As the wheels of Midgard churned steadily on the rugged roads toward Betal Town, Rei leaned back in his seat, his mind turning inwards. The gentle rocking of the modified cart and the rhythmic sound of Tenko's tail brushing lightly against his neck provided a fragile comfort as his thoughts lingered on his recent battle with the Paladin.
The fight had been swift but decisive—at least in terms of victory. Yet, when it came time to deliver the final blow, Rei's hand had faltered. His self-imposed rule, the principle that had guided him through countless skirmishes, had shackled him. He couldn't bring himself to kill the Paladin, even though it had been necessary. In the end, it was Luc who had stepped in, coldly and efficiently driving a poisoned needle into the Paladin's neck, ending the man's life.
Is this anti-kill rule really a strength? Rei wondered bitterly. Or is it just a liability that puts everyone else in danger?
His brooding thoughts were interrupted when Midgard finally rolled into Neptov City. The party unanimously decided it was time for a break. The air was thick with the smells of spices and roasting meat as they entered a bustling local restaurant. They settled into a large corner table where Ben, stretching his arms with a satisfied sigh, leaned toward Rei.
"Rei, we've formed a team," he said, grinning. "But what about its name?"
Emilia, nodding enthusiastically, added, "Yeah, give our organization a good name!"
Luc, Levi, Arizona, Alya, and even Tenko—curled up comfortably on Rei's shoulders—turned their curious gazes toward him, waiting for an answer. Rei gave a small, thoughtful smile. "Okay, let me order some food first."
They placed their orders, and while the waiters busied themselves with preparations, Rei leaned forward, elbows on the table. His eyes sparkled with a determined glint. "How about… The Revolutionaries?"
Luc tilted his head thoughtfully. "Revolutionaries. It sounds good."
Levi gave a rare grin. "Yeah! We'll change the world."
Rei's smile softened, but his voice was firm. "You're wrong, Levi. We don't change the world. We change fates."
Levi's grin turned into a knowing smirk. "Yeah."
Their food arrived, steam rising from the bowls and plates in a comforting swirl. Everyone dug in, but Arizona, between bites, remarked, "But Rei, your Midgard sure is amazing. It would've taken us months to get here, but we reached Neptov in just a few days."
Rei, swallowing his food, nodded. "I built Midgard to cut down travel time. But that's going to change soon. Levi will have Asgard."
Arizona's eyebrows rose. "Asgard? What's that?"
Rei leaned back, his tone calm. "Just like Midgard, Asgard is another vehicle design I created. But unlike Midgard, it's built for combat, not travel."
Arizona's eyes gleamed with interest. "Asgard, huh? I'd like to see it. What are the specs?"
Rei chuckled lightly. "Between Midgard and Asgard, Asgard will have higher firepower and stronger defenses. Midgard wins in speed and comfort."
Arizona frowned slightly. "If Asgard isn't fast, won't that reduce its combat effectiveness?"
Rei shook his head. "No. Asgard being slower than Midgard doesn't mean it's slow compared to the other vehicles you'll see."
Arizona grinned. "Looking forward to seeing it."
After finishing their meal, the group headed to the Hunter's Tower to gather information about Betal Town. Rei registered at the front desk and approached the receptionist, a weary man leafing through thick files. The man looked up sharply when he heard Rei's name.
"You're Rei, right? We have some information for you," he said, passing over a folded piece of parchment.
Rei frowned. "Information? What information?"
The receptionist, already distracted with other tasks, waved him off. Rei found a seat at a nearby table, unfolded the parchment, and began to read. Tenko jumped from his seat and perched on Rei's shoulder, his tail flicking anxiously. The others crowded around as Rei's eyes scanned the words.
Alya asked softly, "Did you find the information?"
But Rei wasn't listening. His hands trembled slightly as he read the grim report. His hometown, Orville Village, had been destroyed. The words blurred before his eyes as his mind reeled. His family, his friends—everyone he cared for—could be gone or in danger.
Emilia read over his shoulder and gasped. "Wait… your hometown is in danger?"
The others could see the inner war raging in Rei. He was torn between duty to his new team and the desperate need to protect his home. His hands clenched into fists on the parchment, but before he could speak, Arizona placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Rei," he said calmly, "if we're going to defeat the demons, we'll need a saint who can repel their hexes. Fortunately, a new saint candidate, just eleven years old, is in Fortune Town. You should go there to recruit him. Betal Town is nearby, so we can handle things on our own. While you're at it, take a detour to Orville Town. Check on your family."
The others nodded, their smiles gentle, their resolve clear. They were telling him to go, to protect his roots.
Rei's throat tightened, his eyes burning. He was overwhelmed—not just by the danger his hometown faced, but by the realization that this ragtag group had become his family too. They believed in him. They trusted him.
"I…" He struggled to contain the tears threatening to fall. "Thanks, everyone. I'm going. Tenko, let's go."
Tenko jumped onto his shoulders, letting out a soft, determined chirp.
They all followed Rei outside, toward Midgard. Just before Rei stepped into the driver's seat, he turned back. "Thanks, everyone. See you soon."
Ben grinned and tossed something to him. "Rei, this is our Revolutionaries insignia. Take care of it."
Rei caught it, holding it tightly in his fist. "I will."
With one last nod, he climbed into Midgard, started the engine, and drove off toward Orville Village. The journey would take a week of nonstop driving, but Rei was determined. He was going to protect the people he loved—no matter the cost.