Inside a shop in the Imperial Capital, Rei focused every ounce of his attention on a single man, observing him with unwavering intensity.
Main, the shop’s owner, had no idea what was happening. He called out to the man who had just walked through the door.
"Hey, did you do something to this kid? I finally get a chance to see some incredible magic items, so don't you dare get in my way."
The newcomer was a man who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties. Judging by the shopkeeper's tone, he was likely an acquaintance. He let out a weary sigh.
"I’m getting in the way? I just walked into the shop, didn't I? And why are you looking at me like... oh?"
As the man’s gaze shifted toward Rei, his expression turned to one of surprise, as if he had just noticed something remarkable.
His eyes held a complex swirl of surprise at an unexpected encounter, curiosity, and sharp wariness.
Rei didn’t hide his reaction. His entire body radiated caution, having sensed semi-instinctively that the man before him was far from ordinary.
The man seemed to realize this as well. A thin smile touched his lips.
"Shall we talk for a bit?"
"...You want me to talk with you?" Rei replied. "That’s a bad joke."
"It's no joke. You can tell, can't you? You're the same."
Rei understood exactly what he meant. He could only nod in response to the man’s questioning—or rather, confirming—words.
"I suppose... you’re right. It seems that would be for the best."
Main watched them, his face clouding with dissatisfaction at being left out of a conversation he couldn't grasp. Rei was wearing magic items that were world-class, perhaps even beyond. As a magic item merchant, he had been desperate to examine them further for his own education.
"Sorry, Main. But I can't back down on this one," the man said. "I’m sure you feel the same, right?"
"Yeah," Rei agreed without hesitation.
Seeing the two of them, Main realized that further interference was futile. He turned to the man and let out a vexed sigh.
"Good grief. Cascada, you’re ruining my big moment. Fine, I get it. I’ll back off. That’s what you want, right? But you’re going to owe me one for this."
"My apologies."
The man called Cascada offered a brief apology to his acquaintance, then turned and left the shop without another word.
Rei followed him immediately.
They left Main behind, the merchant's face a picture of pure regret.
"This place should be fine."
The man stopped in front of a small building about a ten-minute walk from the main street, tucked away in a back street. It was a standalone house—not so old that it was about to collapse, but definitely not new.
Rei followed him inside quietly.
Normally, Rei would never do something so reckless, but he was too intrigued by the figure in front of him. This man radiated a level of power that had forced Rei into a combat-ready state just by meeting his eyes.
Elena, Vihera... and Elk.
They were the strongest people he had ever faced, individuals he could truly describe as formidable foes. It was impossible for him not to be interested in someone who possessed strength equal to or perhaps even greater than theirs.
Of course, the fact that the man hadn't displayed any overt hostility was another reason Rei had followed so peacefully. Had the man been hostile from the start, Rei would have unleashed his flame magic with everything he had, even in the middle of the Imperial Capital. To Rei’s eyes, this opponent possessed that much skill.
"Come in. It goes without saying, but I have no intention of being hostile toward you. At least, for now."
"I'd appreciate it if you kept it that way," Rei replied shortly as he entered.
He was surprised to see how clean the interior was compared to the outside. The man led him to a small room, roughly the size of six tatami mats, and gestured for him to take a seat.
Rei moved his chair slightly away from the table before sitting down. He wanted to be able to react instantly if anything happened. The man saw this and gave a wry smile, reaching into a bag hanging from his waist to pull out a pitcher and a cup.
Rei’s movements stiffened for a split second. The man noticed, his lips curling into a slight grin as he handed over a cup of chilled water.
"What's wrong? An Item Box shouldn't be a rare sight to you. Anyone well-informed knows that Crimson has one."
"...As I thought. That’s an Item Box, too."
He was completely exposed. The thought crossed Rei's mind, but then again, he had made quite a name for himself in the fighting tournament. If he had been wearing his hood, it might have been different, but the shop owner, Main, had been the exception for not recognizing him even after he’d lowered it.
"Well, yes. To think two owners of Item Boxes—things said to be nearly extinct—would meet like this. Don't you think it’s a rather interesting turn of events?"
"Maybe. It might have been more interesting if I weren't so busy being on guard against you."
The man let out a small sigh at Rei’s blatant wariness.
"Don't be so defensive. Though, I suppose it's only natural. Just wait a second."
He reached his hands behind his neck.
Rei’s hand moved toward a dagger beneath his Dragon Robe, but the event that followed made his eyes go wide.
The man’s brown hair turned green. His rugged face remained, but the corners of his eyes angled up, becoming sharper. The shape of his mouth, ears, and even the contours of his cheeks shifted. His apparent age dropped from his late thirties to his early thirties. In seconds, he had transformed into an entirely different person.
"How about now? Do you understand why I was hiding my face?" the man asked with a faint smirk.
Rei tilted his head, genuinely confused. Given how confidently the man spoke, he was clearly famous, but this was the first time Rei had ever seen this face.
"...I see. My name hasn't spread as much as I thought."
The man’s smirk turned into a wry smile. He had clearly expected Rei to know him on sight.
Rei remained wary, but he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He spoke up to offer a bit of consolation.
"Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the power players in the Bestia Empire. I assumed you were a local because you have a hideout here, though."
"That's right. Well, I suppose it can't be helped. Let me introduce myself properly, then."
The man shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked directly at Rei.
The moment their eyes met, a sharp sense of crisis surged in Rei's chest. This man was dangerous. As the thought struck him, he suddenly realized the truth. There were very few people who could make him feel this threatened. Which meant...
"You’re a high-rank adventurer of the Bestia Empire."
"That's right. You're not wrong. Let's try this again. I am Noise, an S-Rank adventurer of the Bestia Empire. Cascada was just a pseudonym for my disguise."
Rei was momentarily stunned by Noise's words.
An S-Rank adventurer. They were the pinnacle of their profession, with only three known to exist in the entire world of Elgin. He knew the Kingdom of Mireana had one, and he’d heard there was one in the Bestia Empire as well. But actually standing face-to-face with one was another matter entirely.
"...I see. S-Rank, huh."
Rei muttered the words, staring at the man who called himself Noise.
Rei didn't have the ability to read magic power, yet he could feel something special radiating from the man. It wasn't logic; his instincts were screaming that the man before him was astronomically powerful.
Noise took a sip of his water, watching Rei.
"There's no need to be so guarded. I just... well, I just wanted to talk with you."
"Talk, huh? I hope you don't have any grudges to settle."
Noise tilted his head slightly at Rei’s comment. He looked genuinely puzzled.
(No, I doubt an S-Rank adventurer would show his feelings that easily,) Rei thought.
But Noise's words confirmed Rei’s observation.
"Why would I have a grudge? I assume you're talking about the Spring War Incident, but I had absolutely nothing to do with that. I have no reason to hate you."
"But surely some of your acquaintances were killed?"
"That’s true, yes. But they were there on a job as adventurers. A full-fledged adventurer takes a request and fails—that's all there is to it. Why should I get angry over that?"
Rei began to understand as he listened to the man’s genuine curiosity. This person completely separated his professional and private lives.
While it might be a different story if a truly close friend or lover had died, he clearly didn't harbor any personal resentment toward Rei right now.
He separates work and private life... but doesn't that mean he'd treat even a friend as an enemy if it were part of a job?
In other words, he wouldn't let personal feelings interfere if they were on opposite sides of a contract. Rei felt a wave of relief that they weren't enemies yet, but then realized his palms were damp with sweat.
Was I unconsciously terrified? This is the most threatened I've felt since Grimm.
The memory of the man who had admired Zephyle and become a Lich flickered in his mind.
However, unlike Grimm, who had been friendly from start to finish because of his ties to Zephyle, there was no guarantee that Noise wouldn't become a future enemy. Rei had to choose his words with extreme care.
"I see. I'm glad you aren't angry. Though, for an S-Rank adventurer, this place is a bit underwhelming."
"Hm? Oh, this is just one of my hideouts. It's handy for meeting people without being seen. I don't need much furniture since my important belongings are in here. I'm sure it’s the same for you."
Rei nodded as Noise gestured to the bag at his waist. His body was still stiff, but he did his best not to let it show on his face.
"True. In this class, you never know when things might go south."
Rei kept almost everything he needed stored inside the Misty Ring. Even at an inn, he only left out mundane items he wouldn't mind losing. He’d surprised innkeepers with that habit more than once, so he wasn't in any position to judge Noise.
"Right? Adventurers deal with 'just in case' moments constantly."
"...Fine. So, why did you bring me here? Surely you didn't drag me away just to chat?"
"Hmm. I can't say that wasn't part of it. An alias holder suddenly appears in the Kingdom of Mireana this year... I wanted to confirm for myself exactly what kind of man he is. That was my main motivation."
"What a whimsical thing to do," Rei replied.
He felt no malice or ill intent from the man, and he finally allowed himself a small measure of relief.
"It's only natural to gather data on an alias holder, even for those who are just somewhat famous. Especially since I have the real thing right in front of me."
"Well, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I don't get many chances to talk to an S-Rank adventurer, either."
As they exchanged light conversation, Rei still felt an overwhelming pressure, as if he were standing before a giant tree that had stood for millennia. His palms were sweaty, and his skin crawled with a lingering chill.
Despite the strain, Rei stayed and talked, determined not to waste the rare opportunity to speak with an S-Rank individual.
By the time the conversation ended and he finally parted ways with Noise, even Rei—with all his vast stamina—felt utterly drained.