"I have an idea that might manage the enemy's pursuit, and it might even let us deal with the Rare Species leading them."
The moment Rei muttered those words, every eye in the clearing, including Elena's, fixed on him.
"...I see. And what sort of method would this be?"
"Before I explain: this method is essentially one of my trump cards. I have no choice but to use it now because I'm also in danger if I don't, but I have one condition."
"State it."
"I possess a spell called the Seed of Restraint. It allows me to set a condition when the magic is cast—for example, that you will not disclose the abilities I'm about to show you. If that condition is broken, the magic activates and incinerates the person's body from within. If you can accept this, I'll use my ace in the hole."
The instant Rei finished speaking, the tip of Kyuste’s magic spear appeared inches from the side of his face.
"...You bastard, enough of your arrogance. You, a mere commoner, would demand that Lady Elena and I—nobles—submit to magic that binds our actions? Know your place!"
Kyuste’s angry roar echoed through the woods as his murderous intent radiated outward. Rei, however, took the pressure as if it were nothing and opened his mouth.
"Set."
"Guruuuuu!"
With that single word from Rei, Set’s forepaw slammed down onto Kyuste's magic spear, pinning it to the dirt.
"Guh!"
No matter how much confidence Kyuste had in his own strength, he was no match for the raw power of a gryphon. Moreover, Set was equipped with a magic item called the Bracelet of Herculean Strength, which amplified its already monstrous physical power.
His magic spear easily driven into the ground, Kyuste groaned as his hand went numb from the impact.
Directing a cold gaze at the noble, Rei continued.
"If you find my conditions so repulsive, then so be it. Feel free to challenge this dungeon on your own. Set and I will simply fly back to the surface."
"Don't be ridiculous! You're an adventurer dispatched by Margrave Larkus as an escort! Do you think you can just abandon your charges and flee?!"
"Hmph. You look down on me at every turn, yet you resort to that the moment things get dire? You really are the quintessential noble—bloated pride that doesn't match your actual skill."
"You...!"
Kyuste reached for the magic spear with his trembling hand, but the moment his fingers touched the shaft, he realized that the blade of the Death Scythe was pressed firmly against his throat.
"What's wrong? Weren't you going to pick up that spear? It's your pride and joy, isn't it?"
"Guh!"
The situation was on a hair-trigger. Even to Elena and the others watching, it was painfully clear that if Kyuste made a single move, the blade at his neck would claim his life. Unable to move, they could only speak.
"Rei, please, step away from Kyuste. I agree that Kyuste went too far just now, but it's not something he deserves to die for, right?"
Rei gave a wry smile at Vel’s words but lowered the Death Scythe from Kyuste’s neck.
Seeing this, Vel breathed a sigh of relief. Elena then spoke up.
"The Seed of Restraint, you called it. Is it absolutely necessary?"
"Yes. If my trump cards were leaked, it would cause too many problems for Set and me. I can offer you three choices. First: accept the Seed of Restraint, and I'll use my ace to get us out of here. Second: you refuse the spell. In that case, I'm sorry, but Set and I will part ways with you right now. Third: a compromise. We try to get through this without my trump card. I'll stay with you as long as I can, but if things get truly desperate, I'll take Set and escape, just like the second option."
"...Give me a moment. By the way, how much longer will the Flame Wall last?"
"About ten minutes or so."
"Give me five."
Saying only that, Elena closed her eyes and sank into thought.
Rei watched her, only for Vel to lean in and whisper from the side.
"You say you'll leave us, but do you understand what would happen if Lady Elena died in Margrave Larkus's territory?"
"Yeah. I'd probably deal with plenty of harassment from the Noble's Faction."
"And you're presenting those three options knowing that?"
"You shouldn't place excessive expectations on a D-Rank adventurer. If you seriously wanted an escort, you shouldn't have limited the search to lower ranks; you should have properly hired an A-Rank or B-Rank."
"...We have our own circumstances. Kyuste aside... Ara, what do you think about all this?"
Ara, who was gripping the Power Axe, answered Vel’s question bluntly.
"I will simply follow Lady Elena's orders. If she accepts the Seed of Restraint, I will respect that. If she refuses, I will respect that. And..."
She swung the Power Axe in a great arc and turned her gaze toward Rei.
"If Lady Elena orders me to strike Lord Rei down, I will simply obey."
"...Just so you know, that axe is mine. I'm only lending it to you; I didn't give you ownership."
"Indeed. This Power Axe is Lord Rei’s property. However, as long as I am currently borrowing it, I am free to use it as I wish, am I not?"
"Hmph. I see. If that's the logic we're using..."
Just as Rei was about to retort, Elena opened her eyes.
"Rei, I wish to ask one thing. If you use this trump card, can you truly resolve this crisis?"
"I can't say it's a certainty. But I can guarantee it will be significantly easier than before."
"...Then, here is my compromise. I will not allow that Seed of Restraint to be used here. I don't know what kind of ill effects such magic might have when I reach the Altar of Inheritance. However, once I have successfully fulfilled my purpose there, I do not mind if you use the spell before we exit this dungeon. I'm sorry, but this is the maximum concession I can make."
Rei considered the proposal.
If she says it might cause ill effects at the Altar of Inheritance, she’s likely planning to undergo some kind of ritual or action there. In that case, having the Seed of Restraint implanted beforehand might actually be dangerous. If so...
He glanced toward the other three. Sensing his concern, Elena spoke again.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot permit you to use the magic on these three here either. They also have duties to perform at the Altar of Inheritance."
"And you're telling me to just trust you and use my trump card anyway?"
"That is what I'm asking. However, if we manage to get through this safely as you say, I promise upon the name of Duke Kerebel's House that we will accept the Seed of Restraint after the tasks at the Altar are complete."
"The Duke’s house, huh..."
Rei muttered, looking at Kyuste, who was still glaring at him with pure hostility. To be honest, a promise made upon a noble's name didn't make Rei feel particularly secure.
Elena seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking. She gave a small, wry smile.
"Then I shall promise upon my name as the Princess General. Will you accept that?"
"...Understood. If you swear upon your title as the Princess General—a name known throughout these lands—then I will believe you."
"Good. Kyuste, Vel, Ara. You three have no objections?"
Ara nodded without hesitation, while Kyuste and Vel nodded with visible reluctance.
"Now then, explain this ace of yours. The Flame Wall is nearly exhausted, isn't it?"
"Right. Set!"
"Guru."
At Rei’s call, Set chirped and stepped closer.
"The ace involves Set. To most people, Set looks like an ordinary gryphon, but it's actually a Rare Species capable of things other gryphons can't do. For example... Set, Fire Breath toward the Flame Wall."
"Guruuuuu!"
At Rei’s command, Set cried out and opened its beak, taking a deep breath. An instant later, it exhaled a blast of Fire Breath. It struck several Water Monkeys that were lurking just beyond the wall of fire. Since they were shielded by the water outside their fur, it didn't finish them in one hit, but the damage was significant enough that they retreated, screaming.
While Elena and the others stared blankly at the display, Rei continued.
"As you can see, it can do things an ordinary gryphon cannot. There are other abilities, but what we'll use now is Set's roar, which can decrease the speed of every enemy who hears it."
"What? Every enemy?"
"Yes. By my estimate, it can slow them down by about ten percent. Some enemies might even be paralyzed by fear, but it’s better not to count on that."
At Rei’s explanation, Set rubbed its head against him as if asking for a reward. Rei smiled and gave the gryphon's head a thorough scratch.
"The Water Monkeys' greatest strength is their agility," Vel noted. "If we can reduce their speed by ten percent, a breakthrough shouldn't be that difficult."
"I agree with Vel," Ara added. "Kyuste?"
"Hmph. Do as you like."
Kyuste responded with a snort, but the look he flashed Rei was full of resentment.
"Then let’s use Set’s ability to force our way out. The plan is simple. The moment the Flame Wall vanishes, Set will use its roar. While the enemies are slowed, we make a breakthrough at a single point."
A roar, huh, Rei thought. They probably wouldn't believe me if I called it King's Intimidation, so I'll stick with 'roar' for now.
"A breakthrough is fine, but are we heading in the same direction as before?"
Elena nodded at Vel’s question.
"We’re looking for the stairs to B5F anyway. That direction is as good as any."
She turned her eyes toward the wall of fire, which was finally beginning to flicker and fade.
"It's time. Everyone, check your equipment. We're going to burst through this in one go!"
At her command, the party checked their weapons. Rei, Elena, and Kyuste all wielded magic items that were perfectly fine. Vel had already finished resupplying arrows from Rei’s Misty Ring. Ara gripped her Power Axe with one hand, looking more comfortable with it than she ever had with her longsword.
A few minutes of suffocating tension passed—and then the Flame Wall abruptly vanished. The Water Monkeys swarmed forward instantly, determined not to let the opportunity slip.
"Set!"
At Rei’s signal, Set released its King's Intimidation with a thunderous cry.
"Guruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
The moment the sound hit them, the movements of the Water Monkeys visibly slowed. Rei and Elena weren't about to miss an opening like that.
"Go! Breakthrough! Intercept only those who block our path!"
Ara and Kyuste took the lead. Ara swung her Power Axe at the slowed enemies with devastating force. True to its name, every blow she landed literally sent heads, limbs, and torsos bursting apart. In Ara’s wake lay a grisly trail of scattered appendages and organs. Beside her, Kyuste’s magic spear accurately lanced through the torsos of any monkey that got close. A spear capable of manipulating water was the natural enemy of creatures that relied on water for both defense and offense.
From the swarms behind them, several Water Balls were launched. While the King's Intimidation had dulled the monkeys' physical movements, the projectiles themselves were as fast as ever. Elena and Vel, holding the midguard, handled them. Elena’s whip-sword lashed out, shredding the approaching Water Balls before they could impact, while Vel picked off the slowed casters with precise shots from his bow.
The ones having the easiest time were the rearguard, Rei and Set. Because Set was right there, most of the monkeys were too paralyzed by fear or awe to even attempt an attack. A few managed to overcome their terror and lunged at Rei, but they were isolated and sluggish. Rei’s Death Scythe reaped their lives with effortless sweeps.
"Lady Elena, I see the edge of the forest!" Ara shouted from the front.
The group looked ahead and saw a break in the dense trees.
"Good! Burst through! Once we're in the open, we have the advantage!"
Following Elena’s lead, the party surged forward as one and broke out of the woods—only to find a two-meter-tall Water Monkey standing there, waiting for them.