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I was honestly happy she thought so. Besides, the wind Crystal Pillar that I have sealed would be most peacefully utilized on the mermaid island where there’s no barrier.

I planned to send it to them, but maybe I’ll just go take it directly some time.

“I would also like to listen to your songs again.”
“You’re most welcome to do so!”

Helly’s face was too close. And her eyes were scary. I gave her a sealed envelope while flinching back a little.

“It would be rude to say this is a replacement, but could you deliver this letter instead?”
“O-Of course! I will deliver it even at my life’s ex–”
“Prioritize your life please.”

She appeared a little dejected as she bowed for some reason, but she quickly recovered and faced Parsha and the rest.

“Then once again, I am Helly who will guide you to Bahamut’s location.”
“Looking forward.”
“Looking forward to your company.”
“Let us get along.”

Their responses were really out of sync and felt uncooperative. I wasn’t really worried though.

“Yes, likewise. Please take care of Bahamut. Once I deliver you to Bahamut’s location, I will return to my village right away. Please keep in mind that I will not be able to accompany you on your way back.”
“…Can I interject?”

As everyone made agreements, I joined their conversation.

I wasn’t trying to retort to the fact that she was saying Bahamut too many times… though I wanted to say that too.

“Parsha, Gabril, please escort her.”
“L-Lady Illya?”
“Helly, I’m sure you exhausted yourself to reach me here.”

What she exhausted wasn’t vitality, stamina, and magic power alone. Mental fatigue was just as important for concentration even if it wasn’t shown in one’s status.

“Even if the Bahamut matter resolves safely, Seiren would be greatly saddened if something happened to you.”
“Lady Illya… But the island…”
“Don’t worry. As you can see, Parsha is a fairy, from the fairy kingdom. Gabril knows the island where the Ogre God lives.”

Both of them were places separated and hidden from the normal world. They were the same as the mermaid island.

“Could I ask you for that?”

Gabril and Parsha nodded at her request.

“Got it.”
“No helping it.”

Parsha shrugged in exasperation.

“Do you have any questions before we depart?”

Once she confirmed everyone’s silence, Helly nodded and looked my way once more.

“Then, we shall excuse ourselves, Lady Illya.”
“Alright. Take care.”

Once we exchanged our farewells, they turned around one by one and stepped beyond the gate.

Before Parsha and Gabril turned around, I stopped them. Helly was far enough, so it should be fine to say it now.

“I have already paid the escort money, so you don’t need to come to report it.”
““Huh?””
“It’s just my selfishness. If anyone on the island asks about the escort reward, just tell them that.”

It was natural, but their expressions remained bewildered.

Their initial goal to find clues about the plate hadn’t been fulfilled yet but I was telling them not to come back, so it was understandable.

I didn’t mind telling them everything, but unless I had them introduced to Seiren in a way that doesn’t directly involve me, their enduring it all this time would lose all meaning.

Helly’s side noticed that Parsha and Gabril still hadn’t joined them and stood puzzled outside of the gate.

I knew they wouldn’t think I was doing this out of spite, but I still patted Parsha and smiled to erase her worries.

“I’m not telling you not to come back to Luneville, so no need to overthink it.”
“True. Parsha, let’s just go and quickly finish this commission.”

I didn’t know whether he guessed it or just wasn’t thinking at all, but Gabril agreed with me so Parsha also followed suit.

I did my best, so their matter should be resolved without a problem with this. I came to that conclusion and moved my gaze back to their retreating backs.

“I wish for your safety and success from the bottom of my heart.”

A few days after Helly and the rest departed.

Like Luneville where nothing was going on, the four’s journey proceeded without trouble. At that rate, they would be trespassing in the Divine Beast’s scope of perception by tomorrow morning.

I did my normal duties while thinking about that.

“Man, it’s really amazing! Isn’t this new arena even more magnificent compared to the one in Orbwight?!”
“I know, right?! It’s really standing out, but it’s not too flashy.”

The conversation they were having at one table was the same as what was being discussed throughout the city.

It was just completed the other day so it was natural to be a hot topic.

But still…

“But like, doesn’t it look a bit too similar to the branch?”
“Oh yeah, I feel that. It’s like, has this calming atmosphere, right?”
“Yeah, you got it!”

It was a miscalculation that it would be ripping… I mean imitating the branch’s structure that I based on my previous life’s memories.

I naturally wasn’t involved in its creation at all, so you can imagine how surprised I was when I saw the finished arena.

I mean, they literally recreated the colosseum, you know?

They even adopted the gothic style inside, and it drew a contrast with the other buildings that used color schemes like white, blue, vermillion, and so on, to express character.

It was a big success from the standpoint of artistic value, which was an important element for tourism… but it stings me that I resulted in this outcome again.

“I’m back.”
“Ah, welcome back.”

I reflexively answered and raised my head, only to see Frank already before my eyes.

He held a folded overcoat which was the official outfit of the patrol unit ≪Lunevillous≫. I knew he was out for the meeting and training, but he was too early to come back.

“Did something happen?”

Frank wiped away my doubts with a smile.

“No. It’s just that we’re starting the actual patrol tomorrow. I returned early today to get plenty of rest.”
“It’s already that time, huh?”
“The arena was finished quite fast, after all. Other facilities aren’t done yet, but given its scale, it would take a while to get properly used to it.”

The arena had five layers in total.

The ground plaza was the first layer, and it was also where the commerce facilities were too. The underground layer contained the contestant waiting rooms and equipment warehouses. Under the second layer of the underground which had piping and other management facilities, there was a jail for the captured monsters to be put in. Though they were meant for monsters, it was also common knowledge that they would also be used for criminals.

The style wasn’t the only difference with the arena in Orbwight, but this one even had a retractable ceiling to protect against rain, and allowed much more diversity that could allow the creation of a maze and even an underwater battleground, the idea of which they got from the pool.

It had such a complex internal structure that it made you wonder what the constructors were even thinking. And that apparently made its security quite a hard labor.

“Are you going to be patrolling too, Frank?”
“Hmm? Ah no, I will probably go around the entire thing at first, but I won’t be patrolling it.”

That’s good.

Considering Frank and Ector’s responsibilities, I should’ve realized that they would end up cutting their official duties short. I couldn’t just tell them to cut corners now that it was already decided…

I could only lessen his burden a little, so it’s fortunate that he didn’t have to go on patrols which would detain him for a long time.

“Then, will you rest in your room?”
“Yeah, I’ll do that. I think I’ll wake up by dinner…”
“I’ll wake you up if by some chance you don’t.”

Rather than by some chance, that’s become an established practice lately. We ended up smiling that we still spoke like that despite being aware of it.

“Then I ask you to do that.”
“Alright. Have a good rest.”

Once I saw Frank off, a line of adventurers wanting to accept commissions formed as if it was timed out. I always wonder when I look at this line, but despite the fact that they would have to wait less if they just shifted their timing a bit, I wonder why they refuse to do so.

I did my receptionist work while thinking of that, then had dinner with Frank, helped with the official duties, prepared the ingredients, and retired for the night.