The massive city of Anesis lay about a day’s journey from the royal capital of the Kingdom of Mireana.
Its scale rivaled that of the capital, Carphilly, and it was widely recognized as the Second City of the Kingdom of Mireana.
Deep within the heart of this city stood an immense mansion. This estate, which could easily be mistaken for a palace, served as the residence for Duke Kerebel—the central figure of the Noble's Faction, one of the primary political powers in the Kingdom of Mireana.
The sprawling grounds were meticulously maintained, and even the portions visible from the outside had become a famous local landmark in Anesis.
Toward the manor at the far end of the property, a large bird with four wings dove through the air with a speed that seemed to tear the sky asunder. It landed smoothly on a perch designed specifically for messenger monsters and birds.
The moment the bird’s talons gripped the wood, a chime echoed through the room where the mansion’s maids and butlers waited. The perch itself was a type of Magic Item.
One of the butlers, hearing the signal, approached the perch and retrieved a letter from a small pouch attached to the bird’s leg. Upon seeing the sender’s name—Elena Kerebel—he hurried back inside and made straight for his master’s office.
A few minutes of brisk walking brought him to the office door. He took a deep breath to steady himself before knocking.
"Pardon the interruption, Master. An emergency letter from the young lady has arrived."
"Umu, I don't mind. Enter."
Granted permission from within, the butler stepped inside.
The office was a luxurious space, filled with furniture that was easily worth several Platinum Coins—perhaps even a few Light Gold Coins.
However, the room avoided gaudy displays of wealth. The sofas, desks, chairs, and bookshelves were all items of refined taste that exuded a calm, dignified atmosphere. Even the paintings on the walls were masterpieces by renowned artists; a single one of them held enough value for a commoner to live in luxury for decades.
Seated at the desk at the back of the room, poring over documents, was a man in his fifties. This was Duke Liberte Kerebel—the man who held such immense authority within the Kingdom of Mireana that he was known as the Second King.
Though slender in build, he did not look weak. On the contrary, the dignity he had cultivated as a Duke seeped from his very presence. He wore a full, well-groomed beard, and his eyes were slanted upward like his daughter Elena’s. The piercing strength in his gaze made his indomitable will clear to any observer.
"Pardon me. Here is the letter from the young lady."
The butler bowed and placed the letter on the office desk.
"I shall take my leave, Master."
"Good work."
Dismissing the servant with a word, the Duke finished the document he had been reading. Once done, he picked up the letter from his daughter.
"Unseal."
He spoke the word to break the magic protecting the letter, which ensured it could only be opened by someone with a specific Magic Power. He scanned the contents quickly, then reread them several times.
"...Viscount Sails has defected, has he?"
His brow furrowed slightly at the betrayal of a man he had looked after for years—a trusted ally of the Noble's Faction.
He snorted in displeasure when he read the news of Kyuste’s death.
Finally, he let out a soft sigh at the results of the Ritual of Inheritance, which seemed to be neither a total success nor a total failure. He rang a bell on his desk, and in less than a few minutes, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter."
"Pardon me, Duke. You summoned me?"
The man who entered was Filma Desir, the second son of Marquis Desir's House and the Knight Commander of Duke Kerebel's Knight Order.
Though in his late thirties—an age where a knight's physical peak usually begins to wane—his body was so well-trained that it showed no signs of decline. He was known for his mastery of troop maneuvers and his broad strategic vision, but above all, he was famed for his ferocity. By always standing at the vanguard, he inevitably drove the morale of his knights to feverish heights.
Under normal circumstances, it was unheard of for a Knight Commander to lead from the front, but Filma possessed the martial might to justify it. He was truly the man known as the Guardian Deity of Duke Kerebel's Territory.
To this man, his own right hand, Duke Kerebel casually handed the letter.
"With your permission."
Filma accepted the letter and quickly looked it over.
It took him less than a minute to read it all, after which he let out a long sigh.
"Viscount Sails has betrayed us, then?"
"Umu. Had he simply moved to the King's Faction or the Neutral Faction, it would have remained an internal matter within the Kingdom of Mireana. It wouldn't have been a problem."
"But defecting to the Bestia Empire is intolerable."
"Indeed. ...Filma, can you lead the Knight Order and strike down Viscount Sails before he can seek asylum in the Empire?"
Filma considered the question for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"It would likely be difficult. Even on horseback, it would take at least two days to reach Viscount Sails's Territory no matter how we hurried. And if the Viscount intends to betray the Kingdom, he will have prepared for the worst. Even if we catch him, it would be dangerously close to the border of the Bestia Empire. We would have almost no time for a prolonged engagement—only a very short window. Worse, an escort unit might even emerge from the Bestia Empire to meet him."
"...I see."
The Duke nodded. He tapped his index finger against the desk as he thought for several seconds, then turned a sharp gaze toward Filma.
"Filma Desir, form a Pursuit Force of Dragon Knights and slay Viscount Sails."
"...Are you certain? Dragon Knights can certainly cover the distance faster than cavalry, but as I said, there is a risk of engagement with the Bestia Empire."
"I don't care. Since he chose this moment to flee, he has likely taken a significant amount of our intelligence with him. Letting that fall into the hands of an enemy nation is a disaster we cannot afford."
"In that case, the Dragon Knights may suffer casualties..."
"...It is unavoidable. They exist for such a time as this."
Dragon Knights. They were warriors who literally mastered the riding of Wyverns. Because they could fly and possessed the power of the Wyvern's Breath Attack, their combat potential was staggeringly high. However, the cost of raising a Wyvern from the egg was astronomical. Even within the Knight Order of Duke Kerebel, the Second King, only about twenty such riders existed.
"Also, warn them to be wary of those 'Beast Soldiers' mentioned in the letter."
"Understood. I shall begin preparations for departure at once."
Watching Filma bow and leave the office, Duke Kerebel pushed his daughter's letter aside and picked up a fresh sheet of paper.
While the news from his daughter was vital, a Duke with such vast lands had many other duties to attend to. He reached for his pen to write to Marquis Brashin—the father of Kyuste, the captain of Elena's Escort Knight Order and a man he held in high esteem—to inform him of his son’s death.
"Hmph. What a fool," he muttered.
That short, final remark was the only parting word he intended for Viscount Sails.
"Then, I'm counting on you."
Elena spoke to the man sitting on the carriage's driver's seat.
Normally, Vel would have been the one sitting there, but Vel had betrayed them and was no longer part of the party. Kyuste could have handled a carriage as well, but he was already dead. Neither Rei nor Ara knew how to drive a carriage, and they could hardly ask Elena to act as the Carriage Driver. As a result, they had hired an adventurer with driving experience at the local Guild. The contract was to drive them first to the City of Gilm, then continue on to Duke Kerebel's Territory.
"Y... Yes!"
The adventurer nodded, clearly overwhelmed by Elena's beauty. Rei climbed into the carriage, a faint smile on his face as he watched the man struggle to stay composed.
Inside, Ara had already prepared black tea and was setting cups on the table.
The fact that she had prepared three cups without being asked—including one for Rei—was a clear sign of how much she had opened her heart to him.
Or perhaps it was simply because she had been allowed to keep the Power Axe that had been stored in the carriage.
Rei settled onto the sofa just as Elena entered a moment later. She sat down beside him with a mischievous smile.
"Rei. That adventurer seemed quite terrified of Seto. Are you sure that's alright?"
"It’s fine. Seto isn't going to do anything. He'll get used to it on the road to the City of Gilm. It was the same for you and the others, wasn't it?"
"In my case, I had other people... with me."
She glanced around the interior, likely because the absence of Kyuste and Vel—who had been there when they arrived at the dungeon—weighed on her mind.
Sensing the shift in mood, Ara quickly looked out the window.
"Look, Elena-sama. I thought so before we boarded, but the weather really is lovely today. I suppose this is what they call a clear autumn sky."
"...Heh, you're right. The Autumn Harvest Festival is coming soon. Once that's over, winter will be upon us before we know it."
Elena nodded with a smile, accepting Ara's clumsy attempt to change the subject.
(Yes, it is already autumn. And once autumn passes, winter arrives. Even the Bestia Empire wouldn't be foolish enough to move an army in the dead of winter. That means the war will likely begin in the spring. Until then, I must learn to master the power of the Ancient Dragon I have obtained. Vel, if I see you on the battlefield, I will show no mercy. I will have justice for Kyuste.)
Rei noticed Elena's gaze sharpen but said nothing, simply bringing his black tea to his lips.
"Elena, is it alright if I just return to the City of Gilm, report to Margrave Larkus, and call the request finished?"
"...Eh? Oh, I see. Rei, you were only a member of our temporary party for the duration of this mission. You had blended in so naturally that I..."
Her eyes widened slightly at the reminder before she nodded.
"Yes. I expect that is how it will be."
"I see. It was a long yet short request. ...No, perhaps I should say short yet long."
As Rei reminisced about their journey, Elena stared at him intently for a time before appearing to make a decision.
"Rei, if you're willing, why don't you stay with us?"
"...Are you offering a new request? Or..."
"No. I'm asking if you would consider quitting life as an adventurer to join my Knight Order."
Beside her, Ara looked up from her tea and nodded with a bright smile.
"That’s a wonderful idea! With Lord Rei’s level of skill, I’m sure you’d rise to a high rank in no time."
Rei looked at Ara’s encouraging smile, but after a few seconds of thought, he shook his head.
"I’m sorry, but as you know, I’m not exactly well-versed in etiquette."
"You could learn those things if you studied—"
"I appreciate it, Ara, but the truth is I just don't get along with nobles. You and Elena are the exceptions, but remember how things were with Kyuste. I think that's the more likely scenario for me."
Kyuste had treated Rei with blatant disgust, acting as if he couldn't stand to breathe the same air, while Rei had viewed Kyuste as little more than a pompous fool whose pride far outweighed his actual ability.
Though their mutual respect had improved slightly during the final struggle against Vel, Elena and Ara hadn't been there to see it.
Recalling the friction, Elena let out an involuntary sigh.
"...I see. It is a shame, but I cannot dictate your future on a whim."
She spoke the words, but she let out a regretful sigh anyway, clearly disappointed by his refusal.
Rei watched her but only took another sip of his tea. He knew he couldn't accept her offer.
(To begin with, my primary goal is Seto’s growth through Beast Magic. If I’m tied to a Knight Order, gathering Magic Stones from monsters will become far more difficult.)
In the back of his mind, the words Grimm had spoken echoed with heavy significance.
A Beast with the power to overwhelm a nation's army single-handedly.
That was no mere fairy tale. Zephyle, the man who had entrusted him with Beast Magic, had actually reached that height.
Since hearing that, a powerful hunger had been growing inside Rei. He wanted to see just how strong he and Seto could become.
(If Zephyle’s story is true, the Magic Power within me should be immense. That means Seto, born from that power, should have potential even greater than the beasts Zephyle used to crush armies. We need more Magic Stones and far more combat experience. I have to learn how to fully master the power sleeping in this body.)
He glanced toward Elena.
(Yes... so I never have to let my comrades fall into such danger again.)
And so, though the mood inside the carriage was a bit somber, it continued its steady journey toward the City of Gilm.