Just as Souta tries to go back in, Fuura arrives.
Souta is surprised that there's another guest. Furthermore, it’s Fuura.
「Ehh? What is this? That face…… Did you by any chance… forget that I was going to come here? 」
「Of course I remember. I’m just a little surprised that another guest came right away.」
Fortunately, there is quite a distance between them, so Fuura is unable to see the cold sweat on Souta’s forehead.
「Hmmph, well that’s fine. For the time being, crime prevention, was it? Let me hear more about it.」
After Souta regains his composure, he guides Fuura to the gate.
「Using this key, you can lock the gate.」
As they go outside of the gate, Souta takes out a key from his pocket and lets magic power pass through without Fuura noticing. He sets the locking range to encompass the gate and the stone wall around the mansion.
「Hmm? What do you mean? This is not this gate key right? 」
Fuura takes the key and does as Souta told her to, though she does it with an incredulous expression.
A ‘click’ sound comes from the gate, and it’s locked.
「Ehh? H-How? Even though there isn't a keyhole! 」
Since it looks funny, Souta laughs.
「Surprised? It’s a magic item, and there's lock magic in it. The range is around the mansion centered on this gate.」
Fuura is even more surprised by Souta’s remarks, and her hair looks like it's puffed out.
「Yeah, well, it’s sort of like that. Once locked, it'll be hard to enter even if they try to climb the wall.」
It’s a job well done for Souta who's able to make Fuura surprised beyond expectation.
「If you use this key, you can come in without problems, but if you try to enter using brute force, you'll be hindered by the magic wall. I guess this is enough for crime prevention. It's not like I'll leave behind anything important in it. Now then, can you open it again? 」
Fuura opens the lock and returns the key to Souta.
「… No, it’s okay. Even if it was created on the spot yesterday, the content is fine. There isn't a problem on my end.」
After thinking for a bit, Souta shakes his head.
「Really? It’s fine for me too. Umm… You’re not going to depart right away, right? What about the key? 」
「I got it. I’ll stay in the store around that time, I’ll be waiting.」
Once Fuura turns her back to Souta, she starts making a motion similar to when she used the key before.
Fuura isn't the last guest, as once she leaves, another guest comes.
「Good morning Souta-san.」
It's Milfa who arrives.
「Milfa, huh… There's a lot of visitors today. Have you heard about me going on a trip? 」
Milfa’s face looks grim. It looks like she feels the same as Carena about the state of her homeland.
「Yeah, I also already heard from Carena about how hard it’s to enter the country and that there are many elves that dislike humans.」
「No, if it’s you, a warning is most likely will be pointless. Today, I came to hand you the letter of introduction from the guild master.」
「Ummm, there is an adventurer guild in that country, so this should make it easier for you to enter even if it’s just a little.」
「This will help. I’ve troubled a lot of people.」
「A lot? Are there any other letters of introduction? 」
「Before I know, to be an acquaintance of Carena-san is… Somehow, Souta-san is going down a road where ordinary people take years in only a few days.」
Says Milfa with a little bit of amazement in her voice.
「Is that so? I don’t know what's normal…… Well, everyone's different. There are slow ones, but there are also the fast ones.」
Souta tilts his head.
He remembers what he heard from a companion on his previous journey. That’s why Souta went to report.
「Ummm, I heard that there were such things in the past, but now it is optional.」
「If you still report it, it will help us because we can grasp the adventurer who is based in this guild.」
Milfa smiles at Souta who is scratching his head.
「… … Anyway, I will leave the city for a while so please tell Guran for me once again. Also, there isn't a thank you for the letter of introduction.」
「Yeah, later…… Thank you for taking the trouble to deliver the letter, Milfa.」
「Ehhh, no…… You're welcome.」
Milfa is surprised for a moment, but then her smiles return and she bows once again before leaving.
Souta goes into the house after Milfa’s figure disappears, and he proceeds to bathe to wash off his sweat.
Ed goes back to bed to sleep for a short time until Souta comes out.
t/n: because of some part of next chapter, i end up reading quite far ahead, and so i now know who win the bet from some chapter before, quite an unexpected result actually,