Rei reached out and touched a boulder scarred with several deep slash marks, as if confirming the results of his training with his own hands. Elena and Seto watched the rock with equal curiosity.
"It looks like the power of Flying Slash has increased significantly. Still, I can only fire off one blade at a time... I wonder if the number will increase at higher levels, or if it's destined to remain a single strike forever. It’s a bit disappointing not knowing for sure."
"That sounds like a bit of a luxury to me," Elena remarked. "From what I can see, it has plenty of power, and you can fire them in relatively quick succession."
"True, I suppose there's no need to be greedy. I still don't understand why a Sand Snake magic stone was what triggered the upgrade for Flying Slash, though."
Rei gave a small shrug. Despite his confusion, he was clearly pleased to have finally upgraded a skill after a long period of failing to gain anything from Magic Stone Absorption. A small but certain smile of satisfaction played on his lips.
Elena watched him with a smile of her own before eventually scanning their surroundings. "So, what’s the plan? Evening is approaching... Shall we head back for the day?"
Rei followed her gaze, looking around the area. Before he had started the Magic Stone Absorption, he’d had Seto confirm there was no one nearby, so there were no signs of anyone spying on them.
Unbeknownst to Rei, Seto’s triumphant roar upon gaining a new skill had sent ripples of fear through the area. Most monsters had either hunkered down in their dens or fled the vicinity entirely. Consequently, this entire stretch of B12F had become an unusually peaceful safe zone.
"Yeah. I’d like to see a bit more of the floor, but pushing our luck too far now will likely only lead to trouble."
"Is that so? ...Hmm, I suppose you're right," Elena muttered, her tone slightly disappointed. However, her eyes fell upon Ielo, whom she was currently cradling. She nodded, accepting the reality of the situation. "It’s a pity, but from tomorrow until we clear these desert floors, we should probably let Ielo rest at the inn. Fortunately, Ielo is my familiar, and we share a magical link. Since his magic wavelength matches mine, he should be able to teleport to any floor I’ve already reached."
"Kyu..." Ielo let out a small, protesting cry and shook his head, but Elena was firm. She stroked his back but didn't budge.
"No. It would be a different story if you were larger and more resistant to the elements, but you are still young. I can't allow you to push yourself too hard. You understand, don't you?"
"Kyu..." Though he looked dejected, Ielo seemed to understand that his current state made the desert dangerous for him. He gave a small, submissive cry while looking up at Elena.
Gently stroking Ielo's head, Elena signaled to Rei with her eyes, and they began walking toward the small room containing the magic circle. Rei followed, taking in the scenery as they walked.
The sky above remained a brilliant, bright blue. Based on his internal clock, it was likely around 3:00 or 4:00 PM, but since it was midsummer, the sun was still aggressively asserting its presence.
Even so, we probably don't have enough time to reach the next floor today, Rei thought. It's a little early, but it's better to head back now.
He stepped into the magic circle room with Seto, and they teleported back to the dungeon entrance.
"As expected, there’s hardly anyone around at this hour," Rei noted as they arrived.
"True," Elena replied, looking up at the sky. "But in a few more hours, this place will be bustling with adventurers returning from the depths."
The sky was high and clear, without a single scrap of cloud. The sun beat down on the earth with intense heat, as if making one last effort before the day ended. Normally, such heat would be exhausting, but Rei and his companions had just come from the desert of B12F. Furthermore, they were protected by desert mantles and Rei's temperature-controlled Dragon Robe.
Unlike the few adventurers lingering near the teleportation device or the Holy Light Religion adventurers still waiting for work, Rei's party was largely unaffected. If anything, Ielo seemed to be finally regaining his energy now that they were out of the desert floors.
"Anyway, let's sell today's materials and magic stones at the guild and then go find something to—"
Just as Rei was about to start their usual post-dungeon routine, several adventurers approached them as if they had been lying in wait. They were the same men who had been standing by when the party first teleported back to the surface.
I thought they were about to dive in or were waiting for someone else, Rei realized, his eyes narrowing. I guess they were waiting for us.
Sensing a hint of trouble, Rei turned his gaze toward them. The men came to a halt. For several seconds, both sides stood in silence, gauging each other's intent. Finally, the man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward.
"Am I correct in addressing you as Rei-san and Elena-san?"
Rei showed a flash of surprise at the unexpectedly polite inquiry, but he nodded slowly. Usually, I’m getting dragged into some kind of mess whenever people approach me like this.
"I'm Rei, and this is Elena," he replied, prompting the man to continue. "And you are?"
"I am a Levisol Messenger. Lord Shafner, the head of House Rebisole, wishes to meet with you both. Would you be willing to accompany me?"
Because Rei, Elena, Seto, and Ielo were such a conspicuous group, the few surrounding adventurers had been secretly eavesdropping. However, when the name 'House Rebisole' was mentioned, their hushed whispers grew impossible to ignore.
"Hey, did he say House Rebisole...?"
"But isn't that party connected to House Silwa?"
"Wait, really? I heard they got into a fight with House Silwa people at some restaurant."
"That happened, yeah, but then they saved those same guys in the dungeon. When Bosk-san heard about it, he supposedly went to the guild in person to thank them."
"...Seriously? That Bosk did?"
"Apparently. I also heard they have some connection to Byune of House Flaut... well, that family's gone now, so I guess it doesn't matter much."
Rei ignored the background chatter and kept his eyes on the man. To his knowledge, House Rebisole was the family served by the self-proclaimed thief who had harassed them earlier. That man had even left them with a threat, asking if they understood the consequences of making an enemy of his house. Rei wasn't about to lower his guard.
The Levisol Messenger seemed to realize they were being wary. After a moment of thought, he bowed his head deeply. The other adventurers with him looked surprised by the gesture, but they remained silent.
"The man who caused trouble for you has already been dismissed from House Rebisole's service. I do not know exactly what he said to you, but I can promise that House Rebisole has no intention of being hostile toward you now."
Rei glanced at Elena. "...What do you think?"
To be honest, Rei found this man difficult to deal with. He had bowed openly in front of a crowd and admitted his house's fault, even though he wasn't personally responsible for the incident. If they refused him now, it was a near-certainty that things would become politically unpleasant for them.
Rei didn't particularly care if the city's power balance shifted, but Elena was with him, and he didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble. After a few seconds of calculation, he spoke.
"Fine. We'll accept the invitation. It seems like the most logical choice. ...So, what’s the plan?"
The messenger had likely expected that answer. He replied without hesitation. "We have a carriage prepared. If you have no other pressing business, I would like to guide you there immediately."
"It's not exactly pressing, but I was planning to sell some materials and magic stones at the guild."
The adventurers standing behind the messenger looked skeptical. Rei and Elena didn't look like they were carrying much of anything. They knew Rei wore a Dragon Robe and Elena had her mantle, which could hide small items, but they assumed the haul couldn't be significant.
The messenger, however, showed no sign of doubt. He simply nodded. "I apologize, but I would appreciate it if you could save that for later."
Rei felt a flicker of suspicion. He knows about the Misty Ring and doesn't want me stopping at the guild first? It seems like things are getting complicated.
Elena seemed to share his doubts. She caught Rei's eye and gave a small, subtle nod. That was all it took for them to reach an agreement: they would go along with the proposal for now.
"All right, we'll do it your way. I assume it's fine for Seto and Ielo to come along as well?" Rei asked, gesturing to Seto, who was yawning beside him, and Ielo, who was currently sprawled out on Seto's back in a state of total relaxation.
"We have no objection to that. However, while they are welcome to accompany us, we cannot allow them inside the mansion itself."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"Then there is no problem. Let us go. ...You there."
At the messenger's command, one of the adventurers nodded and quickly ran off toward the plaza. The messenger then took the lead, guiding Rei and Elena.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah. ...Even so, Elena, what do you think is going on?"
"Who knows. I'm sure they'll explain everything once we reach the House Rebisole estate."
They followed the man out through the gate, where a carriage was already waiting. It wasn't flashy, but the craftsmanship and materials were top-tier.
"Heh. That's some high-quality wood," Rei noted.
"This carriage was constructed using Wood Golem materials harvested from the dungeon," the messenger explained as he opened the door. "I hope its quality conveys Lord Shafner's sincerity toward you both."
Rei gave a small nod and boarded the carriage. Once they were settled, the messenger signaled to the driver on the coach box, and they set off. Seto, far too large for any carriage, walked alongside the vehicle. His presence naturally terrified the horses, making the journey a bit more spirited than usual.
"...Well, now that we're moving, care to tell us what Lord Shafner actually wants?" Rei asked.
"I have been told that there is a matter he wishes to discuss and a request he wants to make, but I was not entrusted with the specifics. Please hear it directly from Lord Shafner himself."
"I see. He's quite the cautious one, then?" Elena remarked.
"I wonder about that," Rei replied vaguely, though his tone suggested otherwise.
He hadn't been in Exil for very long, but he’d heard plenty of rumors about the Three Houses Governing Exil. House Silwa’s head was seen as energetic but perhaps too young and impulsive. House Marstchel was focused almost entirely on trade and commerce. House Rebisole, meanwhile, was considered middle-of-the-road—neither exceptional nor incompetent.
The most persistent rumors about the Rebisoles, however, concerned the quality of their hired help. They were said to be tyrannical and prone to causing trouble in the city.
Thinking back to that 'thief' from earlier, those rumors might be on the mark, Rei thought as he looked at the man sitting across from them. But then again, they also hire men like this. Maybe the rumors are just that—rumors. After all, those House Silwa guys were the ones causing a scene in the dining hall.
"Is something the matter?" the man asked, noticing Rei's gaze.
"No, nothing at all."
Rei shook his head, and the rest of the journey passed in silence. The carriage traveled east through Exil, eventually coming to a halt after about thirty minutes.
"We have arrived. I would like to take you to Lord Shafner immediately, if you are ready."
Rei and Elena shared a brief look and nodded. "Yeah, lead the way," Rei said. "We don't have all day."
They stepped out of the carriage to find themselves before a grand estate. It was a massive structure, its scale rivaling even the Lord's Mansion in Gilm.