle behind Rhodos' eyes that he cannot hide it.

And Ray was the same again in the sense that he was struggling.

Hence...

"Oh, I don't mind. I'm just gonna stop by Ceto's, but hopefully afterwards."

Without a moment of hesitation, he tells that, and Ray leaves the inn with Rodos saying a word to Dasker and Elk.

The place to aim is where you trained with the face of the Wind Dragon fangs a few days ago.

Now that we are motivated, if we do something like fight in the Inn courtyard, we are not talking about our own reconnaissance, because the courtyard itself could have been damaged.

Ming is the one who drops off those two backwards through the window.

Looks worried somewhere...... then he has a happy look on his face.

I'm guessing Rhodes, my son, is the one most suited to that concern.

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to do anything wrong."

A voice can be hung on Min's back. Turning to the voice, it was Elk, who was also his own husband, who was there.

"I know. Whatever it is, he's a kid who does what he has to do. But...... that's why I'm too indulged in one thing and sometimes others are neglected"

"Huh, I'm passionate about women...? Well, at that age, it's not surprising."

"... Elk, for once I'm being serious?

To some tearing elk word, Min lifts the wand he had in his hand.

He was an elk with a small shoulder over how Min looked like that, but eventually he had a fierce grin on his face.

"Whatever you say, as far as I'm concerned, I envy Rodos and Ray a lot. Rank S… it may challenge the target to fight noise with immovable aliases"

Immovable. That was the alias for the best adventurer noise in the Bestian Empire.

Always wins and loses. No matter who you fight, you can't always keep winning and moving from the winner's seat. Aliases.

"No way that noise... if there's going to be an alias, that's why I wanted to compete in the martial arts competition"

Min lowers the wand she was waving up in sigh at that look she tells her heartfelt regrets.

I reach for that shoulder and slap it gently while I don't think it's possible given my husband's personality.

"Come on, there's no way we're gonna stay away from Master Dusker forever. No matter how many inns you're in, you don't know what's going to happen. Especially since Ray's case has spread all around in the fight competition..."

"Lots of idiots out there, too, huh"

In fact, a few people with grudges against Ray had already been caught by guards trying to break into the inn, even though they had just returned from the opening ceremony.

The ancient sky pavilion is one of the finest inns in the Bestian Empire. If so, naturally, the people hired to guard it are also very good, and now there are many guests staying at the martial arts tournament.

It would also be natural that security is tighter than it is on a daily basis than it is.

There was also contact from human beings staying at the inn.

Fortunately, this is not about harming Ray, but about getting acquainted with adventurers with aliases for the opportunity to stay in the same inn.

Most importantly, Ray was troubled and asked Dasker to say no, and none of them ended up fulfilling their purpose.

If it was to have contact with Ningro Ray, it would still have been more possible for the adventurers who had been hired as escorts for those staying at the inn.

In fact, the three Wind Dragon fangs are close enough to train Ray.

Even though I understood the circumstances, there was nothing serious about the look on Elk's face, and that was the same for Ming again.

"Whatever you do against Ray, if he's hostile, it'll be Sekiyama."

"Ning Ro, as far as I'm concerned, I'm worried I won't overdo it. Ray doesn't condone hostile opponents. He has a harsh personality."

"... Indeed"

I have to agree with Elk only on that.

Elk himself is Ray's character that he thinks is preferable, but there are naturally shortcomings as well.

One of its closest things would be its character not to condone a hostile opponent.

Especially now, a large number of humans have come to this capital because of the fact that fighting competitions are taking place. What would happen if Ray raved in that...... that was a future I would never want to imagine.

"Let's hope nothing goes wrong."

Elk whines as he becomes aware of the sweat on his forehead.

Even Min not pointing that fact out, I guess it was the same inside.

"Grrrrrrrr"

Ray reaches out softly to some obstinate Seto squeal.

But Seto moves his neck and dodges his outstretched hand.

"Gru."

That doesn't delude me, Seto, who just rattles his throat.

I could only describe it as completely obstinate.

"I'm sorry. Don't be obstinate, Seto."

"Grrrrrrrrrrrr"

Even if Ray utters words of apology, Seto has no sign of forgiveness at all.

But that won't be impossible either. It's been quite a few days since Ray came to the capital, but he was so full of himself that he hardly cared about Seto.

Of course I didn't come to see you at all. Ray had also taken a trip to the stables in his spare time, but still has less time in contact with Seto overwhelmingly than when he was continuing his journey towards the Imperial City.

I guess Seto is obstinate too because he understands that.

"Look, he said it was bad. But you knew that when you came to Empire, you couldn't move as freely as you ever did, right?

Until last year, the inhabitants of Imperial Capital would have just had to be terribly surprised to see the griffon. But now there is also a reason that the presence of Griffon is very scarce, and Griffon and Ray are tied together in equals.

Yes, it's not an exaggeration to say that if you make it the Bestian Empire, it's an enemy of the Unruly Heavens. It's a deep red ray.

Listening to Ray's words like that, Seto squeals his throat and gently turns his gaze toward Ray.

Seto did also understand that if he walked outside freely, it would be a huge fuss. That's why Dusker ordered Ray not to leave the stables as much as possible, and that's why Ray told Seto.

Still...... even though the words knew it, Seto still didn't want to spend much time in contact with Ray. It was sad. I missed you.

He's over 2m long, and he's still getting bigger these days, Ceto, but still not two years after he was born. It was created with warcraft, so it's not the same mental age and age, but still Ray is my favorite partner for Seto and the one he wants to sweeten.

Especially since he had time to make contact with Ray in full until his arrival in the Imperial capital, Seto's mind felt extra lonely due to the recoil.

I guess Ray also sees how Seto is and understands that. Reaching out softly again, this time I will scratch Seto's head with dust, which I did not avoid.

"Grrrrrrrr"

Seto accepting that in a pleasant way.

Once stroked, Seto can't refuse Ray any more, and rubs his head against Ray's hand.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it up to you. Look, just plug it in. Still eat this and cheer me up."

"Gru?"

What? and offered to a ceto tilted with a small neck was a sandwich with braised chicken sandwiched with sauce and leafy vegetables.

In a chunky sandwich, stretch the cuckoo… eventually it stays in your mouth.

"Grrrrrrrrrr!"

I guess it was delicious enough. I'm going to take it out of the mistering when it's still there, to Seto, who sounds happy.

Its sandwiches, ample in the basket, are made by the cook of a long empty pavilion with more hanging on his arms. Its arms are superb only for the cooks of the inns that are not available to the lower nobles around it. Naturally the finest ingredients are also available.

Ray was stroking Seto, who was eating sandwiches in a good mood, but he got furiously interested in the smell and asked Seto.

"Hey, Seto. Can I have a slice of that sandwich?

"Gru!"

Fine, and a throaty ceto.

Just for the delicious food, you would have liked to have it with Ray, even as a ceto.

Get Seto's permission, reach for the sandwich and get it in your mouth.

I guess I also used freshly baked bread myself. It is moist and feels soft on the teeth.

And when you chew the bread into pieces, the stewed chicken eventually shows up.

If you simmer too much, it will be tender, but the texture of the meat will spread in your mouth because you dare not simmer that far.

At the same time the shaky teeth of leafy vegetables and slight spiciness.

The gravy and sauce of the chicken is stained in the bread, but that's not even enough to make it uncomfortable.

Because I am applying butter, the texture of that bread, which is never beaten by the intense flavour of chicken, brings together the flavours of the various ingredients that are spreading in my mouth.

"… delicious,"

People say they don't say extra praise when they come across something really yummy, but that's exactly what Ray was now.

Another slice if I could...... Ray wanted to reach out reflexively, but I was hesitant to get any more hands on the dish I had just brought as an apology for Seto.

Ray slowly reaches for that back, watching Seto, who was chewing his throat and happily eating one sandwich after another.

"It'll be a while before the fighting tournament is over. In the meantime, I can't play with you like I've done before, but when this is over, don't play with me."

"Grrrrrrrr......"

Seto sounds lonely throat whilst eating a sandwich.

I rub my face against Ray, but I guess it was only natural to think of the last minute situation that I smelled the sandwich when I did.

"Because I'll show my face to the stables as much as I can. Huh?"

"Gru?"

Really? Ray nods as he strokes Seto's head asking.

"Oh. It's not like I don't want to play with Seto either. So be a little more patient. You've gotten along, too. Maybe some beast guys like Porch and Balls will play, right?

Seto sounds his throat gladly at Ray's words as he tells him to stroke Seto to calm him down.

It's fun to hang out with new friends.

Poaches and balls. He is a businessman's small-time beast man staying at a long empty pavilion and a secretly popular dog and cat beast man from other guests for his adorable looks and behavior.

Nature and Seto are getting along while they face the stables to take care of the horses, and now it's a great time for Seto, who had time to make contact with them.

While stroking Seto's head like that, Ray takes out the star-shaped baked confectionery

I bought it in the street when I was out of Teito before.

"Sorry, Seto. Then I'll leave this behind so you can have it with your poaches and balls."

"Gru!"

Probably because it was unfamiliar food. Turn your gaze toward the baked sweets in Ray's hands as you fill your eyes with curiosity.

Ray exited the stables with a small grin on his cash partner and gently left the baked sweets on the spot.

"Is that enough?

"Oh."

A voice that can be hung by Ray, who left the stables and returned to the inn.

The Lord of that voice is Rhodos, who, needless to say, acted with him before he went to the stables.

I had a very bad impression when I first met him, and as Rhodos, who still hates Seto, I couldn't make it to the stables with Ray.

If Rhodes had gone to the stables, it would have undoubtedly taken more time to fix Seto's mood.

Whatever Lodos himself was when he first met him, it's not like he hates Seto now.

Sometimes in the first place, I didn't like Min's attitude toward Seto either when we first met him or his interest in Ray.

... Of course, it's not a lie that I was worried about my mother, who was in easy contact with the existence of Griffon.

More than a year since we first met. We haven't been together forever, but I still don't already think Seto is dangerous from Rodos' eyes.

Therefore, as for Rhodos, he also wants to repair his relationship with Seto, which is also difficult because of his previous history.

In the end, I make the choice of putting a little more time aside, putting the resolution ahead of me.

"What's up?

Ray calling out to Rhodos like that.

If it's nothing, I shake my head and reach for the sheath of a long sword hanging half unconsciously on my hips.

It's not like I'm pulling out a weapon. It's just to consolidate my resolve thinking about what I'm going to do.

"... let's go, Ray"

I don't care about the details now.

All I need to do now is win a fight tournament without thinking extra.

That's how he decided and walked ahead of Ray.