"……Phew. As expected, the tea Ara brews is truly excellent."
Inside the tent, Elena lifted the black tea to her lips, a small smile playing on her face as she praised her subordinate’s handiwork.
Rei offered no objection. He nodded in silent agreement, savoring his own tea as he listened to Elena’s words.
"Thank you, my lady. ……There, Seto, Iero. You two can eat this."
After thanking Elena, Ara set a plate filled with various fruits down for Seto, who was lounging beside Rei, and Iero, who was perched on the griffon’s back.
Her movements were as refined as a veteran maid’s. It was a far cry from the expected conduct of a female knight with a giant battle axe slung across her back.
"Now then, once more—it has been a long time, Rei."
"It has. Not since the dungeon, I think. I was actually quite surprised when Iero arrived with the letter. I was just about to start writing one to you at the time."
"Fufu, it makes me happy to hear you say that. ……Well, that specific chain of events only occurred because Ara failed to get you to write a letter when you met in the City of Baar."
"Oh, Elena-sama…… I certainly didn't expect to run into Lord Rei in a place as far from the City of Gilm as the City of Baar. Surely it can't be helped!"
Ara protested instinctively, but when she saw the mischievous glint in Elena’s eyes, she realized with a sigh that further argument was futile.
"Well, don't be too hard on her. I was so shocked to see Ara that I didn't even think to write a letter myself."
In truth, Rei hadn't considered it because he knew how much time and effort it took to exchange correspondence in Elgin, but he kept his expression neutral as he continued.
"By the way, did you know? Apparently, guild masters have magic items that let them converse over long distances. If I had something like that, I could talk to you whenever I wanted."
"……I see. I have heard rumors of such magic items. Being able to speak with a specific person at any time would certainly make military deployments far more efficient. ……Ara, what do you know of this?"
Even in a personal conversation with the man she cared for, Elena’s thoughts drifted toward the tactical efficiency of her command. She may have learned what it meant to love, but her reputation as the Princess General was clearly no empty title.
However, Ara shook her head in response to the query.
"I have heard of them, but those types of magic items are generally only found in dungeons. It seems alchemists and researchers are studying them desperately, but current replicas require a massive amount of magic power and only have a range of less than twenty meters. Furthermore, they apparently require an exorbitant amount of rare materials to manufacture."
"Is that so? I thought it would be beyond convenient for directing units, but……"
Elena let out a soft sigh. Propping her elbows on the table in a display of uncharacteristically casual manners, she fixed her gaze on Rei.
"Say, Rei. If those magic items can only be found in dungeons, perhaps we should go for a dive together again sometime?"
As Elena peered at him with slightly moist eyes, Rei felt for a moment as if his consciousness were being drawn in. He quickly pulled himself back to reality and gave a small nod.
An ordinary man would have been completely captivated by the look in her eyes. Elena was exuding an almost palpable sense of allure.
(Elena-sama…… She is like this already, but I wonder what will happen when she becomes a woman in the true sense. The term 'matchless beauty' is common enough, but given Elena-sama's charm and prowess, I suspect people will start whispering that she's a 'matchless war maiden' soon. Thinking of it that way, Lord Rei is quite impressive for remaining so composed while being the sole target of her beauty. ……Though he might just be a blockhead.)
Unaware of Ara’s internal musings, Rei looked away slightly and spoke.
It wasn't that he felt nothing. Elena's appearance—a mysterious harmony of inner strength and physical grace—certainly affected him. After all, she had given him her first kiss. He was not so much of a child that he could remain entirely unaffected in her presence.
"That sounds good. Once this war is settled…… I'd like that. The only dungeon I've ever seen is the one I visited with you, but I hear there are places in the Kingdom of Mireana known as labyrinth cities?"
"Indeed. The rare ores and monster materials found only within dungeons have a value that rivals or even exceeds what can be found in the frontier City of Gilm. They are among the most vital strategic hubs in the kingdom."
"……Monsters that only exist inside dungeons, huh?"
"Exactly. I'm sure you're interested."
Elena gestured toward Seto, who was currently sharing the fruit Ara had provided with Iero.
The implication was clear. Aside from Rei himself, Elena was the only person who knew the specific details of his beast magic.
The prospect of a dungeon excursion was genuinely enticing to Rei.
"Yeah, more than you know. And I’ve always been curious about the labyrinth cities themselves."
As he replied, Rei reached out to stroke Seto’s back.
At the same time, he wondered about the other magic items one might find in a dungeon. Many were incredibly useful, like the communication devices the guild masters used. On a more personal level, the power axe Rei once owned—which Ara was using now—was also a product of a dungeon.
If long-distance communication was the goal, the paired orbs he had received from the lich Grimm were another example.
As Rei's mind drifted toward unknown magical artifacts, he noticed Elena directing a somewhat sulky look his way.
"……What is it?"
"I was the one who brought up the dungeon, but isn't it a bit rude to ignore the lady in front of you and sink into your own thoughts? Especially when you are a guest in her private quarters."
"Private quarters? ……Ah, right. I suppose it is."
Rei gave a wry smile as he glanced around. They were technically in a tent, but the interior bore no resemblance to standard military equipment. If someone were led inside without context, they would certainly perceive it as a room in a manor.
"Besides, I've been the one doing most of the talking. Since this is our first reunion in quite some time, shouldn't you have something to ask me as well? ……Such as whether I felt lonely, perhaps?"
Elena muttered the last part under her breath, but Rei's five senses and physical ability were far superior to a normal human’s. He heard every word.
(I have been letting her do all the talking. Though I’m not exactly sure what the right move is here given my lack of experience. Well, for now……)
Muttering to himself, Rei stood from his sofa and sat down right next to Elena.
"Wait, what are you doing all of a sudden—?"
Rei ignored her surprise and reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder—though it was encased in armor, given they were in a war camp.
"Sorry. I'm not used to being this close to a woman, so I can be a bit slow to catch on."
At Rei's somewhat clumsy gesture, a faint smile returned to Elena's lips.
"I could say the same. Ever since I was old enough to know better, I’ve been buried in martial arts and magic training. My life has been quite different from a typical noble daughter's. I am just as ignorant of such relationships. However…… when I allowed you my lips back then, it was a decision I made of my own accord."
With those words, Elena placed her hand over Rei’s.
The two fell into silence, simply gazing into each other's eyes until—
"Ahem."
The sound of a very deliberate, pointed throat-clearing brought them back to reality, and they quickly put some distance between themselves.
"I am well aware that Elena-sama and Lord Rei are on good terms, but I would appreciate it if you considered our current circumstances."
"Right. Sorry about that."
"It was just…… the moment took us."
Under Ara’s flat, judgmental stare, both Rei and Elena fumbled for excuses. Rei eventually moved back to the sofa opposite her.
"Now that you both seem to have settled down, shall we move on to the main subject?"
"……The main subject?"
Rei had assumed he’d been called here simply to reconnect, but at Ara’s words, he turned his attention back to Elena. Elena, too, seemed to have decided that it was time to stop acting like a girl in love. She gave a small nod, her focus shifting from Elena Kerebel the woman to the Princess General as she looked at Rei.
"In truth, even before this war began, my father had dispatched several spies to gather intelligence on the Bestia Empire."
Rei nodded, showing no surprise. Elena’s father was Duke Kerebel, the leader of the Noble's Faction. He would have undoubtedly realized this war would be different from previous ones, and it was only natural for him to have agents even within the City of Gilm to gather data.
In fact, Rei easily imagined that Daskar, the central figure of the Neutral Faction, had likewise sent his own people to the Empire, as well as into the noble and king's factions.
"So, did he find something important? And are you even allowed to share it with me?"
"Yes. I have already received my father’s permission. Besides…… this isn't exactly unrelated to you, Rei."
"Unrelated to me?" Rei tilted his head.
Elena nodded firmly.
"One of the spies who infiltrated the Empire brought back a specific piece of information. ……It seems someone spotted Vel among the Bestia Empire's expeditionary force. However, the agent who provided the report lost contact immediately afterward."
"……I see."
With that, Rei understood why Elena—or rather, why the Noble's Faction—was sharing intelligence obtained at the cost of a spy’s life.
"Since you let the traitor escape, you want me to settle the debt myself?"
"Duke Kerebel didn't put it quite so bluntly, but I suspect that is the general sentiment," Ara chimed in, having been listening in silence.
Ara had her own reasons to be bitter about Vel’s betrayal. If anything, her regret was likely deeper than Rei’s, given that she had known Vel far longer than the short time Rei spent with them during the request for the Ritual of Inheritance.
"I understand. But he was severely wounded when he escaped from the Altar of Inheritance, wasn't he? His left arm was severed at the shoulder, and his face was horribly burned. For him to be back in such a short time…… wait, recovery magic?"
Recovery magic was something that hadn't existed in Rei’s original world. He had seen it used several times and knew how effective it could be. He assumed it was the only way Vel could have recovered, but Elena shook her head.
"Vel did survive those wounds, but it wasn't through recovery magic. It seems he used alchemy…… or perhaps another technique entirely."
"……What?"
"The report claimed tree roots were growing from where his left arm should be. As for his face, the features were recognizable as Vel, but he supposedly has four eyes now."
Hearing those details, Rei immediately understood how Vel had survived. It was the same process Vel had mentioned to him in the dungeon—the creation of beings through a simplified Ritual of Inheritance. Rei had fought such creatures several times now.
"A beast soldier."
Rei spoke the name into the quiet tent.
Elena and Ara both nodded silently; they, too, had already learned the truth of what Vel had become.