“Well then, Village Head. I’ll leave things in your hands for tonight.”
The Village Head of Goto nodded at Rei’s words. A smile played across his face, likely due to the generous compensation he had received for housing nearly thirty strangers in the village's homes.
Lodging such a large group was naturally a source of anxiety for the People of Goto. Compounding this fear was the fact that almost the entire group consisted of natives of the Bestia Empire. For a village that had long served as the front line of conflict, such trepidation was only natural for the Goto Residents.
The reason they had accepted them—beyond the welcome influx of extra income just before winter—was largely due to the presence of Rei and Seto. Those of Goto still remembered the duo from their previous stay in the village. During that time, Rei and Seto had been thoroughly embraced by the Goto Residents. Since this caravan was led by that one man and his companion, the villagers felt there would likely be no trouble.
Of course, a significant number of villagers still felt a lingering dread toward anyone from the Bestia Empire. Aware of this, Rei stood before the Village Head and the Goto Residents to declare that if anyone he led caused any trouble, he would personally see to their punishment.
The Goto Residents, well aware of Rei’s capabilities, were reassured by his words. Simultaneously, the Relocation Unit braced themselves, knowing that any misstep would earn them a severe penalty from Rei. The members of the former Mobile Unit already regarded Rei with a mix of awe and admiration, so there was little worry about them acting out. Rei felt he could rely on them.
As for the others who weren't part of the former Mobile Unit, Rei had harbored some minor concerns. However, the journey thus far had taught them all that Rei was far more than his youthful appearance suggested, and many had personally witnessed his prowess during the Fighting Tournament. Above all else, after seeing Seto up close, no one was foolish enough to entertain any untoward ideas.
In the end, everyone behaved—some perhaps out of a lingering, fearful respect—and the matter was settled without any significant commotion.
“Rei-san, Vihera-san, and Seto too. It has been a long time.”
At the sound of that familiar voice, Rei and Vihera turned their heads. Standing there was a man with a rugged physique and a stern face, though his manner of speaking was remarkably gentle. Beside him was a young boy, about five years old.
“Luchard, and Epika. It’s been a while. Have you both been well?”
“Guruuuu?”
“It really has been a long time,” Vihera added.
The three of them responded in their own fashion. These were two people Rei had become closely acquainted with during his previous stay in Goto. Rei had lodged at Luchard's House, and the young Epika had grown quite fond of both Rei and Seto. In all of Goto, they were the two people closest to him.
“Yes. Thanks to you, we’ve had no major incidents since you left. A few Nobles from other countries have passed through here, but fortunately, Margrave Larkus was keeping a close eye on things.”
“From other countries?”
Rei tilted his head in confusion, but Vihera nodded as if the news made perfect sense.
“They were likely travelers returning to their homelands from the Bestia Empire by way of the Kingdom of Mireana.”
“...Well, I suppose it’s only natural for things to turn out that way since the countries border each other.”
“Not necessarily. Normally, almost no one would choose to enter the Bestia Empire by passing through the Kingdom of Mireana, given their hostile relationship. In fact, we didn't run into anyone else when we were heading toward the Empire, did we?”
“Then why are they doing it now?” Rei asked.
The gesture was filled with a boyish charm that made it difficult to believe he was the Alias Holder known as Crimson. It was a trait unique to that transitional age between a boy and a young man.
...Though, internally, Rei already considered himself a grown man.
(Am I... perhaps into younger guys? Well, being strong is a mandatory prerequisite, of course,) Vihera mused privately for a moment before snapping back to the conversation.
“There’s only one reason for it. Regardless of how famous your alias is, a mere B-Rank Adventurer fought nearly on par with an S-Rank Adventurer. If the representatives of other nations visiting the Bestia Empire wanted to gather even a shred of information on you, coming to the Kingdom of Mireana is the fastest and most accurate way to do it.”
“That’s right,” Luchard agreed. “Margrave Larkus's Guard mentioned the same thing. However, they also said it was unlikely those nobles would learn much.”
“Well, I basically operate out of Gilm, after all,” Rei said, finally understanding.
Gilm was a city on the Frontier where powerful monsters roamed day and night. Because Rei used it as his primary base, it was difficult to obtain information on him even within the Kingdom of Mireana.
There were a few notable exceptions: he had gained fame in Baar during the Magic Fever incident, and again during the war with the Bestia Empire on the nearby Seremuse Plain. He had also temporarily relocated to the port town of Emotion and challenged the Dungeon in the Labyrinth City of Exil. To an ordinary person, it might seem like he appeared in many places, but for an adventurer who traveled from town to town, the records of his deeds weren't as extensive as one might expect.
Furthermore, it hadn't even been two years since Rei first registered as an adventurer in Gilm. Given the circumstances, the Nobles from other countries couldn't possibly gather information easily, and most who detoured into the Kingdom of Mireana likely found it a wasted effort. If they had traveled as far as Gilm, they could have unearthed plenty of stories about him, but most were simply stopping here on their way home from the Empire and lacked the time to trek all the way to the Frontier.
“In any case, please leave the lodging arrangements to me,” Luchard said. “I’ll go and coordinate with the rest of the village.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Rei watched as Epika frolicked with Seto while he made the request.
“Here you go. It isn’t much, but please enjoy.”
After Rei's Entourage had scattered to their assigned hosts, Rei found himself at Luchard's House with Vihera. Luchard set out a plate of dried fruits for them. In Rei’s estimation, they were essentially what he knew as Dried fruit. Given that they were in a remote rural village, there was no doubt that such treats were precious.
“Are you sure?” Rei asked.
“Yes, this is a celebration of the safe return of Rei-san and Vihera-san. ...And besides.”
Luchard glanced toward the entrance. Outside the house, Seto and Epika were playing together. The energy required to play outdoors in this season was something only a child could possess.
(Children are children of the wind... I guess that expression holds true in this world as well,) Rei thought. He suddenly wondered if his current physical form technically fell into that category, but he quickly shook his head. His appearance was that of a fifteen-year-old, but he wasn't that young at heart.
“Rei-san?”
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, I’ll take you up on that.”
Rei reached for the dried fruit on the wooden plate. The flesh had become concentrated through the drying process, giving it a firm, solid feel. When he bit into it, the texture was just as substantial as it looked, and a rich sweetness immediately flooded his mouth.
“...It’s delicious.”
The flavor was simple and rustic, but it pleased Rei immensely.
“You’re right, it’s wonderful,” Vihera added, smiling as she enjoyed the fruit.
Vihera was staying at Luchard’s House simply because that was where she had been assigned. Since Luchard would be there along with Rei, he had seen no reason to object. Furthermore, there was almost no vacancy in the other homes, and given Vihera’s provocative style of dress, they couldn't exactly put her up in just any household without causing a stir.
“Even so, I was truly amazed,” Luchard said, savoring the fruit while wearing a gentle smile. “I never imagined Rei-san would return leading such a large group.”
“Well, a lot happened,” Rei replied vaguely.
“Fufu, that’s putting it lightly,” Vihera teased. “A great deal happened, in more ways than one.”
Luchard watched the two of them with a knowing smile. Feeling a bit self-conscious, Rei reached into his Misty Ring and began pulling out various ingredients. Among them was the bear that Seto had hunted near the Imperial Capital. Rei handed it over to Luchard without a second thought.
“I was thinking of hosting a banquet tonight for the whole village. What do you think? I’ll provide all the food. I don't have a massive amount of alcohol, but...”
Rei’s Misty Ring was packed with a vast quantity of supplies for the journey. Aside from essentials, it held many ingredients Rei had purchased for his own use, as well as meat from various monsters. The reason he didn't have much alcohol was simply that he wasn't a heavy drinker himself. He only carried a small amount for social requirements or for use in cooking. That said, some of the luggage entrusted to Rei by the others did contain a fair amount of spirits.
“Is that all right? I mean, we would be delighted, but...”
“Yeah. We’re already imposing on the village. Compared to that, sharing some food is no big deal.”
“I understand. I’ll go speak with the Village Head. Even if it’s only for one night, we’re all under the same roofs. It’s for the best that we all get along.”
“Please do.”
Luchard beamed and hurried out of the house.
“A banquet, hm? Well, we’ve crossed the Seremuse Plain and finally entered the Kingdom of Mireana. I’d say the timing is perfect,” Vihera remarked.
“Yeah, there’s that too. Also, no matter how much time they spend with me, I expect they’ll be treated with a lot of suspicion when we first arrive in Gilm. This is meant to encourage them so they don't lose heart.”
The group followed Rei for various reasons—some didn't want to fight him, some admired him, and others simply wanted to be near Seto. But regardless of their motives, the unchangeable fact remained that they were natives of the Bestia Empire. Rei predicted that even if the common adventurers accepted them, Daskar—the Lord of Gilm and the Central Figure of the Neutral Faction—would not be so quick to offer his trust.
“Cheers!”
““Cheers!””
Even on a late autumn night, the atmosphere of a banquet centered around a Campfire was universally joyous. Everywhere you looked, the People of Goto and the members of Rei's caravan were clinking cups and raising their voices in celebration.
In the end, it was agreed that Rei would provide the food while Goto would handle the alcohol. Of course, the division of labor wasn't strictly enforced; Rei contributed some alcohol from his stores, and Goto provided several of their own ingredients. Because of this shared effort, everyone was able to enjoy the festivities without worrying about anyone's hidden motives.
There were likely some who still harbored individual grievances, but they kept them well-hidden. The villagers of Goto knew better than to make an enemy of Rei and his Gryphon, and the members of Rei's Entourage knew they couldn't afford to shame Rei by causing trouble.
...However, the vast majority of the crowd wasn't worried about such politics and was simply enjoying the feast to the fullest.
“Guruuuu.”
Beside Rei, Seto’s throat rumbled with delight as it reached its beak toward a plate piled high with Stir-fried Bear Meat. Seto had been craving Bear Meat since the day they left the Imperial Capital, but the opportunity to eat it had never materialized until now. While the other meals had been perfectly fine, the desire for Bear Meat Dishes had never truly gone away. For Seto, Rei’s decision to pull the meat from the Misty Ring was the highlight of the night.
“Wait, Seto caught this bear meat himself?! Whoa, that’s amazing! You’re the best, Seto!”
Upon hearing the story from Rei, Epika began happily stroking Seto. The Gryphon purred contentedly, clearly enjoying the attention while it feasted.
“Now, now, Epika. Seto is trying to eat, so don't be a bother,” Epika’s mother said, gently scolding her son.
She and her husband had already finished their introductions and shared a brief conversation with Rei. Epika, however, couldn't care less about the adults' talk; he was just thrilled to be with Seto again.
“Guruuu?”
Want some? Seto looked up from the Stir-fried Bear Meat and tilted its head toward the boy.
“Yeah!”
With a happy shout, Epika reached out and took some of the Stir-fried Bear Meat from the plate.
“...Setting up this banquet was definitely the right choice,” Rei muttered to himself.
There had been a palpable tension when they first arrived in Goto. But watching them now, the members of Rei's caravan and the Goto Residents seemed to be hitting it off as they shared the meal. That alone made providing the food worth it.
Satisfied, Rei reached for a Grilled Skewer being roasted over the nearby Campfire.