Those watching Marina's house were caught off guard by the figure suddenly sprinting toward them.
Their misfortune was that their surprise at this person's existence delayed their reaction.
Since Rei was running at nearly full speed, by the time their momentary shock registered, he had already blown past the watchers.
Given that those assigned to directly surveil Marina's house tended to be highly capable, they grasped exactly who had just dashed past them without needing to think twice...
"W-wait!"
One of the watchers shouted instinctively, but Rei had already slipped inside Marina's property.
"You've got to be kidding me... What was that speed? That's not human running speed by any stretch."
Whether Rei was truly human was something those privy to the deeper circumstances couldn't honestly confirm.
However, to those unaware of such matters, Rei was human.
After all, his ears weren't pointed like an elf's, he didn't have beast ears or beast-like facial features like a beastman, and he wasn't short, muscular, and bearded like a dwarf.
Judging by appearance alone, he was unmistakably human.
...Granted, since Rei's body was actually created by the Zephyle Clan pouring the pinnacle of their technology into it, calling him human might have been a mistake.
At any rate, the watchers had been unable to stop Rei or even call out to him despite him passing right beside them. They slumped in despair as they imagined the inevitable reprimands from their superiors or employers.
Unaware he had left the men outside thinking such things, Rei entered Marina's property and headed straight for the courtyard.
However, while Seto and Ielo were playing there, Elena and Ara were nowhere to be seen.
"Huh? Where are Elena and... ah... damn."
What Rei saw as he murmured this was Marina's house.
More precisely, the room overlooking the courtyard, where someone who appeared to have been meeting with Elena was staring wide-eyed at Rei standing outside.
It was a scene close to the worst Rei had imagined.
When Rei had come from the Fairy Forest to Gilm, Elena had no visitors and had been holding a mock battle with Ara.
But now, no mock battle was underway, and someone was inside the house meeting with Elena.
And it was someone Rei recognized.
Viscount Sargail, with whom Rei had spoken briefly at the lord's manor.
The only thing that kept it from being truly the worst was that he had only just arrived at Marina's house, meaning Nielson hadn't yet emerged from the Dragon Robe.
Had that happened, silencing Viscount Sargail would have been absolutely necessary.
That said, such silencing wouldn't necessarily be easy.
No, he would certainly agree to keep quiet on the spot, but how effective that agreement would actually be after the meeting ended was questionable even to Rei.
"Hey, Rei. What is it? Let me out."
"No, you can't. There's someone here to see Elena. He doesn't know anything about fairies, so if you pull a stunt like coming out of the Dragon Robe here, it'll cause a massive uproar."
If it became known that a fairy was at Marina's house—or with Rei, for that matter—the resulting commotion would be beyond anything words like "massive uproar" could convey.
Rei wouldn't have minded getting caught up in that level of trouble himself, since he would just leave Gilm with Seto immediately... but if Elena and the others got dragged into it, that was a different story.
With that in mind, Rei didn't immediately turn around and head home with Seto. Instead, he approached Seto and Ielo, who were at play.
He chose not to proactively address the person meeting with Elena, thinking there was a chance the man might not call out to him.
(Ah, but if he can see the courtyard, he should have noticed Seto is here too. In that case, with Seto present, he should have known I'd returned to Gilm as well... so why is he so surprised?)
He pondered this, but ultimately decided not to worry about what Viscount Sargail—currently speaking with Elena—might do next.
Given the current situation, he figured it was best to let things unfold naturally.
"Gurururu?"
"Kyu?"
Seeing Rei approach them while deep in thought, they must have wondered what was wrong.
Seto and Ielo each let out a cry, directing a questioning look at him as if asking what was going on.
Rei shook his head to indicate it was nothing, then began stroking Seto and Ielo.
Being petted by Rei was apparently plenty satisfying for the two of them.
Both purred in unison and narrowed their eyes in contentment.
After a little time passed... Rei eventually sensed someone approaching the courtyard.
Who it was required no thought.
When he turned his gaze toward the presence, the person standing there was exactly who he expected.
Viscount Sargail, who had been conversing with Elena moments ago, was walking toward Rei.
"Forgive me, Lord Rei. Might I have a word?"
"I'd like to say no... but I can't very well refuse Elena's guest. I don't mind. However, I won't accept any negotiations regarding Crystal Dragon materials."
At Rei's words, Viscount Sargail showed a disappointed expression.
"May I ask why?"
Rei was about to reply when it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps Viscount Sargail hadn't recognized him.
It wasn't that he'd realized this through any specific words, but if Viscount Sargail knew about Rei from their encounter at the lord's manor, it wouldn't have been strange for him to bring that up.
Yet from the way he was speaking, he was acting as though this was their first meeting.
Still, that wasn't necessarily strange.
When they had met at the lord's manor, Rei had been wearing a hood, so his face hadn't been visible.
Moreover, the Dragon Robe's concealment effect made it appear as nothing more than an ordinary, commonplace robe.
If that were all, Rei could understand why Viscount Sargail hadn't recognized him... but at the lord's manor, Viscount Sargail had told Rei he sensed a strange magical power from him—not based on appearance.
Considering that Rei's own magical power was concealed by the Ring of the New Moon, the magical power Viscount Sargail had sensed must have been Nielson's, without question.
And since Nielson was still inside the Dragon Robe now, it wouldn't be strange for him to sense the same kind of magical power he'd felt at the lord's manor.
"Lord Rei? Is something the matter?"
Noticing that Rei had fallen silent mid-conversation and was giving him a suspicious look, Viscount Sargail asked.
"No, I just find it strange that you haven't recognized me despite having the ability to sense magical power."
"...What?"
Viscount Sargail wore a puzzled expression at Rei's words. Though he hadn't yet grasped what was meant, he judged that something was afoot and attempted to sense Rei's magical power.
Then, an expression of contemplation crossed his face...
"Ah, from the lord's manor..."
At that point, he finally sensed Rei's—or rather, Nielson's—magical power inside the Dragon Robe, and his face showed surprise.
"Correct. You sensed my magical power immediately at the lord's manor, yet it took you quite a while this time."
"The spirit aura is so dense here on Guild Master Marina Alianza's premises. Sensing magical power doesn't work the same way it does outside. It's nothing but an excuse at this point, but had I encountered Lord Rei outside the grounds of Guild Master Marina Alianza's home, I likely would have noticed."
At first glance, that sounded like an excuse.
However, since Marina's house genuinely had a great deal of work performed by spirits, Rei could accept it when told that was simply how things were.
"I see."
"Yes. Though it's not my place to say this, an ordinary Spirit Mage couldn't manage deploying this many spirits. It is surely because it is Guild Master Marina Alianza that she can pull off such a feat."
The confidence showing through his demeanor indicated that he himself believed a situation like today's wouldn't occur when he was around other Spirit Mages.
Whether that was actually true, Rei couldn't say, but judging by Viscount Sargail's demeanor, he could tell the man wasn't lying.
"Well, I understand that much. So, about the Crystal Dragon materials. As of now, I have no intention of selling materials to anyone."
"May I ask why?"
"Simply put, I just don't have any intention to. They're Crystal Dragon materials, after all—there aren't many things this amazing for crafting Magic Items."
For Rei, whose hobby was collecting Magic Items, he wanted to secure dragon materials, which were among the finest-quality materials for crafting them.
The problem was that he didn't know which parts of the materials could be used for what kind of Magic Items.
Even parts that would normally be discarded could hold value as materials when it came to dragon materials.
A creature with nothing to throw away.
That was what a dragon was.
The Crystal Dragon Rei had defeated couldn't understand human speech, so it was likely not an exceptional existence among dragons.
It was undeniably far weaker compared to something like an Ancient Dragon.
Even so, the value of its materials was tremendous.
"However, I would advise against hoarding all the dragon materials for yourself. I'm one of them, but there are many who desire even a portion of dragon materials. If you let none of the materials flow to such people... some among them might entertain foolish ideas."
For a moment, Rei wondered if those words were a threat.
Was he saying that if Rei didn't release dragon materials, he himself would do something foolish?
But from what Rei could see, Viscount Sargail showed no such inclination. He seemed to genuinely question Rei's actions and be concerned for him.
"There should be some materials put up for sale through the Guild, so if you really want them, buy from there."
Having determined that Viscount Sargail bore him no ill will for the time being, Rei offered that advice.
Granted, it was true that a portion of the dragon materials would go to the Guild, but that didn't necessarily mean the Guild would sell them.
Dragon materials were extremely rare for the Guild as well.
In that sense, whether dragon materials could be purchased from the Guild came down to luck.
(Then again, considering Worker's personality, I don't think the Guild will hoard them all. They should put up a reasonable amount for sale. Though, in a way that benefits the Guild at least a little... an auction format, perhaps?)
Auctions existed perfectly normally in this world as well.
Whether such a system had come about by coincidence, or whether someone like Rei who had come from Earth had transmitted that knowledge, Rei himself didn't know.
Additionally, the Guild was currently raking in enormous profits from the many adventurers present due to the expansion construction and the work it brokered for them. In exchange, everyone including Guild Master Worker was leading incredibly busy days.
Given how much they were earning, Rei found it questionable whether the Guild would actually sell the dragon materials.
(Though that's not really for me to worry about.)
He decided to stay mostly uninvolved.
In contrast to Rei's thoughts, Viscount Sargail—having heard that materials might be sold through the Guild—spoke up happily.
"I see, through the Guild. Come to think of it, that's only natural. No, you've given me valuable information."
"...I'm telling you, this is strictly speculation, alright? It's not guaranteed to happen."
Even though Rei was the one who had told him, if it turned out the Guild actually wasn't selling dragon materials, Rei would be put in a difficult position if Viscount Sargail came back dissatisfied.
"Yes, I understand. Well then, I must also gather detailed information on that matter, so I shall take my leave."
With those words, Viscount Sargail bowed to Rei, then bowed to Elena and Ara, who were watching from inside the house, and departed from Marina's premises.