< Episode 31. You picked the wrong opponent. >

Baran, who had been thinking for a while, carefully spat out his words.

"Still, I can't sell it. I can't sell it...but I'll make a deal instead!"

"transaction?"

Pelas waited for his next words.

"Please tell me the voices of the items from time to time. I won't ask you to do it every day. Instead, I will provide you with an unlimited number of my items. Whenever you need an item, come to me and tell me what the items say. That's enough. If you do, I will give you this ring of mine!"

On Pelas' part, there was no reason to refuse.

No, it was a rather unconventional level of treatment.

It was like getting the most reliable source of supply for the desired series.

direct as well.

It was because whenever an item was needed, it was a problem that could be solved by showing one's excellent performance.

But here, too, it was Fellas who was acting a little bit.

"It sounds like you don't know how much energy drains out of hearing the voice of an item once."

"Is that so?"

"Sure. Of course. Or did you hear the voice of a dog, cow, or item?"

"Well, that's what it is."

Rather, the initiative in the transaction passed to Pellas.

After sighing here, Pelas takes a deep breath.

Rather, it was Baran who was nervous and swallowed dry saliva.

Pelas is like, 'It's a difficult request, but I'll do it.' I answered after taking a one-tempo break.

"Okay. Call!"

At Pelas' answer, Baran, who had been nervous without knowing it, smiled brightly.

"Good. The deal is done! Leave your ring with me and go. I will synthesize the two rings and make you a suitable ring."

At his reply, Pelas smiled and held out his hand.

Baran also took the hand that Pelas extended.

"Please take care of me."

"Don't worry. I'll make you the best ring."

A smile formed on Pelas' lips.

Even if he put wings on the tiger's back, it wouldn't be as good as giving Pelas a counter slash.

Even the demon that turned Pelas into a monster should be a little nervous now.

* * *

Pelas came out of Baran's weapon store and returned to Havertz and Aeria.

As soon as he opened the door and entered, Pellas was surprised by the number of people in full swing.

They were all members of his knights.

As soon as they saw Pelas, the knights stood up straight and shouted.

"Meet Pellas!"

Havertz came right up to me and explained the situation.

"We are repairing the purchased armor according to each article."

"Ah. I see."

Pelas waved his hand and spoke to the knights.

"Keep doing what you're doing."

"yes!"

At that time, Elia, who was looking around the upper floors, just came downstairs.

She came towards Pelas and showed him a pair of gloves.

"Can I buy this too? It was a bit inconvenient because I didn't have gloves."

The effect of the glove caught Pelas' eyes.

Agility +1.

It was a really useless glove.

Pelas shook his head.

"No. Gloves."

At his words, Aria suddenly became sullen.

"Oh, why. They told me to choose freely earlier. I don't even have gloves to use because they gave me gloves."

Pelas pulled another glove from his bosom.

[Baran's Wolf Leather Gloves]

-Damage +5% when using a bow

- Agility +3

This was one of the Baran series created by Baran.

Baran, who opened up to some extent, sold his work to Pelas.

Pellas decided to purchase a few more items in addition to this.

Although it was a bit disappointing to write directly, there were many good items for Havertz, Roben, and his knights to use.

The Baran series was at least much better than the items in this weapon shop.

It was a pity that there was only one quantity because they were all handmade.

Anyway, the purchased items were quite heavy, so Fellas thought of sending someone to bring them.

Among them, the gloves were not very heavy, so I brought them myself.

"Use these. I don't like those gloves. These are so much better."

Aeria accepted the glove Fellas offered.

She had lived for over a hundred years as an archer.

The glove was instantly recognizable.

How wonderful the gloves Pelas gave me.

Even compared to the shrine's gloves he gave, it was an item that was not inferior.

Of course, she made that decision because she didn't know about the hidden quest.

In any case, she couldn't help but be surprised.

"Oh, thank you. I never thought I would receive a gift."

"Use it well. It's a valuable item."

Pelas replied with a smile.

Aria nodded.

Thinking that it is much better to be honest even if you look a little arrogant like Pelas, rather than pretending like Ethan.

"I'll use it well. Preciously."

"No, well. Not that much. Tell me when it wears out. I'll buy you another one."

"Yes. I'll tell you when it wears out. Buy me another one."

'What are these twinkling eyes?'

Pelas was a bit taken aback by the unexpected response to Aria.

He cleared his throat and walked towards the knights for no reason.

"Keuheum! How is it? Does everyone like it?"

"yes!"

"Since I've put on a lot of expensive guys, show them off the expensive ones!"

"All right!"

"And the guy who will participate in the successor test with me will present a special sword. Everyone, keep working hard!"

"Yes! Mr. Pelas!"

* * *

Pelas, Havertz, and Aeria left the Knights and left the weapon store first.

They decided to go back first because it seemed like it would take some time to adjust the items to suit each member of the guild.

The combination of Apel and Shinto's gloves was in progress, and the ring was supposed to be completed by tomorrow, so there was nothing more to do.

Even on the way back, Havertz gave a brief briefing on Ethan.

The main combat methods and loopholes.

The fact that it came into his ears showed how well he was able to grasp the other person's weaknesses.

"...And if you come in with an attack like this, it should be easy to dodge if you lower your shoulder slightly to the lower left."

"Um. I see."

Pelas was also simulating a battle with Edan in his head.

Of course, the situation would be different if it went into actual combat, but there was nothing very threatening in the simulated sense.

The parts that Havertz said to be especially careful also didn't seem like a big threat from Pelas' point of view.

Roughly around the end of the story about Edan's attack pattern.

"By the way, Bocchan. Lately, Ethan-sama seems to be interested in Aria."

"hmm?"

What is this again? With that look on his face, Pelas turned to Havertz.

"Sometimes he deliberately moves the traffic line near Aeria-sama, and sometimes he sends people on the pretext that there is nothing particularly inconvenient about it."

"What is that? Really?"

Pellas looked back at Aeria.

Aria frowned and nodded.

"I'm going to bother you. I don't know. Do something. Even when I first saw you, I kept talking to you and telling you to shut up."

"What? You said that?"

Fellas was startled, and Aria was taken aback.

"Uh, uh…wasn't that supposed to be?"

Fellas laughed at her words.

"Poop! No, no. Good work. Havertz. Tell your father that the customer is uncomfortable. He'll do something about it."

Count Egor was in many ways concerned about the elf, Aria.

The proof was that he had called Pelas several times to ask if there was anything she was uncomfortable with.

If it was just one word from him, Edan would not be able to move.

Having understood that, Havertz answered.

"Yes. Bocchan. I will take action like that."

"And tomorrow I need to get some items from the weapon shop I went to alone. Send someone so I can get them."

"All right."

As we talked, we arrived at the front gate of Count DiMeo's family.

Pelas looked up at the high door.

I was getting ready.

I'm ready to put this family in my own hands, not Ethan's.

* * *

that evening.

There was a sudden visit from Robben in Felas' room.

smart smart

"who is this?"

"I'm Robben. Master."

"Uh. Come in."

Robben opened the door and entered at Pelas' answer.

And one more person followed him.

Pelas tilted his head.

"Who is that?"

Judging by the armor he wears, he looks like a knight...

It was the first time Pelas had ever seen him.

It was because he did not know all the knights in this mansion either.

Robben, as if expecting the question, set the article aside and introduced him.

"This is a knight who applied to join the Master's Knights of Calat."

At that, Pelas' eyes slightly changed.

"Oh, yes?"

Pelas naturally turned his gaze in the direction of the knight.

Seeing that, Robben stabbed the knight in the side.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and introduce yourself to the young master."

"Ah, yep! Greetings, Mr. Pelas! I am Owen, who belonged to Ethan's knights!"

"Were you in the Knights of Edan?"

"Yes that's right."

Pelas grinned.

The rumors spread by Havertz seemed to have flowed out properly.

"Can I ask why the Edan Knights are trying to cross over to us?"

"Actually, it's a little bit like saying this with my own mouth. I think I have some skills. However, the Edan Knights treat me poorly. Let alone being treated as a knight, I was just doing chores every day."

To his reply, Robben added.

"I checked in advance, and as this friend said, his skills weren't bad."

Pelas gave an affirmation to Robben's words and looked at Owen again.

"Um. Okay. Keep talking."

"So, I wanted to get a chance to be recognized for my skills. That's why I requested to join the Kalat Knights led by Fellas."

"Right..."

Pelas studied him with sharp eyes.

Straight, steady eyes.

Neatly prepared equipment.

A sword that shines like new.

Since they were already prepared, it seemed like there would be no problem even if they joined the Knights immediately.

Pelas nodded.

"Okay. I'll take your word for it and accept it as a member of my knights. Please take good care of me in the future."

He was nervous, but he responded loudly to Pelas's words with his face wide open.

"thank you!!"

"Yes. Let's go out."

"All right!"

At Pelas's words, Robben and Owen said their goodbyes and went outside.

"for a moment."

The sudden voice of Pelas caught the two of them on their way out.

As the two turned around, Felas looked at Robben and said,

"Owen may go. Robben, talk to me for a moment."

"Ah. Yes. Master."

Robben answered and sent Owen away.

"You go away."

"yes."

So Owen goes outside.

rattle.

The door to Pelas's room was closed.

As Owen's footsteps receded, Pelas' expression suddenly changed.

"Roben. Did you check the background of that bastard named Owen?"

"Yes. It's as you said. The back is forever."

"I knew that too."

Pelas raised a grin.

"Seeing it in person made me even more convinced. The guy who left the Knights because he was treated badly, received such good armor and swords? I was scolded for holding back my laughter."

You may be able to fool Count Egor, but you cannot fool Pelas.

Because he had the skill of penetrating eyes.

In Pelas' eyes, Owen's equipment level was objectively accurate.

What Owen was wearing was a similar level of equipment to the Edan Knights' second-in-command that we had seen before.

Rather, higher-level items than most of the knights of the Edan Knights.

Do you give them away and treat them badly?

It was nonsense.

"It's obvious what he'll do next. Bona mana, while preparing for the match, he will show his best condition, but he will give up right before the match, giving various excuses.

When things went as Pelas expected, Robben shook his head.

"I really didn't know you would do this. You would even think about planting a spy."

"Obviously, due to their nature, they would have planted a spy somehow.

"It's definitely better to know who the spy is."

It was Pelas who foresaw this to happen and spread the rumor through Havertz.

Ethan, who prefers behind the scenes, would have come out like this.

Pelas instructed Robben to prepare for the next step.

"Well then, while they giggle, let's prepare the real selection without them knowing."

"Okay. Anyway, I was preparing to show you the final candidates today or tomorrow."

"Okay. Report back as soon as you're ready."

"yes!"

Pelas grinned.

'You have to play around while looking at your opponent. Where are you going to hit the back of the head?'

< Episode 31. You picked the wrong opponent. >end