When Rei stepped outside after concluding his business with Asimov and Pamidoor, he found exactly the sight he had expected.
People ranging from young children to adults and the elderly were gathered around Seto, who was currently sprawled out on the ground. Despite the fact that people usually avoided Asimov's dwelling, a massive crowd had formed as if that didn't matter in the slightest.
"This was certainly unexpected," Asimov murmured, his voice thick with the shock of someone who hadn't known of Seto’s existence.
Pamidoor and Rei merely smiled, neither of them particularly bothered. To them, it wasn't rare at all for a crowd to form wherever Seto happened to be. Many had been eager to play with the Gryphon, especially since Rei and Seto had been away from Gilm for quite some time. While things had finally begun to quiet down recently, the excitement hadn't vanished completely; if Seto was there, it was only natural for people to gather.
"Well, it just goes to show you should pay more attention to the world outside your door. Besides, if you'd realized what Seto was sooner, you might have gotten your hands on Seto's materials a lot earlier, don't you think?"
"……Hmph."
Rei took a step toward the two as they exchanged barbs, then paused, looking back over his shoulder.
"Anyway, I’m counting on you for the Magic Sword Incident. Get in touch once you have a general timeline. I’ll mostly be at the Dusk Wheat Inn. As for the Dungeon Core, feel free to experiment if it's usable, but… make sure you don't use it for anything other than the magic sword."
His final warning was intended for Asimov, not Pamidoor. Rei understood how passionate Asimov was about alchemy, and he feared the man might do anything to satisfy his intellectual cravings.
Asimov must have known Rei had hit the mark. He inhaled sharply at Rei’s words and gave a reluctant nod.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I’ll let you know when I have an estimate. That enough for you?"
"That'll do. ……Pamidoor, keep an eye on him for me."
"Leave it to me. I’ll make sure to watch him closely so he doesn't pull anything stupid."
Pamidoor understood Rei’s underlying concern immediately. Asimov shot him a disgruntled look in return. If Rei hadn't made a point of it then and there, Asimov likely would have tried something. As Rei watched him, he couldn't help but feel that it was precisely because the man was like this that he was such a highly skilled alchemist.
"Well, I’ll leave the rest to you."
Leaving them with that, Rei waded into the crowd surrounding Seto.
"Alright, everyone, make some room. Seto and I have to move, so you'll have to play with him another time."
The people moved aside at Rei’s request, looking disappointed but compliant. Ordinarily, there were always those who would want to stay and play longer, but they understood that getting in Rei’s way would only make Seto sad. While there were usually a few who prioritized their own desires above all else, fortunately, no such individuals seemed to be in this particular crowd.
"Guruuu!"
Play with me again later! Seto gave a spirited cry as it stood up and leaned into Rei, rubbing its face against him. Rei stroked Seto in return before the two of them departed. The onlookers watched them go with lingering regret, though they also looked satisfied with the time they’d had.
"Whoa…… even if it is an A-rank monster, I can’t believe they’d be so…… Truly incredible," Asimov muttered with deep feeling, watching the scene from a short distance away.
By Asimov’s common sense, the idea of people interacting so warmly with a Gryphon—a high-rank monster—was an unbelievable sight. Normally, that would have been true by general common sense as well. However, while Asimov’s logic was correct in a vacuum, it simply didn't apply to the unique common sense of Gilm.
"The fact that you never go outside is fatal in more ways than one," Pamidoor said. "Even I haven't been in Gilm all that long and I knew about this. For you to live here and have no idea…… that’s a real problem."
"……A fact I can’t deny." Asimov’s grumpy reply was likely fueled by the realization that if he’d known about Seto sooner, he could have acquired various Gryphon materials. Despite his sour expression, he eventually spoke up again. "Even so…… I suppose I was lucky to meet Rei and Seto thanks to you, Pamidoor. I might have spent years without ever realizing a Gryphon existed right in my own backyard."
"Oh ho, feel free to be as grateful as you like. ……Anyway, jokes aside. Since Lord Rei has entrusted us with this task, my pride as a craftsman won't let me settle for anything less than perfection."
"Yeah, you're right. As an alchemist, I've managed to get my hands on a material as peerless as a Dungeon Core. And if I can get Seto's materials as well, the other alchemists of Gilm will be grinding their teeth in envy."
"……Come to think of it, it's strange. There are plenty of alchemists in Gilm besides you. Why hasn't anyone else tried to contact Rei until now?"
"Who knows? From where I’m standing, I can't fathom why anyone would pass up a chance at such exquisite materials."
Asimov dismissed the matter instantly, but there had certainly been alchemists in Gilm who had tried to approach Rei.
However, Rei was frequently away on requests, meaning he didn't spend much time within the city walls. By the time many could have tried to make contact, the number of people who adored Seto had increased to the point that asking for materials became socially difficult. Furthermore, the Azoth Firm’s attempt to seize Seto had sparked a massive incident that ended in conflict with Rei.
The final blow was the rumor that an alchemist had collaborated with the Azoth Firm. Once that word spread among the alchemists of Gilm, it became impossible for any of them to approach Rei. As time passed, a consensus formed that it was best to avoid contact with him altogether. The fact that Rei was known to be merciless toward his enemies certainly played a role in that decision.
Nowadays, the alchemists of Gilm considered it a taboo to initiate contact with Rei, though they would have been fine if he approached them first. It was a stroke of irony that Asimov, entirely ignorant of these circumstances, had become the first alchemist in Gilm to establish a connection with him.
While Asimov remained unaware, his ignorance was likely a blessing. Of course, word of this would inevitably spread through the city's alchemical circles before long, and he would surely be bombarded with questions from his peers. In that sense, he might actually be quite unfortunate.
The moment Rei entered the Guild after parting with Seto at the entrance, Lenora spotted him and broke into a smile. A Knight standing beside her also noticed her gaze, turned toward Rei, and smiled as well. Rei wondered what a Knight was doing at the Guild, but before he could voice the question, the man hurried over.
"Lord Rei, perfect timing. I was looking for you, but I wasn't sure where to find you."
Rei tilted his head at the Knight’s words. The man, who looked to be in his thirties, wasn't a stranger. He was one of the Knights serving Daskar and had served as an escort during the trip to the Bestia Empire. Still, Rei didn't understand why the man had been searching for him.
(Is it because of the dungeon? No, Ranga should have sent a report, and he probably returned today to report in person anyway……)
Wouldn't that mean there was no reason to need Rei? He thought as much, but his assumption was far too naive. Even for a newly created dungeon, conquering it in a matter of hours was an achievement so significant that Daskar would naturally want to hear the details firsthand. Even if the Guild had been notified and a report had been passed along, that didn't change the lord's desire for a direct account.
"Lord Daskar wishes to speak with you regarding the Dungeon Incident," the Knight said, his tone sounding slightly apologetic.
The man was in his mid-thirties, making him significantly older than Rei, and he projected a powerful aura befitting a professional Knight. Despite that, the reason he used such polite language was undoubtedly because he was well aware of Rei's true strength. It would have been different if Rei were the type to flaunt his power, but he had never taken such a stance with Daskar. Furthermore, Rei had an established track record of completing various high-stakes requests for Gilm, the Margrave Larkus's Territory, and Daskar himself.
Given those facts, the Knight considered it only natural to treat someone like Rei with the utmost courtesy. Rei, unaware of these internal deliberations, simply tilted his head.
A certain cat beastman was cheering internally at the cute gesture, though she managed to keep it hidden.
"Regarding the dungeon, didn't a detailed report come from Ranga?" Rei asked.
"Yes. We have received Lord Ranga's report. However, the lord still wishes to hear the story directly from you."
Rei paused to think. He had come to the Guild to check on the progress of the Gamelion Incident, but now he was being pulled into something completely unrelated. As he hesitated, Lenora, who had been listening, interjected.
"Rei-san, the Guild would also appreciate it if you could report directly to Lord Daskar, if possible……"
"Hmm…… alright. But before that, can I ask how things are going with the Gamelions?"
Realizing the reason for Rei’s visit, Lenora lowered her head apologetically. "I’m very sorry. We’ve gathered a team for the Gamelion dismantling, but since it's only been a day, we're still in the middle of the process……"
"I see."
"Normally, we would have made more progress by now, but…… well……"
As Lenora trailed off, looking as though the words were difficult to say, Rei shook his head to show he didn't mind.
"It's fine. It's not like I need to eat all that Gamelion meat right this second. Besides, I knew there wouldn't be many active adventurers at this time of year when I made the request."
"No, that’s certainly part of it, but……"
"Hmm? Is there something else?"
"Yes, there is. Actually……"
"Look, Rei-kun, yesterday you mentioned that Gamelions might be easier to find from now on, right?" The one who spoke up was Kenny, who had been waiting for an opening to join the conversation. "A lot of the people who heard that decided to head out and hunt them for themselves. I mean, if you think about it, it's a lot more profitable to go out and kill them yourself than it is to stay here and dismantle them for the Guild, right? Well, some people couldn't go because of their rank, so we've got them working on the dismantling."
"Kenny!" Lenora snapped.
"What? It's not like we're trying to hide it. Besides, Rei-kun doesn't look like he minds."
Lenora let out a small sigh at Kenny’s bluntness. "That might be true…… but still, we accepted the request. It’s a bit embarrassing to just come right out and say we aren't done yet."
"Oh please. Do you really think Rei-kun cares about such tiny details? The only thing tiny around here is someone's chest…… no, never mind, please put that fist away."
Kenny had been about to tease her as usual, but she quickly trailed off when she sensed a very real threat from Lenora’s clenched hand.
"Oh? Is that so? Why don't you finish what you were saying? Come on, Kenny. What was it about me that was tiny?"
Lenora was clearly fed up with the constant teasing. While her mouth was curved into a smile, her eyes remained chillingly cold. Kenny, sensing the danger, offered a weak, forced laugh.
"A-Ahahaha. Look, I didn't mean anything by it! Anyway, Lenora, let's just put the fist down, okay? Please?"
Kenny looked toward the Knight and Rei as if pleading for help, but……
"……In that case, Lord Rei. Will you come with me?"
"Yeah. That’s fine. It’s for the best. Let’s get going."
The Knight looked away, pretending not to see anything, and Rei nodded his agreement. Having reached an understanding, the two turned to leave.
"Wait, Rei-kun!? Don't leave me here! ……Ow!"
As tears welled in her eyes from the blow that landed on her head, Kenny looked up at Lenora. The receptionist let her fake smile vanish and let out a weary sigh.
"Honestly, stop acting like a fool. More importantly, Kenny, you go and help with the Gamelion dismantling too."
"What? Why me?"
"……Will you go?"
"Yes, ma'am! I'm going!"
Driven by an indefinable pressure, Kenny’s shout echoed through the Guild hall.