The ambush units that had been threatening the Frizziore Army were entirely routed—or, in a more literal sense, extinguished.
The cavalry that had struck from the rear managed to escape with relatively light losses before their wounds turned deep. Blatta’s waiting forces suffered heavy casualties, but they, too, successfully withdrew before sustaining a fatal blow. In contrast, the ambush unit in the grove along the highway was completely annihilated by Seto, who had rampaged through the trees with unrestricted fury.
Finally, there was Count Schwindel and his faction. Though nominally part of the ambush, they had lost all reason upon spotting Rei and were subsequently incinerated by his magic. They were now nothing more than piles of ash and charcoal.
"Looking only at the results, I suppose one could call this a decisive victory, but..."
Angela Luxinowa trailed off, her voice heavy with gloom as she looked over the battlefield. Soldiers were busy processing the dead, while Frizziore watched them from her carriage with a sorrowful expression.
Frizziore was a woman who loved peace and loathed conflict. Even if they had been enemies, their deaths brought her nothing but grief.
"She raised an army specifically to join Mercureo’s forces," Rei pointed out. "She had to have known this meant war. I'm sure she realized she'd eventually have to see something like this."
"Of course she did. She acted with full knowledge of the consequences. Even so, witnessing death in the flesh is difficult for Her Highness Frizziore. She is a kind person."
The members of the White Rose Knight Order nearby nodded in somber agreement with Angela's words.
However, the gaze the knights turned toward Rei was now one of profound awe. This included the Anti-Rei Faction; the looks of distaste—if not outright loathing—they had once directed his way were gone. It was only natural. They had witnessed magic that could wipe out an entire enemy unit in a single instant. They were forced to realize that Rei was a being far beyond their reach. If they earned his ire, death was the only thing awaiting them. Recalling their past attitudes toward him made chills run down their spines.
Interestingly, these fears were reserved strictly for Rei. Seto, his companion, remained as beloved as ever. Rei wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse.
(A blessing, definitely. Seto is friendly; he'd be miserable if people started hating him.)
Standing beside Angela, Rei watched the soldiers clean up while stroking Seto’s body. The gryphon's fur felt as smooth as silk. He narrowed his eyes, enjoying the tactile sensation that made him want to keep stroking forever, and then turned to Angela.
"Are we camping here tonight?"
"Yes, most likely. We can't simply leave the corpses scattered about, and Her Highness Frizziore mentioned she wanted to recover as many keepsakes as possible for the families."
"...Considering we have to handle the bodies, I guess it can't be helped."
They were only about two hours from the Imperial Capital. As a member of the Bestia Empire's Imperial Family, Frizziore could never tolerate leaving the fallen where they lay.
(Well, it's autumn, and winter's coming soon. I suppose we don't have to worry too much about plague... but it's not a guarantee. And if we consider the possibility of them turning into undead, a proper burial is definitely necessary.)
The soldiers were gathering the bodies, but it was a mercy that the numbers weren't particularly high. On the flip side, however, this meant they had failed to significantly weaken Cabajid’s or Schurus’s military strength.
"Even if the numbers are low, having to handle the bodies before we can move on is a blow to morale," Angela muttered dejectedly. "No matter how elite they are, they're still human. The mental strain takes its toll."
Angela had seen death many times and dealt it out with her own hands, but it was never something she got used to. She didn't break down or scream about being a murderer, but the reality of death was never comfortable.
"If we're just talking about clearing the field, I could have them pile the bodies up so I can incinerate them all at once," Rei offered.
"That would put too much burden on you, Rei. Besides, it's impossible to go any further today anyway. They likely judged that having everyone work together would help settle their minds."
"...Well, if we're camping here regardless, I don't mind. I'll go on a quick patrol. Even if we drove that unit off, there's no telling if someone else is lurking nearby."
Rei spoke with the intention of giving the others some space; his presence only made the soldiers tense. Angela seemed to realize this. She gave him an apologetic look and nodded.
"Yes, please. I'll let Her Highness Frizziore know."
"Thanks. ...Seto."
"Guruuuuuuu!"
Seto crouched low at Rei's call. Rei vaulted onto its back, and together they soared into the sky. The soldiers below paused for a moment, captivated by the sight of the gryphon, before returning to their grim work.
As they watched the pair vanish into the clouds, Angela headed toward the carriage to inform Frizziore.
"...It’s no use. They definitely intend to camp right on the highway."
At a distance from the rebel army's position, Sistoi reported what he had observed to his companion and their charge. Mura looked annoyed as she weighed their options.
They had located their target, Sobul, in the rebel army's camp, rescued him, and traveled this far with only the briefest of rests. They had been careful not to run their horses into the ground, but finding a battle blocking their path just as they neared the Imperial Capital was an unwelcome surprise.
"We could try to cross over by blending in with the others..."
Mura’s gaze shifted toward the groups gathered nearby—merchants, travelers, and adventurers. Since this was the main highway to the Imperial Capital, they weren't the only ones held up. Various groups were passing the time or exchanging news. Mura was suggesting they might slip toward the capital by mixing in with the crowd, but Sobul, who was listening in, rejected the idea.
"No, it's too risky. With the First Princess Faction over there, you have to assume my face is known. ...Honestly, if the ambush unit had won, this wouldn't be an issue. Or if we'd arrived just a bit sooner, we could have joined them before they retreated."
"There's no point complaining," Mura snapped. "We were already pushing the horses to their limits. Any faster and they would've collapsed, and then we'd be even further behind."
Mura was right. Sobul fell silent.
"!"
Sistoi, who had been watching them, suddenly stiffened. Mura noticed her partner's change instantly, with Sobul following a few seconds later.
"...What is it? Did something happen?"
"I don't know. I just felt a horrific premonition. We need to leave. Now."
"And go where? We can't take the highway toward the First Princess Faction, so our only choices are to turn back or..."
Mura glanced at the grove along the highway. While the highway was usually safe from monsters and thieves, it wasn't a certainty. It was also home to dangerous wildlife like bears and boars. Usually, such beasts stayed deep in the woods, but one could never be too careful.
"The woods. Now. Hurry!"
At Sistoi's urgent command, Mura realized the danger was real. She quickly unloaded their essential gear from the horses. Sobul, knowing his companions were elites of the Requiem Bell, followed without question. If he defied them and was abandoned, his situation would only get worse.
"Faster! He's here!" Sistoi hissed.
Mura and Sobul reflexively looked toward the highway, but they saw only the travelers waiting for the road to open. However, that single second of hesitation was their undoing.
"Guruuuuuuuuuu!"
A thunderous roar echoed through the area—not from the ground, but from the sky. Most of the people present froze in place, while a few looked up toward the source of the sound.
Amid the confusion, only three people acted differently. They sprinted for the woods.
All three of them knew that cry. They knew exactly what kind of creature produced it, and they knew the man who claimed it as his tamed monster.
"How could this... this is beyond bad luck!" Mura screamed.
It wasn't a cry of defiance, but a desperate release of the terror closing in from behind.
"Mura!" Sistoi barked.
Shouting only gave away their position, and normally Sistoi would never have been so careless. But this time, their luck had simply run out. Rei and Seto—the living symbols of terror—were on their heels.
If they were caught, they were dead. They had to escape.
The three fled into the trees, but no matter their skill, they were only human. They could not outrun a gryphon and the man on its back. To make matters worse, flying slashes began raining down around them, herding them in a specific direction.
"Well now. I think the chase ends here."
Rei, astride Seto, appeared suddenly in their path.
"I see. I wondered who was running so hard, but this is a rare combination. Two from the Requiem Bell and Sobul, who was supposed to be a prisoner."
"Guruuu?"
Seto tilted its head as if asking what to do next. Rei hesitated.
(I can just recapture Sobul. The question is the other two. They're members of an underground organization like the Requiem Bell, so they definitely have intel. But because they're part of that organization, they're too dangerous to leave alive. Which means...)
Rei twirled the Death Scythe in his hand, letting his bloodlust flare.
"It’s going to be a hassle if you two stay alive. I’ll give you one chance: surrender quietly, and I’ll guarantee your lives. If you can't do that, then I'm afraid this is where it ends for you. ...What’s it going to be?"
Sistoi and Mura exchanged a look. If they surrendered, they might live, but the life awaiting them would be far from pleasant. It certainly wouldn't involve a peaceful retirement. And while they had their issues with the organization, it was the organization that had provided for them until now. They couldn't bring themselves to sell it out.
(To think I’d choose loyalty to the organization now. But I suppose it’s a fitting end.)
Once she made her choice, Mura felt a strange sense of clarity. She looked at her partner and called his name one last time.
"Sistoi!"
"I know."
It was a brief exchange, but for partners who had worked together for so long, it was enough. Mura leapt back to provide cover as Sistoi stepped forward to face Rei and Seto head-on.