Rei had sensed a presence that seemed to be the mastermind behind the attack and headed toward the location with Set, but no one was there by the time they arrived.
After scouring the surroundings and finding no clues, Rei and Set ultimately returned to the inn.
"Rei, any leads? From the look of things, I'm guessing not."
"No. I found the spot where the mastermind was likely positioned until just a few moments ago, but I was a step too late."
Rei shrugged slightly as he answered Rhodos, who was waiting outside the inn.
Rhodos started to say something in response but immediately shook his head. He realized that since Rei had managed to sense an opponent he never would have found, he had no right to complain.
"Lord Daskar is waiting. Also, make sure to say something to the guards. Flying with Set inside the city is technically prohibited, after all."
"Guruuuu."
Set sent a displeased look toward Rhodos, but when Rei stroked its neck, it obediently headed back toward the stables.
Rei watched its departing back and was about to enter the inn when a sudden cry echoed from the direction of the stables.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
"Is there still something going on!?"
Rei shouted and hurried toward the stables. There, he found a guard who had collapsed on his backside in terror, while Set was tilting its head in apparent confusion.
Just seeing the sight allowed Rei to understand exactly what had happened.
Rei had left Set as if they were at the Dusk Wheat Inn in Gilm or the Golden Wind Inn in Exil, but in this city, most people were seeing Set for the first time. If an A-Rank monster like a Gryphon suddenly appeared out of the darkness of the night, it was only natural for someone to scream.
Rei sighed, realizing this was entirely a lack of consideration on his part, and spoke to the guard sitting on the ground.
"It seems we gave you a fright. My apologies. But this Set isn't the type to harm others of its own accord, so if possible, please don't be afraid... Though I suppose that's asking too much. Well, just try not to worry about it."
Set was one half of the pair known as Crimson, the duo that had taken countless lives of the Bestia Imperial Army during the Spring War. Rei told the guard that asking him not to be afraid was likely impossible. He considered reaching out a hand for a moment but pulled it back, knowing the gesture would be meaningless.
If the man was afraid of Set, then he would naturally be afraid of Rei as well—the partner known as Crimson.
Whether he understood Rei's thoughts or not, the guard gave a small nod and somehow managed to stand up.
"N-No. I'm the one who should apologize for screaming."
Several other guards were in the vicinity, each directing their gaze toward Rei and Set with restless expressions. Even if they understood the situation intellectually, it was unavoidable that a sense of dread would arise due to their past experiences.
Set seemed to sense the atmosphere as well, letting out a dejected sound from its throat before returning to the stables.
The guards likely felt something from Set’s behavior too. Wearing complicated expressions, they finished binding the unconscious rioters. Their efficiency was a clear result of their experience working as guards.
"...Rei, let's go."
A hand was placed lightly on Rei's shoulder as he watched the scene. Turning, he saw Rhodos's face. Rhodos must have followed him immediately upon hearing the scream.
"Right. I'll leave the rest to you," Rei said to the guards. "Also, there were a few inside the inn whose sense of pain seemed to be numbed. You should be careful with them."
"I-I see. Yes, thank you for the information."
Rei gave a light wave to the guard, who spoke as if trying to keep up appearances, and returned to the inn with Rhodos.
"Don't let it get to you too much."
While they were walking, Rhodos suddenly spoke. For a moment, Rei didn't understand what he was talking about, but he soon realized Rhodos was referring to the guard's attitude.
To think he would receive words of comfort from Rhodos... That inner thought must have shown on his face. Rhodos's mood visibly soured as he looked at Rei.
"Hmph. Well, I suppose you wouldn't be the type to care even if people treat you like that. I was a fool for trying to encourage you."
After saying that, Rhodos left Rei behind and hurried ahead. Rei followed immediately and tapped Rhodos on the shoulder in gratitude.
"Hey, I'm sorry. It was just a bit unexpected, that's all."
"...Hmph."
Rhodos's atmosphere softened slightly, perhaps because Rei's words had improved his mood at least a little. Not missing that opening, Rei spoke up.
"Come on, we have to go to Lord Daskar and report on this incident. You too, right?"
"I know that!"
With an expression that clearly said he was doing it reluctantly, Rhodos nonetheless entered the inn with Rei. If anyone had seen them from the side, they might have thought they were friends who couldn't be honest with each other. Of course, if Set had been there, it would never have acknowledged Rhodos and Rei as friends.
"I see. So they had a decent level of combat ability despite their numbed sense of pain."
Daskar muttered after hearing the report from Rei and Rhodos. He had already received a report from the knights under his command, but hearing it from an adventurer's perspective provided various useful insights.
"Yes. Also, rather than brainwashing... it felt more like their emotions were being amplified. Specifically, their hatred toward me was quite strong. Regarding that, I managed to capture them alive, including breaking the joints of their limbs, so if we can somehow get information from them..."
We might be able to trace the mastermind from there, Rei intended to say.
However, what he got in return was Daskar shaking his head without changing his expression, Elk's bitter look, and Min frowning slightly. The other escort knights in the room all wore similar expressions.
"Lord Daskar?"
Rhodos noticed the shift and spoke up. It was Elk who answered the confused and questioning looks from Rei and Rhodos.
"A report came in just before you arrived. Out of the rioters captured in the dining hall and lobby, several of the 'elites' haven't regained consciousness at all. They tried using recovery magic and potions, but apparently, it was all useless."
"I see. Was it a measure to prevent information leakage... or simply a negative side effect of the enhancement? I'd prefer it to be the latter."
If it was to prevent information leakage, they would likely never wake up, since inducing a coma was the goal. But if it was a side effect of the enhancement, they might wake up given the right trigger. Rei muttered this, but immediately shook his head. Regardless of the reason, he couldn't imagine the mastermind hadn't taken it into account.
"Yeah. Well, at the very least, it's unlikely the circumstances will become clear by tomorrow when we leave this place."
Elk muttered spitfully and scratched his head. Directing a gaze toward his guard, Daskar asked Rei once more.
"So, what do you think their objective was this time?"
"It was likely a strength assessment of our side. Unfortunately, those who orchestrated it managed to escape."
Rei had already reported that he and Set had come close to catching those believed to be the masterminds. Hearing that, Daskar honestly wished they could have dealt with the opponents then and there. However, he was forced to understand that it would have been difficult. If the purpose of this attack was to assess their strength, the ones pulling the strings would have certainly prepared to flee immediately in case of an emergency. And in fact, they had managed to escape even when faced with Rei and Set.
"We've been targeted by a troublesome opponent."
The mutter that escaped Daskar's mouth undoubtedly expressed his true feelings.
"But Lord Daskar, while we don't know who is targeting us, haven't we fulfilled our role of drawing the Bestia Empire's attention more than enough?"
"Well, Min is right. Guests they invited were attacked at night. The local governor and the lord of this territory will definitely face some kind of punishment. After all, their reputation has been completely tarnished."
Elk nodded in agreement with Min, who had spoken her honest thoughts rather than just trying to comfort Daskar. That seemed to put Daskar’s mind at ease. The tension left his body, and he leaned back against the sofa.
"True, in terms of drawing attention, we've fulfilled our role perfectly. In fact, I'm starting to feel that continuing the journey like this would fulfill the role better than Rei participating in the fighting tournament."
"That's a bit... If it's the fighting tournament, only Rei will have to go through the trouble, but if we continue the journey like this, the other members will have to go through the trouble as well."
"Hey, are you saying it's fine as long as I'm the only one suffering?"
Rei couldn't help but interject after hearing Rhodos's argument. However, Rhodos himself nodded without any hesitation.
"Obviously. Besides, there's no way an inhuman existence like you would have any trouble in a fighting tournament, right? In that case, you might as well use that inhumanity to reduce the burden on us."
As he spoke, Rhodos's inner thoughts were actually quite complicated. It was true that if they moved as he suggested, they could easily perform the job of drawing the Empire's eye. But if that happened, Vihera's gaze would undoubtedly be directed toward Rei as well.
Maybe I should try entering the fighting tournament myself? The thought suddenly occurred to him... and it felt like a decent idea. It was true that his fame was low compared to Rei's. However, he was a member of an A-Rank party, and at the same time, considering his age, he was a C-Rank adventurer who could be called quite skilled.
And above all, perhaps... just perhaps, that woman named Vihera might look at him. When they first met in Goto, he had been so drawn to her that he wondered if he was under the influence of charm magic. Of course, Rhodos had interacted with beautiful women to some extent. That was only natural since he traveled with an A-Rank party. He had met the Guild Master in Gilm, the Princess General Elena, and his own mother, Min.
Even so, being that conscious of someone was a first for him. Yet that charming person was clearly attracted to Rei, even to the point where Rhodos, who was inexperienced in romance, could tell, and Rei didn't seem to be rejecting her either.
(If I perform well in the fighting tournament... maybe she'll turn her eyes toward me too. In that case...)
Muttering to himself as if to firm up his resolve, Rhodos spoke to Daskar.
"Lord Daskar, about the fighting tournament... may I—or rather, would it be alright if I entered as well?"
"What?"
What are you suddenly talking about? Daskar directed such a look toward Rhodos, but his biological parents, Elk and Min, wore expressions that seemed to say they had seen this coming. However, Elk had an amused smirk, while Min looked disapproving.
"If it's to draw the Bestia Empire's attention, Rei alone would certainly be enough. But just to be safe, if I, a member of the Axe of the Thunder God, enter as well, it should draw even more attention. Besides, as for guarding, I have both my mother and father here."
Daskar thought for a few seconds and nodded.
"The Third Prince Faction's objective is ultimately the rescue of their master. If that's the case, there's no doubt that the more elements we have to draw their attention, the better."
Daskar spoke as if accepting Rhodos's words. The moment Rhodos let out a breath of relief...
"However, if you're going to draw the Bestia Empire's attention, there's no meaning in an elimination in the qualifying rounds. You understand that, right?"
"Of course. I will win through the qualifying rounds and successfully advance to the final tournament."
For Daskar, Rhodos's proposal was a double-edged sword. It was true that if he participated in the final tournament, it would draw the Empire's eye and show that the adventurers of the Kingdom of Mireana possessed high abilities. At the same time, it would also raise the reputation of Daskar himself, who employed such adventurers. The fact that an adventurer like Rhodos could demonstrate his own strength rather than relying on the prestige of the A-Rank party was also convenient for Daskar.
But that was all contingent on him being able to remain until the final tournament. If he were to lose in the qualifying rounds, all of that would flip into a negative assessment.
"...Elk."
"I can't say for sure if he'll make it to the finals, but I'll guarantee he has the skill for it."
Daskar thought for a few seconds about the answer that came back from his short inquiry... and finally nodded.
"Very well. I shall permit Rhodos's entry into the fighting tournament."