Legend

no match for Rei and sought to end the matter with Rei without fighting.

And Rei, who was waiting for those words, spoke with a smile.

「You owe me a favour.
If ever something happens, I’ll ask you to pay it back.
You should return the favour then.」

「……」

To owe Rei a favour.
He didn’t know what it would be, but it was clear which was the better option to take with Rei.
Moreover, they had just finished fighting not long ago.
Though they hadn’t suffered any major losses, there were some who were injured and they were mostly exhausted.

After a few seconds of silence, Egg spoke.

「Fine.
In the name of the Prarie Wolves, we declare that we owe Rei a favour.」

Egg declared that in front of the cave where the dead bandits had fallen.

「……Those words, you were the one who said it.」

Nodding at Egg, Rei finally asked the question he had been wondering about.

「You seem to know my name……?」

「Hmph, we also have our own information network.
And above all, that was what those two hiding in the bushes called you.」

「Huh, sounds like you have pretty good ears.」

「I’m not happy to be praised by you.
Rather, I’m worried that you have ulterior motives.」

Egg frowned as he spoke, but Rei replied without care.

「Don’t take it like that.
It was purely admiration.
……Well then, since our targets have been taken out, we’ll go back to our escort.」

「Do that.
Seriously, between them and you, today has been the worst day.」

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「Is that so? All the goods that the bandits have collected are yours now.
Of course, I know that wasn’t your goal, but I don’t think you’re not getting anything out of this?」

「Hmph, the money that they’ve accumulated doesn’t go into our own pockets.
There are a lot of people we have to give it to.」

「……Huh.」

Rei, exclaimed softly at Egg’s words.

Rei understood from Egg’s previous remarks and actions how he intended to use the money that was in the hands of the bandits.

(I asked for a favour because I didn’t have anything to lose……but surprisingly, I made a profit out of it.)

「Then, we’ll be leaving soon.
I’ll see you next time if I have the chance.」

「I don’t want to see a person like you again.
Leave quickly.」

Rei left the place while hearing such words from behind him.

As he passed by the bushes, Taenia quickly pulled Louise’s hand and joined him.

She looked back several times anxiously, but none of the Prairie Wolves had gone after them.

「You know, when you suddenly asked all the Prairie Wolves for a favour, I was skeptical.
I didn’t care if you were crazy, but don’t drag the rest of us with you.」

Taenia muttered to Rei as they walked along the dark path in the night.

Their direction was being guided by Louise, just as when they had headed for the bandit hideout, followed Rei and Taenia.

The difference was that they didn’t have to worry about being detected by the bandits and didn’t have to speak quietly.
That was why Taenia, who was particularly scared of the dark, complained without pause.

「That said, we had gone all the way there.
We should at least get something out of it right? To get a group of righteous bandits to owe me a favour, that was a good enough harvest for me tonight.」

「……Well, yes.
You’re right.
But, we didn’t get anything in the end.」

「But~, we ran into the Prarie Wolves and survived~.
And a person like Egg let us go as well~.」

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Louise, who was in front of them, said that without looking back.

In fact, if only the two of them had been there without Rei, they didn’t know what they would have done.

Even though the Prairie Wolves were known not to harm other people as much as possible, their temper and skill were why they were called wolves.
They had shown that in their fight against the bandits.
Of course, in terms of pure skill, they were better than most of the Prairie Wolves.
However, there were nearly 20 of them and there was no chance they could have beaten Egg.
When she thought about it, her complaints to Rei were completely pointless.

「I know, seriously.
……That aside, let’s stop talking and hurry back faster.
If they got attacked on their side, it wouldn’t be a joke.」

「Rei and I both have good night vision~.」

Who was the one slowing us down? With that being implied, Taenia gave snort as they made their way through the forest.

「Rei-san? Taenia-san and Louise-san as well.
You were fast.
Have you defeated the bandits already?」

Seeing the three of them, Alektor asked unintentionally.

As he said that, he saw Set acting spoiled to Rei as Louise stroked Set.
Taenia looked on dumbfounded at what her party member was doing.

Taenia gave a sigh towards Louise before shaking her head at Alektor.

「It was no good.
When we arrived at the bandit’s hideout, they were in a struggle against the Prairie Wolves and were losing one-sidedly.
We weren’t able to do anything.」

「……The Prairie Wolves, I heard that they were an exceptional bandit group in this area.」

「Yeah.
Rei managed to deal with them without a fight, but the bandits were wiped out already and we couldn’t take anything in that situation, so we came back.
Did anything abnormal happen on this side……?」

Taenia looked around.

At the back, Fabel, who she had left in charge of the escort, waved her hand lightly to indicate there were no issues.

The eyes of the merchants had adjusted to the dark after the previous bandit raid and the subsequent disposal of the corpses.
Most of them were still awake even though it wasn’t dawn yet were drinking some sort of soup as they overcame the winter chill by the campfire.

「As you can see, we haven’t had any issues.
As previously discussed, the bandit corpses have been dealt with.
……But, was that so? It’s quite unexpected that the Prairie Wolves came out.」

「Apparently, the bandits that attacked us were a bunch that enjoyed murder.
The Prairie Wolves had tried to warn them but it didn’t work……eventually, they resorted to force.」

Taenia explained their meeting with the Prairie Wolves to Alektor and the merchant caravan set out for the city of Sabrusta at dawn.