With the height, approx. to 100 meter above the ground, on the top of a huge old tree that can be called the oldest tree.

On the summit of that tree, -Merlan- stood up.

[ ........! Found it.]

In a distant place, far away from her current position, in range it"s about several kilometres.

The eyesight that was strengthen with magic with the monocle as the intermediary, she caught the appearance of the monster for the subjugation quest she received.

[ range 3688.2, wind direction is southeast and is slightly strong ....]

Among the pair of the bow which was her specialized weapon, she took the long bow one which is specialized in strength and distance.

From the two of the quiver she took a long arrow, and slowly fixed it onto the string

*crack crack crack*, she drew the string.

[ The prediction time for the impact from the current location, less than 9 second. Calculating the place of the target when the impact will occur]

3 seconds.

She determined her aim while waiting for the string to be fully pulled, Merlan stopped for a second.

and then.

[ ...... kh!]

*Pcsyuu* (byukaa)

The black arrow that was released, accelerated to the extent that it only left its sound behind.

Without even declining even a bit from the trajectory which she calculated, it pierced the body of its target.

Merlan who already finished her job, she returned to the city which she made her base for some time ago.

And then, she entered the huge building which was the guild’s branch, heading towards the counter.

[ Ah, Merlan-chan! Welcome back, how was it?] 

[ It"s done without problem. I want to report the quest is finished, is that okay?] 

After saying that, she took out a huge fang which has a size about a kid"s arm from her bag.

Rank 5, ?Forest Dragon?"s fang which was an object of A Rank subjugation quest.

Known for its ferocity and its belligerent, was a species of the ground dragon which didn"t have wings.

Forest Dragon"s fang does not get replaced even once in its entire live.

So, for its fang to be here, was the undeniable proof that Merlan had taken down that dragon.

[ ..... Okay, it is certainly the fang of the forest dragon. I will give your quest reward okay]

The young receptionist, gave a cloth bag filled with gold to her.

as it was the reward for an A-rank subjugation monster, it was a sum enough for her to live around in luxury for a while.

The cloth bag that she received, was heavy and full.

[ Well, nevertheless. For you to be able to finish this kind of job in only 2 days, as expected of the he ---- ] 

[ ah, no, there"s nothing! ] 

The boy who was about to mention that name carelessly in front of her, shut his mouth.

It"s because he knew, that Merlan didn"t really like to be called with that name.

Perhaps because he was able to stop midway, her mood wasn’t impaired much.

The boy felt relieved, and let out a sigh of relief.

[ Uuuum ..... And then, what will you do after that? An A-rank subjugation quest, for now there is none you know.] 

[ If there"s several of those quests it will make me surprised you know. Due to this quest I have already save quite a lot of money, I will be taking it easy for a while.]

As she smoothly combed her hair upward, Merlan answered the question listlessly.

While there was no apparent wounds on her skin, there was exhaustion because using the magic for an attack from extreme distance, her mental strain was quite big.

Furthermore, in the first place, she doesn"t have that much apt.i.tude for magic.

Despite that, she using three magics ?strengthen eyesight?,?increase speed?,and?strengthen piercing power?magic at the same time during battle.

Even though the result of it was her victory, the fatigue was no small matter.

[If I do not get a proper rest then the accuracy of my arrows will decline as well. So I was thinking that I will just loiter around the city for several days]

[ Is that so! The, then , is there any plans from today ..... ?]

[ Hmm? There’s none I think ]

Merlan answered even when she inclined her head.

And thus the boy"s expression suddenly looked like it was. .h.i.t by nervousness, while looked like a bit hesitant about it he opened his mouth.

[ the, then you know ...... this evening, how about we grab di ---- ]

[ Merlan - saaan ! Is she heree~ ! ? ]

However, he wasn’t able to complete his words till the end.

By the voice of a girl that entered the guild with haste, his voice drowned.

[ Ah, she"s here! Merlan is here! ]

[ I was wondering who was it, but it"s just the inn keeper-san . what happened, you look really fl.u.s.tered ]

She turned to the back, the master of that voice ........ the daughter of the inn where Merlan stayed, was facing her.

Behind her, the young boy was crying.

[ Umm you know , there"s a guest for Merlan-san, you know ]

[guest? ]

[Yees, it"s a surprise (Peach Tree?), Awesome!]

?????????????????????(ED note: Sorry I don"t understand)

While she didn"t quite understand what that girl was saying, it was probably the usual thing so she will just ignore it.

Rather, it was a guest for herself, wondering about it she inclined her head.

[ I don"t remember doing things that made people want to visit me though] 

[ I remember that person"s name though, but on the way here I forget about it  ~ ! ] 

[ Hey, for an inn which is dealing with its customer this is no good, right  .... ]

[ *tehepero* ] - TL : search google ~ 

Though that was as expected to make Merlan irritated, for now she bear it.

[ ......... Well, it"s alright. After all, it will be something like invitation to their team or something like that, right ..... Let"s go , inn keeper-san ]

[ Kaaay ~ ..... ah, it"s b.u.t.terfly! ] 

[ Let"s go quickly! ] 

While grabbing her back collar and dragging her, Merlan left the guild.

There was one adventurer who was searching for a quest in the bulletin board,  headed toward the boy who stood by the counter, then hit his shoulder.

[ Well, what you know ...... Do your best, big bro] 

[ Uuuuh ....... ]

[ How do you do ! so you"re the ?Bow princess?Merlan-san, right  !] 

Someone who rarely come visiting this inn, a boy who wore some weird outfit suddenly grabbed her hand.

Furthermore, she was called with the second name which she didn"t want to hear, Merlan"s mood suddenly worsen.

[ Hand, let it go. Also don"t come near me more than 3 steps ] 

[ It’s a pleasure for me to be able to meet you ! All of the rumours about you, I’ve heard about it a lot  ] 

He wasn"t listen.

As there was no other way and she tried to wave her hand to shake off his hand, her hand was tightly gripped with both of his hand so it was impossible.

..... For a girl who he had just meet, isn"t this a bit too much over familiar.

[ Who are you. Firstly, state your name.]

[ Ah, I am sorry!  I still haven"t introduce myself yet, right?] 

Letting go of her hand, the man ...... the boy, by seeing his age, took one step behind.

However, it was fortunate that she was wearing her glove. If she was suddenly touched while bare handed, she might have kicked him due to her reflexes.

[ My name is Shinya Kokonoe. If I have to said in an accent of this place then it will be, SHINYA - KOKONOE ...... please call me Shinya ] 

[ Is that so, Kokonoe eh ]

For some reasons, Merlan who didn"t want to call his name, answered that.

However, she vaguely remembered his name.

[ Ummm, you know, I am ---- ] 

[ I know about it more or less. It was announced in the 3 great kingdom including Shardia , the heroes that came back again after long time ..... right?]

judging that the encroachment of the eternal night"s domain that kept extending each hour, Mashanoizas summoned the hero from another world.

That’s what was she remembered.

Though in this place it was not much of a fuss, but if one had gone to a little bigger city then it was a rumour that was loitering around.

For an adventurer, it was only weird for them not knowing about it.

..... He looked weaker than she thought.

Hearing that it was the hero she thought that it was a youth with more robust body, Merlan had thought of that.

[ Then? For the Hero-sama, is there"s anything he got to do with this humble adventurer? ]

[ Yes! I want, for Merlan-san to join me in my adventures ! ]

This guy, what was he doing suddenly spouting some crazy things from his mouth.

[ Please, ?Bow Princess?Merlan-san! Please, together with me, join my battle for defeating the demon lord ! ]

Once again, the hero took her hand, and asked her.

but on the contrary, Merlan.

[ Of course I will decline such an offer, you know. I refuse]

Though it was something obvious, she rejected it without any second thought.