The stage for Rei's mock battle against the adventurers was completed in no time.
Rather than building a proper arena, it had been thrown together with the understanding that it only needed to serve for the day's mock battle, resulting in a rather crude structure.
However, hardly anyone complained.
There were a few who harbored concerns that the shoddy construction might affect the betting, and a handful of such individuals were somewhat bothered by it, but... that was the extent of it.
Most people were already enjoying the break from routine, buying food from the numerous stalls that had already opened for business.
Amidst all this, Rei sat inside a hut prepared as a waiting room.
This one was not a simple dugout but a properly built room, complete with a heating Magic Item inside to keep the cold at bay.
Then again, Rei was already wearing his Dragon Robe, so the current outdoor temperature did not particularly bother him anyway.
Above all, if he ever did feel cold...
"Grruu."
He only needed to touch Set, who sat in front of him, and that was warm enough.
Granted, Set was currently staring outside, clearly wanting to leave.
With so many stalls lined up outside, the mouthwatering scents drifted all the way in here.
Especially for Set, whose five senses were sharp, it was impossible to completely block out the smells drifting in from outside even while inside the hut.
"Bear with it. If we go outside in this situation, people will definitely swarm us. To avoid that, we'll look around the stalls after the mock battle is over. ...Well, I do understand how you feel, Set."
While stroking Set to calm him down, Rei pulled some Gamelion dried meat from his Misty Ring and offered it to him.
Ordinary dried meat would not have satisfied Set, but Gamelion dried meat was simply delicious.
Set, who had been pleading with his eyes to go outside and eat something because he was hungry, seemed satisfied with the taste of the dried meat, as he made no further attempt to indicate he wanted to go out.
(Bringing him here was fine, but in the end, I'm the only one fighting in the mock battle.)
Watching Set eat the dried meat, Rei mused to himself.
Originally, the alias of Crimson that Rei held was not something he had earned alone; it was obtained through fighting alongside Set.
Given that, if they truly wanted to see the ability of Crimson, it would not have been strange for Set to participate in the mock battle as well... but the adventurers planning to participate, along with the knights and soldiers serving the nobles, had put a stop to that.
Their reasoning being that they could not fight an A-Rank monster like a gryphon.
In reality, Set was recognized as a rare species and thus an S-Rank equivalent monster, but whether it was good or bad luck that they did not know that was uncertain.
Even if they had known, it would not have changed the fact that there were voices refusing to fight Set.
No, rather, the fact that he was S-Rank equivalent would likely have made those voices even louder.
Despite all that, the reason Set was here was... because Liberte had made a request.
She wanted to show Set to everyone in the city so that they would not be alarmed when he walked through town.
When told that, Rei had no choice but to accept.
In truth, every time Rei and Set walked around Anesis, having to bring along a knight from the Duke Kerebel's Knight Order like Leodanis was a considerable hassle, and it also interrupted the knights' training.
That was why it was necessary to showcase Set in a place where many people gathered and demonstrate that he was not a dangerous creature.
Particularly since the current atmosphere was close to that of a festival, many people had become more open-minded in various ways.
They likely judged that if they showcased Set under such circumstances, the residents of Anesis would be more accepting than during normal daily life.
Rei understood Liberte's reasoning as well, so there was no option to refuse.
Once this matter concluded successfully, he could freely walk around with Set.
"So that's how it is. Just bear with it for today. I've already asked Miranda to buy any tasty-looking dishes from the stalls for you."
"Gruu..."
In response to Rei's words, Set, having finished eating the Gamelion dried meat, let out a purr with a somewhat reluctant demeanor.
Set was happy to be able to eat the food sold at the stalls, but he surely understood that such food was best eaten on the spot rather than saved for later.
Rei could understand that feeling as well.
He normally ate food from stalls, but at festivals like this, savoring what one might call the atmosphere of the occasion was the enjoyable part.
It was just like the summer festivals held when he was in Japan—even okonomiyaki loaded with nothing but cabbage and a minuscule amount of other toppings, or takoyaki that sometimes contained no octopus at all, tasted perfectly delicious when enjoyed while soaking in the festival atmosphere.
Bringing that kind of food home and reheating it in a microwave the next day made it taste nothing but awful.
That was how important the festival atmosphere was, so it was not strange for Set to want to eat food while immersed in it.
"Ah... well, you know. After the mock battle, if there's still time, shall we go around the stalls?"
"Gruu!"
At Rei's words, Set let out a happy cry.
At that exchange, the guards standing outside the hut... or rather, the waiting room, were somewhat startled.
They had been posted in front of the waiting room to ensure none of the nobles did anything strange, but suddenly hearing Set's cry from behind them, it was only natural.
The fact that they did not panic at Set's cry was simply because they had grown somewhat accustomed to him.
Since Rei had walked Set around the Duke Kerebel Mansion's garden and training grounds several times, there were still those who were frightened, but fortunately, the guards stationed here were not particularly so.
No, that was precisely why they had been assigned to guard this waiting room.
The guards looked at each other and exchanged smiles.
That those smiles contained a hint of wryness was not particularly strange.
Unaware that such things were happening outside, Rei took out several dishes from his Misty Ring and enjoyed them together with Set.
Rei had been playing with Set like that for a short while when there was a knock on the waiting room door.
"What is it?"
"It seems preparations for the mock battle are ready. They want you to come to the stage with Set."
"Understood. Alright, Set... let's go."
"Gruu."
Set, who had just finished eating a stew of Orc meat simmered until tender, purred in good spirits at Rei's words.
Seeing Set looking so happy, Rei judged that while his own upcoming mock battle was another matter entirely, Liberte's plan to debut Set would likely go well.
When they stepped outside through a door made larger than normal so that Set could easily pass through, a man—likely the one who had brought the message to come to the stage—was standing there alongside the guards.
"This way, Lord Rei."
Whether because he was not yet used to Rei, the man who had brought the message spoke with slight hesitation... and while harboring awe at the sight of Set, he delivered his instructions.
"Rei, we'll come along as escorts too, just in case... no, judging by how you look, you don't seem particularly nervous."
"Obviously. How many battles do you think I've experienced up to now? Right, Set?"
"Gururu."
Distracted by the scent that stimulated his appetite, now stronger after leaving the hut, Set let out a purr as if snapping back to reality at Rei's words.
"Come on, the stalls can wait. With the money we win from betting, I'll let you eat as much as you want."
At Rei's words, Set wagged his tail as if to say, "It's a promise."
While stroking Set, Rei recalled what Miranda had told him about the betting.
The betting for this mock battle was apparently detailed down to quite specific outcomes.
How many opponents Rei could remain victorious against... or more precisely, because the number of participants exceeded initial expectations, those fighting Rei were divided into groups to some extent, and the bets were on how many of those groups Rei could win through.
Originally, Rei winning all his matches was supposed to be the long-odds bet, but the bookmakers had probably gathered thorough information. The option for Rei's total victory carried high odds, but not enough to be called a long shot.
Even so, considering the amount Rei had entrusted to Miranda, using the winnings to eat food from the stalls would be easily achievable.
Of course, that was predicated on Rei actually winning the mock battle... but Rei judged there would be no issues on that front.
He had confidence in his own strength, and above all, considering the opponents Rei had fought until now, there was also the feeling that he could not afford to lose to the level of opponents he would face in a mock battle.
That said, letting his guard down because of that would defeat the purpose, so he intended to take the mock battle seriously.
While stroking Set, Rei proceeded toward the mock battle stage alongside his guide and the guards.
Whether drawn by the desire to catch a glimpse of Rei, a fair number of people still lingered in the surroundings before he reached the stage.
(If this were a more proper arena, they would probably conceal the entrants during player introductions or something. Well, it was built just for this mock battle, so it can't be helped.)
So thought Rei, but in reality, around the mock battle stage... and the surrounding area where the stalls stood, knights, guards, and adventurers had been deployed for safety.
The adventurers in particular were pleased by this arrangement, as those who had no intention of participating in the mock battle but were short on money could earn coin simply by standing watch.
In truth, at this location right next to Anesis, the likelihood of monsters or bandits appearing was quite low.
Of course, if such individuals actually did appear, they would have to fight, but the consensus among those on security duty was that probably... no, almost certainly, nothing of the sort would happen.
Unlike the adventurers who had volunteered for this job, the knights and guards were on security duty by orders from above.
As a result, they could not enjoy this suddenly opened festival or watch the mock battle of an alias-holding adventurer.
In that sense, those knights and guards were perhaps unfortunate.
Even as he spared a thought for those unlucky individuals, Rei was guided to the mock battle stage with Set...
"!?"
Rei suddenly stopped and scanned his surroundings sharply.
"H-hey. What's wrong?"
The guards traveling with Rei were bewildered by his sudden behavior.
No, it was not just Rei who had acted suddenly; Set had done the same.
Set lightly crouched, ready for anything to happen at any moment, and remained on alert.
About a minute passed like that, and only then did Rei release his vigilance.
(My imagination? ...No, that gaze directed at me definitely existed. I felt no killing intent or anything of the sort—it was a gaze like someone observing something.)
However, that gaze had vanished the instant Rei reacted.
As if the gaze he had just felt had been an illusion.
If someone less experienced had sensed that gaze, it would not have been strange for them to think it was just their imagination.
That was how abruptly the gaze disappeared.
"H-hey. What's going on, seriously? All of a sudden..."
Perhaps judging from Rei's current demeanor that carelessly provoking him would be dangerous, the guard called out in a timid manner.
Observing the guard's reaction, Rei determined that he had not sensed the gaze.
"...It's nothing. Someone was directing a strange gaze at me."
"A strange gaze? Well, you and Set stand out, so I don't think it's strange for someone to look at you like that."
Relieved that Rei had finally responded, the guard still tilted his head, seemingly unable to comprehend what Rei was saying.
"That's not what I mean. ...But well... I suppose I'm looking forward to the mock battle a little more now."
The mock battle had been something to look forward to only for the fights against a handful of skilled opponents, but the owner of that gaze was without a doubt someone who could not be measured by such a standard.
Given that such a person was here, Rei judged they were likely participating in this mock battle as well, and began walking toward the stage with Set.
"More sensitive to gazes than expected, I see... I see, a strong enemy. Crimson, huh. An interesting opponent."
Without directly looking at Rei and Set, gazing at a slightly offset position, the man muttered softly... and then left the scene.