Legend

It had been quite a while since I had tied up the sand thieves who were on the deck and done things like tie them up by repelling the sand thieves who, thanks to their presence on the sand boat, were weaker in effect than those who were on the deck.

Still, it wasn't the time of the evening yet, so naturally we decided to move on to Gosh... here comes one problem.

That is, I don't mind the sand boarding became Ray's, but how do we carry it?

... Of course I knew that Ray had an item box, such as Ougust and Zaroust, who had the problem with the matter, but in common sense I guess Sandserpent didn't think the sandship was possible anyway... Ray touches the sandship without looking particularly concerned about those people and stores it in Mystering.

What is an item box? For the first time, Ray himself opens his mouth without looking particularly concerned about the usual, even though he could understand it as a real feeling by storing a huge object called a sandy ship.

Okay, let's go.

"No, no, I didn't think this was light either...... normally, wouldn't you be more proud? An item box is a rare piece of magic."

He was an august who wanted me to wait a minute, but Ray turns his gaze toward the sand thieves who walked out tied up without looking particularly concerned.

The effect of the King's intimidation had led to the majority being captured without injury, and only those who were accidentally in the sandship were being defeated and injured as a result of the attack.

Just because you are injured, of course, doesn't mean you will be treated.

There was no such thing as a hobby here to imitate the person who attacked us.

The sand thieves walk in the sand as they are forced to pearl in a rope and tie their tips to the carriage so that they are pulled.

What's on that face is, naturally, despair... and I notice an invincible grin on the face of some of the sand thieves.

You think you can get away with this? No, I didn't expect to be able to escape under immobile circumstances... I saw and felt in person what Ceto was like, so I know it's impossible)

So why? Ray has such a question.

"The Roost"

As he advances on the sand, Ray calls out to Zaroust, who is nearby.

Unlike earlier, Zaroust on the camel turns his gaze toward Ray as he manages to calm down the camel that scares Seto.

"What's up?

"Don't you think there's something wrong with the sand thief?

"... of the sand thief?

To Ray's words, Zaroust turns his gaze toward the sand thief tied to the pearls.

The effects of the King's intimidation unleashed by Seto have already disappeared because he is walking like this, and some sand bandits have a frightened look at Seto, but a few of them, some with a grin on their mouths.

"Oh, you're here. But why do you have so much room? If they stay like this, they're definitely going to be sold to slave traders."

"I guess there's something about it.... let me ask you something, there's not gonna be a guy in the escort who goes through with a sand thief, is there?

No. I thought I'd say so, Ray, but Zaroust just gives me a difficult look without an immediate response.

And eventually, he exhales and shakes his neck small to the side.

"I can't say for sure that I'm not there... Especially this time it was a sudden request for an escort. That's why there are rookies in there, so there's no denying that they might be in there."

The faces of those who are acting together in the back of Zaroust's brain as escorts pass.

Those who have been partying for some time are excluded, and those who knew each other are put on hold. And again, the most suspicious were the newcomers.

Of course newcomers are familiar with Zaroust and understand some character. But still, if you don't understand your personality as deeply as a party member, you don't have more than a certain number of relationships, like facial acquaintances.

When that happens, the most suspicious person in the current situation will still be a rookie.

As for Zaroust, I didn't want to doubt the rookie any more than I am somewhat familiar with him...

(Still, it's true he was attacked by a sand thief)

Desert is so vast that it's not that easy to talk about sand thieves finding their targets.

That's even if you have sand aboard.

But with the power of the Erema Chamber of Commerce, which can lend sand boarding, it's not hard to turn one or two new adventurers back to sleep.

(If you are making a request within the gosh, naturally you will learn more about the Eléma Chamber of Commerce. Given the recent power......)

While I did the unpleasant act of doubting my people, I still couldn't get out of hand more than it was my job.

"So what do you think we should do? Answer me in Ray's shoes."

Ray's position. That is, Ray opens his mouth as he turns his gaze to other carriages, asked for input from the standpoint of being a bona fide collaborator.

"Right, it might be dangerous to think that the only person who's betraying you is the escort... There is no denying that some merchants have betrayed us."

"... I don't really want to think about it,"

You wouldn't have wanted to believe that there was betrayal for Zaroust as well, just because he's a merchant who's been with Augusto for years.

At the same time, however, we know that human beings betray Ray very much if they hold any weakness, so we cannot deny Ray's words.

Ray continues his words as he watches Zaroust like that.

"It's tomorrow to arrive in Gosh, isn't it? Today in the camp."

"It will.... I mean, when you move tonight?

"It's possible. You're gathering intel from the Sandbandits tonight, aren't you?

"I'm going to. I'd like to gather information right now... but moving around is a priority."

Zaroust sighs as he sees the sand thieves that are numbered.

I didn't put it in the words, but I also have an expectation that I won't tell you the information before I have company.

If you imitate that, it turns out that you sold your people.

To do something about such a psychological wall, one person at a time was still the best option.

(You can tell a lot about the guy who's lying.)

You realize you're being gazed at by Zaroust, and some of the sandbandits look away like they're scared.

Some of us are thinking about what's going to happen to us, but those who are laughing have also had the purpose of keeping their thoughts from being understood.

"Whatever it is, it's not until nightfall to gather information. Let's focus on moving on now. Ray may not understand, but desert can easily take a man's life."

"I know. It's not like I'm new to the desert.... Well, it's the desert of the dungeon, so it's not like I totally understand the desert"

Zaroust gives a slightly intriguing look to the word dungeon that came out of Ray's mouth.

"A dungeon? I'd like to go once too... unfortunately, there are no dungeons in the Solrain country near Gosh."

"Is that a dungeon? Small countries like ours won't be able to do things like labyrinth cities, even if they have dungeons. On the contrary, it will be difficult to attack the dungeon on its own."

Should I be happy or sad that my country does not have a dungeon? The reaction varies from person to person.

Delighted is the creation of a very valuable place, a labyrinth city, where merchants are gathered by substitutes such as demonic stones and materials obtained from monsters of dungeons, and at the same time adventurers are gathered for dungeons.

The result would be economic development, and tax revenues as a country would also increase significantly.

Sadly, the dangers of the dungeon. Sometimes monsters overflow from the dungeons, and if people get together for the dungeons, that's all the rubbing gets bigger.

It was also apparent to Ray's eyes that Ougust was more of a person than the latter, although it was a matter of various bipolar...... or episodic integration.

"Well, it's true that dungeons have a lot of problems."

"Dungeons aren't like getting out any time soon when you say you want them."

That's what Augusto returns to Ray's words.

Proceeding through the desert in conversation that way, it will eventually be evening and Zaroust will speak to Auguste.

"Mr. Ougust, I thought it was time to get ready for camp. It's a little early, but we also need to get some information from the sand thieves."

"... right. Shall we?"

He was a slightly thought august, but in the end he nodded at Zaroust's words and began preparing the camp.

It is common sense that desert nights are cold, and it is not uncommon to fall below freezing.

It was hell again in a different way than during the day, which should also be called a scorching hell.

That's why preparation becomes important when camping in the desert.

In the winds of burning, preparing meals, and preparing tents.

Also, you can't forget to take care of a camel carrying a carriage.

Still, it was definitely going to be an easier camp than usual only this time. Because...

"Can we really leave Seto to watch?

Ray nods back with a confident look at Zaroust, who asks in case.

"Oh. No problem. As you know, Seto is a griffon. I have five senses that are far sharper than normal humans. That's the kind of guy you'd never miss if someone came to help you catch a sand thief."

Ray's words to say so are heard not only by Zaroust, but also by others.

This was done intentionally, and it was a restraint if any of the merchants or escorts had connections with the sand thief... or with those behind the sand thief.

Few will be able to show movement first, even though Rank A monsters say they are on watch.

Those who had managed to escape in the night to hear such a ray among the sand thieves had no choice but to give up at that point.

"So, Ray had his own tent, didn't he?

"Oh. I'll do that around here, don't worry about it. It's just that Seto doesn't want to be too far from me, so don't let my tent be near nature and the center of the camp."

It will naturally be near the center of the camp that there is a lookout ceto. Given Seto's abilities, he can act as a lookout wherever he is, but if you try Augusto and Zalusto, who just met Seto today, you won't be able to trust him that much.

The number of watches is lower than usual, but still at least two had told Ray that they would let him watch with Seto.

Still, Ray doesn't particularly complain, but accepts it.

Ning Ro, I'm even anxious about Augusto and Zaroust's attitude as to whether I can trust Seto that far.

But if you let Augusto or Zarousto tell you, he's checking one end of Ray's and Seto's power with his eyes.

If Seto was willing to do harm to himself, he thought it was always possible.

When the camp is ready for such a condition, the meal will be next.

Always, Ray would have taken his share of the dish from Mystering and eaten it, but in the corner desert... he came to another country, so he wants to eat the country-specific dish anyway, and rides the invitation from Augusto.

And what was served was dishes like rice cooking.

What is slightly different is that it contains finely chopped bread instead of white rice or that the camel's milk was the basis of the soup, not milk......

It was exactly the dish to be called the dish of a big mess of men, but I can say it's quite a luxury if you consider it as a dish to eat when the adventurers of this world are operating outside the city.

Instead of treating the dish, Ray gives the Augustes water with a dagger of running water.

The augusts who drank that water even wept to honor the taste of the water.

For those living in the desert, he said that water was still something special... an event that reminded Ray to be smug, and as a result Ray would receive hospitality from the Augustos that wouldn't even be put down there.

It should be noted that only minimal food and water would have been given to the captured sand thief, but sometimes the water could have been spared by Ray's running water dagger, which would have given him a considerable amount.

I had the thought that the slave traders might buy me off if I was too weak for this. It was a late act.

And... eventually the night stays up.