"Nnh...?"
Rei woke with a grimace, the unyielding hardness of the ground a jarring contrast to the plush bed of the Magic Tent he had occupied just the night before. He scanned his surroundings in silence, and it took a few moments for the hazy memories of the previous night to settle. Recognition finally dawned on his face as he realized exactly where he was.
A dull murmur drifted in from outside, making it clear that much of the camp was already stirring.
"Standard-issue tent, huh?" he muttered to himself.
His thoughts drifted back to the Magic Tent tucked away in his inventory. It had been two days since he departed the Imperial Capital, and during the nights spent along the highway, he had enjoyed the comforts of his magical residence. Inside, it was a finely appointed room—a far cry from the reality of camping. To an ordinary adventurer, such an setup would hardly qualify as "sleeping rough," but to Rei, any night under canvas was a night in the field.
Usually, with Seto standing watch outside, he didn't even have to worry about monsters.
"The amenities are on a whole different level compared to this. I'll use the Magic Tent starting tonight," he decided.
He stood and donned his gear—the Dragon Robe, Sleipnir's Shoes, and the Eye of Nebula. Getting ready was a bit of a challenge; without water inside the tent, even a simple task like washing his face was out of the question. While he possessed the Dagger of Flowing Water as a final resort for high-quality hydration, using it when water was presumably plentiful felt like an admission of defeat he wasn't willing to make.
Sensing Seto’s presence just outside, he stepped out into the open.
The first thing to greet him was a vast, cloudless blue sky. It was early morning, and the air held a crisp, autumn chill. Fortunately, the Dragon Robe insulated him perfectly, shielding him from the bite of the morning frost. He paused for a moment, captivated by the brilliance of the day, before he realized he was being watched.
"This is... oh, I see."
The source of the attention was obvious. A crowd of soldiers from the Rebel Army was keeping a respectful distance, their gazes fixed on Seto. The Gryphon was sprawled out comfortably beside the tent. It was only natural that the sudden appearance of such a creature would cause a stir; furthermore, many of these men had fought on the Seremuse Plain during the Spring War. To them, the sight of a Gryphon was synonymous with the nightmare of the battlefield.
The only reason a full-blown panic hadn't broken out was likely the tent’s location at the edge of the camp, combined with the rumors that had surely spread the night before: that the B-Rank Adventurer known as Crimson had joined the Third Prince Faction.
"Guruuu!"
Seto gave a friendly trill, a morning greeting of sorts, but the nearby soldiers recoiled several paces at the sound. Awe and terror, once etched into the soul, were not easily erased—even with the knowledge that the beast was an ally.
Well, if we fight together, they’ll come around eventually, Rei thought.
Then again, his primary motivation for joining this civil strife was to master the Overlord's Armor. Given his currently abysmal control over the technique, he couldn't exactly use it with allies nearby. If he had to fight from a distance to avoid collateral damage, the soldiers would see him wreathed in magic power compressed to the point of visibility. Unless he reached Noise’s level of proficiency, where the energy was contained perfectly within, Rei would only look more like a monster to them. They would stand in even greater awe—and fear—of him, just as they did with Seto now.
"Guruuuu..."
Seto let out a dejected rumble, its round eyes showing its loneliness. Against a foe, Seto would embody the ferocity of the Grim Reaper of the Skies, but here, it understood these people were friends. Being feared made the affectionate creature genuinely sad.
Rei gently stroked Seto’s head, offering quiet comfort. "Don't worry. Once we’re in the thick of it, they’ll have no choice but to rely on you. Before you know it, they’ll be begging to play with you."
The soldiers within earshot made a point to keep their thoughts to themselves, but their faces screamed, Absolutely not.
Rei caught their expressions and read them clearly, but he didn't revise his prediction. He knew how it worked. Eventually, one or two people would succumb to Seto's sheer charm. Once the first few approached, the rest would follow in an avalanche of adoration. After all, the Gryphon hadn't become the mascot of Gilm for nothing.
"Guruuu!" Seto chirped, sounding more determined.
Rei gave its head one last pat before turning to a nearby soldier. "I’m looking to wash up. Could you point me toward the watering hole?"
The soldier flinched at being addressed but quickly recovered. "A-Ah, yes! There are several magic items set up throughout the camp that provide water. From here, the nearest one is about a five-minute walk. Or, if you prefer, there’s a small river in those woods over there."
Rei glanced toward the trees behind the camp. He could see a few people already heading that way.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
Rei thought for a moment before deciding on the woods. He knew the magic items would be crowded, and as a man considered a monstrous enemy by much of the Bestia Empire, walking boldly through the center of the camp was a recipe for chaos. It was better to stay out of sight until Theoreme or Vihera made his arrival official.
"Guruuu!"
Seto seemed happy with the choice, chirping as they headed for the treeline. As a monster, it naturally preferred the woods to the stifling atmosphere of a military camp. Seto looked back with pleading eyes, urging Rei to hurry, and the two vanished into the forest, leaving the bewildered soldiers in their wake.
"Ah, there you are. I’ve been waiting."
Rei had just finished at the river and was returning to his tent, debating whether to check in with Theoreme before seeking out Vihera, when he heard the voice. He looked up, his eyes widening slightly. The man waiting for him had a face that looked remarkably familiar.
Rei’s intuition connected the dots instantly. "You’re Mercurio, aren't you?"
"Oh? Straight to the name without so much as a title? You’re every bit the character my big sister described."
Mercurio wore a calm, polished smile, but his eyes were sharp, scrutinizing the man before him. Rei noticed the weight of the gaze immediately—it was a look he had seen in Tilleul the night before.
Rei scanned the area. He saw Siance positioned some distance away and understood the situation.
I wonder if she’s guarding him from the shadows or if he was told to bring an escort... either way, I can guess what this is about, Rei thought.
Theoreme had mentioned how much Mercurio adored his sister. Seeing the way the Prince was sizing him up, Rei realized this was an interrogation.
"From what I’m told, you and my sister are close. Very close, in fact."
"...I can't deny that," Rei replied bluntly.
He was close with Vihera, and he did care for her, even if his feelings weren't as deep as those he held for Elena. However, his honest answer made Mercurio’s brow twitch.
"I see. As her brother, that should make me happy... but I have also heard rumors that you are 'very close' with other women as well. Would you care to explain?"
"There isn't much to explain. The rumors are true."
"...Are you admitting to being unfaithful?"
The Prince’s brow twitched again. Despite his mature, composed appearance, Mercurio wasn't much older than Rei. He had been raised with the discipline of the Imperial Family, but even his patience had its limits. Rei, however, seemed entirely indifferent to the Prince’s rising agitation and gave a slight shrug.
"It’s true that Vihera confessed her feelings to me. I won't deny that. But I haven't exactly accepted her proposal, have I?"
That was the final straw.
"What part of my sister isn't good enough for you!?" Mercurio snapped.
It was an outburst in a completely unexpected direction. Even in his anger, he had the presence of mind to keep his voice sharp but low enough not to carry across the camp. He glared at Rei, waiting for an answer.
"It’s not like that." Rei sighed, realizing the Prince’s protective streak wasn't going to let this go. He decided to be plain. "I won't deny that Vihera is incredibly charming. I have no argument there."
Physically, she possessed a beauty and a figure that could captivate anyone. Her personality—specifically the 'battle maniac' side—was a bit much for most, but Rei found it tolerable, even endearing. The fact that she was a former Princess of the Bestia Empire yet remained humble and easy to talk to was a rare quality. In Rei’s eyes, Vihera was undeniably attractive.
"If I had met her first, things might have been different. I probably would have accepted her. But..."
He paused, his gaze turning distant.
"I met Elena before I met Vihera."
"Elena... Elena Kerebel. The Princess General."
Mercurio muttered the name, clearly having done his research through Theoreme. Rei nodded.
"That's right. Rei met Elena long before we ever crossed paths. It’s an unchangeable fact."
A new voice joined them before Rei could say another word. Both Rei and Mercurio recognized it instantly. They turned to see the woman herself stepping out from behind a nearby tent.
"Vihera."
At Rei's call, Vihera gave a radiant, joyful smile. "It’s been a while, Rei. I heard about the Fighting Tournament—truly a shame. I never imagined you’d actually lose. But... I knew you’d come."
She waved to him, her expression overflowing with genuine happiness. Mercurio watched her and felt a lump form in his throat. He had known, and he had been told, but seeing the depth of his sister’s affection for Rei with his own eyes was a different matter entirely.
Vihera turned her attention to her brother. "Honestly, Mercurio. I turn my back for one second and find you cornering Rei."
"Sister..."
"Don't give me that pathetic look. You are the General Commander of this army. How do you expect to lead with such a lack of confidence? And for the record, my relationship with Rei is exactly as he says. I’m the one chasing him. It’s not as if he’s leading me on, so you can stop worrying."
Mercurio frowned. He didn't like the idea of his sister losing, even in a matter of the heart. He hated the thought of Rei taking her away, but he hated the thought of her being rejected even more.
Vihera saw the conflict on his face and laughed. "Relax. Love isn't a race where the first one there wins the prize. I’ll make Rei fall for me eventually. Just watch."
In that moment, she was the Vihera Rei knew—the confident sister, the battle-hardened warrior, and the maiden in love who would stop at nothing to claim the man she wanted.