"Man... I'm bored."
"Hey, I remember hearing those exact words not long ago. We were ambushed by that bandit gang right after you said that, so don't be so reckless."
"Yeah, but look. Getting attacked by those bandits actually turned out to be a good thing, didn't it? For the people of Goto, it was a godsend to have the threat cleared out before they moved into the neighborhood. For us, we got to raid their hideout and snag the treasure they’d hoarded. Everybody wins."
"...I won't deny that."
The soldier speaking with Dietz nodded in agreement.
It had been only a few hours after departing Goto a few days prior that the bandit gang had launched their ambush. As Dietz pointed out, the resolution of the incident had been the best possible outcome for everyone involved—except for the bandits themselves. Perhaps because winter was fast approaching, the bandits had felt the need to stockpile as much as possible; the hideout's location, pried from the survivors, had contained a substantial hoard. Once the spoils were divided among those who participated in the raid, it amounted to quite a sum.
Of course, since there was nowhere to cash in such treasures in the middle of a journey, the loot was currently being stored inside Rei's Misty Ring.
"I've taken subjugation requests for bandit gangs before, but I've never had a haul this lucrative. ...Rei-san seemed strangely accustomed to the whole thing, don't you think? Even before we hit the Seremuse Plain, we ran into thieves a couple of times."
"Well, that's undeniable. Given that he's been called the 'Bandit Eater,' I'd say he's literally used to it in every sense of the word."
The lethal efficiency with which he had dispatched the bandits was certainly worthy of an Alias Holder adventurer. The soldier turned his gaze toward the head of the caravan, looking at the Gryphon and the lone adventurer straddling its back.
Putting the Gryphon aside, Rei himself didn't look particularly formidable at first glance. Cloaked in a mundane robe that could be purchased in any market, he appeared to be little more than a novice mage who had only just started out as an adventurer.
Yet despite looking like that, his true strength is enough to defeat an S-Rank adventurer... It’s like if you tried to attack him thinking he was a goblin, only for a dragon to burst out of that goblin skin the next second. ...It's really not something to joke about.
The man talking to Dietz felt a chill run down his spine at the thought. That deceptive appearance—what one might call mimicry—was a nightmare for anyone standing in his way. To those launching an attack, it was the ultimate trap.
The only saving grace is Seto's presence. If someone is smart enough to recognize a Gryphon, they might manage to survive.
Even that was unlikely, however. Even with the duo leading the way, people's eyes would inevitably be drawn to the larger presence: the line of wagons. Furthermore, once an attacker assumed an offensive stance, it was near-impossible to claim they weren't actually bandits. There was only one way to escape the terror Rei inspired in thieves: stay hidden, stay small, and never make contact with him at all.
"Still, it's nice to be back in the Kingdom of Mireana, but man..." Dietz muttered, scanning the surroundings with a bored expression.
"What now?"
"Nothing, really. I just realized that the Bestia Empire and the Kingdom of Mireana aren't that different in the end."
"That's because we're still in the sticks. I'm sure the difference would be obvious if we went to the Imperial Capital... no, the Royal Capital. But we're heading for Gilm on the frontier."
"Mireana's frontier, huh? So, for us, it's basically the area around the Mountain of Magic?"
"...Probably something like that."
The soldier's tone made it clear he was only operating on guesswork.
"I heard a bit from Rei-san," Dietz continued. "Apparently, being on the frontier means a lot of highly skilled adventurers congregate there. Rumor has it there are quite a few Alias Holders too. Like the father of that guy Rhodos in the other wagon... the one Rei-san is friendly with. He's supposedly the leader of the Axe of the Thunder God."
"You're quite well-informed."
Cutting into their conversation was none other than Rei, the person in the entourage most familiar with their destination.
"Ah, Rei-san. ...At this rate, how much longer until we reach Gilm?"
Rei tilted his head at Dietz's question.
"I wonder. It’s certainly going to be much faster than when we marched during the Spring War."
He stroked Seto’s neck as he pondered the question. Looking at his calm demeanor, one would never suspect he was the kind of man who would systematically slaughter a bandit gang.
Maybe this contrast is the secret to his strength, the soldier thought.
Unaware of the soldier's silent observation, Rei turned his gaze back toward the trailing wagons.
"Back then, we were weighed down by massive amounts of supplies, and we couldn't exactly rush because the march had to maintain a certain level of formal decorum. There was infantry to consider, too. In that sense, I expect we'll arrive far sooner than we did then."
Since every piece of furniture and moving crate was stored in Rei's Misty Ring, the wagons themselves were practically empty. Tents for camping and all their rations were stored away as well; they only took out what they needed when they stopped. Consequently, the heaviest things in the wagons were the passengers themselves. While they couldn't do anything about the weight of the people, they had reduced their cargo to the absolute minimum.
Naturally, their travel speed was considerably higher than that of a standard caravan. Furthermore, when Daskar moved his forces, he did so with the prestige befitting a margrave, which meant they didn't move with this kind of urgency. The difference in pace between the two journeys was like night and day.
"Ultimately, I can't give an exact number of days. ...Assuming we don't get caught up in another strange incident, of course."
"A strange incident? Like those bandits?"
"Yeah, something like that. For some reason, I tend to attract sudden trouble. ...Well, in the case of bandits, the payout is good, so I don't mind seeking them out myself."
"Whoa... no wonder they call you the Bandit Eater," Dietz murmured in awe.
"I'm not exactly thrilled that the name 'Bandit Eater' is catching on. I'd much prefer it if 'Crimson' were the one getting popular."
"You actually care about that?"
"It's not like I'm losing sleep over it, but between 'Bandit Eater' and 'Crimson,' it's obvious which one sounds better."
"...Fair point."
Dietz nodded, though he didn't look particularly convinced. To him, both names sounded equally impressive.
As they continued their conversation along the highway, they encountered a caravan group approaching from the opposite direction. The highway was broad enough that passing one another wouldn't be an issue.
"It's probably nothing, but stay alert just in case," Rei ordered, moving from his current position back to his post at the head of the line. "We can't rule out the possibility of bandits posing as merchants."
At his command, the drivers quietly reached for their weapons, ensuring they were ready to react to any threat, while those inside the wagons braced themselves for trouble.
"Do you think they're enemies?" Vihera asked as she drew close to Rei's side.
Rei tilted his head. "I'm not sure. I'm just taking precautions. Besides, I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to attack us here, even without witnesses around. ...If someone saw Seto and still decided to pick a fight, I'd almost be impressed by their guts."
"Guruu?"
Did you call me? Seto turned back toward Rei. Rei simply shook his head and gave the Gryphon a reassuring stroke on the back of its neck. Seto purred happily in response.
Despite the tension among the others, the Gryphon didn't show the slightest sign of nervousness.
Well, I suppose that’s only natural given Rei’s strength, Vihera thought with a faint smile. She quietly slipped between the wagons, moving to a spot where she could use her agility to launch a surprise attack if the situation turned south.
The group approaching them must have noticed Rei as well, as they exhibited a slight but unmistakable air of tension. If there were other travelers on the highway, they might not have been so wary. Or, if they were closer to a town or village, the atmosphere would have been different. But they were far from civilization, with no other souls in sight. In this isolation, it was only natural for both parties to be on guard.
The distance between them closed. Rei could see several adventurers—likely the caravan's guards—keeping their hands near their weapons, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
No, I guess they’re just inexperienced, Rei noted. Among his own group, several people were radiating a similar combat aura, showing they were ready to fight without hesitation.
The gap narrowed until, eventually, the approaching caravan came to a halt. Normally, two groups would pass one another with a light wave or a brief greeting. Stopping instead meant the other side had something in mind.
Now then, what's their play?
Noticing the heightened alertness of the people behind him, Rei slowed his pace. The wagons following him followed suit, and eventually, Rei's entourage came to a stop facing the other group on the highway.
"Good day. I am a merchant by the name of Gaylen. Since you have a Gryphon with you, would I be correct in assuming I am addressing the B-Rank adventurer known as Lord Crimson?"
The man who spoke first appeared to be the leader of the opposing caravan. He was a somewhat plump middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties or fifties. Rei looked surprised to be addressed so cordially with a pleasant smile.
"I am indeed called Crimson... You're well-informed."
"Hahaha. I've never heard of anyone besides you having a Gryphon as a tamed monster. Are you currently on an escort mission?"
While Gaylen spoke, Rei kept a close eye on the adventurers guarding the merchant's caravan. Realizing they were standing before an Alias Holder adventurer, they watched the interaction with stiff, nervous expressions. It was understandable; they would be the ones forced to stand in Rei's path if anything went wrong. While it was unlikely that an Alias Holder would suddenly turn to banditry, as guards, they had to be prepared for every contingency.
"Well, you could call it an escort. We're on our way to Gilm. And you?"
"We have business in the village further down the road."
"...Then why did you go out of your way to stop us? Usually, in a situation like this, people just give a nod and pass each other by."
Rei’s voice carried a hint of suspicion. Gaylen simply smiled as if he had been waiting for the question.
"Naturally, it’s because I wanted to make your acquaintance, Rei-san. To be an Alias Holder and a B-Rank adventurer at your age... Encountering you in a place like this is a stroke of luck, and I’m quite grateful for the coincidence."
Rei lowered his guard slightly at Gaylen's words, finally understanding the man's motivation. To a merchant leading a caravan, building rapport with a famous adventurer was a logical and potentially lucrative move.
"I see. Gaylen, was it? I'll remember the name. But my usual stomping ground is Gilm, on the frontier. Even if we've met here, I don't see how that benefits you."
"No, no. That might be the case for now, but who knows what the future holds? One can never start building a relationship too early, in my opinion."
Rei hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond to Gaylen’s friendly persistence. However, sensing no malice, he gave a curt nod.
"Fair enough. If you say so, I'll keep it in mind. ...But if we're done here, we'd like to get moving."
"Ah, my apologies for delaying you. You're right, we're both on a schedule. It would be a disaster if bandits caught us while we were chatting. Here, please accept this. Consider it a gift to mark our introduction."
Gaylen stepped down from his wagon, approached Rei, and handed him a potion. As far as Rei could tell, it was a perfectly ordinary potion.
"What's this for?"
"A potion from my caravan's stock. It's not exceptionally potent, but it's quite a bargain for the price. That's our specialty."
"...Oh?"
The price Gaylen quoted was indeed lower than what one would pay in Gilm. Rei wasn't the only one to notice; several people in the entourage reacted to the news. A few of them even stepped forward, paying Gaylen to buy some potions for themselves.
"For an adventurer, you can never have enough potions," Gaylen remarked. "Even if this was an impromptu stop, it turned out to be decent business. ...Now then, I'll take my leave."
With that, Gaylen returned to his wagon. Satisfied that their business was concluded, Rei gave a casual wave and signaled the caravan to resume its journey.