As the setting sun bathed the city in a golden glow, Rei and Seto walked along the main street of the City of Emocion.
They had come seeking the bounty placed on the unknown monster known as the Lemures, but the man and the beast were not headed toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Normally, a newcomer would go straight to the guild to gather information on their target. However, it was already evening. At this hour, a flood of adventurers would be returning to turn in their daily requests. Rei decided it was better to wait until a quieter time tomorrow rather than pester the busy guild staff now. There was also the fact that Rei personally disliked crowds, and the guards who had processed his entry had advised him to avoid places where he might be drawn into unnecessary trouble with other adventurers.
The guards had given that warning with desperate sincerity; they knew all too well that they couldn't handle an alias-holder and a Gryphon if a brawl broke out in the middle of the city.
Of course, that wasn't the only thing the guards had done.
"Guruuu?"
"You're right. There are surprisingly few people who seem afraid of you, Seto."
Seto purred happily but tilted its head in a curious "Why?" Rei mirrored the gesture, tilting his own head.
This was another of the guards' tactical moves. They had proactively and widely publicized the information that the Gryphon Seto had been instrumental in rescuing the passengers and crew of the sunken ships.
Furthermore, they had spread word that an alias-holder and a high-rank monster like a Gryphon would be indispensable assets in the coming fight against the Lemures.
These rumors weren't solely the work of the guards, however. Much of the information had been disseminated by the survivors themselves—passengers, crew, and the adventurers who had witnessed the rescue firsthand.
"Well, if the locals are friendly, that's all for the best. It's not like we're looking to cause a scene."
"Guruuu."
Naturally, not every gaze directed at them was warm. A few people cast resentful looks, associating the pair with the arrival of the Lemures, while others still instinctively recoiled at the sight of the Gryphon. However, those were far outnumbered by eyes filled with gratitude for the rescue efforts. Most prevalent of all, though, were the looks of hope—the eyes of people wondering if a high-rank monster like a Gryphon could finally put an end to the Lemures, which was quite literally eating away at the City of Emocion's lifeblood.
"I'd like to live up to those expectations, both for the reward and for them... but I didn't expect it to stay completely submerged. Now, what to do about that?"
"Guruu."
Seto let out a low rumble in its throat and rubbed its head against Rei as if telling him to cheer up.
Rei scratched Seto's head affectionately as they continued down the street.
(I was counting on using Dancing Flame Serpent as my trump card, but if the main body never surfaces, I’m stuck. Maybe if it shows a tentacle or something...)
Rei considered the possibility for a moment but immediately recalled his fight against the Queen Ant.
(No, that won't work. If it uses tentacles, it’ll likely just sever them before the fire reaches the core, just like the Queen Ant did. Besides, I don't even know if it has tentacles.)
He needed to devise a new method of attack. As he walked through the city pondering his options, a savory, mouth-watering aroma drifted toward him.
"Guruu."
Seto had clearly caught the scent as well. It looked around, searching for the source. And then...
"Heh."
Following Seto's gaze, Rei spotted a stall. It was a vendor selling grilled seafood, with rows of fish skewers and other ocean delicacies sizzling over the flames.
The sight of various fish, cleaned and skewered, dripping fat onto the coals, sent an immediate surge of hunger through him—even with the seasoning being a simple matter of salt.
Gilm was situated on the plains; it had mountains and forests, but no sea. The only fish available there were from the rivers. It was no exaggeration to say that Rei had been looking forward to the seafood in Emocion as much as the bounty itself.
"Want to get something to eat?"
"Guruu!"
Seto nodded enthusiastically, and the man and the beast made a beeline for the stall.
The closer they got, the more the aroma of grilled seafood intensified, stoking their appetites.
Nearly a dozen customers were gathered around the stall, looking quite content as they snacked on skewers and grilled shells while waiting for the dinner hour.
"Whoa!"
Amidst the crowd, a man who had been eating a skewer of fluorescent green fish—a creature about 30cm long that looked highly suspicious to Rei—spotted the pair. Or rather, he spotted Seto and let out a startled cry.
The other customers turned their heads at the noise, but most of them remained where they were, watching with more curiosity than fear.
A few people did scramble away in a panic, but even they refrained from making a scene. Given that it was a reflexive reaction, the reception here was like night and day compared to the towns they had passed through on their way to Emocion.
The elderly man in his 50s running the stall had also noticed the Gryphon’s approach. However, his expression didn't flicker as he remained focused on the heat of his grill.
Rei and Seto stepped up to the counter.
"Old man, let me get two fish skew—"
"Here. Eat up."
Before Rei could finish his sentence, the man held out two finished skewers. The fish had yellow and blue speckled patterns that would usually make a person hesitate to take a bite, but the surrounding customers gasped in unison.
"Hey, isn't that a high-end..."
"Yeah. Tastes amazing, but the catch is tiny, so it's usually incredibly expensive."
"Especially now, with the Lemures scaring everyone off the water..."
"The old man's got guts. That's a generous move."
"Man, I've wanted to try that just once. But two silver coins for a snack? No way."
Hearing the chatter and realizing the fish in his hand was worth two silver coins, Rei looked at the old man in surprise.
"I didn't ask for something this expensive."
"It's on the house. You're hungry, aren't you? Eat. Because of you, boy, a lot of people made it back after that monster hit the ships. Consider this a thank-you from a citizen of Emocion."
"...I see. In that case, I'll gratefully accept. Thanks."
With a brief nod of gratitude, Rei bit into the fish.
The skin was incredibly crisp, and the meat began to melt the moment it hit his tongue.
It was remarkably fatty, yet it left no greasy aftertaste.
He took a second bite, then a third and fourth in rapid succession.
Beside him, Seto was purring with delight. However, the fish was small enough that the Gryphon finished it in a single mouthful and looked up with an expression that clearly said it wanted more.
Rei finished his skewer in silence, let out a satisfied breath, and spoke to the old man again.
"That was delicious."
"Good. Glad to hear it."
Rei smiled at the old man's tacit kindness and asked a sudden question.
"Could you recommend an inn where they'd be willing to take in a Gryphon?"
"...Let's see. Head straight down this street, take a right at the fifth corner, and walk for about ten minutes. You'll find a place called the Coral Inn of the Blue Sea. It's a bit pricey, but they should be fine with a Gryphon. I hear they're packed right now, but if you tell them you were sent by me... by Arktos, it should work out."
"The Coral Inn of the Blue Sea. Got it. Thanks for the help."
"Don't mention it. It's a debt of gratitude."
Rei smiled at the words of Arktos and was about to head toward the inn when he paused. He turned back to the stall one more time.
"Actually, could you wrap up about five silver coins' worth of skewers and shellfish? Whatever you think is best."
Tempted by the rare taste of fresh seafood and defeated by Seto's pleading eyes, he placed one more order.
"The Coral Inn of the Blue Sea, huh. It certainly lives up to the name."
Following Arktos's directions, Rei found the building. It was a striking structure with walls painted a sea-blue and pieces of coral embedded directly into the masonry.
In terms of scale, it was slightly larger than the Dusk Wheat Inn, making it a medium-sized establishment for a city as large as Emocion.
"It seems to be thriving, just like he said... though I guess that's to be expected under the circumstances."
As Rei spoke, he crunched through the last of his fish—head, bones, and all—and stored the wooden skewer in his Misty Ring.
"Guruuu."
Seto purred happily, clearly impressed by the beautiful building.
The Coral Inn of the Blue Sea was typically a hidden gem known only to regulars. However, with the city overflowing with adventurers drawn by the bounty on the Lemures, even the more secluded spots were being overrun.
"...I wonder if they really have space?"
Rei muttered to himself as the lively sounds of a crowd drifted from within. He left Seto to wait outside and stepped into the building.
The first thing he saw was a dining hall at the back of the 1F, packed with adventurers drinking and eating.
Like most inns, the 1F served as a tavern and dining area, while the 2F and above housed the guest rooms. Rei walked up to the counter, where a girl in her mid-teens was working.
"Excuse me, I'd like a room."
"Eh? Ah... sorry, it's a bit of a problem right now. As you can see, we're completely booked..."
Rei nodded, finding her apologetic explanation perfectly reasonable. From what he could see, the dining hall was at nearly full capacity.
Still, he decided to try Arktos's name.
"I was referred by an old man named Arktos who runs a stall. Is it still no good?"
"A referral from Arktos-san!? E-Eh... wait just a moment. I'll go ask my father!"
With that, the girl bolted toward the dining hall, leaving Rei standing alone at the counter.
"Now what?"
He sighed, caught off guard by her sudden departure. Fortunately, the girl returned in less than a minute.
This time, she was accompanied by a woman in her 30s who appeared to be her mother.
(Wait, didn't she say she was going to ask her father?)
While Rei was puzzling over that, the landlady addressed him.
"I hear you were referred by Arktos-san."
"Yeah. He recommended this place when I bought some skewers from him."
"Pardon me for saying so, but I don't think Arktos-san would recommend us to someone just for buying a few skewers."
"He said it was thanks for helping out the survivors from the ships the Lemures sank."
"...Ah! You're the one the whole city is talking about!"
Realization dawned on her, and her suspicious look vanished, replaced by a warm smile.
"The rumors mentioned you were traveling with a Gryphon?"
"He's waiting outside. So, can we stay?"
"Well... if you're asking if we have a room, we do, but..."
The landlady hesitated, looking conflicted. The daughter, seeing her mother struggle, spoke up instead.
"The thing is, all our standard guest rooms are occupied."
"I thought as much."
Rei glanced back at the dining hall, where adventurers were clearly in the middle of a rowdy banquet.
"In that case, I'll look for another—"
"Wait!"
The girl cut him off before he could finish.
"We can prepare an unusual room for you, if you don't mind that?"
"An unusual room?"
"Yes. It's a corner room, but it's only about half the size of a normal one..."
Rei considered it for a few seconds and nodded.
"That's fine. As long as I have a place to sleep and food to eat, the size doesn't bother me. Can I count on you?"
"Oh, yes! Right, Mother?"
"Y-Yes. Since Arktos-san sent you, and if you're truly alright with that room, we would be honored to host the city's benefactor."
"What’s the rate? And I'll need you to include the Gryphon’s meals as well."
"Including breakfast and dinner, one silver coin per night will be sufficient."
Rei stared at her, stunned by the price.
Even at the Dusk Wheat Inn in Gilm, a room cost three silver coins a night, and that didn't include Seto’s food. Given the size and economy of this city, this was an absurdly low price.
"Since you’re a referral from Arktos-san and a hero to the city, we couldn't possibly take more. Besides, the room is only half the size of a proper one..."
Unable to argue with her logic, Rei officially decided to make the Coral Inn of the Blue Sea his base for his stay in Emocion.