"Is this the village Ara told me about? ...There are surprisingly few people here."
"Guruuu."
Beside him, Seto let out a low purr in agreement.
It had been roughly two weeks since they had departed from Gilm. They had finally reached the village where their contact for Elena resided, yet the settlement was small and its inhabitants seemed remarkably relaxed.
What surprised Rei most was the gatekeeper's reaction; while the man was certainly startled to see Seto, he showed no signs of fear.
Most towns Rei had visited until now were plagued by local threats. In such places, seeing a Gryphon like Seto usually triggered a borderline panic...
"Well, I suppose that's proof of how peaceful this place is."
As he looked around, he noted that the village was quite expansive despite its small population.
With farmlands integrated directly into the residential grounds, "pastoral" was the most fitting description. Most of the villagers were currently toiling in the fields despite the oppressive summer heat, and as a result, very few even noticed the pair's arrival.
Even those who did spot them offered friendly greetings without a hint of trepidation. The children were the most enthusiastic; the moment they caught sight of Seto, they swarmed him with excited cheers.
Well, I suppose that just means there isn't anything threatening nearby, Rei thought.
He watched as several children petted the Gryphon, noting to himself that since this area was outside the frontier, the threat of monsters was significantly lower than in Gilm. Furthermore, thanks to Duke Kerebel's governance, thieves were virtually non-existent. It was a truly tranquil scene.
As he strolled through the quiet village, Rei called out to a man passing by.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where the tavern is?"
"Hm? A tavern at high noon? Well, in this heat, I can’t say I blame you for wanting to drink and relax... Travelers have it good. That monster you've got there is pretty cute, too."
The villager with a hoe glanced at Seto with an envious expression. It was a peaceful place, but working the earth under such a relentless sun was clearly grueling work.
I don't even like alcohol that much, yet here I am being pegged as a midday drunk, Rei mused with a silent sigh. He nodded at the man. "I've just arrived, so I'm hoping to gather some information at the tavern first."
"Hmm, fair enough. There’s only one tavern in town. It’s a small place, as you can see."
"That's convenient."
"...Convenient?"
The man tilted his head at Rei’s comment, but Rei just shook his head to indicate it was nothing and asked for directions. It was a relief not to have to go door-to-door searching for his contact.
"Well, I’ve got work to do, so I’ll be on my way. There isn’t much to do here, but try to relax at least."
The man with a hoe in his right hand gave Rei a wave with his left and departed. Rei watched him leave, then headed down the designated path. About ten minutes later, he found the establishment.
It looked like a typical, if somewhat large, house, but the tavern sign near the door confirmed its identity.
"I guess the locals are their only clientele... Hm?"
He realized that if the customers were all out in the fields, the place shouldn't even be open yet.
"Guruuu?" Seto purred, tilting its head.
Rei decided that if the tavern was closed, he’d just spend the time playing with Seto.
"It's nothing. Sorry, Seto, but you’ll have to wait here. I don't think you'll fit through that door."
"Gurururuuu."
Seto purred in understanding and settled down beneath a tree a short distance from the tavern. The lush summer grass provided a soft, carpet-like bed for the Gryphon, though Seto was just as comfortable on bare earth or jagged rock.
Rei glanced back at him and reached for the tavern door. To his surprise, it was unlocked and swung open easily.
"Welcome," a voice called out as he stepped inside.
He looked toward the source and saw an elderly man in his 50s. The man wore a smile, but his eyes were sharp and calculating, creating a jarring disconnect between his mouth and his gaze.
The look lasted only a second before the man’s eyes softened with genuine warmth. He gestured toward the counter. "Have a seat. What can I get you? In this heat, I imagine you're looking for an ale?"
"No, water or tea is fine."
The man’s brow furrowed. "This is a tavern, you know."
"I'm not much for alcohol. ...In that case, I'll have some wine diluted with water. And something to eat, too."
"Hah, I should have expected as much when a kid walked in. Just a moment." With a sigh, he pulled a bottle of wine from behind the counter and served a glass diluted with water. Then, he quickly stir-fried a mix of nuts, mushrooms, and sausages. "Here. That’ll be 2 copper coins."
"...That's cheap," Rei remarked, surprised by the price. He placed the coins on the counter.
"Well, the drink and the food are both local. I still make a decent profit even at that price. ...By the way, is your name Rei?"
Rei froze just as he was reaching for his glass. He gave the man a long, searching look before finally taking a sip. The drink was lukewarm—unsurprising, as a village like this wouldn't have any cooling magic items—but Rei didn't seem to mind.
"Did you hear about me from Ara?"
"Yeah. Young Lady Ara gave me a thorough description. A boy in his mid-teens with red hair and blue eyes who looks like an apprentice mage... though she also mentioned you have quite the attitude for your age."
Rei hummed in acknowledgment and speared a piece of sausage with his fork. Well, if they knew I was coming around now, it only makes sense she'd describe me.
"Then I assume you know why I'm here?"
"Yeah. I'll send a bird to Anesis later."
The man smirked. Rei tilted his head. "A bird?"
"That’s right. It’s about a day’s journey to Anesis by carriage, but a bird is much faster. They’ll know you’re here by nightfall."
"This village seems remarkably quiet—or rather, underdeveloped—for being so close to Anesis. Usually, a village on the road to a major city would be more prosperous, wouldn't it?"
The man shrugged. "We’re in an awkward spot. There’s a highway, but it’s poorly maintained. Besides, there are other... well, reasons why this village was intentionally kept this way."
Rei was curious about the trailing thought, but he figured it was probably some internal matter of the Duke’s household and didn't press him. Instead, he speared a nut with his fork. "So, when will Elena get here?"
The man’s eye twitched at the casual mention of her name. I heard he was a former member of the Escort Knight Order, Rei realized. Maybe I shouldn't have been so informal.
Still, he decided not to worry about it. The outcome would be the same once she arrived.
The man, however, didn't let it slide. "Hahaha! Addressing the Princess General, Lady Elena, so casually? Young Lady Ara mentioned things were complicated, but seeing it for myself is something else."
To Rei’s surprise, the man was laughing rather than taking offense. His experience with the Escort Knight Order was primarily defined by Kyuste and Ara, both of whom held Elena in the highest regard. Kyuste, in particular, likely would have brandished his magic spear at such a slight.
The memory of the man whose personality had clashed with his until the very end flickered through his mind. Then again, Kyuste and Ara were likely exceptions; there were plenty of reasonable people in the order, like Mechen. It was only natural that his first impressions would color his perception of the rest.
"So, when can I expect a response?" Rei asked.
The man shrugged and shook his head. "As I said, I’ll get the word out today. But Lady Elena has her own duties. If she’s free, she could be here as early as tomorrow. If not, it’ll take longer."
"...I see." It was a fair point.
Seeing Rei's reaction, the man smiled and set out another cup, pouring more wine. "I told you, I'm not much for drinking," Rei reminded him.
"Don't worry, this one's for me."
"Drinking your own stock, are you?" Rei muttered with an exasperated look.
The man ignored him and drained his glass in a single gulp. "Phew! Come now, don't be like that. There’s been plenty to celebrate lately, so let me have a drink. ...By the way, Rei, right? You don't have a place to stay while you wait for Lady Elena or Young Lady Ara, do you?"
"Well, no, but you don't have to be so blunt about it..."
"Hahaha! It’s a small village. There’s an inn, but it’s nothing special. Why don’t you stay at my place? I want to hear the details about your relationship with Lady Elena and Young Lady Ara."
"I don't mind, but... are you sure about letting a stranger stay in your home?"
Perhaps it was just the nature of such a peaceful village, Rei thought. The man poured himself another glass. "Hmph, don't worry about it. I don't have anything worth stealing. At most, you’d make off with some preserved food. Hearing your stories is much more valuable than that."
"Well, if you're sure, I'll take you up on that for the night. But what about the Gryphon I brought with me?"
"A Gryphon? You’re traveling with a hell of a monster. I don’t have a stable, obviously, so he’ll have to stay outside. Is that alright?"
"By outside, do you mean in front of the shop?"
"That’s right. If you’re okay with that, then I am too. I'll even let him eat his fill of whatever scraps I’ve got in the kitchen. ...What do you say?"
Rei was a little worried about Seto sleeping outdoors, but he figured it wouldn't be an issue for a Gryphon and rose from his seat.
"I'll go talk to Seto—my Gryphon—and see. Wait here."
"Sure thing. ...A Gryphon, though. Adventurers have certainly changed since my days in Lady Elena’s Escort Knight Order."
Rei shrugged. "Well, I am an adventurer of Gilm."
"...Gilm, huh? It sounds a lot different from what I remember. Has it changed that much in just a few years?"
Leaving the man to ponder how much the world had changed since his knightly service, Rei walked out of the tavern and approached Seto under the tree.
"Seto."
"Gururuu?"
Rei stroked his companion's head. "They've invited us to stay here. Do you mind sleeping outside, Seto?"
"Guruuu."
Seto gave a single, firm nod. With Seto's approval, the matter of their lodging was settled.