Legend

Those who kept an eye on the surroundings in the settlement saw a group that approached them and thought they might be enemies at first.

Given the damage suffered by Dragonias, it would also be natural to be cautious that way.

Not to mention that there is currently no such thing as the most powerful warrior Zai in this settlement.

Beyond that, if anything is to be raided by Dragonias, we need to defend ourselves with the remaining warriors in this settlement.

That's why I was ready so I could deal with it right away, no matter what.

"Something's coming up!

If this were noon, it would have been easier to discern who they were.

However, in the current situation, where the sun is already setting, it is understandable that someone will come close, but I do not know what the hell it is...

Still, it must have been natural for Centaur, who has been entrusted with surveillance, to decide that it is not Dragonias.

"What? An enemy!?

"I don't know. Just be ready to fight back as soon as you can, no matter what. Otherwise, you won't be able to deal with it at all times."

"Okay, I'll gather the others immediately."

"Please."

Tell your buddies briefly and be ready whenever the enemy strikes.

But... that's how I squeezed the spear in my hand and kept waiting as the enemy prepared to attack me whenever I wanted... Eventually, my eyes on the watch were wide open.

Because by approaching a certain distance, we finally understood who the people who were approaching the settlement were.

"Zai......"

A man on the lookout squeals so small.

And then he returns to me in his whining voice and hurries to the one at the end of his gaze...... he turns his gaze to the one approaching this settlement.

Maybe it's some kind of mistake to look at it.

That's how I acted, but the person at the end of my gaze is definitely Zai.

And I care about a few others besides Zai, but there's no doubt that Zai is back safely anyway, and I couldn't be happier with that.

"It's Zai! Zai's back! I made a scout team and left. Zai's back!

Yes, scream.

It was at first that many in the settlement were preparing for the battle wondering if Dragonias had attacked something, but they could not understand what they were shouting at such a watchful voice for a moment... but immediately understand the meaning of that word.

"Is that true!?

A bunch of centaurs who were preparing to fight with their weapons in their hands...... no, not just warriors, but non-combatants Centaurs are also hurrying to gather outside the settlement.

That alone shows how much Zai is admired in this settlement.

"Even Zai!? Hey, I guess it's not a mistake or anything!

"Oh, look. Here!"

When Centaur, who first came out of the settlement, asks the person who mouthed Zai's name, the watch says so and points to Zai, who is on the other side of the meadow… still quite far away, but still at a distance that can be discerned if he is alive in the meadow.

I found out that it was really Zai who was in that direction pointed... many cheered.

Many people make that look like it.

Naturally, the state of such a settlement sounded like the Rays headed that way.

"This, again. You're very welcome. Isn't that the best you've ever had?

Anastasia on the back of a deer grunts so with some surprise... Ray on the back of Seto, a little further away, opens his mouth with a groan.

"If it's the best you've ever had, isn't that what happened to the settlement that welcomed Anastasia?

"It's..."

Ray's words are never daunting.

In fact, in the settlement that Anastasia had previously helped, the welcome the Rays received was amazing.

... In fact, I guess they only welcomed Anastasia and Fana, not the Rays.

"That's different, isn't it? No, no."

Anastasia's cheeks, which I tell you so, are stained red, understandable to those who see it clearly lit.

Even in Anastasia, it would still have been embarrassing to be so noisy and welcoming.

Of course, I'm not dissatisfied with that.

It was embarrassing, but it wasn't unpleasant.

"Heh heh, that was certainly interesting then.... we were left alone."

"For once, we've been welcomed, haven't we? Most of the time, it was a welcome there."

That's what Ray tells Vihera to say to some teasing word.

In fact, the Rays weren't left alone, as Vihella said.

I was well prepared for a meal or something, and thanksgiving was spoken for.

... It's just that the Centaurs, who were in that settlement more than that, favored Anastasia and Fana.

"Ugh..."

I guess I remembered a lot about Ray and Vihella's words before.

Anastasia and... and a fana that feels like it's half-convolved makes it look like it stinks.

Nevertheless, even though Fana looks like she's going to stink because she's wearing a mask, it's just the atmosphere and you know it that way.

While we are having such an exchange, naturally the line continues...... Eventually, the Rays arrive in the settlement of Zai.

"Zai! Does that mean you're back... about Dragonias!?

The person who first spoke to Zai like that also looked familiar to Ray.

He was one of the centaurs with Zai when Ray and Seto first came to this world and encountered Zai.

I guess I was just worried about Zai, who originally left as a scout team.

Zai is also worried about his old friends and can't be happy.

He grins and nods and opens his mouth.

"Oh. I went to the headquarters of Dragonias and killed the Queen.... but it was Ray who killed the Queen, and we never had a chance to fight her."

To that word, many who had come to welcome Zai turn their gaze to Ray.

Nevertheless, there is no color of doubt in that gaze.

The Centaurs in this settlement understood Ray's prowess to no greater extent.

Anyway, when this settlement was raided by massive dragonias, Ray... Ray and Seto, to be exact, ravaged those dragonias.

Ray and Seto swept away such a herd of dragonias when they said they had more than one Centaur and could finally fight one Dragonias.

Given that, it was understandable that the words out of Zai's mouth were never lies.... No, should I say that I have done it?

"That's true, but I don't know if Zai can say this trip either... but I'm pretty sure he's gained strength in this one anyway. That's not enough to deal with two Dragonias on your own."

"You're lying!?

In Ray's words, those words come out of Zai's friend's mouth.

That was an incredible story, even knowing how strong Zai was.

Naturally, fighting one-on-one is very different from fighting one-on-two.

Not to mention that their opponent is a stronger dragonias than Centaur.

In a way, it's not strange to even be regarded as a natural enemy.

That's why I couldn't honestly believe Ray's words, and the other Centaurs around me, while I knew Zai's strength, couldn't honestly believe him.

But Ray doesn't look like he cared at all about such confusion, he shakes his neck to the side.

"Fact."

From what I said so confidently, maybe the Centaurs who were listening are also true? I think.

... Although Ray didn't look upset at all and told me so, beyond the fact that Zai could actually deal with two dragonias.

"Anyway, we'll talk more about it after we tell the chief. We're talking here and it doesn't taste good to be late in reporting to the chief"

"That's... well, yeah"

It was the best word that came out of Zai's mouth, so the Centaurs nod too... and, apart from one thing about Zai, mouth out what they wanted to hear but couldn't because of no timing.

"That's good, though. What the hell are you two on that deer over there? It's like two legs like the Rays."

In those words, others who had not yet noticed the presence of Anastasia or Fana also notice the presence of those two.

"Anastasia and Fana. Those are the two I've been looking for. We ran into each other when we were acting as scouts."

"Heh..."

To Ray's words, the gaze of the Centaurs is directed at Anastasia and Fana.

Of the two people who were turned such a gaze, Anastasia doesn't look particularly concerned either.

But Fana softly hides behind Anastasia with the deer.

Unlike Anastasia, Fana is never good at getting out in public.

That's why all of a sudden a lot of people turned their gaze on me, and I guess I was surprised.

... this would have been a different story again if I knew someone.

"Whatever it is, I'm going to ask Zai to report it around."

Because it was a scout team that originally paid for the information they had to find these two.

Most importantly, Ray is not going to ask for any additional rewards.

If nothing had been gained in the battle against the Queen, he might have done that too... but fortunately, Ray has achieved no more: level up terrain manipulation.

I did not intend to demand any more rewards in this situation than I do now.

… but if there were a kind of magic item that would pass on to this settlement, I might have wanted it.

"I'll take care of it.... then I'll take care of this place for now. Oh, and let the four of you rest and give him a meal and a drink."

Saying so, Zai goes inside the settlement.

"Huh? Hey, is that..."

As for the Centaurs who welcomed Zai, so did the presence of Anastasia and Fana, but they also wanted to hear about the eggs of the Spirit.

Eggs of the Spirit, sitting on a god made of wood.

Its spiritual eggs have such force, even if they are not spiritual wizards, as if they feel some pressure just watching.

That's actually all the substitutes, so I guess it's natural to be under such pressure if you look at it.

If anyone can know the power of the Spirit poorly, it's not surprising that he's panicked by the presence of the Spirit's eggs.

"In the meantime, this is the Spirit's egg and what we call it. Apparently, the Queen of Dragonias was looking for this. What's keeping it that way, so I ended up bringing it"

Out of Ray's mouth was a proper explanation, but still, the Centaurs must have understood that this was a dangerous substitute.

That the Queen of Dragonias was after her, so I couldn't have told her not to feel dangerous about it.

"Well, so... bring that spiritual egg and do it here, so what?

"In this settlement... or I'll have Zai protect me"

The Centaurs show things like that to Ray's words, who answers that lightly.

If you try to be the ones tormented by Dragonias, it would be honest that you don't want to have them if you can, such as the eggs of the Spirit that the Queen of Dragonias went after.

"Wait a minute! Wait for me! Why are we defending ourselves?

"Simply because Zai was the strongest of the scouts."

"If you mean strong, Ray is stronger!? Then the Rays will take the dangerous stuff!

Others agree with Centaur, who shouts so.

If you had something like this, you'd think that a Dragonias-like presence might come raiding again.

Given the power that the eggs of the Spirit actually possess, there is never a chance that anyone who thinks about such things will come out.

(Maybe you should attach a promise to keep this Spirit egg instead of a reward)

It was Ray I came up with, but the idea never seems wrong.

Ning Ro, I wonder if it's even the best in the current situation.

... The question would be whether the Zays would take it on.

If you try it on the Rays, only the Zays have the ability to protect the Spirit's eggs.

But whether Zai and the others are happy to do it is another story.