It had been a few days since the garden party at the Lord's Mansion. Fortunately, Rei hadn't been plagued by any further noble invitations since then, allowing him to focus entirely on preparing for his departure to the Labyrinth City.
"Pamidoor, are you sure you don't have any more cheap spears?"
At Rei’s question, the man with the evil-faced skinhead let out a heavy sigh.
"Listen, kid. I'm happy to have you as a customer, but you can't just keep coming in here demanding cheap spears. This is a blacksmith shop, not a general merchant. If that's what you're looking for, go to a weapon shop."
"A weapon shop, huh?" Rei muttered, mirroring the blacksmith's sigh.
The weapon shops in Gilm had a complicated history with him. Most had previously been under the umbrella—or rather, the thumb—of the Azoth Firm. Back when Rei had been at odds with the firm's chairman, the shops had been ordered to boycott him.
Though that conflict was long resolved, the story of the boycott had spread through the city. The citizens of Gilm, particularly those who doted on Seto, had turned their fury on the shops for treating the owner of the city's favorite Gryphon so unfairly. For a time, the weapon shops had been pariahs in their own town.
While Galahat—the man who had essentially seized the Azoth Firm—had managed to settle the public outrage, the shopkeepers still treated Rei as if he were made of glass. Feeling like he had to walk on eggshells every time he entered a shop made it difficult for Rei to visit them at all. Beyond that, he simply knew that Pamidoor the Blacksmith produced work of a far higher caliber than any standard retail store.
Pamidoor caught Rei’s weary expression and let a grin cross his face. Given his villainous features, the expression looked less like a friendly smile and more like the ferocious grin of a pirate who had just cornered his prey.
"Well, personally, I don't mind you coming around," Pamidoor said.
"...You're not looking at me, you're looking for Seto, aren't you?" Rei glanced toward the front of the shop.
Outside, a boy of about ten was happily playing with Seto, stroking the creature’s feathers. The boy was Kumito, Pamidoor's only son. Despite his gentle face, he didn't resemble his father in the slightest.
"No matter how many times I see him, I still can't believe he's your kid, Pamidoor."
"Pipe down. ...Though, honestly, I'm glad he didn't take after me. This face isn't exactly a blessing." Pamidoor gave a self-deprecating, bitter smile. He was well aware of how intimidating he looked.
"Maybe you should grow your hair out? Being a skinhead only makes you look more intense. It would be one thing if you were an adventurer using Intimidation on monsters or bandits, but you're just a blacksmith."
"Yeah, about that," Pamidoor said, nodding. He had once been a fairly famous smith in the Royal Capital, but he had grown tired of forging decorative weapons for nobles that would never see a drop of blood. He had moved to the frontier specifically to help the adventurers and residents of Gilm. When he first arrived, his face had terrified everyone, and he was nearly run out of town. Only through silent, diligent work had he eventually earned the city's trust.
During the Azoth Firm incident, Pamidoor had been one of the few to openly defy the order to boycott Rei, though he’d been forced to limit his cooperation to protect his family. That shared history had made him Rei's smith of choice.
Pamidoor shrugged his shoulders. "When I was an apprentice, I made a stupid mistake and my hair caught fire. I ended up with some nasty burns. Luckily, my master was friends with a mage who used high-level recovery magic, so there aren't many scars left. But I haven't been able to stand having long hair since then. Now, it's just a habit."
He shook his head as if dismissing the thought. "More importantly, are you really not going to use anything besides spears? With your skill, you could easily master a sword or an axe."
"I've told you before. My primary weapon is the Death Scythe. I only use spears as throwables for long-range attacks."
"That great scythe of yours might be an outlier in terms of power, but it's still a polearm. What are you going to do if someone slips inside your reach?"
Seeing the genuine worry on the blacksmith's face, Rei reached into his Dragon Robe and pulled his mithril knife just enough for the tip to catch the light.
"I have this. And since it's made of mithril, it’s far deadlier than a standard blade once I channel my magic power through it."
"...Fine. Have it your way. Here, take this." Pamidoor reached under the counter and tossed a blade at Rei. It was longer than a knife but shorter than a longsword—a sturdy dagger.
Rei caught the weapon, which was housed in a rugged, unadorned sheath. "What's this?"
"Consider it a gift for reaching B-Rank. Call it a promotion present. You mentioned you were going to the Labyrinth City, right? I've heard the dungeons there are full of strange monsters. If you're doing a lot of material stripping, that little knife of yours might not be enough. Take this with you."
"...Are you sure?"
"I said it’s a gift. Don't make me look bad by refusing it." Pamidoor looked away, clearly embarrassed. To an outsider, he looked like a bandit deciding whether or not to murder a traveler, but Rei understood him well enough by now.
Rei drew the blade. It was about thirty centimeters long, with a thick, heavy edge that gleamed with a wicked sharpness. There were no engravings or decorations; it was a tool built purely for the rigors of combat and harvesting. It wasn't a magic item, but given Pamidoor's skill, the dagger was easily worth a gold coin.
"I'll take it. Thanks."
"Hmph. You might be B-Rank now, but the Labyrinth City is a different beast entirely. Be careful. Pure combat shouldn't be an issue for you or Seto, but those dungeons are massive. The monsters there won't be like the ones in the frontier."
Getting a 'tsundere' act from a man with a face like a career criminal is... a choice, Rei thought, though he kept the comment to himself.
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably be gone for a month or two, but I'll be back by winter. I'll bring you back a souvenir."
"A souvenir? That fish you brought back last time was incredible." Pamidoor remembered the dried fish Rei had brought from Emocion. It had smelled a bit strong, but it was the best thing he’d ever paired with ale.
The prospect of more fish made him smile. It wasn't until an hour after Rei had left that the blacksmith realized the Labyrinth City was nowhere near the ocean.
"It's rare to see you here. Oh, and I suppose I'm a bit late, but congratulations on your promotion."
Inside the Guild Master's Office, Marina greeted Rei with a bewitching smile. She was wearing a white party dress. While white usually suggested purity and innocence, on Marina, it only seemed to heighten her overwhelming allure.
"I managed, somehow," Rei replied. "To be honest, I didn't think I'd actually make the cut for B-Rank, even with the 'limited' status."
"Fufu. There was quite a lot of debate, you know? Your combat record is impeccable, but your lack of etiquette was a major strike against you."
"...I'm not surprised." Rei nodded. He was well aware of his own social shortcomings.
"So, what brings you by? Did you come just to see me and report your rank? I certainly wouldn't mind. If you're looking to celebrate, I'm still offering to let you spend the night with me."
Marina gave him a suggestive, heavy-lidded look. Even though she was sitting at her desk organizing paperwork, the way she leaned forward—combined with her voluptuous figure and the low-cut dress—was enough to make any man's heart race.
Rei felt his breath hitch for a second, but a flash of Elena's face in his mind helped him regain his composure. He shook his head firmly.
"That's not why I'm here. I just wanted to let you know I'm leaving for the Labyrinth City in a few days."
"Oh? Even B-Rank adventurers aren't required to report their movements to the Guild Master."
"Maybe not, but you're my benefactor. It's only right to tell you."
"Is that so?" Marina went quiet for a moment, then nodded. She spoke quickly, as if trying to hide a sudden rush of emotion, though she was far too experienced to let it show on her face. "Thank you for letting me know. When do you expect to be back?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but I plan to be back before winter sets in."
Rei gave her the same answer he’d given the blacksmith. Marina nodded softly. "I see. Well, take care of yourself."
"I will. Look forward to the souvenir."
"As long as it isn't more dried fish."
Rei waved a hand as he stepped out of the office. Once the door closed, Marina touched her cheek. Because of her dark elven complexion, the faint flush of red was invisible to Rei, but she could feel the heat.
"...Honestly, what a fool," she whispered, her expression softening into something far more tender than her usual seductive mask.
After leaving Marina's Office, Rei stopped by the front desks to tell Lenora and Kenny he would be away. Both receptionists gave him worried looks, though they eventually let him go after making him promise to return by winter.
Kenny had immediately tried to volunteer for an official "escort mission" to accompany him, but Lenora's Document Attack caught her square in the back of the head, silencing her instantly. It was a sight Rei had grown quite accustomed to.
As he walked away, he could hear Kenny shouting that she would at least come to see him off, her resilience rivaling that of a zombie.
"Guruuu."
Seto let out a low trill as they walked side by side. Rei nodded, understanding the question.
"Yeah, I've said my goodbyes to everyone who matters. ...The Full Belly Diner was a bit of a madhouse, though."
Rei smiled bitterly, remembering how he’d barely been able to say a word to Hasta because the diner was so crowded. All he’d managed was a quick wave while paying for his meal.
"And finally... over there."
Rei looked toward the Dusk Wheat Inn. It had been his home for over a year. He wasn't leaving forever, but the thought of checking out still felt bittersweet. It was one of the finest inns in Gilm, and while it was expensive, it had been worth every copper. The rooms were spacious, the beds were soft, and the magic items made life easy.
He left Seto by the stables and stepped inside.
"Welcome back, Rei-san. ...You're still checking out tomorrow, I assume?" Lana asked from behind the counter.
"Yeah. I'll be away for a while. I don't know exactly how long, but it could be until winter. It wouldn't be right to keep the room reserved for that long, so please process it tomorrow as we discussed."
"Understood. Thank you for staying with us for so long, Rei-san. We've enjoyed having you." Lana gave a deep, respectful bow.
Rei smiled. "I'll be back once I return from the Labyrinth City. I haven't found an inn that's half as comfortable as this one."
"We'll be glad to have you. I'll settle the remainder of your balance tomorrow morning. ...But tonight, as a thank you for your patronage, dinner will be on the house—and I’ll make sure the chef pulls out all the stops."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Rei headed up to his room with a satisfied grin. That evening's meal was indeed a feast, filling him with a deep sense of contentment as he prepared for the long road ahead.