"Mm, mmh... mm, mm... mmh..."
Having heard everything Rei had done in Count Relduct's Territory, Daskar let out a groan without rising from the sofa.
Watching Daskar groan, Rei reached for the tea a maid had brought in during his explanation.
He had already had tea in the waiting room before his audience with Daskar, but even so, Rei still had enough composure to enjoy a good cup.
As Rei sipped his tea, Daskar finally stopped groaning and spoke.
"Mm, I'd say you did well. Cutting off both of Count Relduct's arms and destroying the mine might seem a bit much, but looking at the overall picture, it's a thoroughly satisfactory result."
Daskar was usually quick to judge, but Rei's report this time contained aspects that were difficult to assess.
Still, Rei hadn't taken Relduct's life, as Daskar had demanded, and he had made sure to press the Rebel Army to spare Relduct as well.
Considering those circumstances, Daskar's requirements had all been met.
More than that—he had even satisfied the demands of other Neutral Faction members beyond Daskar himself.
Given all that, Daskar had no grounds whatsoever to complain.
Though he certainly would have preferred things settled a bit more peacefully... but that was strictly an "if possible" matter.
Rei possessed extremely high combat power, and precisely because of that, his battles tended to be flashy.
The fact that he specialized in long-handled weapons like Death Scythe and the Twilight Spear was probably related to that as well.
Moreover, this request was fundamentally about retaliation.
It was necessary to show anyone who would try to lay hands on Gilm that the series of events in Count Relduct's Territory was Rei's doing—or more precisely, the will of Daskar, who had commissioned him.
This retaliation was large-scale for a retaliatory strike, with aspects that bordered on overkill, but precisely because of that, it was certain to make anyone think twice before carelessly messing with Gilm from now on.
Though the fact that one couldn't definitively say no one would try even then perhaps said something about the greed of humanity.
That was how attractive the city of Gilm was.
As the only frontier in the Kingdom of Mireana, it drew vast quantities of gold, rare materials, and skilled adventurers.
On paper it was classified as a town, but in reality it had reached the scale of a quasi-city.
And with the current expansion project, it would unquestionably reach full city scale.
But even at such a scale... or rather, precisely because of it, there was a need to clearly demonstrate that crossing Daskar was dangerous.
"I appreciate you saying that. It helps. ...So, the Magic Items I took from Relduct—I can keep those, right?"
"Of course. ...Hmm? Why do you look so disappointed? I thought collecting Magic Items was your hobby?"
Daskar knew perfectly well that Rei's hobby was collecting Magic Items.
That was precisely why he had offered to let Rei take ownership of everything confiscated from Relduct... and yet Rei's expression didn't look particularly pleased.
"What's wrong? If something's on your mind, tell me. I owe you a great deal, after all. I can be somewhat flexible."
Daskar knew all too well just how capable—no, how overly capable—Rei was.
The Item Box, the high mobility provided by Set, the formidable combat power that Rei and Set possessed... and beyond that, there was no end to the list if one started counting the details.
That was why it was only natural for him to want to help however he could if Rei had any concerns.
Meeting Daskar's gaze, Rei opened his mouth with a troubled expression.
"Actually, about the Magic Items I took from Relduct..."
Saying that, Rei placed several Magic Items he had pulled from his Misty Ring onto the table.
A jewel box with a built-in music mechanism, a painting whose background scenery shifted as magic power was channeled into it, and so on.
"Hoh. Quite tasteful items for a man like him. So, what about them? If you're asking me to buy them, I'd be happy to."
"No, it's not that."
Dismissing Daskar's words, Rei continued.
"What I collect are strictly practical Magic Items. Things like the Magic Tent you gave me as a reward before—items of that nature. But these art-type Magic Items, honestly..."
He didn't really want them.
Hearing Rei say as much, Daskar nodded in understanding.
To Rei the adventurer, such artworks were probably nothing more than things to convert into cash.
But Rei already possessed enough money that an ordinary person could live in comfort for the rest of their life, with enough left over for family, lovers, and friends.
Naturally, having them was better than not, but if Rei wanted to, he could easily earn Gold Coins or Platinum Coins.
No—even Light Gold Coins, which ranked above Platinum Coins, were not beyond his reach.
In contrast, the practical Magic Items Rei actually wanted weren't things money alone could obtain.
Most Magic Items could probably be acquired with cash, but truly rare pieces couldn't be so easily had just by throwing money at them.
"Ah... my apologies. I'll throw in a Magic Item you'd actually want as part of the reward for this job. Also, if you don't need these, I wouldn't mind buying them off you. What do you say?"
Even if these Magic Items held no use or appeal for Rei, it was a different matter for Daskar.
Daskar wasn't particularly knowledgeable about art himself, but as Margrave Larcus, he needed such pieces for display.
Those who visited the Lord's Manor weren't limited to people like Rei, who cared nothing for appearances.
Merchants who had been coming nearly every day of late, nobles from his own faction—there was a need to project prestige before such people. And when it came to nobles from rival factions or their emissaries, appearances became even more critical.
That was precisely why several paintings by renowned artists adorned Daskar's Office, and the door itself could be called a work of art.
In that sense, Daskar genuinely wanted to purchase Relduct's artworks, which showed a certain degree of refinement—but Rei shook his head.
"No, I think I'll just display them at Marina's place."
"...I-I see. Makes sense."
Hearing Rei's response, Daskar deflected with those words.
For Daskar, Marina was someone who knew about his childhood... and the various exploits of his youth. She was not a person he could possibly defy.
Well, if Marina ever turned hostile toward Gilm and Margrave Larkus's Territory, Daskar certainly wouldn't go along with it.
But Daskar believed she would never do such a thing.
Though that probably depends on Rei's attitude, doesn't it?
Daskar looked at Rei anew.
That Marina held affection toward Rei—no, deep love for him—Daskar naturally knew as well.
To think he had made that Marina fall for him so deeply. On that point alone, Daskar held profound respect for Rei, who was about the same age as his own son.
Marina, the very embodiment of feminine allure given human—or more accurately, Dark Elf—form, had never been short of men vying for her attention.
But as far as Daskar knew, she had never once reciprocated.
Despite her appearance, she was a woman of steadfast virtue—that was the impression shared by Daskar and many others who knew Marina's true character.
Because of that, when Daskar learned that Marina loved Rei, he found it hard to believe.
At the same time, hearing that his first love had fallen for a man roughly his son's age had dealt him an indescribable shock. That much was also true.
But Daskar's feelings for Marina had long since been fully settled. He harbored no lingering sentiments toward Rei because of it.
Rather, one might even say he respected him.
"Lord Daskar?"
"Hm? Ah, it's nothing."
Noticing that he had been regarding Rei with open admiration, he quickly shook his head and dispelled the thought.
There was a significant difference between privately feeling respect for Rei and letting it show on one's face.
As the man standing at the pinnacle of Gilm, he couldn't afford such a lapse.
Taking a quiet breath and resetting his mood, Daskar spoke.
"I see. If you're going to display these at Marina's place, I have nothing to say about it. Just... if you ever decide to get rid of them, keep me in mind."
"Huh, I guess that's fine."
Rei couldn't fathom why Daskar was so fixated on these Magic Items.
For Rei, who was indifferent to art, their only uses were converting to cash or giving away as gifts.
As they continued chatting for a while, a knock eventually came at the door.
When Daskar granted permission to enter, one of the butlers working in the manor stepped inside.
"Lord Daskar, it is nearly time for your next appointment."
"Hm? Ah, already that time. ...Sorry, Rei. I'd have liked to keep talking, but duty calls. Even when the visitor is tedious, I still have to receive them."
Rei recalled that on his last visit to the Office, a merchant had been shouted at by Daskar and thrown out.
Something about lowering the quality of construction materials for Gilm's expansion and pocketing the difference, if I recall.
An irresponsible Local Deputy might have gone along with such a proposal.
But this was Daskar's seat of power—Gilm, which he governed directly.
Naturally, his attachment to the city was strong, and the Neutral Faction's ability to function as one of the three major powers rested largely on holding Gilm.
Given that, he would never agree to anything that might weaken Gilm's defenses—if anything, he welcomed only proposals that would strengthen them.
Even if you're going to pitch something crooked, you'd think you'd pick your target more carefully.
Thinking thus, Rei felt a flicker of pity for Daskar, who had to deal with people making such proposals.
If one were a noble... no, precisely because one was a noble, there were many things that refused to go one's way.
When I think about it like that, I'll pass on becoming a noble. Though I can't imagine anyone eccentric enough to try making me one.
Rei mused casually as he watched Daskar, but in reality, those scheming to elevate Rei to nobility were by no means few.
If Rei were to say he wanted to be a noble, it could happen immediately.
...What would be waiting for him, however, was a mountain of endlessly tedious work.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. I need to report to the Guild as well."
"Ah. ...Here. The signature confirming completion of the request."
Accepting the document, Rei stepped out of the room.
The merchant waiting outside immediately shot him a hostile glare.
He was clearly displeased that Rei had seen Daskar ahead of him.
Since Rei had been fit into a gap in Daskar's schedule, it wasn't as though the merchant's audience time had been cut short.
In the end, the merchant said nothing and entered the Office after a maid ushered him in.
Well, since I don't have Set or Death Scythe with me right now, he probably didn't take me for an Alias Holder. Still, being able to spot a business opportunity is what separates a good merchant from the rest.
Rei quickly forgot about the merchant and had another maid guide him to where Set was.
Upon arriving, he found the same familiar scene: the manor's maids, butlers, cooks, and assorted staff all fussing over Set, feeding it an endless variety of foods.
"Gruu!"
The moment Set spotted Rei, it let out a happy cry, rose to its feet, and came bounding over.
Those who had been pampering Set were disappointed to see it go, but watching it bound toward Rei in such unbridled delight, they couldn't help but feel warmed to the core.