A single carriage rolled steadily along the highway.
It was pulled by two Warhorses whose frames were nearly twice the size of an ordinary horse’s, and the speed at which they drew the vehicle was far beyond the reach of any common steed. Seto the Gryphon walked alongside the carriage, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble.
Watching the scene, the elderly driver named Tsufal skillfully managed the reins, ensuring the Warhorses maintained a brisk pace without overexerting themselves. At the same time, because Seto made no effort to hide his presence as he guarded the perimeter, no monsters or thieves—unless they were exceptionally foolish—dared to approach.
Even the Warhorses, having grown accustomed to Seto’s presence over many journeys, showed only a hint of tension rather than the usual panicked terror a Gryphon might inspire. Their breeding and the environment they had been raised in likely played a significant role in their composure.
"Hmm. It looks as though the sun will be setting soon," Tsufal murmured, glancing at the dipping horizon.
They had departed from the village late in the afternoon. Even though only about an hour had passed since they set out, it was nearly time to begin preparations for camping.
However, despite only traveling for about an hour, their vehicle was a carriage that was also a magic item, and it was being pulled by Warhorses that were among the finest in Duke Kerebel's Territory. Depending on variables like the condition of the horses, the road, and the weather, they were capable of traveling three to five times faster than a standard merchant’s wagon. Elena had decided to depart even as evening approached precisely because she knew what the carriage was capable of.
Still, traversing the highway through the dead of night without a source of light was a difficult task.
Of course, when a messenger required a fast horse, traveling by the light of the moon and stars was not unheard of. But there was no such urgency on this journey to the Labyrinth City, and thus no reason to push themselves so hard. While the magical properties of the carriage significantly reduced the horses' fatigue, it was impossible to eliminate exhaustion entirely.
Considering these factors, Tsufal called out to the passengers inside.
"Young Lady, I believe we should begin preparations for the camp soon."
"I suppose so. The sun has indeed sunk quite low. With this carriage and Rei’s Magic Tent, we won't lack for light, but it is certainly best to get a head start. Tsufal, stop the carriage once you find a suitable spot."
Elena replied from within... though the situation inside the carriage was a bit of a disaster.
Elena was a Duke's Daughter and a warrior known by the alias Princess General. Naturally, she had almost no experience with domestic tasks like cooking or brewing tea. In other words...
"Here, let me take over," Rei said.
"But... No, my apologies," Elena replied with a regretful sigh, handing the tea-brewing equipment to him.
If there was any consolation for her, it was that her frustrated pout held a unique beauty that differed from her usual dignified air.
Rei took the tools and set to work. While he had no trouble boiling water in a pot for a quick cup, using specialized equipment was almost a first for him. However, having observed the process in various dining halls and recalling his experience with green tea back in Japan, he was still more capable than Elena—even if he was usually just the one drinking it.
...Of course, he was only better by comparison. The final product was hardly what one would call a masterpiece.
"Mm. This is delicious," Elena said, a small smile playing on her lips as she took a sip.
Elena usually radiated a stern, commanding aura, but her happy smile in that moment made her look more like an ordinary girl her age than the Princess General. Rei felt his cheeks flush slightly at the sight. He averted his eyes to hide his embarrassment and spoke up.
"You're always drinking the tea Ara brews for you, so there's no way this is actually good. You don't have to flatter me."
"It's true that Ara’s tea is always excellent, but this is tea that you went out of your way to brew specifically for me, Rei. How could it be anything but delicious?"
"...I see," Rei replied shortly.
Elena seemed to realize the weight of her own words a moment later. Her cheeks turned a faint red, and she looked away restlessly.
Had a third party been present, the atmosphere would have likely made them squirm with secondhand embarrassment... but as if to rescue them, the two noticed the carriage beginning to slow down. The interior of the carriage had been significantly expanded with space magic, but the fact that they could still feel its movements was a testament to its quality as a magic item.
"Young Lady, Rei-sama, there is a forest by the side of the highway. Shall we spend the night there?"
"Yes, that sounds perfect. I'll leave it to you."
"Understood."
With Elena’s response, the suffocatingly sweet atmosphere inside the carriage was finally dispelled.
They stopped near the forest and began preparing dinner. This mostly consisted of Rei retrieving prepared dishes from his Misty Ring, supplemented by the sausages given to him by the tavern shopkeeper, which they grilled over the campfire.
"This is remarkably good. He certainly had a reason to be proud of them," Elena murmured, impressed after taking a bite of a lightly charred sausage.
Rei and Tsufal followed suit, their expressions equally appreciative. Rei’s reaction was particularly strong; he had eaten sausages provided by the man for breakfast that morning as well. However, while these looked the same, the flavor was on an entirely different level.
I see... so this was his way of showing a little heart, Rei thought.
The man had likely given them the absolute finest stock he had. It was a gesture meant to ensure his former superior had the most comfortable journey possible. Rei smiled at the tavern shopkeeper’s clumsy kindness and savored the meat.
They proceeded to make simple hot dogs by slicing fresh bread and stuffing them with the sausages. Combined with a long-simmered soup and salt-grilled fish purchased in Emotion, it was a feast far more luxurious than any typical camping meal.
"I was already stunned to learn that Rei-sama possessed an Item Box, but to think we could eat such a lavish meal while out in the wild is truly a surprise," Tsufal admitted.
Rei, however, wasn't finished with the surprises.
Using the Dagger of Flowing Water retrieved from his Misty Ring, he filled three cups and a large pot. He handed the cups to his companions while Seto sat nearby, happily devouring a block of Bicorn meat that Rei had seared on the outside while leaving the center rare.
"The water... To think it could be this pure..." Elena whispered, her shock equal to when she had first tasted the sausages. Tsufal was so astonished he couldn't even find the words.
Rei watched them while taking a drink from his own cup. Having used the dagger many times, he was accustomed to the quality, but he still wore a look of quiet satisfaction. Once Seto finished his Bicorn meat, the Gryphon plunged his beak into the pot to drink the water—which tasted like celestial nectar—with obvious delight.
Eventually, Elena and Tsufal recovered from the shock and asked about the water's origin. Rei explained it was produced by a magic item. With that strange bit of acceptance, they began to talk about what they had been doing since the Bestia War.
"So it was you who defeated the Lemures that blockaded Emotion, Rei? ...Though, knowing your strength, I suppose it isn't truly a surprise. I once fought a Kraken in Emotion alongside the Axe of the Thunder God, but..."
"Oh, yeah. You mentioned that when we first met," Rei recalled.
"Indeed. Back then, the Kraken had come right up into the harbor, so we were able to engage it. But rumors said the Lemures stayed deep underwater and never surfaced. How did you manage it?"
Rei glanced around. Tsufal had already retreated to the carriage to prepare Elena’s sleeping quarters. Only Rei and Elena remained by the fire, with Rei using Seto as a sofa while Ielo slept soundly on the Gryphon’s back. Elena was one of the few people who knew the truth about him and Seto, and she was someone he trusted implicitly. Thus, he revealed how he had drawn the Lemures out.
"Do you remember Grimm, whom we met in the dungeon?"
"Grimm? I believe that was the name of the Lich."
"Right. And as you saw when we escaped that place, I have a way to contact him. Grimm can use space magic, as we experienced ourselves. Which means..."
Elena understood immediately. She nodded in realization.
"I see. For a Lich of that caliber, it would certainly be possible to forcibly teleport a monster like the Lemures."
"Exactly. And once they were on the surface, anyone could hit them. I finished them off with the help of a temporary party... though I didn't expect the thing to be thirty meters long."
"Yes, I heard reports of the size. They said the monster was definitely Rank B or higher, likely just shy of Rank A. I hear the Guild is still debating the official classification."
They still haven't decided? Rei thought as he pulled his Guild Card from his Misty Ring.
"Anyway, my contributions in the Spring War and the Lemures subjugation were recognized. I took the Rank Up Exam and successfully promoted to Rank B."
"...Setting aside your combat prowess, I’m surprised you passed the etiquette portion," Elena teased.
"That part was... shaky, to be honest. The Guild said that if I ever take a request from a noble who cares about that stuff, they’ll send an assistant to handle the social side."
Elena couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. She didn't care about his manner of speaking, but she knew all too well that there were many nobles who prioritized pride above all else. In that sense, the Guild’s judgment was sound. After all, strictly in terms of power, it wouldn't have been strange for Rei to be Rank A.
Precisely because she understood his worth, she was caught off guard by his next words.
"Actually, I made friends with an interesting noble before the exam."
"Friends? Coming from you, that is a rare noble indeed."
At first, she assumed the friend he mentioned was a man. But when she heard the name, her eyes widened in shock once again.
"A kid named Maruka Quento. She's not even ten yet. They said she’s the heir to Duke Quento's House. You know her?"
"Maruka Quento? Of course I know her. I've heard that despite her youth, her magical aptitude is staggering. While I am known for my martial skill, Lady Maruka is famous for her intellect and magical genius. She can already use multiple attributes, and many believe she is destined to become a Great Mage. Furthermore... Duke Quento's House is a pillar of the King's Faction, the most powerful faction in the Kingdom of Mireana. From an objective standpoint, she holds a social status above my father or even Daskar-dono."
"Huh. I guess she was a much bigger deal than I thought. She just seemed like an innocent kid who really liked Seto."
Rei looked over at Seto. The Gryphon gently turned his head toward him, careful not to disturb Ielo. Rei recalled the way Maruka had played with the Gryphon; to him, she had looked no different from any other child in Gilm who flocked to Seto.
"Fufu. Lady Maruka is a figure of legend to those who know her, but I suspect few would view her as you do, Rei."
Rei’s complete indifference to rank and status was a trait that would normally be unforgivable to someone like Elena, the symbol of the Noble's Faction. But perhaps it was the privilege of a maiden in love that made her find his attitude utterly irreplaceable.
The night passed quietly for the two of them until Tsufal eventually emerged from the carriage to announce that their beds were ready.