"Since you're the one they call Crimson, we’re counting on you! Please, let us train with you!"
Rei stared at the trio of adventurers in front of him, his expression one of pure bewilderment as they bowed their heads in a deep, formal plea.
They were currently in the dining hall of the Eternal Sky Inn. The room was filled with its usual clientele—nobles and wealthy merchants—as well as Rei’s regular companions. Lord Daskar and Elk were watching the spectacle with amused grins; Min had spared a single glance before returning to her book; and Rhodos was chewing on a piece of bread as if the whole situation had nothing to do with him, flanked by the escort knights.
A group of people bowing so low in a place like this was bound to attract attention. Already, curious gazes from the other patrons and their various guards were beginning to prick at Rei’s skin.
"Lord Daskar?" Rei asked, looking for an out.
"Don't look at me. Technically, you're still my guard, but since you're entering the Fighting Tournament, you're effectively off duty. Handle this however you see fit."
The Margrave’s words were perfectly reasonable, but the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. He was clearly enjoying this. He took a sip of his fruit wine, looking for all the world as if he and Elk were watching a comedy routine to pass the time.
They had been at the inn for several days now. Even with the luxury the establishment provided, being confined indoors had likely left Daskar quite bored.
Since Rei and Rhodos were set to participate in the Fighting Tournament, they had been officially relieved of their duties, as Daskar had noted. They were currently using the two days left before the competition to get their bodies into peak condition.
Most of the other nobles staying at the Eternal Sky Inn spent their free time as tourists, sightseeing around the Imperial Capital or using the opportunity to rub elbows with foreign dignitaries. Daskar, however, was a high-ranking noble from the Kingdom of Mireana, a nation that had been at odds with the Bestia Empire for many years.
Knowing that any move he made within the Bestia Empire would be scrutinized or used against him, most other nobles avoided him entirely. Even the great merchants staying at the inn—while curious about Gilm’s rare materials—considered the frontier city too far away to be a viable business partner.
Furthermore, Daskar had no intention of exposing himself to unnecessary risk. He was already a target for various factions, and despite having a veteran like Elk to protect him, he wasn't the sort of eccentric who went looking for trouble for the sake of it.
As a result, Daskar had spent most of his time cooped up in the inn, granting occasional audiences to a few persistent guests or engaging in light training to keep his muscles from getting stiff. In short, he was bored out of his mind.
Elk, his primary protector, was in the same boat. To the two of them, these people begging Rei for lessons or discipleship were the perfect distraction. They didn't say it out loud, but the looks they gave Rei made their intentions crystal clear.
"...Rhodos, what do you think?" Rei asked, turning to his current sparring partner.
Rei figured that asking Daskar and Elk was a waste of breath. He fully expected Rhodos to turn them down. After all, training with someone as powerful as Rei was an invaluable experience; every session pushed Rhodos’s skills further. Rei had only directed the question at him because he wanted a valid excuse to say no.
However...
"I don't mind, honestly," Rhodos replied.
"...What?"
The answer was so unexpected that Rei found himself squinting at Rhodos in disbelief. Sensing the skepticism, Rhodos quickly offered an explanation.
"Look, I know training with you is good for me... at least, I think it is. But the problem is that if I only ever fight you, I have no way of knowing if I’m actually getting any stronger. I'd like to test myself against someone else for a change."
"...I see your point."
Rei had to admit the logic was sound. He and Rhodos had held countless mock battles. Each time Rhodos improved, Rei would meticulously dial back his own restraint to match him. He did it so precisely that while Rhodos was indeed growing stronger, he felt as though he were standing still.
The only things Rhodos had to gauge his progress were Rei’s occasional compliments and the increasing speed and sharpness of his own strikes. It was only natural that he would want to fight—and hopefully win against—someone else to validate his hard work.
Did I overdo it? Rei wondered.
The fact is, letting him get used to losing all the time is a bad habit in itself. In that case...
Rei glanced back at the aspiring students.
It might actually be good to let Rhodos fight these guys and get his confidence back. If it serves as training for them too, then I suppose there’s no harm in it.
Having made up his mind, Rei spoke to the three who were still bowing.
"I’ll tell you this up front: I’m a participant in the Fighting Tournament myself. My training with Rhodos is something I’m doing more out of personal whim than anything else. I’m not exactly a gifted teacher. If I take you on, most of your training will consist of mock battles with him. If you’re okay with that, then I’ll accept."
"For real!?"
The man who had been the spokesperson for the group snapped his head up instantly. His face was a picture of pure joy, his grin wide and triumphant.
"Thank you! We came here to test ourselves in the tournament, but getting pointers from someone as skilled as you makes the whole trip worth it. Let's get started right—"
"Ruzy, we're still eating. And you haven't even introduced us yet. You're moving way too fast."
The woman behind him, who wore her hair in a short, neat cut, chided the man called Ruzy. The final member of the group, a man with a staff who looked to be around Rei’s age or perhaps a bit older, nodded in agreement.
"She's right. Haste helps no one. You won't survive the Fighting Tournament if you can't keep a cool head, and more importantly, we might fail our commissions if we're this impulsive."
Rebuked by both his companions, Ruzy couldn't think of a comeback. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and cleared his throat.
"Yeah, you're right. I was getting ahead of myself. We can start the training after breakfast. In the meantime, I'd like to introduce us, if that's okay?"
"...Sure. Go ahead."
They were being watched with curious looks from the other patrons—some wondering what the fuss was about, others looking on with nostalgia as if remembering their own younger days. Being in the heart of the Bestia Empire, there were still some hostile glares directed at Rei and Daskar, but they had faded significantly since their first night at the inn.
Of course, the most intense gazes were coming from Daskar and Elk, who were absolutely delighted by the turn of events.
Rei ignored them and moved his remaining food to a nearby empty table.
"Alright, introductions first. Tell me your names, your preferred weapons, and your roles in the party."
As he prompted them, Rei didn't stop eating his soup and bread. The vegetable soup was a labor of love; meat and vegetables had been simmered for hours until they practically dissolved, then fresh chunks were added to provide texture. Despite having no wheat flour in it, the soup was remarkably thick and rich.
The bread was the standard black bread common in the Empire, but it was surprisingly soft. The characteristic acidity of the bread paired perfectly with the rich soup, creating a flavor that Rei could have happily enjoyed every day. The inn was clearly too expensive for lower-ranked nobles, and the chef’s skill reflected that. It was among the best food Rei had ever tasted.
He had naturally made sure to stock up. He’d already asked the head chef to prepare a massive pot of the stuff, which was currently safely tucked away in his Misty Ring.
The first to speak was Ruzy, the one who had made the initial request.
"I'm Ruzy. I use this claymore. I'm the leader of our party, Fang of the Wind Dragon."
He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties, roughly the same age as Rhodos. He was equipped in a metal half plate, and his physique was packed with the kind of dense muscle that only came from rigorous training. True to his word, an oversized claymore was strapped to his back.
A classic power fighter, Rei noted with a nod. He then turned to the woman.
"I'm Veikyul. As you can see, I use dual daggers. I specialize in high-speed combat. I’m also the party’s thief."
Veikyul drew both daggers from their sheaths at her waist in one smooth motion, spun them expertly in her palms, and sheathed them again just as quickly. The display made it clear she was a master of her craft. Given how she had handled Ruzy earlier, she clearly possessed a strong personality to match her skills.
Rei turned his gaze to the final member.
"And then there's me. I'm Most," the youth said, his expression neutral. He looked to be the same age as Rei and carried a staff about a meter long. "I'm the mage. My preferred attributes are wind and water. I’m generally the level-headed one tasked with making judgments for the group."
As Most spoke, Rei noticed his robe was of exceptional quality.
A high-end mage's robe. There's no doubt that's a magic item.
Rei doubted they were novices. Whether they were working as escorts, had a wealthy patron, or had simply saved up their own coin, no beginner could afford to stay at the Eternal Sky Inn.
The trio’s roles were well-balanced and nearly ideal. Ruzy was the vanguard, Most provided support from the rear, and Veikyul was the flexible thief who could adapt to either position as needed.
"I see. You've got a well-rounded party."
"Heh, you noticed?"
Ruzy puffed out his chest with a confident laugh. He clearly took great pride in Fang of the Wind Dragon. However, his smile faltered at Rei's next words.
"But if you're all planning to enter the tournament individually, you're going to have some serious problems."
"What!? You compliment us and then go straight to that!?"
"Calm down, Ruzy. Crimson is right," Veikyul said. "You might be fine, but I lack raw power and Most is a mage who needs time for incantations. We might clear the qualifying rounds, but the main tournament is a series of one-on-one, head-on battles. It would be incredibly difficult for either of us to win under those conditions."
"She’s right," Most added. "I'm a pure mage. Being forced to fight alone puts me at a massive disadvantage."
Rei was impressed. The other two seemed to have a much better grasp of their own limitations than their leader.
Feeling a spark of genuine interest, Rei asked the question that had been on his mind.
"Tell me something. Why were you so eager to ask me for training? My reputation in the Bestia Empire is... less than stellar, to put it mildly."
"Your notoriety? Oh, you mean the war?" Ruzy tilted his head. "I know a lot of people are hung up on that, but there's no point in blaming someone for killing or being killed on a battlefield. Besides, the Empire is the one that started that mess."
"Plus, none of our families or friends were involved in that campaign, so we don't have a personal grudge," Veikyul added.
Most simply gave a small shrug, silently agreeing with his teammates.
I see. It helps that they weren't personally affected, but they’ve also got a very professional outlook, Rei thought, satisfied with the answer.
"Fair enough. We're planning to train right after breakfast, so you're welcome to join us. Oh, and you can just call me Rei. 'Crimson' is a bit much."