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Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
Normally, meals for adventurers on escort duty were divided into multiple sessions.
However, this was no longer necessary when Kousuke and his group were included.
This was because Nana was an excellent spotter, even during meals. Therefore, from the first meal, the adventurers would eat at the same time.
The advantage of this was that the meal time would be shorter, since it did not have to be divided into multiple sessions. This speeds up the departure.
As for the ingredients for the meals on the move, Rein and the other merchants were the ones preparing them.
The original plan was for each group to take turns in cooking the meals, but ever since Mitsuki had prepared their first meals, she had been tasked to be the one in charge of all meals.
It was every person’s desire to get the best meal possible.
“This request is great in many ways, but this meal alone is worth accompanying you.”
“Totally, man.”
“This is so sweet. I would have loved for you to join us.”
“Well, from the looks of it, I don’t think she will.”
“Yeah, just give up.”
The adventurers eating their meals were full of words of praise for Mitsuki.
Of course, the adventurers were not only paying attention to Mitsuki, but to Kouhi as well.
Although actual combat had yet to take place, they were targets for recruitment simply because they were C-ranked.
In fact, with their good looks, there was no way they would not try to recruit them.
Kousuke knew this, but did not stop them from trying.
However, both Kouhi and Mitsuki rejected the recruiters outright, so overtime, there were no more attempts at recruitments.
One of the adventurers had tried to invite them a little too aggressively, but after he had offended them, and they punished him, it stopped.
The adventurers accompanying them were all D-rank or lower, so they knew they were no match for them in terms of ability.
Fortunately, there were no fools among them who would go out of their way to try and reverse the scales.
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In this trading party, some drinking was allowed during dinner, which was unusual.
This was because they had the best escort, Nana, so everyone could sleep without having to watch over the night.
The alcoholic beverage was at one’s own expense though.
The first time that he was able to drink alcohol, which he normally would not have been able to do, was when Rein, who was beginning to understand Nana, asked Kousuke if Nana could keep watch at night.
Kousuke replied that she could. Rein, upon hearing this, opened some of the liquor that had been loaded up for peddling for the adventurers.
Of course, it was not out of the goodness of his heart, but to sell the liquor to the adventurers.
Selling to adventurers was more profitable than wholesaling to stores.
Rein had no problem getting his hands on any good.
And thus, drinking was allowed, both for Rein’s business and for the adventurers’ amusement.
Even though drinking was allowed, it did not mean that one was allowed to get so drunk that they completely blacked out.
Nana was on the lookout, but this did not mean that fighting would not take place.
Nevertheless, some people do get ruffled by alcohol.
The young adventurer who was now tangling with Kousuke was completely drunk.
“…Why is someone like you leading the party? Shouldn’t it be Kouhi-san or Mitsuki-san?”
Kousuke didn’t know whether the adventurer slipped up under the influence of alcohol or whether he had originally intended to say it, but he did.
Kousuke was aware that the other party was drunk, so he didn’t pay any particular attention to it and just brushed it off.
“Haha. Well, maybe you’re right. But the two of them said it was fine.”
However, the other person didn’t like that answer, so he raised his eyebrows and pressed Kousuke further.
“Don’t you think it’s pathetic that you’re just being protected! What the heck…?”
Kousuke was about to say something more when one of his party members stopped the man.
“Yuri, stop!”
“Carla, but…!!”
Yuri was about to say something more, but Carla shook her head.
“You seem to be mistaken, but we won’t be a match for Kou, even if we were to fight him all together.”
“What…!?”
“Oh. Is that so?”
Yuri was stunned by Carla’s words, while Claire, the leader of the same party, showed interest.
“What is it? Leader, didn’t you notice?”
“I thought he was stronger than me, but I didn’t think he’d be a match for all of us.”
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
Carla nodded and continued.
“The Spirits I usually use are buzzing around Kou, you know. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone that well-liked by the Spirits. You’re hiding many other things, right?”
“You can see Spirits?”
Kousuke blinked at the unexpected words.
He had not expected Carla to be a Spirit User.
“Not that I can see them but more that I can feel their presence at best. I can use Spirit Arts as well, but only slightly.”
Carla was primarily a magician, but she could also use Spirit Arts to some extent.
And even though she could use it, her attacks using magic power were stronger, so she only used Spirit Arts as a trump card in case of emergency.
Even so, the power of her Spirit Arts was so weak that the most it could do was a surprise attack or something along those lines.
That aside, she was far stronger than the average Spirit User when it came to the ability to sense Spirits.
Carla sensed that many Spirits were gathering around Kousuke.
In fact, Spirits were close to Kousuke, not to mention that four great fairies were with him, but Carla did not need to know that much.
“I see.” Kousuke nodded as if satisfied.
He didn’t think they would know he was a God since he had completely suppressed his Divine Power, but he had a blind spot when it came to Spirits.
It was not like he was trying hide it, so he did not particularly intend to keep it to himself.
“As expected, you use Spirits Arts too, right?”
“Well, not really, but I use something similar.”
Technically, he was using fairies, not Spirits, but Kousuke would not reveal that much information.
It may be a little late for that, but it was not his intention to draw attention to himself by doing something unnecessary.
He did not intend to add any further elements of prominence.
“I see. Well, I won’t ask any more questions.” Perhaps noticing Kousuke’s thoughts, Carla did not ask any more questions.
The same goes for Claire, who was silently listening to their exchange.
But contrary to them, young Yuri was not content with that.
“What? After all that, he’s just all talk?” He came to say such a conclusion, putting aside the words of his two Seniors.
Before Kousuke could say anything in response to that, Claire started to restrain Yuri.
“…Yuri, you had too much to drink. As for the fine, let’s talk about it tomorrow when you sober up.”
With that, she pulled Yuri away.
Incidentally, drinking was only allowed up to the point of tipsiness, beyond which there was a fine.
The adventurers, who had no intention of reducing the reward for the good terms of their escort request, were drinking with moderation, but it seems that young Yuri could not be restrained.
“I’m sure Yuri could have acted more grown up if it weren’t for this.”
Implicitly, Carla always suggested that Yuri was a drinker, but he came with a firm bow to the behavior of his friends.
To which Kousuke responded with a wave of his right hand.
“Well, when you’re young, failure is part of the journey.”
Carla narrowed her eyes at Kousuke as she replied with a smile.
“You don’t look so old yourself. Well, let’s not go any further. Well then, I’d better get going.”
“Yes. I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Yes. Yeah, that goes for me too. See you tomorrow.”
With that, Carla headed to her assigned tent.
Looking around, they had already finished their dinner, and it was almost time to call it a night.
Kousuke, who had seen the three of them off, headed back to his tent with Kouhi and Mitsuki.
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