Rei’s group continued their trek down the highway.
It had been several days since their encounter with Gaylen, the merchant who had gifted them the potions. Since their wagons were virtually empty, they traveled at a pace far beyond that of a typical caravan. They had crossed paths with other merchants and adventurer parties several times since then, but these encounters were brief and uneventful, unlike their strange interaction with Gaylen.
While riding, Rei noticed a familiar landmark and realized the time for their departure was at hand.
"Vihera," he called out.
With that single word, she understood exactly what he was thinking. Vihera, who was riding alongside him, gave a small nod.
"Yes, the fork to Exil. It's a shame, but once I finish my business in Exil, I’ll head straight for Gilm. I might not be traveling alone when that time comes, though."
Rei realized immediately what she meant. She was referring to Byune, the girl she had doted on like a little sister during their time in Exil. Since the primary reason for her detour was to check on Byune's well-being, it was a perfectly plausible outcome.
"That’s fine, but don’t drag her here against her will. She has her own life and responsibilities in Exil, after all."
"Oh? Do you really think I’d force her to do something she hates?"
"I know you wouldn't. I'm just saying it to be safe. Still... we’ve been together for so long that it’s going to feel strange traveling without you."
Rei muttered this while stroking Seto’s head.
"Is that so? Between the time we left Exil, the fighting tournament, and your trip to the Imperial Capital as Big Sister Frizion’s guard... I’d say we’ve spent quite a bit of time apart."
"...Now that you mention it, I suppose you’re right."
Vihera was the type of person who left a powerful impression, for better or worse. Despite being a former princess, her personality was wild and unconstrained, and her striking beauty and provocative attire gave her an overwhelming presence. Combined with the fact that she was strong enough to trade blows with an A-rank adventurer, it was impossible for her to fade into the background.
"Even so, I think I’ll feel a little lonely once you’re gone."
"Fufu, thank you. But like I said, I’ll head to Gilm as soon as I’ve checked on Byune. My showdown with Elena isn't settled yet, after all."
Rei failed to realize that the "showdown" she referred to was a battle for his heart rather than a simple duel, and he merely let out a sigh.
"You might have fled the Empire, but Elena didn't exactly run away from her house. I don't think it'll be that easy for the two of you to find an opportunity to fight."
"Perhaps not. That is a bit of a shame. At any rate, even if I leave Exil as soon as my business is done, winter will likely be upon us. Traveling all the way to Gilm through the snow will be difficult, so we probably won’t see each other again until spring."
Vihera’s tone and expression were heavy with loneliness as she dismounted and approached him. Rei nodded and climbed down from Seto’s back. He retrieved her luggage from the Misty Ring and began securing it onto her horse. Unlike the others, who were moving their entire lives from the Imperial Capital, Vihera’s belongings were few enough to fit on a single mount.
Of course, the extra weight would still slow the horse down considerably.
"...Thank you."
"Don't worry about it."
As Rei and Vihera exchanged these brief words, the members of the Mobile Unit and the other refugees began to chime in.
"Lady Vihera, please stay safe!"
"We’ll see you again in Gilm!"
"I doubt you have anything to fear, my Lady, but keep a sharp eye out for bad men!"
"You idiot. As if any 'bad man' could ever trick Lady Vihera. Even if one tried, he’d be the one begging for mercy by the end."
"What are you talking about? Lady Vihera is a maiden in love, isn't she? She needs to be careful about those things. Besides, she’s so beautiful it makes even me shiver, and I’m a woman!"
"Try to keep the challenges to a minimum, alright? You're already incredibly strong as it is."
A chorus of encouragement—or rather, admiration—erupted from the crowd. Recognizing the genuine regret in their voices, Vihera allowed a faint smile to cross her lips. Even that small gesture was enough to captivate everyone present, regardless of their gender.
Vihera had often visited the Mobile Unit's camp just to chat with Rei. During those visits, she would frequently join in their combat training whenever she felt like a fight. To the members of the former Mobile Unit, she was a noble figure, yet one they felt a deep sense of camaraderie with.
It wasn't just the soldiers. To all the citizens who had followed the Mobile Unit from the Bestia Empire, Vihera was their former princess and a spiritual pillar of their journey. Her habit of speaking to them casually despite her high birth had earned her the affection of many. That bond had only grown stronger over the course of their long trek.
"Fufu, thank you all. I'll be fine. I’m sure plenty of men will try to win me over... though my heart is already spoken for."
Vihera cast a meaningful glance toward Rei, prompting high-pitched cheers from the group—especially from the women who lived for this kind of romantic drama.
For the next ten minutes, Vihera made her rounds, exchanging final farewells with everyone. While there was plenty of disappointment, the knowledge that she would arrive in Gilm by spring at the latest kept the parting from becoming too somber. Finally, she turned back to Rei.
"Well, it's time for me to go. You might feel lonely with me gone, but try not to cry yourself to sleep at night, okay?"
"...How old do you think I am?"
"I wonder. Regardless of your age, you are irreplaceable to me. Stay healthy until we meet again."
With those words, she stepped close and pressed her lips against Rei’s. It wasn't a deep, passionate kiss like the one they had shared before; it was a simple pressing of lips that lasted only a few seconds. When she pulled away, she hopped lightly into her saddle.
"See you soon. If you cheat on me with anyone other than Elena, I won't forgive you."
With her cheeks flushed a soft red, Vihera spurred her horse and began gallanting down the highway to Exil. Rei watched her receding figure with a faint smile until she vanished from sight. When he finally turned back to the group to signal their departure, he froze.
Nearly everyone in the carriages was staring at him with wide, knowing grins and suggestive gazes. It was to be expected. Everyone there knew exactly how Vihera felt about him. Given her usual behavior, it was impossible to misinterpret her feelings. Had she not made her intentions so obvious, a few of the men might have even worked up the courage to court her themselves, despite the certain rejection.
They had all watched the alluring, battle-hungry princess make her somewhat faltering advances toward Rei. Seeing that gap in her personality had turned most of them into supporters of their relationship. To them, that kiss was a major victory. They didn't know that the two had shared a much deeper kiss back in Exil; to the onlookers, this was a momentous occasion worth celebrating. The women, in particular, were already buzzing with excitement as they discussed the scene they had just witnessed.
"...Alright, let's get moving."
"Aww, come on, Rei-san. Don’t you have anything to say about that kiss with Lady Vihera?" Sergio asked.
Dietz and several others shouted their agreement, their eyes sparkling with mischief. Rei looked at them, let out a long sigh, and spoke.
"If you all want to take your sweet time getting to Gilm, I’m perfectly happy to fly the rest of the way on Seto. It wouldn't take us long to get home on our own."
"Wait, wait! It was a joke! Just a joke! Right, everyone?"
Sergio shouted in a panic, sensing the genuine threat in Rei's words. Those who knew Rei’s temperament quickly backed down. The former Mobile Unit members, in particular, knew better than to push their luck. Through the training using the Overlord's Armor and other grueling drills, Rei had carved a clear understanding of the hierarchy deep into their souls.
However, those who didn't know Rei as well weren't as ready to let such a juicy topic go. They knew of his reputation, of course—some had seen him in the finals of the fighting tournament, and others had heard stories of his power from the soldiers—but they hadn't experienced the life-or-death pressure of his training.
"L-Look, Rei-san obviously doesn't want to talk about it. Let's just drop it for now, okay?"
"Yeah, exactly. That’s for the best. Don’t do anything that might make him actually leave us behind."
"Agreed. Totally agreed."
As the members of the former Mobile Unit spoke up in unison, the rest of the group eventually nodded and settled down, though many still looked puzzled by the soldiers' sudden intensity.
"No more questions, then? Good. We’re moving."
Everyone nodded obediently.
"Right, let's head out. Gilm isn't that far from here. We won't make it by the end of the day, but we shouldn't run into any major trouble... except for the bandits. They tend to swarm the area around Sablusta, the gateway to the frontier."
"But isn't that exactly what you’re looking for, Rei-san?" Dietz asked.
Rei gave a light shrug. The tension from moments ago had finally evaporated, and the atmosphere returned to normal.
"There are a lot of bandits around Sablusta, but if we spend too much time dealing with them, our arrival in Gilm will be delayed."
"I guess that makes sense. It’s not the fighting that takes time; it’s finding the bandit hideout and processing all the loot afterward."
"Yeah... tell me about it," a female member of the former Mobile Unit muttered, remembering their previous encounters.
In truth, common bandits were no match for Rei or the veteran soldiers. The real drain on their time was the interrogation required to find the hideout's location, the travel time to get there, and the tedious process of clearing out the remaining bandits and identifying valuable treasure. Fortunately, they hadn't encountered any captives in the hideouts they had raided so far. Had there been prisoners, they would have had to escort them to the nearest town, dragging the journey out even longer. Rescuing female captives, in particular, was a task Rei found especially draining.
"Ideally, we’d just wipe them all out and be done with it, but rumors of the bandit presence around Sablusta always draw in more of them."
"...So no matter how many bandit subjugations we do, they just keep coming?" Dietz muttered, his face contorted in disgust.
Rei nodded. "Exactly. To make matters worse, the bandits have spies inside Sablusta who bribe the soldiers for information."
"That sounds like a nightmare. Why do so many of them congregate there in the first place?"
"Because it’s the gateway to the frontier. Merchants are constantly passing through with rare monster materials, magic stones, and magic items crafted from those materials. The bandits see them as high-value targets."
"Ah... that makes sense."
The group nodded in understanding. Even in the Bestia Empire, the regions near the Mountain of Magic were considered frontiers, and the materials and magic stones gathered there were highly sought after. Seizing a merchant’s cargo in such a region was infinitely more profitable than petty thievery elsewhere. Of course, such valuable cargo meant the merchants hired elite guards, but the potential reward was enough to keep the bandits coming.
"Well, we’ll handle any bandits that come our way just like we always have. Though, looking at this group, most of them will probably just mistake us for an ordinary merchant caravan."
Aside from Rei, the entire group was composed of wagons—specifically sturdy box carriages rather than open carts or covered carriages. To a bandit, they looked like a prize ripe for the taking. This was a fact that everyone who had traveled with Rei all the way from the Imperial Capital understood only too well.