"Guahh!"
With a sharp cry, a man collapsed to the ground.
Watching him fall, the woman nearby muttered in exasperation.
"Hah. It turned out exactly as Rei feared—they really did come for a night raid. Well, maybe they were slow gathering their numbers, because the attack came today instead of yesterday. I understand not wanting to fight Rei, but they’re being a bit too honest about it. And for a bunch of assassins, their skill is pathetic."
"Now, now, they’re not as bad as all that. They’ve got some degree of skill, don’t they? Though, naturally, they’re no match for me or Phron. I’d say they’re about D-Rank equivalent."
Another voice spoke—a dwarf holding a massive hammer.
At Brasso's feet, several more figures lay slumped on the ground.
"Hah. D-Rank or whatever, if you get clobbered by Brasso's Earth-shaking Hammer, there’s not much you can do about it. More importantly, we’re fine over here, but..."
Phron turned her gaze elsewhere in the middle of her sentence. As if waiting for that exact moment, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them.
The surroundings were already dark. It was the middle of the night... well, a bit early to call it that, but the only light came from the moon and the light Magic Items installed around the mansion.
For those on guard duty, the fact that the snow had stopped and the wind wasn't too strong made for an ideal environment.
Emerging from the darkness of the night was a familiar face—one of the adventurers whom Rei had introduced.
"Phron-san, we have three intruders over here. We’ve successfully captured all of them."
"Not bad. I expected at least that much skill from someone Rei knows."
The words that left Phron's mouth were undoubtedly praise. However, the man who received the compliment wore a slightly troubled expression.
"Um, it’s true that we were entrusted with this guard job through Rei-san's introduction, but it’s a bit much to expect power outside common sense like his, you know?"
It was unbearable to be compared to someone like Rei. As the man spoke his thoughts, his gaze shifted toward Phron and Brasso.
Rei had asked them to handle the guard duty, but before that, he had reached out to these two first. That meant he placed more trust in these two than in the former unit members.
While he had no desire to be compared to Rei, he felt a twinge of envy toward the two people Rei trusted more than his own former comrades.
Perhaps noticing the man's gaze, Phron tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing. More importantly... I really didn't think they would actually launch an attack."
"Yeah. Well, they’ve backed themselves into a corner. You heard from Rei, right? What they wagered on the duel."
At Phron's words, Brasso snorted irritably.
"Hmph. The opponent is a typical foolish noble. Even seeing Rei with his own eyes, he likely couldn't discern his true strength. Now that he finally understands what kind of monster Rei is, he’s acting out of desperation. He’s nothing but incompetent."
Perhaps because his drinking time had been interrupted, Brasso's words were noticeably sharp. However, there was no doubt that his words were the truth.
"If he understands what kind of person Rei-san is, I think he should just cancel the duel itself. Even if it's already been processed legally, it can be settled somehow as long as both parties agree, right?"
"That’s true. However, in that case, that noble... was it Count Aeriel's House? That noble would lose face. He would have essentially surrendered completely to someone of a lower rank."
"It’s Count Eriel's House. ...Lose face, huh. I suppose face is important to a noble, but I think losing face would still result in less damage than facing Rei-san as an opponent."
Phron and Brasso both nodded at those words... but the fact remained that because the other side couldn't endure such a thing, they had resorted to this night raid.
"Setting that aside, what should we do with these unconscious people?"
"Let’s see. For now, keep them tied up. I don't know if they're definitely Count Eriel's men, but if they are, we can use them for negotiations after the duel is over. Even if they aren't his men, we might be able to trace them back to their employer."
Having said that, Phron directed a cold gaze toward the assassins lying unconscious on the ground.
"Don't screw with me!"
Accompanied by an angry shout, a fist swung out, sending a cup on the desk flying. It was a glass cup—far too expensive for a commoner to ever get their hands on—but in the next instant, it fell to the floor and shattered.
Even seeing that, the person who had screamed—Keep—did not let his irritation subside. He directed a gaze burning with rage toward Fultos, who stood before him.
"I tried to assassinate that poor Baron following your proposal... and the result is total annihilation!? What’s more, what do you mean most of them were captured alive! Among them are those who have connections to me, however thin!"
"Please rest assured regarding that matter. I do not believe it will lead to any trouble for you, Lord Keep. ...However, I did not think they would assemble guards so quickly. ...My deepest apologies."
"I'm not telling you to apologize! I'm telling you to do something about the current situation!"
The expression on Keep's face as he shouted at the bowing Fultos was one of sheer desperation. Because he had learned just how great the strength of the individual known as Rei was, he had come to understand the gravity of their current predicament.
In an attempt to do something about that almost hopeless reality, his masterstroke was an attack on Baron Cisne's House disguised as a robbery. If they couldn't win against Rei, they would try to do something about the root cause of the duel.
However, the result was exactly as Keep had just described.
"What am I supposed to do!? And a festival, you say!? What is that Margrave thinking!?"
There was another reason Keep was flying into a rage: the announcement the Lord, Daskar, had made this morning. Specifically, the festival to be held in three days.
The main attraction of the festival, which was being held in conjunction with this duel, was naturally the duel itself. With so many eyes watching, if the man who was the next head of Count Eriel's House were to lose to an opponent of lower rank, it would be like dragging his family's reputation through the mud.
Furthermore, half of the property of Count Eriel's House would be lost. No matter how favorably one looked at it, it was certain that his father, the current head, would disown him. No, if things went poorly, he might not just be disowned; he might be literally cut down.
For Keep, who held absolute confidence in his own lineage, such a thing was absolutely unacceptable.
"What... what should I do? Besides, is it not some kind of mistake that this Rei fellow is so strong?"
He asked Fultos with a sliver of hope, but the response was a shake of the head in denial.
"I also thought perhaps... and investigated various things, but it seems to be an undeniable fact that Rei is strong. We have obtained testimonies from those who participated in the war that occurred in spring alongside him."
"Hah! He's just a mere adventurer. They're probably just spreading exaggerated rumors to make themselves look a bit more impressive, aren't they?"
Keep spoke as if wanting his own delusions to be the truth, but Fultos shook his head at that as well.
"I also pulled some strings with the knights serving Margrave Larkus to gather information. Those rumors are undeniable facts... No, if anything, there is a possibility he is being undervalued."
"Then what am I supposed to... Wait. I understand that Rei is strong. But in the end, he's still just an adventurer, right?"
Suddenly, as if hit by inspiration, a light of hope dwelled in Keep's eyes. Seeing his master's behavior, Fultos felt a faint sense of foreboding, but he nodded slightly nonetheless.
"Yes. While he is sometimes hired by Margrave Larkus, as he was during the Spring War, he is not Margrave Larkus's subordinate."
"...Hmph, I see. Then he's just a mere adventurer. If I grace him with a little money, he’ll listen to my orders. Hmm, yes. In fact, I wouldn't mind letting a fellow like that Rei enter service as a direct retainer. He's the one with the alias Crimson. He should be of some use. Besides, he has a Gryphon as a tamed monster, right? That would also look good."
He was likely imagining himself accompanied by Seto and Rei. A satisfied smile played on Keep's lips. Watching him, Fultos couldn't help but be impressed, thinking it was actually a good idea for something Keep came up with.
Winning an enemy over to one's side was a well-worn tactic, but it was used frequently precisely because it was effective, which was why it became well-worn. If Keep's sudden idea worked out, it would be a golden opportunity for a total reversal.
However, the major pitfall lay in the fact that both Keep and Fultos did not doubt for a moment that Rei would want to enter a noble's service. Rei himself basically held no affection for nobles. But Elena, Daskar, and a few others were different stories, and he did hold affection for them.
Therefore, the truth of how Rei felt about nobles was likely something that couldn't even be learned through rumors. ...Though it was also a fact that during the Spring War, nobles of the Noble's Faction had nearly met their end at Rei's hands.
"That is... yes. That is indeed a brilliant plan. If it goes well, we might even be able to make him lose the duel on purpose."
"Exactly. Then I might not even need to hire anyone; I could appear in the duel myself. That way, I can effortlessly gain the honor of having defeated an Alias Holder Adventurer."
It was a total case of counting one's chickens before they hatched, but Keep himself did not doubt for a moment that his plan would succeed. He believed that being allowed to serve the next head of Count Eriel's House was a treatment far too good for a mere adventurer.
Fultos also judged that the possibility of this plan succeeding was by no means small, though not to the same extent as Keep.
"Lord Keep, I believe it would be best to refrain from appearing in the duel yourself. It may sound like a slight, but as you said, the opponent is a mere adventurer. There is no telling if he might accidentally attack you in earnest."
"Is that so? ...I suppose. You're right. He's just a mere adventurer. He wouldn't understand reason or anything else."
Muttering words that would have made any resident of Gilm scream "You're one to talk!", Keep turned his gaze to Fultos and nodded in agreement.
"I understand. If a little money can settle it, then that’s for the best. I’ll get that woman, Ashie, and I’ll get an Alias Holder Adventurer as well. ...Yes, a few Gold Coins should do."
"Gold Coins, you say? Isn't that perhaps a bit too little? The opponent is an adventurer who became an Alias Holder in his mid-teens. Since we are to obtain such a person, perhaps a Platinum Coin would be..."
"You expect me to make such a concession to a mere adventurer?"
Fultos's words clearly displeased him. Keep's voice took on an offended tone. Seeing Keep like that, Fultos immediately lowered his head. Since he understood through years of association that his master was prone to tantrums, he was well-accustomed to handling him.
"I understand why you would feel displeased, Lord Keep, but by showing great magnanimity here, wouldn't Rei also feel deep loyalty toward you?"
"Hmm? Magnanimity... Magnanimity, eh. Hmph, I suppose. If I go that far for a mere adventurer, even he would be able to understand my greatness. Very well, I understand."
The phrase "magnanimity" seemed to have pleased him. Keep smiled with satisfaction as if the unpleasantness of a few seconds ago had been a lie.
"Fine, those conditions will do. Make the arrangements at once."
"Yes, immediately."
Fultos quickly lowered his head, his cheeks and chin flesh wobbling as he did so.
Having finished dinner, Rei was looking at two Magic Stones at the Dusk Wheat Inn. In his hands were the Ogre Magic Stone he had obtained when conquering the dungeon and a regular Gamelion Magic Stone. Both were items he had not yet absorbed.
However... the look in Rei's eyes as he watched them wasn't a particularly happy one.
"Setting aside the Gamelion Magic Stone, I have nothing but a bad feeling about the Ogre Magic Stone."
He muttered, remembering the opponent who had been significantly smaller and weaker than a normal Ogre. If he absorbed a Magic Stone from such a weak opponent, would he perhaps become weaker instead? That was what he was worried about.
While he had absorbed Magic Stones from weak monsters like Goblins, in this case, he was concerned that it was a Magic Stone from an especially weak individual within the Ogre species.
As he lay on his bed staring at the Magic Stones in his hand, wondering what to do... a knock suddenly resounded at the door.
"Pardon me. Rei-san, do you have a moment? I have something to discuss with you."
Hearing that voice from outside the door, Rei tilted his head in wonder. He returned the Magic Stones to the Misty Ring, got up from the bed, donned the Dragon Robe he took out from the Misty Ring, and headed toward the door.