Dark rain clouds drifted across the sky, threatening a downpour at any moment. Perhaps because the late summer heat still lingered, the air felt lukewarm and heavy. Ranga, the Captain of the City of Gilm’s Guard Force, looked up at the sky with an expression of pure annoyance.
"I honestly hate this weather. If it’s going to rain, I wish it would just get it over with."
Hearing his captain's grumbling, one of Ranga’s subordinates interjected with a look of exasperation.
"Even if you say that, Captain, you’ll just start wishing it would clear up the second it actually starts pouring, won't you?"
"……"
The subordinate had hit the nail on the head. Ranga scratched his head to hide his embarrassment, a wry smile creeping onto his rugged face.
Just then, a different subordinate called out.
"Captain, I’ve spotted a carriage. It’s heading this way."
"Hmm? That’s rare for this time of day. I doubt it’s thieves, but do you recognize the driver?"
It was just past noon, early in the afternoon. In a few hours, the gates would be flooded with adventurers returning from quests and merchants or travelers trying to get inside before dark to avoid monster attacks. It was unusual for anyone to arrive at this specific hour.
Of course, "unusual" didn't mean "never." A few people usually trickled in throughout the day.
"The driver is... let’s see. I’ve definitely seen him before. He’s an adventurer who used to stay in Gilm. I believe he’s been heading out toward the dungeon lately."
"Ah, I see. If they’re coming from the dungeon, the timing makes sense. Come to think of it, what happened to those reports about caravans being attacked on the road to the dungeon?"
"We haven't heard a peep lately. Oh, wait... you know that adventurer you handle, Captain? The one with the Gryphon. Rei, I think his name was. Ever since he left with those people who looked like nobles, the reports of damage have almost completely—wait."
The subordinate suddenly trailed off, looking stunned. Ranga turned to him.
"What is it?"
"That noble’s carriage we were just talking about. Isn't that the one right there?"
Ranga followed his subordinate's gaze to the approaching carriage. It was still quite a distance away, but as the man responsible for the Gate of Gilm, Ranga had sharp eyes.
However, spotting a carriage and identifying one were two very different things. This was especially true for the one carrying Elena and her group, which had been enchanted with magic to remain inconspicuous.
"Was it? I thought back then it wasn't an adventurer driving, but someone who looked like a subordinate of that incredibly beautiful noblewoman."
The moment the word "beautiful" was mentioned, almost everyone present let out a sigh of admiration as Elena’s image surfaced in their minds.
"……She really was something, wasn't she?"
"Yeah. A level of beauty you just don't see in this city."
They watched the carriage draw closer, reminiscing about Elena’s appearance.
"There were rumors that she was the Princess General... do you think it’s true?"
"Who knows? With a face like that, a figure that makes you salivate, and the way she carries herself, I’d believe it in a heartbeat. But why would a high-ranking noble like that bother coming all the way to the frontier?"
"They went to the dungeon, so they must have had business there."
Listening to his subordinates, Ranga couldn't help but let out a quiet, wry chuckle.
Because of his position, Ranga had been told the truth by Margrave Larkus—under strict orders of secrecy. He knew that Elena Kerebel, Duke Kerebel's Daughter, was indeed the Princess General. Even with the gag order, a woman with that much presence couldn't stay a mystery for long; rumors of her identity had spread through the city almost immediately.
"Alright, you two. The carriage is almost here, so cut the chatter. If that really is a noble inside, you know what’ll happen if they overhear you gossiping like that."
"Ah, right. Sorry, Captain."
"Understood."
A few minutes later, the carriage arrived at the Main Gate. At the same time, the Gryphon appeared from behind the vehicle. The guards nodded to one another, satisfied that their hunch had been correct.
Seto, who had been guarding the carriage from the shadows against enemies or thieves during the trip, gave a happy trill when it spotted Ranga. Ranga smiled and reached out to stroke the creature's head.
"Hey there, Seto. It’s been a while. Have you been good?"
"Guruuu."
While Ranga petted Seto, his subordinates took the Guild Card from the adventurer driver and checked it. Ranga gave the carriage door a light knock. When it opened, Rei’s face appeared, just as expected.
"Hello, Rei. It looks like you completed the request safely."
"Ah... well, it’s finished, but as for 'safely'..."
Rei hesitated, making Ranga wonder if he had somehow failed. But then Elena poked her head out from inside the carriage, and Ranga tilted his head in confusion.
Rei’s request from the Margrave had been to escort the Princess General. Since the client looked perfectly fine, Ranga assumed the mission was a success.
"The request itself was completed, but we lost a few party members."
Rei couldn't exactly tell the guard that one of Elena’s companions had defected to the Bestia Empire, so he kept it vague. However, the loss of Kyuste was a cold fact, and the bitterness remained.
"I see. My condolences. Still, as a guard of Gilm, I’m glad to see you back in one piece, Rei. ...Anyway, sorry for holding you up. Your Guild Card, please."
Rei nodded and handed it over.
Since Elena and Ara had documents provided by Margrave Larkus before their departure, they were cleared to pass without issue. After checking the Guild Cards for Rei and the hired driver and ensuring Seto was wearing the Tamed Monster's Necklace, they were allowed into the city.
"So, where to?" the hired adventurer asked, calling back into the carriage.
When he was first hired, he had been terrified of the Gryphon. But after traveling together for days and sharing campsites, his fear had vanished. Now, he could even give Seto a few head-scratches. He also appreciated that with an A-Rank Monster like Seto around, most wild monsters were too smart to attack, which meant his job as a driver and guard was surprisingly easy.
Rei leaned out of the door. "Head for the Lord's Mansion."
"...Whoa. Spoken like a real noble."
A normal adventurer wouldn't talk about visiting the Lord’s Mansion so casually. Only those like Rei, who took Nomination Requests directly from the Lord, had any reason to go there.
"Unfortunately, I'm not a noble."
"I know that. I saw you hand over a Guild Card at the gate. Besides, you don't really have the air of a noble anyway."
"The air of a noble?" Rei asked with a slight smile.
"Yeah. That sense of a good upbringing, or that vibe that just leaks out of a person even when they’re quiet. You know?"
"I suppose that makes sense."
Rei couldn't help but chuckle. That "vibe" was a product of one's environment. Rei had grown up freely in a rural town deep in the mountains of Tohoku, Japan. There was absolutely no way he could ever exude the refined atmosphere of the aristocracy.
"Look! It’s Seto-chan!" a child’s voice suddenly screamed.
Rei looked out to see several children running toward Seto. They stroked the Gryphon's back and offered it treats like dried meat and sandwiches. As the name "Seto" echoed through the street, more residents began to gather.
It was mostly children, but there were plenty of young adults and elderly people as well.
"What the...?" the driver muttered, stunned.
To him, Seto was an A-Rank Monster—a terrifying creature that ordinary adventurers wouldn't dare approach. Yet here were the townspeople, looking at the beast with the same doting eyes one might use for a puppy or a kitten.
"Ah, right. I thought so when I saw your reaction earlier, but you haven't been back to Gilm in a while, have you?"
"No, I’ve been away, but..."
"Basically, Seto has become the mascot figure of Gilm."
The driver looked at Rei as if he were insane. But with the evidence right in front of his eyes, he couldn't deny it. He looked from the carriage to the crowd, then back to Rei with a troubled expression.
"Look, I get that he’s a mascot, but we can't move like this. Do something."
"Fair point."
Rei jumped down from the carriage and walked over to Seto.
"Sorry, everyone, but we have to get to the Margrave’s mansion. That’s enough for today. He’ll be back in the city tomorrow, so please come see him then."
"Ehh? But we haven't seen Seto-chan in forever!"
"Yeah! Just a little longer won't hurt, right?"
"Hey! Don't go making trouble for Rei!" a middle-aged woman scolded the children.
"Guruu."
Seto let out a soft trill and rubbed its head against the children, who reluctantly stepped back.
"Big brother, you promise! You have to let us play with Seto-chan tomorrow!"
"Sure. He’ll probably be at the usual spot at the guild tomorrow. You can see him then."
"Okay!"
With that promise, the crowd slowly dispersed back to their daily lives.
"Alright. To the Lord's Mansion."
"...Man. A Gryphon mascot. This city really changed while I was stuck in that dungeon."
"You’ll get used to it."
"Get used to a Gryphon? Is this just how things are in Gilm?"
"At the very least, everyone here got used to him pretty fast after I arrived."
Rei climbed back into the carriage.
"That looked like quite the ordeal," Ara said, stifling a laugh. Beside her, Elena was wearing a soft smile.
"Yeah. I didn't realize Seto had become that popular."
"It is only natural. Seto is very affectionate, after all."
Having bonded with Seto during the dungeon expedition and benefited from its high intelligence, Elena looked out the window at the Gryphon walking alongside them with a satisfied expression.
The rest of the trip passed without incident, and the carriage soon arrived at Margrave Larkus's Residence.
"Every time I see it, I think it looks more like a fortress than a noble’s house," Ara remarked, looking at the rugged stone walls.
Elena nodded in agreement. "It is. But this is the frontier; one must always be prepared for the worst. In an emergency, this mansion serves as a stronghold to protect the townspeople."
"What I’ve noticed while living here is just how much the people love their Lord. Being a Margrave, this is his only major city, so he pours everything into developing Gilm. The people recognize that effort."
Rei’s voice filled the carriage as several knights emerged from the mansion to welcome them home.