「Ugh……I’m bored.」
「Hey, I remember you saying that the other day, right? We were attacked by bandits right after you said that, so don’t speak carelessly.」
「No, well, actually, wasn’t it a good thing that we got attacked by those bandits? For the villagers in Goto, a bandit gang that was close to them was cleaned up. As for us, we raided the bandit hideout and got our hands all the treasure they had stored up.」
「……I won’t deny that.」
The man agreed as he replied to Dietz.
They had been attacked by a bandit gang a few days ago, just hours after leaving Goto.
As for the result, as Dietz said, it couldn’t have ended better for everyone.
With winter fast approaching, the bandits likely needed to make a bit more money as several of the bandits had revealed that they had accumulated significant savings back in their hideout.
After dividing what they found at the hideout among everyone, it was quite a considerable amount.
……That said, unlike money, items couldn’t be converted to cash right now, so those were kept inside Rei’s Misty Ring.
「I’ve taken on several bandit subjugation requests before, but never any with such satisfying results. ……Rei-san, didn’t it seem like he was quite familiar with the process? We were also ambushed by bandits several times before entering the Selemus Plains.」
「Well, I guess that’s true. Considering they seemed to call him the “Bandit Eater”, I guess he is literally quite familiar with how to deal with them.」
His skill in taking out bandits was truly worth of a well known adventurer.
They looked ahead to the Griffon and adventurer riding him, leading the carriages at the front.
Leaving Set aside, Rei didn’t appear like a very skilled adventurer from the outside.
Clad in robes that looked like they could have been bought anywhere, he looked like a fresh mage apprentice.
(Despite his appearance, he’s powerful enough to defeat an S rank adventurer……isn’t that like attacking a Goblin only to have a Dragon burst out from the Goblin’s skin the next moment? ……That’s no joke.)
At the thought, the man talking with Dietz felt a chill run down his spine.
Rei’s disguise, which could almost be considered a form of mimicry, made it extremely troublesome for anyone who tried to attack him.
From the perspective of attackers, the reveal was nothing short of a catastrophe.
(The only saving grace is Set. If they at least notice Set, they’ll probably survive somehow.)
But even that wasn’t easy.
Most people’s eyes would first be drawn to the largest presence among them……the group of carriages.
By the time they were in a position to attack, it would be hard for them to deny that they were bandits.
There was only one way to escape Rei, the terror of bandits. That was to simply hide and avoid drawing his attention at all.
「Still, it’s good an all that we’ve made it to the Bestir Empire, but……」
Dietz muttered as he looked around in boredom.
「What’s wrong?」
「No, it’s just that I feel the Bestir Empire and the Mireana Kingdom are basically the same.」
「That’s true. This is still the countryside though. As we get closer to the Imperial Capital……no, the Royal Capital, we’ll start to see the differences more clearly. That said, we’re going to Glim, which is on the frontier.」
「The Mireana Kingdom’s frontier, huh? Can I think of it as being similar to the area around the Demon Mountains?」
「……I guess that’s close enough?」
As the man replied, his tone indicated it was only a guess as to what it might be like.
「I heard a little bit about it from Rei-san. Apparently, because it’s on the border, it attracts a lot of skilled adventurers. Rumour has it quite a number of them have titles. For example, the father of the guy called Rhodes, who is in one of the carriages……and good friends with Rei-san……is Axe of the Thunder God.」
「You know quite a bit.」
It was Rei, who knew the most about Gilm among everyone, who interrupted their conversation.
「Ah, Rei-san. If we keep going at our current pace, how long will it take to get to Gilm?」
Rei tilted his head at Dietz’ question.
「Well, I’m not sure. We’re definitely a lot faster than when I was heading for the Spring War.」
Rei continued to think as he stroked Set’s neck.
Looking at him now, Rei certainly didn’t seem like the type of person who could easily massacre bandits.
(Perhaps this disparity is the secret to Rei’s unexpected strength.)
The man who had been talking to Dietz thought to himself.
Rei had no idea what they were thinking about as he turned to look back at the carriages before speaking.
「Back then, we had a lot of luggage, so we couldn’t rush along the road. There was also infantry. Considering that, we should arrive a lot faster than back then.」
Everyone’s luggage, including furniture items, were all stored in Rei’s Misty Ring, so there was hardly any luggage in the carriages.
Every time they stopped for food, Rei would take it out from the Misty Ring. Even camping items like tents were all stored in the Misty Ring.
That meant that the heaviest thing in the carriages were the people themselves.
Of course, nothing could be done about that, on board luggage had already be reduced to the bare minimum.
Considering all that, their travel speed was much faster than normal carriages.
And, as Rei had said, when traveling with Daska, their group had to be more formal about their movements, so they hadn’t been rushing.
Looking at the difference in speed, Rei’s group was worlds apart from Daska’s group.
「Ultimately, I can only say that it shouldn’t take too long. ……Well, that’s unless we get caught up in some strange incident.」
「A strange incident? Like those bandits from a couple of days ago?」
「Yeah, like that. For some reason, I tend to get caught up in all sorts of unexpected incidents. ……Well, catching bandits does make a lot of money, so I actively go after them sometimes.」
「Wow……so that’s why they call you the Bandit Eater.」
Dietz muttered to himself.
「I wouldn’t be too happy if the title of Bandit Eater became popular. I’d rather be known as Crimson.」
「Do you actually care about all that?」
「Not really, but between Bandit Eater and Crimson, Crimson is better no matter how you look at it.」
「……I see.」
He nodded back at Rei, but didn’t seem quite convinced.
To Dietz, Bandit Eater and Crimson were basically the same.
As they continued their conversation, they came across a merchant caravan coming towards them.
The road was quite wide, so it wasn’t an issue for them to pass each other by.
「While I don’t think it’s likely, stay on guard, just in case. We can’t rule out the possibility that they are bandits disguised as a merchant caravan.」
Rei quickly gave out orders before returning to his initial position……at the front of the group.
Hearing Rei’s words, the carriage drives quietly drew their weapons closer, ready to act if anything were to happen.
「Do you think they are enemies?」
Vihera asked as she went over to Rei, but Rei just tilted his head as he replied.
「I don’t know. This is just in case. Besides, it’s hard to imagine anyone attacking me, even if there wasn’t anyone else. ……That said, if someone did attack after seeing Set, I guess that would be quite impressive.」
「Guru~?」
Did you call for me? Set seemed to ask as he turned his head to look at Rei, who was riding on his back. However, Rei shook his head to tell him it was nothing as he stroked his neck.
Set gave a happy cry at Rei’s actions.
Although everyone else was preparing for battle, Set himself wasn’t nervous at all.
(Well, considering Rei’s strength, that’s to be expected.)
Vihera thought to herself as she glanced at Rei before slipping in between the carriages, planning to use her agility to ambush any attackers if necessary.
As what seemed to be a merchant caravan approached, they noticed Rei and seemed a little nervous.
If they had been traveling with another group, they might not have been so nervous.
It would be the same if they were close to a village or town.
But, this location was quite far from any villages and towns and no one else was in sight. The only people present were themselves and Rei’s group.
In a situation like this, there was good reason to be on guard.
The gap between them closed as the tension grew.
Rei could see the adventurers guarding the oncoming caravan were ready to draw their weapons at any moment.
(No, it seems like they are just inexperienced.)
Among those following behind Rei, some gave off the same tension and a fighting spirit that showed that they would fight without hesitation if situation escalated.
As the two sides closed in on each other……the merchant caravan came to a halt.
Normally, groups like this would just pass each other by with a wave of their hand.
The fact that the other side had stopped meant that they seemed to have some plan in mind.
(I wonder what they’re thinking.)
Noticing that the passengers in the carriages behind him had become more alert, Rei slowed down as well.
Naturally, the carriages behind Rei also slowed down……and eventually, both sides came to a halt facing each other.
「Hello, I’m Galen, a merchant. Since you have a Griffon with you, perhaps you are Crimson, the B rank adventurer?」
The first to speak was a person who seemed to be leading the merchant caravan.
He was a slightly overweight middle aged man in his forties to fifties.
Rei was surprised by the voice that spoke with a friendly smile.
「It’s true that I am called Crimson……but you know quite a bit.」
「Hahaha. I’ve never heard of anyone other than you who has a Griffon as a familiar. Are you on an escort request?」
As Galen spoke, Rei glanced at the adventurers who were guarding Galen’s caravan.
Perhaps because they heard that the person before them was an adventurer with a title, they watched the exchange with some tension.
That was only natural as they would be asked to stand against Rei if the situation called for it.
Of course, it was unlikely that a titled adventurer would turn to banditry, but as escorts, they still had to be prepared for situations like that.
「Well, speaking of escorting, I guess so. I’m on my way to Gilm. How about you?」
「I have some business at a village up ahead.」
「……Then why did you stop to call out to me? Normally, we’d usually just greet each other and be on our way.」
Rei asked with some doubt, but Galen replied with a smile, as if he had been waiting for the opportunity.
「It’s because I wanted to get to know you of course, Rei-san. A B rank adventurer with a title at your age. It might have been a coincidence that we met in a place like this, but I’m grateful for the chance.」
Rei lowered his guard after hearing Galen’s words.
Because he now knew what he was aiming for.
As a merchant leading a caravan, it was beneficial in many ways to become acquainted with a titled adventurer.
「I see, Galen, was it? I’ll remember that name. However, my usual area of work isn’t around here, it’s in Gilm, on the frontier. I’m not sure if meeting me here will do you any good.」
「No, no. That might be true for now, but we might eventually develop a relationship in the future. With that in mind, it’s not too early for me to ask you to remember my face.」
Rei wondered how to respond to Galen’s words for a moment, which were spoken with a smile. But, since he didn’t sense any particular malice, he just nodded in response.
「I see. If you say so, I’ll keep that in mind. ……Anyway, is it fine for us to get going again?」
「Ah, sorry to have taken up your time. You’re right, we’re both in a hurry. It would be a great loss if we were attacked by bandits. Here, please accept this as a token of our friendship.」
With those words, Galen got off the carriage and walked over to Rei before handing him a potion.
From what Rei could tell, it seemed to be an ordinary potion.
「What is this?」
「A potion sold by my caravan. It’s not particularly effective, but it’s quite the bargain to buy.」
「……Huh.」
The price Galen gave was indeed cheaper than buying the same thing in Gilm. It wasn’t just Rei, but several others who were listening from behind Rei who had the same response.
Several people went up to buy potions from Galen.
「As an adventurer, you’ll never have a problem with those potions. My business here might have been by chance, but it was still good business. Well, I’ll be off then.」
With those words, Galen returned to his carriage.
Their business finished, Rei also waved his hand lightly before the group resumed their journey.