In the end, one bottle of potion proved insufficient; it took several more before Sistoi finally pulled through.
Of course, while his life was no longer at risk, that didn't mean the limbs Rei had severed with the Death Scythe had been reattached. Sistoi might have been spared from death's door, but he would never again walk the earth on his own feet, nor would he ever hold anything in his own hands.
(Well, this is the Bestia Empire, and their alchemy is highly advanced. Magic item prosthetics are common enough, so he should be able to get around fine—provided he can actually get his hands on some.)
Leaving Mura and Sistoi as they were, Rei turned his gaze toward Sobul. Under Seto's watchful eye, the official hadn't been able to run; he remained standing exactly where he had been, perfectly still.
"Well, sorry for catching you right after you went through all the trouble of escaping the Rebel Army's position, but you're going back to being a prisoner."
"……"
Sobul offered no response to Rei's words, returning his gaze in grim silence. He understood all too well that escape was now impossible. Seeing Mura and Sistoi—the very people who had come to rescue him—beaten so one-sidedly made it easy to imagine how futile any resistance on his part would be.
"Alright, let's head out. They'll be starting preparations for camping back there soon, and I need to report your capture."
"You really will guarantee our safety, won't you?" Mura asked.
Rei, Death Scythe still in one hand, looked at her. "I think it would be better to discuss the details with someone like Theoreme instead of me. Since I gave my word, I’ll advocate for you, but I can't say what'll happen if the higher-ups decide you're useless."
"……Fine. I'll take that."
"And you don't need to worry about your life, so rest easy on that front," Rei added, speaking to the still-immobile Sobul.
Inwardly, Rei suspected their treatment might depend on how much of a commotion their escape had caused. After all, Sobul hadn't been retrieved through ordinary means.
(Well, if I said that out loud now, it would just lead to a headache, so I’ll keep it to myself. Besides, my job is to guard the Frizion Army, not to track down runaways.)
Rei had recaptured them largely due to circumstance, but the core of his duty was still protecting Frizion's forces. In that sense, his clash with Mura and Sistoi had been a complete detour. Still, given Sobul's strategic mind, recapturing him was something to be praised for, not a mistake to be criticized.
"……Anyway, let's get moving. If we stay in this grove forever, we’re going to attract monsters."
"Will monsters actually attack with a Gryphon present?" Mura asked, watching Rei approach Seto.
"Most monsters will run the other way the moment they sense him," Rei explained. "But some are too stupid to sense his strength, or they simply don't understand it even if they do. Goblins, for instance. Those things will attack even with Seto right there. ……Well, they usually just get wiped out before they can flee, though."
Mura let out a sigh of relief. Sistoi was out of danger for now, but his lack of limbs made him exceptionally vulnerable. Even Goblins could deal a fatal blow to someone in his condition. Knowing they wouldn't be ambushed helped ease her tension.
"But I’m hauling several weights with me now. Getting out of these woods while protecting everyone might be a bit of a chore."
Rei knew Mura could handle herself in a fight to some degree—he had experienced her skills firsthand—but the limbless Sistoi and the minimally capable Sobul were vulnerable targets. Even Goblins weren't to be underestimated when protecting them.
"In that case, I’d appreciate it if we headed out immediately."
"Fair enough."
Rei nodded and asked Seto to carry Sistoi on its back.
"Guruuu," Seto grumbled, accepting the burden reluctantly. Knowing that these people had been Rei’s enemies made him loath to entrust his back to them.
Rei understood the Gryphon’s feelings, but there was no other choice. Rei had to be ready to intercept any monsters that appeared, and Mura, being a woman, would find it difficult and slow to carry Sistoi herself. Sobul lacked the physical strength for the task as well. That left only Seto. Fortunately, the Gryphon was perfectly fine with carrying others, provided they weren't trying to fly.
"Then, let's go. I need to explain the situation to Frizion, so we’re going to pick up the pace."
Mura's eyes widened in shock as Rei referred to the First Princess without any honorifics. Sobul looked just as stunned. In the Bestia Empire, members of the imperial family were considered divine, supreme beings. To hear someone speak so casually of such a person was unthinkable.
(Returning to the Imperial Capital was the original goal, but observing this man up close might eventually prove useful to His Highness Cabajid,) Sobul thought. Viewed in that light, traveling with Rei didn't seem like such a bad prospect.
Seto led the way with Sistoi on its back, while Mura and Sobul walked close by to watch over him. Rei moved a short distance away from the group, Death Scythe in hand, ready to react to any monster ambush. He also kept a subtle eye on Sobul, ready to intercept him if he tried a desperate gamble at escaping. Since Rei couldn't read the man’s mind, he assumed the official was still looking for an opening.
"……This is taking quite a while," Mura murmured into the silence. They had been walking for about ten minutes, yet the edge of the grove was nowhere in sight.
"That's because we ran like our lives depended on it," Sistoi replied from Seto's back. "We came much deeper into the grove than you realize, Mura."
His expression was tight with lingering pain, but the shadow of death had vanished from his face. He looked awkward without his limbs, which were now lost somewhere deep in the grove behind them.
(So this is the end for us, huh? No, I suppose surviving an encounter with Crimson is a victory in itself,) Sistoi mused. He was surprised by how little shock he felt over his situation. His gaze drifted to Mura. Regardless of what happened to him, the fact that his partner had survived unscathed was everything.
(Once word gets out that we're alive, Requiem Bell will send operatives. Whether they’ll be a rescue party or an execution squad to keep us from talking remains to be seen. Either way, I'll do whatever it takes for us to survive.)
As Sistoi finished that thought, the trees finally began to thin. When the group emerged from the grove, the first thing they saw was a unit of female knights in white armor. Everyone in Rei’s party knew who they were: the White Rose Knight Order, the unit directly under First Princess Frizion.
The knights looked relieved to see Seto, then puzzled by the limbless man on his back, and finally shifted into a wary stance upon spotting Mura and Sobul. Many of them recognized Sobul’s face instantly. However, once Rei appeared at the rear of the group, most of the tension evaporated.
……Except, of course, for the members of the Anti-Rei Faction. Their immediate hostility had waned after the battle, but with time, their old resentment had begun to resurface.
"Lord Rei, I am glad to see you safe. When the report came in that you and Seto had suddenly charged into the grove to pursue someone, I feared the worst," Videre said, approaching them.
"Sorry, didn't mean to cause a scare." Rei gave a dry smile. It was a natural reaction. A Gryphon had suddenly landed in a crowded area and then chased several people into the woods. Naturally, people would worry for those being pursued.
Witnesses at the scene had been torn between wanting to help those being chased and fearing for their own safety. Eventually, some had summoned the courage to contact the Frizion Army. Anyone in the army could guess who owned the Gryphon, and Videre knew Rei had been out scouting. Realizing he must have found an enemy, she had reported to Angela and Frizion before leading the nearest subordinates to the scene.
She would have preferred to bring only members of the Third Unit who were friendly with Rei, but since the camp was still in flux, she had simply grabbed whoever was closest. Naturally, that included several members of the Anti-Rei Faction, who had come along with looks that said I told you so—only to be proven wrong.
"Is that Sobul? Lord Rei, how shall we handle his custody?"
"He's all yours."
"Understood. Take Sobul to the camp. Ensure he doesn't escape; I want a strict watch on him at all times!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
At Videre's command, four female knights escorted Sobul toward the camp. Videre then turned her attention back to Rei—or rather, to the man missing his limbs and the woman beside him.
"And these two, Lord Rei……?"
"Assassins who were targeting me back in the Imperial Capital. Apparently, they're the ones who broke into the Rebel Army's position and rescued Sobul."
The moment she heard that, Videre’s hand went to the hilt of her magic sword. Rei was faster. Before she could draw the blade, he reached out and pressed his hand down on her hilt.
"Relax. I've already bound them with magic. They won't be harming anyone. Besides, they're more useful alive for information. It’d be a waste to kill them now."
"……If you say so, Lord Rei, I will take your word for it. But may I assign a watcher just in case?"
"Of course. As for the interrogation, it’ll be easier for everyone if Frizion's side and Mercurio's side hear what they have to say at the same time. We should wait until we reach the main Rebel Army camp and involve Mercurio and Vihera."
"I see your point. Since we're about to rejoin His Highness Mercurio's forces, it's best to avoid any unnecessary friction."
Nodding, Rei gave a small sign to Seto. The Gryphon approached Videre and turned his back to her. He wasn't inviting her to ride; he was signaling that Sistoi was in the way and he wanted the knights to take him off his back immediately. Sistoi, having been treated like unwanted cargo, could do nothing but accept it. Mura, however, looked a bit annoyed at the Gryphon’s dismissive attitude. Still, she knew her place and kept her mouth shut.
"We shall take custody of these two as well. What are your plans, Lord Rei? The sun is nearly down. Post-war processing at the camp is mostly finished, so I suggest you return with us."
"Yeah, I'll do that. We’re camping tonight, so I need to get ready."
"Guruuu?" Seto tilted his head, finally feeling relieved now that Sistoi was off his back. For Rei, 'getting ready' usually just meant pulling out the Magic Tent. Seto handled the watch, the Misty Ring was full of food, and the Dagger of Flowing Water provided all the water they needed.
Rei smiled at the Gryphon’s questioning look. "We have that bear to dismantle, remember?"
"Guruuu!" Seto chirped happily, finally remembering the prey he had caught.
"The bear corpse is in the carriage, right? I hope the fighting didn't ruin the meat."
"Hmm? Oh, that should be fine. We made sure to secure it properly," Videre assured him.
Seto gave a joyful cry and rubbed his head against Rei, practically begging him to hurry back.