After leaving the Dusk Wheat Inn, Rei, Lento, and Seto—two people and one animal—walked together toward the Main Gate.
Rei had hoped to drop by the guild to check on the progress of the Gamelion dismantling, but since Lento had already arranged a meeting at the Main Gate, he couldn't very well force the issue. Had it been a truly urgent matter, he would have headed to the guild regardless, but in this case, it was more of a casual interest than a necessity. There was no need to go out of his way.
Thus, Rei had agreed to Lento’s schedule and headed toward the gate, but...
"Hm? What's wrong? We’re headed to the Main Gate, right?" Rei asked, a grilled skewer in one hand.
Lento nodded, his expression a mix of surprise and exasperation. "I mean, yeah, we are, but... I didn't think a quick stroll through the city would turn into this. I’d heard the stories, but seeing it in person is something else..."
Lento watched Seto as the gryphon walked alongside them, happily munching on dried meat.
Lento’s own appearance had changed significantly since their conversation in the Dusk Wheat Inn dining hall. Back then, he had only been carrying his longsword, but now he was fully armored. After leaving the inn, he had returned to his own lodgings to prepare his gear. He wore standard leather armor made from monster hide along with winter clothes to ward off the chill. Most notably, he carried a metal shield on his back.
Noticing Rei's eyes on the equipment, Lento spoke up curiously. "What is it? A shield isn't exactly a rare sight, is it?"
"No, it is rare," Rei countered. "Among the adventurers I've met so far, I haven't seen many who use them."
Granted, Rei hadn't been an adventurer for an exceptionally long time. Then again, it had been nearly two years, so it couldn't be called a short stint either. Even in that relatively brief period, he had been involved in countless incidents, yet shield-bearing adventurers remained a minority. While certainly more common than those in full plate armor, the issue of weight was a major factor. Every extra pound of equipment meant that much less capacity to carry back materials, magic stones, proofs of subjugation, meat, ores, herbs, and other loot.
Rei’s thoughts must have been written on his face. Lento gave a dexterous shrug, his shield shifting with the movement. "I get your point, Rei, but the peace of mind in combat makes it worth the weight. Besides, Gamelions hit hard, don't they?"
"I won't deny that."
With three-meter-long bodies, sharp fangs, blade-like ears, and whip-like tails, a Gamelion’s entire form was essentially a lethal weapon. Furthermore, they were composed of condensed muscle and were notoriously ferocious. It was perfectly logical for a warrior to want a shield when facing such a foe.
"Exactly. Besides, I've always been a defense-oriented vanguard for my party anyway."
"...Speaking of which, you mentioned we’d be hunting Gamelions together, but it sounds like you aren't actually a solo adventurer?"
"Hm? Oh, definitely not. It's actually quite rare for a C-Rank to be solo. Unless they’re a specialist like you, that is." Lento looked at Rei with a hint of envy. Despite being a B-Rank, Rei operated entirely alone. Lento then steered the conversation back. "Anyway, my party is already done with their winter preparations. That's why we're all free to spend our time however we like for now."
"And so, despite the cold, you're out here hunting Gamelions. Just to impress a girl," Rei teased.
"Ugh, th-there's nothing wrong with that! Besides, I'm giving you a proper reward for the help." Lento stroked his stubble, clearly trying to hide his embarrassment.
Rei felt like teasing him further, but the Main Gate was coming into view, so he dropped the subject.
Since the morning rush had ended, the area wasn't particularly crowded. The number of people entering and leaving Gilm always dwindled this time of year, making the small group gathered near the gate stand out all the more.
"Are we meeting inside the gate instead of outside?" Rei asked.
"Yeah, the paperwork should be finished already. It's better to stay near the gate to block the cold wind than to wait out in the open. That's why. ...I mean, in your case, don't you use adventurer's wisdom like that...?"
Lento started to ask if Rei didn't learn or use such tricks, but he stopped himself mid-sentence. It might be different in a party, but Rei usually operated solo. Lento assumed that, aside from formal quest meet-ups, Rei probably had very little experience coordinating with fellow adventurers.
In truth, Rei simply didn't have to worry about the cold thanks to the protection of his Dragon Robe, but there was no way Lento could have known that.
"Hm? Hey, Lento. You told them I was coming, right? So why is there a carriage and a handcart?" Rei asked, spotting the vehicles near the group.
If they managed to kill a Gamelion, transporting it would be a nightmare for an average person. Putting aside Rei's Misty Ring, even the inferior copies of the item were far too expensive for most adventurers to obtain. Furthermore, loading a Gamelion into the main body of a carriage would leave it smelling of blood forever. A handcart was certainly the most practical solution, but...
If they knew Rei was coming, there shouldn't have been any need for a cart.
Lento scratched his head sheepishly. "Actually... inviting you was my own independent decision."
"...I see. So this was strictly about scoring points with Johanna."
"..."
Lento quietly looked away. Rei felt it was foolish to press the matter further, but he felt he had to offer one warning. "Giving them a surprise is all well and good, but... you shouldn't assume it'll necessarily work out in your favor."
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"I mentioned it at the inn, too. ...Well, you'll see soon enough."
Lento looked puzzled, but Rei simply turned his gaze forward as they approached the members of the former Mobile Unit who were aspiring to be adventurers. When the group noticed Rei’s figure, their expressions shifted to shock—and one person started sprinting toward them.
"Seto-chan! It's been so long!" Johanna shouted, her face glowing with joy. She rushed to Seto’s side and immediately began petting him all over.
The behavior was intimately familiar to Rei.
(I guess avoiding Mirene is going to be impossible,) he thought. He prayed it wouldn't lead to some bizarre rivalry between them, though he suspected that was a lost cause.
"That's enough, Johanna. More importantly, have you already checked out of the Lord's Mansion?"
Being addressed, Johanna finally noticed Rei's presence. She hurriedly bowed to him, though her hands never stopped petting Seto-chan—a clear indication of where her priorities lay.
"Captain Rei... I mean, Rei-san! Why are you here?"
"I was hoping you'd notice me since Seto is right here."
Rei sighed as the other members of the former Mobile Unit gathered around.
"Rei-san, you look as healthy as ever."
"Idiot... this is Rei-san we’re talking about. With his power, even illness would be blown away before it could touch him."
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, but for some reason, I find myself believing it when it's about him."
Rei addressed the four of them—Johanna and the three men. "It's been a while... though that's an overstatement. It hasn't been that long since we parted. So, how are things?"
"Ah, yes. Through Lord Daskar's connections, we've rented a large house where several of us will live together. Now that the move is finished, those of us who are free decided to head out for a Gamelion hunt."
Hearing that, Rei recalled the luggage he had carried for them from the Bestia Empire's Imperial Capital, which he had returned to them when Daskar summoned him to explain the dungeon incident.
"I remember Johanna having an incredible amount of luggage... you finished putting all that away already?"
"...Well, I had someone help me, for some reason."
The group cast a collective glance toward Lento, who was awkwardly waiting for an opening to speak to Johanna. Understanding exactly what had happened, Rei decided to keep quiet out of mercy.
(Moving Johanna's luggage... that must have been a grueling labor of love. He's really got it bad.)
Rei turned back to the group. "Anyway, since you're new to Gilm, I figured I’d lend a hand. Lento asked me, so I decided to tag along."
"...What? Rei-san is helping us? Wait, is it going to snow?"
"It’s winter; it could snow at any time. You’re supposed to say 'will it rain spears?'"
"I have a feeling it’s only going to rain flames for Rei-san..."
Rei smiled beneath his hood at their panicked disbelief. "If you want, I can make it rain flames or spears. I’m good at both, so I can drop as much as you like."
Sensing the weight behind his words, the three men shook their heads frantically.
"N-No way! We didn't mean anything by it! Right?"
"Of course not! Absolutely not!"
"Yeah, definitely not necessary!"
Johanna, still doting on Seto, tilted her head at the commotion. "Huh? What happened?"
The three men looked at her as if she were their salvation. "Rei-san said he’s going to help us with our work. You're happy about that too, right, Johanna?"
"Eh? Oh, of course I am! But... is that really okay?" She looked at Rei while stroking Seto's neck.
Rei nodded. "You guys aren't used to the area around Gilm yet. Even with Lento here, things can get tricky. Think of this as a parting gift from your former captain. Fortunately, catching a Gamelion shouldn't be too hard right now."
"Ah, I heard about that! Rei-san, you conquered a dungeon recently, right? And that's why Gamelions are appearing again?" one of the men asked.
Rei nodded. "Though it was just a shallow dungeon that had only just formed. Regardless, if we're going, let's get moving. Just so we're clear, my role is only to find the Gamelions. Finishing them off is your job."
Despite Rei's declaration that he wouldn't participate in the fight, none of the four showed any sign of dissatisfaction. Lento, while secretly wishing for help, couldn't complain if Johanna was satisfied with the arrangement.
(Besides, if Rei fights, he'll take all the glory. I want Johanna to see me being the hero,) Lento thought. He was an adventurer of Gilm; he knew perfectly well how much terrifying power was hidden within the small person standing before him. If Rei truly got serious, the fight would be over in an instant. Rei had crushed fifty Gamelions in the dungeon, and as members of the former Mobile Unit, these people had seen him dominate the battlefield during the Bestia Empire's internal strife.
"You borrowed a handcart, but what do you want to do with it? I can carry the Gamelions and any other monster corpses in my Item Box."
Hearing that, the group immediately decided the cart was a nuisance. It was promptly returned to its owner.
"Alright, let's go. If we leave now, we should be back by evening. One more thing—my cooperation ends once we return to Gilm. I won't be helping with the Gamelion dismantling. I'm not particularly good at it to begin with."
"Oh, right, I forgot about that. Leave that part to us! We'll handle everything as long as you can get us to the Gamelions, Rei-san."
And so the party of six and one gryphon—Rei, Seto, Lento, Johanna, and her three companions—set out to hunt Gamelions.