"To take out a Sand Snake in a single blow... I suppose I should expect no less from Rei’s magic power."
Shar muttered in exasperation as she stared at the corpse of the snake-type monster, a Sand Snake, which had been literally pulverized by Rei’s spell.
Her disbelief was directed squarely at the sheer, almost absurd destructive force of his magic.
Naturally, Shar could use similar magic herself. Spells that fired elements like Earth, Water, Fire, or Wind in the form of arrows or bullets were considered the absolute basics. However, Rei’s version occupied an entirely different league. The sheer volume of magic power imbued within, the complexity of the spell formula, and the clarity of his mental image combined to produce a level of power that stood far apart from magic used by others.
"...I might have gone a bit overboard."
Hearing what could be taken as praise, Rei gave a small shrug in front of the scattered remains.
Fortunately, the magic stone—the material that would fetch the highest price, though Rei had no intention of selling it—remained intact. However, the rest of the monster, including the proof of subjugation part, had been shattered into pieces so small they had no choice but to abandon them.
In fact, Pleiades and Otis were more surprised that the magic stone had even survived the explosion at all.
"W-Well, it’s better than being caught off guard and getting bitten, isn't it? They have quite a potent venom. ...Oh, that reminds me. This desert floor is home to a lot of poisonous monsters. Have you two taken any countermeasures?"
Pleiades glanced toward Elena as he asked.
The fact that he addressed Elena instead of Rei wasn't due to any ulterior motives. It was simply that Elena was taller, making her look older and more reliable in his eyes.
Rei sensed this and wore a slightly disgruntled expression, but since he had just pulverized the Sand Snake with what was clearly excessive force, he couldn't exactly object.
Elena caught Rei’s reaction and gave a small, amused smile before nodding to Pleiades.
"We purchased everything we needed yesterday, including antidotes specifically for the desert."
"Then you should be fine. Honestly, you’d be surprised how many people think they don’t need floor-specific medicine just because they already have general antidotes."
Pleiades continued with a bitter look, noting that such people usually learned their lesson the hard way.
Perhaps he’s speaking from experience, Elena thought. However, since he didn't elaborate, she decided not to press the issue.
"Alright, let's keep moving. At this rate, we should reach the stairs to B12F in less than two hours. Let's stay alert."
Following Pleiades’s lead, the group continued along the desert ridge.
High above, Seto circled the area to maintain a watchful eye. It seemed even the monsters of the desert knew better than to challenge a Gryphon. A few bird-like creatures were circling the sky, but none dared to attack the A-Rank beast.
As promised when they agreed to the escort, the trio shared essential survival tips and useful information about the desert floors as they traveled.
"Basically, by the time you actually feel thirsty, it’s already too late. It’s vital to hydrate frequently before that happens. ...Though, if you can drink all the water you want from that Dagger of Flowing Water Rei-san has, I guess you don't have to worry about dehydration."
Elena simply gave a wry smile at Otis’s envious gaze and said nothing. She was well aware of how much of an advantage they had in their dungeon conquest thanks to Rei’s magic gear.
That advantage would be proven even further a short while later.
"...I’m starting to get hungry. Should we stop for lunch?" Rei suggested.
Pleiades looked around with a confused expression.
There were no rocks in the immediate vicinity like the ones they had used for their previous break. The ridge provided a sliver of shade, but it was minimal at best. None of the three wanted to eat while exposed to the direct desert sun.
"I’m hungry too, but I’d rather not have lunch out here. If we keep walking, we’ll hit a rocky area in less than two hours. Can you wait until then?"
It was a logical suggestion for Pleiades, who primarily operated on these desert floors. Rei, however, didn't seem bothered by the heat. He scanned the area, found a relatively flat spot, and pulled a Magic Tent out of his Misty Ring.
The reactions were split.
Elena, knowing exactly what it was, wore a smile. On the other hand, the three members of Pleiades’s party frowned slightly at what looked like an ordinary tent.
Pleiades spoke up for the group.
"Rei, look, setting up a tent like that out here won't do much. Unless you're in actual shade, the sun is just going to make it sweltering inside."
"That would be true for a normal tent... but just try going inside."
"...I don't see the point, but alright."
Despite his skepticism, Pleiades followed Rei’s suggestion and stepped through the flap.
"Waaaaah! What is this?!"
His shocked voice echoed outside.
Otis and Shar exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. After receiving a small nod from Rei, they entered as well, only to let out similar cries of amazement.
"It’s understandable that they’re surprised. Magic items of this caliber are rare, after all. ...By the way, Rei, what about the watch? I believe this Magic Tent can only repel monsters up to Rank D, right? There are bound to be Rank C monsters on B11F."
"Likely so. That’s why... Seto!"
Noticing the call, Seto flapped its wings and descended to the ground.
"Guruuu?"
What is it? Seto asked with a trill, tilting its head as Rei stroked it.
"We’re going to have lunch inside the Magic Tent for a bit. Sorry to ask, but could you keep watch on the perimeter, Seto? Call us if anything dangerous approaches."
"Guru..."
Seto let out a disappointed sound at the thought of not eating lunch with Rei. However, it understood that there might be monsters on this floor that the tent couldn't handle. Despite feeling a bit lonely, Seto knew it was the best way to ensure the safety of Rei and Elena. It looked at Rei with its round eyes and then lay down beside the Magic Tent.
Fortunately, since the spot was in the shadow of the ridge, it was hot but not unbearable. Seto closed its eyes while remaining alert.
"Sorry, Seto. For now, enjoy this for your lunch."
Rei pulled a block of Lemures meat out of the Misty Ring. It was from the giant monster he had defeated in the port town of Emocion. The outside had been seared over high heat to lock in the juices. It was simply seasoned with salt and herbs, highlighting the natural flavor of the meat.
"Guru! Guruuuuu!"
Recognizing the delicious aroma, Seto trilled and began to tear into its meal.
Watching the Gryphon, Rei and Elena exchanged smiles and stepped into the Magic Tent.
"Wait, is this actually a Magic Tent?!" Shar’s scream echoed through the interior.
Pleiades, who had entered first, was far enough away to avoid the brunt of the noise, but Otis wasn't so lucky.
Having been yelled at right next to her ear, Otis instinctively covered her ears and shouted back.
"Keep your voice down!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. ...But look at this. This is definitely a Magic Tent. Where did he get something like this? If you were to buy one normally, it would cost Light Gold Coins!"
Though she lowered her volume as scolded, Shar was still vibrating with excitement.
Both Otis and Pleiades gasped. As a D-Rank party, they had never even seen a Platinum Coin, let alone a Light Gold Coin.
"It was a reward for participating in the Spring War," a voice said from behind them.
"I take it you're surprised," Rei said as he walked in, looking a bit smug.
"Anyone would be," Elena muttered with a sigh, though her amused gaze remained on the trio.
"The Spring War... you mean the one against the Bestia Empire?" Pleiades asked.
"That's where Rei-san earned his alias, right?" Otis added.
Rei nodded. Shar, finally snapping out of her shock, began inspecting the room again. Rei walked over to the table and began laying out lunch.
He placed two bento made at the Golden Wind Inn on the table. Both were incredibly substantial, packed with a large amount of sandwiches that would challenge even the appetite of an adventurer. Detecting the scent of food—and the cool air inside the tent—Iero emerged from Rei’s robe and headed toward Elena.
The trio was startled by the little dragon, but the sight of the sandwiches soon took priority. Pleiades’s stomach let out a loud growl, followed quickly by Otis and Shar’s.
"Hm? Did you not bring lunch?" Rei asked as he washed his hands using the Dagger of Flowing Water.
Pleiades and Otis gave wry smiles, while Shar frowned.
"Look, normal adventurers don’t bring sandwiches into a dungeon—they can't. At most, we have preserved foods like dried meat. If we had a porter, we might have something slightly better, but fresh bread is out of the question."
Rei nodded, realizing the reality for most. For them, food was just fuel. Campfires were rare because they attracted enemies. In an environment like the desert, campfires were less of a risk, but the trio prioritized traveling light.
"...Well, it would feel wrong to eat this in front of you. Here, these are for you guys."
Rei pulled more sandwiches out of the Misty Ring—not the ones from the inn, but ones he had purchased at a street stall earlier.
Because of the Misty Ring's properties, the sandwiches were still fresh. Simple meat and vegetable fillings in soft white bread, they were perfect for a hungry traveler.
"A-Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I can't exactly have me and Elena eating delicious food while you watch. Just consider it an information fee for helping us with this floor."
"...Thanks. Even though we were supposed to provide that info as payment for the escort."
Pleiades gave a small bow and reached for a sandwich. Otis and Shar followed suit, and the five of them enjoyed a meal that was, by dungeon standards, a luxury beyond compare.