The woman stepping out of the carriage didn't do anything particularly dramatic. She simply called out to Rei, yet that alone was enough to draw the attention of every villager gathered nearby.
Between Elena’s natural beauty and her dignified aura, it was no wonder all eyes were on her. Furthermore, she now exuded a womanly allure, as if she were blossoming from a girl into a mature adult. The moment she caught sight of Rei, a radiant smile graced her lips.
Anyone seeing that smile would never have guessed she was the legendary warrior known by the alias of the Princess General. Even those who knew of her military reputation might have mistaken her for someone else entirely.
It wasn't that Elena never smiled. However, her smiles on the battlefield as the Princess General were meant to strike terror and confusion into her enemies, while inspiring the opposite in her allies.
The smile she wore now was a different thing altogether—so soft and warm that it was hard to believe the same person could possess both expressions.
"...A-Ah. It’s been a while. I only sent word to Anesis yesterday, but you certainly arrived quickly."
Even Rei, who had deepened his acquaintance with Elena through many shared trials, found himself momentarily captivated by her smile. He quickly regained his composure and spoke.
"Mm. It was decided long ago that I would head to the Labyrinth City with you, Rei. I had made sure I was ready to depart the moment word reached me. How are things on your end? If possible, I’d like to set out immediately."
"I have no issues. We can leave right now if you want."
Since Rei stored virtually everything he owned within his Misty Ring, he required almost no time to prepare for a journey.
Any necessary errands would usually involve purchasing items not already stored inside the ring, but there was nothing to replenish in a rural farming village like this. At most, they might have needed food.
"Guruuu?"
"Kyu!"
Beside the two, Seto and Iero were busy exchanging greetings. In response to the cry from Iero, who was perched on its back, Seto turned its head around to chirp in return.
Though they were entirely different species, they somehow managed to communicate.
(Perhaps because they were both created through magic, they count as the same kind of being?)
Rei watched the heart-warming exchange with a small smile before turning back to Elena to ask something that had piqued his curiosity.
"Is it just you this time, Elena?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I mean, Ara usually follows you everywhere, right? But you're the only one who got out of the carriage."
"Mm. Now that Ara has assumed the position of Knight Commander, she cannot simply abandon the City of Anesis. Unfortunately, I had to leave her behind to manage things."
"...The Knight Commander of the Escort Knight Order, right?"
Rei wondered if it was truly acceptable for the person responsible for guarding Elena to stay behind, but Elena nodded without hesitation.
"It also serves the purpose of guarding the home I will eventually return to. And... well, there are various other circumstances."
Elena spoke vaguely, unable to admit in front of the villagers that she simply wanted to enjoy her travels alone with Rei.
"However, while I didn't bring Ara, I did bring a highly skilled driver. Tsufal, this is Rei. He will be accompanying me to the Labyrinth City. Greet him."
At Elena’s prompting, an elderly man in his 40s to 50s stepped down from the coach box and bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Rei. I am Tsufal, who serves as a driver for Duke Kerebel's House. I have been assigned to escort the Young Lady and yourself on this journey. I shall do my utmost to ensure your travels are comfortable, so I look forward to your acquaintance."
He finished with an elegant, practiced bow. His movements suggested a refined butler more than a simple driver.
(I guess that's the level of quality you'd expect from a driver for Duke Kerebel's House.)
Rei nodded in admiration.
"I look forward to working with you as well. It's my first time going to the Labyrinth City, so having a specialized driver is a huge relief. And... Seto."
"Guru?"
Seto, who had been chirping back and forth with Iero, turned its attention to Rei at the call.
"This is Tsufal. He'll be acting as the driver to the Labyrinth City."
"Guruuu."
Seto let out a soft purr as a polite greeting.
Tsufal’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected a Gryphon to be so civil and composed. The fact that he didn't lose his professional poise even then showed that he truly was a servant worthy of Duke Kerebel's House.
"I see... It is a pleasure, Master Seto."
Quickly realizing the creature was Rei’s partner, he addressed it as Master Seto with another elegant bow before turning back to Elena.
"Young Lady, how would you like to proceed? I believe we could stay the night here."
"...No, let us press on. Even with a normal carriage, it takes about 10 days one way to reach the Labyrinth City. Since this is a carriage that is also a magic item and our horses are Warhorses, we can significantly shorten that time. Still, considering we intend to explore the dungeon, I want to arrive as soon as possible. We have a margin of about 3 months, but I’d rather not dally."
"I understand. The Young Lady has made her wishes clear, but what about you, Master Rei?"
"As I said, I'm ready. Even if it gets late, I have a Magic Tent."
"Oh, you've obtained a Magic Tent?" Elena said, nodding in interest.
"Don't look so surprised. You were using one during the war, Elena."
"I did use one then, yes, but that wasn't my personal property. It is an heirloom belonging to Duke Kerebel's House."
More specifically, she had borrowed it from her father. Being a loan, she had naturally been required to return it once the war ended, so it was no longer in her possession.
"If we have a Magic Tent, then camping will not be an issue. ...As for me..."
Elena’s voice trailed off. She had wanted to say that she wouldn't mind spending the night with Rei inside the carriage, but her bashfulness stopped her before she could put the thought into words.
Tsufal offered her a knowing, subtle smile before speaking up.
"Then let us handle any final errands before we depart. Young Lady, I believe you mentioned having a letter to deliver?"
"Hm? Ah, that’s right. ...Rei, I’m sorry, but I have a bit of business in this village. Could you wait just a moment?"
"Actually, I'll head back with you. I want to say a proper goodbye to the tavern keeper who put me up for the night."
At the mention of the tavern keeper, Elena’s expression shifted. She likely recalled the face of the knight who had once served in her Escort Knight Order. After all, he was the very person she was meant to deliver the letter to.
"I see. That man is the one I have business with as well. Then let us walk to the tavern together. Tsufal, stay here. We'll be back shortly."
"As you wish. Safe travels."
Tsufal gave an elegant bow as he saw them off. His movements were so refined that even the villagers watching from the sidelines let out sighs of admiration.
"Hm? Oh, you’re back... wait, is that Lady Elena? You're remarkably early."
The tavern keeper’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw the two enter. Since he had only released the message bird yesterday afternoon, it wasn't mathematically impossible for Elena to be here by the following evening. However, to pull it off, she would have had to leave Anesis very early this morning. He hadn't expected her to manage that, given her responsibilities as the Princess General.
If the tavern keeper had miscalculated anything, it was the sheer underlying strength of a maiden in love. Furthermore, since they had already promised to set out together at this time, Elena had likely spent every waking moment clearing her schedule in advance. Of course, such a feat was only possible because she had subordinates like Ara and Mechen to act as her proxies.
"Well, my ride is here, so I came to say goodbye," Rei said.
"Goodbye? Wait... don't tell me you're leaving right this second?"
"Yeah. That's what Elena wants."
Rei glanced at Elena, but she ignored him and simply handed a letter to the tavern keeper.
"These are new instructions from headquarters."
"!? ...Understood."
The exchange was short and professional. Both Elena and the man understood the weight of the secrets they were handling.
Rei was curious, but he held back. He had a feeling that if he delved too deep, he would be dragged even further into the political machinations of Duke Kerebel's Territory, and he wasn't ready for that just yet.
(I suppose I’ll have to deal with her family’s side of things eventually, though, given my relationship with Elena...)
He was well aware that, as an adventurer, he was seen as a proxy for Margrave Larkus, the central figure of the Neutral Faction. Conversely, Elena was the daughter of Duke Kerebel and the very symbol of the Noble's Faction.
The two factions were politically hostile. While they had formed a temporary alliance during the war with the Bestia Empire in the spring to oppose the King's Faction, it was a fragile truce at best.
(And a lot of the Noble's Faction types have nothing but their overblown pride.)
The faces of the various nobles he had encountered crossed his mind. While he hadn't spoken to many, a person like Elena, who spoke to an adventurer as an equal, was a true rarity.
(I mean, Ara practically tried to kill me the first time we met.)
He let out a small smile at the memory of her attacking him with a longsword.
Rei was lost in these thoughts—a form of mild escapism—until the business was concluded. Elena left the tavern keeper and walked back toward him.
"Lady Elena, and Rei as well. Wait just... five minutes," the tavern keeper said. "If you're really leaving right now, I want to at least give you a bento. I'll go pack some food."
At the mention of food, Rei briefly recalled the breakfast he’d had, which consisted almost entirely of meat. However, he figured preserved goods like sausages, bacon, or ham would be perfect to snack on until they reached the Labyrinth City. Even if it were raw meat, Rei had his Misty Ring to keep it fresh.
"Heh. That man truly never changes," Elena murmured as she watched him run off.
"I heard from Ara that he used to be in the Escort Knight Order. Were you two close?"
"Well... rather than being close, he was primarily known for being an eccentric. Though I suppose that’s why he chose to live in this village after retiring from the order."
"..."
Rei thought about asking for clarification, but he decided against it. He wasn't ready to uncover the secrets of Duke Kerebel's Territory just yet, and he doubted Elena would reveal them so easily anyway.
"...Phew. Here, take this. These sausages are my own homemade special, and I’m quite proud of them."
The tavern keeper returned as if on cue, carrying a mountain of sausages weighing about 10kg. They were still linked in a long, continuous string from the smoker, having not yet been cut into individual portions.
"They were homemade? I have to say, they were delicious."
Rei recalled the flavor from breakfast and let the comment slip.
"Yeah, there's no butcher in this village, so we're basically self-sufficient when it comes to preserved food."
"They certainly look appetizing. ...Rei, if you please."
"Got it."
Nodding at Elena’s request, Rei touched the mountain of sausages and stored them inside his Misty Ring. The man looked slightly surprised to see them vanish in an instant, but he simply nodded without further comment.
"Our business here is finished, so it’s time we set out. Thank you for your hospitality."
"Don't mention it; it's part of my job. Take care, Lady Elena. ...See ya, Rei."
"Yeah. Thanks for everything."
With a brief word of farewell, Rei and Elena left the tavern. Rejoining Seto and Iero, who were waiting with Tsufal by the carriage, they finally departed the village.