As they made their way toward the meeting with the Chancellor, Rei tilted his head in thought.
(Those two earlier... based on their robes and staves, they were definitely mages. Have I met them somewhere before?)
He harbored a lingering doubt as he recalled the image of the female mage duo who had stiffened in terror, one even slumping to the floor.
As far as Rei could remember, however, they were total strangers. He certainly had no memory of encountering them during any of his previous requests.
Then again, the chances of Rei—who primarily operated within the Kingdom of Mireana—encountering mages from the Bestia Empire were limited...
"Ah, I see."
The possibility suddenly dawned on him, and he let out a murmur of understanding.
Beside him, Rhodos cast a puzzled glance at Rei’s sudden remark, but Rei ignored the look and followed his train of thought.
(If I, an adventurer active in the Kingdom of Mireana, were to cross paths with mages active in the Bestia Empire, the most likely place would have been the Battle of Seremuse Plain. That means they were probably mercenaries participating in the Bestia Imperial Army during the war.)
If that were the case, their extreme fear of him made perfect sense. He considered another, less likely possibility: that someone he had encountered in Mireana had relocated to the Bestia Empire for some reason.
(Well, that’s probably not it.)
While one could travel back and forth across the Seremuse Plain under normal circumstances, the long-standing conflict between the two nations had bred deep-seated hostility. Very few would willingly head to the Bestia Empire under such conditions—with a few unique exceptions, like Vihera.
Concluding that further speculation was pointless without more information, Rei refocused just as Ombrel, who was leading Daskar’s entourage, came to a halt.
They stood before a large door flanked by two knights who appeared to be guards.
"The Chancellor is waiting inside," Ombrel announced. "However, before we proceed with the meeting, I must collect any weapons you are carrying."
"...Well, that’s only natural," Elk muttered.
They were meeting the Chancellor of a nation—and a hostile one at that. It would be unthinkable to be allowed entry while armed. In fact, even in a non-hostile setting, it was generally considered improper to meet a person of high status while carrying a weapon.
In that regard, Margrave Larkus’s habit of allowing visitors to remain armed unless they were exceptionally dangerous was a testament to his absolute confidence in his own martial prowess. Of course, the fact that he always had guards stationed in adjacent rooms, ready to intervene at a moment's notice, played a part as well.
The escorting knights and Rhodos handed over their longswords; Elk surrendered his Axe of the Thunder God, and Min gave up her staff.
When it came to Rei, he was naturally asked to disarm as well. There was no way he would hand over the Death Scythe, and the Misty Ring was out of the question. Ultimately, he settled for surrendering a spare dagger he kept tucked in his clothes.
The Chancellor’s guards were visibly unsatisfied, but since the dagger appeared to be the only weapon Rei had on him, they reluctantly accepted it. Whether they were ignorant of the Misty Ring or were intentionally overlooking it remained unclear, but he was ushered into the room without being asked to remove it.
Had they demanded the ring, Rei would have refused. He didn't have the nerve to entrust his literal lifeline to a former enemy.
(Come to think of it, Elk handed over the Axe of the Thunder God without a second thought.)
The weapon was of incredibly high quality and was the source of Elk’s famous alias. Its value was immeasurable; if the empire were to seize it, they would effectively strip the Kingdom of Mireana of a significant portion of its military might. However, doing so would spark a massive international incident, and the Bestia Imperial Army—currently in the middle of a major structural reorganization—likely wanted to avoid that headache at all costs.
"Lord Peshe Gatto, I have brought the entourage of Margrave Larkus."
"Hmph. Enter."
The response from within the room was a somewhat muffled voice.
Though he tilted his head slightly at the tone, Rei followed as Daskar’s entourage entered through the door Ombrel held open.
The first thing to catch Rei’s eye was a man sitting on a sofa, leafing through various documents. This was clearly the man Ombrel had identified as the Chancellor: Peshe Gatto. His appearance was quite distinctive.
While his exact height was hard to judge from his seated position, it was clear he wasn't a giant. Though he likely wasn't much taller than Rei, he undoubtedly weighed twice as much—perhaps even more. To put it bluntly, the man was quite obese. He was bald, with a wispy mustache growing beneath his nose.
At first glance, he almost looked like a clown, but his eyes told a different story as they scanned the documents. They were sharp and piercing, reminiscent of a bird of prey.
The entourage only saw that predatory gaze for a fleeting second. In the next moment, the man's expression softened into a pleasant look as he turned toward his guests.
"My apologies. I have a mountain of work to get through at this time of year... I am sorry for keeping you waiting."
"...No, quite the contrary. We have nothing but gratitude for your willingness to accommodate such a sudden request for a meeting."
Daskar spoke with a refined, polite tone quite unlike his usual self. His typical unconventional manner was reserved for family, close associates, or those who didn't care for formalities. In a diplomatic setting like this, he was forced to adopt a formal persona. As a Margrave, it was a skill he possessed as a matter of course.
"Welcome to the Bestia Empire. I hope you haven't faced any inconveniences during your stay. Please, make yourselves comfortable. You there, prepare some tea."
"Yes, my Lord."
At Peshe’s command, a maid in the room nodded and stepped out. Once she had gone, Daskar took a seat on the sofa as invited.
Rei, Elk, and the other guards were not permitted to sit and instead stood behind Daskar. Peshe’s own guards followed the same protocol, with three of them standing behind their master’s sofa.
(...They’re strong.)
Rei noted inwardly. He could tell at a glance that all three of the Chancellor's guards possessed significant skill. He didn't think he would lose to them, but they weren't the kind of weaklings he could simply sweep aside like he had so many times before. The two knights accompanying Rei seemed to have reached the same conclusion, as they visibly tensed their posture.
The feeling was mutual for Peshe’s guards. If anything, their surprise was likely greater. They were elite warriors entrusted with the safety of the Chancellor, yet even they felt that if they were forced to fight the guards of Margrave Larkus, victory would be far from certain. At best, they could only hope to buy enough time for Peshe to escape.
One guard in particular possessed the ability to sense magic power. He was staring at Rei with an expression of pure disbelief—as if he were looking at a monster. Though no words were exchanged, the guards measured one another through atmosphere and subtle gestures alone. It was its own form of diplomatic interaction.
"I have sent invitations every year," Peshe remarked, "but until now, you have always sent proxies. It has taken quite a long time for the man himself to grace us with his presence."
"For my part, I have long wished to see the Bestia Empire's famous Fighting Tournament with my own eyes. However, being a Lord on the frontier is a demanding role. Lately, we've had so many disturbances that I've hardly had a moment to relax."
"Oh? Disturbances?"
"Yes. From autumn to winter of last year, I found myself quite busy dealing with various matters."
"Hahaha. What's this? You are Margrave Larkus, a man renowned as a great frontier Lord even in the Kingdom of Mireana. Surely disturbances of that scale are nothing for a man of your caliber to worry about?"
They spoke with smiles on their faces, and the atmosphere even seemed peaceful. However, there was no way a conversation between the Chancellor of the Bestia Empire and the leader of Mireana’s Neutral Faction was being conducted at face value. Even in this brief exchange, they were constantly testing and checking one another.
(The 'disturbances' from last year refer to the ones the Bestia Empire instigated. Daskar is implicitly blaming them, and the other guy is brushing it off by saying it shouldn't have been a problem for him... is that it?)
As Rei stood behind Daskar listening to the exchange, there was a knock at the door, and the maid returned with black tea and cookies. She poured the tea and presented the cups to the two men.
Peshe looked at Daskar with a smile. "Choose whichever you like."
"Very well. I shall take this one."
Once Daskar had pulled the cup on the right toward him, Peshe—as if waiting for that moment—took the remaining cup, popped a cookie into his mouth, and washed it down with a sip of tea. He had let Daskar choose first, then consumed his own portion to prove there was no poison. It was a calculated act of hospitality, though Rei felt it was a bit too theatrical. It was a blatant display intended to show just how much consideration he was giving his guest.
Without that gesture, Daskar likely wouldn't have touched the tea or cookies. After all, they were undeniably in enemy territory.
Amidst these exchanges, where every word and action carried multiple layers of meaning, Daskar and Peshe continued their conversation. They started with harmless small talk—monsters near Gilm, magic items produced in the empire—but once the topic shifted to the Fighting Tournament, Daskar broached the main subject.
"Regarding the Fighting Tournament... I actually have a favor to ask of you."
"Oh? A request from Margrave Larkus, who has come all the way from the Kingdom of Mireana? I certainly cannot ignore it. I cannot guarantee I can fulfill it, but let me hear it first."
"That is appreciated. In truth, several of the people I have employed as guards have expressed a strong desire to participate in the Fighting Tournament. I was wondering if you, Chancellor, might be able to facilitate their entry."
"...I see."
At Daskar’s words, the gentle light in Peshe’s eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp gaze that swept over the guards standing behind the Margrave.
"Surely you don't mean all of them...? May I ask specifically who wishes to enter?"
"Yes, of course. First is Rei. Though perhaps it would be easier for you, Chancellor, if I referred to him as Crimson."
Hearing his name, Rei stepped forward and gave Peshe a slight bow. "I am Rei, an adventurer of Gilm."
At the mention of 'Crimson,' Peshe’s gaze turned razor-sharp as it locked onto Rei.
As the Chancellor of the Bestia Empire, Peshe was well aware of who Crimson was. He knew from the investigative hearings of those who had survived the Spring War that the man’s appearance was said to be completely different from the rumors.
But... even so, seeing him in person, he couldn't help but wonder: was this truly the individual who had inflicted such devastating losses on the Imperial Army?
He was short—somewhere between a child and an adult. His facial features didn't possess the fearsome intensity one would expect from a renowned adventurer with a legendary alias. Peshe had gathered plenty of intel beforehand, but facing the boy directly, he still found himself tilting his head in doubt. The fact that Elk, the man known as the Axe of the Thunder God, was standing right beside Rei only amplified the contrast.
"So you are Crimson. I have heard much about you through rumors and the reports of those who fought in the war... but to be perfectly honest, seeing you like this, it is hard to believe."
Hearing Peshe’s blunt assessment, a wry smile played on Rei’s lips. He had long since made his peace with his unassuming appearance, but having it pointed out so directly still drew a reaction from him.
Watching Rei’s response, Peshe eventually gave a small nod.
"Very well. Regarding Crimson's participation in the Fighting Tournament... I shall take it upon myself to ensure it is arranged."