The cottage stood near the slums. While the area wasn't technically part of the district yet, its proximity meant foot traffic was already sparse. By nightfall, the streets were practically deserted. Rei and his party quickly approached their destination.
"It’s certainly a wreck. Looks like a stiff breeze would knock it over," Brasso muttered as he eyed the exterior.
Phron nodded silently in agreement.
"We went to some effort to make it look that way," Mult replied, reaching for the door. He pressed the corners—top right, bottom right, bottom left, and top left—in a clockwise sequence. A mechanical click echoed in the quiet.
"I see. A trick door," Rei noted. A casual observer would never get in.
Mult smirked with pride as he pushed it open. Because he had followed the prescribed procedure, the door swung wide without resistance. It was a sophisticated mechanism, commissioned from a high-rank thief who had no ties to the Azoth Firm. Any attempt to force the door without knowing the secret would likely fail, and the only other way in was to demolish it entirely—an unlikely choice given the cottage’s dilapidated appearance. There was no point in breaking in if the whole structure collapsed on your head, and there wasn't supposed to be anything worth stealing inside anyway.
"Ah... sorry, Set. You’ll have to wait out here," Mult said, glancing between the narrow entrance and the gryphon.
"Guruuu."
Set was used to being left outside. It gave a small, agreeable trill and settled down in the shadows of the building.
"Keep an eye on the perimeter, Set," Rei added before following the others inside.
Mult’s attitude toward Set has really softened since the fight near Pamidoor's Workshop, Rei thought, a faint smile touching his lips.
"So, where’s this Galahat fellow supposed to be?" Brasso asked the moment they stepped inside. The room was empty and bare.
"Hold on a second."
Mult didn't look worried. He walked to a corner and shifted a barrel overflowing with trash. He manipulated a hidden latch on the floor beneath it, and a section of the floorboards slid aside with a heavy thud. A set of stairs leading underground stood revealed.
"Well, well. Talk about an unexpected turn," Brasso said, sounding half-impressed and half-exasperated. Phron nodded beside him, while Rei inspected the mechanism with genuine curiosity.
"It’s a hideout. We had to be careful," Mult explained.
"Careful is one thing, but a setup like this must have cost a fortune," Brasso pointed out. If they’d built it themselves, it would have taken months. If they’d hired professional help, the bill would have been astronomical.
Mult shook his head. "One of the people Galahat-san helped in the past did the work as a favor. We only had to cover the materials. It was well within his means."
Mult sounded proud of his mentor, but he quickly shifted back to the task at hand and stepped onto the stairs. "Come on. Galahat-san should be in the room at the bottom."
They followed him down. There were no lights along the stairwell, likely for security or simply because the distance was so short. As they descended into the stifling dark, the trapdoor above them slid shut, sealing out the moonlight.
"Hey, we aren't going to be trapped, are we?" Phron asked, her voice tight with unease.
"It’s fine," Mult assured her. Then, realizing she couldn't see him nodding, he added, "The door closes automatically once there’s no weight on the stairs. There’s a switch at the top near the landing. You just press it to get out."
"...You’d better be right. I have no desire to be stuck in a hole like this."
"Heh. Afraid of the dark, Phron? You have an unexpectedly feminine side after all," Brasso teased.
"Shut it, you old drunk. I’m a woman to begin with."
"I'll have you know I'm perfectly sober right now," the dwarf retorted.
They reached the bottom in less than a minute. A single, unremarkable door stood before them.
"We’re here," Mult whispered. He knocked firmly. "Galahat-san? It’s Mult."
"...Are you with someone?" a voice asked from within, sounding wary.
This was a sanctuary known only to the two of them. Bringing outsiders was a breach of protocol that demanded an explanation. Mult took a deep breath before answering.
"I’m sorry, sir. Our forces were too thin... I took the liberty of hiring some help."
"I see. So my brother’s faction is that much stronger," the voice sighed.
A key turned in the lock, and the door opened. Galahat stepped out. He moved stiffly, clearly still in pain, but he was standing on his own.
He’s recovered that much in just a few days? Rei wondered. Between potions and recovery magic, the medical technology in this world is actually impressive.
Galahat’s gaze swept over the group, but he froze the moment he recognized the boy in the lead.
"R-Rei!?"
"Yeah. Mult mentioned hiring help. That’s me," Rei said. "And these two, to be precise." He stepped aside so Galahat could see Brasso and Phron.
Galahat didn't care about the others. His mind was racing. Rei was the man who had declared there would be no second chance for Boruntar. His presence here could only mean one thing.
"Mult!" Galahat barked, his voice sharp with rebuke.
Galahat’s decision to rebel against the half-brother he had served so faithfully was driven by one goal: to save Boruntar from the man standing in front of him. Boruntar had felt the cold hand of death and yet, before the day was even out, he was already plotting his next move against Rei. Galahat had realized that the only way to save his brother’s life was to strip him of the power he kept abusing. And now, the very threat he was trying to preempt was standing in his hidden sanctuary. To Galahat, Mult’s decision looked like a betrayal.
If he had been healthy, Galahat might have reached for his sword. Fury flared in his eyes, but he forced himself to stay still. He couldn't afford to worsen his injuries, and he knew that any hostile move would be seen as an act of war by Rei. Instead, he clung to a desperate sliver of hope.
After a long, tense silence, Galahat spoke. "Rei... If you're here, it means you've noticed my brother’s meddling. Knowing that... have you come to kill him as you promised?"
"Maybe. But before we get to that, you should know that I’ve already reported the previous incident to Margrave Larkus."
"What!?" Galahat gasped. Mult looked equally stunned.
"The Lord of Gilm finds it inconvenient to have the Azoth Firm run by someone like Boruntar. I have his tacit approval to eliminate him."
"Lord Daskar gave you... permission?" Galahat looked like he’d been struck. He turned to Brasso and Phron, hoping for a denial, but they only shook their heads. His face fell into a mask of despair.
"The Margrave doesn't really care who runs the firm, as long as the chairman changes and the new leadership stops these vicious games," Rei added.
"Is that true!?" Galahat asked, a flicker of hope returning to his eyes. It died an instant later.
"That’s what the Margrave wants. But I’m the one who threatened your brother, and he hasn't even waited a week to spit in my face. What do you have to say to that?"
"I... I can stop him next time—"
"I heard that last time," Rei interrupted. "I believed you then and let it go. And what did Boruntar do? I finished my quest and returned to the city today, only to find out he’s ordered the weapon shops to boycott me. Did you know about that?"
Galahat had no answer. The truth was an iron wall.
Mult stepped forward to shield Galahat. "Wait! Boruntar did that while Galahat-san was unconscious from your attack. There was no way he could have stopped it!"
"So what? I spared Boruntar once on the condition that there wouldn't be a second time. Galahat accepted those terms. That makes him responsible. Do you really think I’m going to accept 'I was asleep while he did it' as an excuse?"
"T-That’s—"
Mult tried to keep arguing, but Galahat gripped his shoulder. "No, stop. Rei is right. I promised he wouldn't interfere, and he broke that promise immediately. The responsibility is mine."
"Galahat-san..." Mult muttered. He didn't care about Boruntar—if anything, he felt the chairman deserved whatever was coming—but he couldn't stand to see Galahat suffer for it.
Rei sighed. "...Fine. I’ll promise not to take Boruntar's life. If you can accept that, we have a deal."
"Not his life?" Galahat clarified.
"That’s right. Just his life."
Rei nodded. "I won't kill him"—which was essentially a declaration that he would take everything but his life. Galahat understood the distinction perfectly.
"Is that the only way?"
"Yes. That is my greatest compromise proposal. If you won't accept even that, I'll deal with Boruntar on my own. It’ll be messier, but I have the Margrave’s blessing. I’ll avoid the worst of the fallout, like being branded a criminal."
Of course, Rei added privately, the Margrave will expect me to pay him back for the favor.
Daskar would undoubtedly use the opportunity to tighten his grip on Rei, trying to bind such a powerful asset to Gilm permanently.
Galahat remained silent for a full minute, weighing his options. Finally, he looked up, his resolve set.
"Very well. I accept your terms in full," he said, looking as though he had just swallowed a bitter pill.