Daska’s group continued towards the Imperial Capital along the Bestir Empire’s highways.

The summer sunshine had softened considerably and the change to autumn was in full swing. At such a point in time, Rei suddenly spoke.

「People are coming.」

Rei noticed several knights coming towards them from the city ahead causing Daska’s knights to twitch.

They could see the city ahead, but it was still quite far away, so only Rei and Set had noticed the approaching knights. However, none of Daska’s knights doubted Rei’s sharp senses.

A knight close to Rei quickly asked him.

「Enemies?」

Rei thought about it for a moment……before shaking his head.

「No, I don’t think so. If they were trying to harm us, they wouldn’t come over so blatantly. I think they’re probably some sort of escort sent by the other side.」

「That’s……well, unexpected.」

The knight who had asked the question was surprised at Rei’s words.

More than 10 days had passed since they entered the Bestir Empire, and while the lords of the territories they had went to had allowed Daska’s group passage, none of them had ever sent an escort.

Of course, there were some lords and magistrates who asked if they should send an escort when greeting them, but Daska had refused them himself.

The main reason was that he did not intend to welcome any potential threats near him, whether the other side intended to do such a thing or not.

Daska had also done that because he understood exactly how the nobles and residents of the Bestir Empire thought of him, but……

「If I remember correctly, we should already have hinted to the lord of this area about that, right?」

「Yeah. If he knew that and still sent out an escort, he might be……difficult to deal with.」

「Or maybe the city’s magistrate made that decision on their own?」

Rei nodded at the words of another nearby knight.

Even if the Neutral faction was the weakest of the three major powers in the Mireana Kingdom, Daska was still a noble representing the Mireana Kingdom.

The magistrate might have ignored their lord’s orders and acted on their own judgement to gain some benefit. Rei wouldn’t be surprised if there was such a person.

「Well, no matter what their intentions are, if we hear them out, we’ll know immediately.」

By the time Rei said that, the knights were already able to see the five knights heading towards them along the highway.

 

 

「I assume you are part of Margrave Rowlocks of the Mireana Kingdom’s group……is that correct?」

One of Daska’s knights nodded as he replied to a knight in his 40’s, who was leading the other four.

「Yes. What about you?」

The middle-aged knight gave a sigh of relief and showed a bit of surprise, perhaps because of how easily they had admitted to being Margrave Rowlocks’ group.

「My name is Dwalube, I am a knight from the city of Tanaro, which is just ahead. I’ve been sent to welcome Margrave Rowlocks.」

「That’s kind of you. But, we don’t need any kind of escort. I believe we should have informed your lord about this already?」

The knight asked such a question in order to confirm the other side’s intentions rather than to blame them.

Dwalube nodded and responded as if expecting such a question.

「I know that, but we’re in a bit of a predicament right now in Tanaro.」

Dwalube’s expression didn’t seem to be hiding anything and it looked like he was really troubled from the bottom of his heart.

Seeing Dwalube’s difficult expression, the knight asked another question with a bad feeling.

「So, what’s the problem?」

「Yes, that is……it’s hard to say, but it seems like there have been suspicious people gathering here from nowhere.」

「Suspicious?」

If there are such people, shouldn’t you capture them? The knight implied that, but Dwalube shook his head apologetically.

「Naturally, we are looking into the possibility that they are up to no good. However, we haven’t been able to find any leads, nor have we been able to find the person we believe to be the ringleader of the matter……」

「……I see. What do you think?」

The knight glanced over to the other knights who had been listening in as well as Rei, who was sitting on Set’s back.

「If you think about it logically, it’s probably disgruntled elements who can’t stand the fact we’re in the Bestir Empire’s territory who are up to something. Or……」

The knights all looked towards Rei.

Dwalube and his four knights were also among the gazes.

Although Dwalube had not participated in the Spring War, it wasn’t difficult to obtain information about the person who had decided its outcome.

He was riding on a Griffon and working for Margrave Rowlocks.

With all signs matching, it was impossible to not connect the person before him with the title of Crimson.

「So I’m the target, is it?」

Dwalube nodded apologetically at Rei’s words and shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

「Yes. We believe it’s either one of the two.」

「……That would mean it would be dangerous to head to the city like this. What should we do?」

Spending a night in a city where enemies were waiting for you was just stupid. The knight smiled at Rei’s words after hearing his words.

He knew what Rei wanted to say, but he had expected Rei to be a bit more subtle about it.

「Wait a moment. I’ll ask Daska-sama.」

After saying that, the knight headed over to the carriage where Daska and Elk were.

After seeing the knight leave, Rei looked back at saw Dwalube looking at him with a strange expression……or rather, looking at Set with a strange expression.

Dwalube’s subordinates smiled wryly at their leader’s actions, as if something like this had happened before.

「Guru~?」

Set seemed to have noticed the look in Dwalube’s eyes and come to the conclusion that he held no hostility. What’s wrong? Set seemed to say as he tilted his head and gave a cry.

「……」

However, Dwalube didn’t seem to notice Set’s response as he just continued to stare.

Rei looked at Dwalube suspiciously and eventually spoke up when he saw Set looking uncomfortable.

「Would you mind not staring so much? Set seems a little uncomfortable with that.」

「……-!? I’m sorry. This is the first time I’ve seen a Griffon in my life so I couldn’t help but……」

The sight of a man in his 40s, best described as a middle-aged man, blushing from embarrassment was something that even Rei found difficult to put into words.

「You’re not afraid of Set?」

「No. Since it’s a tamed monster, as long as its master doesn’t intentionally order it to attack people, there’s no problem, right?」

「Well, true.」

Strictly speaking, Set wasn’t a tamed monster, but one created from the Magic Beast Art, so the bond between Rei and Set was much stronger than that of a tamer and a tamed monster.

It was precisely because he understood that that Rei nodded at Dwalube’s words with a faint proud smile.

「Actually, when I was younger, I wanted to get a job researching monsters.」

「……Huh?」

From Rei’s point of view, Dwalube had a well trained body and didn’t seem to lack skill as a knight either.

No, as he was leading the knights behind him, he probably had more than enough talent to be a knight.

(So what he wanted to do and what he was able to do ended up being different? I can’t only say it was unfortunate for him.)

Rei thought to himself as Dwalube gave a small smile and turned to look back at Set.

A few minutes passed. Before long, the knight returned from Daska’s carriage.

However, the knight had a wry smile on his face.

Just by looking at his expression, Rei could tell what the final decision had been. ……They would keep going.

「Dwalube-dono, Rei. I’ve informed Daska-sama about the matter in the city, but there won’t be any changes to our schedule.」

「……I’m certain there will be trouble though.」

Dwalube turned a sharp gaze towards the knight, unlike when he was looking at Set.

However, the knight faced Dwalube’s gaze without turning away.

「I know. It will be fine as long as you take the measures you can. Even if something happens, we’ll handle it with our own strength.」

「……I understand. I will inform the magistrate.」

As he said that, a small smile appeared on Dwalube’s face, replacing his earlier stern expression from a moment ago.

「It’s hard being a noble.」

「Yeah. Besides, Daska-sama has a special background in various ways.」

「We will do our best to help. Well, I don’t have much time, so I’ll leave it at that.」

Saying that, Dwalube bowed his head before leaving with his knights.

As Rei saw them off, he tilted his head as he asked the knight.

「Why bother staying in a dangerous city? My magic tent has the effect of keeping monsters away and there is also Set. Considering that, there shouldn’t be a need to get ourselves into such a dangerous place……」

「Normally speaking, that would be true. But don’t forget. Daska-sama is here to represent the Mireana Kingdom’s Neutral faction. In other words, he can’t lose face over this.」

「……I see.」

Rei nodded back, not entirely convinced, but still understanding the reasoning.

If it were just himself and Set, he was confident of being able to deal with anyone who might attempt to him him while he was sleeping. But this time, his main job wasn’t to protect himself, but to protect Daska.

And, to keep his face and pride as a noble, Daska had no choice but to push on.

No matter how silly or stupid it seemed.

A noble could not abandon their face and pride.

That said, the decision was also reached mainly because Elk and the rest of Axe of the Thunder God were present as Daska’s escort.

Rei had taken on many requests so far, but he hadn’t recieved many escort requests. Naturally, he lacked experience and was worried about taking on an escort role on his own.

「Well, with you and Elk here, I think it will be fine as long as it’s nothing too serious.」

「Am I the only one who thinks that will definitely happen?」

Even though he said that, Daska’s decision had already been made and nothing he said here would change it.

Rei judged that he might not be used to it, but he had to do his best as an escort as he gently stroked Set’s neck.

「Since there will probably be a city wide disturbance, you might need to fend for yourself for most of it. ……Sorry.」

「Guru~!」

You don’t need to apologise, I’ll be fine! Set seemed to say with a cry.

In fact, considering Set’s abilities, there was no doubt he would be able to manage on his own, even if faced with danger.

Even so, Rei felt guilty for leaving Set alone.

In any case, after their plan was decided, Daska’s group continued on their way.

Towards Tanaro, which was in their sight.

 

 

「Then, please pass.」

After completing all the procedures, the guard spoke as he bowed his head.

Rei remained cautious of his surroundings as he stroked Set, who was now wearing a Necklace of Subservient Monster.

He thought there was a possibility of being attacked as soon as they entered the city, but luckily that did not come to pass.

However, it was true that there was still hatred and resentment in the gazes of the city’s residents.

(Perhaps those gazes belong to the suspicious elements that Dwalube had been talking about.)

Rei muttered to himself as he looked around casually.

Among the people he saw, several of them were glaring at him, full of hatred.

Rei’s eyes frowned slightly at the presence of hatred bordering on bloodlust.

He felt it strange that they didn’t even attempt to hide it.

If they were that blatant about it, then there was no doubt there would be a commotion.

Daska’s knights seemed to think the same thing. On their faces, they appeared as normal, but internally, they were all ready to make a move at a moment’s notice and deal with anything that might occur, even an attack right here in the middle of the day.

Rei and the others headed for an inn with such attitudes, smiling on the outside but ready for action at any point in time.

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