「……I see. It’s true that many of the guerrilla’s aren’t soldiers. They are adventurers and mercenaries. We can’t stop them from going with you out of their own volition. And, if a soldier decides to leave the noble they serve, they aren’t any issues as long as they do so properly either. ……It’s unfortunate for us though.」

Theorem replied to Rei’s question.

Both armies were now gathered at the Mercurio’s army’s camp as they busily carried out the various order they were given.

In the middle of all this, Rei had asked Theorem if the guerrillas that wanted to follow him would be allowed to go to Gilm……the Mireana Kingdom. Surprisingly, Theorem agreed, making Rei, who had expected him to be reluctant, quite surprised.

「That’s a surprise. I didn’t think you’d allow it so easily.」

「Forcing someone who wants to follow a particular individual to stay would likely cause unnecessary trouble. Besides, the final decision is up to Prince Mercurio. All I can do is put in a good word for you. ……Ah, please use the supplies brought in from the main camp for your troops. That’s right, especially the food. And as for the White Rose Knights…… Oh, I see. That should be fine. What about Prince Shurus’ cavalry? Go do that.」

Theorem continued to issue orders as he conversed with Rei.

Seeing that, Rei thought to himself that he would never be able to manage something like that.

「I’m not just saying this out of kindness. If there’s someone in the Mireana Kingdom who knows the Bestir Empire well as well, perhaps we could avoid resorting to rough tactics immediately whenever problems arise……right?」

「That is true. ……However, if I take the Bestir Empire’s side too often, I might be looked down on back in Gilm, so we still need to keep things in moderation.」

「I understand. I’ll be careful about it. But……even if they were to go to the Mireana Kingdom, won’t there need to be a lot of preparations? There will be quite a large group, right? Ah, you can talk to Prince Shurus’ adjutant about that.」

Rei gave a slight nod in response to Theorem’s words.

Some members of the guerrilla unit were married and some had families.

Many were also not married but had partners.

They wouldn’t all go to Gilm with Rei, but some definitely would.

In other words, they would need and escort on their way back to Gilm.

Rei had initially planned to just hop on Set and head back to the Mireana Kingdom……to Gilm, but if members of the guerrilla unit were coming with him, he couldn’t just abandon them.

(It will probably take us a while to get back. But, considering Rhodes’ situation, maybe it’s not that bad.)

Rhodes had still yet to wake from his coma.

Rei was still a little unsure of how he was supposed to bring him back to Gilm.

Set’s uniqueness meant that there were significant limitations in carrying anyone other than Rei on his back.

He could still handle a light adult woman or two children, but anything more and it would be hard for him to fly properly.

On the other hand, Set was more than capable of carrying weights that other Griffons wouldn’t be able to manage with his beak and claws.

An ordinary Griffon could easily fly with even two or three adults on their back, so this seemed to be a problem unique to Set, who had been created with the Magic Beast Art.

In any case, Rei had been considering the worst case scenario of wrapping Rhodes in a cloth of sorts and dangling him from Set’s claws as they flew back.

However, doing something like that would definitely have negative impacts on Rhodes’ health.

Especially in this season, when snow could start to fall at any time.

In such a situation, flying through the air, which would be much colder than on the ground, would be greatly detrimental to Rhodes.

As a result, Rei was actually quite grateful for the opportunity to be given a ride back to Gilm in a carriage.

(My only and greatest miscalculation……was the Gamelions in the end.)

Speaking with an adventurer from the guerrilla unit, he had learned that Gamelions would appear on the outskirts of the Bestir Empire.

However, he couldn’t priorities his appetite and leave behind Rhodes as he was. And, with those wanting to head back with him, he didn’t have the luxury of going hunting on his own.

If they missed the timing, snow would start to fall and they would have to wait until spring before making the trip back to the Bestir Empire.

Of course, even with snow, Rei would be fine with his Dragon Robe and Set didn’t care as a Griffon.

But he couldn’t do that to the cost of everyone else.

「I guess I’ll just have to give up.」

「Hm? What do you mean?」

Theorem, who had been giving more orders to his subordinates, turned around at Rei’s words.

「No, actually, I had been wanting to hunt some Gamelions after the end of the civil war to collect some meat. It’s about time for them to be in season, right?」

「……I’m not sure we can call them ‘in season’ when talking about those monsters.」

Theorem gave a wry smile as he spoke.

Gamelions were a C rank monster after all, which meant that a C rank party would be barely capable of matching a single one.

If a group of rookie adventurers tried working together to fight one, they would likely be crushed.

In that sense, Theorem wasn’t wrong.

(Although, Rei has a title and Set is an A rank monster……no, as a rare species, he would be considered S rank, so a C rank monster would certainly be no problem.)

As he thought of that, Theorem suddenly realised that he had been too preoccupied to give Rei any advice about that.

「Rei, about Set……I’ve heard rumours that he’s a rare species of Griffon.」

「I guess so.」

Set had used his skills freely after Rei had been cornered by Noiz.

Naturally, he didn’t think it would be possible to still keeps things a secret.

That was why he had Set use his skills brazenly after that.

「But, would anyone really try anything after knowing all that? After all, they’ve seen Set and my strength.」

The punitive force had literally experienced Set and Rei’s strength.

As for Mercurio’s army, Rei and Set were considered their greatest asset, so no one with any common sense would try to mess with them.

Theorem shook his head at Rei’s words.

「The nobles who were on the battlefield naturally wouldn’t try something so foolish. However, there are nobles in the Bestir Empire who did not participate in the civil, were unable to participate, or were not allowed to participate. Of course, they will here about you and Set’s abilities from those who witnessed it, but they won’t be able to fully grasp your strength.

「……So, you’re saying there’s a chance those kinds of people might try something?」

「Unfortunately. Of course, anyone with even the slightest intelligence wouldn’t try anything. But there are always those with ears that only hear what suits them and rejects whatever they don’t like to hear.」

As Theorem said that, Rei thought back to the various nobles he had met……not the ones close to him, like Elena, but the typical nobles who always believed they were right. Perhaps it was only natural for Rei to think of them.

「You mean they might try to take direct action against me?」

「Yes. Probably……no, I’m almost certain they will. But I want to tell you in advance so that you don’t think they represent the Bestir Empire as a whole. Prince Mercurio, Princess Frizione, and I are grateful to you Rei and we have no intentions of being hostile.」

Rei could tell from his tone that Theorem wasn’t lying.

Indeed, the Bestir Empire had just come out of civil war and their national power had certainly decreased as a result of it.

In such a situation, Theorem didn’t want to anger anyone like Rei and Set, with their high attack and mobility.

If Rei were determined to do so, he could realistically attack any city which didn’t have a form of protection against magic attacks.

His signature fire tornado could easily tear through small towns and villages, burning everything to ashes.

Furthermore, with his newly acquired Fire Emperor’s Crimson Armour, he could easily take out an entire army on his own.

To stop someone like Rei, they would have to bring in someone like Noiz, and even if they did, the damage to the surrounding area made Rei someone they’d rather not make an enemy of.

(Besides……if we really were to fight with Rei, Vihera-sama would undoubtedly side with him.)

Of course, between her family and the man she loved, Vihera would likely be quite conflicted about it.

But, if things started with the Bestir Empire attacking Rei, it would be clear who was at fault and Vihera would definitely side with Rei.

It was undoubtedly due to Rei’s efforts in the civil war that Mercurio had gained victory before the end of the year.

That is not to say they would have lost without Rei’s help, but if Theorem had been fighting alone, the civil war would almost certainly have dragged into the new year.

No, in the worst case, it might even have dragged on several years past that, not just into the new year.

If the civil war went on for that long, it would have been highly likely that other countries would have made their own moves, even with the Imperial Army serving as a deterrent.

As for the Mireana Kingdom, although the Neutral and Aristocratic factions were secretly helping them, the Royalist faction, the largest of the three in the Mireana Kingdom, would likely have made a move as well.

The fact that the Royalist faction had been contacted by various vassal states and remnants of conquered countries in the Bestir Empire had been conveyed to Theorem by Elena through Rei.

「In other words, no matter how I deal with those who attack us, the Bestir Empire won’t say anything?」

「That’s right. Of course, if you go too far, we will have to take action as well.」

「……Such as?」

Theorem quickly answered Rei’s question by writing something on a piece of paper.

「For example……if you killed all the family members of a noble who attacked you.」

「……Who do you think I am?」

「You’re Crimson, right? You used a fire tornado and Fire Emperor’s Crimson Armour to completely destroy the punitive force.」

That was all true and Rei had no words in response.

It had happened in the Spring War and the civil war after all.

With how many people he had killed, he really didn’t have the grounds to retort.

Of course, if he still held the mentality of an ordinary Japanese person, he might have felt anguished at the thought of taking a life……but Zepairu had helped with with adapting to this world.

So even when he did kill his enemies, he only felt a little pain.

(Hm? Thinking of it that way, what about Kabajid? He’s definitely from Japan, so it wouldn’t be surprising for him to have an aversion to killing as well. That is, unless he was like me and had that taken care of for him. ……Or maybe that was all sorted out from him growing up as a member of the royal family?)

Rei tilted his head as he thought about that, but it wasn’t something he could ask Theorem given the circumstances, so he changed the subject.

「So, for now, I can consider the civil war to be over, right?」

「Hm? Yes, that’s right. The civil war was ended quickly thanks to your help.」

「So, I can look forward to my reward?」

「That’s right, you can look forward to it. I will prepare a reward that suits your efforts. ……I’m thinking of a magic item that will probably be quite useful to you. However, I won’t be able to give it to you until after the victory parade is over. Is that okay?」

Rei thought for a moment before nodding.

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