"So, you guys were on an escort mission. Taking on such a tedious job in this freezing weather must have been rough."
"Ahahaha. Well, we managed to make it back to Gilm before the snow really started, so it worked out for us in the end."
At Rei's comment, Ekryl gave a wry smile and glanced out the carriage window.
Currently, the members of Scorching Wind were sharing the carriage with Rei and his group. Normally, the vehicle would have been over capacity, but as a Ranger, Ekryl prioritized light equipment and was quite small herself. Sulnin, who sat with a somewhat awkward expression, was a Mage and carried nothing heavy besides his staff.
Most importantly, Mirene and Johanna weren't inside at all. They were walking out in the cold... right alongside Seto.
Just as Rei had predicted, despite their shared love for the griffon, neither woman was willing to yield an inch. The atmosphere between them was strained, to say the least. The only thing preventing an outright brawl was that Seto would look distressed whenever they bickered, forcing them into a tense state of near-cold war.
I guess two titans really can't share the same stage, Rei thought as he watched Mirene and Johanna walk on either side of Seto through the window.
The snow that had started just before they reached Gilm was now falling in such thick sheets that it made the previous clear days feel like a distant memory. There was no wind yet, which was a mercy; had there been a gale, they would have been caught in a total blizzard.
"This is really... going to pile up."
"It looks that way. Gamelion hunting is likely reaching its final stages. The season was short this year, so the meat is a bit expensive, but at least there's a supply now. We have you to thank for that, Rei-kun."
Sulnin spoke up, turning his attention toward Rei.
"Didn't your party go after any Gamelions? A group with your skills should have been able to take them down easily."
"Mirene kept saying she wanted to go, but we couldn't exactly turn down this escort request."
"Ahahaha. In Mirene's case, she wasn't interested in selling them. She just wanted the meat," Ekryl added, watching the two women walk through the snow with Seto.
"Ah, Johanna's probably the same. If she hears that Seto loves Gamelion meat, she'll likely give him her entire share instead of selling a single scrap."
One of the men from the former Mobile Unit spoke up, following Ekryl's gaze. The others in the carriage nodded in grim agreement.
"When you look at them that way, they really are two of a kind. I suppose that’s exactly why they can’t stand one another."
Everyone nodded again at Rei’s remark. Given the number of people packed into the carriage, even that simple movement made the space feel claustrophobic.
"In any case, winter came late this year," Sulnin said, looking outside to steer the conversation away from the potentially troublesome topic of the two women.
"True, the first snow did seem later than usual. But for those of us living in Gilm, the later the snow falls, the better. You guys in Scorching Wind must feel the same, right? Having to guard a client in a snowstorm is twice as much work."
"Very true. Thieves are less of a problem this close to the city, but monster attacks are always a threat. Visibility-clogging snow is never a welcome sight."
Rei listened to Lento and Sulnin’s back-and-forth, finally letting out a soft sigh of relief as the Guild headquarters came into view.
"We’ve finally arrived. ...My job is essentially done once I hand over these Gamelions, right?"
"Hold on a minute. You aren't planning to just dump the cargo and run, are you?"
Lento shot him a look that said he wouldn't let Rei escape so easily, but Rei simply shrugged, unbothered.
"What do you mean 'run'? My role was to find and transport the Gamelions. I've done both, so it's not like I'm abandoning the job..."
"You’re being naive, Rei-san," Sulnin interjected. He turned a look of genuine pity toward the young man. "Even if you leave right now, Mirene and Johanna-san are obsessed with Seto. They’ll likely just follow you home. Don’t you think it’s better to settle things here properly first?"
"...Plus, as someone who actually has to handle the Gamelion dismantling, I’d really prefer you stayed a while longer," Lento added, siding with Sulnin.
Rei found himself at a loss for words. He knew they were right—if he just left the carcasses and headed back to the inn with Seto, Mirene and Johanna would undoubtedly be hot on his heels.
"Where exactly are you doing the Gamelion dismantling?"
"Hm? Oh, that’s all set. I told you I secured a spot. I cleared it with the Guild and rented out the Training Ground. That’s why we were heading here in the first place."
Lento grinned, clearly proud of his thoroughness. No doubt he had originally hoped Johanna would be impressed by his efficiency, but she was currently far too busy competing with Mirene outside.
Amidst that awkward air, the carriage finally pulled up to the Guild.
"Alright, let's get moving. Johanna, come over here; it's time to dismantle the Gamelions."
"Mirene, we need to report that the escort request was completed successfully. Please come with us. You're the Party Leader, after all."
Prompted by Lento and Sulnin, the two women—who had been maintaining polite smiles while watching each other like hawks—reluctantly separated. Johanna followed Lento toward the Training Ground, while Mirene went inside the Guild with Sulnin and the rest of her team. They parted ways knowing they had found their divinely appointed foe—a rival in a very different sense of the word.
"Guruuuu."
Seto, oblivious to the high-tension drama between the women, let out a happy trill as if saying, "See you later!"
To Seto, both Mirene and Johanna were simply kind people who doted on it. It truly wished they could just be friends. The fact that the two women were able to hide their mutual loathing from the griffon so perfectly was a testament to their sheer force of will.
I guess their similarities really do shine in the weirdest places, Rei thought as he watched them go. Lento quickly walked up to him.
"Come on, Rei. We can't start the Gamelion dismantling without you. It's freezing out here with the snow, so let's finish this fast!"
"...I mean, I'm only realizing this now, but isn't it going to be brutal dismantling these things in a snowstorm? You couldn't find somewhere else?"
The warehouse near the Full Belly Diner flickered through Rei's mind. Had these been his own Gamelions, he might have used it, but this time his role was limited to finding and hauling the bodies. He couldn't very well borrow that warehouse—or rather, the dismantling shed—like he had last year.
Besides, Gamelion hunting is at its peak. They’re probably swamped dismantling the stock for the diner anyway.
It had been exactly one year since he hunted Gamelions and introduced udon to the city. Only a single year had passed, yet to Rei, it felt like an eternity ago.
"Look, I know some merchants rent out space for dismantling, but that costs a fortune. Plus, at this time of year, everyone is so busy you need to book weeks in advance."
Thanks to Rei’s conquest of the dungeon, the Gamelion hunt was in full swing. Naturally, everyone needed space to process their kills. Ideally, you’d dismantle them right where they fell, but doing that in an area teeming with monsters was a death wish. Most adventurers would rather spend their limited time killing the next target instead of butchering on-site. Thus, they ended up like Lento, renting space from the Guild.
"Well, it doesn't matter to me. I just have to pull the Gamelion carcasses out of my Item Box. I was more worried about you guys working in this cold."
In Rei's case, the Dragon Robe automatically regulated his body temperature. Lento, Johanna, and the others were wearing winter gear over their armor, but that was hardly enough to completely nullify the bite of a snowstorm.
"Everywhere else was fully booked, so we didn't have a choice. Besides... look. We aren't the only ones out here. And we’ve taken some precautions."
Following Lento’s gaze toward the Training Ground, Rei saw flickers of light. Multiple bonfires had been lit across the grounds to provide illumination and warmth. Nearly ten parties had brought in carts loaded with carcasses and were already busy with the dismantling work.
"Whoa..."
It was an unexpected sight. A sound that was half-surprise and half-exasperation escaped Rei's lips. Lento, taking it as pure shock, gave a triumphant grin.
"Surprised? Well, I guess you could call this a specialty of Gilm... that might be a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea. Oh, that spot over there is open. Set them down there, Rei."
Led by Lento to a vacant space, Rei moved near one of the bonfires and began withdrawing the Gamelion carcasses from the Misty Ring. The first one was the specimen that had been sliced clean in half, but the others were in much better condition. They had wounds from the battle, of course, but compared to the first one, they were remarkably intact.
"That's a huge help. Well, that technically finishes your end of the deal... Is it alright if I bring your reward to the inn tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'll be looking forward to it."
Rei replied, the lingering taste of the cheese he’d eaten earlier coming back to him. Lento bowed his head.
"You really saved us today. We were only able to hunt these Gamelions safely because of you. You have my thanks."
"Rei-san, thank you so much. Be sure to give Seto-chan my regards, okay? I’ll be stopping by your inn soon."
Johanna spoke with a bright smile. Lento, listening nearby, didn't seem panicked. He knew her goal wasn't to see Rei, but to visit Seto in the stables.
...Though, trying to win the heart of a woman so completely infatuated with a griffon was proving to be a monumental task.
The men of the former Mobile Unit also stepped forward to offer their gratitude.
"Don't sweat it. Lento's the one who hired me, after all. Besides, like I said, I'm getting paid for it. More importantly, you guys are just starting your lives in Gilm. There will be plenty of things you aren't used to, so if anything comes up, let me know. I'm the one who brought you here; I'll help you out if you're in a pinch."
"Rei-san..."
Rei gave Johanna a small smile before turning to leave. The gazes that followed him were thick with appreciation. Rei himself didn't seem to notice—or perhaps he just didn't care. He wasn't looking for thanks; he simply felt that since he had brought them to this city, he was responsible for seeing them settled.
Regardless of his intent, his words were incredibly meaningful to the former Mobile Unit members, Johanna included.
As Rei walked away, Johanna spoke up.
"Right then, let's start the Gamelion dismantling. Captain Rei went to all this trouble for us; we can't let a little cold get the better of us."
"You're right. ...By the way, Johanna. You're back to calling him 'Captain Rei' again."
At the man's observation, Johanna quickly pressed a hand to her mouth. It had clearly been an unconscious slip.
Watching her, Lento felt a tiny prickle of jealousy. He only remained calm because he knew that the look in Johanna's eyes was one of respect for a reliable leader, not romantic interest in a man.
Well, considering Rei's age, it's highly unlikely Johanna would see him as a romantic prospect anyway. I'd have to wonder just how much of a preference for younger men she had, Lento thought.
He realized that if a certain Princess General or a certain battle maniac former Princess ever caught wind of that train of thought, he would be in for a world of pain.
...He decided the sudden chill running down his spine was surely just a result of the falling snow.