The meal prepared to celebrate Rei's return to Marina's house after so long delighted Vihera and Byune, who had arrived back just as the food was ready, as if it had been planned that way.
Byune, who hardly ever changed her expression, wore a smile plain for anyone to see—proof enough that her joy was considerable.
So, while eating the steamed Gamelion meat and various other dishes that had been prepared, Rei used the monsters that had attacked from the lake and the glowing jellyfish that drifted harmlessly through the sky as conversation starters, and an enjoyable time passed.
When the meal ended—bit too modest to call a party, but enjoyable nonetheless—Rei explained to Elena, Vihera, Ara, and Byune who was behind the teleportations from another world that were currently occurring.
A space that existed underground beneath the center of the Treant Forest. Rei's master—or rather, the man playing the role of his master—Grimm, had discovered the space through magic, and upon investigating it, they found a being that appeared to be a Rare Species Wisp. That was the gist of it.
The majority of it was true, but with Byune present—someone who knew nothing about Grimm—a light cover story was necessary.
After Rei finished explaining, everyone who had listened fixed him with gazes equal parts admiration and astonishment.
This particular case was a special incident, genuinely different from anything they had experienced before.
No one would normally suspect that teleportations from another world were being carried out by a single monster, Rare Species or not.
"That's quite something. ...So, if we used that Wisp, could we also summon powerful enemies from other worlds?"
The fact that Vihera was the first to ask was, in a way, perfectly in character.
Normally, one would expect different concerns. It wouldn't be strange for someone to want gold, silver, treasure, or Magic Metal.
Rei thought so too, but come to think of it, among those present, the only one who would desire such things was Byune—and that was a fact.
Even now Byune was still a child, but from an even younger age, she had lived in poverty. All to earn even a little money and maintain the mansion where her memories of her parents lived.
Currently, she had lent that mansion to trusted adventurers and orphans, and there were no longer any problems with maintaining it.
Regardless, those childhood experiences had left Byune determined to earn as much as possible.
...Naturally, that was only as long as it didn't cause problems.
For example, she wouldn't do something like selling information about historically rare beauties like Elena, Marina, or Vihera for money, or selling Set's feathers and fur for profit.
In reality, Elena's information aside, Rei was perfectly willing to overlook something like selling the fur and feathers Set naturally shed.
"Hmm. Considering Rei has Set and Elena has Ielo, I'm a little curious about familiars from another world," Marina mused.
Several people nodded at her words.
Being with lovable creatures like Set and Ielo was wonderful, but if given the chance, wanting one's own special, lovable companion wasn't unreasonable.
After all, even Vihera, who had just been talking about wanting strong enemies, was looking at Marina as if to say she hadn't considered that option.
"Anyway, we decided that the Wisp—a creature with the ability to teleport things from other worlds—was too valuable to simply kill. Right now, Lord Daskar is searching for trustworthy researchers. So please, whatever you do, do not breathe a word of this to anyone."
At Rei's words, everyone nodded with serious expressions.
Just how massive an event teleportation from another world truly was needed no elaboration.
For Elena, Marina, and Vihera—the three who knew Rei's true identity—it was obvious what he was hoping for when it came to teleportation to another world.
And it was only natural that they found themselves thinking they, too, might be able to visit the world where Rei had once lived.
...There were even those among them who wanted to greet his parents.
That said, given that Rei's current appearance was entirely different from when he was Reiji Saiki in Japan, that would be extremely difficult.
"Hey, Rei. I understand we shouldn't talk about it, but would it be alright if I went to see the Wisp?"
"Hmm, I don't think there'd be any problem with this group. Lord Daskar mentioned he was having trouble dispatching anyone, so I doubt anyone will stumble across it."
"Not being able to spare anyone can't be helped," Marina agreed, joining Rei and Vihera's exchange.
In truth, if someone was standing guard at a location, anyone could easily deduce there was something worth protecting there.
If there were something visibly worth guarding, that would be one thing, but at an otherwise empty spot, people would inevitably grow suspicious and curious about what was being protected—and it wouldn't be strange for someone to come investigating.
To prevent exactly that, stationing anyone near the road where the underground passage to the Wisp's space was located had proven difficult.
"But if no one's there, won't it be discovered right away?"
"I understand Vihera's concern, but I've concealed it with my Spirit Magic, so it won't be found that easily. ...Of course, I can't guarantee it absolutely."
Those sensitive to the presence of spirits could very well notice something.
That said, under the current circumstances, concealing the underground passage with Marina's Spirit Magic was the best available option—and that was a fact.
"I see. ...In that case, may I go see it tomorrow as well?"
The request slipped from Vihera's lips.
Part of it was wanting to see for herself the place Marina claimed was hidden, but her primary goal was undoubtedly the Wisp itself.
Teleportation from another world was simply that enticing to her.
"I'll check with Daskar first. I think it'll probably be fine, though," Marina told her.
In truth, if Marina asked, Daskar would have no choice but to agree.
Daskar's honest feeling was that, if possible, he didn't want Vihera—a princess of the Bestia Empire, though she herself insisted on "former"—knowing about a Wisp capable of teleporting between worlds.
He felt Vihera was already a person with no ties to the Bestia Empire, but whether others would believe that was an entirely separate matter.
For Daskar, it was also a fact that the fewer people who knew about his concerns, the better.
Given all that, his honest preference was to avoid telling anyone unnecessary.
Even so, as long as Vihera was in the same party as Rei, not informing her about the Wisp was never an option.
"Really? Then tomorrow, instead of patrolling Gilm, I'd like to head to the Treant Forest. That's alright?"
"Yes. I can't say for certain, but I think it'll probably be fine."
Ugh..., Rei thought, watching Marina's demeanor, and felt genuine pity for Daskar.
If Vihera's visit would cause definite losses for Gilm, Daskar would stop her no matter what it cost him personally.
But his reluctance to let Vihera near the Wisp was ultimately just a precaution.
In that situation, with Marina approaching him, refusal was impossible.
Well, he probably could refuse if he truly wanted to, but considering the damage he would suffer in that moment, not refusing was ultimately the more advantageous choice.
The dark history Marina held over Daskar carried precisely that much destructive power.
"It's fine, right?"
Having received Marina's blessing, Vihera turned the question to Rei.
Whatever else might be said, the leader of Crimson Lotus Wings was Rei, and the fact that everyone operated around him as the center was indisputable.
...Strictly speaking, Elena and Ara were not members of Crimson Lotus Wings.
Ara aside, Elena inwardly wished to belong to Crimson Lotus Wings, but she understood that in her current position as the symbol of the Noble's Faction, she simply could not.
"I don't mind. But is it alright for you to step away from patrolling Gilm? Things are busy right now, aren't they?"
As expected of spring, many people were currently pouring into Gilm.
Naturally, that also meant more trouble, and someone with Vihera's overwhelming combat power was ideally suited to quashing disturbances.
By summer, the influx would ease somewhat compared to now.
And in autumn, many would leave Gilm entirely, intending to spend winter elsewhere—mostly at their family homes.
Regardless, compared to the very start of spring, things had calmed down considerably, but people were still arriving in large numbers.
Given all that, Rei wondered whether Vihera's absence would be a problem. But Vihera flashed a radiant smile and opened her mouth to reply.
"That won't be an issue. Most of the people on patrol duty are adventurers who were already working in Gilm before the Expansion Construction began. Their strength is on a completely different level from those who only came after the construction started."
Originally, Gilm had been a destination adventurers dreamed of reaching.
But because it sat on the frontier, just getting there was difficult—and even upon arrival, surviving as an adventurer without the necessary skill was nearly impossible.
When the Expansion Construction began and large numbers of people headed to Gilm, the number of adventurers traveling in groups swelled accordingly.
On top of that, Gilm's adventurers frequently defeated monsters lurking along the highways.
When the monsters that had been there were eliminated, new ones moved in.
That cycle demanded regular clearing, but for Gilm in the midst of the Expansion Construction, materials could never be too plentiful.
For that reason, subjugating monsters along the highways was still being issued as a formal Guild request.
...Among the merchants who had come to Gilm for the first time because of the Expansion Construction, there were some who reasoned that if monsters along the highways were continuously eliminated until the construction was finished, eventually the creatures would learn to fear the roads, and travel to Gilm would become relatively safe.
The residents of Gilm, meanwhile, mostly shot them exasperated looks—if things worked that smoothly, it wouldn't be called a frontier.
"She's right. Vihera isn't wrong," Marina confirmed—her authoritative assessment backed by her experience as a Former Guild Master.
"If possible, I would also like to go and see it... would that be alright?"
If Vihera was going, she wanted to go too.
So said Elena, but the one who panicked at her words was, quite naturally, Ara.
"W-wait, Lady Elena!? It's a monster capable of summoning things from another world!? If something were to happen to you, Lady Elena..."
"Rest easy, Ara. Judging by Rei's demeanor, it seems there's no need to worry quite that much. ...Right?"
"Hmm. I think it'll probably be fine, but if you're asking whether it's absolutely certain, I can't go that far."
Rei believed it would be fine, but if pressed on whether it was absolutely safe, he couldn't honestly nod.
In the first place, nothing definitive was known about the Wisp yet.
During today's investigation, when Marina and Rei approached it, it had shown no sign of attacking—whether because it held no hostility, or because it recognized opponents of their caliber were beyond its ability to overcome, remained unclear.
Considering that, it would probably be fine.
Most importantly, in terms of sheer strength, Elena possessed enough power to fight on even footing with Rei and Vihera.
But that alone was not enough to call it absolutely safe with any confidence.
"Given its ability to teleport things from other worlds, we also have to consider the possibility that the Wisp might teleport something here from yet another world. If that happens... I still can't call it absolutely safe. But if you're willing to accept that, I'd be glad to have Elena come along with us tomorrow."
What will you do? Rei asked with a glance. But for Elena, her answer to Rei's words had already been decided.