The words "the continent will be destroyed," spoken by the Chief.
They carried enough impact to deal Rei a powerful shock.
Honestly speaking, one could say that Rei had been underestimating the defilement.
He had thought it would, at most, bring ruin to those using it and those around them—but now he was told that this destruction could spread not just to himself and his immediate surroundings, but to the entire continent.
Naturally, Rei was not the only one startled by the Chief's words.
Seto, who could understand her, was the same, and Nielson had likewise stopped moving in surprise.
The fact that her wings had also stopped moving yet she remained floating in midair showcased the mysterious nature of fairies as a species, but unfortunately, Rei had no leeway to think about that right now.
"Umm... well, you see. The continent being destroyed is strictly a worst-case scenario. Humans cannot handle defilement in such concentrated form, so please rest assured."
She had probably felt she had said too much, judging from the expressions of Rei, Seto, and Nielson.
The Chief spoke as if to relieve their tension.
Though hearing that did not truly put Rei at ease.
"They can't control concentrated defilement. That may be true. But what if we're the only ones who know that? What do you think would happen if the people using that defilement knew absolutely nothing about that kind of information?"
Or even if they knew at least a little about it, it wouldn't be strange for someone to think they would be fine because they were a chosen one.
And if such an increasingly arrogant person did something foolish... the possibility of the worst possible outcome could not be denied.
"Surely not..."
The Chief let out such a voice upon hearing Rei's words.
Surely no one would do something that foolish.
But in reality, it was an undeniable fact that such foolish people existed.
In a certain sense, people who acted even more thoughtlessly than fairies.
Or perhaps even more pointlessly—doing things that even fairies would question, wondering if there was any point to it at all.
"I'm not that knowledgeable about defilement. But the defilement that you know about is something that dangerous, right? I honestly have no idea what those using it might do. But it wouldn't be strange for there to be someone with an inflated sense of self-importance among them. Either way, the defilement matter was a far more serious issue than I had thought—that much is certain."
Given that was the case, would it be difficult to handle this matter on his own? he wondered.
When he had first sheltered Bob, he hadn't thought defilement was something this dangerous.
Of course, the Chief's talk about the continent and so on might have been an exaggeration.
However, even if it wasn't quite that serious—if there was a possibility that this country, or perhaps Gilm itself, could be destroyed by defilement, Rei couldn't just let this matter end here.
What should he do in such a situation?
At a time like this, the first person Rei thought of was Daskar.
Elena, Marina, Vihera, and the others also held corresponding positions and authority—though in Vihera's case, she had run away from home, making it meaningless—but speaking to them wouldn't be a bad option either.
However, considering the current situation, it was undoubtedly the most practical to speak to Daskar.
Given that was the case, he judged that he should return to Gilm as quickly as possible.
Originally, Rei didn't want to return to Gilm yet.
If he returned to Gilm, there was no doubt that a large number of people would try to make contact with him.
Rei had defeated a dragon... and not just any dragon, but a Crystal Dragon, an unknown species never before discovered.
Some would want him to sell even a little of its materials, while others would want to become acquainted with Rei, who had become a Dragon Slayer.
With people trying to make contact with him for various other reasons as well, it would definitely become troublesome—that much was certain.
Especially now, it being autumn, many merchants had gathered in Gilm for what they treated as their final procurement.
If Rei were among them, it was only natural that more people would want to make contact.
If it were a little later... once it became the season when snow began to fall, many of the merchants who had come to Gilm would be gone, and many of those who had come for the expansion construction would also return to their hometowns, significantly reducing the number of people.
When that happened, naturally, the number of people approaching Rei would also decrease.
Granted, that would mean merchants based in Gilm, alchemists, or nobles in the Noble District would likely try to make contact with Rei instead.
Even so, in the case of nobles, there wouldn't be that many trying to approach Rei.
Compared to Elena the Princess General, it would clearly be fewer.
This was partly because Elena held the alias of Princess General and was the daughter of Duke Kerebel, who led the Noble Faction... but more than that, Rei's reputation was the bigger factor.
Normally, even a famous adventurer would make appropriate concessions when interacting with nobles.
However, Rei did no such thing.
If he judged that the other party was hostile, he would use his power without hesitation, even against a noble.
That was proof that he was not someone nobles could possibly trust.
As a result, they would wonder if coming into contact with Rei might lead them to do something to anger him.
Thinking along those lines, it was only natural that they would prefer not to deal with Rei directly if possible.
If they absolutely had to make contact, many would think of sending a subordinate rather than going themselves... but with Rei having become this famous, even that was difficult.
Moreover, if they carelessly sent a subordinate and that subordinate acted haughtily because they were a noble's servant, what would happen?
Naturally, Rei would recognize that subordinate as an enemy, and it wouldn't be strange for him to also recognize the noble who had given the orders as an enemy.
In that sense, nobles were hesitant to approach Rei.
Even so, being nobles residing in Gilm, it wouldn't be strange for them to have a certain understanding of Rei's existence.
"Anyway, I need to somehow explain the defilement matter to Lord Daskar. But how much Lord Daskar would believe based on my words alone is another matter entirely."
Rei was trusted by Daskar in terms of ability.
However, even for someone like Rei, when it came to explaining defilement and getting Daskar to believe it, it was honestly questionable.
After all, it was an overly grand story—that at worst, this very continent might be destroyed.
"You're right. I honestly don't know how far this defilement incident has spread. But considering the future, I believe it is undoubtedly better to explain this matter. Nielson, you should go with Rei-san."
"Eh? Me too!?"
Perhaps not expecting her own name to come up at this point, Nielson asked the Chief with a bewildered expression.
However, the Chief nodded without showing any concern for Nielson's reaction.
"Yes. To begin with, if someone is going to Gilm, it would have to be Nielson, wouldn't it?"
"Ugh... well, if you put it that way."
The only one in the Fairy Dwelling who had met Daskar was Nielson.
Given that, Rei could understand the reasoning that Nielson should be the one to go see Daskar.
Then again, Nielson seemed to be treated as the Chief's successor. She had a fairy's whimsical nature, but she was still better than the other fairies.
The other fairies in the Fairy Dwelling would immediately head off the moment they found something interesting.
Compared to that, Nielson could at least exercise restraint to some extent.
At the very least, if I told her not to come out of the Dragon Robe while in town, she'd actually listen and stay inside.
If a fairy other than Nielson went to Gilm with Rei, they wouldn't be able to do something like hide inside the Dragon Robe.
Rei had no desire to bring such a fairy into town.
"The best option would be for you to go, Chief."
"Exactly! It's strange that the Chief who governs this Fairy Dwelling hasn't been to Gilm yet. Chief, you should go to Gilm directly and explain about the defilement!"
Seeing Nielson shouting like that, Rei had a question.
Given Nielson's personality, she should have been the type to eagerly want to go to Gilm of her own accord.
So why was she now refusing to go, like this?
If anything, it almost seemed like she was trying to push the role onto the Chief.
Such doubts weren't held by Rei alone—the Chief must have felt the same.
She directed a puzzled gaze at Nielson and asked.
"Nielson, in the past, you would have been the first to say you wanted to go to Gilm. Why is it that only today you say such things?"
"Ugh..."
At the Chief's words, Nielson was at a loss for words.
It was quite enough for her to understand that her current attitude was rather severe.
She realized anew that her attitude had been too much.
Thinking so, she didn't believe that offering some dismissive excuse in this situation would convince anyone... and so, albeit reluctantly, she opened her mouth.
"Umm, we're going to explain about the defilement, right? Honestly, I don't know much about defilement, so I thought it would be better for the Chief to talk about that."
"It's because it's a hassle, isn't it."
"!?"
The Chief's single word struck right at the core.
Nielson had been trying to somehow bluff her way through this situation without revealing her true feelings, but those words left her unable to say anything.
Because the Chief's words had perfectly captured Nielson's true intentions.
That said, Nielson had her own side to argue as well.
Nielson still knew almost nothing about defilement.
She knew that her newly acquired power was effective against defilement.
But if asked what defilement actually was, Nielson didn't know that either.
The one who properly understood that was, after all, the Chief.
If so, rather than herself going, it would be better for the Chief to go directly and speak with Daskar.
That way, they could advance discussions not only about the defilement matter but also about the negotiations that had taken place so far.
Nielson tried her best to explain all this and get the Chief to accept it.
"I see. I understand Nielson's thinking. But... let me ask you one thing. If such a thing were to happen, I would be absent from this Fairy Dwelling. Even if only for a short period, do you think the Fairy Dwelling would remain safe?"
In this context, "safe" didn't mean the Fairy Dwelling being attacked from somewhere... but rather whether the fairies living in the Fairy Dwelling would act freely as they pleased and cause problems.
The Fairy Dwelling, filled with curious and moody fairies, was governed without any particular problems like this solely because the Chief was present.
What would happen if the Chief disappeared from the Fairy Dwelling?
That was something Rei could understand almost too easily.
"Probably, the fairies would all act as they please... it wouldn't even be strange if the Fairy Dwelling itself ceased to exist."
That's an exaggeration.
Hearing Rei's words, Nielson had been about to say that, but upon understanding that Rei was being completely serious and not joking at all, she couldn't argue against it.
If the fairies all acted on their own whims, it would probably end up just like that—Nielson could imagine that much.
Fairy Magic used by fairies had few purely offensive spells.
But the fact that this didn't mean they couldn't attack at all was also true.
Even so, the Fairy Dwelling remained safe like this only because the Chief was present.
"You're right. It would likely turn out just as Rei-san predicts. For that reason, Nielson, I need you to go to Gilm as my proxy. You understand, don't you?"
Against the Chief telling her that, the only thing Nielson could do was nod.
"Then I guess I'll go to Gilm with you. But... it'll be pretty conspicuous. Even so, there's no option to leave Seto behind."
"Gruu!"
Hearing Rei's words, Seto purred as if to say, Of course!
But if he brought Seto and landed directly at Marina's house, it would definitely stand out.
Or maybe Seto flies through the sky, I jump off and land with the Sleipnir boots, then go to the lord's manor... no, that won't work.
Rei thought it might be a good idea, but immediately dismissed it.
Many people knew that when Rei and Seto returned, they landed directly in the courtyard of Marina's house—and Rei knew that those people had posted observers around Marina's house to watch for that.
Since it was the Noble District, those who could do such a thing were limited... but even so, being discovered would definitely lead to trouble, and Rei held his head in his hands.