Rei stepped out of the tent where Count Alius and the other nobles of the King's Faction had gathered. He let out a soft sigh as he greeted Seto, who approached him with a low, vibrating trill.
At any rate, that’s the end of the war, he thought. Now I just have to hope I don’t get dragged into anything else troublesome.
Even as he muttered the thought to himself, he knew such a hope was likely in vain. He had stood out far too much in this conflict. He was fully aware that his contributions had been nothing short of extraordinary.
That said, as long as I’m with Seto, standing out is unavoidable. In that case, it’s probably for the best that I’ve made it clear that anyone who moves against me will suffer for it.
Specifically, Rei’s use of the Firestorm—an event more accurately described as a natural disaster than magic—served as a potent warning. No noble would carelessly provoke a man capable of unleashing such devastation within their own borders.
Well, even so, there’s bound to be someone who thinks they’ll be the exception...
"Guruuu?"
Seto tilted its head with a trill, looking at Rei with its round, concerned eyes as if asking what was wrong.
"It’s nothing. More importantly, we have to report to Lord Daskar as well. Can you get us there?"
"Guruuu!"
"Kyu!"
Seto cried out in response, followed immediately by another high-pitched, adorable chirp. Rei turned toward the familiar sound and spotted Iero perched atop a nearby tent.
"...Right. Elena sent you back early to act as a messenger."
Rei reached out, and Iero let out a happy chirp before diving into his arms. The small creature looked up at him with an expectant, pleading gaze. Understanding Iero's worry, Rei stroked its tiny head to reassure it.
"Elena... your master is safe. She didn't sustain any serious injuries, so you can rest easy."
"Kyu!"
Relieved, Iero chirped softly, flapped its wings, and landed on Seto’s back.
"Kyu!"
"Gururuuu?"
"Kyu kyu kyu!"
"Guru."
Watching them converse flawlessly despite being different species, Rei climbed onto the Gryphon's back.
"Iero, I'm going to report the success of the Surprise Attack to the Neutral Faction and the Noble's Faction. Do you want to come along?"
"Kyu?"
Iero tilted its head. Standing barely fifteen centimeters long, the dragon child’s doll-like innocence made it look incredibly endearing. The surrounding soldiers, knights, and adventurers—who had been watching the Gryphon and its rider with lingering fear—found their expressions softening at the sight. It was a peaceful scene, perhaps only possible because the war was truly over.
"I am Rei, the adventurer dispatched to the Surprise Attack Unit. I wish to report to Lord Daskar; please announce me."
"Oh, you’ve returned! Lord Daskar and Lady Filma have been anxious for your report. I’ll see to it immediately. Wait here."
As one of the guards stepped into the tent, Rei handed his Mithril Knife to the remaining guard.
"Still, the fact that you've made it back means the Surprise Attack was a success, right? The noise from the front lines died down a while ago."
The guard glanced at the Gryphon and the tiny dragon on its back while taking the knife. Rei nodded.
"Yeah. The Captain of the Surprise Attack Unit defeated the enemy Supreme Commander. As you can see, the empire has retreated. It was an overwhelming victory."
In terms of casualties, the King's Faction had been hit the hardest. Rei's use of the Firestorm during the initial clash of the lead units—the phase where losses are typically highest—had drastically reduced the burden on the Neutral Faction and the Noble's Faction.
Of course, neither faction had emerged unscathed. They had lost men during the all-out assault following the Firestorm, but the ratio of their losses was minuscule compared to the King's Faction. When considering the damage Count Alius’s forces took from Theoreme’s Beast Soldiers using Teleportation Stones and their role as a diversion for the surprise attack, the Neutral and Noble factions had gotten off relatively easy.
"Heh. I'd heard from the mages and archers that the enemy was pulling back, but..."
As the guard nodded in admiration, his partner returned from the tent.
"Lord Daskar and Lady Filma will see you. Do not be disrespectful."
"I'm not particularly confident about that, but I'll do my best. Seto, wait out here with Iero for a bit."
"Guruuu."
"Kyu!"
Both creatures responded in unison. The two guards shared a warm, involuntary smile at the sight, much like the soldiers in the King's Faction had earlier. They quickly caught themselves, however, and straightened their posture.
"Right, go on in. ...Ah, wait, your weapons first."
"I've already got them," the other guard said, showing his partner the Mithril Knife.
"Understood. Then, please enter. Lord Daskar and the others are eager for your report."
Rei stepped inside the tent.
He was immediately struck by the sheer intensity of the gazes directed at him. He had been scrutinized when he first arrived before the surprise attack, but the pressure now was on an entirely different level. The nobles were clearly desperate for the information he carried.
Daskar cut straight to the point, skipping any formal introductions.
"Rei, the enemy has retreated. May I assume the Surprise Attack was a success?"
"Yes. The Surprise Attack was a success."
Rei hesitated for a fraction of a second, debating whether to claim the kill himself or name Siminal. Before he could speak, however, the nobles' excitement boiled over.
"Excellent! We have successfully repelled the Bestia Imperial Army!"
"It was a gamble by Count Alius, but it paid off..."
"What does it matter? Gamble or not, the winner takes all. Count Alius has certainly gained significant merit with this success. Even with the blunder of being hit by a surprise attack himself, his reputation will likely recover."
"Hmm... if this was the outcome, we should have pushed more of our own men into that unit."
"Nonsense. Since Elena-sama was part of it, the Noble's Faction is well-represented. More importantly, the Neutral Faction..."
Several nobles turned their gazes back to Rei. Their eyes were filled with a complex mixture of emotions. For the Noble's Faction, having their symbol, Elena, participate in the decisive battle was a major political win. Rei, however, was a different story. No matter how much fame he earned, he was still just an adventurer. In terms of factional prestige, his contribution as a representative of the Neutral Faction paled in comparison to Elena's.
"Perhaps we should have sent the Axe of the Thunder God instead?"
"No, no. The Gryphon was an essential asset. The Axe of the Thunder God is powerful, certainly, but the combination of Rei and his beast was the superior choice for this mission. Besides, the order for Rei to join the unit came directly from Count Alius as the Supreme Commander. It would have been difficult even for Lord Daskar to force other adventurers into the mix."
"I disagree. It’s exactly because they are adventurers that it might have been possible. Knights or nobles would have been out of the question, but adventurers..."
While the Neutral Faction nobles debated what they should have done, the Noble's Faction members watched them with calculating eyes.
For now, they were operating in unison under the direction of the King's Faction and Count Alius. Daskar and Lady Filma, as the respective leaders, had strictly forbidden any infighting. Furthermore, the threat of the Bestia Imperial Army—an enemy that would have killed them all without cooperation—had left no room for petty squabbles.
Lady Filma’s actions had also been influenced by Elena's feelings for Rei. However, now that the war was over, the factions would inevitably return to their usual rivalries. The Noble's Faction had long sought to undermine the Neutral Faction to close the power gap with the King's Faction, and they would surely resume their interference at the first opportunity.
But above all, the eyes of the Noble's Faction were fixed on Rei. Despite his overwhelming power, his rank remained a mere C-Rank—respectable, but nowhere near his true worth. A man of his caliber would be a staggering asset to any faction. Lady Filma, mindful of Elena’s heart, had even considered recruiting him as a Direct Retainer of Duke Kerebel's House.
Or perhaps, welcoming him as my own successor might be even more interesting, Lady Filma mused privately.
Daskar's voice suddenly cut through the murmurs.
"Now then, Rei. Is it correct to assume that you were the one who defeated General Kastom, the Enemy Supreme Commander? If so, as we discussed before the mission, there is no doubt that you have earned the Top Contribution."
"...No," Rei replied. He was momentarily caught off guard, but he denied it immediately. "Regrettably, the official report states that Lord Siminal, the leader of the Surprise Attack Unit, was the one who slew General Kastom."
"The 'official report states,' does it?"
Daskar allowed a small, knowing smile to cross his face. Lady Filma, standing beside him, wore a similarly faint smirk.
"Which means the greatest hero of this war, the man who slew the Supreme Commander, is not Rei, but Lord Siminal?"
"...That is correct."
"Which would mean," Daskar continued, "that I cannot give you the heirloom magic item you desired?"
"It would," Rei muttered, his brow furrowing slightly.
He had agreed to this arrangement with Elena and Siminal, but the heirloom magic item passed down in Margrave Larkus's House was still a tantalizing prize to lose.
Daskar watched Rei’s disappointment with amusement, while Lady Filma let out a sigh, as if dealing with a particularly troublesome pair. A heavy, awkward silence filled the tent until Daskar broke it.
"It is a fact that Rei missed the Top Contribution of slaying the enemy general. At least... that is the story we shall maintain. However, considering his other achievements, he is certainly entitled to the next best thing. Therefore, while I cannot grant him the heirloom passed down in my house, I shall provide a magic item of near-equivalent value as his reward."
Daskar’s words were entirely unexpected. Rei blinked, looking up at the Margrave’s stern face in surprise. The other nobles were equally stunned; the Neutral Faction gaped in shock, while the Noble's Faction cast resentful glares at Daskar.
By granting Rei a reward nearly equal to an heirloom, Daskar wasn't just recognizing his service; he was marking Rei as his own. It was a preemptive strike to ward off other nobles' recruitment attempts and a subtle, indirect way of telling Rei that he was highly valued in the City of Gilm.
Daskar knew he couldn't truly 'own' someone like Rei. The boy was an outlier, a force of nature that no single master could contain. Trying to force him into a traditional subordinate role would only invite disaster. However, the Margrave was more than happy to keep Rei in his territory and hire him as an occasional ally.
The Noble's Faction continued to glare, but Daskar ignored them entirely, appearing quite satisfied as he continued his conversation with Rei.