「It must have been difficult with the sudden rain. This village is small, so I can only offer limited hospitality, but please, stay at my home. About half your group will have to stay at the inn however……」

Seeing the old man in his 60’s bowing his head apologetically, Daska shook his head to indicate it wasn’t an issue.

「I apologise for showing up so suddenly. I’m also grateful for your arrangements regarding lodging. This is thanks for you hospitality. Please accept it.」

Saying that, Daska handed over several gold coins.

The eyes of the old man, who was the village chief, went wide as he accepted the coins.

Although Daska’s group had been unexpected, the village chief had accepted them because he believed the village would earn some money from it.

However, even the chief felt unexpectedly lucky to earn so much just by providing food and beds.

That said, since half of Daska’s group would be housed at the inn, the money would probably be split 50/50.

「Thank you very much. We will do our best to make you feel welcome, so please rest and relax tonight. The rain should stop by tomorrow.」

「I hope so. ……Well, show my men to their rooms as soon as possible. I’d like for them to have a good rest. Elk, anything from your end?」

Daska called out to Elk, who was standing nearby as his bodyguard. Seeing Elk shake his head to indicate there were no issues, Daska was guided to a guest room in the village chief’s house, which was the largest in the village.

 

 

Meanwhile, Rei and the other knights were led to an inn where they wiped their wet bodies down with towels that were provided immediately.

「……」

Rei had a faint melancholy expression as he listened to the sound of the rain.

The village wasn’t that big, so naturally the inn and stables weren’t that big either.

Just the warhorses and carriages horses filled the stables, which meant that there was no space for Set to rest.

The idea of using the stable of another house was considered, but having a stable attached to a house meant that it would typically be used to house cows, horses, and other animals.

Those animals could sense the difference in level between them and Set and would feel instinctive fear.

It might have been different if the other stables were empty, but unfortunately, things weren’t that convenient. ……As a result of the discussion between the village chief and Daska, it was decided that Set would stay outside the village for the night.

Of course, to Set, he was disappointed that he couldn’t stay by Rei’s side. But, he also felt more comfortable staying outside than being forced into a small space. The village chief had an apologetic expression on his face as he watched Set fly off.

Rei didn’t have any particular worries, at the very least not regarding Set, but he still felt somewhat uneasy.

「No, there’s no point worrying about things now.」

At Rei’s murmur, which seemed to come from nowhere, another knight, who was wiping his wet body down, turned to look at him.

Rei told the knight it was nothing and, after eating an early dinner in the inn, found themselves with nothing much to do.

Because they had been told to take a break by Daska until they left the next day, they had a lot of free time.

「I guess we’re on the lucky end. Those that went to the village chief’s house will have to keep working as guards.」

「But, this is just a small village, right? I don’t think there’s a need to worry about anything since we won’t be attacked and Elk is still over there.」

「……No, we were just attacked the night before, so how can you be so carefree?」

「It’s because we were attacked last night. There can’t possibly be two attacks in a row right?」

「Have you forgotten that we’re here for that specific reason?」

An older knight reprimanded the younger knight who had spoken up casually.

Since he was part of Daska’s escort, there was no doubting his skill. However, because of his age, the knight still often looked at things optimistically.

Looking at the discussion between the knights, Rei thought of Set, who must have been filling his stomach with wild animals in the rain.

 

 

「Gurur~!」

The wild rabbit hadn’t sensed Set’s presence, but instinctively sensed danger as it tried to run away. Set used Evil Eye Impact to track the rabbit’s escape route and stunned it before smacking it with his right claw, slamming it against a tree, killing it.

A serious attack wouldn’t have just killed the rabbit but smashed it to pieces, so Set held back on his attack.

Even so, it was impossible for the the 30cm rabbit to survive an attack of that magnitude and all its bones were shattered as it died.

Set picked up the rabbit in his beak.

「Guru~」

The rabbit wasn’t that big, so it was more of a snack to him than a full meal.

Looking around for more prey……he suddenly sensed a figure approaching the village under the rain.

An ordinary person wouldn’t have noticed the presence. However, Set wasn’t an ordinary person.

「Gurururu~?」

However, as he observed the figure approaching the village, Set tilted his head.

The figure looked to be in their 20’s. She seemed to have had some training, but even so, she didn’t look like someone who would be able to do anything to Daska……or more precisely, Elk and Rei, who were protecting Daska.

No, rather, her skill was at the level where she probably couldn’t even defeat a single knight.

Because of that, Set thought the woman was looking for a place to shelter from the rain like Rei and the others……until he sensed a familiar scent from the woman.

「Guru~……Gururururu~!」

Set realised whose scent it was and took a run up of a few steps before flapping his wings into the sky.

The force of the rain hitting his body was fairly strong, but for Set, it was just an unpleasant experience and didn’t impede his actions.

Flying through the sky, he headed towards the woman approaching the villages……

「-!?」

By the time the woman noticed Set approaching, he had already landed right behind her.

「Gurururururu~?」

Set asked with a cry, but the woman couldn’t help but gasp when she saw a Griffon suddenly appear behind her.

They stared at each other for several seconds.

「Guru~?」

What’s wrong? Set asked as he tilted his head. The woman seemed to finally come back to her senses as she hurried took out a dagger from her chest.

But it didn’t seem like she was trying to attack Set.

In the first place, attacking a Griffon with just a dagger was an action that could only be considered reckless or foolish bravery.

The woman held the dagger out to Set for a few seconds as Set gave it a sniff.

The scent was faint from the rain, but as soon as he activated his Sense Enhancement skill, Set knew it was the scent of the person he expected as he gave a happy cry.

The woman wasn’t able to communicate with Set, but it seemed she understood he wasn’t angry.

「So, may I go to the village?」

「Guru~!」

Hearing the woman’s question, Set gave a cry, as if to say I’ll guide you there!

Although the woman was a little confused, she knew that she wouldn’t be hurt and, at the same time, recalled the words of the person who had given her orders as she asked.

「Ah, so you’re Set, right?」

「Gurururu~!」

Hearing Set’s cry, the woman let out a sigh of relief and smiled under her hood, which she was wearing to protect herself from the rain.

She had heard about Set from her boss.

However……it was still impossible to not get nervous seeing a Griffon up close for the first time.

Even though she had some pride in her own skill, she wouldn’t have a moments hesitation in admitting she wouldn’t be able to handle an A rank monster.

「So, um. I think you already know, but I was told by Her Highness Vihera and Theorem-sama to come here. Um, you understand, right?」

As expected of one of Theorem’s subordinates, she was now only slightly hesitant as she asked Set.

「Guru~」

Set nodded at the woman’s words before heading to the villages while lightly pulling on her robe with his beak.

The woman almost screamed when the hem of her robe was caught in Set’s beak, but she managed to suppress it when she saw Set pulling her ahead.

As they arrived at the village entrance, there was a villager there acting as a gatekeeper.

「-!? ……Ah-Ahh. Aren’t you that noble’s…….what was it? What’s wrong? Weren’t you spending the night outside the village?」

The village tried and failed to hide his trembling.

However, even though he tried to bluff Set, he soon noticed the woman beside him as he happily diverted his gaze away from Set.

「Who the hell are you? Are you one of those nobles as well?」

「Yes, that’s right. Um……please give this dagger to Daska-sama. If you do, I’m sure he will vouch for my identity.」

Saying that, the woman took the same dagger out from her chest again as she held it out to the villager.

The villager froze for a second upon seeing the dagger.

But, seeing that the dagger was still in its sheath, he gave a sigh of relief, unseen by the woman.

As a young man, he probably didn’t want to be seen as disgraceful by a woman who was also pretty in her own way.

……Although he couldn’t hide it from a woman who had trained under Theorem.

「Understood. Just give me a minute. I’ll have it checked right away.」

「Ah, wait!」

After receiving the dagger, the man ran straight into the village.

The woman saw him run off with a sigh.

「What are you doing leaving me here? If I was a bandit trying to break into the village, you would have made a fatal mistake.」

She spoke with an exasperated expression as she waited for the village to return while keeping some distance from Set.

She waited with Set for several minutes. Eventually, as they waited, the silence became painful even for the woman.

With Set right next to her, the woman couldn’t help but start to worry silently.

「Gururu~?」

Seeing the woman’s strange attitude, Set tilted his head as he gave a cry.

For a moment, the woman’s body stiffened with a jerk, but she eventually realised that Set didn’t mean any harm as he she turned to look at him.

「-!?」

The woman involuntarily stumbled a few steps as she saw Set staring at her.

However, looking silently back into Set’s eyes, she understood that he held no malice and took one and then two steps over towards him.

「Her Highness Vihera and Theorem-sama said that they weren’t afraid of you at all…….i-it’s okay right? You won’t bite or scratch?」

She murmured quietly as she extended her hand.

Normally it would have been best for her to keep her distance.

No matter how much she respected Theorem and Vihera, she didn’t know what would happen, even if they had said it would be safe.

However, looking at Set’s round eyes, she couldn’t help feeling bad ignoring him.

As her outstretched hand gradually approached Set……

「Hey, permission to enter has been granted!」

「Hiii-!」

A voice suddenly came out from the village, it was the voice of the village who she had entrusted the dagger to earlier, causing her to suddenly withdraw her hand.

At the same time, she let out a strange voice, but she immediately breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that only Set had heard her.

The the villager came up to her, she looked towards the large house at the center of the village.

「The house in the middle is the village chief’s house, where the nobles are staying. Do you need a guide?」

The young man seemed to want to talk with her for as long as possible, but the woman shook her head.

「I don’t need a guides since I can see it fine. ……Where’s the dagger?」

「Hm? Oh, I handed the dagger over, so please get it back when you go to the village chief’s house.」

Hearing the man’s response, the woman entered the village.

Seeing that, Set also turned to leave.

The villager gave a sigh of relief when he saw Set leave, but before they knew it, the woman had disappeared as well.

「She didn’t have to be in such a hurry, did she? ……I guess she didn’t want to get wet in the rain.」

Looking up at the pouring rain, the villager muttered with a sigh.

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