Why Marina had come to Daskar's manor was something Rei couldn't figure out.
He couldn't figure it out, but he at least understood she wasn't plotting anything.
No — to be more precise, she might have been plotting something, but it was clearly nothing criminal in nature. That much was obvious.
He trusted Marina that much.
Besides, rather than waiting here in the guest room alone with nothing to do, talking with her was genuinely more enjoyable as a way to pass the time.
"Still, your outfit today is flashier than usual."
"Is it?"
Seated across from Rei, Marina smiled as she replied.
And indeed, the party dress Marina was wearing was clearly flashier than her usual ones.
It was black-based, with several red gems sewn onto it to a degree that stopped just short of vulgarity, using what appeared to be silk fabric as decorative accents.
Marina's brown skin paired with the jet-black party dress — and the compatibility of that dress with its bright red gems and silk ornaments was superb. Taken as a whole, it could have passed as a work of art.
Also, as was Marina's preference, the neckline and back were deeply cut, offering a glimpse of the upper curves of her soft-looking mounds.
It was clearly a cut above the party dresses Marina wore as everyday attire.
She prepared a special dress because of the Festival? Well... that's understandable enough.
Getting dressed up for a Festival — Rei could comprehend that much. But even so, the dress Marina was wearing seemed like overkill.
"Isn't it a little too flashy?"
"Hehe. Today calls for something like this. ...So, you went to see the stage in front of the Guild, right? How was it?"
Rei felt like she had blatantly changed the subject, but since there was no real need to press the matter of the dress, he went along with Marina's topic.
"There weren't any problems. I think there'll be enough room even with the Crystal Dragon's corpse placed there. The issue, though, is how to display it. For someone like me, arranging it in an artistic way — something that astonishes everyone at first glance — is a bit difficult."
"Wouldn't Daskar handle that sort of thing? Today's Festival is ultimately being held to celebrate your promotion and publicly display the Crystal Dragon's corpse, after all."
"I hope so. When I met him this morning, he didn't say anything particular about it."
If Daskar had been thinking about that, it wouldn't have been strange for him to bring it up when they met this morning.
No — more than that, it wouldn't have been strange for him to come along when Rei went to inspect the stage and think about how specifically to arrange the Crystal Dragon's corpse.
But in the end, Rei had gone to the Guild alone — well, Seto was with him, so technically one person and one creature.
Given that, it was only natural for Rei to wonder how things stood on that front.
"If so, then that's fine. I haven't seen it yet, but it's an S-Rank Monster and a new Dragon species, right? If so, even if it's placed somewhat carelessly, no one would dare complain about its sheer presence. Of course, I think it'd be better to decorate it properly if possible."
"You think so? Well, if that's the case, then that's fine. More importantly, is it okay for you to be here with me like this, Marina?"
"Oh my. Do you not want to be with me?"
Saying that, Marina radiated an even stronger feminine charm.
Met with that moist-eyed gaze, Rei was momentarily at a loss for words.
But all things considered, Rei had known Marina for a long time.
Even while feeling the full force of that intense feminine charm, he opened his mouth.
"There's no way that's true. I'm glad you're keeping me company while I'm just idling here like this. It's just — since it's a Festival and all, I figured you'd want to enjoy various things too. I heard the clinic is closed today."
Among Rei's group, most of the work related to the Expansion Construction had already been entrusted to others — the people working in Gilm.
However, the one role for which no replacement could be arranged was Marina's, with her ability to use Recovery Magic through Spirit Magic.
In practical terms, Marina's treatment using Spirit Magic had become an enormous Combat Power asset during the Expansion Construction.
So much so that, while adventurers could somehow cover Rei's duties in his absence if effort weren't an issue, Marina's Spirit Magic alone had no substitute.
Of course, using large quantities of expensive potions might somehow manage it, but that would create financial problems as well.
For that reason, among Rei's group, Marina was without a doubt the busiest when it came to the Expansion Construction.
Elena, too, was busy in her own right handling nobles and keeping the Noble's Faction in check, though.
"It's fine. I'm enjoying being with you today like this, too. ...Is that not okay?"
"No, I'm not saying it's not okay. If you're fine with it, Marina. But I couldn't exactly show my face at the Festival even though I was interested in it, you know."
"In your case, Rei, you're the main attraction of the Festival, so that's only natural. There are probably people who want to get acquainted with you while they still can. ...Thinking of that, isn't this current situation not so bad, in the sense that you're spared from being pestered?"
Not just not bad — it was time spent with Marina, so those who desired it would number in the countless.
That included not only men drawn by Marina's beauty, but also women who admired her.
Rei understood that as well, so he didn't press the topic any further.
"Come to think of it, Seto is in the courtyard, right? If you're really bored, why don't you go show your face there?"
"Hmm. I suppose."
Rei thought he could certainly do that.
But judging from the demeanor of the Maid who had guided him here, it seemed she would prefer he not leave this room if at all possible.
Given that, Rei also felt there was no need to go out of his way to cause a commotion.
But at the same time, since he was genuinely bored, he also thought it might be fine to go play with Seto and kill some time.
After thinking it over briefly... he eventually nodded.
"I guess so. At this rate there's nothing in particular for me to do anyway, so I'll play with Seto in the courtyard. Who knows, maybe we'll get some food too."
If he couldn't eat Stall food, then he'd have the Cook at the Lord's Manor give him something.
Marina directed a look of exasperation at Rei as he thought this.
Rei and Marina were here as Daskar's guests.
As such, if they asked a Maid, she would bring them some kind of food immediately.
And not the kind of food given to Seto, but proper fare served to guests.
And yet, Rei had decided to go to the courtyard for the simple reason that he wanted to eat alongside Seto.
...And in a sense, he was choosing Seto over her — when she had dressed up like this for Rei's sake — so Marina's exasperation was only natural.
That said, from Rei's perspective, he hadn't meant to weigh Marina against Seto and pick Seto.
"Come on, let's go. Seto will probably be surprised too once he knows you're here."
Reaching out his hand, Rei told her that.
Marina erased the exasperation she had shown moments before and, with a smile, took his hand.
Just like that, the two of them tried to leave the room...
"Hm?"
"Oh my."
Rei and Marina both made such sounds simultaneously.
And less than a few seconds later, the guest room door was knocked on.
Marina sensed who was on the other side from a familiar presence and asked Rei with her eyes whether she could open it.
Rei likewise sensed the familiar presence and nodded at Marina's gaze.
Looking just a little regretful, Marina released Rei's hand and opened the door.
"You were already here?"
"Yes. I was a little bored, so I was thinking of showing my face in the courtyard with Rei. So, have you finished your paperwork, Daskar?"
Marina asked this, but there was a somewhat barbed quality to her words and gaze — undoubtedly because her time with Rei had been interrupted.
Daskar showed a look as if wondering whether he had made some kind of mistake, judging from Marina's demeanor, but nevertheless decided it would be better to properly finish his work first and nodded.
"Ah, I'm done here. I came to tell you we'll be heading to the Guild soon. Are you ready on your end?"
"I don't have any particular issues. I can depart as we are now. Rei?"
"...Huh?"
Rei let out such a sound upon hearing that exchange.
Daskar asking whether he was ready was still understandable.
But from that exchange, it seemed Marina was also going to the Guild.
Then again, thinking about it, that wasn't particularly strange.
Marina was the Former Guild Master, so with the Crystal Dragon's corpse being publicly displayed in front of the Guild for this occasion, she probably wanted to see it for herself.
Also, if that was the reason, it explained why she was wearing a flashier party dress than usual.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. I don't have any issues either. I'm ready to depart anytime."
He addressed the first half to Marina and the second half to Daskar.
Daskar appeared satisfied with Rei's response.
He understood that Rei was, as stated, in Full Preparation.
Also, the fact that Rei showed no sign of nervousness despite appearing before a large crowd was another reason Daskar was impressed.
"I see. Then we'll depart once my preparations are complete, so be ready for that."
"Really now. If you're going to come, at least finish getting ready before you do."
Marina looked displeased at Daskar's words.
From her perspective, she had been trying to enjoy her time with Rei when Daskar suddenly interrupted, so it was only natural for her to find that displeasing.
Daskar, reading Marina's demeanor and somehow sensing the situation, judged that staying here would lead to trouble and quickly left the room.
"I'll be right back, so wait for me!"
Saying that, Daskar fled.
Marina, who had been about to say something to Daskar, looked genuinely disappointed that he had slipped away, but said nothing more and turned her gaze to Rei.
"He says he wants us to wait. Unfortunately, the courtyard will have to wait."
"I guess. Well then, we'll wait a little longer."
If it were unclear how long they'd have to wait, that would be one thing, but since it was only until Daskar finished his preparations, the waiting time was defined.
Given that, even though it was the same act of waiting, Rei was definitely far more at ease than before.
"About the Egginis matter — once you secure the Crystal Dragon's materials, don't you think you could try making a Crystal Golem or something?"
Sitting back down on the sofa, Marina brought up such a topic.
It was an abrupt change of subject, but Rei could agree with the idea.
Having the materials of an S-Rank Monster Dragon, using them to create a Golem wasn't a bad proposition at all.
That said, it was still a matter that could only happen after the Crystal Dragon's dissection was complete — or at least progressed enough for the materials to be stripped.
The Crystal Dragon's dissection would require even more special tools than the Giant Wolf had, and above all, the Guild Staff Members performing the dissection would need to proceed carefully given that it was such a High-Rank Monster.
Naturally, that would slow the dissection speed.
For Rei's part, he'd rather they dissect slowly and carefully than quickly and sloppily.
"I suppose so. I'll be returning to Gilm from Egginis several times, so if the dissection has progressed by then, maybe we could do something like that."
The distance between Egginis and Gilm was considerable.
At the very least, traveling by Carriage would take months.
But when traveling by Carriage, one had to follow the highway, and that highway was built to avoid mountains, rivers, forests, and various other obstacles.
Seto, however, could fly through the sky, so there was no need to consider such things — he could simply fly straight through the air, cutting travel time considerably.
And so, Rei and Marina enjoyably chatted until Daskar finished his preparations.