The morning after their stay in Sablusta, Rei finished the necessary paperwork and stepped outside the city. He found the entire group gathered by the gate, fully prepared to depart at a moment’s notice.
“So, every last one of you wants to go to Gilm? You’re an eccentric lot. You do realize we’re heading to the frontier, right?”
As Rei muttered this while scratching Seto’s head, Sergio let out a wry laugh from atop his coach box.
“We traveled all this way from the Bestia Empire specifically to be with you, Rei-san. Doesn’t it seem a bit absurd to think we’d just settle down in Sablusta instead?”
“...Just so you know, I don't plan on staying in Gilm forever. If a request comes in, I’ll head to other cities, and I might end up in a different country again, just like this time.”
“We understand that. But don’t you think being near you when something happens makes a world of difference?”
At Sergio’s words, the people in the other carriages nodded in firm agreement.
“Besides, if we lived in Sablusta, we wouldn’t get to see Seto-chan anymore,” added a woman sitting on the coach box of another carriage. Many others chimed in with their own nods of approval.
“Do whatever you want. Honestly, you people are something else.”
“Rei-san, you said that already.”
“That’s because there are that many strange people here. ...Anyway, Sergio, what’s the word on the thieves?”
“Ah, yes. That matter has been fully resolved. Originally, I thought about coming back to this city later to collect the money, but I figured we’d be far too busy once we reached Gilm. So, I paid a small fee to a caravan scheduled to head to Gilm in ten days to have them bring it to us.”
“You’re certainly a trusting one. Don’t blame me if they run off with the gold.”
Rei offered the warning as a matter of course, but Sergio only responded with another wry smile.
“Rei-san, you really ought to consider how famous your name has become. We’re the group that arrived under your protection. If anyone dared to steal the bounty for the captured thieves or the proceeds from selling them as slaves while fulfilling a request from your entourage, they’d never be able to show their face in business around here again. ...Well, maybe if the sum were astronomical, someone might be tempted, but...”
Concluding that the amount probably wasn't life-changing enough to risk a merchant’s reputation, Rei shrugged.
“If you’re satisfied with the arrangement, I won’t complain. Is that everything, then? No forgotten luggage? Even if you remember something now, I’m not waiting around for you to go back through the entry procedures.”
“Rei-san, there’s no point in even asking that,” Dietz remarked, and the group shared a laugh as they nodded.
Noting that the brief tension within the entourage had finally dissipated, Rei spoke again with a grin.
“Alright then—let’s move!”
At Rei’s command, Seto took his first step forward. The train of carriages followed suit, beginning their final trek.
The guards serving as gatekeepers for Sablusta watched the group—a gathering large enough to be called a small horde—depart. Once the travelers were a safe distance away, one of them finally spoke.
“There they go.”
“Yeah. ...Honestly, I didn’t expect things to get this hectic again right after the peak caravan season ended.”
“Ah... tell me about it. I mean, there are always people trying to beat the snow to Gilm every year, so it's not unheard of... but the timing of this lot feels a bit off.”
“Well, it’s still quieter than it was a few weeks ago. Beats a real rush, doesn’t it?”
In the weeks before the first snowfall, Gilm typically saw a massive influx and exodus of caravans. Merchants scrambled to stock up on goods before the snow made the mountain passes impassable. A single miscalculation regarding the weather could leave a trader trapped on the frontier until spring.
Under normal circumstances, it was best to avoid Gilm during this season. However, the frontier offered prizes that could only be harvested at this time of year—Gamelion meat being the most prominent. Many traders were willing to gamble on the weather for the chance to acquire rare materials and magic stones that were always in high supply there.
Those who weighed the risks and chose the rewards swarmed Gilm during this window. But that rush had already peaked; with snow expected at any moment, no one headed for the frontier now unless they had a very compelling reason.
...Or, like Rei, they were simply returning home.
Regardless, heading to Gilm meant passing through Sablusta. Until very recently, the guards there—especially those handling the entry paperwork—had been enduring an absolute nightmare of a workload. Compared to that, processing Rei's entourage had been a relatively simple task.
“Hey, snap out of it! We’ve still got caravans coming in, so don't think you can just slack off!”
At the shout from one of the senior guards, the men scattered back to their respective posts.
“Oh, I see it! Is that Gilm?”
Two days after leaving Sablusta—having spent a night in Abuelo, located between Sablusta and Gilm—Rei's entourage had pushed hard along the highway since early morning. Now, the silhouette of a city wall finally loomed on the horizon.
One of the drivers let out a jubilant cry at the sight. It was a well-earned reaction. The journey from the Bestia Empire's Imperial Capital to the frontier city of Gilm in the Kingdom of Mireana was a trek most ordinary people would never experience in their lifetimes.
The fact that they had made it this far in safety was a testament to the protection of Rei and Seto, as well as the combat experience of the members of the former Mobile Unit. In truth, a group traveling with such overwhelming security was a rare sight indeed.
“In the end, those thieves before Sablusta were the last trouble we faced,” Sergio remarked with a hint of nostalgia. To some, his tone might have even sounded a bit disappointed. Though fundamentally polite, Sergio was an adventurer at heart; he wasn't exactly allergic to a good scrap.
“Well, that’s how it should be. The important thing is that we made it to Gilm in one piece. Save the complaints for later.”
“You’re right. It wouldn’t be funny if we joked about it and an army actually appeared. ...Still, the walls surrounding Gilm are incredibly thick, aren't they? They might even give the Imperial Capital a run for its money.”
A woman acting as a driver muttered in admiration as she stared at the walls of Gilm, which were imposing even from this distance.
“Makes sense. It’s the frontier. Powerful monsters are a fact of life here. If the walls were thin, they’d be smashed through in a heartbeat, wouldn't they?”
“Because it’s the frontier, huh? Since we’re going to be living there, I’d say ironclad defenses are a plus.”
“Yeah, it’s reassuring to know our new home is a fortress.”
“Speaking of which, I heard a strange rumor back in Abuelo. Something about a dungeon...”
“Oh, I heard that too. But wasn't the dungeon near Gilm already famous? Why is everyone talking about it now?”
“Who knows? Maybe something new happened down there.”
As they chatted, the gates of Gilm drew closer. By this point, the highway was becoming crowded with other adventurers, caravans, and travelers. Their reactions to the newcomers were split down the middle.
On one side were the people who know Rei and Seto. These locals rejoiced at the return of the duo after their long absence, often tossing pieces of dried meat or bread to Seto as they passed.
On the other side were those who didn't know Rei or Seto—or at least, those who had only heard the rumors and never seen them in the flesh. These people stared in sheer terror at the Gryphon and the boy riding on its back. There were more than a few travelers who nearly collapsed as an A-Rank Monster suddenly loomed over them, though they were quickly steadied by locals who knew the score.
But regardless of which side they fell on, everyone shared a common curiosity about the group of nearly 20 carriages Rei was leading. Every single one was an expensive box carriage. People whispered, wondering why such a wealthy train was following Rei, eventually assuming he had been hired as their high-end escort.
A small crowd was already waiting to be processed at the gate, and they turned wide, surprised eyes toward Rei’s group as it pulled up behind them.
“Huh? We haven't been overtaken by anyone since we left Abuelo, right?”
“True. Then again, not many people can keep up with our pace.”
Aside from Rei and Seto, the carriages were only carrying people, and the horses pulling them were high-quality stock. Consequently, the travel speed of Rei's entourage was exceptionally high.
Rei spoke up to address the confusion over why others were already in line ahead of them.
“It’s not that mysterious. We stayed the night in Abuelo, but the people in that line probably walked through the night or spent it camping.”
“...In this cold?”
“Everyone has their reasons. Not everyone is as flush with cash as we are.”
Rei and his companions had been paid handsomely for their role in the civil strife, meaning their pockets were currently very full. Furthermore, throughout their journey, they had made a habit of capturing every thief who attacked them, squeezing the location of their hideouts out of them, and then raiding those dens to claim the loot for themselves. Even after splitting the spoils among everyone who fought, it was a staggering amount of wealth. They had plenty of financial leeway.
Most travelers, however, didn't have that luxury. To save money, they would brave the cold and the risk of monster attacks on the highway rather than pay for a room at an inn.
“Hmm... well, I remember counting coppers when I was an adventurer back home, so I guess I get the feeling.”
“Pfft. You? Saving money? That’s rich coming from the guy who blew his last paycheck on a prostitute.”
“Ugh...”
While they were bickering, Rei and the others finally reached the rearmost position of the line.
“Rei! You guys don't need to queue! Get over here!”
One of the guards called out to them, beckoning them to skip the line and head straight for the gate. Naturally, the carriages followed Rei, much to the annoyance of the people still waiting. However, complaining was useless; anyone who knew Rei knew there were usually special circumstances involved. Despite some disgruntled looks, no one voiced an objection.
“It’s a big help, but are you sure?” Rei asked as they reached the front.
The guard nodded. “We received orders from Lord Daskar himself. We’re to let you through the moment you return.”
“Ah... I see.”
Rei understood immediately. The Margrave likely wanted to hear the full report on the civil strife directly from his mouth. While a summary had been sent via Elena, it was only natural for the Central Figure of the Neutral Faction to want every detail.
The conflict in the Bestia Empire had been a conspiracy born of the cooperation between the neutral and noble factions. If word got out that Rei—a Gilm adventurer known to be close to Daskar—was back, it was highly likely that other parties would try to intercept him before he could reach the Lord's Mansion.
“I get it. Then let's get moving. ...By the way, did you hear about these people?”
Rei gestured to the carriages behind him. The guard nodded again.
“Yeah. We were told that anyone traveling with Rei should be directed straight to the Lord’s Mansion as well.”
After a brief exchange of words, they began the entry procedures for the group. As Rei handed over his guild card, he realized that a certain someone was missing. Ranga, the man in charge of the guards, had become something of a personal contact for Rei. Usually, he would have been the one to greet him personally.
“Where’s Ranga?”
“Captain Ranga is currently away on assignment. At the dungeon.”
“The dungeon? You mean the one near here?”
Rei thought of the dungeon containing the Altar of Inheritance, where he had dived with Elena and her knights. It was a place where he had gained much but also suffered his share of bitterness. It was the only dungeon in the area he knew of.
However, the guard shook his head.
“Not that one. I mean, it is near here, but it's a different dungeon. ...A new one was discovered just a few days ago.”
The guard’s casual statement hit Rei with the force of a physical blow, leaving him staring in genuine shock.