"Right, get inside. And just so you know, don't even think about trying to escape. We have proper detention facilities prepared here, for what it's worth."
As he spoke, Ranga turned a sharp gaze toward the Shadows' Entourage.
There was no gentle light in his eyes as there usually was. Instead, he directed a piercing—no, an observant—stare toward those who had tried to plunge the city where he lived into chaos.
Even the Shadows, however, dared not take any reckless steps as long as Rei, holding his giant scythe, loomed behind them. Their spirits had been so thoroughly crushed by the series of events in the Slums that they were now almost entirely submissive, terrified of Rei's very presence.
(This is going to take them a while to recover from...)
The only exception was the Shadow Captain, who had somehow managed to keep his spirit from breaking entirely despite being shown the overwhelming difference in their abilities.
Naturally, this group had stood out terribly while walking through the city. Most of the twenty people looked as if their eyes were drowned in despair. If their leader hadn't been Ranga, the captain of the Guard Force, they likely would have been mistaken for a group of slaves led by a slave trader.
"Captain, what is the meaning of this!?"
Several Guards inside the headquarters raised their voices instinctively upon seeing the group of Shadows being led into the building.
"I'll explain later. For now, prepare the Jail. Despite how they look, these people are apparently Bestia Empire Spies. Make sure they can't escape. Also, I need someone to go to the Lord's Mansion. The Knight Commander might be busy, so just bring an executive. It should be fine if you tell them we've captured the perpetrators of the Prison Carriage Attack Incident. Don't forget to mention that I will submit documents detailing the circumstances to the Knight Commander later."
"Understood!"
A Guard replied and quickly ran out of the building.
Snow was fluttering down, but this was a report that the criminals behind a major incident in the city had been captured. Ignoring the cold, the Guard sprinted into the streets, coat trailing behind him.
"Now then. Is the Jail ready?"
"For the time being, we've managed to prepare enough space for everyone. However, it's not exactly perfect."
Ranga nodded slightly at his subordinate's explanation.
Even Ranga didn't think he could keep twenty people—elite spies at that—captured forever in the Guard Force Headquarters. For now, he just had to ensure they didn't escape until the Knight Order could take custody of them.
(Well, even so...)
He glanced toward Rei, who was leaning against a nearby wall.
Rei’s face was dark with displeasure, clearly showing that he wanted to head outside the city immediately to find Seto. The only reason he stayed was likely his understanding that he was the only one who could handle it if the man leading the Shadows tried anything.
Furthermore, it was precisely because of Rei’s presence that the captured Shadows were following Ranga’s instructions so quietly. If Rei were to leave...
(It would be a repeat of what happened with the Prison Carriage... I suppose.)
Serving as the captain of the Guard Force, Ranga had a fair amount of confidence in his combat ability. Even so, if asked whether he could hold his own against a large number of first-rate spies, he knew it would be impossible.
In that case, it would be extremely dangerous if Rei didn't stay until the prisoners were isolated in the Jail. For now, they were being quiet because Rei’s power had broken them, but these were the same people who had attacked the Prison Carriage and killed the Knights—and likely their own captured comrades as well.
"Captain, preparations are complete."
Ranga nodded slightly at the report.
"Isolate that man and woman in a separate Jail from the others."
He ordered his subordinates, gesturing to the man and woman who were likely the captain and vice-captain. The subordinates immediately nodded and led the group to their respective cells.
It took about twenty minutes to lead all twenty people away. Once that time had passed, Rei, who had grown increasingly irritated, turned his gaze toward Ranga.
"I can go now, right?"
"Yeah, you've been a big help. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll let the Guild know that the request has been completed."
"That would be a help."
"So, where are you headed now, Rei-kun?"
Ranga already knew the answer, but he asked just in case.
According to the explanation from the Shadow Captain, the Teleportation Stone had a limited range and required a Magic Circle at the destination. The man had confessed that the Magic Circle was located in a Cave Upstream of the River near the City of Gilm.
Normally, a spy would never leak such information, but Rei had been emitting enough Murderous Intent at the time to make silence impossible. It was easy to imagine the horrific fate that would have befallen them had they hesitated.
As expected, Rei answered without a hint of hesitation.
"It's obvious. I'm going to pick up Seto. That man said there's only a Magic Circle in the cave, but there's no guarantee he was telling the truth."
(No one would have the guts to lie in the face of that Murderous Intent.)
Ranga couldn't help but retort inwardly, but Rei didn't seem to notice. The conversation finished, Rei walked out of the Guard Force Headquarters.
Watching his retreating back, Ranga muttered to himself.
"The fact that he was in the City of Gilm during this season... perhaps it was an act of providence."
"Oh? Rei? Is Seto not with you today?"
When a Guard at the Main Gate called out to him, Rei nodded slightly in silence and handed over his Guild Card.
"There was a bit of trouble. Sorry, but ask Ranga about the details."
"...Understood."
At those words, the Guard likely associated the situation with the Prison Carriage Attack Incident. His expression shifted to one of professional gravity as he processed the paperwork to leave the city.
"No problems. You're good to go."
With those words at his back, Rei stepped outside the city walls.
Since winter had already set in, there were no caravans or Traveling Merchants in front of the Main Gate. As for Adventurers, the only ones venturing out in this season were either the desperate few in need of money or the eccentrics. As far as Rei could see, he was the only person out there.
"Now then, no point standing around. It was upstream, right?"
He muttered to himself and headed toward the place where he had previously performed the Material Stripping of monster parts together with the Members of Eternal Power.
On the way, he suddenly remembered something.
"Come to think of it, I haven't absorbed the Blue Caterpillar Magic Stone yet."
Turning his gaze to his Misty Ring, he withdrew the Blue Caterpillar Magic Stone and the Death Scythe. He tossed the stone into the air.
"Hah!"
With a sharp shout, he split the Magic Stone in two with the Death Scythe's Blade.
[Death Scythe has acquired the skill: Wind Hand Lv.2]
The announcement echoed in his mind. Satisfied, he nodded and entered the forest near the city.
He continued walking, and once the river came into view, he concentrated his consciousness on the Death Scythe.
"Wind Hand!"
With those words, a Colorless and Transparent Wind Tentacle extended from the Butt end of the Death Scythe.
It reached 100 meters, just as it had at Level 1... but then it kept going.
This was clearly the difference between the levels. The Wind Hand continued to extend, eventually reaching its limit at around 150 meters.
"I see. The effective range is roughly 150 meters."
Rei nodded in satisfaction.
"This should make things a bit safer when Seto and I create a Firestorm."
He deactivated the skill and followed the river upstream, casting an annoyed look at the snow that had begun to fall more heavily.
Fortunately, there were no monsters in the vicinity. He walked for about an hour without incident when he suddenly sensed several presences.
"..."
He came to a halt.
Trees grew thick ahead, narrowing his field of vision. He couldn't tell if the presences were friend or foe. However, given that they were near the Cave Upstream, he assumed they might be related to the spies. Smiling bitterly at the thought that he might have been deceived by the Shadow Captain's lie, he readied the Death Scythe, prepared for an ambush.
The next instant, something massive leaped out from behind the trees. Seeing the two-meter-tall figure, he instinctively tightened his grip on the Death Scythe's Shaft... then dropped the weapon to the ground to catch the lunging creature.
"Guruuuuu!"
The creature—Seto the Gryphon—let out a happy cry at their reunion, which had happened sooner than expected. It tackled Rei, pushing him over and rubbing its face affectionately against him.
Rei was able to catch the two-meter-long Seto, but he couldn't stop the momentum. He ended up flat on his back, with Seto nuzzling him incessantly as if demanding to be petted.
"Seto! You're safe..."
Rei stroked the face being rubbed against him, letting out a sigh of profound relief.
"Guru, guruuu, gururururuuu!"
He played with Seto, who was purring loudly and frolicking with joy. Then, Rei sat up and looked around.
"Seto-chan! Why did you suddenly start running!? ...Oh, Rei!"
Mirene had been chasing after Seto when it suddenly bolted. When she finally arrived, she saw a scene that was like heaven to her—Rei being smothered in affection by Seto.
"Whoa, I'm so jealous... wait, that's not it! Eh? Huh? Rei!?"
The fact that she snapped back to reality so quickly was a testament to her experience as a leader of a C-Rank Party.
"Mirene, what on earth is... oh."
"Mirene-san? ...Whoa."
Sulnin and Ekryl followed close behind, and they too were struck dumb by the sight of Rei being tackled by Seto.
"...And so, while we were fighting the Lizardmen, Seto-chan fell from the sky to save us."
About twenty minutes had passed since the reunion. Rei, having finally succeeded in calming Seto down, listened to the story from the members of Scorching Wind.
"Guru."
Though it had calmed down, Seto, having been teleported to an unknown location so suddenly, clearly didn't want to leave Rei's side. It continued to rub its face against him.
Rei stroked Seto’s throat while listening, then raised a question.
"I understand that much. But I heard that Adventurers don't usually work during this season... why is Scorching Wind out here?"
"Ugh..."
It was clearly a sore subject. Mirene let out a groan and pointedly averted her gaze.
Rei could guess the reason from that alone. He gave a bitter smile as he continued to pet Seto.
Normally, he would have poked fun at her, but he was simply too happy to have found Seto. Out of gratitude for that happiness, he decided not to press the issue.
"Well, if you don't want to say, I won't ask for details... but you guys have it rough too."
He couldn't resist saying that much while glancing toward Sulnin and Ekryl.
Receiving that look, the two replied with bitter smiles of their own.
"Yes, well. Still, it's because Mirene is who she is that Scorching Wind exists. We've given up on that front."
"Don't you mean 'given up in exasperation'?"
Sulnin tried to smooth things over, but Ekryl interjected with a sharp retort.
"Hey, don't say weird things in front of Seto-chan! Besides, we properly completed the Lizardman Subjugation Request, didn't we?"
"...Though it was a bit dicey before Seto helped us," Ekryl muttered under her breath.
Mirene glared at her, signaling her to keep quiet.
"Well, at least the request is done. We're going to head out soon. What about you guys?"
"Hmm? That's right. Thanks to Seto-chan, we've completed our work, so we're heading back to the city. Rei, do you want to come with us?"
Rei shook his head.
"No, there's something I want to check out first. Sorry, but we'll go on ahead."
"Ehh... I thought we'd finally be able to travel with Seto-chan."
"Sorry. I'm busy in my own way. Seto."
"Guru."
The gryphon gave a small cry and lowered its body, adjusting its posture so Rei could easily mount its back.
"Then we'll be going. I didn't see any monsters on the way here, but be careful anyway."
"I know. We're a C-Rank Party, after all."
"...A C-Rank Party taking requests outside in the middle of winter, though."
"Hey!?"
Mirene tried to snap back, but Rei didn't stick around to listen. He straddled Seto's back.
"Seto!"
"Gurururuuu!"
With a few quick steps for a head start, Seto flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
"Guru?"
Seto turned its head back as if asking where they were going. Rei looked further upstream.
"Seto, I need to report back to Ranga eventually, but first, take me to the cave you teleported to. I want to check out that Magic Circle myself."
"Gururuu!"
Seto gave a high-pitched cry as if to say 'leave it to me' and flapped its wings toward the cave.
Note: On the way back, Seto absorbed a Blue Caterpillar Magic Stone, but it did not acquire any new skills or strengthen any existing ones.
[Skills: Corrosion Lv.1, Flying Slash Lv.2, Magic Shield Lv.1, Power Slash Lv.1, Wind Hand Lv.2, Terrain Manipulation Lv.1]
Wind Hand: Invisible tentacles woven from wind magic power sprout from the Death Scythe. Interference via wind is possible only for objects touched by the tip of the tentacle. Range is 100 meters at Level 1, and approximately 150 meters at Level 2.