A few scuffles notwithstanding, the First Princess Faction led by Frizion successfully made its way out of the Imperial Capital.
The total force numbered around four hundred soldiers, bolstered by a supply unit and their hundred-strong guard. This modest total of roughly five hundred was precisely why they had been able to move with such celerity. Had the force consisted of thousands, like the factions of the First or Second Princes, their movements would have inevitably been sluggish. As with any army, the more numbers it boasted, the more ponderous its movements became.
"Even so, I doubt we'll reach the Rebel Army's position without incident," Videre remarked.
Rei, standing nearby with the Death Scythe in one hand as he scanned their surroundings, gave a shallow nod. "I expect not. Even now, I can feel the eyes of their scouts on us."
"So, it’s a certainty, then." Videre let out a heavy sigh, though she didn't seem particularly distressed. They had anticipated that leaving the capital would inevitably lead to a confrontation with the forces of the First or Second Prince. "Ah... more importantly, Lord Rei. Aren't you going to call for Seto?"
Videre’s expression underwent a total reversal, shifting into a look of sheepish apology. Her gaze flickered toward her subordinates in the White Rose Knight Order Third Unit, as well as several other knights who had gathered nearby. These men had spent Rei’s time in the capital listening to the Third Unit gush about Seto’s adorable nature and were now looking at Rei with palpable expectation.
Rei offered a small smile. Since the request came from people who were well-disposed toward him, he was inclined to fulfill it. Besides, there was no denying that a battle was imminent, and more combat power was always welcome.
"Good point. I'll call him now while everyone is getting into formation."
Frizion’s entourage had halted a short distance—roughly a ten-minute march—away from the Gate for Nobles. They were currently in the midst of a roll call and organizing their ranks. Moving through the city was a far cry from traversing the highway; they needed to be in a proper formation, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"It would be a great help to us if you did," Videre said. "I’ll go inform Her Highness Frizion and Commander Angela."
Rei watched Videre walk away before moving to a spot slightly removed from the main body of the troops. He could have called Seto into the center of the army, but he judged that such a move would likely cause panic and render the effort of organizing the formation meaningless.
Among the five hundred gathered here, few had actually seen the gryphon. Since tamed monsters were prohibited from participating in the Fighting Tournament, the only ones familiar with him were Videre’s subordinates who had traveled from the rebel camp, and perhaps a few veterans of the Spring War.
I suppose some might have caught a glimpse of us when I was walking through the capital or while we were approaching the city, Rei thought.
Given the significance of his presence, it was likely that spies and watchers had been shadowing him. However, his time in the capital had been spent under such a constant barrage of sinister gazes that he doubted he would have noticed one specific observer among the crowd.
"Now then, Seto. I hope you notice me."
He knew Seto could sense his intent to some degree, but more importantly, Seto was a being created by Rei’s own Beast Magic. Their connection meant the gryphon’s ability to sense magic power from Rei was unparalleled.
"Seto, come!"
Rei released his magic power with the command. The mana swirling around his body began to manifest, becoming visible to the naked eye.
The Overlord's Armor. This was the skill Rei had acquired during his duel with Noise. In truth, one of his main reasons for cooperating with the Rebel Army this time was to master this very ability. Of course, his concern for Vihera was also a major factor. She was someone who cared deeply for him, and it was only natural to worry for her safety.
The soldiers, knights, adventurers, and nobles watched from a distance, stunned by the display. Many had seen the Overlord's Armor during the Fighting Tournament, but they hadn't expected to witness it from such a close proximity. Rei had decided that activating the armor would be a faster signal than clumsily casting a spell.
"Guruuuuuuuuuu!"
His intuition was proven correct within minutes. A joyful cry echoed through the sky as his partner, the gryphon Seto, came soaring toward them.
The members of the Frizion Army instinctively reached for their weapons at the sight of the beast. However, remembering they had been told Rei was accompanied by a gryphon, they stayed their hands. Even so, they remained open-mouthed—partially at Seto’s majestic form, but mostly because he was dangling a bear corpse from his talons.
Seto had been in the middle of snapping a bear’s neck with his foreleg when he sensed Rei’s mana. Thinking it a waste to leave fresh prey in the forest, he had simply brought his prize along.
Seto spread his wings and glided toward the ground, dropping the bear corpse in an out-of-the-way spot before landing and sprinting toward Rei. A few people who had been watching with bated breath instinctively flinched as the monster approached, only to let out sighs of relief when they saw the creature purring and rubbing its face affectionately against Rei.
They knew this youth was the adventurer known as Crimson. They knew he had fought the Bestia Empire’s legendary S-rank adventurer, Noise, to a near standstill. They had heard he had annihilated the Second Subjugation Force dispatched by Cabajid. But seeing a high-ranked gryphon acting so spoiled and attached to him right before their eyes made them truly realize how extraordinary Rei was—and more importantly, how reliable an ally he would be.
This sentiment was strongest among the survivors of the Spring War. Knowing the true extent of Seto’s power, they found the gryphon’s presence immensely heartening. While some surely harbored complicated feelings about their former enemy, they were wise enough not to voice them. They understood that if they were to survive the pursuit units likely to be dispatched by the First or Second Prince, they would need the strength of both Rei and Seto.
"Guruuu? Guruu, guruuuuu!"
As Seto purred and vied for attention, Rei smiled and stroked the creature's head and back. Feeling the smooth feathers and soft fur after several days away, Rei’s expression softened beneath his hood. He even stored the Death Scythe in his Misty Ring so he could use both hands to pet his partner.
"Have you been well? ...Actually, I can see that you have."
Rei was relieved to find that Seto didn't feel thin beneath his fur, and Seto purred back as if to say, Of course! It had only been a few days, but to a pair that was rarely apart, it felt like months.
Videre approached them with a look of mild apology. "Lord Rei, I’m sorry to interrupt, but Her Highness Frizion is asking for you. You and Seto as well."
"Guruu?"
Me too? Seto purred, turning a round, curious eye toward the bear lying on the ground. It hadn't been dropped from a great height, so the body was intact, but it was still emitting a powerful scent of blood. Because Seto had brought it, the soldiers were keeping a wide berth, unsure how to handle the carcass.
"Guruuu."
Seto looked at the bear corpse as if to say, That's my dinner. Videre couldn't decipher the gryphon’s intent, but for Rei, the gesture was clear.
"Videre, I’m sorry, but could you have someone set that bear aside? Seto will want to eat it later."
"We have a little room in the supply wagons, but..." Videre looked reluctant. The bear hadn't undergone blood draining, and the stench was overwhelming. If they loaded it into a wagon with other supplies, everything inside would be tainted by the smell.
"Can't you just put it in your Item Box?"
Rei looked at Seto at the suggestion, but the gryphon purred in dissatisfaction and lightly tapped the ground near the pooling blood with a foreleg. Rei immediately understood.
"He wants the blood draining done first. I’m sorry, but could you handle it? Seto won't be satisfied otherwise."
After a moment of hesitation, Videre gave a small sigh and nodded, deciding it was best not to offend their most powerful asset over a bit of gore. "Very well. We'll shift some crates and make one wagon empty. We’ll take care of the processing here. Lord Rei, please take Seto to Her Highness Frizion."
Urged by Videre, Rei headed toward the carriage Frizion was riding in, though Seto kept glancing back at the bear that was to be his meal.
"My, so this is Seto? I expected a ferocious beast, but he seems quite gentle. His eyes are so round and darling. Tell me, Rei, is this truly an A-rank monster?"
Those were the first words out of Frizion’s mouth upon seeing him. Seto, who was generally fond of people, took an immediate liking to the friendly princess. He purred and tilted his head as he looked at her. The adorable gesture struck a chord with Frizion.
"Yes. Seto, give her a greeting. This is Vihera's older sister, Frizion."
"Guruu?"
Seto tilted his head at the name Vihera, then turned his round eyes back to Frizion and purred as if to say, Nice to meet you.
"...Angela," Frizion said, her voice drifting. "Could I ask you to go into some deep mountain and bring me back a gryphon of my own?"
"Your Highness!?" Angela reflexively cried out. "If I were to go off on such a quest, what would become of the White Rose Knight Order!"
"Oh, you could just leave things to Videre."
"...You aren't being serious, are you?"
At Angela’s flat stare, Frizion seemed to come to her senses and shook her head. "It was a joke, obviously. We're about to face pursuit units from Schuls or Big Brother Cabajid; I wouldn't dream of removing one of our key pillars of strength from the army."
"Does that mean you would have ordered it if we weren't about to fight?"
"That... of course not." Frizion looked away mid-sentence.
"In that case, could you please look me in the eye when you say that?" Angela sighed, realizing it was futile to argue further. "I will admit that Seto is charming. I have no objection to that. But for you to suggest I head into the mountains... Your Highness, do you truly think A-rank monsters are so easy to encounter?"
"...I’m sorry. It’s just that Seto is entirely too cute."
"Furthermore, if I were to encounter an A-rank monster on my own, I would undoubtedly die." That was the plain truth. An A-rank monster was a threat that generally could not be handled by an individual. It took one of the few A-rank parties in the guild, or a warrior of equivalent caliber, to stand against one. Such people were few and far between.
"So," Rei interrupted, "am I right to assume I was called over just so you could see Seto?"
"Ah, I apologize. That was certainly part of it, but there is a more practical reason. The formation is almost complete and we’ll be departing soon... but I would like you and Seto to take up the rearmost position."
"The rearmost position? I see. You want a strategic deterrent against any pursuit units." If an enemy were to press them from behind, Rei could deliver a devastating blow to their vanguard, allowing the main force the opening to turn and engage.
Frizion nodded. "Can I ask this of you?"
"I don't mind. But I think it would be wise to perform some scouting in our direction of travel as well. Someone like Cabajid might see through our movements."
Frizion fell silent at the suggestion, turning to Angela for her opinion.
"We have dealt with the traitors we discovered," Angela noted, "but a degree of uncertainty remains. Since Rei and Seto can move through the sky, perhaps we should ask them to handle advance reconnaissance as well?"
Frizion gave a firm nod of agreement.