"Rei, sorry, but would you mind accompanying me for a bit?"
As they returned to the Eternal Sky Inn after the fighting tournament's opening ceremony, Rhodos called out to Rei.
Under normal circumstances, Rei might have asked what he wanted, but one look at Rhodos made his intentions clear. Rei wasn't the only one whose competitive fire had been stoked by the presence of an S-Rank adventurer.
The proof was in Rhodos's eyes—a fighting spirit so intense he couldn't hide it even if he tried. Rei felt exactly the same way.
Therefore...
"Sure, I don't mind. I need to stop by and see Set first, but I'm yours after that if you're okay with waiting."
Rei gave his answer without a moment's hesitation. After a quick word to Daskar and Elk, he and Rhodos left the inn together.
They were heading for the same location where they had trained with the members of Wind Dragon Fang a few days prior. Given how motivated they both were, a match in the inn's courtyard would do more than just attract scouts—it might actually level the courtyard itself.
Min watched their retreating figures from the window, her expression a mix of motherly concern and a touch of pride. Naturally, most of that worry was directed toward her son, Rhodos.
"Don't worry so much. It's not like they're off to do something bad," a voice said behind her. Min turned to find her husband, Elk.
"I know that. When it comes down to it, he’s a boy who does what needs to be done. But... that's exactly the problem. He gets so absorbed in one thing that he neglects everything else."
"Heh, like being obsessed with a girl? Well, at his age, that wouldn't be surprising."
"Elk... I’m trying to have a serious conversation here."
Min raised her staff in response to Elk's teasing. He gave a small shrug at her reaction, but a ferocious smile soon spread across his face.
"Say what you will, but I’m actually quite envious of Rhodos and Rei. They might actually get the chance to challenge Noise—the S-Rank adventurer with the alias of 'Immovable'."
'Immovable'. That was the title held by the Bestia Empire's greatest warrior. He was ever-victorious and invincible, a man who had never tasted defeat and could never be shifted from his seat as the winner.
"If I’d known an alias holder like Noise was going to show up, I would've signed up for the tournament myself," Elk added with genuine regret.
Min sighed and lowered her staff. Knowing her husband’s personality, his reaction was expected. She reached out and gave his shoulder a light pat.
"Come now, we’re supposed to be guards. We can’t stay away from Lord Daskar forever. Even inside the inn, we don't know what might happen—especially now that news about Rei is spreading because of the tournament."
"Which means the idiots will be out in force," Elk grunted.
In fact, even though the ceremony had only just ended, several people harboring grudges against Rei had already been caught by security while trying to infiltrate the inn.
The Eternal Sky Inn was one of the most prestigious establishments in the Bestia Empire. Naturally, its security staff was top-tier, and with so many distinguished guests in town for the tournament, the guard had been doubled.
There were also those among the guests who tried to make contact. These weren't people looking to harm Rei, but rather those hoping to make the acquaintance of a famous alias holder adventurer while they shared the same roof. Rei found the attention tedious and had asked Daskar to turn them all away, so none had succeeded.
Ironically, the adventurers hired as guards for other guests had a better chance of speaking with him. The three members of Wind Dragon Fang had managed to become close enough to Rei that he actually provided them with training.
Despite the potential for trouble, neither Elk nor Min seemed particularly stressed.
"Well, if anyone tries anything with Rei, the best they can hope for is a quick trip to the floor," Elk noted.
"I'm more worried about Rei overdoing it," Min countered. "He has a fierce personality and shows no mercy to those who oppose him."
"...True enough."
Elk had to agree. He liked that part of Rei's character, but it was certainly a double-edged sword. With the Imperial Capital currently flooded with people for the tournament, a rampage from Rei was a scenario they didn't even want to imagine.
"I'll just pray for a quiet day," Elk muttered, realizing there was sweat on his brow. Min didn't point it out, likely because she felt the same way.
"Guruuu."
Set let out a sulky cry as Rei reached out to him. The gryphon pulled his head away, avoiding the touch.
"Guruu," Set rumbled, sounding for all the world like he wouldn't be won over so easily. He was clearly pouting.
"I'm sorry, Set. Don't be like that."
"Gururururuuu."
Set showed no sign of forgiveness despite the apology. It was understandable; quite a few days had passed since they reached the Imperial Capital, and Rei had been so preoccupied with tournament business that he’d barely spent any time with his partner.
It wasn't that he hadn't visited at all—Rei stopped by the stables whenever he had a spare moment—but compared to the long days they spent together on the road, their time together had plummeted. Set was feeling the neglect.
"Look, I said I was sorry. But you knew we wouldn't be as free to move around once we reached the capital, right?"
Normally, the residents of the Imperial Capital would just be shocked to see a gryphon. However, because gryphons were so rare, the beast was inextricably linked to Rei's identity. In the eyes of the Bestia Empire, Set was the partner of Crimson Rei—a man who was practically their sworn enemy.
Set rumbled and turned a sideways glance toward Rei. He understood that walking around outside would cause a massive scene; Daskar had ordered Rei to keep the gryphon in the stables for that very reason.
Still, logic didn't stop Set from being lonely. He was over two meters long and still growing, but he wasn't even two years old yet. Though his mental age was boosted by the beast magic that created him, he was still a young creature who adored his partner and wanted to be pampered. After spending every waking moment with Rei on the journey there, the sudden isolation was a shock to his system.
Rei saw the loneliness in Set's eyes and reached out again. This time, the gryphon didn't pull away, allowing Rei to scratch him behind the ears.
"Guruuu."
Set leaned into the touch, closing his eyes in bliss. Once the petting started, he couldn't maintain his resolve to be angry, and he began rubbing his head against Rei's hand.
"Sorry for not looking after you. Here, I brought you a treat. Eat up and feel better."
"Guruu?"
Rei held out a sandwich with stewed chicken, sauce, and leafy vegetables. Set tilted his head curiously before snapping up the voluminous sandwich in his beak and swallowing it down.
"Gurururuuu!"
He let out a delighted cry. Seeing his partner's mood improve, Rei began pulling more from the Misty Ring. These weren't ordinary snacks; they were prepared by the Eternal Sky Inn’s cook, a man whose skills were so legendary that even lower-tier nobles couldn't dream of tasting his food. Naturally, the ingredients were of the absolute highest quality.
As he watched Set happily devour the food, the delicious aroma piqued Rei's own interest.
"Hey, Set. Can I have a bite of that?"
"Guruu!"
Set rumbled a go-ahead. He was the type of partner who enjoyed sharing a good meal.
With Set's permission, Rei took a piece and tried it for himself. The bread was freshly baked, moist and soft. When he bit down, the stewed chicken revealed itself—tender, yet with enough bite to let the texture of the meat spread through his mouth. It was perfectly balanced by the crunch of the leafy vegetables and a subtle hint of spice.
The juices from the meat and the sauce had soaked into the bread, and a layer of butter helped tie all the rich flavors together.
"...It's delicious."
Truly good food often left Rei at a loss for words, and this was no exception. He instinctively wanted another piece, but he felt guilty about taking any more of the food he’d brought as an apology. He reached out and stroked Set’s back instead.
"The tournament will take a bit longer to finish. I can't play with you like I used to until then, but once this is all over, I promise we'll go out and have some fun."
"Gururuluu..."
Set rumbled sadly even as he ate, rubbing his face against Rei.
"I'll come to the stables as often as I can. Okay?"
"Guruu?"
'Promise?' Set seemed to ask. Rei nodded as he stroked the gryphon's head.
"Yeah. It's not like I don't want to play with you, either. So just bear with it a little longer. Besides, I heard you made some new friends—beastmen named Pochi and Tama? Do they come to play with you?"
Set rumbled happily at the mention of his new friends. Pochi and Tama were a dog and cat beastman who worked as servants for a merchant staying at the inn. Their adorable looks and behavior made them a hit with the other guests, and their visits to the stables had become the highlight of Set's day while he was stuck inside.
Rei then produced a star-shaped baked treat—something he’d picked up at a stall in the capital earlier.
"I have to go, Set. I'll leave this here for you. Make sure you share it with Pochi and Tama, alright?"
"Guruu!"
Set's eyes filled with curiosity at the unfamiliar treat. Rei gave his partner a small smile, left the treats behind, and walked out of the stable.
"Finished?"
"Yeah."
The voice belonged to Rhodos, who had been waiting for him outside. Given that their first meeting had been a disaster and Set still carried a grudge, Rhodos knew better than to follow Rei into the stables. His presence would have only made Set sulk longer.
Rhodos didn't actually dislike Set anymore. His initial hostility had mostly been a reaction to his mother, Min, taking such a sudden interest in Rei. After more than a year, he knew the gryphon wasn't dangerous. He wanted to fix the relationship, but he knew it would take time.
"What's the matter?" Rei asked.
"Nothing," Rhodos replied, shaking his head. His hand went unconsciously to the hilt of his longsword—not to draw it, but to firm his resolve. "...Let's go, Rei."
The petty details didn't matter. All that mattered now was winning the tournament. With that thought, Rhodos took the lead and began walking toward their training ground.