After passing the guards' inspection and entering the Imperial Capital, Daskar's entourage was met by an elderly man who appeared to be in his fifties.
As he watched the carriages come to a halt, the man approached them with purpose. Despite there being three carriages in the line, he headed straight for the one carrying Daskar without a moment’s hesitation. He was clearly the guide the Bestia Empire had prepared specifically for the Margrave.
What surprised Rei most, however, was the guide’s total lack of reaction to Set’s presence.
I guess that comes with being a veteran, Rei thought with a note of admiration.
The man stepped toward Daskar’s carriage and performed a deep, formal bow.
“Margrave Larkus, welcome to the Imperial Capital of the Bestia Empire. It is a profound honor to receive a man rumored to be one of the preeminent heroes of the Kingdom of Mireana. My name is Ombrel Marmite, and I have been appointed as your guide. Though your stay will be brief, I shall do my utmost with all sincerity to ensure your time here is satisfactory. I look forward to serving you.”
As if in answer, the carriage door swung open.
Elk, Min, and Rhodos emerged first, followed closely by Daskar. Addressing Ombrel, who remained bowed, Daskar gave a slight nod.
“I am Daskar Larkus, Margrave of the Kingdom of Mireana. I appreciate the hospitality. Given the current relationship between our nations, various disturbances may arise. Should that happen, I would prefer to settle things as peacefully as possible. I’m counting on you to help manage that.”
“Understood. I shall handle whatever I can on my end,” Ombrel replied.
“Good. Then, without further ado, take us to our lodgings. Get in the carriage.”
“Certainly.”
With that, Ombrel climbed into the carriage. Watching the man's fluid movements, Rei felt a flicker of surprise. It was immediately clear that the man possessed a significant level of combat ability. In fact, if such a brief action as boarding a carriage could catch Rei's eye, the man’s skill was likely far beyond common expertise.
He’s dressed like a butler, but... do the butlers of the Bestia Empire double as bodyguards? Well, considering they’re always at their master’s side, it’s not unthinkable. He’s a Surname Holder, too, so he must be of noble birth. ...He wouldn't happen to be a member of the Requiem Bell, would he?
Rei mused inwardly, though he reasoned that since the man had been provided by the state's upper management, such concern was likely unnecessary. Still, a stranger with high combat ability was now sitting right next to their primary protection target. He couldn't afford to let his guard down completely.
Elk evidently felt the same. Before boarding the carriage after Ombrel, he shot a meaningful look toward Rei.
Rei offered a small shrug in return, then sat back on Set’s back and stroked the gryphon’s neck.
“Set. A lot might happen here in the capital, but let’s try to keep our cool, okay?”
“Guruuuu...”
Usually, Set was quick to agree with Rei, but this time was different. The gryphon let out a dissatisfied rumble. It wasn't worried about its own safety; it was purely out of concern for Rei.
Recognizing the sentiment, Rei smiled and stroked the gryphon again.
“It’ll be fine. There’s no way I’d lose to the people around here. Besides, if anything happens to us, it would be a major diplomatic failure for the Bestia Empire.”
“Guru.”
Set continued to rumble with worry, but when Rei pointed out that Daskar’s carriage had begun to move, the gryphon reluctantly followed.
Because they were near the gate reserved for nobility, the immediate area was empty. However, after traveling a short distance, they merged into the heart of the city—a place bustling with an incredible number of tourists drawn by the upcoming Fighting Tournament.
There was no way such a curious crowd would fail to notice Daskar’s entourage as it proceeded grandly down the Main Street.
“Hey, look at that carriage. Which noble house do you think it is?”
“Hmm, I don't recognize the crest. It's probably not one of ours. Maybe from one of the small surrounding countries?”
“No, no, hey, look! Someone’s riding a gryphon! A guy like that must have a huge reputation.”
“...Wait, a gryphon? You don't think it's... Crimson, do you?”
“Crimson? From the war? But isn't he supposed to be some rugged giant of a man? That kid on the gryphon doesn't look like a giant at all. It must be someone else.”
“I guess... but how many people actually tame gryphons?”
The voices drifted to Rei's ears without him even trying to listen. He could only twist his lips into a wry smile and pretend he hadn't heard a word.
At first, there hadn't been any rumors of him being a giant, but Rei had noticed that since entering the Bestia Empire, that particular story had been spreading like wildfire. Even Dune, the man who had been blockading the highway, had been convinced that Crimson was a man of massive stature.
Rei found it puzzling, but then again, very few people in this country had actually seen him and lived. To those who had only heard of a man swinging a Great Scythe to reap the lives of hundreds of soldiers and knights, it was only natural to assume he was a physical titan.
As he listened to the chatter, Rei wondered what kind of uproar would break out if he participated in the tournament and his true identity was revealed. He kept his eyes moving, scanning the crowd.
Many were watching with simple curiosity, but others had recognized the crest of Margrave Larkus. Rei noticed more than a few people casting glares of pure hatred. He remained vigilant, making sure none of them were bold enough to make a move.
“Guruuuu.”
Set let out another rumble. The Main Street was packed, and the air was thick with the scents from various food stalls. The smell of grilled skewers, freshly baked bread, rich soups, and sweet fruits wafted through the air in a dizzying mix.
Set, who was faithful to its stomach at the best of times, found the stimuli almost overwhelming. Its sense of smell was several times sharper than a human’s, making the draw of the food nearly irresistible.
“Hey, not right now. We have to finish the check-in first.”
Set had instinctively started to drift toward a stall, but Rei snapped the gryphon back to reality with a light pat on the neck. Set let out a disappointed sound but kept following the carriage.
“Haha, did the smell get to Set too?”
A knight riding alongside them asked with a small smile.
“Yeah, seems so. Though it's hard not to be hungry when things smell this good.”
While replying, Rei’s gaze drifted toward a bakery. The sight of golden, freshly baked bread lined up in the storefront had stopped many pedestrians in their tracks. In this city, finding a place with a kiln was a luxury. Most stalls had to transport their goods, meaning truly fresh bread was a prize. With the population density swollen by the tournament, getting fresh goods through the crowded streets was no small feat.
“It really does smell amazing. ...Hey, look. Would it be okay if I went and bought just a little? Just a tiny bit?”
The one who said that wasn't Rei—it was one of the knights. A different one from before. He spoke with such soul-felt longing that his desire for the bread was palpable.
“Guru!” Set chirped in total agreement.
However...
“Absolutely not,” the first knight hissed, scolding his colleague in a low voice. “We’re being watched by everyone. If you do something that embarrassing, it’ll bring shame upon Lord Daskar!”
Rei stroked Set’s neck as the gryphon looked ready to bolt for the shop. He leaned down and whispered, “Listen, Set. Once we reach the stables, I’ll make sure they get you something to eat right away.”
“...Guruuuu.”
Set looked back and forth between Rei and the bakery before finally giving up. With a resigned rumble, it quickened its pace, seemingly determined to reach the inn as fast as possible. Rei could only offer a wry smile at the gryphon’s antics.
They continued down the Main Street until they arrived at a massive five-story building—an architectural marvel in the world of Elgin. Such high-rise structures were unheard of outside of massive hubs like the Imperial Capital.
Naturally, the cost of staying there was enough to make an average noble faint. It was an establishment reserved for great merchants and high-ranking royalty. Even a Margrave like Daskar might have hesitated under normal circumstances, especially given his preference for frontier simplicity. But as this was an official invitation from the Empire, he could hardly refuse.
“...This is an incredible place, in more ways than one,” Rei muttered, looking up at the sign.
The sign read Eternal Sky Inn.
“The Eternal Sky Inn, huh? A bit grandiose... but looking at the building, I have to admit it fits.”
“Probably. Come on, let’s move,” the knight urged.
As they passed through the gates, they were met by over fifty employees lined up in front of the entrance. It was a reception fit for a king. The Bestia Empire was clearly making a point of showing how much they valued Daskar’s presence—or perhaps they were trying to lull him into a false sense of security.
Daskar, for his part, seemed to take it in stride. He stepped out of the carriage and began speaking with the manager alongside Ombrel. The arrangements were handled with professional speed. In minutes, several staff members approached the guards and Rei.
A man in his forties, apparently the leader of the group, stepped forward.
“A pleasure to meet you, Margrave Larkus and honored guests. My name is Dantast, and I am in charge of the Eternal Sky Inn Stables. If you would follow me, I will guide you to the facilities immediately.”
“Ah, I’ve got things handled here,” Daskar called out. “You lot head to the stables.”
With their employer’s permission, Rei and the knights followed Dantast. Staff began unloading the luggage from the carriages, which would be moved to the stables later.
Well, we’ve finally made it, Rei thought, watching the grand inn. I wonder what kind of trouble is waiting for us inside.