Chapter 58: Flame Hound
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As I was explaining what had happened to Reinhardt, who had come back upstairs in his room, Milt came back.
'Master, they're in the building, and Marto is watching them.
'Okay, Murt, stay here and let me know if little Maisa comes to give you dinner news.
Yes, master.
Leaving Murt at home, we made our way to the building where Malt was waiting.
I don't know where it is in the city, since I moved through the shadow world with Mart on my radar, but the five Flame Hounds are gathered in a room that looks like a parlor.
"That's why they'll always be ranked C for as long as it takes to get to the bottom of the list.
Cesari and Yuu-man are small in front of the bearded dog-beast man who says in a dumbfounded manner.
Four people, two on each side of the long side of the rectangular table, sit across from each other, with their leader Bartolo sitting at the so-called birthday table.
"Tony's with me and that's just........pathetic.......
The shaved-headed giant who was holding the large shield also looks down at the two smaller men with a dumbfounded look on his face.
Apparently, the Yuuo is called Tony.
''You haven't achieved much, and on the contrary, you've smeared the Flame Hound's name, you morons!
Bartolo is glaring at them with his arms folded, looking like he's going to be furious.
''If we could have worked that Kent or some other kid in, we would have been treated even better here!
I'm sorry, Mr. Bartolo, but that kid Kent or whatever he is, he's got a funny way of getting his head around...
Yes, he knows we're after the Giga Wolf...
What ... where did you get a whiff of it or make him puke?
'No ... that's ... hey ...'
'It was a bad atmosphere... I mean...'
"Idiots! So you never got around to finding out how the enemy got the information? You moron!
Hey! I'm sorry!
Cesari and Tony are getting even smaller as Bartolo yells at them.
At this rate, they'll be hand-sized in another three hours or so.
''Look, the demons are attacking Volzard right now. It should be a time of earning for the adventurers, as it were. And yet, the city is peaceful itself. Why?
No, it's that kid, Kent, or whatever the hell he is.
Bartolo leaned forward and asked, to which Cesari replied with trepidation.
Yes, it's said that Kent, or some other punk, used an errand boy to fight off a horde of demons by himself. It is rumored that there are more than two hundred rock ogres, and more than three hundred and fifty orcs, including the orcs of yesterday. Do you understand what this means?
'Well Kent, the kid said the demon he's using is strong...'
'Idiots! That's not what I'm talking about, that's really dumb....
He didn't like Cesari's answer, so he yelled at him again, and it looks like Cesari has shrunk again.
I wonder if Bartolo is a magician who can shrink things.
When Bartolo glanced at him, the dog-beast man showed him a grin.
I mean, that little brat's got that much stored up in him, huh?
As Oreste, the dog-beast man, said, I'm in a state of monopoly on magic stones, but I still have to take care of a hundred and fifty more from now on, and I plan to use half of the orc's magic stones for reinforcement.
Again, as he sat back down deeply, Bartolo opened his mouth as he looked around at everyone.
''Look, if we get rid of that kid like Kent, it means that we can earn a solid amount of magic stones and our value will go up in preparation for the demons. Think about it, an orc magic stone is three hundred and fifty. No matter how cheaply we estimate it, it should be three hundred and fifty to four million healts.
"Four Million Hert....
Hmm, and it's only one day's work...
All five Flame Hounds seem to be completely blinded by money.
I wonder if these people are really strong.
Even if they are strong, can they defeat three hundred and seventy-four orcs with just five people?
'How is it? Reinhardt
"I don't know how good a handlers these men are, but I doubt five of them could take them down alone.
'Yeah, you know, Ridnell and the others who said it's the end of the world when you're dead sound like they're much more experienced.
"If we're to believe him, Bartolo here is an A-list adventurer, and he has a certain amount of experience, but he has never faced a horde of over 200.
"I don't really feel it, is that it?
Perhaps...
Even so, I wonder if they're so focused on their own profits that they don't think about whether it's actually possible to defeat them or the possibility of the city being in danger due to a mass outbreak of demons.
''Bartolo-san, what are you going to do about Gigawolf?''
Well I'll look for it, but don't get hung up on it.
Bartolo simply replied to Cesari's question that he would stop aiming for the Giga Wolf.
''What? It doesn't have to be a Giga Wolf?''
"Tony, which is more dangerous, the giga wolf or the orc?
It's a gigawolf, of course.
Would you rather risk your life to make money, or make it for fun?
Of course it's better to have fun and make some money.
Well, you know which one I'm going after, don't you?
I see...
The five Flame Hounds were exchanging grins and smiles when there was a knock at the door of the room.
'Excuse me, your dinner is now ready, and little Nazario boy would love to join us and share his saga with you, but...'
All right, we'll be there in a minute. Tell Lady Nazario to wait for a while.
Yes, sir.
Five fond glances were given to the maid who arrived at the news of dinner, but as expected of the A-ranked maid, only the language used in response was suitably dignified.
As the maid left the room, Oreste, the dog-beast man, sniffed.
''Hmm, so this one's a kid's babysitter too, tough luck Bartolo.
"If you think so, then help me out, you're a golden boy with a bright future, so don't be rude. And don't talk to this Kent or any of his other kids about how they screwed up, and if they get cocky, I'll cut them off so that they can't have a woman in their arms again, so keep that in mind...
Everyone nodded to Bartolo, who turned his gaze to Guillotine.
I see, this is Nazario's house, I think it's called Orlando Store or something like that, right?
The reason why the flame hound messed with Amanda-san's shop was to damage me and to get in a good mood with Nazario, right?
''Well.......what should I do?''
"One thing after another, Master Kent's in trouble.
As the five of the Flame Hounds headed for dinner, we returned to the lodge, leaving Malt to watch, and we began to discuss what to do in the future.
Since the Flame Hound guys were supposedly in the Demon Forest when the ruckus happened, they didn't seem to be involved in the ruckus.
From what the maid said and the conversations that followed, it's unclear whether Bartolo and the others acted in response to Nazario's instructions, but it's clear that they're working to improve their position and their business.
''With even Meisa-chan involved, if they think we're keeping quiet, I feel like they're going to meddle even more.
I don't mean to be aggressive, but it would be good to let them know that they can be troublesome if they do.
''Yeah, yeah, they seem to have a lot of problems, but they're going to be an asset in the event that Volzard is attacked by thousands or tens of thousands of demons.
I don't know what kind of situation the attack of tens of thousands of demons will cause, but if my subordinates can't handle it alone, I'll have to ask all the adventurers to fight for me as well.
I don't think the five Flame Hounds will fight for anyone for free, but if they can still defeat the demons for their own survival, it should help to reduce the overall numbers.
''I suppose the question is, how do we nail them down?''
''That's right, I don't think he'll back out if it's a half-hearted thing...''
As I was pondering the Flamehound countermeasures, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
'Kent! Dinner time.....
'Thank you, Meisa...? What's wrong?
Maisa froze, rolling her eyes as she opened the door.
'What, what's that! What's that mofo!
'What? Ah........
I muffed Milt and Moult and kept them out in the open.
'Milt and Moult are my servants,'
Milt.....................
'You two are very important to Meisa, so make sure you say hello.
It's just Milt.
This is Murt.
He speaks! Fluffy spoke....
Meisa's eyes are so unusual, the way she's looking at Milt and Murt, and she's snorting so much that she's muffling and snorting.
"I want to touch it....
Okay, don't be so rough.
I won't, I won't, I won't...
Meisa, who approached fearfully, gently reached out to Milt.
''Wow ... fluffy, soooooo fluffy! Huhhhh....
Meisa is getting debauched as she strokes Milt.
'Kent! Maysa! What are you doing, get your ass down here or I'll skip dinner!
Okay, I'm coming! Come on, Meisa, let's go.
Oh no, it's not going to happen again...
I'll let you stroke it slowly later, you know...
'Ummm........I'm sure.......'
Not only Milt and the others, but also Zae and the others haven't been introduced to Amanda and Meisa, so I'll take this opportunity to introduce them to you.
Otherwise, if something happened to them and they came to help, they'd just think they were just demons when they first met each other.
After dinner, I told Amanda the story behind the ruckus that had happened in the evening and the other side of the story.
I see, so you've been holding a grudge against her over Beatrice.
'I'm sorry, I'm going to take steps to make sure he doesn't mess with you again...'
Well, I don't know if any of my customers would trust that stupid story, but I don't want them to get in trouble, so make sure you get it right.
Yes, and I'd like to introduce you to my family, Reinhardt, as I've added to my army of followers, as well.
Maisa was still squirming around while we ate dinner, and she couldn't help but want to pet Milt and the others.
'Well, let's start with the undead Kobold, Milt, Alto, come out and represent us.
Yeah ... different than before...
Milt, who remains fuzzy and cute, and Alto, who is fearlessly built, look a bit different, but they are almost identical in specs.
'It's nice to meet you, my name is Alto.
It's just Milt.
Oh, my goodness, that's what Kobold said.
Hey, Kent, can I pet him?
Meline-san seems to be itching to experience mofoing, too.
After checking with Artoo and Milt for a while, Meline-san went to mofo with Artoo, and Meisa-chan hugged Milt.
''You're quite pretty, but is it useful?''
Of course. I'd kill an orc in a heartbeat.
Well, that's not what it looks like.
Yes, I took care to make it less intimidating, so I enhanced it.
After all, even in this world, cute is justified, isn't it?
''Also, the next one I'm going to introduce is a combat-specific undead lizardman, so don't be surprised if it's quite powerful, Zhae.......''
I introduced them after a prelude, but when Zhae emerged from the world of shadows, all three of them made their expressions tighten.
So, I stood next to Zhae and showed him that it was okay.
''I'm Zhae, the undead lizardman's unifier.
We haven't seen you before, landlord, but if you don't mind...
Wow, I'm talking too...
'Yes, I tried to strengthen Reinhardt and the others to be able to speak as well, but they could only speak by telekinesis, probably because they are only bones. Instead, though, Zae and the others, as well as Artoo and the others, can communicate through conversation.
The king has asked me to protect the men of this house, and I will do so in case of trouble.
The three of them loosened up as Zhae showed them a knight's salute, as if he had learned it from Reinhardt.
''We, too, have been told by our master to protect this house.
''There are five undead lizardmen and thirty-three undead kobolds, so don't worry, we'll have someone watching over the store.
All three of you are pouting when you hear the number of servants.
''Mom, it's awesome, it's like a fairy tale.
Oh, it's really an unbelievable sight, isn't it?
I know but it's more difficult to believe that Kent is doing this.
Yeah, totally....
I know Amanda and Meisa are both very nice people, but I feel like I'm being treated badly... but at times like this, Meline's hugs... they're Alto's!
'Um...Amanda, what's that box?
Hmm? Oh, that's a box of cookies from a customer. Want to take some?
As soon as Amanda-san said that, you can't say you'll take it with you if a deep wrinkle is etched between Meisa's eyebrows.
''No, not what's in the box, but if I could, I'd like that ribbon...''
There is a box of cookies with a red ribbon tied to it once it is untied.
What do you use that ribbon for?
'Yes, I thought I'd write a letter of reconciliation to those who were making noise in the evening to accompany it...'
What? A ribbon on a letter to a ragdoll? Can you settle for that?
Well, it's hard to say until you try...
Maysa wanted a ribbon as well, but when she heard that it was to be used to negotiate with the Flamehound guys, she apparently gave up on it.
I'll have to make it up to her somehow in time.
It might cause a ruckus if the customers saw us, so I made sure that all of the servants would not be seen on the ground floor of the shop except in case of an emergency, and if I had business to attend to, I would call on Amanda in the kitchen.
Maysa seemed very unhappy, so I decided to lend Mart, Milt, and Moult to sleep when I could afford to do so.
'Amanda, they don't shed and they don't wet the bed, so they'll be fine,'
'Haha, so there's only one person who needs to worry about bedwetting, then.
'Shiii! I won't, I'm not going to wet the bed again!
I'll explain later that Milt looks terribly worried while being hugged by Meisa, so I'll explain to him that his bedwetting worries are probably okay.
After I finished introducing everyone in the military, I flew from my room to Rustock and explained the aftermath of the commotion while taking care of the chairman.
When I mentioned Kizawa Sumika's name, the chairman's expression clouded over.
''I'm not too good with Kizawa-san either... I don't want to say too much bad things about others...''
The chairman of the committee spoke after preamble, and he said that there are bad rumors about leading bullies, cheating, and anything else that comes along with it.
However, he said that none of these rumors are in the realm of rumors, and he seems to be very good at getting around them.
Perhaps if Kento directly says this or that, I have a feeling it will cause more trouble for him...
'Ummm but I don't want anything to happen to you...'
I think you should talk to your friend and Acchan before you make a move.
I see...
The chairman of the committee says that Kizawa-san, who is very good at getting around, is not hostile to the Utsukubo Sisters, who are overwhelmingly popular with the girls.
'But that's because of the background of the overwhelming support of the Utsukubo Sisters, isn't it?
Yeah, I do.
You know, the odds are about 17 to 8...
'Oh, well, there are only twenty-five girls, hmmm... maybe we need to keep things from getting too angular...'
For now, Kento, you'd better concentrate on the rescue mission.
'Yeah, I'll do that...'
I've never had the opportunity to deal with girls intimately before, so I have no idea how to deal with girls like Kizawa-san.
I'm a little sorry, but let's let the girls take care of the girls.
I kissed the committee chairman goodnight and returned to Volzard.
Now, let's go deliver a letter to the flamehound for a bit.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
As I was explaining what had happened to Reinhardt, who had come back upstairs in his room, Milt came back.
'Master, they're in the building, and Marto is watching them.
'Okay, Murt, stay here and let me know if little Maisa comes to give you dinner news.
Yes, master.
Leaving Murt at home, we made our way to the building where Malt was waiting.
I don't know where it is in the city, since I moved through the shadow world with Mart on my radar, but the five Flame Hounds are gathered in a room that looks like a parlor.
"That's why they'll always be ranked C for as long as it takes to get to the bottom of the list.
Cesari and Yuu-man are small in front of the bearded dog-beast man who says in a dumbfounded manner.
Four people, two on each side of the long side of the rectangular table, sit across from each other, with their leader Bartolo sitting at the so-called birthday table.
"Tony's with me and that's just........pathetic.......
The shaved-headed giant who was holding the large shield also looks down at the two smaller men with a dumbfounded look on his face.
Apparently, the Yuuo is called Tony.
''You haven't achieved much, and on the contrary, you've smeared the Flame Hound's name, you morons!
Bartolo is glaring at them with his arms folded, looking like he's going to be furious.
''If we could have worked that Kent or some other kid in, we would have been treated even better here!
I'm sorry, Mr. Bartolo, but that kid Kent or whatever he is, he's got a funny way of getting his head around...
Yes, he knows we're after the Giga Wolf...
What ... where did you get a whiff of it or make him puke?
'No ... that's ... hey ...'
'It was a bad atmosphere... I mean...'
"Idiots! So you never got around to finding out how the enemy got the information? You moron!
Hey! I'm sorry!
Cesari and Tony are getting even smaller as Bartolo yells at them.
At this rate, they'll be hand-sized in another three hours or so.
''Look, the demons are attacking Volzard right now. It should be a time of earning for the adventurers, as it were. And yet, the city is peaceful itself. Why?
No, it's that kid, Kent, or whatever the hell he is.
Bartolo leaned forward and asked, to which Cesari replied with trepidation.
Yes, it's said that Kent, or some other punk, used an errand boy to fight off a horde of demons by himself. It is rumored that there are more than two hundred rock ogres, and more than three hundred and fifty orcs, including the orcs of yesterday. Do you understand what this means?
'Well Kent, the kid said the demon he's using is strong...'
'Idiots! That's not what I'm talking about, that's really dumb....
He didn't like Cesari's answer, so he yelled at him again, and it looks like Cesari has shrunk again.
I wonder if Bartolo is a magician who can shrink things.
When Bartolo glanced at him, the dog-beast man showed him a grin.
I mean, that little brat's got that much stored up in him, huh?
As Oreste, the dog-beast man, said, I'm in a state of monopoly on magic stones, but I still have to take care of a hundred and fifty more from now on, and I plan to use half of the orc's magic stones for reinforcement.
Again, as he sat back down deeply, Bartolo opened his mouth as he looked around at everyone.
''Look, if we get rid of that kid like Kent, it means that we can earn a solid amount of magic stones and our value will go up in preparation for the demons. Think about it, an orc magic stone is three hundred and fifty. No matter how cheaply we estimate it, it should be three hundred and fifty to four million healts.
"Four Million Hert....
Hmm, and it's only one day's work...
All five Flame Hounds seem to be completely blinded by money.
I wonder if these people are really strong.
Even if they are strong, can they defeat three hundred and seventy-four orcs with just five people?
'How is it? Reinhardt
"I don't know how good a handlers these men are, but I doubt five of them could take them down alone.
'Yeah, you know, Ridnell and the others who said it's the end of the world when you're dead sound like they're much more experienced.
"If we're to believe him, Bartolo here is an A-list adventurer, and he has a certain amount of experience, but he has never faced a horde of over 200.
"I don't really feel it, is that it?
Perhaps...
Even so, I wonder if they're so focused on their own profits that they don't think about whether it's actually possible to defeat them or the possibility of the city being in danger due to a mass outbreak of demons.
''Bartolo-san, what are you going to do about Gigawolf?''
Well I'll look for it, but don't get hung up on it.
Bartolo simply replied to Cesari's question that he would stop aiming for the Giga Wolf.
''What? It doesn't have to be a Giga Wolf?''
"Tony, which is more dangerous, the giga wolf or the orc?
It's a gigawolf, of course.
Would you rather risk your life to make money, or make it for fun?
Of course it's better to have fun and make some money.
Well, you know which one I'm going after, don't you?
I see...
The five Flame Hounds were exchanging grins and smiles when there was a knock at the door of the room.
'Excuse me, your dinner is now ready, and little Nazario boy would love to join us and share his saga with you, but...'
All right, we'll be there in a minute. Tell Lady Nazario to wait for a while.
Yes, sir.
Five fond glances were given to the maid who arrived at the news of dinner, but as expected of the A-ranked maid, only the language used in response was suitably dignified.
As the maid left the room, Oreste, the dog-beast man, sniffed.
''Hmm, so this one's a kid's babysitter too, tough luck Bartolo.
"If you think so, then help me out, you're a golden boy with a bright future, so don't be rude. And don't talk to this Kent or any of his other kids about how they screwed up, and if they get cocky, I'll cut them off so that they can't have a woman in their arms again, so keep that in mind...
Everyone nodded to Bartolo, who turned his gaze to Guillotine.
I see, this is Nazario's house, I think it's called Orlando Store or something like that, right?
The reason why the flame hound messed with Amanda-san's shop was to damage me and to get in a good mood with Nazario, right?
''Well.......what should I do?''
"One thing after another, Master Kent's in trouble.
As the five of the Flame Hounds headed for dinner, we returned to the lodge, leaving Malt to watch, and we began to discuss what to do in the future.
Since the Flame Hound guys were supposedly in the Demon Forest when the ruckus happened, they didn't seem to be involved in the ruckus.
From what the maid said and the conversations that followed, it's unclear whether Bartolo and the others acted in response to Nazario's instructions, but it's clear that they're working to improve their position and their business.
''With even Meisa-chan involved, if they think we're keeping quiet, I feel like they're going to meddle even more.
I don't mean to be aggressive, but it would be good to let them know that they can be troublesome if they do.
''Yeah, yeah, they seem to have a lot of problems, but they're going to be an asset in the event that Volzard is attacked by thousands or tens of thousands of demons.
I don't know what kind of situation the attack of tens of thousands of demons will cause, but if my subordinates can't handle it alone, I'll have to ask all the adventurers to fight for me as well.
I don't think the five Flame Hounds will fight for anyone for free, but if they can still defeat the demons for their own survival, it should help to reduce the overall numbers.
''I suppose the question is, how do we nail them down?''
''That's right, I don't think he'll back out if it's a half-hearted thing...''
As I was pondering the Flamehound countermeasures, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
'Kent! Dinner time.....
'Thank you, Meisa...? What's wrong?
Maisa froze, rolling her eyes as she opened the door.
'What, what's that! What's that mofo!
'What? Ah........
I muffed Milt and Moult and kept them out in the open.
'Milt and Moult are my servants,'
Milt.....................
'You two are very important to Meisa, so make sure you say hello.
It's just Milt.
This is Murt.
He speaks! Fluffy spoke....
Meisa's eyes are so unusual, the way she's looking at Milt and Murt, and she's snorting so much that she's muffling and snorting.
"I want to touch it....
Okay, don't be so rough.
I won't, I won't, I won't...
Meisa, who approached fearfully, gently reached out to Milt.
''Wow ... fluffy, soooooo fluffy! Huhhhh....
Meisa is getting debauched as she strokes Milt.
'Kent! Maysa! What are you doing, get your ass down here or I'll skip dinner!
Okay, I'm coming! Come on, Meisa, let's go.
Oh no, it's not going to happen again...
I'll let you stroke it slowly later, you know...
'Ummm........I'm sure.......'
Not only Milt and the others, but also Zae and the others haven't been introduced to Amanda and Meisa, so I'll take this opportunity to introduce them to you.
Otherwise, if something happened to them and they came to help, they'd just think they were just demons when they first met each other.
After dinner, I told Amanda the story behind the ruckus that had happened in the evening and the other side of the story.
I see, so you've been holding a grudge against her over Beatrice.
'I'm sorry, I'm going to take steps to make sure he doesn't mess with you again...'
Well, I don't know if any of my customers would trust that stupid story, but I don't want them to get in trouble, so make sure you get it right.
Yes, and I'd like to introduce you to my family, Reinhardt, as I've added to my army of followers, as well.
Maisa was still squirming around while we ate dinner, and she couldn't help but want to pet Milt and the others.
'Well, let's start with the undead Kobold, Milt, Alto, come out and represent us.
Yeah ... different than before...
Milt, who remains fuzzy and cute, and Alto, who is fearlessly built, look a bit different, but they are almost identical in specs.
'It's nice to meet you, my name is Alto.
It's just Milt.
Oh, my goodness, that's what Kobold said.
Hey, Kent, can I pet him?
Meline-san seems to be itching to experience mofoing, too.
After checking with Artoo and Milt for a while, Meline-san went to mofo with Artoo, and Meisa-chan hugged Milt.
''You're quite pretty, but is it useful?''
Of course. I'd kill an orc in a heartbeat.
Well, that's not what it looks like.
Yes, I took care to make it less intimidating, so I enhanced it.
After all, even in this world, cute is justified, isn't it?
''Also, the next one I'm going to introduce is a combat-specific undead lizardman, so don't be surprised if it's quite powerful, Zhae.......''
I introduced them after a prelude, but when Zhae emerged from the world of shadows, all three of them made their expressions tighten.
So, I stood next to Zhae and showed him that it was okay.
''I'm Zhae, the undead lizardman's unifier.
We haven't seen you before, landlord, but if you don't mind...
Wow, I'm talking too...
'Yes, I tried to strengthen Reinhardt and the others to be able to speak as well, but they could only speak by telekinesis, probably because they are only bones. Instead, though, Zae and the others, as well as Artoo and the others, can communicate through conversation.
The king has asked me to protect the men of this house, and I will do so in case of trouble.
The three of them loosened up as Zhae showed them a knight's salute, as if he had learned it from Reinhardt.
''We, too, have been told by our master to protect this house.
''There are five undead lizardmen and thirty-three undead kobolds, so don't worry, we'll have someone watching over the store.
All three of you are pouting when you hear the number of servants.
''Mom, it's awesome, it's like a fairy tale.
Oh, it's really an unbelievable sight, isn't it?
I know but it's more difficult to believe that Kent is doing this.
Yeah, totally....
I know Amanda and Meisa are both very nice people, but I feel like I'm being treated badly... but at times like this, Meline's hugs... they're Alto's!
'Um...Amanda, what's that box?
Hmm? Oh, that's a box of cookies from a customer. Want to take some?
As soon as Amanda-san said that, you can't say you'll take it with you if a deep wrinkle is etched between Meisa's eyebrows.
''No, not what's in the box, but if I could, I'd like that ribbon...''
There is a box of cookies with a red ribbon tied to it once it is untied.
What do you use that ribbon for?
'Yes, I thought I'd write a letter of reconciliation to those who were making noise in the evening to accompany it...'
What? A ribbon on a letter to a ragdoll? Can you settle for that?
Well, it's hard to say until you try...
Maysa wanted a ribbon as well, but when she heard that it was to be used to negotiate with the Flamehound guys, she apparently gave up on it.
I'll have to make it up to her somehow in time.
It might cause a ruckus if the customers saw us, so I made sure that all of the servants would not be seen on the ground floor of the shop except in case of an emergency, and if I had business to attend to, I would call on Amanda in the kitchen.
Maysa seemed very unhappy, so I decided to lend Mart, Milt, and Moult to sleep when I could afford to do so.
'Amanda, they don't shed and they don't wet the bed, so they'll be fine,'
'Haha, so there's only one person who needs to worry about bedwetting, then.
'Shiii! I won't, I'm not going to wet the bed again!
I'll explain later that Milt looks terribly worried while being hugged by Meisa, so I'll explain to him that his bedwetting worries are probably okay.
After I finished introducing everyone in the military, I flew from my room to Rustock and explained the aftermath of the commotion while taking care of the chairman.
When I mentioned Kizawa Sumika's name, the chairman's expression clouded over.
''I'm not too good with Kizawa-san either... I don't want to say too much bad things about others...''
The chairman of the committee spoke after preamble, and he said that there are bad rumors about leading bullies, cheating, and anything else that comes along with it.
However, he said that none of these rumors are in the realm of rumors, and he seems to be very good at getting around them.
Perhaps if Kento directly says this or that, I have a feeling it will cause more trouble for him...
'Ummm but I don't want anything to happen to you...'
I think you should talk to your friend and Acchan before you make a move.
I see...
The chairman of the committee says that Kizawa-san, who is very good at getting around, is not hostile to the Utsukubo Sisters, who are overwhelmingly popular with the girls.
'But that's because of the background of the overwhelming support of the Utsukubo Sisters, isn't it?
Yeah, I do.
You know, the odds are about 17 to 8...
'Oh, well, there are only twenty-five girls, hmmm... maybe we need to keep things from getting too angular...'
For now, Kento, you'd better concentrate on the rescue mission.
'Yeah, I'll do that...'
I've never had the opportunity to deal with girls intimately before, so I have no idea how to deal with girls like Kizawa-san.
I'm a little sorry, but let's let the girls take care of the girls.
I kissed the committee chairman goodnight and returned to Volzard.
Now, let's go deliver a letter to the flamehound for a bit.
As I was explaining what had happened to Reinhardt, who had come back upstairs in his room, Milt came back.'Master, they're in the building, and Marto is watching them.'Okay, Murt, stay here and let me know if little Maisa comes to give you dinner news.Yes, master.Leaving Murt at home, we made our way to the building where Malt was waiting.I don't know where it is in the city, since I moved through the shadow world with Mart on my radar, but the five Flame Hounds are gathered in a room that looks like a parlor."That's why they'll always be ranked C for as long as it takes to get to the bottom of the list.Cesari and Yuu-man are small in front of the bearded dog-beast man who says in a dumbfounded manner.Four people, two on each side of the long side of the rectangular table, sit across from each other, with their leader Bartolo sitting at the so-called birthday table."Tony's with me and that's just........pathetic.......The shaved-headed giant who was holding the large shield also looks down at the two smaller men with a dumbfounded look on his face.Apparently, the Yuuo is called Tony.''You haven't achieved much, and on the contrary, you've smeared the Flame Hound's name, you morons!Bartolo is glaring at them with his arms folded, looking like he's going to be furious.''If we could have worked that Kent or some other kid in, we would have been treated even better here!I'm sorry, Mr. Bartolo, but that kid Kent or whatever he is, he's got a funny way of getting his head around...Yes, he knows we're after the Giga Wolf...What ... where did you get a whiff of it or make him puke?'No ... that's ... hey ...''It was a bad atmosphere... I mean...'"Idiots! So you never got around to finding out how the enemy got the information? You moron!Hey! I'm sorry!Cesari and Tony are getting even smaller as Bartolo yells at them.At this rate, they'll be hand-sized in another three hours or so.''Look, the demons are attacking Volzard right now. It should be a time of earning for the adventurers, as it were. And yet, the city is peaceful itself. Why?No, it's that kid, Kent, or whatever the hell he is.Bartolo leaned forward and asked, to which Cesari replied with trepidation.Yes, it's said that Kent, or some other punk, used an errand boy to fight off a horde of demons by himself. It is rumored that there are more than two hundred rock ogres, and more than three hundred and fifty orcs, including the orcs of yesterday. Do you understand what this means?'Well Kent, the kid said the demon he's using is strong...''Idiots! That's not what I'm talking about, that's really dumb....He didn't like Cesari's answer, so he yelled at him again, and it looks like Cesari has shrunk again.I wonder if Bartolo is a magician who can shrink things.When Bartolo glanced at him, the dog-beast man showed him a grin.I mean, that little brat's got that much stored up in him, huh?As Oreste, the dog-beast man, said, I'm in a state of monopoly on magic stones, but I still have to take care of a hundred and fifty more from now on, and I plan to use half of the orc's magic stones for reinforcement.Again, as he sat back down deeply, Bartolo opened his mouth as he looked around at everyone.''Look, if we get rid of that kid like Kent, it means that we can earn a solid amount of magic stones and our value will go up in preparation for the demons. Think about it, an orc magic stone is three hundred and fifty. No matter how cheaply we estimate it, it should be three hundred and fifty to four million healts."Four Million Hert....Hmm, and it's only one day's work...All five Flame Hounds seem to be completely blinded by money.I wonder if these people are really strong.Even if they are strong, can they defeat three hundred and seventy-four orcs with just five people?'How is it? Reinhardt"I don't know how good a handlers these men are, but I doubt five of them could take them down alone.'Yeah, you know, Ridnell and the others who said it's the end of the world when you're dead sound like they're much more experienced."If we're to believe him, Bartolo here is an A-list adventurer, and he has a certain amount of experience, but he has never faced a horde of over 200."I don't really feel it, is that it?Perhaps...Even so, I wonder if they're so focused on their own profits that they don't think about whether it's actually possible to defeat them or the possibility of the city being in danger due to a mass outbreak of demons.''Bartolo-san, what are you going to do about Gigawolf?''Well I'll look for it, but don't get hung up on it.Bartolo simply replied to Cesari's question that he would stop aiming for the Giga Wolf.''What? It doesn't have to be a Giga Wolf?''"Tony, which is more dangerous, the giga wolf or the orc?It's a gigawolf, of course.Would you rather risk your life to make money, or make it for fun?Of course it's better to have fun and make some money.Well, you know which one I'm going after, don't you?I see...The five Flame Hounds were exchanging grins and smiles when there was a knock at the door of the room.'Excuse me, your dinner is now ready, and little Nazario boy would love to join us and share his saga with you, but...'All right, we'll be there in a minute. Tell Lady Nazario to wait for a while.Yes, sir.Five fond glances were given to the maid who arrived at the news of dinner, but as expected of the A-ranked maid, only the language used in response was suitably dignified.As the maid left the room, Oreste, the dog-beast man, sniffed.''Hmm, so this one's a kid's babysitter too, tough luck Bartolo."If you think so, then help me out, you're a golden boy with a bright future, so don't be rude. And don't talk to this Kent or any of his other kids about how they screwed up, and if they get cocky, I'll cut them off so that they can't have a woman in their arms again, so keep that in mind...Everyone nodded to Bartolo, who turned his gaze to Guillotine.I see, this is Nazario's house, I think it's called Orlando Store or something like that, right?The reason why the flame hound messed with Amanda-san's shop was to damage me and to get in a good mood with Nazario, right?''Well.......what should I do?''"One thing after another, Master Kent's in trouble.As the five of the Flame Hounds headed for dinner, we returned to the lodge, leaving Malt to watch, and we began to discuss what to do in the future.Since the Flame Hound guys were supposedly in the Demon Forest when the ruckus happened, they didn't seem to be involved in the ruckus.From what the maid said and the conversations that followed, it's unclear whether Bartolo and the others acted in response to Nazario's instructions, but it's clear that they're working to improve their position and their business.''With even Meisa-chan involved, if they think we're keeping quiet, I feel like they're going to meddle even more.I don't mean to be aggressive, but it would be good to let them know that they can be troublesome if they do.''Yeah, yeah, they seem to have a lot of problems, but they're going to be an asset in the event that Volzard is attacked by thousands or tens of thousands of demons.I don't know what kind of situation the attack of tens of thousands of demons will cause, but if my subordinates can't handle it alone, I'll have to ask all the adventurers to fight for me as well.I don't think the five Flame Hounds will fight for anyone for free, but if they can still defeat the demons for their own survival, it should help to reduce the overall numbers.''I suppose the question is, how do we nail them down?''''That's right, I don't think he'll back out if it's a half-hearted thing...''As I was pondering the Flamehound countermeasures, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.'Kent! Dinner time.....'Thank you, Meisa...? What's wrong?Maisa froze, rolling her eyes as she opened the door.'What, what's that! What's that mofo!'What? Ah........I muffed Milt and Moult and kept them out in the open.'Milt and Moult are my servants,'Milt.....................'You two are very important to Meisa, so make sure you say hello.It's just Milt.This is Murt.He speaks! Fluffy spoke....Meisa's eyes are so unusual, the way she's looking at Milt and Murt, and she's snorting so much that she's muffling and snorting."I want to touch it....Okay, don't be so rough.I won't, I won't, I won't...Meisa, who approached fearfully, gently reached out to Milt.''Wow ... fluffy, soooooo fluffy! Huhhhh....Meisa is getting debauched as she strokes Milt.'Kent! Maysa! What are you doing, get your ass down here or I'll skip dinner!Okay, I'm coming! Come on, Meisa, let's go.Oh no, it's not going to happen again...I'll let you stroke it slowly later, you know...'Ummm........I'm sure.......'Not only Milt and the others, but also Zae and the others haven't been introduced to Amanda and Meisa, so I'll take this opportunity to introduce them to you.Otherwise, if something happened to them and they came to help, they'd just think they were just demons when they first met each other.After dinner, I told Amanda the story behind the ruckus that had happened in the evening and the other side of the story.I see, so you've been holding a grudge against her over Beatrice.'I'm sorry, I'm going to take steps to make sure he doesn't mess with you again...'Well, I don't know if any of my customers would trust that stupid story, but I don't want them to get in trouble, so make sure you get it right.Yes, and I'd like to introduce you to my family, Reinhardt, as I've added to my army of followers, as well.Maisa was still squirming around while we ate dinner, and she couldn't help but want to pet Milt and the others.'Well, let's start with the undead Kobold, Milt, Alto, come out and represent us.Yeah ... different than before...Milt, who remains fuzzy and cute, and Alto, who is fearlessly built, look a bit different, but they are almost identical in specs.'It's nice to meet you, my name is Alto.It's just Milt.Oh, my goodness, that's what Kobold said.Hey, Kent, can I pet him?Meline-san seems to be itching to experience mofoing, too.After checking with Artoo and Milt for a while, Meline-san went to mofo with Artoo, and Meisa-chan hugged Milt.''You're quite pretty, but is it useful?''Of course. I'd kill an orc in a heartbeat.Well, that's not what it looks like.Yes, I took care to make it less intimidating, so I enhanced it.After all, even in this world, cute is justified, isn't it?''Also, the next one I'm going to introduce is a combat-specific undead lizardman, so don't be surprised if it's quite powerful, Zhae.......''I introduced them after a prelude, but when Zhae emerged from the world of shadows, all three of them made their expressions tighten.So, I stood next to Zhae and showed him that it was okay.''I'm Zhae, the undead lizardman's unifier.We haven't seen you before, landlord, but if you don't mind...Wow, I'm talking too...'Yes, I tried to strengthen Reinhardt and the others to be able to speak as well, but they could only speak by telekinesis, probably because they are only bones. Instead, though, Zae and the others, as well as Artoo and the others, can communicate through conversation.The king has asked me to protect the men of this house, and I will do so in case of trouble.The three of them loosened up as Zhae showed them a knight's salute, as if he had learned it from Reinhardt.''We, too, have been told by our master to protect this house.''There are five undead lizardmen and thirty-three undead kobolds, so don't worry, we'll have someone watching over the store.All three of you are pouting when you hear the number of servants.''Mom, it's awesome, it's like a fairy tale.Oh, it's really an unbelievable sight, isn't it?I know but it's more difficult to believe that Kent is doing this.Yeah, totally....I know Amanda and Meisa are both very nice people, but I feel like I'm being treated badly... but at times like this, Meline's hugs... they're Alto's!'Um...Amanda, what's that box?Hmm? Oh, that's a box of cookies from a customer. Want to take some?As soon as Amanda-san said that, you can't say you'll take it with you if a deep wrinkle is etched between Meisa's eyebrows.''No, not what's in the box, but if I could, I'd like that ribbon...''There is a box of cookies with a red ribbon tied to it once it is untied.What do you use that ribbon for?'Yes, I thought I'd write a letter of reconciliation to those who were making noise in the evening to accompany it...'What? A ribbon on a letter to a ragdoll? Can you settle for that?Well, it's hard to say until you try...Maysa wanted a ribbon as well, but when she heard that it was to be used to negotiate with the Flamehound guys, she apparently gave up on it.I'll have to make it up to her somehow in time.It might cause a ruckus if the customers saw us, so I made sure that all of the servants would not be seen on the ground floor of the shop except in case of an emergency, and if I had business to attend to, I would call on Amanda in the kitchen.Maysa seemed very unhappy, so I decided to lend Mart, Milt, and Moult to sleep when I could afford to do so.'Amanda, they don't shed and they don't wet the bed, so they'll be fine,''Haha, so there's only one person who needs to worry about bedwetting, then.'Shiii! I won't, I'm not going to wet the bed again!I'll explain later that Milt looks terribly worried while being hugged by Meisa, so I'll explain to him that his bedwetting worries are probably okay.After I finished introducing everyone in the military, I flew from my room to Rustock and explained the aftermath of the commotion while taking care of the chairman.When I mentioned Kizawa Sumika's name, the chairman's expression clouded over.''I'm not too good with Kizawa-san either... I don't want to say too much bad things about others...''The chairman of the committee spoke after preamble, and he said that there are bad rumors about leading bullies, cheating, and anything else that comes along with it.However, he said that none of these rumors are in the realm of rumors, and he seems to be very good at getting around them.Perhaps if Kento directly says this or that, I have a feeling it will cause more trouble for him...'Ummm but I don't want anything to happen to you...'I think you should talk to your friend and Acchan before you make a move.I see...The chairman of the committee says that Kizawa-san, who is very good at getting around, is not hostile to the Utsukubo Sisters, who are overwhelmingly popular with the girls.'But that's because of the background of the overwhelming support of the Utsukubo Sisters, isn't it?Yeah, I do.You know, the odds are about 17 to 8...'Oh, well, there are only twenty-five girls, hmmm... maybe we need to keep things from getting too angular...'For now, Kento, you'd better concentrate on the rescue mission.'Yeah, I'll do that...'I've never had the opportunity to deal with girls intimately before, so I have no idea how to deal with girls like Kizawa-san.I'm a little sorry, but let's let the girls take care of the girls.I kissed the committee chairman goodnight and returned to Volzard.Now, let's go deliver a letter to the flamehound for a bit.
