"Once we locate the base of the group that ambushed the knights' prison carriage, I'd like you to assist us in its suppression."
Ranga made the request, but Rei mentally tilted his head in confusion.
(Why go to the trouble of asking me? Is it a matter of pure combat power? Even so, whether it's the Guard Force or the knights, they usually operate as a cohesive organization. From that perspective, there shouldn't be much need to force someone like me, who would disrupt that harmony, into the mix... No, wait. If the enemy is targeting me, then having me on the team reduces the risk of collateral damage to the city. At the same time, am I meant to be a trump card in case the enemy has someone more skilled than Ranga and his men? Leaving the Guard Force aside, I'd expect the Knight Order to have plenty of capable fighters.)
"Understood," Rei said. "In that case, please submit a nomination request to the guild."
"My apologies. I know you adventurers are supposed to be on hiatus during the winter."
Ranga bowed his head contritely, but for Rei, the prospect of not having time to kill was actually a welcome one.
(Of course, I can't exactly tell him I’m taking the request just to stave off boredom. He’d definitely take offense.)
Rei kept the thought to himself and shook his head as if to dismiss Ranga’s concerns.
"Don't worry about it. Besides, I’ve heard I’m close to a rank up. This isn't all bad news for me."
"It’s a relief to hear you say that. Well then, shall we head to the guild immediately?"
Ranga stood up, having stuffed several sandwiches into his mouth and washed them down with tea that had grown cold while they talked.
The sandwiches had likely been purchased from a nearby bakery. They had been quite tasty, and Rei felt a lingering touch of regret as he, too, stood up to leave.
"Captain Ranga, I'll head out and support the others now."
The guard who had been present stood as well, giving Ranga a slight bow before exiting the room.
"Right. Have everyone focus on gathering whatever information remains."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Phew... well, let’s get moving."
Ranga gave a long stretch and donned a magic item robe designed for cold resistance before gesturing for Rei to follow.
"Shall we? I expect this will be quite a bit of trouble for you, Rei-kun, but I’m counting on you."
"Yeah, it’s fine. ...By the way, are you really okay going out in just that one robe?"
The guard who had just left had been wearing a very thick robe for protection against the cold. However, the one Ranga wore was strikingly thin. Seeing Rei's puzzled look, Ranga flashed a smile.
"Ah, this? Believe it or not, this robe is a magic item. It has a certain degree of cold resistance built into it. It’s not powerful enough to protect me in a blizzard, but it manages just fine in this kind of weather."
"...Hoh, that’s interesting," Rei murmured. As someone with a keen interest in magic items, his curiosity was piqued, but Ranga merely shook his head with a wry grin.
"I know you collect these things, but this isn't anything grand. It’s a cheap item that only costs a few silver coins."
"Cheap, huh?"
Even if it was considered "cheap," the fact that the rank-and-file guards weren't wearing them suggested it was still a luxury the average soldier couldn't easily afford. Rei made that mental note, but since his own Dragon Robe offered far superior cold resistance, he didn't pursue the topic further. He followed Ranga out of the building to head toward the guild.
"Oh, Rei-kun... and Ranga-san? My, that's a rare combination."
Kenny’s voice greeted them the moment they stepped into the guild, having reunited with Set.
The guild was quiet; with most adventurers on winter break, there wasn't much work to be found. Usually, several receptionists including Lenora would be on duty, but today Kenny was alone, idly checking through paperwork. It was no surprise she had been so quick to notice Rei's arrival, given her obvious affection for him.
Ranga cast a brief, envious glance toward the adventurers who were already drinking in the attached tavern despite it being the middle of the day, then turned back to Kenny.
"Hello, Kenny-san. I’m actually here to issue him a nomination request."
"...Does this have to do with those rumors about the attack?"
As a receptionist—or perhaps simply because she worked at the heart of the town's information hub—Kenny was already aware of the incident. She frowned slightly and spoke to Ranga in a hushed tone.
It was a murder case within the city walls, after all. The victims had been knights. Such an unsettling event was bound to spread quickly.
"Yes, that’s the one."
"But why Rei-kun? I know he's strong, but that's for combat, isn't it? I don't think he's really suited for investigation work."
"That’s true, but he's the one who captured the prisoners the knights were transporting in the first place. And practically speaking, the culprits are undoubtedly dangerous. They wiped out a squad of knights, after all. He’s our trump card."
"I see. Well, since it's a nomination request, the form is different from the usual ones... um, where did I put them?"
Evidently, the paperwork for a nomination request differed from standard requests. After rummaging behind the counter for a moment, Kenny pulled out a document and handed it to Ranga.
"Please fill this out."
"Understood."
Ranga began filling in the form with practiced speed. As a captain of the Guard Force, he was clearly accustomed to this kind of administrative work; his pen moved without the slightest hesitation.
"Hey, Rei-kun. Are you going to be okay?" Kenny asked, watching Ranga work.
"If you're asking if I'll be safe, honestly, I can't say. I was the original cause of this, but now that things have escalated this far, I don't think they'll have the leisure to obsess over me... at least, I hope not."
Rei wasn't sure how much importance the Bestia Empire placed on him, so his answer was vague.
(Actually, now that the situation is this dire, I'd expect them to prioritize escaping the city over coming after me. The guards are keeping a close watch on the gates, so they can't slip out immediately, but they can't maintain a lockdown for weeks or months. Plus, the walls are nearly impossible to scale.)
The walls surrounding Gilm were essentially magic items. They served several purposes: reinforcing the wall's structural integrity, delivering a shock to anyone attempting to climb them, and projecting a barrier over the city to guard against flying monsters. While the barrier required too much magic power to be kept active at all times, Rei assumed it was currently engaged to prevent the suspects from escaping by air.
(That being said...)
A thought crossed his mind: the teleportation magic items the Bestia Empire seemed to possess.
(If they can use those, then inspections and barriers are meaningless. There’s a good chance they’ve already vanished from the city.)
"Rei-kun? What's wrong?"
"Ah, no. It’s nothing. I was just thinking that this city really never lacks for excitement. Since I arrived, we've had the discovery of an Orc settlement, the mine closure, the transport of the Magic Fever ingredients... and now an attack on the knights."
"It's true that there have been more incidents than usual this year, but this is the frontier, after all. Setting aside the attack, things like Orcs forming a settlement happen once every few years. ...Though I'll admit, an ambush on the Knight Order is rare."
Kenny let out a heavy sigh. Even for someone as cheerful as her, the news that the knights—the very symbols of the city's protection—had been slaughtered was deeply unsettling.
"Kenny-san, is this all right?"
"Ah, yes. Let me see... mhm, no problems. So, Rei-kun, are you officially accepting this nomination request?"
"Yeah."
"Understood. I’ll handle the processing on our end, then. ...Please, stay safe."
Once Rei confirmed his acceptance, the contract was officially established.
"Well, I'll go deliver this to my supervisor. Once this is all over, let's go out for a meal together, okay?"
With a parting smile, Kenny disappeared into the back office.
"Well then, shall we head back to headquarters? I’m planning to have you stay there until the incident is resolved."
Ranga began ironing out the details of the arrangement as they walked out of the guild.
"So that if the assault unit comes for me, we won't have any civilian bystanders nearby?"
"That’s part of it. I’m also counting on you as an elite force if we locate their hideout. Bad as it sounds, while my guards are used to rough work, their primary job is subduing drunks and brawlers. We deal with lethal fights between adventurers often enough, but going up against the state-sponsored shadows of another country is a different story. ...The only comfort is that the Knight Order is cooperating fully. Unlike the guards, they are a pure military force dedicated to protecting the city, and their own have been killed. Their pride is on the line."
"Guruuuu."
Seeing Rei and Ranga emerge from the guild, Set approached them with a low purr.
As Set stood up, the children, adventurers, merchants, and residents who had been doting on him let out disappointed sighs and began to disperse. The crowd was smaller than usual due to the fluttering snow, which was only to be expected.
"I’ll be counting on you for a while too, Set."
"Guruu."
Watching Ranga pat Set, Rei suddenly had an idea—one inspired by the "police dogs" he had seen in dramas back in his original world.
Set was a Gryphon, and while his lower half was that of a lion—a feline—his five senses were incredibly sharp. He also possessed the ability to detect magic power. His keen sense of smell, in particular, had already been proven when they had navigated an undead den in a dungeon.
"Hey, Ranga."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Ranga looked up, still enjoying the feel of the smooth fur on Set's back. He noticed Rei's hesitation and his expression grew serious, his rugged, bearded face tightening.
"Speak your mind. I assume it's about the case. We have absolutely no leads right now, so even a long shot is better than nothing."
"You sure? I'll warn you, this is just an idea. I can't promise it'll work."
"That’s fine."
Ranga was desperate for any clue, no matter how small. He was more than willing to listen to any suggestion.
Understanding Ranga's position, Rei took a small breath and began.
"As you know, Set is a Gryphon. His senses and his ability to feel magic power are far more acute than ours."
"That’s true. He’s an A-rank monster, after all. It’s obvious his capabilities are on a different level than the monsters around here."
"Which means his five senses—specifically his sense of smell—are also vastly superior."
"...! I see! Of course! I hadn't even considered that. Even if the noses of our dog or wolf-type beastmen can't track them, a high-rank monster like Set might actually have a chance."
The idea was clearly a complete surprise to Ranga. After a few seconds of stunned silence, his face lit up with excitement and he nodded vigorously.
The Guard Force already employed beastmen with sharp noses for tracking, but between the snow and the fact that the carriage had been burned to cinders, the scent trails had been lost. But, Ranga thought, looking into Set's round, innocent eyes.
"If it’s Set..."
To any observer, Set looked like nothing more than an oversized, adorable pet. But beneath that exterior was an A-rank monster. It wasn't a guarantee that they would find the assault unit, but to Ranga, failing to try every available method was nothing short of negligence.
"Rei, Set. ...I'm sorry to ask this so suddenly, but will you come with me to the attack site?"
Rei gave a silent nod. Set let out a short, affirmative chirp from the back of his throat.