The dinner party brought the entire village together to feast on the meat of the Giant Boar Set had slain. With the wheat harvest proceeding smoothly, everyone was savoring the various boar dishes in the glow of the sunset when a voice rang out across the village plaza.
At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, the villagers instinctively turned toward the source—and then froze in their tracks.
Standing there was a woman more beautiful than any they had seen in their lives.
Though she wore a robe, her wavy, reddish-purple hair spilled out from beneath the hood. Her sharp gaze hinted at a strong will, yet a soft smile played upon her lips. On her hands and feet, she wore gauntlets and greaves. There was something incongruous about such a beauty wearing combat gear, yet they possessed a strange sense of unity on her person.
Beside her stood a man, also clad in a robe. He had black hair trimmed at his shoulders and a gaze that reflected powerful resolve. Though he possessed a significant presence of his own, he was somehow overshadowed by the woman at his side.
To an outside observer, they might have looked like simple travelers seeking a place to stay for the night, but the aura they radiated made it abundantly clear that they were no ordinary wanderers.
For a moment, the bustling clamor of the feast died down, and a heavy silence filled the air. In that stillness, the first to speak was Rei, who washed down a boar meat sandwich with a mouthful of vegetable soup brimming with summer vegetables.
"Vihera, Theorem. You’re earlier than I expected."
Hearing those words, the villagers understood. These were the guests Rei had been waiting for.
"Ah, thank goodness. So they really were the ones you were meeting," sighed one of the villagers. He was one of the men who had the misfortune of being assigned gatekeeper duty for the day. He let out an audible breath of relief as he casually approached the banquet area and reached for a grilled skewer.
The two strangers had arrived suddenly at dusk. While the guards had initially suspected a bandit trap, they couldn't ignore the pair once they claimed to have a rendezvous with Rei. After all, Rei was the one who had saved their village from the Giant Boar.
If this had happened when Rei first arrived, the villagers might have come up with some excuse to keep the newcomers out. However, none of them had any intention of making an enemy of a man who commanded a Griffon capable of killing a Giant Boar with a single blow—especially a beast that could have easily slaughtered low-rank monsters like goblins despite being a mere animal. Furthermore, they felt a genuine debt of gratitude to Rei for saving Epika, the village’s youngest child.
"Yeah, they’re the ones. Thanks for showing them the way," Rei said as he stood up. "As a small thanks, here—have some of this."
Rei piled several dishes onto a plate and handed them to the man who had guided Vihera and Theorem. The man broke into a happy grin and immediately grabbed a grilled skewer, the easiest thing to eat while standing.
It had clearly just come off the fire. Succulent fat dripped from the bite-sized pieces of meat, and the savory sauce Rei had provided from his Misty Ring released an aroma that could only be described as aggressive. The exterior had been seared over a high flame, giving it a satisfying chew and sealing in the savory glaze, while the interior remained a perfect medium-rare that practically melted on the tongue.
"...So good..." the man murmured with deep emotion. Without another word, he headed back toward the village entrance with the plate, likely wanting to share the food with the rest of his comrades on watch.
Rei turned his attention to Vihera and Theorem. "You must be tired. Why don't you get some food in your bellies first?"
"I think I will," Vihera replied with an immediate nod. Without a hint of hesitation, she sat down right beside Rei.
Theorem gave a small smile at her behavior before scanning the plaza until he found Luchard. The latter noticed him as well and, leaving his starstruck friends behind, approached the man.
"It has been a long time. You’ve returned much sooner than expected."
"Yes, the horses worked hard," Theorem replied. "Perhaps too hard; they’re currently resting near the entrance. If there is a stable, please see to them."
"Of course. As for lodging, would my house be acceptable?"
"Where is Rei staying?"
"He is with me as well."
"I see. Then we shall stay together."
"Understood. And... well, who is she?" Luchard started to ask.
Suddenly, a roar of excitement erupted from the crowd.
Luchard whirled around, only to see the beautiful woman who had arrived with Theorem removing her robe. There was nothing inherently strange about that—robes were essential for travel but became a nuisance when trying to relax—but the outfit beneath it was a different story.
She wore an incredibly provocative attire consisting of several layers of thin raiment so sheer they were nearly translucent. It was an outfit more suited for a dancer or a prostitute. The sunset light caught the thin fabric, making it shimmer and creating a fantastical, almost illusory atmosphere. The villagers, men and women alike, were absolutely captivated. Luchard was no exception; he found himself unable to look away.
"...I wonder if she understands just how much attention she draws," Theorem remarked with a sigh.
Luchard snapped out of his trance. Theorem, the man known as the Flash, had spoken of her with a sense of familiarity. That alone made it clear that this woman was no ordinary person.
Meanwhile, Vihera ignored the weight of the villagers' stares. She was in a wonderful mood, sitting beside Rei and smiling happily as she savored the delicious food. She seemed enveloped in the purest happiness.
(Though... it is a shame there's no one here worth fighting,) she thought to herself.
She dipped freshly baked bread into a stew loaded with boar meat. While most people were driven by the three primary human desires—appetite, sleep, and sex—Vihera possessed a fourth desire that surpassed the others: battle lust. She lamented that Rei, Theorem, and Set were the only ones present who could satisfy that urge, but she kept the thought off her face and continued to enjoy the feast.
The villagers eventually grew accustomed to Vihera’s presence, and a few gathered the courage to speak to her.
"Hey, isn't it dangerous to dress so lightly? Men are beasts, you know. A beauty like you could be eaten up in a heartbeat."
"Fufu, I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than I look," Vihera replied with a playful smile. "The only one who gets to do as they wish with my body is the one who can defeat me. ...Isn't that right?"
She cast a meaningful glance at Rei, who was currently sharing a boar steak with Set. The villager followed her gaze and realized exactly how the woman felt about him.
At the same time, the men who had been captivated by Vihera’s beauty felt a wave of despair. They knew they could never hope to defeat Rei, the man known as Crimson. The men who had seen Set pulverize the boar’s head were particularly discouraged. Set had done the deed, but Rei was the one who commanded him. They understood that to win this woman, they would have to best someone who likely possessed power even greater than that of the Griffon.
"Whatever you say," Rei replied with a small shrug before returning to his steak. Vihera started to retort, but deciding that this wasn't the place for an argument, she simply reached for more food.
"Mmm... it's been a while since I've had a drink."
Vihera’s sultry voice echoed in the living room of Luchard’s house. Currently, only Rei, Vihera, and Theorem were inside. Luchard was still out in the plaza participating in the feast, while Set lay outside the house, keeping watch.
Set had previously been forbidden from entering the village, but after protecting Epika, he had been granted formal permission by the Village Head to stay within the village limits.
"The alcohol is fine, but please do not overindulge," Theorem cautioned. "Your body is precious, after all."
"I know, I know. More importantly, we need to talk. Rei, since you've arrived safely, I assume things went well?"
Rei, who was drinking chilled fruit water from his Misty Ring, nodded. "Mostly. However, there have been some changes to the plan."
Theorem’s eyebrows twitched. "Oh? May I ask for the specifics?"
"Lord Daskar has decided to personally attend the fighting tournament."
"...Margrave Larkus is going himself?" Theorem looked thoughtful. "I assume that was due to your influence, Rei?"
"Likely so. I don't think it's a bad development for your side, is it?"
Theorem let out a deep sigh but nodded in agreement. "It is true that his military strength is undoubtedly attractive. But the price is the concern. Moving a figure as prominent as Margrave Larkus... I wonder what kind of conditions he will impose."
While he was glad to have more cards to play, he knew he would lose much in exchange. Vihera also chimed in.
"So the leader of one of the Three Great Factions of an enemy nation is making an appearance. That certainly sounds like it will lead to trouble."
"Lady Vihera, please don't speak as if this doesn't involve you..."
"Oh, as far as I'm concerned, I've already detached myself from the Imperial family, so it practically doesn't. I'm only helping out of familial affection."
Theorem sighed as she quenched her thirst with more fruit water. But then, Rei dropped another bombshell.
"Regarding Lord Daskar... since he's traveling into the Bestia Empire, he needs guards. I could do it myself, but I’ll be tied up with the tournament."
It was a blunt way of putting it, but the head of the Neutral Faction was heading into a country they had been at war with only months ago. It was unthinkable for him to travel without protection. On paper, Rei was his guard, but since Rei would be competing, he couldn't actually fulfill that role.
"In other words, you are suggesting we provide the guards?" Theorem asked, finding himself in a difficult position.
The Third Prince Faction was not a particularly large force. With their figurehead, the Third Prince, currently under house arrest, Theorem was essentially running the show alone. They were already desperately short on manpower. Providing elite troops to protect an influential noble from an enemy country was a heavy ask, especially since the guards would have to be people whose faces weren't known to other Imperial factions.
(Perhaps I could hire someone from the Guild...) Theorem wondered, but he knew most high-ranking adventurers would be too busy with the tournament.
"No, the guards have already been arranged in Gilm," Rei interrupted.
"I see. That is a relief," Theorem murmured, looking genuinely heartened.
"However," Rei added, "those guards are the A-Rank party, the Axe of the Thunder God."
At those words, Theorem involuntarily froze.