「HAAAAAAAAH-!」

With a shout, Rhodes swung his longsword through the air.

He closed the gap to his opponent as his sword came down.

It was clear from the sharpness of his attack that it wasn’t his parents’ status that had pushed him to C rank in his teens.

However……

「Too naive.」

Vihera, who was the one receiving hte attack, parried the blade of the longsword with her gauntlet as she stepped to the side.

Even if the longsword Rhodes was using was a training sword used in mock battles and didn’t have a proper blade, Vihera’s counter would normally be close to impossible.

Reaching Rei’s level……was probably a bit much, but such a reaction was only possible due to Vihera’s own skill.

The longsword’s trajectory was forcibly shifted by Vihera’s gauntlet as the tip of the sword slammed into the ground.

The power of the attack was high and grass, dirt, and stones flew everywhere……however, because the power behind the blow had been too great, Rhodes’ hands when numb from the impact as he stopped moving for a moment.

「Yes, it’s over.」

The moment he stopped moving was more than enough of a gap for someone as strong as Vihera.

She got under Rhodes’ guard. Before he knew it, Vihera was right in front of him and he felt a sharp impact to the side of his head.

Knowing it was Vihera’s gauntlet at his head, Rhodes let out a small sigh at his perfect loss.

If Vihera had made the attack seriously, he would have been knocked out……which would have been the better outcome compared to having his head shattered.

「I……keh……」

Realising he could sense Vihera’s scent from her body right beside him, Rhodes was unable to finish what he wanted say and was at a loss for words.

The faintly sweet scent took his breath away for a moment and he took a few steps back and a deep breath as soon as he regained his composure.

(Heh.)

Elk muttered to himself in his mind as he watched the fight.

Rhodes, who loved his mother, Min, had previously showed little interest in other girls of his age. However, his attitude towards Vihera was clearly different.

Maybe he was finally gaining an interest in a woman other than his mother?

That was what Elk thought, but he quickly shook his head.

He was quite happy that his son was finally gaining an interest in the opposite gender. However, the person in question was not a good choice.

She was the second princess of the Bestir Empire and, according to Rei, while she didn’t have an official title, she was a battle fanatic that had been called the Mad Beast back in the Labyrinth City Exil.

That alone made her someone Rhodes couldn’t handle.

A more decisive factor was……

「How was that, Rei? Did my strength impress you?」

Yes. Vihera moved her gauntlet away from Rhodes’ head as she turned to Rei with a smile.

Although the time they had spent together was short, it was clear to Elk that Vihera was actively pursuing Rei.

(My son is quite sad……he probably wouldn’t be able to do something like stealing her away.)

Coming to a conclusion on the end of his son’s love affairs, Elk turned to look into the Selemus Plains with distant eyes.

Elk had many things to say about Theorem, but that was just Theorem……as for Vihera, she had run away from her country many years ago and he held no particular thoughts regarding her.

This hadn’t changed after finding out that she was the Second Princess and, before he found out, Elk had already made up his mind to leave Theorem alone after their fight.

Regardless of his personal feelings.

While Elk was thinking of such things, Rei, who had been leaning against Set while watching the spar between Vihera and Rhodes, nodded as he spoke.

「As expected of Vihera. The way you moved your body was smooth and I have nothing to complain about.」

「Fufu~, that’s right. ……Then how about it? Why don’t you try fighting, Rei?」

Vihera gave Rei and invitation with a wet eyes, but Rei shook his head with a wry smile.

「Unfortunately, we will be getting a move on in the afternoon.」

「Hmph.」

Vihera pouted her lips slightly as she expressed her dissatisfaction at Rei’s disinterest.

At her slight squint and sulking expression, the faces of several knights who had been watching went bright red up to their ears.

Vihera seemed to have noticed that as she spoke with a smile on her face.

「What do you think? Knights, why don’t you try fighting me? If you win, something good might happen, you know?」

Before she had been defeated by Rei, Vihera had often said she would give herself to anyone who could beat her, using her own good looks as bait for a fight.

But, after losing to Rei and falling for him, she no longer did that.

Of course, that didn’t stop her from saying misleading things as she invited the knights.

She had no intention of handing over her chastity, even if she lost though.

In a sense, Vihera was very much a carnivorous flower.

However, no one fell for her trap.

No, rather, it might have been a different story if they had a few more minutes to spare, but before anything could happen a voice rang out.

「Lunch break is over, let’s move!」

It was Daska who shouted out as he appeared.

He then spoke to Vihera with a somewhat trouble smile on his face.

「Your Highness, if something happens to you, I can’t be held responsible. If you’re fighting an adventurer, I can give an excuse, but if you’re fighting one of my knights……」

「Oh, that’s too bad. But, the knights of Margrave Rowlocks are pretty good, aren’t they?」

「Well, my territory is on the frontier after all.」

In the event monsters flooded in, it wasn’t just adventurers who would have to deal with them. Gilm’s guards and knights would naturally have to deal with it as well.

Also, where many adventurers gathered, there would naturally be more disturbances between adventurers.

Especially with regards to the latter, guards would normally suppress any disturbances, but if they couldn’t handle it they would ask the knights for support.

In other words, as a knight, there was a high chance they would have to deal with adventurers that the guards couldn’t handle, so their strength couldn’t be called into question.

「Gilm, huh. I heard it’s Rei’s home base, so once everything calms down, maybe I’ll go over.」

「That is……no, I’m not really in a position to say anything right now.」

Daska hesitated for a moment before replying with a wry smile.

With his position of Margrave Rowlocks, he welcomed any increase in skilled adventurers and had no intention of refusing such people.

However, in Vihera’s case, she was the second princess of the Bestir Empire.

Even if she had run away and proclaimed that she had renounced her royal status, it was obvious that there would be a lot of trouble if someone like her came to Gilm.

Mainly because of meddling from the Royalists.

At the same time, while they were cooperating with the Aristocratic faction this time, they weren’t allies.

Duke Kerebel, the leader of the Aristocratic faction, and the nobles close to him were fine. But, there were also some nobles who saw themselves as above the commoner trash.

(Well, even us Neutrals can’t speak like that of the other factions.)

In Daska’s mind, he thought of several Neutral faction nobles who seemed to have connections with the Aristocratic and Royalist factions, but he shook his head as he got rid of those thoughts.

「That’s right, once this matter is over, I will consider it properly. Of course, as the lord of Gilm, skilled adventurers are most welcome.」

「Really? Then I’ll look forward to it.」

Taking Daska at his word, Vihera put on her robe that she had previously thrown to the ground because it would get in the way of her fight.

Several knights let out a sigh of disappointment when they saw that, but immediately shut up as soon as Daska turned to look at them.

Anticipating the various troubles that would accompany them during the fighting tournament that would be held in the Bestir Empire, Daska couldn’t help letting out a sigh.

Of course, he had considered everything, examined the options, and, as a result, decided to cooperated with Theorem. But, even so, it wasn’t like he didn’t have second thoughts.

Still, as Margrave Rowlocks and the leader of the Neutral faction, he couldn’t allow himself to waver.

Reaching that conclusion, Daska spoke out again as he regained his spirit.

「I’ve already said lunch break is over! Don’t keep lazing around!」

Saying the same thing he had said earlier, he hurried back to his carriage.

They had only taken an hour long break for lunch, but he still wanted to gain more distance before nightfall.

At night, although they were weak, undead would roam around the Selemus Plains, attacking the living.

(It’s especially troublesome since it’s still quite hot.)

Daska gave a bitter sigh as he recalled the putrid smell of the Zombies they had dealt with several times.

Due to the resentment of those who had died in the Spring War, there were quite a number of Skeletons and Zombies around at night.

Of course, the Spring War had been a decisive victory for the Mireana Kingdom. But, that didn’t mean that the Mireana Kingdom hadn’t lost any soldiers. Among the Zombies, there were many who wore the armour of the Mireana Kingdom’s army.

Adventurers, knights, soldiers, and many more. Many different people had died during the Spring War and their resentment caused undead to rise.

(If only we could deal with that, this place would make a very good settlement.)

Thinking of that as a noble of the Mireana Kingdom, rather than as a faction, Daska shook his head as he refocused his thoughts.

Now wasn’t the time to think of such things. Rather, he had to focus on the fighting tournament that would be held in the Bestire Empire.

「Daska-sama, preparations are complete. We can depart at any time.」

A voice from behind brought him back to reality.

Looking around, everyone who had been around earlier had already disappeared, riding on horses or in the carriages.

Rei was riding on Set and everyone seemed to be ready, except for himself.

Glancing over towards his carriage, he saw the Axe of the Thunder God, led by Elk, waiting outside.

As Daska’s escort, they had no choice but to wait until Daska went in first.

「Sorry, let’s get going.」

Saying that to no one in particular, he got into his carriage.

Immediately after that, Elkk and the others got on as well, completing the remaining preparations to leave.

 

 

As the afternoon sun poured down, Daska’s group advanced through the Selemus Plains.

Since it was during the day, the undead were not active and there were almost no monsters on the Selemus Plains.

After all, the Selemus Plains had countless unead, so any monsters would find themselves attacked and killed at night.

Even the monsters knew that. Only monsters who were confident in their own strength, or those without the intelligence to consider such things, would be found on the Selemus Plains.

But, even powerful monsters would find themselves overwhelmed by sheer numbers with the lucky ones escaping the Selemus Plains. Most would fall prey to the undead and join their ranks, increasing the number of undead further in a vicious cycle.

With all that said, the reason why there were still quite a few people who travelled through the Selemus Plains was because it was the shortest route connecting the Bestir Empire and Mireana Kingdom and the roads weren’t too bad as it was all plains.

That was why they noticed another carriage travelling the opposite direction to them as they made their way through the Selemus Plains.

Just in case, the knights readied themselves to draw their weapons.

Theorem and Vihera hid themselves behind one of the carriages with their horses in case their faces were recognised.

Rei also took out the Death Scythe from the Misty Ring in order to respond to anything that might happen.

Wouldn’t he stand out if he appeared with the Death Scythe in his hands? Rei thought to himself, but he reached the conclusion that it didn’t matter since he was already riding on Set.

(Even so, the other party only has one carriage. Compared to them, we have three. Would they even try to attack in such a situation? Moreover, the force on our side is almost excessive.)

No matter how you looked at it, Daska’s group wasn’t a force that could be handled by a small opposing escort, especially with Elk, Rei, Vihera, and Theorem present. Furthermore, there was still the knights and Set.

Daska himself had experience as a knight back at the Royal Capital and didn’t lack in training himself.

If anyone saw Daska’s group and still attacked, they either had to be extremely skilled or brainless idiots.

(Well, the chances of that carriage attacking us are slim.)

Rather, it was more likely that the carriage was being driven by a merchant heading for the Mireana Kingdom.

However……the carriage, which had been moving forward vigorously, slowed down as soon as they saw Daska’s group.

Knowing that the other party seemed to have something they wanted to do, no matter how you looked at it, everyone turned their attention to the carriage with a heightened sense of tension.

And, as the carriage heading towards them stopped right next to their carriages, the carriage door opened.

A woman in her twenties stepped out.

The woman, who could be described as a serious beauty, looked at Rei and the others as she stepped out of the carriage571……

「Cyanus?」

Theorem’s voice echoed out.

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