CH 559

「Um, I’m pretty sure that vvillage is Goto, right?」

It had been 11 days since they left Gilm. Rei muttered to himself as he saw the village on the ground ahead, relying on the memories he had when passing by the village during the Spring War and the map in his hands.

「Guru~?」

What do you want to do? Set asked with a cry as Rei stroked his neck.

「Well, if I’m wrong, I can just ask them. It’s not like we’re dealing with bandits like before.」

Considering Set’s flying speed, they should have been able to reach Goto a few days earlier. However, as Rei had predicted, they had ended up taking the wrong route as well as several unintentional detours, such as tracking down a bandit hideout and helping out some adventurers who were having a hard time against some monsters.

Although Rei had been to the Selemus Plains before, it had been on foot and not by flying. Naturally, it was a very different perspective and was part of the reason why he had gotten lost.

(Well, I was able to collect a fair number of weapons as well as some money from the bandit hideout after killing all the bandits. The situation the adventurers were in was also dangerous, so they helped me out when I asked for the way to the Selemus Plains. In the end, everything worked out.)

As Rei thought like that, Set descended to the ground in a glide.

As Set landed, he flapped his wings one last time to absorb the impact.

They were still some distance from Goto, but it was unlikely that they had missed the sight of a Griffon landing.

Since the village was located near the Selemus Plains, the area was usually on high alert.

At any rate, even from afar, Rei could tell that the village had grown noisy. Judging that it wouldn’t make a difference whether he went over with Set or not, Rei slowly made his way over to Goto with Set.

Around the village, the fields of wheat had already ripened to the point it was almost ready to harvest, creating a carpet of wheat.

As Rei headed towards the village, he saw the wheat fields and recalled the golden ears of rice he had seen each year back in Japan……

「H-Halt-!」

As he approached the village gate, he heard such a voice shout out from inside.

Hearing that, Rei stopped as he looked to see whose voice it was. Glancing over, there were five men wielding simple weapons, such as hoes and clubs, looking at Rei warily.

It seemed like it was the first time they had seen a Griffon. They looked frightened enough that it was almost certain they would run if Set gave a cry.

Rei didn’t plan to flatten Goto or threaten them, so he stopped about 10m away from the men.

「Y-You……you have a Griffon with you, are you Crimson?」

He must have been the leader of the men. A man in his 30’s shouted out from the front with a hoe in his hand.

Because they were standing 10m away from each other, they couldn’t really communicate without shouting. However, that also served to attract the attention of the village residents, who hadn’t noticed Rei as they worked in the fields, causing them to slowly gather at the village gate.

The man must have felt somewhat braver when he saw the number of people watching grow larger. He calmed down as he turned to Rei again.

There was definitely a Griffon here. However, the person it was following looked to be a 15 year old boy. He gave a sigh of relief as he thought to himself.

Is that kid really Crimson?

The village of Goto was located close to the Selemus Plains and, for that reason, they had received detailed information about the Spring War. Among the information they received, the thing that stood out the most was that of the person who had burned the entire vanguard of the Bestir Empire while swinging a scythe. He had been given the title Crimson because his body had been smeared with blood.

The person before him might have a Griffon, but he didn’t have a scythe with him. Above all, he looked too young.

(Perhaps it’s a completely different person?)

That was what the villagers thought, but Rei nodded as he stroked Set’s back.

「That’s right, I have been called Crimson. I also participated in the war on the side of the Mireana Kingdom’s army, so there’s no need to be scared, right?」

「T-That’s……no, but, you’re completely different from the rumours. You aren’t even holding a scythe!」

「Hm? Oh, here, is this enough?」

At the man’s words, Rei took out the Death Scythe from the Misty Ring.

The length of the shaft alone was taller than Rei and the blade stretched 1m out. Its appearance gave off a presence suitable for being called the reaper’s scythe.

「Does this clear your doubts?」

「……Y-Yeah.」

Even the villages couldn’t help but believe Rei after seeing the real thing. Seeing everyone nod from the pressure of seeing the Death Scythe, Rei stored it back into the Misty Ring.

「O-Okay, we know you’re Crimson. But, what business do you have in a small village like this?」

「Before I answer that, may I ask something quickly? Is this Goto?」

「Yes. This is the village of Goto. ……So, what can we do for you?」

「So, it’s the right place this time. No, I’m just meeting up with some people here.」

「Meeting up?」

Hearing Rei’s words, the villagers gathered here could be heard murmuring strangely.

(……Hm?)

However, Rei noticed that one of the villagers had a strange response.

At the words ‘meeting up’ the man had averted his gaze unnaturally.

He looked to be in his 20’s. He had a reasonably well proportioned face and, maybe due to his farm work, had a solid build.

At the very least, if you put Rei and the man side by side, most people would assume that the man was the adventurer.

For someone with such a build, their instant of internal turmoil caught Rei’s attention.

「Hey, did you say you were meeting up with someone in this village?」

Rei nodded a the villager’s question.

「Yeah. Although it might be a while longer before they get here……」

Rei had come here on Set, but Vihera and Theorem, who were going to meet with him here, were travelling along the ground. Considering that, it would be a while before they reached Goto.

「……Hey, what should we do? If it’s really Crimson, wouldn’t it be bad to refuse him?」

「I heard from the rumors that he has a Griffon and a scythe, so I think it’s safe to say it’s him……」

「But, didn’t he say it might take a while before the people he’s waiting for arrive? What do we do? There’s no inn in the village.」

「So you’re going to let him stay at someone’s house? Are you kidding me? I don’t want to do that. I can’t afford to waste my time providing food for him.」

「Regardless, the village chief……」

The villagers started whispering to each other.

They spoke in low voices so as to not be heard by Rei.

However, with his hearing, Rei didn’t miss anything they said.

In the midst of all this, a villager spoke up.

It was the person who Rei had noted behaving strangely earlier.

「If you don’t mind, you can stay at my house? Luckily, I live alone, so I have a spare room.」

「……Are you sure, Ruchard? Since you’re living alone, doesn’t that mean you can’t call anyone if something happens?」

「Well, as far as I can tell, he doesn’t look like a bad person. Besides……」

The man called Ruchard paused as he walked over to Rei.

「Nice to meet you, I’m Ruchard. I’d be happy to let you stay with me for now, but……I have one condition, or rather, one request.」

「What is it?」

「That is, as you can see, the village isn’t that wealthy. Putting you aside, we don’t have enough to satisfy your Griffon as well.」

「Guru~?」

Set tilted his head at Ruchard’s words.

Seeing Set’s cute response, the villagers’ faces softened.

For a moment, they seemed to forget that Set was an A rank monster, but they soon returned to normal.

That said, their gazes towards Rei and Set were, albeit only slightly, unmistakably softer than they were a moment ago.

Giving a sigh of relief at the situation, Rei shook his head to say it wasn’t a problem.

「Set, as you can see, is smart enough to get his own food. I’ve also brought food for him as well. Oh, by the way, you don’t have to worry about my food either. I’ve prepared enough for myself.」

To be precise, the Misty Ring held a large amount of food, food that was much more delicious than anything he could eat the in the village.

However, Ruchard didn’t know this and looked confused as he asked in confusion.

「You don’t like you have anything with you in particular?」

The sight of a muscular person looking so confused somehow made people want to smile.

However the person himself seemed to be unaware of this and just looked at Rei curiously.

「You saw me take the Death Scythe out just now, didn’t you? Just think of it as something similar.」

「……I see. I’d just like to confirm one last time, but since this village doesn’t have much to spare, there’s basically no food we can serve you. And, even if there was, it would be the same as what we eat. It’s a crude dish and not the kind of food that an adventurer with a title would eat.」

Rei nodded in response to Ruchard’s final request for confirmation. Ruchard nodded in relief as he looked at the people around him.

「As you just heard, he said he will prepare his own meals. As far as lodging in concerned, he will rent my place. And, as far as I can see, the Griffon called Set doesn’t seem like they will attack anyone for no reason. ……Having said that, it wouldn’t be good to leave the Griffon openly in the village, so could they stay outside the village if possible?」

The villagers whispered and talked with each other at Ruchard’s words, but eventually came to a consensus.

The man who had first called out to Rei spoke to him as a representative.

「We understand. You said you don’t have to give him food and, since you were the one to say it, I think we can trust him. But is it really okay for you to bring a stranger to stay at your house?」

「Yeah, it’s fine. Besides, he’s strong enough to be called Crimson. If he wanted to do anything by force, I don’t think he would be talking to us in such a friendly manner in the first place.」

Ruchard’s words reassured the villagers who were listening to him.

In fact, that was true.

If Rei wanted to do anything by force, his power wasn’t something the people in the village could deal with.

Just like how the Bestir Empire’s army had suffered a great deal of damage in the Spring War, they would be one-sidedly flattened.

The villagers must have accepted it because they knew htat.

「So, I’ll bring him back, the rest of you all go back to work. It’s still hot, so let’s all do our best until break time.」

Ruchard, who was well respected within Goto for his strong body and calm temperament, dispersed the villagers.

Seeing them off, he turned back to Rei as he spoke with a stiffer expression than he had just a few seconds ago.

「Please come with me, I’ll guide you to my house.」

「……」

Rei looked at Ruchard suspiciously, but Ruchard seemed to misunderstand why Rei wasn’t following him. He spoke in a quiet voice that only Rei could hear.

「I’ll explain the details at my place.」

「……Understood. Set.」

「Guru~?」

What’s going on? Set seemed to ask as he tilted his head. Rei gently stroked his head as he spoke.

「I’m sorry, but please play outside the village for a while. The villagers are still surprised by your appearance, so you can’t play with them.」

「Gurururu~……Guru~!」

Even thought he looked a little disappointed, Set nodded and ran several steps before flapping his wings and flying into the sky.

Rei turned back to Ruchard, as if asking if that was good enoguh.

「Then, I’ll lead the way.」

With a small nod, Rei walked with him……and before long, they arrived at a house on the outskirts of the village/

It wasn’t particularly large or small.

It was a typical house for a villager living in a village of this size.

Considering that he lived alone, it might seem big, but he hadn’t lived alone since he was born.

「Come in. I’ve been alone since my parents died a few years ago, so don’t worry about anything.」

「Thank you.」

Replying to Ruchard, Rei entered the house.

It seemed to be true that he lived alone. The house had a messy impression, probably because it wasn’t well cleaned for its size.

After seeing Rei in, just to be sure, Ruchard looked around the outside through the front door to make sure there was no one there.

Then, facing Rei, he spoke up.

「Once again, nice to meet you. My name is Ruchard. So, my question is, can you tell me who you’re meeting up with, Rei-san?」