It had been several tens of minutes since Zozo stood and adopted an even more solemn demeanor than before.
Eventually, a new figure appeared in the garden of Marina's house.
"Good grief... in the end, nothing happened, and it was thoroughly boring."
Seeing Vihera voicing her dissatisfaction, Rei figured that was to be expected.
Given that people like Lunora and Zozo had teleported in, there was a possibility that someone new might do the same.
And considering that Zozo and his group had been attacking Lunora's companions when they arrived, whoever came through next might also go on a rampage. That was why Rei had asked Vihera to stand watch at the Treant Forest out of caution—but with no one teleporting in and the Treant Forest rarely seeing even monsters appear, waiting there was nothing but dull.
For Vihera, who had been forced to spend several hours enduring such tedium, voicing her complaints was only natural.
Moreover, Vihera had gone to the Treant Forest looking forward to battling a strong opponent, so her disappointment was all the greater.
"There's nothing to be done about that. For one thing, people teleporting in from somewhere isn't something that happens all that frequently."
"Is that so? But haven't there already been two times right in front of you, Rei?"
Sitting at the table set up in the courtyard, Vihera turned her gaze toward Rei.
Those were undeniably facts, but at the same time, it was also true that it could all be dismissed as "because it's Rei."
"If I were with you, maybe someone new would have teleported in."
"No, I wonder about that. It's not like they teleport in because I'm there."
So said Rei, but given his history of being caught up in all manner of trouble, there was no way anyone would believe him.
The others shot him exasperated looks.
The fact that even Byune, who rarely changed her expression under normal circumstances, directed an exasperated look at him spoke volumes about just how little credibility Rei's words carried.
"Well, as for the teleportation business, it's not necessarily limited to today, right? Even tomorrow, some demi-human or monster from somewhere could teleport in."
Marina said as much while handing Vihera a glass of fruit water chilled with Spirit Magic.
Vihera drank the fruit water roughly.
The sight of her white throat undulating as she swallowed was alluring enough to captivate anyone watching.
That said, the person herself showed no sign of caring about her surroundings as she set the glass down on the table and opened her mouth.
"It won't be that simple. Today, there simply weren't enough people, so Rei came to me. But by tomorrow, the Knight Order or others will likely dispatch available adventurers."
"Ah... well, that might be true."
Rei nodded in agreement at Vihera's words.
He had requested that Vihera, with her high combat ability, stand by at the Treant Forest in case a belligerent Lizardman like Zozo appeared.
However, if someone like the Green Demi-humans such as Lunora arrived, they might respond in a friendly manner.
It wasn't that Vihera couldn't handle that sort of negotiation, but considering worst-case scenarios, it was only natural for Daskar and Gilm's upper leadership to want to station someone who wasn't belligerent—someone who wouldn't seek out battles against strong opponents—at the Treant Forest.
"We won't know about that until tomorrow comes. Well, even setting aside transporting felled lumber, I'll probably be called back."
Rei had been the first to make contact with the Green Demi-humans and Lizardmen, and on top of that, he had earned Lunora's trust. As for Zozo, the Lizardman had pledged fealty to him.
If the ones who teleported in were Lizardmen, there was a possibility that Zozo could mediate between the new arrivals and Rei's group.
Also, even if a powerful monster teleported in, having Rei and Set there meant they could handle it somehow—a significant factor.
Given such circumstances, it was unthinkable that Rei wouldn't be chosen for the team waiting at the Treant Forest.
"Oh my, then will you recommend me, Rei?"
"Well, it's certainly true that I'd feel reassured with Vihera around."
At Rei's words, Vihera cast a slightly expectant glance his way.
If Rei was the one saying it, she thought, then perhaps she'd get to go to the Treant Forest again for this matter.
Besides, even Rei going to the Treant Forest meant he'd still have to transport felled lumber to Gilm.
The teleportation situation aside, the shortage of building materials for Gilm's Expansion Construction was an undeniable fact.
Given that, the task of transporting felled lumber was an unavoidable part of Rei's work.
"Hmm. But, Zozo, was it? What about him? If you're going to act together with Set, then Zozo would have to act separately, wouldn't he? Would he even accept that?"
"I wonder. If we could communicate with words, I could probably persuade him, but..."
It wasn't impossible to persuade him with gestures, but it would definitely be quite troublesome—that much was certain.
To avoid that, being able to communicate verbally would be far more convenient.
"Learning the language would be good too, but it'd be nice if we could just communicate using a Magic Item or something like that."
"From what I've seen of Zozo's behavior, even if we could get through to him, I really don't think he'd listen to your persuasion, Rei."
"Well, I won't deny that."
At Vihera's words, Rei turned his gaze toward Zozo.
As if noticing Rei's gaze, Zozo looked back at him as if to ask, "What is it?"
That demeanor was beyond comparison to when he had first met Rei.
It was an appearance that anyone watching could understand—Zozo was devoted to Rei from the bottom of his heart.
...Though his attitude toward the likes of Ielo and Elena was probably another matter entirely.
"Hm? Hold on a moment. I'd like to ask something—what is Zozo doing tonight? Will he sleep in your room after all?"
Elena, who had been listening to Rei and Vihera's conversation, suddenly asked this.
The question was apparently unexpected for Rei. "Ah," a somewhat vacant sound escaped his mouth.
In truth, so many things had happened today that, as Elena pointed out, he hadn't considered at all what to do with Zozo tonight.
After a moment's thought, he spoke while glancing at Set playing with Ielo.
"He's treated as my tamed monster, so putting him in the Wheat Inn at Dusk's stable would be appropriate... I suppose?"
Given that Zozo was a tamed monster, Rei's words were by no means incorrect.
However, unlike beast-type or bird-type monsters that one could distinguish at a glance, Zozo was a Lizardman with a form close to that of a human.
Moreover, Zozo was believed to belong to some nation and held a position leading the Lizardmen.
Rei predicted that making someone like that sleep in a stable would undoubtedly lead to trouble later.
For that matter, given how much importance Zozo placed on being by Rei's side, it was hard to imagine he would tolerate being separated from him to that extent.
"You should probably not do that. In that case, wouldn't it be better to at least let Zozo into your room, Rei?"
"If we're talking about whether he can fit in, he can fit in just fine."
Zozo was larger than Rei, but he wasn't three meters long like Set.
Zozo could enter Rei's room at the Wheat Inn at Dusk without any issue.
That said, no matter how obedient Zozo was, they had only just met today.
Given that, having Zozo in the same place where he'd be sleeping defenselessly wouldn't put Rei at ease.
(This is... a mistake. Should I send Zozo back to the Lord's Manor? No, Zozo wouldn't accept that.)
For one thing, when Rei was leaving the Lord's Manor, Zozo had desperately insisted on coming with him.
Given that, Rei couldn't possibly imagine that Zozo would listen if told to go back to the Lord's Manor now that they'd already brought him here.
What should he do?
Rei was thinking without reaching for the food in front of him, when Marina, perhaps taking pity on him, opened her mouth.
"Can't be helped, I suppose. Then, Rei, stay at my house tonight. That way, you won't have to put Zozo in the stable or anything like that. As for whether to let him into your room and that sort of thing, figure it out yourself."
"Sorry."
Rei was momentarily taken aback by the prospect of staying at Marina's house, but considering it was the most straightforward solution, he obediently complied.
"Oh my, then since it's a rare opportunity, shall we stay over too? Byune, is that fine with you?"
"Hm? ...Yeah."
Byune, who had been carrying a sandwich to her mouth, nodded in response to Vihera's words.
"So that's how it is—is that alright with you?"
"Normally, wouldn't you ask me first? I don't mind, though."
Marina agreed so readily because everyone other than Zozo was someone she could trust.
And even if Zozo tried to do something strange, as long as he was in this house, the spirits would prevent him from doing as he pleased.
It was precisely because she understood this that Marina said what she did.
...Though, to be honest about Marina's feelings, it wasn't as if she didn't harbor a certain expectation that she wouldn't mind if Rei did something improper to her.
"Ahem."
As if sensing Marina's thoughts, Elena gave a small cough.
In response, Marina directed a puzzled look at Elena—as if wondering whether she had caught a cold.
The expression on Marina's face showed not the slightest hint of guilt.
However, Elena was no ordinary woman either.
Having associated with Rei and Marina for a considerable time, she could more or less understand what Marina had been thinking.
"What's wrong, Elena? A cold after all? It may be spring, but the nights are still cold, so shouldn't you rest well tonight?"
"There's no need to worry about that. I may not look it, but I am no ordinary person. If anything, if the nights are cold, then shouldn't you be the one to sleep early, Marina? That way, you probably won't go making unnecessary passes at people."
"Oh my, as long as I'm in this house, I don't have to worry about the cold thanks to the spirits. I stay perfectly comfortable."
"Then why did you tell me to sleep early?"
"Let me see, I wonder why. You've seemed quite busy lately, Elena, so I was just concerned for your health."
Ufufu, ohoho, hahaha.
Elena and Marina spoke to each other with outwardly pleasant demeanors while letting out such laughter.
...However, Zozo was gradually, little by little, edging away from the table.
Part of it was that Elena, who had inherited an Ancient Dragon's magic stone, was frightening in her demeanor, but more than that, the two women were probably what frightened him.
But everyone other than Zozo—even Byune—focused on their meals without showing any particular concern.
This was because they understood that the two weren't seriously fighting.
It was a kind of playful banter, like teasing and frolicking.
That said, given that Zozo was genuinely frightened, it was also a fact that things couldn't stay this way forever.
"Come on, you two, that's enough. More importantly, it's settled that everyone's staying at Marina's house tonight, right?"
Unusually, it was Vihera who chided the two and wrapped up the discussion.
"That's right. I don't mind at all. There are a fair number of spare rooms."
Among buildings in the Noble District, Marina's house fell into the rather small category.
However, just as it had a courtyard spacious enough for Set to run around in, it had a corresponding size, and there was absolutely no problem with everyone here staying overnight.
What Elena was subtly worried about was whether Marina might do something improper, but that too was only on the surface, and even Elena didn't actually think she would go that far.
Though, if Rei were to make some kind of move, it would be more than welcome.
"It's not that I don't have some slight concerns, but... for now, that arrangement should be fine."
With Rei's words, it was decided that everyone would stay at Marina's house tonight.