And the one who was confined there might be a subordinated person like Echigos. That might be the reason for them to arrest him.

  「I see, so…… What kind of a person is this one. Is he a minstrel? 」


  Minstrel was someone who visited many places to sing the song that was created by him.

  Due to the lack of entertainment in Algore, a minstrel is always welcomed. So he wouldn’t be arrested like this if not for the current emergency situation of this country. He was just unlucky.

  「Yeah, the person himself said that he is a minstrel.」


  The one who replied is Macgyusis.

  「Nothing suspicious came out when we checked his luggage, but we found his instrument too. Ah, that’s right. He’s also in the possession of another amazing item.」


  「Amazing item? 」


  After saying so, Macgyusis took the item that was left on the side of the guard.

  「Here, see for yourself.」


  Macgyusis showed me the item.

  「A shield? 」


  It was a round shield.

  It’s quite valuable item with some gems embedded along it’s circular pattern.

  And then, there’s something that made me even more curious about this shield.

  「This…… Is. ISN’T THIS A FRIGGIN MAGIC SHIELD! ! 」


  Though the shield itself didn’t reflect the sunlight, it released faint light.

  It’s definitely an amazing shield. Magic tool like this isn’t something that one could easily obtain.

  Though it’s of the lower quality when compared to the one in Kyouka-sama and co possession, it’s still a rare item.

  Humans couldn’t make defensive magic tools, so it must be a dwarf made one. But even those dwarf shouldn’t be able to make magic tools without any ingredients. For this reason, it’s very rare for someone to even have a defensive magic tools.

  Thus I’m pondering about the minstrel who are being arrested inside. Just who in the world is he?

  「How about confisticating this for you to use yourself, Omiros. I mean, we’re about to clash with those ogres and the Dark Knight.」


  It’s just as Macgyusis said. This place might be turned into battlefield after this. Thus it’s better if I have a defensive magic tools.

  But then, I shook my head in denial to Macgyusis idea.

  「We can’t do this, Macgyusis. Doing that kind of act is the same as smearing mud on our pride as a warrior.」


  No matter how difficult our situation, I can’t do something like snatching someone else possession.

  I thought so during my pilgrimage. We have no time to scramble at our fellow human when our enemies like goblins and orcs were waiting out there.

  That’s why I have to return this shield to its proper owner.

  「I see…… Well can’t be helped if you say that.」


  Macgyusis finally gave up in persuading me, albeit reluctantly.

  「Return the luggage and this shield to its owner. So, can you open the door, I want to meet this minstrel.」


  「Understood, young master.」


  The guard then opened the door for me.

  There’s nothing but empty house inside when I entered the house, well that’s natural since all the furniture had been taken out. Then I see someone sitting on one corner of the room. He might be the said minstrel.

  He stood up since he might realize that we came.

  「I’m sorry. Fellow traveler. And for the fact that you have to meet such difficult situation.」


  I’m bowing to the minstrel.

  「It’s nothing, please raise your head, young lord. I mean I don’t mind such treatment at all. It seems that I came during a difficult time.」


  The minstrel forgave me. And then it gave rise to another question, How did he know that I’m a prince?

  「Is that so」


  Raising my head, I then began taking a look at the minstrel feature.

  it’s a man around my age. Black hair and well-ordered face. On closer look, he’s far more handsome than Parsish.

  It’s just that his appearance didn’t seem to be too conspicious.

  His garment was simple. Though he might become popular amongst women if only he wore proper clothes, his simple clothing might be just his preference.

  It’s my impression of the minstrel.

  From his appearance, he didn’t seem to be someone that I know. But then, let’s return his belonging first.

  「I came to return your belonging.」


  The guard passed the musical instrument and his luggage back to him.

  As he accepted his luggage and the musical instrument.

  「And this too……」


  I returned the shield that I’m holding on to him.

  But he didn’t stretch his hand to accept it.

  「That shield is my gift to you, young prince.」


  「「「EEEEH? ! 」」」


  The two behind me was also raising a shocked voice.

  「Something troublesome is about to happen in this country right? That’s why that shield should be more useful in your hand.」


  「Could it be that you hear our conversation outside of this house? 」


  It’s not like this house was soundproof anyway. Thus it’s highly possible that he overheard our conversation outside of the house.

  The minstrel just scratched the back of his head while laughing .

  「No…… I can’t receive such important item from you.」


  Defensive magic tools was an extremely rare things. It’s not something that I could buy no matter how many gold coins in my possession.

  Moreover, what made me doubt my ears was the fact that he gave it, not lending it.

  「You should keep that shield, Young prince. I think it’s going to save your life. And, please use that shield to protect those who are important to you.」


  But then, shaking his head in denial, the minstrel replied so. I wondered who is this person real identity?

  「Just take it, Omiros! ! Moreover, you really are a nice guy! ! Come to my house, I’m gonna treat you with feast of bean dishes! ! 」


  Macgyusis said that while patting on the minstrel shoulder.

  Though I doubt whether you can call bean dishes as a feast, we have nothing but that kind of dishes in this country.

  「Come to think of it. We’re going to imprison the werewolf in this house. Thus, please come to our house. Let us show our gratitude for the shield.」


  I invited him for a meal along with Macgyusis.

  I don’t know his identity. But it’s as Macgyusis had said, I need to express my gratitude to him.

  「No, this place is fine. It seems that something big is about to begin.」


  But the minstrel was shaking his head, turning down our offer.

  「But there’s going to be a werewolf in this house you know.」


  「It’s all right. …… I mean that werewolf is bind with padlock. Moreover, I want to talk with that werewolf, just the two of us.」


  「I see……」


  He feels like a different person when he told us that he wanted to talk with the werewolf. But then, a minstrel is someone that usually full of curiosity and have tons of questions in his head. It might be the same for him.

  「Thus don’t worry about me.」


  Smiling, the minstrel telling me so.

  「He~. You’re just like a different person when you said that you wanted to have a little talk with the werewolf. Well then, I’m going to tell my lil sis to bring your meal later.」


  Macgyusis is laughing heartily. Despite thinking the same things as me, Macgyusis was just bluntly saying his own thought that I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Aren’t you being rude to him?

  「Come to think of it, can you tell us your name? 」


  Macgyusis was asking for his name.

  Come to think of it, I have yet to know the name of this minstrel.

  When I was about to ask his name, the minstrel then replied after pondering for a while.

  「My name is Kuro.」


  Kuro, I never heard of such name before. Though he said that he came from Rox kingdom, he might be in fact born in an even far away country.

  「Kuro, that’s a strange name.」


  「MacGius! ! 」


  Macgyusis was saying something rude again.

  「Please forgive my companion discourtesy, Kuro-dono.」


  「Don’t worry, I don’t mind about such things.」


  Waving his hands, Kuro’s replying so.

  「By the way, young prince. May I ask…… If this country has a hero called Parsish? 」


  「What, is your actual goal to meet Parsish?」


  Minstrel likes to sing a song about hero.

  And Parsish is the most suited one for the brave title as he is also famous in the surrounding country for his goblin extermination.

  It’s not a wonder for his deed to be praised in a song by a minstrel.

  So he might want to meet Parsish and make a song about him.

  「Yes, Parsish is definitely in this country. But he’s absent from his post right now.」


  「I see……」


  Kuro looked a bit troubled. He definitely wanted to meet Parsish.

  「Hahaha, could it be that Kuro-dono actually want to give this shield to Parsish? Or do you want me to give this shield to Parsish when he returned? 」


  Weapon or magic weapon was more appropriate to a brave ones after all. And maybe, this shield is better for Parsish than me who have nothing special on my own.

  Thus, I said so with a smile on my face.

  「N-NONONO! ! YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN’T DO THAT! ! YOUNG PRINCE! ! DO NOT GIVE THIS SHIELD TO PARSISH, NO MATTER WHAT! ! IT’S FOR YOU! ! 」


  Kuro suddenly said so in panic. It’s as if his calm attitude up till now is just a facade.

  「Eh? P-Pardon? I understand……」


  I can only agree with him after being told so by him with such fervor.

  「My apologize, young Prince. I ended up lost my cool.」


  Laughing it off, Kuro was saying so to me. Nevertheless, I wonder who is he? He’s suspicious person as expected.

  But I really couldn’t see the bottom of this person.

  He spoke a little too much. We should be waiting for now. I must strengthen our defense before the invasion of Dark Knight and the ogres.

  「Well then, Kuro-dono. We’re going to excuse ourself then.」


  Saying so, I’m bowing to Kuro.

  「Don’t worry.」


  Kuro was also bowing to me.

  Then, I left the house.

  「Macgyusis. What do you think about Kuro-dono?」


  A while after leaving the house, I asked Macgyusis.

  「Well…… I just get this feeling that he’s not your ordinary minstrel.」


  It seems that Macgyusis also have the same impression as me about Kuro.

  「But then, don’t you think that he is a nice person for gifting that shield? 」


  But, he added so right after his first impression.