“I’ll drop in for a bit at The Empire’s Liberation Society’s lodge” I informed Sherry .

“I understand”  She replies .

I warp us out from the merchants guild .  There is no particular reason to take someone along, and  she sometimes stays alone in the reference room for quite some time .  Although, it will also be troublesome to return home momentarily and leave Sherry .

The transit is almost instantaneous because we transferred with warp .  We wouldn’t need to stay for long if it’s just to hear the results .

“Michio-sama, Sherry-sama, welcome, it’s nice to see you”  When we arrive at the lobby, Sebastian bends his upper body at a right angle bow and greets us .

This surprises me every time .  I wonder if he knows every time it’s us, when we enter?  That’s not possible though .

Rather than me, who just came last time, he did well to remember Sherry’s name as well .  In the first place, there probably isn’t much time to confirm who comes . Sherry should have appeared behind me .

“O-oh . It’s about that thing, you know, from the other day” I inform him .

“Yes”  Sebastian replies .

I surprise myself with a strange voice .  In addition to the strange voice, I followed it up with a blunder .

To calm me, Sebastian spoke with slow and calm voice .  I conclude that our abilities as humans are different .

“The fusing of the equipment we received, it was a success . As it was done in front of three merchants, there is no mistake . I believe they would be willing to testify”  I notify him .

“Congratulations on that . ”

“It is this”  I take out Enamel high heel boots of Swift horse from the item box .

“Can you entrust it to me?”  Sebastian broaches a delicate topic .  I wonder if it is fine to entrust it to him .  Will he try to steal it? My guess: there’s no way he would .

Probably not .

I don’t think he will .

I hope he won’t .

Nevertheless, is this something that is fine to entrust to another, or not?  Contrary asking, is it okay to refuse? I’ll be troubled if he holds a grudge if I refuse .

It will probably be fine if I can get a certificate of deposit, but it seems troublesome because that would require an armor appraisal again .

I wonder if this what it feels like when you’re deceived by fraud .  I want to aim to become a j.a.panese person who can say ‘no’ .

“…… Fine, I guess”  I can’t say ‘no’ .

Unconsciously, I nod to Sebastian’s request .  I guess I have no choice but to give it to him in the end, if I am going to re-gift it to the emperor .  Moreover, if I think about it, I could use a duel .

It would be fine to beat Sebastian if he is committing theft .  If I take that into account, I guess Sebastian wouldn’t rush into swindling, either .  It shouldn’t be a problem even if I handed it over as well .

Let’s believe that .

Though perhaps he has a strong supporter .  Sebastian’s demeanor is soft, his manners are perfect as well .  Is he someone from the top prestigious houses? Or, he could be one of their dependants, I guess .

It would be better to think if there is the influence of a strong proxy at play .  In addition, Sebastian is a staff a member of The Empire’s Liberation Society’s lodge .  He may be close to some of the members of The Empire’s Liberation Society’s lodge .

The Empire’s Liberation Society’s lodge is a gathering of people aiming to subdue labyrinths, therefore, there are people stronger than me .  It’s also possible he will rely on those people .

a.s.suming a helper is being sued for theft, I’m not sure whether he would stay neutral or not .  Of course, if Sebastian denied it, it seems the other side will support him if they are on good terms .

Even Sebastian should naturally a.s.sume that I will appeal for a duel .

Nevertheless, in the case he works as a thief, I should expect that he takes measures to cause subterfuge .  However, there is also the means of a surprise attack . There is no need to partner with a powerful backer in that case .  Even if he becomes a representative of the duel, he won’t be able to be escorted all the time .

Anyone would choose an appropriate time and place when they are trying to be deceptive .

I hand the Enamel High Heel Boots of Swift Horse to Sebastian .  Thinking about it, couldn’t I commit fraud with this? What would Sebastian do?  Wouldn’t it be impossible for me to give him a fake?

Will he call an armor merchant and armor appraisal it, in the end?  If he calls a merchant, I would also say sarcastically ‘Don’t you have trust in me?’ to him .  It would be unfair for only me to have concerns about fraud .

Well, I won’t say that though .

“Thank you very much . Certainly, I received it”  Sebastian states .

“Oh . ”  I reply .

Oh .

Without any armor merchant?

“That fact that I received this item, I, Sebastian, and Matheus over there will testify at any time . Thank you very much”  Sebastian goes so far as to a.s.sure me .

If I was playing fraud, the other side will testify with the two people .  If the other side was planning a scam, naturally, they will already be cooperating .  He is the so-called guy, the spontaneous unrelated witness, who just happens to be here .  It becomes unilaterally disadvantageous for me .

Well, did it just turn to a surprise attack led by two people?

“I guess it is fine . Then, I’ll come again”  I notify him .

“Are you not going to look at the equipment? There is particularly no new merchandise though . ”  Sebastian inquires .

“It is fine . ”

It’s not like the Enamel High Heel Boots filled with empty slots will be there .  Would I not wish for it?  If it’s not there, I’ll get angry .  Therefore, it will be wise to not look at this time .

“Tomorrow at earliest .  As expected in a day or two I can’t make any promise, but I think I can give you some reply at the latest on the day after tomorrow . Thank you for today”  He notifies me .

As if being kicked out by Sebastian, we leave the lodge .  Taking Sherry, we returned home .

“I handed it to him, but will it be okay?”  I try asking Sherry’s opinion after we return home .

“Was there some problem?”  She replies .

“Like him silently making off with it”

“He didn’t seem particularly strong though”

She concludes the same as I did .  I should be able to settle it with a duel if he makes off with it .  She must a.s.sume if he is too weak to win then he won’t create a problem .

“He is working in such a place, perhaps he has a strong acquaintance,” I counter .

“Umm . I wonder about that . There seems to be many n.o.bles over there… For one to take a thief as an accomplice…  Hey, Rutina, the n.o.bility respects honor and fame, right?”

“Naturally . To have people talking behind your back for something like helping a thief, I don’t know what kind of face he could show in at the feudal lords meeting as a result”  Rutina confirms .

Sherry even drags in Rutina’s advice .  Is it really fine to involve her? I feel it might not be a good idea to involve the daughter of n.o.bility, Rutina, who fell to slavery, too much .  At least, I would not ask her .

Regardless, if her current status bothered her, she wouldn’t keep mentioning the feudal lords meeting .  I suppose you could say she is fine with it . At least, it seems Sherry judged as much .

If Sherry is saying she’s fine, I guess it’s alright .

“I see . a.s.suming he will commit this crime, there doesn’t seem to be many n.o.bles who would lend their power, huh?”

“That’s right . ”  Sherry confirms .

“Such a person is a disgrace of n.o.bility . ”  Rutina seconds that confirmation .

Though there seems to be bad n.o.bles too .  I feel Sherry, and Rutina as well; their thinking is naive .

Like Hamanomasgo songs left by Goemon .  I ought to say: they aren’t speaking wisdom .

To consider: if someone claims that Sebastian will commit a theft; are my worries of this extent unnecessary, I wonder?

Since I have continued until now without any problems, I feel that such worry will continue to lead me well .  It seems like a troublesome scandal for n.o.bles to take a present for the Emperor by such a deception .

Indeed the Emperor would hate that .

Our side had people who watched the monster card fusion .  However, even that was in following Sebastian’s advice . If he intended to deceive me there, then it will turn into a story where even Luke is an accomplice .  I expect he would not go that far .

The witness merchants would have also acknowledged it .  If it was just Luke, even if it was difficult because of the possibility of someone in the back waiting to kick around the duel, it would not difficult to perform a surprise attack .

As there are no late moonlit nights in this world, reprisal in the dark can also be swift .

For now, since I will make an appearance at The Empire’s Liberation Society’s lodge tomorrow, I should confine myself in the labyrinth until then .

That will be fine .

I will do what I can do now .  If I become strong in the labyrinth, it will be irrelevant even if he has a bodyguard in the background .

Entering the Labyrinth afterwards, the next morning, we did the Floor 38 boss battle .

“The boss of floor 38 of Quratar’s labyrinth is Chorus Choral . It seems they can raise the ability of each other while several of them are singing, It is necessary to be careful . As it is different from a voice skill, cancellation doesn’t seem possible either”

Look like it can sing because it is Chorus Coral .  I won’t really understand a monster song though . And solos aren’t any good either .  Because they are a chorus, I guess .

Since it’s a coral, it’s defense improves even more as it appearance seems like a rock by nature .  Certainly, we will need to watch out . I brace myself and enter the boss room . The smoke gathers, and the boss appears .

Roxanne and the girls head to face the boss .  Are those the Chorus Coral?

Somehow before they engage, the corals began to sing .  As soon as I think that, it is immediately settled by Miria .

“Ah~ . It was certainly singing something . ”  I simply state .

“That’s right . ” Roxanne confirms for me .

Chorus Coral began singing early .

I heard something .

Is it called scat singing or is it called humming? It’s probably like that .

I don’t know the right definition so I don’t know which one should I call it .  In the first place, will the cla.s.sification of human songs apply to monsters?

However, it’s a solo .  It’s not a chorus . This is because, as soon as they appeared, Miria petrifies one of them .  It’s a situation where the remaining one is singing . Two Chorus Coral appear as a single boss .

In other words, the chorus is not practical when either one of them is defeated .  Miria who is fighting with petrification is something like their natural enemy .

I feel sorry having only two coming out .  It should instead have appeared as a boss for the floors with only one boss .  Maybe that won’t work .

Perhaps it would be difficult as a lot of small fries appear for floors above 33 floor .

No . That’s not possible if Roxanne is here .  Even then, we could choose . The affinity with our party doesn’t seem good for the chorus coral .  The Chorus Coral is in a situation where only one remained and couldn’t show the effect of a chorus .  It’s not that great of an opponent .

No . That’s not possible if Roxanne is here .  Even then, we could choose . The affinity with our party doesn’t seem good for the chorus coral .  The Chorus Coral is in a situation where only one remained and couldn’t show the effect of a chorus .  It’s not that great of an opponent .

I guess it’s definitely a boss though .  With only one, it’s difficult for it to even put up a fight against Roxanne .  While striking and missing in vain, Miria strikes from the back, this one is also neutralized .

“Excellent, Miria . ”  I praise her .

“Yes, desu,” she responds .

“The boss here has a good affinity with us . ”  Sherry confirms .

I try several laps, but every time confirms it, the boss battle here is easy .

Miria settles them one after the other .  Look, this boss is like trash .

As long as I put abnormal status resistance down, more or less, I am also contributing .

There will be no problem, probably .  Today will be good, doing only the boss battle .  Let’s do it repeatedly .

“Are you not going to the lodge?”  We fight until breakfast . When I go to wash the plates after the meal, as I have nothing else to do, Sherry starts a conversation .  Is Sherry aware of yesterday? I think of whether it will be better if I don’t go, but maybe it will be better if I do go?

Going today, it feels like I’m only telling the other party ‘I don’t trust you’ .  The other side also will see it as ‘this guy doesn’t trust me’ .  That feels like a loss .

Here, I should feign an air of self importance, and make a decision .  Perhaps I shouldn’t fake it? I should believe it . ‘I don’t have the tiniest doubt at all . ’

Because there is a field walk in this world, running away is fast .  a.s.suming he takes the Enamel High Heel Boots of Swift Horse, he probably already hid it somewhere .  At this time, being late by one or two days won’t become a big problem .

“Should I go?”  I ask Sherry .

“I don’t think there would be any problem?”

The conversation is not adding up .  Apparently, it seems she is not sharing my worries .  That’s alright, isn’t it? If she knew about my thoughts, wouldn’t she think badly of me? Would she not hate me?  I end thinking about it excessively, is this the reason why the unsociable me is unsociable?

The other side doesn’t think about such thing at all .  Are all the indecisions until now useless?

I should go after all .

Although the possibility of him escaping is not zero .  In that case, it will be better to go as quickly as possible .  It will be better to quickly chase him if the need arises . Even if it is the first day, the faster the better .  Let’s raise a bloodbath .

“Alright . Then I’m off . ”

“Yes . Have a good day . ”  Sherry and the girls see me off, and I move by Warp .

“Michio-sama, I’ve been waiting for you . Yesterday, I was lucky to have negotiations with the other side, I was able to successfully hand over what was entrusted to me . ”  When I proceed to the lodge, Sebastian opens with this announcement . It seems he didn’t steal it .

Who is it, that guy whose uneasily worried thinking: ‘he may steal and run away with it . ’