Riot Grasper

- Time goes back, in Erindal, the capital of the Togru region.

"... are you really going? Even if we go to the Imperial City, I don't think it's going to be easy to meet Alisha. Besides, if the nobles who lost the power struggle came back, they would be provoked uninteresting by the nobles who live in the Imperial capital. For the fat, fat people who don't have time for money and leisure, it's a perfect leisure break."

It was Rick Shao, the son of the current lord of Erindal, who spoke out as if to advise Rahal, the blonde young man researching his traveling outfit.

It's been a long time since the two of us could call ourselves friends, but this may be the first time that we're having a conversation with such a serious face.

Another girl who was close to these two - Alisha - went to the Imperial City a while ago.

She lived in Erindal for a reason, but her parents' home in the Imperial Capital was a leading nobleman named the Fulbright family, and she was also interested in Alisha, whose emperor is her sister, because her sister was invited to the side room of the current emperor.

That's how she was brought back to the Imperial Capital in the form of an invitation to the Emperor.

Rick and Rahal, who were close, dropped her off, who had no choice but to accept the invitation, but the action taken afterwards was the opposite, despite the fact that they were two people who had often acted together.

That is - to observe things quietly or to go to the Empire without suppressing your worries.

The former is Rik and the latter is Rahal.

Looking back to his friend's words, Rahal replied somewhat absurdly.

"My father was against it, but as much as the son of a fallen aristocrat glimpsed his face, there would be nothing to say about it. If you say anything, I'll put it in place."

"Are you serious?

"... what?

"You seriously think that a fallen nobleman's son, who doesn't even seem to be dealt with by a nobleman living in the capital, can do something for Alisha? Alisha must be welcomed into the emperor's side room. Perhaps you won't even make it."

To those words, Rahal gained momentum and grabbed Rick's collar up.

"If the two of us had pulled her back then, this wouldn't have happened. I don't care how much the Emperor invited me, I don't care why I said no!

"Should I have yelled at you not to go?... Whatever reason you give, if you say no, you'll be painting mud on the Fulbright family name you took care of. Yeah, Alisha said so too."

"Knock..."

Slowly, pulling Rahal's finger off of his loss of power, Rick coughs up a little bit before smiling.

"Totally... a provocation like the one you just made makes blood rise on your head. Then I doubt you can properly embellish the Imperial nobility."

Rahal, who had finally regained his calm, loosened his expression slightly to the words.

"... it could indeed be. But I'm going to Imperial City. I may not be able to do anything, but even if I stay in Erindal all this time, I'll just regret it"

If you live happily ever after, that's fine.

Going to Imperial City is like being half self-satisfied.

"... ok. I'm not stopping you anymore."

Rick nodded and handed Rahal a slender heavy leather bag to try to travel.

Inside, dozens of shiny gold coins are packed.

"Whoa...! Can you take this kind of money?"

"Just take it. Whatever you do in Imperial Capital, you won't have any trouble with the money. You know that, don't you? When I got drunk from the noise in the tavern, it was like you were sneaking around paying me for what I didn't have enough money in hand."

"You're going to buy alcohol to the people around you. Oh, that's what happens. By and large, after knowing that, have you ever been drunk?!?"

"Stay, well, don't be so angry. That's why you pay me back with plenty of interest."

"That said, that's a lot of money, isn't it? No way......"

"Don't worry. Nothing, Dad... it's not something I stole from a vault controlled by my lord or anything. The money I earned from sweating myself."

"What's this... why do you save so much when Rick was about to help ask for an adventurer when he felt like it?

"Well, I made money doing a lot of funny things with that in my hand. Anyway, it's real money, so don't worry."

"Rik......"

"It's all my property, so be sure to thank me when you use it. Naturally, but don't waste it. I can't believe I drank till I got drunk in a tavern. And don't use it to make you feel better in the City of Imperial Night, if you're wrong. Oh, and..."

"Ok...... I'll be thankful"

Trying to spin the word without stopping was probably his own illumination, trying to slow down the time of departure as much as possible.

Trying to interrupt Rik's words, such as he still didn't say enough, Rahal put a bag of gold coins in his pocket.

"Already... are you going?

"Oh, it's time for the carriage to the Imperial City."

"Be well."

"That way."

- Thus, Rahal travelled to the Empire City.

Rick.

Rahal.

Alisha.

It would have been since this time that the three of us, who were close, began to follow separate paths.

◆◆◆◇◇◇◆◆◆

"Here..."

After arriving in Imperial Capital, Rahal first visited the Fulbright family to greet them.

to ask what Alisha is doing now.

It seemed likely that Lahar, a fallen nobleman, would be paid in front of the door where he visited the famous house of the nobility, the Fulbright family, but Alisha had heard a lot about it, and the Lord happily accepted Lahar's visit.

- That's how we learn that Alisha has officially become the emperor's sideroom.

That was more shocking than I thought, and Rahal got a lot harder.

"What's wrong with you?

"No, that's a great honor. It seems to be a lie that I, etc. who lived away from the Empire, had made friends with Alisha…"

He managed to regain his mind and ask the Lord a question.

I was wondering if Alisha was doing well.

If it's a side room, you'll be given a luxurious room in the back of the Imperial Palace, and you won't be free to go out.

The letters they send me from time to time say they're doing fine...

I can't wipe Rahal's anxiety that it's really going to be okay.

Nevertheless, I could not ask anything more because it would be disrespectful to worry more than necessary.

It is synonymous with insulting the emperor, such as worrying about those who have become the emperor's sideroom.

It can also piss off the person who is treating me with a moderate attitude because of it.

After finishing that unusual chat, Rahal offered his wishes to the Lord.

"One thing, I need a favor."

"Hmm...... What are the requirements?

- Often it flows.

"Hmm... you're kind of nervous"

A young man sitting next to Rahal crushed those words.

The young man is wearing swords and armor, but feels unreliable at all times.

"Right."

The place where Rahal is now is the Soldier Recruitment Test Venue of the Suaven Empire.

Usually I rented out a practice field where soldiers were trained, and a lot of exams were packed into the practice field.

Why was Rahal supposed to take the soldier recruitment test?

That was because he wished the Fulbright principals to recommend him for soldier recruitment exams.

Imperial soldier recruitment exams are not something everyone can take.

Those whose identities are uncertain cannot even take the exam.

Most of the examinees are accounted for by those who graduate from the Soldier Training Academy or who receive recommendations from nobility.

The House of Rahal was defeated in the power struggle and no longer has any power as a nobleman, so it was recommended by the Fulbright family.

So why did he want to be a soldier?

The motive is extremely simple.

Reason to be a soldier... That's because if you're going to be a soldier and be in charge of guarding the Imperial Palace, etc., you might have a chance to see Alisha.

Rahal thought it was a hopeful observation while I was there, but it's still possible.

A soldier would also be able to help with the arm of a sword he forged on his demonic opponent at the request of the Adventurer Alliance.

Nor is there any other good way.

It should be much better than turning back to Erindal without doing anything.

In retrospect, Rahal regained consciousness to the exam.

"All right, the final exam is to have the demon you're capturing fight it against. And whoever is called upon a number, let him come forward."

Being a soldier in the Imperial capital would also crusade demons.

Eventually Rahal's number was called, and he took a deep breath before rising.

Examine the preparation and a demon is released from the cage along with the examiner's voice.

It was a demon with silver body hair and supposedly ripping off prey with sharp fangs and nails - Silver Fox.

Even when Rahal was at the request of the Adventurer Alliance along with Alisha, he was an opponent who had fought before.

Without rush, Rahal pulled out his sword and took on the demon that was coming at him.

Although the dagger is more accustomed to handling it, it's not like I've never even used a long sword with a length.

Beastly demons like Silver Fox are often the type to flirt and terminate an opponent in a agile move. It is difficult to strike a deadly blow even after a decent chase from the front, but a slight gap can be made shortly after the attack, thus releasing a full blow there.

However, if you dodge it in a very large motion, the opponent will also be agile to modify the motion, so if you fight back after you do so, you need to attract it until the end of the day.

"Khhhhhh!"

Without fear of Silver Fox running along with his intimidating voice, Rahal quickly turned his half and saw out his opponent's claw and fang attacks the moment he reduced his distance to just one more step.

The flying Silver Fox landed and flipped herself to flip quickly, but Rahal's long sword is relentlessly stabbed there.

"Ca... aah..."

The demon, whose heart had been pounded from his lateral belly, raised a slight voice of suffering before falling to the ground.

"That's it! Hmm... that's brilliant stuff. All right, the next one goes forward!

"Yes!

Rahal's next call was an unreliable young man who was sitting next to him earlier.

He seems to be atrophied by demons released from the cage, moving dull.

You've probably trained your human opponent in mock warfare before, but you don't seem used to dealing with demons.

Eventually, the young man inevitably kneels on the ground and removes his sword.

"Hih, hiya! Don't come, don't come!

Towards the demon trying to jump on the youth, Rahal threw away with a knife for throwing, which was unconsciously strapped to his hips.

Make sure to rip the pip air, and the knife accurately crushes the demon's eyeballs.

That's how the youth picked up the baffled but dropped sword and put out a todome blow to the demon, causing the exam venue to quiet back down.

"There! What are you going to do!? I told you first not to lend a hand to anyone else during the exam!

In response to the exam officer's reprimand, Rahal regrets the actions he has taken aggressively.

"Well... I thought it would be dangerous if it stayed that way..."

"If it gets really dangerous, let the exam stop. It's our job to determine if your life is in danger! That's what you..."

"Well, isn't that good? Blaming you so much for trying to help reflexively can also be a question of your instrumentality, right?

Rather than a martial artist, it was a man with a civilian appearance who praised me for the exaggerating examiner.

He has a mild look, but keeps the word going without allowing the examiner to try to argue with anything.

"The young man there apparently has no experience dealing with demons. You would have been able to nourish your senses in the current battle, so would you be able to measure your strength correctly by taking the exam again?

"Mm... guh... ok. If that's what you're told."

That's how he managed to calm down the field, and Rahal lowered his head small to the man who covered himself.

"Um, thank you. Me..."

The man smiles with a grin, pounding Rahal's shoulder.

"Never mind. It's comforting when someone like you becomes a soldier."

"Uh, ah... yes"

"- My name is Duran. I'm sure we'll see you soon."