A mansion that could easily be described as massive stretched out before them.
In terms of sheer scale, it didn't differ much from the Lord's Mansion in Gilm. If there was a distinction to be made, it was in the architecture.
Even to a casual observer, it was clear that the building had been constructed using high-quality materials. However, perhaps because so many fine things had been combined in excess, the result was a structure that was aggressively garish in its assertion of wealth.
(How to put it… is this unexpected? No, in a way, I should have seen this coming. Their carriage was in good taste, but this mansion has "good taste" in an entirely different sense.)
While Rei mused over this, he and Elena stepped inside.
Naturally, as they had been told beforehand, Seto was not allowed into the house. It had been led to the garden and was currently lying down in the shade of a tree. Iero remained outside as well, keeping the Griffon company.
"This way. I'll warn you in advance: Lord Shafner can be a difficult man in many respects. It would be helpful if you could understand that and respond accordingly."
"…I hear your warning, but if he's that hard to deal with, I feel like it would have been better if we didn't meet at all," Rei replied.
"I apologize, but as my master has ordered it, I have no choice but to guide you. This way."
Once inside the mansion, the man who had guided them this far continued to lead Rei and Elena down the hallway himself, rather than handing them off to a maid.
The distance was likely too short to bother calling for household staff. After arriving in front of a door within a few minutes, the man knocked and announced their arrival.
"I have brought the guests."
"Enter."
At that command, the door opened. Rei and Elena stepped into a room large enough to accommodate about fifty tatami mats. Despite its vastness, a single table sat in the center. While that alone might have made the space feel empty, the void was filled with numerous paintings and sculptures—a collection of art and finery displayed throughout.
"This is…"
Given the table laden with food, this was likely a dining hall. However, the sheer volume of art clamoring for attention on all sides seemed to contradict that purpose. At the very least, it was clear to Rei that he wouldn't be able to enjoy a meal in peace in a place like this.
But contrary to Rei's surprise, Elena showed no change in expression. She merely gave a small nod toward the old man who had come to greet them.
Normally, it would have been polite to offer social pleasantries, but as the daughter of Duke Kerebel's House, her status dictated her attitude. Even if this man helped rule an autonomous city, he only held one-third of the local power, and she was forced to maintain her standing accordingly.
"Lady Elena Kerebel, welcome. And to you as well, Lord Crimson."
Rei already knew who this old man was—a person who appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, wearing the smile of a kindly grandfather. Given the identity of the person who had summoned them and the rumors regarding House Rebisole in Exil, it was obvious that the man before them was Shafner Rebisole.
However, if there was one thing that differed from the rumors…
(I heard he was short-tempered, arrogant, and quick to fly into a rage… but he doesn't look it. Is this a surface-level pose or something?)
Rei thought to himself while watching the old man, who wore a cheerful smile.
Perhaps not noticing Rei's internal skepticism, Shafner invited the two of them to the table sitting solitary in the middle of the large room.
"Come, please. Let us finish our meal first. You must be hungry after just coming out of the dungeon. I have prepared dishes that are far more delicious than the street food you usually buy."
"…I see. Rei, let us accept Lord Shafner's hospitality."
For a fleeting second, Elena's brow furrowed slightly before she prompted Rei to sit.
He nodded and took a seat in silence.
It was a brief exchange, but it provided Rei with a few clues.
(He knows we buy food on our way back from the dungeon every day, which means he definitely had someone investigate us beforehand. Well, that much is obvious. Elena gave the name of Duke Kerebel's House when we entered Exil, after all. But prioritizing his own schedule like this is a bit much.)
They had just returned from the desert floor. Thanks to the Dragon Robe and his coat, Rei wasn't particularly sweaty, but it was only natural to want to freshen up after a dive. However, Shafner had prioritized his own desires and neglected that consideration. It showed how self-centered he truly was.
(Knowing that, it's strange how shallow his smile feels now.)
Despite his thoughts, Rei was genuinely hungry. He reached for the food as invited.
There was roasted meat drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce, white fish wrapped in pie and baked, and a soup with a light, salty broth that brought out the richness of the meat and vegetables. Among the rarer items, a dish resembling a terrine caught Rei's eye. When he tasted it, the rich flavor of liver spread across his tongue, delighting his palate.
Elena also thoroughly enjoyed a salad that made lavish use of vegetables and fruits harvested from the dungeon.
"How is it? My food, I mean."
Shafner asked, nodding with satisfaction as he watched Elena's eyes widen slightly at the taste of the salad.
"Yes, it is very delicious. As expected of a labyrinth city."
"Oh, you noticed?"
"I have eaten such things several times before."
Due to the specific environments of a dungeon, certain plants and animals existed nowhere else. For instance, the Desert Roses that Pleiades and his group were collecting on B11F were one such rarity. As the floors went deeper, the influence of magic power from the dungeon core made such occurrences more common.
The vegetables in Elena's salad, the monster liver in Rei's terrine, and various other ingredients on the table were all harvested from the dungeon. Shafner had even hired a cook with a reputation for being one of the best in Exil to prepare them.
Even the art pieces decorating the room—which Rei found to be an eyesore—were undoubtedly items that would fetch high prices. Every piece was genuine, meant to please the eye. However, because they had been gathered haphazardly, their individual value was lost in the clutter.
Regardless, dungeon-sourced materials were expensive even in a labyrinth city. Serving such a lavish spread was Shafner's way of showing that he seriously valued Rei and Elena.
Understanding this, Elena finished her salad gracefully, took a sip of wine, and turned her gaze back to Shafner.
(Every dish is indeed exquisite, but the drinks don't even compare to the water from Rei's Dagger of Flowing Water.)
She thought this privately as she spoke.
"Now then, Lord Shafner. Isn't it about time you told us why you summoned Rei and me? I'm sure you understand that, under normal circumstances, I would have no need to respond to the impertinence of being summoned."
"T-That is… I apologize. But as you can see, my age prevents me from easily traveling outside. I would appreciate your understanding on that matter."
As a member of a ducal house—and as the daughter of Duke Kerebel, a central figure of the Noble's Faction—Elena made her point clear.
Shafner seemed to understand, as he gasped and gave a small nod. If Elena were the type to misunderstand noble pride, she might have continued to carp at him. Fortunately, she possessed no such petty vanity. She spoke directly.
"So, did you invite us to a meal because you had some business with us?"
By rephrasing the encounter as an invitation to a meal rather than a summons, she implicitly signaled that she would not make a formal issue of his behavior.
Shafner took a light sigh of relief, took a sip of wine to calm himself, and set the glass back on the table.
"Indeed. Since Lady Elena is being so direct, let me be frank with my request. I have heard that you frequently dive into the dungeon. Naturally, I also know that you sell many magic stones to the guild… Therefore, I was wondering if you might be willing to entrust all magic stone and material purchases to House Rebisole. That is why I asked you to come here… What do you say?"
His gaze was fixed solely on Elena, just as his words implied. He treated Rei as if he were almost non-existent.
To Shafner, Rei was certainly a skilled adventurer with a growing reputation. However, there was a vast difference in weight between Rei's "Crimson" title, which had only begun to spread this spring, and Elena's "Princess General" moniker, which had been known for years. Furthermore, one was the daughter of a Duke while the other was a mere adventurer. He felt it was only natural to distinguish between them.
Shafner's mistake was assuming that Rei was simply a subordinate following Elena. Given their respective social positions, it was a reasonable assumption, but it was also a fatal misunderstanding.
"…Rei, what do you think?"
Elena glanced toward Rei, who was currently busy with his fork and knife, working on the white fish wrapped in pie.
Rei thought for a few seconds and gave a small shake of his head.
"I'm sorry, but I already have a prior arrangement with the guild, so that's a no. Besides, why go to such lengths to collect magic stones? I heard at the guild that the supply is drying up because House Rebisole and House Marstchel are buying them all up."
Shafner's brow furrowed slightly at Rei's bluntness. However, he immediately forced a smile and shook his head.
"I'm afraid that is a top secret matter for House Rebisole. Even for Lady Elena and her party member, I cannot speak of it."
"I don't intend to force the issue. But I hear the residents of Exil are suffering because you're hoarding magic stones. As one of the three houses that rule this city, is that really acceptable?"
"I certainly worry about that matter, which is why we have slightly increased our purchase price for adventurers. However, if you're saying that collecting magic stones is a problem, it is not just my House Rebisole. If anything, House Marstchel is likely hoarding even more than we are. If you truly wish to solve the magic stone shortage for the people of Exil, you should not only speak to me but to House Marstchel as well. And above all, shouldn't you tell House Silwa, whose head is personally diving into the dungeon, to bring back even more stones?"
Shafner spoke as if he had just hit upon a brilliant idea, but Rei and Elena's brows only furrowed deeper. His logic was essentially that since he wasn't the only one doing something wrong, they should go complain to someone else.
At the same time, the "kindly grandfather" mask was beginning to peel away. As he spoke of the other houses, a glint that could almost be described as sadistic appeared in his eyes.
He believed that if Elena, the daughter of Duke Kerebel, lent her influence to pressure the other two houses as he suggested, it would work to his advantage. He wore a smile of absolute certainty. It was a sticky, unpleasant smirk.
(He thinks that if Elena intervenes, it'll go exactly the way he wants… Yeah. If she actually did it, that is.)
Rei reached for more food while ignoring Shafner, who was busy whispering to himself about a future that benefited only him. The dishes were made with dungeon materials and had seemed delicious enough a moment ago, but sitting across from Shafner, Rei found that they had lost their flavor.
Whether she had picked up on Rei's feelings or felt the same way herself, Elena placed her fork and knife on the table and spoke firmly.
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved in Exil's power struggle. At the very least, I am not here as Elena Kerebel of Duke Kerebel's House, but as an adventurer challenging the dungeon."
She refused him flatly. Before the stunned Shafner could react, she signaled to Rei with her eyes and stood up.
"W-Wait, please!"
"I've heard enough."
She cut off his attempt to speak and walked out of the dining hall. She left behind only Shafner, whose face was turning bright red with rage at having his proposal so easily dismissed.