The wheat harvest had commenced, and about ten percent of the fields had already been cleared.
When the morning’s work ended and lunch hour arrived, Rei headed to a meadow near the village to eat with Seto, Vihera, and Theoreme.
By now, the group was treated as honored guests of Goto, if not quite members of the village themselves. Rei’s protection against the Giant Boar, his generosity in sharing the meat, and his willingness to act as Epika’s babysitter had won them over. The presence of the friendly, charming Seto had also played a major role in their acceptance.
As a result, the village was more than willing to provide meals for them, but Rei usually stuck to the food and bread stored within his Misty Ring, or the meat of monsters and animals Seto hunted. He didn't have anything against the local fare; it was simply that the prepared dishes he carried tasted better.
Vihera and Theoreme shared his meals, enjoying the same high-quality food. Lately, it wasn't uncommon for Luchard to join them for dinner as Rei’s guest as well.
"Even though we're eating outdoors, the weather is being a bit grumpy today," Vihera remarked, looking up at the sky while taking a bite of a ham and cheese sandwich.
It wasn't raining, but a thick layer of clouds obscured the blue, making the sky look as though it had been sealed with a lid. Vihera murmured her disappointment at the gloomy sight.
"I suppose so," Theoreme replied, sipping the cold tea Rei had handed him. "Though for me, the lack of heat makes it easier to move around during training."
He had spent the morning preparing for his inevitable clash with Elk. Since yesterday, Rei had started joining him to kill time, and the two had begun engaging in light mock battles—keeping things controlled enough to avoid injury.
"...Must be nice for you two to have so much fun," Vihera muttered somewhat sulkily. Being relegated to an observer was clearly starting to wear on her.
Theoreme let out a small sigh at her comment. "It would be a disaster for us if Lady Vihera wasn’t in peak condition, wouldn't it? Besides, your combat style is fundamentally based on martial arts."
"I know, I know..." she grumbled, reaching for a stewed meat sandwich.
But in that moment, a sound cut through the air.
"Guruuu."
Seto’s cry echoed across the meadow. It wasn't the spoiled, affectionate sound it made when begging for treats. Realizing the change in tone, Rei and Vihera followed the griffon's gaze.
They spotted three carriages advancing along the highway toward the village, escorted by several knights on horseback. Counting the passengers inside, the group likely numbered around twenty.
Rei recognized several of the knights immediately and knew exactly who they were.
"They've finally arrived," Vihera murmured, standing beside Rei as she watched the approaching caravan. She had reached the same conclusion he had.
"Yeah. A little earlier than I expected."
"Probably because they're traveling light, don't you think?"
As Vihera pointed out, the group was notably small for someone like Margrave Larkus—the central figure of the Neutral Faction and one of the most powerful men in the Kingdom of Mireana—especially when heading toward a hostile neighbor. Had it been a noble from the King's Faction or the Noble's Faction, they likely would have brought an entourage of over a hundred, even excluding the guards.
Of course, the light escort was likely due to Daskar’s absolute confidence in the A-Rank party Axe of the Thunder God and his own knight order. Furthermore, as a lord of the frontier, Daskar valued simplicity and fortitude over hollow ceremony.
Besides, Rei and Seto would be joining the guard from this village onward. With two famous alias holders like Crimson and the Axe of the Thunder God, this escort was more formidable than a private army of common rabble.
Though the group was still distant, the villagers harvesting wheat soon noticed them. Rei could hear the excited buzz starting to rise from the fields. Daskar’s party was aware of them as well; a knight on horseback broke away from the main group, riding ahead as a herald.
"That's..." Rei murmured. He recognized the man approaching.
The feeling was mutual. Or rather, given Seto’s distinctive presence, there was no way for the knight to mistake them.
"Rei? And Seto too... and..."
The young knight, appearing to be in his twenties, suddenly found himself staring at Vihera. In her dancer-like thin raiment, she was a bit too much of a shock for him. Stunned by her beauty, he nearly lost his balance on his horse.
"Whoa... Anyway, Rei, what are you doing here?"
"This was our planned rendezvous point. More importantly, aren't you supposed to be acting as herald? I’m sure Lord Daskar will explain everything later, so you’d better get back to your duties."
"Right, good point. We’ll talk more later then. And to you as well, my lady."
The knight gave Rei a hasty greeting and looked at Vihera, his cheeks turning red as he addressed her. Vihera returned a glamorous, dazzling smile.
An experienced warrior would have seen the predatory, sharpened fangs hidden behind that smile, but the young knight man was too captivated by her beauty to notice. Still blushing, he galloped away toward the village.
Rei watched him go, then glanced at Vihera. "Try to keep it in moderation."
"Oh? Keep what? I was only being polite," she teased. "Or are you jealous? If so, that would make me quite happy."
"...Never mind." Rei shook his head.
"So, they’ve come..." Theoreme muttered bitterly.
His gaze was fixed on the three carriages slowly nearing Goto. He knew that members of the Axe of the Thunder God, including Elk, were in those carriages alongside their client, Daskar Larkus.
This meant the moment for his duel with Elk was fast approaching.
"What’s with the long face?" Vihera asked. "You get to fight a powerful opponent, so it's not all bad. I’d switch places with you in a heartbeat if I could. A battle against an alias holder like the Axe of the Thunder God where you can't drop your guard for a second... I'm nothing but envious."
"I suppose so. Honestly, if it were possible, I’d gladly switch with you, Lady Vihera."
Theoreme was a general known as 'Flash.' He had absolute confidence in his own strength, and his sparring sessions with Rei over the last few days had honed his skills even further. However, as a man who prioritized efficiency, he still saw no logical merit in a grudge match with Elk.
Of course, if Elk heard that sentiment, he would likely scream at the general for not taking him seriously.
While they spoke, the three carriages and the escort knights reached them and came to a halt.
"Rei, did I keep you waiting?"
A window in the lead carriage opened, and Daskar Larkus showed his face. Because the window was small, the other passengers remained out of sight—a fact Theoreme seemed relieved by.
"No, we’ve been enjoying a bit of a rest while we waited."
"Good. And these two are the ones you mentioned?"
"Yes." Rei nodded and glanced at Vihera.
Understanding the cue, Vihera stepped forward with a regal smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Margrave Larkus. I am the Second Princess of the Bestia Empire, Vihera Esti Bestia."
Her bow was perfectly executed, possessing an inherent grace that transcended her dancer’s attire. Despite her provocative clothing, she radiated the undeniable aura of the imperial family. If anything, the contrast made her even more unforgettable to Daskar.
The Margrave was stunned for a moment, but he quickly realized that regardless of national tensions, it would be a grave insult to remain seated before a princess. He hurriedly opened the carriage door and stepped down.
"A pleasure, Lady Vihera. I am Daskar Larkus, Margrave Larkus of the Kingdom of Mireana. My friend here told me of your situation, and I felt compelled to offer whatever aid I could."
Knowing how both of them usually acted, Rei couldn't help but look surprised at the refined manners Daskar and Vihera were displaying.
However, that courtly atmosphere shattered the moment Theoreme stepped up beside Vihera.
"It is an honor, Margrave Larkus. I am Theoreme Energy."
The moment he introduced himself and bowed, a crushing wave of murderous intent erupted from the carriage Daskar had just exited.
The pressure was so thick it felt viscous. Theoreme flinched at the sensation but remained bowed, refusing to move. He knew that the slightest provocation would turn this meeting into a bloodbath. He stood his ground, weathering a level of hostility that had caused Rei and Vihera to reflexively brace themselves.
"Elk."
Daskar’s voice rang out through the suffocating tension.
Simultaneously, a heavy thud—like a blunt object striking something solid—echoed from inside the carriage, and the murderous intent vanished.
That was Min, Rei thought. He could perfectly visualize Min, Elk's wife, bringing her favorite staff down on her husband’s head. He wondered which had actually stopped the outburst: the command from his lord, Daskar, or Min’s strike.
Definitely Min, he decided. He turned his attention back to Theoreme.
The general had raised his head. Despite having faced that killing intent head-on, his expression was calm. Only the thin sheen of cold sweat on his forehead betrayed the fact that he was human.
A common soldier or knight might have fainted or suffered heart failure under that pressure. Even now, the escort knights were frozen in place, as were the drivers and the horses.
That he could remain standing and hide his agitation spoke volumes of the skill belonging to 'Flash.'
Finally, a man emerged from the carriage. He carried the weapon that shared his name and party title—the Axe of the Thunder God, a magic item of peerless power. His face, which would normally look like that of a mischievous boy grown into an adult, was twisted with a lethal glare.
His body, far more muscular and robust than Rei’s, thrummed with raw fighting spirit. The fact that it was fighting spirit and not the murderous intent from before was undoubtedly Min's achievement.
"...So, you're 'Flash'."
The words were spat out in a low, flat tone that barely contained his seething rage. The tension in the air was so sharp that even a small misstep in the conversation would have triggered a fight to the death.
Rei subtly parried the residual hostility drifting his way, while Seto crouched low, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. Vihera, meanwhile, shivered with the thrill of the coming battle, looking genuinely disappointed that she wasn't the one Elk was glaring at.
Daskar spoke again, breaking the silence. "Elk, leave it. I haven't forgotten your grievance. But we have a job to do first."
Elk gave a reluctant, stiff nod. He cast one final, predatory glance at Theoreme before retreating back into the carriage.
Daskar let out a weary sigh and turned to Rei, Vihera, and Theoreme.
"...I have much to discuss with you all, but first, let me settle things with the village."
He gave them a short nod and returned to his carriage, which began to move toward Goto. The escort knights and horses, though still a bit shaky from Elk’s outburst, managed to fall into formation—a feat for which they deserved credit as Daskar's men.