Three adventurers were seated near the exit of the cave.

They are all wrapped up in heavy gear and put inflated handbags aside on the bread.

Everyone was laughing out loud and taking the head of the toast.

They sat to surround the fire, carrying the cup to their mouths. Probably booze.

Seeing a blackening scaly peek through the gap in the bag, as Cortina predicted, it doesn't seem wrong for the adventurer who came to collect the scales of the dragon.

I wondered why in this place... but there I noticed.

This forest is surprisingly deep.

When it comes to the place you've pioneered, it would be the hot spring of the Dragon's stopover or about in front of this cave. And then we have to get back near town, it doesn't exist.

If you go back to town, you won't be able to make much of this money. Because the falling scale is a finite resource and a treasure for the early winner.

Sometimes you say bad things and you create competitors. And I don't know when dragons will come in the hot springs.

In other words, this place is the most lenient place for them.

"Cuckoo -!?"

In a sudden encounter, Carbuncle raises his voice like a surprise.

Neither me nor Cortina had the kind of hema to raise their voices here because we're just stepping on the number of adventures... was it a harsh story to ask the phantom beast for that?

In response to Carbuncle's voice, the men seem to have noticed this one as well. He stops his hand carrying liquor into his mouth and turns a cloudy gaze at us.

"Oh?"

"What, you guys?

A woman with a child. Certainly suspicious and natural, but not as good as they are.

Drunken by alcohol, with a red beard. The sheet metal armor worn is also scratched everywhere and rust floats from it.

Poorly maintained, but fairly used atmosphere. Based on its flair, the number of places seems to be treading quite a bit, but the character seems to be disproportionately low to experience.

I can see the inferiority of the character from the voice of whoever pointed this way.

"Uh... we're just here to protect our lost children. Never mind."

"Lost?

Show the men Mikey, whom Cortina lovingly carried on her back.

As it were, I moved Mikey so he could cover my back.

"What?"

"Shh, it's okay."

If I had this guy on my back, I wouldn't be able to fight. If you can, I'd like Cortina to take it.

That's what I thought, and I was about to look back, and the men raised their barbaric voices.

"Hey, behind that - no way, isn't it Carbuncle?

A voice that probably contained consternation. On the way home from a successful, plain but lucrative job of picking up dragon scales, I guess you didn't even expect to see such a phantom beast.

But for us right now, a man's cry ends in a disturbing word.

Carbuncle is a protective designated phantom beast. Even if you're just taking it with you, this is a problem.

Besides, the gems on that forehead are very expensive. So much for breaking the law but getting it.

"You miss it a lot, don't you? Hey, can I borrow that guy for a second?

A man who talks to me familiarly when he does. The other two also move to a position that pinches this one.

Before that siege is completed...

"Nicole, run!

"Huh?"

"Take Mikey, quick!

So finally, I realized the sincerity with which I gave Mikey to me.

Cortina is... alone here, and she's going to stop.

Regardless of the personality of the men, the power is likely to be considerable. The load may win too much for Cortina alone in the rear guard position.

Whether I'm in there or not, the winner is thin. The usual me, though.

By strengthening my body with yarn, I can become a full force.

And if you join forces with Cortina, it will be possible to defeat them.

But that also leads Cortina to know who I am.

"Go quickly. I'll catch up with you later, too!

Cortina says so, but it's hard to get away with being besieged by the three of us.

This is...

"Was it like me back then?"

Buy time for your life.

No, she might be able to do whatever she wants without our luggage.

Traps and traps that use terrain are what she specializes in.

Maybe in her area of expertise, she can do something about the guys.

But her essence is a sorcerer. But not as powerful as Maxwell, not as fast as Maria.

I'm sure its strength is better than that of a general adventurer, but what about three opponents?

Besides, I'm not even equipped right now. If you are attacked, you will be seriously injured by a single blow.

"Quick!"

Fight together or retreat. Before I draw that conclusion, Cortina will rush me.

I was rushing out of the spot to be shoved back by that voice.

This can also be described as a conditional reflex that has been following her instructions since her previous life.

I ran into the dark clouds into the woods. The men also try to chase me, but before that, Cortina stood up and obstructed the pursuit.

The chant begins as it is, with the men attacking her.

I ran into the woods with Mikey and Carbuncle, feeling the signs behind the battle.