"Hey, it's been a long time... hasn't it been so long?
It was the minister who was in the room. I greeted the Ataru with a fluttering laugh.
"Why are you in a place like this?
Ataru opens his mouth best as he stares at the minister who suddenly shows up in the guard's stall, and asks that question.
"A place like this..."
Dropping his shoulder like Dwayne was disappointed by the way he put it too much, the minister replies with a smile.
"No, I'm sorry. You would have been surprised because you suddenly showed up. I came here to talk about rewards from the state for this achievement."
Hearing the words, Atal and Caro look at each other.
And then I sent my gaze to Dwayne.
"Yes, no, you know what? Because of my position as captain of the guard force, I have an obligation to report to the top..."
In response to that gaze, Dwayne replies in a grueling manner. He complained that he had no choice but to feel bad about keeping his mouth shut to the Atals.
"Ha ha, I hope you don't blame him. Of course I'm not going to reward anything you guys don't like. It would help if you could tell me what you want..."
The Minister, who smiles and speaks so, intends to respect the opinions of the Athals.
But that's what makes Atal and Caro in trouble.
"Hmm, what do you want?"
"What do you want, is..."
The two of them, suddenly told, have nothing in trouble with the status quo, think deeply, and no more words come up.
"Ha, I didn't know you'd think about it so much - you two still don't have greed"
The minister looked at the two seriously troubled people and laughed as troubled.
"If I were normal, I'd want tens of thousands of gold coins, I'd want a house, I'd want an Adventurer Rank up, I'd want a weapon, I'd have all sorts of desires, but hey."
The minister looked at the two as if even an abnegation saint could see them.
"... no, I wonder what. Nothing. I just need money, and I'm traveling wherever I live. I don't think it's better to be an adventurer rank or go up. I have my own weapon."
In view of the current situation, there is nothing we will need - that was Atar's answer. Some personalities don't originally have anything unnecessary, especially when it comes to this.
"Um, if I know where my hometown is too, the rest is enough. Because we have enough money and weapons!
With a grin like trouble, Caro replies in the same way as Atal. She couldn't seem to think of anything for herself when she said something for herself.
"Ha-ha, he's in trouble."
To the two replies, the minister poses in trouble with his hands on his chin. Because this case of the Beastman kidnapping is not a small one enough to say that nothing will be done.
"Well... does that reward have to be something we give ourselves?
At that time, Futaru asks the Minister if he has come up with anything.
"Hmm? I don't know, but if you want it, I want it as much as I can."
The Minister could not read the sincerity of Atal's words, but the answer nonetheless implies affirmation. Nod loudly with a soft look.
There he is.
"... then work harder to control the kidnappers. Honestly, the guards alone can't get it under control. It's for security purposes in the first place, and I'm not specialized in attacks. I want you to be safe against kidnapping."
Both the minister and Dwayne were surprised by Atar's exact proposal.
"Oh, oh, if that's all right..."
"Even this one will help..."
Minister, and listening to Dwayne, Atal narrows his eyes wondering if the two of them might be mistaken in how to perceive something.
"I'm sorry, but what I'm saying isn't a light one, is it? According to recent stories here, there were a large number of people in the security forces who were connected with a group of kidnappers. Besides, it turns out that the minister's son was kidnapped, and even more so, a considerable number of people were caught in this crushing of the kidnapper's stronghold. Only part of us probably crushed it this time. There will be not only this city, there will be others with bases outside, and there may be more powerful ones holding their hand behind it."
The minister was surprised when he told him to let his atar creep up in a harsh tone, but he was taking the word from the front.
"... sorry. You did answer me lightly earlier. - The Beast Man is better than the others in terms of ability. And sometimes they treat me as a loving slave because of my appearance. To that end, I guess the kidnapping of the Beastman's children is becoming a business. It's a long-standing problem nestled in this country."
I had a softening atmosphere until earlier, and the minister with a serious expression said it again and felt sorry for me from the bottom of my heart that my position was also there.
Atal, who hears the minister's sad thoughts, just nods silently and gives it back.
It was because I decided that there would still be a continuation.
"- That's why... we have to do something"
There was enthusiasm in the eyes of the next minister to raise his face.
The capture of his own son had made him feel strong as a party.
"... you mean?
When Atal asks what to do, the minister laughs all the time.
"Oh, I promise to strengthen control over the kidnappers. To do this, of course, rethink the way the guards and cavaliers work, or organize a new specialized unit."
Once the consciousness was switched, the idea of what to do now was one after the other in the minister's head.
"You look fine. Then that's enough to reward us. You're allowing me to move freely in this country in the first place, so all I want more than that... you know?
Atal spoke to Caro, and she was smiling and nodding loudly, too.
"Someone without greed, I can't help it... then I'll give you this ring"
The grinning minister takes two rings out of the bag he took out of his nostalgia.
"... the ring? No, I don't have a hobby for accessories..."
Rather, as Atal tried to shy away, the minister shook his neck to the side and let Atal hold it in his hand, albeit in a forceful form.
"This is a special powerful magic trick. If you wear it, you can strengthen it. You can just put it on. It may not be a big deal, but sometimes that little enhancement can change the war - so take it."
As the minister put it, Atal and Caro wore rings after each other's faces.
Dwayne, who was watching that, said something. That was the look on his face, but when he snuck up on the minister posing to keep it to himself, he held his mouth.