Our client, the pretty elf, came with us as well. As a guide. She said she had a good idea where her friend ought to be.

But, Im not really that good at offensive magic Im poor at archery, too. So I was always a burden in the elven forest. So I thought I could at least be of use, if only for making things, but just making things didnt achieve acknowledgement from my comrades

Her parents, the only ones who acknowledged her, passed away, and in their will they told her that itd be better for her to widen her outlook in the outside world rather than staying in the elven forest as itd certainly help her in finding friends, and thus she departed her home.

Or rather, they probably thought her future would be bleak if she stayed in the forest. Was it such a terrible place for her?

Ah, I totally get it. It was the same for me as well, Sword casually agreed with her.

For real? Oh, wait a sec.

Wasnt it something similar for me as well?

I thought Id have no future at the earls mansion, so I left that place!

Okay! If its like that, well warmly welcome you! However, just as Ive told you, Ill have you first help out with the creation of magic tools for the things Ive been handling with magic thus far. Afterwards Ill request stuff from you if I hit upon an idea. In the first place, I expect that the magic tool creation will take quite a bit of time. If you finish it, the brewing team will probably rejoice. After all, theyll be able to make almost everything with their own hands at that point.

I mean, theyre so passionate about the whole endeavor that theyve even gone as far as starting from growing the raw materials themselves.

Plana is gentle and has a nice personality. Sword seems to worry about her as well, resulting in him frequently helping her out in a casual manner.

Hmm? How about her as Swords partner?

I considered for an instant, but she was an elf. If they had sex, theyd die.

How very regrettable

They pulled puzzled expressions when I muttered that.

Whats up? Ah, you thought bout somethin weird gain, didnt you?

He ground my temples. How unreasonable!

Mr. Boyfriendah, I guess not. Hes a dwarf, I heard, so theyd die if they have sex. So, her friend seems to be a mason, a craftsman or something like that. Shes been evasive about it.

He apparently came here to get some clay. He could have dug it up anywhere, but as far as I understand, it cant be used for magic unless its collected from bare ground with nothing growing in it.

Hmm? Clay? In other words, hes an earthenware crafter? I didnt see anyone like that in the town, though Is he going to make accessories out of earthenware? Well, its not like its impossible to use earthenware for it, but I think metals are mostly used for accessories.

As I thought about this and that, we arrived at the destination.

The area had been turned into a real mess. The ground was gouged out, rocks were smashed, and somehow I felt a presence as if something terrifying had gone ballistic here.

Plana became white as a sheet.

Sahad

No blood can be seen. So hes not injured at least.

No matter how much I looked around, I couldnt spot a single drop of blood.

Rather, what showed up here? This is definitely a case for the guild, no? Or do dwarves only consist of skilled folks who can easily dodge somethin like this?

Well, were a team who can easily dodge most stuff, even by ourselves, however.

Lets search the area for starters, I suggested, just for a howling to reach us from the distance.

In an instant I carried Plana like a drowned person, dashing. Sword and the Ryokus also sprinted along.

Do you have any memory of such a howling? I asked Sword.

Its what you wished for a cyclops.

Wohoo!

Yahooo! My excitement is going through the roof!

Oof, your really a lunatic, Sword guffawed.

Is it true that a cyclops eyeball is valuable?

Yeah. Well, you just gotta lop off the head as usual while makin sure to not damage the head.

Got it!

If a neck chop had been out, Id have attacked with a vacuum pack, but itd be troublesome if it thrashed around, hurting its own eye in an off-chance.

There it is! Sword yelled.

Whoa, its huge! A bipedal monster with a height of a two-storied building? No, three-storied, Id say. Everything is in plain sight since its completely naked, but its got no gender. Its completely smooth all over.

It was going berserk, swinging a large tree it had uprooted. Good gracious, it was sending blood flying all the way to our current location.

Just where is Planas boyfriend?

Plana!

Once I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw a shocked, young dwarf staring our way.

Sahad! You were safe! What a relief!

Oohh, its a beautiful friendship scene!

Were the S-Rank adventurers Allrounders! Get away so that you wont get dragged into our battle!

As soon as Sword shouted, all the dwarves over there started to run in order to take refuge.

Ah, one couldnt run since his leg was apparently injured. The cyclops homed in on him, trying to punch him.

Tsk!

Sword accelerated explosively, lifting up the injured dwarf and running away. The cyclops fist only hit the ground, but it caused an earthen tremor. Immediately following, the cyclops chased after Sword.

Sword, on the other hand, couldnt gain much speed as rocks and the terrains shape hindered him.

Ryoku! Protect the princess! Deploy the magic element barrier! But, dont shoot!

Ayessir!

I tossed Plana in Ryokus direction and headed over to reinforce Sword.

I kicked the cyclops wrist just as it tried to grab Sword, breaking it in the process.

Ooops! Damn it! I intended to hold back, butno, its still okay! If its just broken, its alright! Not like its been torn off or anything!

The cyclops howled while holding its wrist. All the while in a position as if offering its neck on a golden platter. Using that perfect opportunity, I jumped upon its neck.

Once the cyclops noticed my presence, it tried to raise its body in a hurry, but

Too late.

One flash with my wooden sword. I somehow managed to grab its head mid-jump. The headless torso collapsed, accompanied by a shower of blood gushing out of the cut end.

Heaveho! Alright, the head is safe! What should we do about the torso, hmm? I seriously dont want Ryoku to carry something so filthy. I guess Ill just leave it here.

Dont leave it here. Youve cut through it easily, but usually a cyclops skin is famous for not lettin blades pass readily.

Yep, its because my wooden sword has no blade!! And since it has no blade to begin with, the question whether a blade can pass its skin is moot!

Eehh? Buuut! I dont wanna my lovely Ryoku to carry something so filthy!

Wash it with water n dry it afterwards. This much is a piece of cake for you, right?

*grumpy* Sure I can do that, but dont you have anything to wrap it up with?