Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha

- Shit.

And there's the sound of the door opening.

When that familiar door opens, it's the familiar woman's face that came out of the other side of it.

It's intelligent, carefree, a little pranky, but gentle.

Lorraine.

That's her name.

"... oh, this again. You've got a rare one, Lent. - No way, you got your hands on it?

Lorraine, who said that with a teasing grin, wouldn't mean anything.

I just didn't feel a little nervous for some reason... well, it must be my fault.

Lorraine mentioned the person behind me, Shayla Ibals, an Adventurers Union (Alliance) official.

I told her everything she explained and understood, both Lorraine and what she knew.

So, when I also said that I was in trouble with her house now, I asked her to let me talk a little bit.

Well, I'm not supposed to be particularly surprised that I'm in trouble at Lorraine's house because I've said it before, but when I talked to her again, Shayla was thinking a little bit like she was upset.

I wonder what you were thinking?

I'm not sure about that, but I'm here anyway because I say it's urgent that we meet and talk to Lorraine.

Well, all I know clearly about who I am in this city is Lorraine and Shayla, and Lina Luperge, the first girl adventurer I met.

Blacksmith Crope and his wife Luca have also noticed, but have not explained it clearly.

From that standpoint, they are vague because they rarely associate with the administration or the church, and then they think it would be bad to know about the immortal (undead) demon Monster.

Sooner or later, I just want to talk properly, but so far, I'm sweet about their, you know, gentleness that I dare not touch.

I just want to repay you someday in some way... well, now is a good time.

More than that, Lorraine and Shayla.

Shayla said in Lorraine's words,

"... you haven't got your hands on me, Mr. Lorraine. But I know a lot (...). I heard..."

Lorraine might have generally expected it, but still couldn't seem to predict how far Shayla was listening.

It's obvious because it depends on my mood.

It's just not like talking about it at the front door, Lorraine said,

"... Hmm? Well, fine. You should go inside for now. Scattered, but not surprisingly uncomfortable."

That's what prompted us.

I felt a little uncomfortable with the mess...

Anyway, I should have cleaned it up before I left.

Isn't it strange to be scattered...?

It was only a few hours ago.

I couldn't help but think.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Calluses, and personal timekeeping magic props - clocks, silently, are making noises and telling us the course of time.

What kind of clock is a big store? It's a very special magic trick that only has about enough golden houses, but for some reason Lorraine does.

Our Lorraine is very clever because she says it's possible to make her own if it's not so small.

Basically, we can do anything.

Why can't I use that skill in my chores?

No, the chores were supposed to be done at the beginning too, but I stopped doing them at some point and instead I... no, don't feel like something's wrong if you think too much about it.

Let's not.

"... Well, let's talk about it. There are many things I would like to ask... but it would be better to ask them directly. How far (...) have you heard?

I'm a little surprised that Lorraine's eyes, which I asked Shayla, were tougher than ever before.

And Shayla's in return for it. It's also something I've never seen before.

There was a straight light dwelling there, like I had decided to be ready for something.

"... I heard that Mr. Lent is a demon. And not attacking people."

It was a quiet word, but I was trembling a little because I didn't want to believe it, or from other emotions?

I don't know that.

However, Lorraine seemed to know something, and she laughed all the time,

"What, didn't you hear everything? So, you've come this far about Mushroom Lent? You didn't feel any danger?

That's what I ask.

Shayla shook her head at this,

"No, that's especially... It was undoubtedly Mr. Lorraine's house we were on our way to, and I didn't think they'd do anything about it."

"That's grossly missing a sense of crisis. Think about it, Lent's an immortal, and I'm a particularly suspicious scholar in the city. What do you think happens when a young daughter enters a nest with a demon and a witch? It's normal to be thrown into a well boiled pan and go straight into our bellies"

Lorraine treats herself like a witch and says that.

I guess Shayla just found this to be a joke, too.

From nervousness, the muscles on her cheeks, which were slightly tense, loosened, hehe, laughing.

"Oh no... I can't believe you're a witch. We all know that Mr. Lorraine is a fine scholar."

"No, no. It's a hiding place. Actually, it's my hobby to go out hunting at night every day and sip the blood of my young daughter. Very tasty and good for health. It'll make your skin glow better."

It was an extra hilarious story because he is the one who says it in tone and expression that I'm not sure if he's joking or serious.

But the next moment,

"- That's exactly what Lent became. Do you really understand that?

and throw words at Shayla that cut them off.

Nothing in the way I put it, there was nothing to blame, anger, or any other emotion floating around.

It's really just, pure doubt.

That's all.

And that's all I felt terrible about.

Lorraine doesn't see Shayla as a person right now in front of her.

The answer to that question made me feel like I was looking at her in such a terrible, natural, yet terrible way that I would decide how to treat her.

It's like, yes, that's her eye when she's got the demon in front of her.

It was Lorraine's face when she was thinking about whether she should be defeated or not.

Shayla is an Adventurers Union (Alliance) official with little experience in combat.

But it didn't mean I'd never done it at all.

As part of the training, there are several times if you have dealt with goblins, slimes, etc. while being assisted by people belonging to the Adventurers' Union (Guild) who specialize in combat.

What I felt then was pure fear.

When I say demons, I stare at them far away until then, and they certainly weren't living in front of me.

But then... right in front of me, it's also going to stare at Shayla's life.

I had to understand that it was a metaphor to use when I was about to hold my breath.

I had to knock it down, when they told me, the feeling I had in my heart was confusion.

But if that's all, it's not a big deal.

What Shayla felt horrible about was that there was something terribly thin in the corner of her mind that told her not to hesitate to kill the creature in front of her.

To do so was to realize that, in the interests of men, this creature should perish, that is what he was saying.

I am the one who can make the choice of easily taking other lives for my own benefit.

Yes, that's when Shayla found out.

And Lorraine right now in front of me.

Her eyes intuitively understood the kind of emotion I had when I was looking at Goblin exactly then, pointing at Shayla.

If I get the answer wrong, she won't hesitate to eliminate herself.

Don't kill him.

People kill people because that's what they recognize as people.

Those who don't, just dispose of them.

And do something to burn it with magic or something, and decide it wasn't.

Shayla knows very well that Lorraine can do it without hesitation.

Anyway, Lorraine is an adventurer.

It's also a silver class with experience.

You have to answer very carefully.

Shayla is ready again, she opens her mouth...