As soon as the reward was decided one, the group immediately started discussing what to do next.
Among then, it was Elena who offered her opinion first.
「As I said before, if you’re going to the Bestir Empire, you’ll need to return to Gilm to inform Daska-dono first. Normally, it would take a good deal of time to return to Gilm from Exil……」
Elena paused there as she turned to looked at Rei meaningfully.
Yes. They could travel by ground, but even by carriage, it would take a considerable amount of time to reach Gilm from Exil.
But, that was only by ground.
Rei had Set, who could fly.
「Considering the speed of a Griffon, that distance could be considered a short trip.」
He must have had the same thought as Elena. Theorem nodded in agreement.
「Well then, Elena, please write a letter to give to Daska-sama. Even if you do have the paired orbs, it would be better bring a letter anyway. In the meantime, I’ll let Vosk and Byune know that I’m heading back to Gilm. Vihera, will you be seeing Byune today?」
「If you’re talking about Byune, she’ll be with the Silva family. It seems they need to talk and discuss the revival of the Fraut family that Vosk mentioned yesterday. There’s also the study required to be able govern Exil.」
That was why she had left Byune to come and see Rei.
As Vihera spoke with blushed cheeks from embarrassment, Rei nodded, also embarrassed, while trying not to show it too much.
It was a decision he reached instinctively because he knew that if did anything wrong here, he would get into a lot of trouble with Elena, who was already giving off an unhappy aura from beside him.
「I see, then I’ll head to the Silva family residence first. Ah, Elena. While you write up the letter, could you also take care of the accommodation process?」
Saying that, he handed over gold and silver coins from a bag he took out from the Misty Ring.
「Rei? I was going to pay for the inn……」
「No, didn’t I tell you? I said I would earn money in the dungeon to pay for the inn properly. It’s not good for my reputation to be dependent on you for money. Let me do this at least.」
「……I understand.」
After a moment’s hesitation, Elena accepted the gold and silver coins without saying anything more.
For Elena, she felt that coming here with Rei was half her own request, so she had hesitated to accept it. But, looking into Rei’s eyes, she understood that it was something he decided on with full knowledge.
「Still, it would be better to leave Exil early tomorrow morning. Even if you leave now, the sun will set before long.」
「Well, now that you mention it, that’s true.」
When Rei nodded, Theorem nodded as well.
「I’ve told you the general situation, but it will be necessary to fill you in on the details as well. After Rei finishes discussing things with the Lord of Gilm, where should we meet up?」
「That’s right.」
In modern Japan, there were many ways to contact people who were far away. However, this was a different world, Elgin. That was why Elena had come to Exil to search for a magic item that would allow her to converse with Rei from far distances.
「Regarding that……I have a lot to think about, but until this matter is all settled, would it be better to lend Vihera a paired orb?」
「Hey, what are you saying all of a sudden?」
Vihera let out a surprised voice at Elena’s words.
It really was an unexpected proposal.
Because she knew how much effort Elena had spent in the dungeon searching for a set of paired orbs.
However, Theorem looked at Vihera before turning to Elena and shaking his head slightly.
「No, if possible, I’d like you keep the paired orb. Being able to contact the Aristocratic faction in the Mireana Kingdom could also be considered a trump card in the case of an emergency.」
「But, how will you meet back up with Rei then? You can’t just stay here and wait for Rei to go to Gilm and come back, right?」
Although they had some time to spare, they still wanted to avoid wasting time. Theorem nodded at Elena’s words and spoke up after taking a few second to reach a decision.
「It would be good to meet up at a town or village near the Selemus Plains. In that case, there shouldn’t be any problems leaving Exil early. But……as a result of the responsibility of defeat being pushed onto His Highness Mercurio, the management of alchemists is already out of my control.」
Although he didn’t say it explicitly, all the Demon Soldiers that Theorem used to have under his command had already been taken away.
When the Second Prince’s faction had learned of their formidable fighting strength that had been displayed in the war, they also blamed Mercurio for the defeat in the war in order to get their hands on the Demon Soldiers.
That said, the Demon Soldiers were extremely difficulty to deal with, in contrast to their combat strength. If a noble simply gave orders to them from above, they would never obey. Due to their monster like instincts, their commander had to be stronger than then, which was a difficult requirement to meet.
Some people, like Gilgos, were able to command the Demon Soldiers, but that was just an exception.
As Theorem though about that, Rei nodded as if it couldn’t be helped.
「I understand, let’s meet up in a suitable town or village then. ……That said.」
Rei let out an involuntary sigh.
「What’s wrong?」
In response to Vihera’s question, Rei spoke up with a wry smile.
「In spring, I fought a war followed by a giant monster showed up at a port. In summer, I explored the dungeon of a labyrinth city, fought against abnormal species, and the Church of Holy Light. Now in autumn, I’m getting involved in the family issues of the Bestir Empire’s royal family and participating in a fighting tournament. …..I feel like this year has been very chaotic in many ways.」
Even though it was only now midsummer, Rei muttered to himself as he looked back on the past year.
However, considered what had happened, few would deny that it had been a chaotic year.
But still……
「You know, Rei. It’s true that you will be participating in the fighting tournament in autumn, but there’s still winter to go, you know? I don’t think there’s anything planned that will definitely happen then, but maybe there will be another big incident in winter. ……Maybe something to do with the Church of Holy Light?」
Rei made a disgusted expression at Vihera’s words.
Considering his experiences so far, there was no way he could say for sure that it absolutely wouldn’t happen.
「Church of Holy Light? Come to think of it, you mentioned them before……what is the Church of Holy Light?」
「I’ll tell you about it later. ……If you know about them, then that would mean they’ve also reached the Bestir Empire.」
「Yeah. They help with exploring dungeons, or where adventurers, guards, and knights can’t help……」
Hearing the Bestir Empire duo start to converse, Rei spoke up.
「Anyway, I’ll head over to the Silva family residence and let Byune and Vosk know that I’ll be leaving Exil tomorrow.」
「Please do that.」
Vihera nodded and Theorem, who had been thinking about the Church of Holy Light, added a few words.
「Just to be clear, I don’t want you to mention that you’re going to the Bestir Empire.」
「Yeah, I know. As for the room, just leave it to Elena, she’ll take it from here.」
Saying that, Rei left the room as Vihera started to explain the various events linked to the Church of Holy Light that had happened in Exil, with Elena providing comments.
A while after Rei left. After finishing their talk about the Church of Holy Light, the room was filled with silence. Theorem’s gaze suddenly turned to Elena.
A question was floating in his eyes.
Curious about what Theorem was thinking of, Elena spoke up.
「Is anything wrong?」
「No, I just thought you would hold a grudge against me.」
Theorem’s question was quite natural.
Leading up to the Spring War, Theorem had seen both Elena and Rei as dangerous and had tried to bury them in secret multiple times.
Vel’s betrayal, Kuust’s death. And, although Elena herself didn’t know, he had also kidnapped Elk’s son, from the A rank party Axe of the Thunder God, to force Elk to attack Rei.
Rei himself didn’t seem to hold any particular resentment as he had broken all of Theorems schemes with brute force, but it was a different story for Elena.
In fact, Theorem was extremely nervous about bringing this matter up.
He wondered if Elena would attack him.
However, in the end, nothing of the sort happened and their conversation had concluded in a peaceful manner.
Theorem felt that it was the best outcome that could have happened.
「Well, it would be a lie if I said I didn’t hold a grudge. Kuust might have been a person with many problems, but he was still someone I had spent many years with. Isn’t it the same for you? Rei killed most of the Bestir Empire’s army as well as the Demon Soldiers.」
There was deep sadness in Elena’s voice.
The fact that Vel, who had killed Kuust with his own hands, was also dead might have had something to do with it.
However, it had been Rei who gave Vel the fatal blow.
「Besides, if events go well, we will be able to create a strong pro-Mireana Kingdom faction within the Bestir Empire. And if we can do that, then another case like this won’t happen again…….I can’t really say that, but it will still be true that situations like that will happen less.」
It wasn’t a personal decision based on her personal grudges, but a noble’s decision because she cared about the Mireana Kingdom.
Hearing that, Theorem bowed his head without saying anything more.
「Huh, anything wrong? It’s unusual for you to be here both yesterday and today.」
The Silva family residence. Thanks to having come by many times already, the gatekeeper immediately called up Sanctions, the Chief Butler, who guided Rei in after he said he had business with Vosk and Byune.
The number of documents on Vosk’s desk were considerably less than yesterday, but it was still quite a mountain.
At the very least, he could see Vosk’s face at his desk now, so it was easy to guess how many documents there had been the day before.
Although Rei couldn’t see Byune, she was also there, helping Vosk to sort out documents while studying to become the next head of the Fraut family.
「Mm.」
Since he could hear her voice, probably a greeting, there was no doubt she was doing well.
As Rei thought of Byune’s expression as she processed documents indifferently, he went straight to the topic at hand.
「Yeah, actually, I have some urgent business to attend to. I’ll be leaving Exil tomorrow, so I thought to let you know and say goodbye.」
「Hah!? Hey, hey, isn’t that a bit too fast?」
Rei’s words must have been quite unexpected for Vosk. He stood up on reflex and the impact cause an avalanche of documents.
「MMMM-!」
Vosk gave a small apology at Byune’s voice of protest, who was directly hit by the falling documents, before moving away to avoid collapsing any more piles of documents.
「You’re an important person in this matter, aren’t you? I’m sure the Kingdom’s officials will want to talk to you……what are you saying all of a sudden?」
「I told you, it’s urgent business. It’s urgent because it came up suddenly.」
「No, I understand that. I understand it, but as Exil’s governor, I can’t just accept something as urgent like that.」
Vosk said that while scratching his head.
As for Byune, she was focusing on her ears in order not to missing anything Rei said as she organised the documents.
Even Byune was sad to part with Rei, having become much closer to him.
Although, if anything, Set was probably a bigger part of the reason.
「As for the questions, I’m sure Elena will take care of it. I’m the only one who will be leaving Exil tomorrow, Elena will be staying a little longer.」
To be precise, Elena would be staying until Tufal, who Elena had told to take a vacation, returned to Exil.
「……What?」
Hearing that Elena was staying behind, Vosk’s eyes grew sharp.
Vosk, who had become acquainted with Elena somewhat, didn’t think that Elena would use her power as a noble for something unimportant.
In other words, something had happened that had forced her to use it.
「I see. As someone who governs Exil, it’s a shame……but I don’t have the right to forcibly detain an adventurer.」
Giving a small sigh, he just told Rei to take care.
「Mm.」
Byune, who had been listening in to their conversation while sorting out documents, placed the documents she had on the desk to stop them from collapsing before going over to Rei.
She spoke as she looked up at him.
「Sorry, dragging you in. Thank you.」
It was only a few short words, but Rei immediately understood what she wanted to say.
「I see. Take care too, Byune.」
「Mm. Next time, come. Fraut family, back to normal.」
「Yeah, I ended up quitting the dungeon halfway through. I’ll find the time to come back when my urgent business is settled.」
「Set.」
「Well, as long as I’m here, Set will be with me.」
After nodding at his words, for some reason, Byune pulled on Rei’s Dragon Robe, pulling his head down.
「Good, good.」
She patted Rei on the head before nodding in satisfaction and walking back to her desk.
While feeling somewhat confused by Byune’s actions, Rei left the office after talking with Vosk for another 10 minutes.
「Oh, Rei-san?」
As Rei left the Silva family residence, someone suddenly called out to him.
Turning to look in the direction of the voice, he saw a trio of a spear wielding warrior, a thief, and a one armed woman.
In a sense, the Sonic Blades trio could be considered the main characters in this incident that happened with the Marschel family.
Originally, there had also been a man named Goto, a porter, but he had already left Sonic Blades due to the attack by the Church of Holy Light.
「Are you good to go again?」
Even with all the sounds of battle going on around her, Tivia had been trapped inside a magic circle, unable to wake up.
After the battle, Essetus and Nakuto, who were also here, had immediately taken her back. So, the last time Rei and Tivia had actually talked was when they had been stripping monster materials.
「Yeah, it seems I’ve been in your care in various ways……thank you.」
The three of them, Tivia, Essetus, and Nakuto, bowed their heads.
Rei just waved his hand at them to tell them not to worry.
「If you think of it as my last big job before leaving Exil, it wasn’t a bad outcome.」
「……Eh? Rei, are you leaving?」
Rei gave a small shrug as he nodded at Essetus, who unintentionally grasped his spear as he asked.
「Yeah, I have some urgent business. It’s a little soon, but only Set and I are planning to leave tomorrow morning.」
「That is……I haven’t even thanked you yet……」
「Don’t worry about it. I’ve received the reward for this case from Vosk.」
「But……」
「Besides, you’ll have quite the task from now on, won’t you? Whether you plan to continue being an adventurer or retire.」
Having only one arm left, even if she continued to work as an adventurer, it would be a huge handicap.
After pointing that out, Rei told her that if she had the money to thank him it would be better for her to use it on herself before leaving.
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