Being Able to Edit Skills in Another World, I Gained OP Waifus - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Episode 154 "Extra Part 14" Nagi, Iris, and Rafilia's Secretly Cheat Escort Trip (Part 2)




So let's start looking around.

Natalia said.

We're just now getting our respective weapons and heading out of the inn.

It's surprisingly bright outside, probably because of the moon's rise. We are going to look around the inn, only it is dimly lit. It is because there is a small forest and the trees are casting a shadow.

The trees are used by the villagers to collect firewood and nuts. It's surprisingly large, and in the fall they say you can even pick mushrooms. We heard that they were meant to welcome travelers quickly, but it was not as secure as it should be.

We heard birdsong in the forest.

It's the voice of the nocturnal bird that lives around here. The innkeeper said it was a wise nocturnal bird.

We haven't found the intruder that Natalia reported.

If there are any, they're probably in the woods or in the shadows around the house.

But our job is to protect Iris. So for the time being, all we have to do is be on guard around the inn.

That's why...

How about Souma-Nagy-san going around the inn to the right and me going around to the left?

Natalia said, spear in hand.

'Half a lap around the inn, I suppose.

I reply.

'Yes. If something happens, please shout. I'll come right over.

I understand.

'There will be wildlife in the woods, so don't provoke them ...... By the way, I was wondering about that earlier.

What is this?

What's that leather pouch you put around your waist?

Here's a snack.

I held up the leather bag so Natalia could see it.

The villagers, apparently impressed by the gift from the Ilgafa Lordship House, even sent me and Rafilia some food and snacks. By the way, it's a hard-baked biscuit.

''I thought I'd put it to good use.

Mmmm: ......

Natalia stared at me with slightly raised eyes and then

...... Well, okay.

He nodded reluctantly.

'It takes a lot of energy to fight and to move around. It's not a mistake to think about your nutrition, you know. Just take your job seriously, please.

I understand.

But this candy isn't for me.

Well then, let's brace ourselves. For the sake of the beautiful miko!

For The Beautiful Priestess!

────!

Ho, ho, ho, ho!

I heard a tapping on the bed from the inn - but I'll leave it at that for now.

And then Natalia and I walked off, splitting up on either side.

'Reggie. Who do you think the intruder is?

"I don't know, but at least he's not after a little miko.

On my shoulder, a figure-sized Leggy replied.

If you're going to make rounds, you should have a lot of eyes.

That's why I've decided to have Reggie take on the (tiny) human form and make the rounds with me.

'I guess I agree with you that we're not aiming for Iris. I didn't reveal Iris's presence this time, it's a sneak peek quest.

"What do you think the Lord will do?

'I don't know. But if it's a business matter, there's no need to hide behind it. So it might be better to think of it as a favor to the town of Ilgafa itself that can't be disclosed.

I see a point.

But if it's that important, I can't just be an adventurer and listen to it.

I patted Reggie's head and said, "So, I think it's better to have Natalia find the intruder than me.

'So it's better to have Natalia-san find the intruder than me. She is the child of a regular soldier captain and is a serious adventurer, so you should let her make a difference. I'm going to go in the direction of lending a hand if I can't handle her.

"My Lord.

Yeah?

"As usual, I'm not greedy.

What do you mean by greed?

"Don't you want the credit?　If we catch the intruder, won't we be able to make that guardian girl look big?

If that takes up all your time, you're going to be late for your trip, right?

I told Cecil and Rita that I'll be back tomorrow.

Aine, Leticia and Cutlass will also be waiting for me, ready for the 'transfer portal'.

The master can't go back on his promise to everyone, can he?

'I hope it's a story that will end easily, but I don't want to take up ...... too much time. I have to go and inform Delilira-san about the 'Heavenly Dragon's Blessing' as well.'

"When we conquered Hydra, that 'Sainted Girl' was in on it.

That's what I mean. Also, I didn't get to play with Reggie much on my last trip.

"......

Clinging to my shoulder, the figure-sized Leggy laughs.

"Well, if that's the case, I'll have to go along with you.

So, shall we continue our rounds?

Copy that.

We're only a third of the way around the inn.

There are "night birds" singing around us. It's a strange call, "ho-lo-ho-ho-ho".

It seems there are many of the same birds in the woods. It's a gray, nocturnal bird that can't be seen. When you travel, you come across many things. There's still a lot to learn about this world.

Well, let's get to work.

I reached for the leather bag I carried around my waist.

We'll be in the thicket soon. We need to get ready for a mission.

'Good luck with that.

What are the odds?

I think it's 70 percent. It's not like it's going to be a big deal if I fail.

Me and Reggie looked at each other and put our fingers to our lips in a ""shhhh"".

After that, we decided to sneak out and start the operation while making rounds.

From Natalia's point of view.

SOUMA-NAGI: "Sooma-Nagy, there were some strange adventurers .......

Natalia murmured in the moonlight.

He looks around to the left and right without caution and slowly moves his feet forward.

''I guess trust can be ....... ''Looking at you, 'Sea Dragon Priestess,'''

Natalia remembered the scene she had seen earlier.

The adventurer and her client, Iris-Hapheumea, were both with their feet in the same tub.

Iris-Hafeumea was relaxed and at ease, as if she were wrapped up in a futon at home. Natalia had never seen an adventurer like that before. She was at work - she had to brace herself, but when she thought about it, she felt like she was going to blow it out of her mind.

'I shouldn't, I shouldn't. I'm at work now. An adventurer's first priority is to achieve results.

I don't mean to denigrate Souma-Nagy. But I don't rate him either.

I don't know how useful he will be in the real world. I've never heard the name Souma-Nagy in any adventurer's guild. Either he's a fledgling, or he's not even good enough to be named.

So don't count on it too much. Maybe he was only hired to reassure the 'Sea Dragon Priestess'. If that's the case, it's Natalia's job to protect the priestess. She had to get into the spirit.

Natalia slapped herself on the cheek, with a bang.

'Speaking of which, did my father say ...... you're too serious, ......

Natalia's father is a regular soldier in the port city of Ilgafa, its troop leader.

My father was a stubborn man and had a habit of looking down on adventurers, but when I met him after a long time, he had become completely rounded.

It seems that during the Festival of the Sea Dragon, he met adventurers who dried up demons and blew up their stronghold castles with extreme magic. ''Wearing this 'Sea Dragon Mask' will give you power! I remember that he wore a mask that was used at a festival on his head while he was eating.

I encouraged him to get a good night's sleep and take a vacation.

My father may be tired and tired. I have to do my best. I must succeed in this quest and rebuild the adventurer's guild in the port city of Ilgafa. I must become a great adventurer and protect the town.

It was Natalia, whose hand was unconsciously tightening in the grip of her spear.

Still, it was ...... quiet.

The 'nocturnal bird' that was so noisy earlier has been lost.

I'm not sure if it's a nocturnal bird, but has it returned to the roost by now?

I'm not sure.

When Natalia was thinking about this - she heard a call.

When she turned her head in the direction of the voice...

Whisper.

I could see a black shadow running through the thicket.

'...... intruder?'

Natalia starts to run.

The shadows are heading deeper into the woods. Fast. It is zigzagging through the woods.

The woods are dimly lit, with only a faint moon shining through.

The black shadow slips into the trees and then disappears from view.

I've lost track of .......

Ho-ho-ho-ho!

As Natalia's shoulders slumped, there was the sound of a night bird again.

She looked in the direction the voice came from - and there it was.

The black shadow is moving again.

Natalia starts running again. The other party is trying to make contact with the emissary of the port city of Irgafa. That's probably why it's prowling around the inn. They plan to get past Natalia and break into the inn when they see an opening.

But that's not going to happen. We know where they are.

For some reason, the voice of the Night Crying Bird is telling me the location of the intruder.

'What luck.'

As she ran as fast as she could, Natalia couldn't help but feel her cheeks loosen.

'I knew it was because you've been doing so well on a daily basis!　I guess that's my reward for trying so hard!

Hooray!　Ho ho ho!

Natalia raised her arms and shouted, and a sharp, chiding voice came out.

'What?　Isn't it?

Ho.

"Is this to protect my employer?

Ho-ho-ho!

...... This is different too. Someone asked you to do this, or something?

Ho-ho.

Oh, yeah. You asked me to send you to ....... Who am I talking to?

The Unseen 'Night Singing Bird'

Natalia shook her head hurriedly, feeling like she'd gotten through to it and the conversation.

It's embarrassing.

I've never heard of the skill of communicating with a bird and its will.

So I guess this is still a coincidence. And that the 'night-singing birds' in the village are telling us the location of the intruder. Whenever Natalia was about to lose track of them, they would chirp to warn her.

Perhaps the Night Bird is also angry with the intruder. It must be.

'Either way, thank you. Please thank me later!

Whoo-hoo!

No?　Perhaps you've already received a thank you?

─ ─ Ho.

"...... I see ......, so why am I talking to a bird?!

Shoving herself in, Natalia keeps running.

The distance between her and the intruder closes. Its shadow becomes clearly visible.

It's small.

An adult - not an adult - not an adult. Her hair is short. A large hat hiding your head. His arms and legs are thin. Maybe she's a child.

(It's .......) He's a kid.

Natalia patted her chest.

An intruder was a big deal. A child had just wandered in.

It's a relief to have them.

In spite of her appearance, Natalia was a child-loving woman, and she had assisted in the foster home for children who had no one to look after them.

'Wait!　I'm not going to do anything scary, sister!

Hee!

Why are you scared?

Natalia held her forehead involuntarily at the small shadow that turned and shouted at her.

''People often say that Natalia is too serious.

Maybe it's because she was raised by her father, a regular soldier, so she has always been a 'results-first' person. I have a habit of always putting too much effort into my work, and my expression has a tendency to harden. My fellow adventurers often said to me, "Natalia is beautiful but unapproachable". I've even been called the "Ice Performance Princess".

It was the same when I was helping at the Foster Home. Little children are weak and fragile. So I said, 'I don't want to take my eyes off them for a second! I was staring at the children like, "I don't know what to do," and I made them scared in reverse. Some children even started to cry.

But ...... I didn't expect ...... to be at a time like this.

Wait!　It's not scary, lady. I'm not going to do anything, oh no!

I'm so nervous that I'm even turning my voice inside out.

I thought I could relax and be a little kinder ...... back in my hometown.

'I wouldn't lift a finger to a sea dragon priestess,' I said, because I was afraid of scaring her.

'...... Maybe I was jealous of that Souma-Nagi-san?'

Suddenly, Natalia realized that.

She couldn't do it herself. How could she reassure a sea dragon maiden like that .......

''Then I'll just do what I can!

Natalia looked up and shouted at the intruder child.

'Don't run away!　I don't care if you're the intruder, it's okay!　Sis, I won't hurt you: ────!

You can see from a distance that he or she is waving his or her arms as much as possible.

In that hand - the spear with a very thick blade, still holding the spear.

Hi!

The shadow running ahead stiffened - and tripped - the shadow in front of her.

Natalia holds her head as she runs. Not good.

If you get this close, you'll know. The intruder is definitely a child.

What if they hurt him? I'm a child lover. I'm a child-loving person, especially a little boy, and I never thought I'd hurt a child in the slightest.

not having a wife

What?

As the intruder was about to fall to the ground, something blue shot out of the ground, right beside him.

It was a slime.

It swelled up big enough to catch the child's body. The slime continued to stretch out its body like a tentacle, making the child sit on the ground.

At the same time, a gray bird comes down from the tree and grabs the slime with its feet. Then it promptly flies away. It's as if they were working together as a team.

'Chasing the slime - no, the child - no, the slime ......?'

Natalia's eyes glazed over.

'What?　Huh?　What's that?　Huh?　What's going on ......?

'That's my girl, Natalia!　I see you've caught the intruder!

Suddenly, from behind Natalia, a voice came from behind her.

She turned to see the wonder adventurer Souma-Nagy standing among the trees.

'Well done, Natalia. You easily grabbed what the villagers were so hesitant about.

Ho ho!

Ho ho ho!

Ho-ho-ho-ho!

Why are you reading that on a stick?

Why does "The Night Bird" agree with you!

Why is it like "it's over, it's over" and the birds are all flying off at once!

Who the hell was the intruder?

"Do not approach carelessly!　You'll scare that kid away!

'Oh, right, child ......?'

...... ugh.

Natalia stood still.

The shadow she had been chasing was sitting on the ground with a start. The other person was a child with light green hair and yellowish eyes. His hair was short, so he must be a boy.

Souma-Nagy approached the child carelessly.

Before he knew it, there was another pink-haired elf girl, Raphilia-Grace, standing in the thicket. Souma-Nagi must have called her. Raphilia-Grace smiles softly and approaches the child's intruder.

Sure, it might be better to have a young-looking girl to calm the child down.

But it was as if she knew the intruder was a child, and she was quick to do so.

Natalia couldn't help but nod her head, though. The night makes it feel oddly unreal. Under the moonlight, in the pale night, it seemed like anything could happen.

'Come on, Natalia, you should come too.

The next thing she knew, Souma-Nagy was beckoning her over.

'This girl - she seems to be lost in many ways. She has a request for us, the ambassadors of Ilgafa.

From Nagi's point of view.

Thanks, 'Night Crying Bird'. Thank you.

Reggie and I waved to the 'night song birds' that flew across the thicket.

Each of the birds I spoke to in the "Food Negotiation" helped me to search for intruders for half a biscuit.

Food Negotiation is a skill that allows us to communicate with various creatures using food as currency. I thought it would be better to have a local creature help me in my search for intruders, so I decided to negotiate with the 'night bird' during my watch.

I asked him to "give me the location of anyone who has entered the Night Bird's Nawabari. I asked them to give me the location of the person who entered the Nightingale's Nawabari, and to help me escape in case of emergency. That's all. We decided that we would not do anything dangerous for each other.

Most of the Night Crying Birds in the village are from the same family, so the conversation was surprisingly simple.

The night songbird is a night watcher.

We soon learned that the intruder was a childlike creature.

We called Rafilia so that she would be able to talk to him easily, and then we supported her so that Natalia could take the credit.

It was of course Rafilia's 'Elder Slime' that caught the child who fell down.

''Master ...... slime 'Edda-chan' says that child is .......'''

I know. Let's just hear the story for now.

Me and Raphilia went to the child.

Natalia is keeping her distance. That's good.

I guess we have to be careful about what we're dealing with, since they are intruders. I knew you were a top-notch adventurer.

May I ask your name?

Rafilia squatted down and made eye contact with the seated child.

'I'm the escort of the Ilgafa envoy, right?　You wanted to see me, right?

Name: ......?

The child's eyes widened in surprise, and then slowly opened his mouth.

'Boku ...... marc.'

Marc, is that you? Next to Master, that's a good name.

Raphilia smiled gently at the child - Marc.

Marc laughed back with a ticklish look on his face, though he seemed a little surprised.

'............ Gokuri.'

Natalia?

No, no. I'm right here. We mustn't let the children be frightened!

Natalia is leaning against a nearby tree, but she won't come closer.

I'm taking a precautionary approach just in case. The situation is communicated to Rita through the mind-linkage revision every time.

I'm sure you'll be able to tell if they have a weapon or not, and Rita can tell you things that I can't.

"Are you a village child?

...... No.

Marc shook his head at Raphilia's question.

'So you are the 'intruder' who says you have business with Irgafa's envoy?

Okay.

The child straightened up and answered, then

I'm sorry for bothering you. I'm sorry.

Don't apologize to me. I'm one of Ilgafa's emissaries.

Rafilia is amazing, after all.

As if to melt the other person's caution, she has a cheery expression on her face and asks gently.

The first thing you need to do is to get a copy of the booklet.

Can you listen and give me ......?

'Yes. You tried very hard to come to see me, didn't you?　I'm listening.

...... no one ever listened to me before.

Marc, the elf child, slumped a bit and muttered.

"Actually, I'm already dead.

'Yes, sir. I know. You're Ghost, aren't you?

'Really?!'

Behind me, Natalia shouted out.

The little Marc hears this and freaks out and shakes his shoulders.

Natalia rubs her forehead against the trunk of the tree, "I've done ...... it," she says. What are you doing, Natalia?

'You mustn't lick the envoy of Ilgafa. I had already noticed it from several things.

First of all, you were moving too fast for a child. It's impossible that Natalia from Super Sogo de los Adventurados can't catch up with you.

Besides, the birds said so. They said she's not like other people.

Also, we have professionals in our family that can tell if you're alive. Whether you are good or bad.

'...... amazing. That's the town of the priestess of "Kerkatl the Sea Dragon" ......

The Ghost child held his mouth in surprise.

I took a picture of it and sent it to Rita, and she immediately replied back. According to Rita's analysis, the child ghost in front of her, Marc, had neither hostility nor harm in mind. He seems to be a so-called "lost soul" who couldn't come of age.

It did not damage either the villagers who came in contact with him or Raphilia's 'Elder Slime'. The fact that Ghosts can be energized by the living, but they didn't do so is apparently evident.

By the way, the reason 'Elder Slime' was able to receive that child is because it's a magical creature that is activated by Rafilia's magic power. But he could tell it was a ghost by the sensation of touching it.

Rita said that the fact that there is no harm in touching it suggests that the child has some kind of regret and wants to give you a message. Rita, who controls the Divine Power, is an expert in defeating ghosts, so her judgment is trustworthy.

But then she said, ''I'm still worried about you, so I'm going to rush over right now in Full Beastification (Beast Mode). I'm not thinking about that, so no ......, no that too.

Let's get the story over with as soon as possible to reassure Rita.

'Raphilia, ask Ghost-san again what he wants to 'tell' you.

Yes, Master. Master.

Raphilia looked at Marc the Ghost with gentle eyes.

'Let me hear what you 'want to tell me'.

...... Really, you're going to listen to me?

It's lonely not being able to say 'what I want to tell you' to anyone, isn't it?

Raphilia held her chest and told him.

I was kind of lost, too, so I understand. It's a good thing that I met the master and all of you, because I was finally able to tell you about my problems. So, I want to help people who have the same problem, if they are in trouble.

Thank you .......

Marc the Ghost looked at Raphilia and smiled softly.

'You are a wonderful person, ...... Raphilia-Grace. ......

Natalia is impressed.

So am I. It's amazing what you can do with a ghost's mind, Rafilia.

Besides, listening to your children's problems is good practice for when I have a child.

Raphilia pumped her fist up to the sky.

It was a big none.

'I have ...... that ...... I'm too embarrassed to say in public, but I have someone I love. It's a dream of mine to raise a child with him or her as his or her family. Of course, it doesn't have to be my child, right?　It could be another one of your children. But you see, that's none of my business. If you have the blood of a master, then you're family to me. Therefore...

Raphilia looked into the eyes of Marc the Ghost.

I think it is a coincidence that this is the place to hear about your problems. I want to learn how to be a mother who can take care of her child's selfishness!　So please, feel free to ask me!

Okay.

You are a wonderful person, ...... Raphilia-Grace: ......

Natalia, ...... is that the part that impresses you?

I'm as surprised as you are. Ghost is pressurized. It's amazing: ...... Rafilia.

............ my family's grave was vandalized.

After a short pause, Marc the Ghost said.

He hid his head with his hat, shyly, as if trying to remember something.

'I've been asleep for a long time, but the other day there was a lot of noise around, and when I woke up, I remembered my mother.'

According to the story, Marc the Ghost had been asleep for a long time.

But the last time there was a mass outbreak of ghosts on the street, he woke up because of it.

Afterwards, he remembered that he had been looking for his family's belongings.

That's where he headed to ...... demons had razed the place where the cemetery was located, he said.

'So I decided to find someone in the port city of Ilgafa and ask them to help me. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on with the people of the port city.

I understand.

Raphilia nodded.

''But 'Kerkator the Sea Dragon' is a god who protects the sea, right?　The abyss and the river can be found at ......

That pool is connected to the ocean, and when the tide is high, the water rises to the surface. Isn't it salty?

''You mean because ...... is soggy, it's part of the ocean, so it should be under the control of the 'Sea Dragon Kerkator'?'''

At my words, the ghost boy, Marc, nodded.

'Can I do something for you?　Master.

Raphilia looked at me.

'I spoke with Lady Iris earlier. If it's a small child's request, I'll do it.

I don't mind.

Thank you.

Raphilia looked at me and nodded.

'It's a prep session for taking care of the child of someone I love, and I don't want to miss it!

And then Rafilia stares into my eyes.

...... What kind of prep work do you and Iris always talk about?

'I get it. I'll help you with that.

Yes. Me and the Master are working together on this.

Let me help you with that!

Natalia raised her hand.

'I don't like to see my children scared. 'By all means, by all means!'

...... You're an absurdly nice guy. Natalia.

She freaks out and shakes her back every time she makes eye contact with Marc the Ghost. I guess she's really scared. But still, you're going to help me.

...... I think it's best to let her take the credit for this one. Yeah.

"So, all that being said, just point me to the edge of the abyss. I'll be there in the morning.

...... Yeah.

Marc the Ghost nodded.

Then he gave me a brief location of the abyss where the demon was.

The place is a rocky area near this village. I heard that a tributary of the river flows into it. The 'grave' that Marc wants to protect - or rather the stone monument - is by that riverside. But I heard that the place is on the verge of collapse because of the demons that built a nest there.

The monster that appeared at the edge of the pool is an amphibious clayfish with a huge pair of scissors - apparently a giant crayfish.

............ really, thank you ...... for finding it.

After giving us the information, Marc's body faded and disappeared.

''Thank you ............ for the use of the 'Sea Dragon Kerkator' ............

...... was really a ghost.

Natalia murmured, stunned.

She clasps her hands together lightly, as if she'll miss the rest.

'If it weren't for you two, I wouldn't have recognized him.

It's a coincidence.

It's all happening.

Me and Raphilia breathed together and waved our hands, buzzing and waving.

'Either way, you'll have to get Iris-sama's permission.

We're supposed to be here to protect you, Iris.

It's .......

Natalia was quietly staring at me after Mr. Ghost disappeared.

Meanwhile, I put my lips to Raphilia's ear.

'It's good to see ....... It's originally a trip to rebuild the Adventurer's Guild, so I'll make an exception to take the job.

...... If you and Mr. Iris and his party come here in secret to save the village, there should be no problem at all.

Me and Raphilia whispered to each other and clapped our hands together.

'It's not such an easy job,'

But Natalia has a difficult look on her face.

"The 'clayfish' that lives around here is the red-black 'clayfish fang'. It is a violent and fast-moving dangerous species. If you're not careful, you'll get your ass kicked.

"Clayfish Fang.

A giant crayfish with tusks.

It is reddish-black in color and has very hard skin.

It is best to aim at the gap in its skin or turn it over and attack it from its belly when you are in close combat.

It has a strong sense of nawareness and does not show any mercy to intruders. In particular, if a "Clayfish Fang" like you comes in, it will go berserk without question.

It is also known as a "land raider" because it digs into the soil around it with scissors to build a nest.

'For now, let's report it to Iris-sama.

That's good.

So we decided to go back to Iris.

'Yes, sir. Please help that person.

It was easy.

Iris answered and allowed us to take the quest.

Then, Natalia, I want you to interview the people in the village. Find out what information they have on the demon and whether or not Marc is telling the truth.

Lady Raphilia, please help Iris to change her clothes. I'll change into something else since my stay may be extended by a few hours. Lady Souma is at .......

Iris looked at me and chuckled.

''There's an adventurer in this village that Iris knows, could you go and call him?''

An adventurer you know?

'Yes. The one who looks like a sheaf.

Iris holds her chest and bows.

With a snap, she closes one eye to me.

...... I see. So that's how it is.

I was just in the village, wasn't I?

Yes. We became friends the last time I was in Ilgafa.

'You were about the same height as Lady Iris, and you had the same hair color as her, weren't you?

''He's powerful enough to take out the 'High Speckled Army' with a single blow.

'Huh?　That's another one of Lady Iris's things!

When Rafilia was about to say something, Iris quickly pressed down on her mouth.

''That's what I'm talking about, Souma-sama. Please.

'Yes, sir. So we can bring him in without anyone noticing?

Yes, sir. Bring him in so that no one can see him, and put him in Iris's room so that no one can see him or notice him.

Iris and I looked at each other and nodded.

I mean, that Sifu-san, if he were real, would be a master of distraction .......

''If you're an acquaintance of Iris-sama's, I'm sure of it!

Behind me, Natalia is nodding her head in a very serious way.

Okay, he doesn't notice.

"I'd like to make your acquaintance, too.

Yeah, I think we'd get along just fine.

If you know Souma-Nagy-san and Rafilia-Grace-san too, they must be quite skilled at it.

Not really. No, no, not really.

...... Why is Lady Iris embarrassed?

...... That's right, and that's someone close to me.

I see. ...... So, what's his name?

"What?

What?

Me, Iris, and Raphilia, who Momo is talking about, looked at each other.

Come to think of it, I hadn't thought of that. You know, that "Mr. Sifu's name that looks just like Iris".

'Eh, eh. I'm afraid I've forgotten it. What was it, Onii-chan - no, Souma-sama?

Oh, you're shaking it?

'I have forgotten Iris, so please tell me his name, Master Souma. I'm sure you have a favorite name that has made a lasting impression on you, Souma-sama, if you could tell me that.

Iris is looking at me with serious eyes.

So, you mean, give me a name right now. A fake name for Iris.

From my knowledge of the game in the original world, "Iris" means the rainbow goddess. The rainbow is the seven colors of the rainbow──Seven ...... It's a strange pseudonym for Iris.

Other things related to the '7' would be ...... the Seven Lucky Gods, the days of the week, and the seven-note scale.

Oh, forget it. I'm running out of time, so let's make it a musical scale word.

I don't have time for this, so let's do some scaled words. ...... You're going to give me a hard assignment, aren't you? Iris.

'Wasn't it 'Melody'?　Lady Iris.

I said.

Little Sifu's 'Melody'.

She uses 'Illusion' in a flowing manner and counters the enemy's attacks by aiming for the gaps. Yeah. Not bad. I've heard Iris' congratulatory words before at the Sea Dragon Sanctuary. Iris, you have a pretty beautiful singing voice.

''That's right!　It's 'Melody'!

Iris clapped her hands with a big smile and a plop.

'It was 'Melody'. 'Yes. That's right. It's a wonderful name. I'll make sure that Iris sings when she offers words to the sea dragon. I think we'll ask Rita to teach you how to sing. You're the real deal, Onii-chan.

'Yes, Mr. Iris. Relax. We're going to change.

Please let go. Iris, you are going to feel this emotion in your body, big brother!

Well then, Natalia, you can ask the chief for an explanation. Master, please go and call this 'Melody'.

Copy that. We'll start the mission in the morning.

Yes, yes ...... I get it.

Me and Natalia bowed and left the room.

I guess we'll be killing crayfish tomorrow. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we'll be home before nightfall.

"...... Sorry about this.

I suddenly realized that Natalia was next to me with her head down.

'I underestimated you,' she said. You came to reassure Lady Iris that you were here to reassure her. It's my job to fight ...... but you were different. You were able to recognize the girl as a ghost at a glance and deal with her appropriately ...... truly, it's amazing.

She looked up, looked at me with serious eyes, and said a few words.

'By all means, let me learn from you during this quest!　Especially the way the kids like it!

Gulping and raising her eyebrows, with a strong gaze - Natalia-san said such things.