A haughty voice hailed Rei from behind.
When he turned, he saw exactly what he expected: a man clad in armor painted in green and blue. He wasn't just any man, but the leader who had been extorting the carriage driver.
"...Do you have some business with me?"
Seto, perhaps sensing the shift in the air, turned to face the man as well.
The man’s face stiffened for a fleeting moment when he saw Seto's features from such a short distance. However, seeing that the creature didn't immediately attack, he seemed to find his nerve. A smirk spread across his lips as he fixed his gaze on Rei.
It was a vulgar smile—there was no other way to describe the expression he wore as he drew a longsword from the sheath at his waist and leveled the tip at Rei.
"I’ve never heard of a brat like you taming a gryphon. I did hear some adventurer back in the Kingdom of Mireana—someone called Crimson—has one, but they say that guy’s a total giant. ...Are you his disciple or something?"
Hearing the man's words, Rei nearly clutched his head in exasperation, wondering what kind of absurd rumors were circulating about him within the Bestia Empire. With rumors like that going around, no one would believe him even if he claimed to be Crimson himself.
Taking the man to Daskar might settle the matter, but that was bound to stir up its own brand of chaos. More importantly, since Daskar had specifically ordered him to stand out, Rei didn't consider lying low an option.
"I’m not exactly Crimson's disciple. More importantly, why are you blocking the highway? And why are you shaking down travelers for their gold?"
At Rei's words, the man's cheek twitched irritably. However, because Rei had the Dragon Robe's hood down, he looked like nothing more than a child.
Deciding it was beneath his dignity to get worked up over a kid, the man spread his arms wide in an exaggerated, theatrical gesture and began to speak in an affected tone.
"Listen well. We are the ones ensuring the safety of this highway. That means everyone who passes through here owes us a debt of gratitude. We’re simply asking them to show that gratitude in a small, tangible way."
"...I see."
Rei had plenty of retorts ready, but he decided to hear the man out and prompted him to continue.
"Hmph, I'm glad you understand. Now then, since that's settled, you naturally have to show your gratitude as well... Let’s see. That gryphon you're riding, and those shoes you're wearing—I’ll need to inspect them thoroughly. If you have any money, leave that behind too. ...Actually, why don't you try taking off that cloak?"
The man assumed Rei’s silence was due to an inability to resist, but his demands were essentially signing his own death warrant.
"Dream on, you thieving scum. Better yet, since you’re so loud even when you talk in your sleep, just shut up. Seal your eyes, nose, and mouth, and stay buried in the dirt."
"..."
For a moment, the man wore an expression of complete incomprehension.
However, when the onlookers nearby couldn't help but burst out laughing, he finally realized he was being mocked. His face turned beet-red with rage as he raised his longsword and swung it down at Rei.
Screams erupted from several of the travelers watching the scene.
The man likely wanted to split Rei's head open, but unfortunately for him, Rei was currently mounted on Seto. Consequently, the man aimed for Rei's leg, delivering a strike intended to sever the limb in his fury.
"Pathetic."
Rei instantly drew his Death Scythe from the Misty Ring and caught the strike with the Death Scythe's shaft.
A sharp screech of scraping metal rang out.
The sound echoed as Rei caught the man's blow and parried the blade toward the butt end of his weapon. Once the longsword's blade had slid down near the butt end, Rei twisted his wrist.
"Gyah!"
A sickening crunch followed, and a scream escaped the man's mouth.
Normally, the longsword would have been caught by the butt end part and sent flying into the air. However, the man didn't let go of the sword's hilt—or rather, he couldn't let go—and thus the bones in his wrist shattered.
If he had possessed even a modicum of sword skill, he would have released his grip the moment his blade was ensnared. Unfortunately, the man currently crouching and clutching his shattered wrist before Rei was just skilled enough to be dangerous to himself. He had been able to judge that his weapon was about to be taken, and perhaps fearing the eyes of his subordinates or unwilling to risk being unarmed, he had braced his wrist to prevent the longsword from being whipped away.
If Rei’s own physical strength and the weight of the Death Scythe had been commensurate with his appearance, the man's gamble might have succeeded. He might have even been able to mock Rei with a sneer.
But since neither was the case, the man's wrist ended up in a state that was better described as pulverized rather than merely broken.
"Gugh... Y-you bastard, do you think you'll get away with this?!"
Despite suffering an injury as severe as a shattered wrist, his initial groan was his only vocal expression of pain. That alone was proof that the man standing before him possessed combat prowess exceeding that of an average knight or warrior.
(I'm well aware that combat ability and character are two different things, though,) Rei mused.
He let out a small sigh in his mind and lightly twirled the Death Scythe, pointing its tip toward the man.
"I’ll ask just in case. Is this shakedown your own idea, or are you following someone’s orders?"
"S-shut up! Weren't you listening to me?! Don't think for a second you'll get away with doing this to me!"
"I already figured out someone is backing you. I'm just asking if this little operation was done with that backer's knowledge. Oh, and let me tell you, I’m not from the Bestia Empire, so your talk about backers isn't going to have much effect on me."
The man, who had been shouting vigorously and glaring at Rei, froze in his tracks.
Rei watched him, then briefly shifted his gaze toward the man's subordinates. They were glaring at Rei with hostile expressions, looking as though they might charge with their swords and spears at any moment. Rei opened his mouth to speak.
"For those of you intending to attack me, only step forward if you're prepared to receive the same kind of strike in return. You're the ones initiating the violence. Surely you’re prepared to be on the receiving end as well?"
At those words, the rage the man's subordinates had been feeling just a moment ago vanished instantly. A chill ran down their spines, and they hesitated. They had never encountered anyone who spoke to them like this; above all, Rei’s eyes weren't those of a person looking at other human beings. He looked at them as if they were nothing more than pebbles or weeds by the side of the road.
Normally, being looked at that way would be enough to drive men of their pride into a frenzy. But after seeing their captain—the most skilled among them—brushed aside so effortlessly, they feared they would be cut down exactly as he said.
It was then that one of the men redirected his gaze toward Rei's weapon.
A giant scythe over two meters long. Seeing that, the man then shifted his attention to the gryphon Rei was riding.
A few seconds passed. Eventually, the man's legs began to shake, and he dropped his sword to the ground. His teeth chattered audibly as his body trembled.
Rei glanced at him, then immediately turned his gaze back to the captain crouching and clutching his wrist, as if he had already lost interest in the other man. At that moment...
The man standing right next to the one with the chattering teeth suddenly lunged forward, letting out a loud shout.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"
It was a roar—or rather, a scream of sheer desperation.
Drowning out his own terror with his shouting, the man thrust his spear toward Rei, who was looking down at their captain from Seto's back. The spear was thrust with a sharp whoosh of air, proving that this man was no mere amateur.
Even so, the tip of the spear was effortlessly parried by Rei's Death Scythe.
"Gugh!"
Rei had swung the Death Scythe without even looking back, relying solely on the sound of the spear cutting through the air. The weight and power of that strike were catastrophic for the man. The thought of holding his ground didn't even have time to cross his mind before the overwhelming impact.
In the next instant, the spear was sent flying ten meters away. Its shaft was severely bent, and the tip was driven deep into the earth. The sheer force required to bury the shaft like that proved the magnitude of Rei's strength.
"Gofuh!"
As the man's eyes were drawn to the spear for a split second, Seto's hind leg lashed out.
The only saving grace for the man was that, being a gryphon, Seto's lower half was that of a lion. Had he been struck by one of the gryphon’s front eagle claws, he would have undoubtedly perished on the spot. Of course, being a lion's leg didn't mean it was safe. Despite the armor he wore, almost all of the man's ribs were snapped—shattered, even—as he was sent flying.
The impact likely damaged his internal organs as well. Though he remained unconscious, he coughed, and blood began to flow from his mouth.
"...Y-you bastard! Do you realize what you’re doing?! We are those under the Second Prince's protection!"
The captain's voice rang out in a desperate shout, causing the onlookers to murmur.
The Second Prince. The weight that name carried in the Bestia Empire was immense. ...Yes, strictly inside the Bestia Empire.
"What of it? In the first place, it's your own fault for setting up a pointless checkpoint and extorting travelers, isn't it? Besides... your claim about having the Second Prince's protection sounds suspicious to begin with."
Rei turned his gaze toward the captain with an expression of mild exasperation.
If someone who exploited innocent civilians turned out to be one of his subordinates, the Second Prince's position would worsen in many ways. Furthermore, they had picked a fight with Rei—the escort of Margrave Larkus, who had been invited from the victorious Kingdom of Mireana—and tried to seize not only his gold but also his magic items and Seto.
If this came to light, it would undoubtedly be a major failing for the Second Prince. No, he would be lucky if it ended there; it would certainly develop into an international incident.
(Yeah. That is, if these guys really were the Second Prince's operatives... but...) Rei mused.
He watched the captain closely to ensure he didn't try anything strange. Since they were doing this so openly, there was no doubt they had some kind of backer. However, whether that backer was actually the Second Prince was another matter entirely. It made more sense to assume they were doing this specifically to push the responsibility onto the Second Prince and disgrace him.
(If that's the case, the one truly behind this guy is someone else. Either someone with a right of succession to the throne, or simply someone with a grudge against the Second Prince. If it's the latter, it'll be impossible for me to identify them.)
Those with rights of succession who found the Second Prince troublesome were the First Prince and the First Princess. Of course, in a country as large as the Bestia Empire, there were likely many others with claims to the throne, but based on the information he had heard from Vihera and Theoreme, those two were the most likely candidates.
"At any rate, I came here because I was invited by the Bestia Empire. Since you've tried to extort me, you can look forward to seeing how the state disposes of you later."
"D-don't mess with me!"
The captain shouted while still clutching his wrist. Rei eventually let out a small sigh.
"Crimson."
"...What?"
"The 'Crimson' you were talking about. Tell me what he looks like."
"T-that's... he rides a gryphon, and carries a great scythe that exceeds his height..."
As he spoke, he finally fixed his gaze on the Death Scythe Rei was holding. He finally realized that the person standing right in front of him was the very man he had been talking about.
"I-impossible... I heard Crimson was taller than me!"
"I don't know who you heard that from, but the truth is what's right in front of your eyes. ...Now then."
Rei muttered. While still mounted on Seto's back, he gave the Death Scythe a large swing and placed its blade precisely against the captain's throat.
"I’m going to need you to tell me a few things."
Just as Rei muttered that with a smirk, a voice called out.
"Could you stop right there?"