A single presence flew through the autumn sunset sky.
Blending into the evening glow, the creature remained unnoticed by those below. Or rather, since it flew at such a great height, anyone on the ground who happened to look up would likely dismiss it as a bird or some other mundane animal. A keen observer might have noticed its silhouette was entirely different from a bird’s, but farmers rarely had the luxury for such scrutiny. Only an adventurer, a soldier, a knight, or perhaps a hunter might have realized the truth.
"Well, as far as I can see, there isn't anyone like that down there anyway," Rei muttered atop Seto's back.
"Guruuu?" Seto turned its head toward Rei, asking what was wrong. Its wings flapped with slow, wide, and powerful strokes.
Gently stroking Seto’s neck, Rei shook his head.
"No, it’s nothing. It’s just that while it was fine to come out on scouting duty at Theoreme’s request, it’s a bit boring when there are absolutely no abnormalities to report."
To an ordinary human, the autumn sunset—which seemed to dye the world a deep crimson—would have made it difficult to distinguish even the presence of figures on the ground. However, the one flying was the Gryphon Seto, and its passenger was Rei, a man possessing inhuman physical ability and five senses.
The sunset posed no obstacle to his reconnaissance, yet even so, he found nothing of note. He continued to fly for another five minutes, gazing down at the earth. For an ordinary cavalryman, five minutes of scouting might have seemed negligible. But these were five minutes spent riding Seto. Given a Gryphon’s speed, they had already more than covered the range requested by Theoreme.
"From what I can see on the ground, the only things down there are Goblins and their ilk. There’s no sign of the Subjugation Army anywhere."
"Gurululuuu?" Seto turned back again, asking for their next move. Rei thought for a few seconds before answering.
"I guess so. Since we’ve finished scouting the designated area, let’s head back to the camp. Though, at this hour, the encampment won't be finished yet... Hm?"
As the words left his mouth, he sensed something—a group of humans. That feeling of discord on the landscape came from a large party.
Is it the Subjugation Army? Rei wondered for a heartbeat, but looking closer, he saw that battle had broken out within the group. To call it a battle between groups wasn't quite accurate; rather, a small party was being beset by a much larger force.
However, the combatants were surprisingly evenly matched. The smaller party possessed significant skill—while not exactly a match for a thousand men each, they had the ability to hold their own against several attackers at once. Of course, defending against ceaseless attacks while surrounded was an exhausting feat, and Rei could see they were gradually sustaining minor injuries.
"At this rate, the group with fewer people will eventually be overwhelmed by numbers. If that happens, they’ll definitely meet a tragic end."
Rei narrowed his eyes. The smaller group consisted of exactly five women. In contrast, the attackers were all men, numbering about thirty.
"...Now then, what should I do?"
"Guruuu?" Seto let out a trill, asking if they were going to help. Rei stroked Seto's neck, his expression conflicted.
Normally, I would definitely help them. Usually, in this kind of pattern, the opponents are just bandits. But...
The reason for his hesitation was that neither side looked like bandits or adventurers. Usually, adventurers wore equipment tailored to their individual needs. These people were different. The party of five women wore matching White Metal Armor, while the men were clad in uniform Black Metal Armor. They looked like a professional military.
"I say 'just like,' but they clearly feel like some country's army or Knight Order. Or maybe a mercenary band as a long shot?"
Rei doubted the mercenary theory. Mercenary bands, like adventurers, were usually small, self-contained units with roles divided into scouts, healers, long-range support, and vanguards. Above all, it would be difficult for mercenaries to procure five sets of such high-quality white armor.
"Well, it might be different if they were a world-famous mercenary band... Regardless, what should I do?"
With a sigh, Rei observed the situation from above. Fortunately, Seto was currently flying in a sky dyed crimson by the autumn sunset. He could take his time to decide without worrying about being spotted from below.
While he had time to think, the women on the ground did not. They were merely delaying the inevitable as the enemy's numbers pressed them. Through his visual acuity, Rei could see the vile, lecherous smiles on the men's faces. It was painfully obvious what would happen to the women if they lost.
"I do think it's a pity, but if I intervene, there's a high possibility it will lead to a very troublesome situation."
The reason Rei hadn't participated in the previous battle against the Subjugation Army was to prevent them—and Schuls, who had dispatched them—from finding out that he was affiliated with the Rebel Army. The fight below was clearly not a simple skirmish between adventurers and thieves. It was almost impossible for an adventurer's quest to be happening right under the Rebel Army's nose.
"If I do help them, I'll need to silence everyone... though I don't mean killing them."
Rei muttered to himself. He might need to temporarily detain them within the Rebel Army camp, but that was all. However, that meant harboring unrest elements, which likely wouldn't be welcomed by Theoreme or Tilleul.
It's unfortunate, but... should I leave them? Whether they're knights, mercenaries, or adventurers, they probably took these jobs understanding the risks of the battlefield.
Just as he was about to prompt Seto to return to the camp—
"I won't lose! Not until I meet Prince Mercurio!"
A shout from one of the women on the ground reached his ears. It was a cry from the woman's very soul. Perhaps that was why the sound had carried so far. By some coincidence, the words reached Rei clearly.
The woman hadn't intended for Rei to hear her; she didn't even know he and Seto were there. But the fact remained that her plea had reached him. And once he heard the name Mercurio, Rei—who was assisting the Rebel Army—no longer had the option to ignore them.
He had wanted to save them from the start. The only thing holding him back was his secret cooperation with the Rebel Army. But if the women being attacked had business with the Prince, the situation was different. He pulled the Death Scythe from his Misty Ring and lightly patted Seto's neck.
"Let's go, Seto."
"Guruuu!"
Seeing Rei with the Death Scythe in hand, Seto understood immediately. With a short trill, the Gryphon spread its wings and began its descent.
Seto’s flight was more of a silent glide; by not flapping its wings, it made almost no sound as it circled around the men's rear. The attackers, focused entirely on the women before them, didn't notice Rei and Seto—a lethal threat closing in from the sky.
It was the women who noticed first. Their eyes widened as the figure of a Gryphon suddenly emerged from the sunset. Some let out gasps of shock, which the men misinterpreted as moans of despair.
"Gurululululululu!"
The moment the roar erupted from behind them, the men froze in their tracks. It was Seto's skill: King's Intimidation.
The skill froze the movements of those who heard it. While it wasn't impossible for someone of a certain strength to resist it, that required them to be on guard. The men had been focused on the five women with eyes clouded by lust. Caught completely off-guard, they had no chance of resisting the roar.
The men stopped moving, and in that instant, an existence that could only be described as despair crashed into them.
"Hyaaaaaaaa!"
Maintaining the speed of Seto's glide, Rei charged into the backs of the immobile men. He swung the Death Scythe, his legendary trademark.
Every time the Great Scythe—which looked almost comical in its size compared to Rei's frame—swung through the air, torsos were sliced in half, heads flew, and limbs scattered. Seto burst through the group from behind and reached the women, flapping its wings hard to kill its momentum as it landed.
It had happened in the blink of an eye. In a single pass, Rei and Seto had rendered nearly half of the forces of about 30 men combat-ineffective. While only about half of those had actually lost their lives, the ones who had lost limbs would never work as adventurers, mercenaries, or knights again. In a single breath, Rei had slashed through their futures.
By some stroke of luck, the leader of the men had survived the initial sweep. It wasn't a matter of skill, but pure fortune. Had things gone even slightly differently, it could have been his own blood and viscera decorating the earth. Because he understood this, the leader could not utter a single word to the pair standing before him.
"...Now then. It's a bit late to ask after doing all this, but... what is the relationship between you all?"
Rei flicked the blood from the blade of the Death Scythe. The person who seemed to lead the five women was the first to speak.
"Before that, I wish to ask. That Gryphon and that massive scythe... Am I correct in assuming you are Lord Crimson Rei?"
Surprised by the woman's formal, somewhat old-fashioned tone, Rei nodded. At the gesture, the surviving men turned visibly pale. They should have recognized him sooner, but the shock of Seto's charge had paralyzed their minds.
"That's right. And you are?"
At his prompting, the woman stole a glance at the men before answering.
"We are those who follow Her Highness Frizziore. We came here on urgent business... but I never imagined Lord Rei would truly be here. It seems the information was true after all. Fortune has truly turned in our favor."
Hearing the woman's words, Rei realized she was the one who had shouted Mercurio's name.
(Since she brought up Mercurio, she must have business with the Rebel Army. And I recognize the name Frizziore. She’s... Vihera's sister, isn't she? I thought she was on the Subjugation Army’s side, but what's going on? No, first things first...)
Though he had many questions, Rei decided he couldn't just let the men go. They had been attacking those with business with the Prince, making them enemies of the Rebel Army.
"Should I capture them alive?"
At Rei's question, the female leader hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"If we can capture the leader of the enemy, I believe the others are unnecessary."
"Understood."
At Rei's words, the men—finally realizing their lives were on the line—regained their voices.
"W-Wait! Please wait! We have no intention of fighting you!"
"Then drop your weapons. Any man still holding a weapon, I will take as intent to be hostile."
The moment they heard that, every surviving man threw his weapon to the ground. Despite the woman's earlier comment, Rei successfully captured every one of them.