As the morning sun crested the horizon, Set nudged the sleeping Rei. The Gryphon purred low in his throat, gently shaking his partner to wake him.
"Hmm? Set... is it time?"
"Guru."
Rubbing his eyes, Rei scanned the horizon. The sun had fully revealed itself, painting the world in the colors of early morning.
"Morning already. I slept more soundly than I expected."
He stood and stretched, testing his muscles. Despite the intense training session he had put himself through right before bed, there wasn't a hint of soreness.
"Gururu."
Rei turned to see a Water Ball hovering in the air. Set was offering it to him to wash his face.
"Thanks, that helps."
Rei gave a brief word of gratitude and washed up as he had the night before. He shook off the excess water and let the morning breeze do the rest.
Breakfast followed. Rei roasted some Water Bear Meat over the campfire, which Set had dutifully maintained through the night. They split the last two Clara Fruits between them, and with that, their preparations for departure were complete.
"Alright, it’s about time we head out. You were on watch all night—how’s your stamina holding up?"
"Guru."
Set let out a reassuring cry.
A typical Gryphon might have shown signs of fatigue after a night without sleep, but Set was no ordinary beast. He had been created through Rei's vast Magic Power and the art of Beast Magic. He could easily go a week without sleep if necessary, though such a feat would likely require several days of recovery afterward.
"Good. Then let’s get moving."
"Guru."
As he had in the forest, Set crouched low, inviting Rei to mount. Rei gave the Gryphon’s back a thankful pat before climbing on, Death Scythe in hand.
"Gurururururururuuu!"
With a triumphant cry, Set broke into a short run and beat his wings, soaring upward as if galloping through the sky. Once they reached a sufficient altitude, the Gryphon leveled out, tilting his head back toward his rider.
"Guru?"
Where to? Set seemed to ask. Rei pointed toward the south. It was a gamble, but according to Zephyle’s ancient knowledge, a significant city lay a few days' journey in that direction.
Rei didn't place much faith in Zephyle’s centuries-old information, but a vague reference was better than no direction at all.
"South."
"Guru!"
Set gave a sharp cry and banked toward the south, his massive wings cutting through the air.
"...Incredible."
The word escaped Rei's lips as he gazed at the view below.
Before him lay a piercingly blue sky and a literal carpet of emerald green. As far as the eye could see, there was no sign of human civilization—no towns, no villages, no roads.
Rei had been raised in a rural town in Tohoku, but even there, houses were always in sight and a city was only a bike ride away. For him, a world of pure, untouched nature was a sight beyond anything he had ever imagined.
"Gurururu!"
Sensing Rei’s delight, Set let out a joyous cry and picked up speed, his wings beating rhythmically as they raced through the clouds.
"Wait... I can’t just sit here gawking. I need to figure out my story."
Rei realized his understanding of this world’s common sense was limited to Zephyle’s outdated memories. To account for his inevitable ignorance, he needed a solid cover story. He split his attention between the vista and his lies, trying to build a believable persona.
(First, if I’m going to live as an Adventurer, I have to be a Mage. Since Set is always with me, I’ll need to claim I’m a Tamer or have summoning abilities. And I need a reason for why I don't know anything about the world...)
He leafed through the mental library of novels, manga, and movies he’d consumed back when he was Reiji Saiki.
(Amnesia? No, Set makes that complicated. A Teleportation Magic accident? Possible, but maybe too suspicious... wait, I’ve got it.)
He recalled a manga about a magic apprentice living in isolation who was eventually sent out into the world by his master to complete his training. He began fitting his own circumstances into that narrative.
(I lived in a secluded area with only my master, so I’m naturally ignorant of society... Check. My master taught me Fire Magic and taming... I'll go with Tamer, since Zephyle’s memories say they exist and I don't want to be asked to summon anything other than Set. Then, once I finished my basic training, my master used Space Magic to teleport me to a random location for my final trial. I wandered with my partner Set, hunting Monsters, until I stumbled upon a city. Perfect.)
He ran through the story one more time, checking for holes.
"It should work."
Under close scrutiny, there were plenty of oddities. Why did a Mage use a massive Great Scythe? Why was that scythe his magic focus instead of a staff? Why had his master sent him out penniless, yet equipped with high-grade Magic Items? But Rei couldn't think of anything better, so he gave a satisfied nod and moved on.
A few hours passed. Rei and Set continued their aerial journey in peace.
While the view was breathtaking, staring at the same green carpet for hours eventually became monotonous. Rei found himself half-hoping for a cliché fantasy encounter—attacking monsters, bandits waylaying a merchant’s carriage, or Adventurers in distress. But reality remained uneventful, and he simply relaxed into the rhythm of Set’s flight.
As the sun reached its zenith, Rei began to think about finding something edible for lunch.
"Gururururu!"
Set gave a sharp, warning cry to grab his attention.
"What is it?"
"Guru."
Set fixed his gaze forward. Rei followed his line of sight and saw it: a massive man-made structure. It wasn't just a town; it was a sprawling city that looked like it could house tens of thousands. It was a classic walled city, surrounded by high stone ramparts for protection against monsters.
Rei let out a long breath of relief.
"As I suspected. It’s not in Zephyle’s records, but a few centuries is plenty of time to build a place like that. Well, time to go in and see what’s what."
As they neared, a road appeared beneath them—not stone or concrete, but a wide path of earth packed hard by the passage of countless boots and carriages. People were visible on the road, mere specks from this height.
(Now, how do I handle the entry? Flying straight into the city on a Gryphon is a one-way ticket to being shot at. Landing right at the gates is also going to cause a panic. Best to land a distance away and walk in like a normal traveler.)
He watched the people below pointing up at Set in shock and made his decision.
"Set, let’s head down. We’ll walk the rest of the way."
"Guru."
Set chirped and banked toward the earth. A few minutes later, they touched down about a ten-minute walk from the city gates.
As they started down the road, travelers, merchants, and Adventurers alike scrambled to give them a wide berth. Everyone watched the pair with varying degrees of awe and terror.
(So those are Adventurers. Most of them are in groups. Swords, spears, bows... and the ones with staves must be the Mages.)
Rei kept his eyes forward, trying not to look like he was staring, while observing the locals. The Adventurers were doing the same, their hands hovering near their weapons as they warily eyed Set.
The ten-minute walk ended at the city gates, where five soldiers stood waiting for them, armed with spears and swords.
"..."
Rei approached in silence, not wanting to provoke them. Set followed obediently at his heels. The air grew thick with tension as they neared, until one man stepped forward from the line.
(He’s in his thirties or forties, while the others look like they’re in their twenties. Likely the captain. He has a sword, but it’s still in the sheath. No immediate hostility.)
As if to confirm Rei’s assessment, the man with the goatee spoke.
"I am Ranga, captain of the Guard Force for the City of Gilm. I take it you have business in our city?"
Despite his grizzled look, his voice was surprisingly light and airy. Rei, taken aback by the friendly tone, nodded.
"Yeah. That’s right."
"I see. In that case, would you mind stepping into the guardhouse for a quick chat? As you can see, bringing an A-Rank monster like a Gryphon around tends to make people... a bit jumpy."
Ranga gestured toward the crowd. Everyone nearby was staring, though most of them—Adventurers included—quickly looked away the moment Rei made eye contact.
(Set is clearly more terrifying than I realized. No point in making a scene. Explaining myself in the guardhouse will be faster in the long run.)
Rei let out a quiet sigh and nodded.
"Fine. I’ll follow your lead."
"Much appreciated. If I just let someone with an A-Rank beast walk right through the gates, my boss would have my head. Plus, I need to get the paperwork ready for the Margrave."
Ranga explained his predicament with a casual air. It seemed his lighthearted tone wasn't a tactical choice to lower Rei's guard; it was just his personality.
The captain led them toward a small stone building near the gate.
"Sorry, but the place isn't exactly built for Gryphons. Could you have your friend wait outside?"
"Yeah, no problem. Set."
Rei called his partner over. Set nuzzled against him happily, and Rei gave him a quick scratch behind the ears.
"I need to go inside and talk for a bit. You stay here and rest."
"Guru?"
Set looked at him with those intelligent blue eyes, asking if he was sure.
"Don't worry. You know what I can do."
"Guru."
Satisfied, Set walked over to a patch of grass beside the guardhouse and curled up. Between the night watch and the long flight, he was clearly tired, and his eyes slowly began to drift shut.
However, he wasn't truly defenseless. Set’s physical and magical capabilities far exceeded a normal Gryphon's; he could rest his body while remaining perfectly alert through his sense of smell, hearing, and mana detection.
"Just a warning," Rei said, turning to Ranga. "Make sure no one bothers him while I’m inside."
"Of course. I’m not stupid enough to provoke an A-Rank beast. However... you, over here."
Ranga summoned one of the younger soldiers.
"Sir?"
"While we’re inside, make sure no one gives this Gryphon any trouble. Keep the civilians away."
"Me, sir? You want me to stand next to that?"
"Yes. You."
"Understood, sir..." the soldier replied, looking like he’d just been handed a death sentence.
(Well, if it really is A-Rank, I can't blame him for being scared.)
Rei didn't know the specifics of the ranking system yet, but the guards' reactions made it clear that A-Rank was synonymous with a national-level threat.
Rei offered the soldier a small, sympathetic smile.
"As long as you don't poke him, Set won't do anything. He’s harmless."
"I'll... I'll take your word for it."
"Now then, let's head in—oh, wait. Take this."
Ranga reached into a pouch and handed Rei a length of thick cloth. Rei took it, looking at the fabric with a confused frown. He tried to think of a use for it, but eventually gave up and looked at the captain.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Seriously? Were you really going to walk into the city with that Great Scythe's blade bared for all to see? Nobody walks around with a naked sword, kid. Spears are one thing, but a blade that massive... I can't let that slide. Wrap it up."
"Oh. Right."
Rei had to admit, that was a fair point.