Ara stood dazed for several seconds after seeing Rei's face, but she eventually regained her composure and spoke.
"It has been quite a while, Lord Rei. I am indebted to you for your previous assistance."
She offered a crisp, knightly salute and a somewhat perplexed smile. Her manner was different than before, likely because they were in the presence of Soleil and his guards. It wasn't hard for Rei to reach that conclusion.
"Yeah, it’s been a while. But what are you doing here, Ara? Weren't you part of Elena’s Escort Knight Order?"
"Yes. On Lady Elena’s orders, I was tasked with escorting Baron Soleil to Anesis in Duke Kerebel's Territory."
"...Anesis?"
"It is the city that serves as the stronghold for Lady Elena’s father, Lord Liberte Kerebel. I came to fetch the Baron so he could conduct research there to counter the Bestia Empire... however, when he heard that a plague that shouldn't have existed was spreading here in the City of Baar, he apparently couldn't sit still. ...But more importantly, Lord Rei, why are you here?"
"I’m here to deliver the materials for the Magic Fever Medicine to treat the outbreak you just mentioned. ...Still, you really chose a hell of a time to arrive. Now that you've entered the city, you won't be allowed to leave until it's confirmed that you aren't infected with the Magic Fever, you know?"
"...Eh?"
Ara froze at Rei's words. Then, with the stiff, jerky movements of a broken doll, she turned her gaze toward Soleil.
"Ah, so it seems. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be a bit longer before I can head to Anesis," Soleil remarked airily.
"...Baron Soleil. You came here knowing that? I mean, are we really unable to leave?"
Ara turned her gaze back to Rei, who gave her a merciless nod.
"That’s the long and short of it. You might be able to force your way out using your status as a noble, but if you did, you’d risk spreading the Magic Fever to Anesis. ...Actually, the guards were supposed to have the entrance closed off for that very reason. How did you get in so easily?"
"Ah—well, sorry about that. Lord Soleil forced our way in using his Lord's Authority," Kormish explained with a weary, disinterested sigh. Ara followed suit with a sigh of her own.
"Since Baron Soleil, the man I am supposed to guard, has already entered the city, I cannot simply abandon him—not after being entrusted with this task by Lady Elena."
(Ah, her adoration for Elena is as strong as ever,) Rei thought to himself, nodding in understanding.
"Fortunately—if you can call it that—I'll be free to leave in about five days. You guys just hang in there until then."
"..."
Ara looked at Rei with an expression that screamed "that's not fair," but she had entered a plague-stricken city of her own volition. A little inconvenience was the price she had to pay. She had no intention of bringing a disease like Magic Fever back to the city where her beloved Elena lived, so she gave a reluctant nod.
"In any case, I see that you two are acquaintances. As Rei said, I will be staying in this city for a while as well, so there is no need for concern. Since you've reunited after so long, I'm sure you have much to catch up on. Why don't you talk for a bit?"
"But..."
Ara looked at Soleil with a worried expression. Considering the man had vanished the moment she took her eyes off him, only to be found here in the City of Baar, her concern was well-founded.
"Don't worry. There are many things I want to investigate in this city, so I won't just wander off. Now then, with that settled, I’m heading back to the East Storage Facility. There might be fragments of a Dungeon Core left behind, after all."
"Ah—Lord Soleil, are you serious? We've been on a forced march to get here; shouldn't we rest a little? Specifically, for the week or so until we're cleared to leave the city."
Kormish spoke up lazily, but naturally, Soleil had no intention of listening.
"Don't be absurd. This is a rare chance to obtain even a fragment of a Dungeon Core. Do not expect any rest while we are in this city. Come, we're going. Follow me at once. You're my guard, aren't you?"
"Yessir..."
Replying with a lazy, drawn-out groan, Kormish followed Soleil and the other guards as they hurried out of the room. Once they were gone, Rei realized that he and Ara were the only ones left.
"...A Dungeon Core?" Ara muttered, the words escaping her almost involuntarily. Given her past experiences with the Dungeon, it was no surprise that her expression grew tense. "There was a Dungeon Core here?"
"Yeah. To be precise, it was a being that fell short of a Dungeon Core."
Answering Ara's question, Rei sat down on a sofa in the now-empty room.
"Which means, the cause of the Magic Fever was..."
"That's right."
"...I see."
Letting out a deep sigh, Ara unslung the Power Axe from her back and sat on the sofa opposite Rei.
"Still, I never expected to run into you in a place like this. ...And I'm glad to see the Power Axe seems to suit you well."
"Yes. It was a gift from Lady Elena, and I cherish it dearly."
"Is Elena doing well?"
"Yes. Her abilities as an Ancient Dragon are still developing, but she is beginning to master them. She hasn't missed a day of training. Ah, forgive me."
With a brief word of apology, Ara used the tea set on the table to pour black tea for both of them. Rei thanked her as he took the cup and brought it to his lips. He remembered the tea she had brewed in the carriage on the way to the Dungeon; he was impressed to find that her skill hadn't declined in the slightest.
"By the way, do you mind if I ask what happened to Vel?"
"...His entire clan fled to the Bestia Empire. Lord Liberte, Lady Elena’s father, sent pursuers after them, but it seems about forty percent managed to escape into Bestia Territory. We couldn't very well pursue them across the border and risk a full-scale invasion..."
"What about Vel himself?"
"There has been absolutely no information regarding his whereabouts. I suspect the Empire is being cautious with him."
(Is he the type to stay quiet? Based on his true nature, I'd expect him to gleefully show his face just to provoke us... The most likely possibility is that the damage I dealt him was so severe he's still undergoing treatment.)
"Come to think of it," Ara said, abruptly changing the subject. "I heard that the Knight Commander leading the Knight Order of Duke Kerebel's Territory has been praising you quite highly, Lord Rei... Have you met him?"
"No, not at all. I haven't met anyone who sounds that important."
Rei had actually crossed blades with the man at Boruntar's Residence, but since he had no idea who his opponent was, he answered truthfully. Ara let out a sigh, looking somewhat convinced.
"I suppose that makes sense. But the rumors are definitely circulating within the Knight Order. I thought for sure the Knight Commander might have gone to the City of Gilm because of that incident. ...But if you haven't met, perhaps he heard stories from Lady Elena and judged you based on her accounts?"
"Well, don't ask me."
The two continued their conversation, catching up on the unexpected turns their lives had taken. Rei kept the information regarding the Bestia Empire associates he had encountered at Boruntar's Residence to himself, as Daskar had warned him of the matter's sensitivity.
They traded stories of their recent exploits; Ara was stunned to hear that Rei had defeated a Rare Species Gamelion, while Ara told him about how she had challenged a knight to a duel for insulting Kyuste's performance, ending the fight by stopping her Power Axe a mere inch from the man's throat. As they talked, a sudden knock echoed at the door.
When Ara gave permission to enter, a girl in a maid uniform who looked to be in her late teens entered. She was an striking girl with blue hair trimmed into a bob cut.
"Excuse me. Lord Dialogo is calling for Lord Rei."
"Lord Dialogo?"
"Yes. He said he wished to speak with you regarding Lord Soleil."
"...Understood. Sorry, Ara, but it looks like I have to excuse myself. I'll be in this city for at least a week, though. Let's talk again when we have the chance. I want to hear more about Elena, too."
"Yes, certainly. For my part, now that I've found you, I must inform Lady Elena of our meeting."
"If anything comes up, come find me at my inn. ...I think you can get the location from Lord Dialogo."
With that, Rei left the room and followed the maid girl to the office.
"Ah, you've come. I was surprised to hear that Baron Soleil's operatives had whisked you away from your inn. ...But it seems nothing untoward happened."
"Yeah. He just had some questions about the Dungeon Core."
"...Honestly, that man never changes. It's because of that attitude that the higher-ups in the Noble's Faction stripped him of his title as Lord of this city."
Dialogo sighed, but he looked to be in good spirits. As the medicine was distributed, the Magic Fever patients were steadily returning to their daily lives. Furthermore, the cause of the outbreak had been identified as the Dungeon Core, which was now destroyed. With the threat neutralized, Dialogo’s mood as the Acting Lord was understandably light.
"So, the reason I summoned you was because I have a few other reports. First, regarding that purple mist from yesterday. It seems the paralysis was the extent of its effects; everyone was able to move again after about a single night. The doctors say there are no lasting side effects, but given the source, we'll be monitoring the situation for a while."
"I see. It’s a relief there are no side effects. Even though it didn't affect me or Seto, we were breathing it in directly, after all."
In fact, Rei and Seto had more contact with the purple mist than anyone else in the city, having stood at the very source of the discharge.
"Supposedly, it’s harmless to anyone with a certain level of magic power, so you're likely safe. Second, Seis woke up early this morning. It seems he fainted because the Resonance Necklace pushed his magic power consumption far beyond his limits."
"Is that so? I'm glad he's awake... but is there a 'but' coming?"
Rei asked, noticing that Dialogo was frowning ever so slightly. Dialogo nodded with a heavy sigh.
"Yeah. As a side effect of using the Resonance Necklace, he currently has no magic power control at all. And this is Seis, a first-class mage we're talking about."
"...I see."
(It's an item capable of transferring magic power to others. It’s not surprising it would have a side effect of that magnitude.)
Recalling that Seis himself had mentioned side effects for the recipient, Rei continued.
"Did the Guild Master use the necklace knowing that would happen?"
"Likely. But fortunately, the crisis has passed. He says he should be able to use magic normally again in about three months. ...That’s the only saving grace. We’re going to need his magic in this city going forward."
"It’s a blessing in disguise, then. But the people of Baar are capable; they should be able to manage until the Guild Master recovers."
"I suppose. It’s not as if we left everything to Seis. We'll find a way to manage until he's back on his feet."
Dialogo muttered thoughtfully, then turned his gaze back to Rei, shifting gears.
"On another note, Rei, you'll be staying in this city for nearly another week. You understand why, don't you?"
"Yes. I heard it takes that long for the source of the Magic Fever to fully dissipate."
"Exactly. I'm sorry to keep you confined like this, but please bear with it. ...And naturally, riding Seto and flying out from the middle of the city like you did during the Dungeon Core incident is strictly forbidden."
"I understand. It’s the same in the City of Gilm. Yesterday was only because it was an absolute emergency."
"Good. I'm glad you're reasonable. That’s all I had to say. You’re free to go. ...And if Baron Soleil causes you any trouble, come tell me. I don't know if I can stop him, but I'll do what I can."
"Yeah, thanks."
With a final nod, Rei left the office. He asked the maid about Ara's whereabouts, but upon hearing she had followed after Soleil, he left the Lord's Mansion and headed back to his inn.
And so, for the week until his departure, Rei kept himself busy by helping with the city’s reconstruction alongside Seto and engaging in mock battles with Ara whenever the opportunity arose.