After Leticia finished introducing the other members of her community—yet deliberately skipped over her—Vera, who had been sitting beside Yuto, puffed out her cheeks in clear dissatisfaction.
Feeling neglected, she abruptly stood up and began her own introduction.
"I am Vera Za Ignifatus, leader of the Northern District's Will o'Wisp. For the time being, I am traveling alongside Ghost Travel.
"They have extended me their hospitality, so if Ghost Travel requires assistance… I will lend them my strength."
Leticia inclined her head in gratitude. She had considered introducing Vera earlier, but since Vera was not formally a member of Ghost Travel, it had felt inappropriate to speak on her behalf.
"The strongest demon of the North District…" Sara murmured.
Yet neither she nor the other leaders of the Dragon Horned Gryphon showed much outward shock anymore.
They were beyond shock.
After Leticia's prior introductions, they had already reached a state of numb disbelief.
To describe Ghost Travel's strength as "terrifying" felt like an understatement.
Had they been boasting earlier when they claimed their community could defeat the Dragon Horned Gryphon?
Clearly not.
It wasn't false humility—if this lineup truly fought them head-on, even without deploying every member, the Dragon Horned Gryphon would likely lose.
Moreover, a community of this caliber should not even exist in Little Garden's lower levels. Even in the upper echelons, they would never be obscure nobodies.
"So," Leticia asked calmly, observing the stunned silence before her, "does anyone still find my proposed compensation unreasonable?"
The same question as before.
But the reaction this time was completely different.
Hiring a lineup of Demon Lords—four-digit and five-digit class—for nothing more than financial cost?
In Sara's eyes, it was an absurd bargain.
With Yuto and No Name joining forces, the oppressive tension that had weighed over the earlier meeting evaporated.
Yes, they had been anxious about the Demon Lord's assault.
But now?
With this level of combat power, a mere Demon Lord no longer seemed worthy of fear.
After further discussion, they finalized their deployment.
Griffith, leader of the "Two Wings," would guide Yuto, Pest, Izayoi, and Kasukabe Yō to investigate the location where the gryphon squad had vanished.
The others would remain behind to protect the city and ensure the Harvest Festival continued without interruption.
—
On the journey toward the South District's borderlands, Griffith's usual arrogance had noticeably dulled.
After what had transpired in the conference hall, he found it impossible to act high and mighty before Yuto.
Though not exactly warm, his attitude toward Yuto and Pest was at least polite.
Toward Izayoi and Yō, however, he remained openly haughty—his chin perpetually raised, his tone sharp with disdain.
Izayoi, for his part, seemed to be seriously debating whether to educate the man using his fists.
Truthfully, Yuto and Leticia's earlier display had been premeditated.
The payment itself hadn't been the true objective.
The Dragon Horned Gryphon was the South District's dominant alliance, and this was their home turf. Even though Ghost Travel had accepted employment, Yuto had no intention of being restricted by them—especially not by someone as prideful as Griffith.
Demonstrating overwhelming strength from the outset ensured respect.
And with respect came freedom of action.
No matter the world, no matter the era—
Power spoke louder than anything else.
—
The moment Yuto's group arrived at the site where the Two Wings had disappeared, a piercing cry echoed through the sky.
An eagle's call.
Griffith's face lit up instantly.
He recognized it.
A gryphon's cry.
If the gryphons were alive, then perhaps the members of the Two Wings were alive as well.
Sure enough, a second later, three gryphons descended in formation from the clouds, diving straight toward them.
"…No. Something's wrong!" Griffith's expression shifted abruptly. "They're shouting about killing us!"
Even as he sensed his companions' emotional state was off, Yō suddenly called out for everyone to move.
In the next instant, the three gryphons streaked past at terrifying speed. Their massive talons tore through the air, aiming directly for Yuto and the others.
Thanks to Yō's warning, everyone avoided the initial strike.
Everyone—
Except Yuto.
As the razor-sharp talon swept toward him, Yuto simply extended one hand and caught it.
The gryphon had been diving with immense momentum. Combined with its colossal size, the impact should have been catastrophic.
Yet now, the enormous beast was halted midair—its claw firmly gripped by Yuto, whose hand was scarcely larger than the talon itself.
No matter how furiously the gryphon beat its wings, it could not lift off.
"Vital signs are normal. It hasn't been turned into a puppet… so it's being controlled?" Yuto mused calmly.
Still holding the massive creature in place, he glanced toward Yō.
"Yō. What's their condition?"
The gryphon thrashed violently, wings flapping in desperation, but Yuto stood utterly composed.
"I… I'm not sure," Yō replied, concentrating. "Their thoughts are chaotic. Their emotions are extremely violent… and painful."
"I see. A mental control-type Gift, then."
With that, Yuto pivoted smoothly.
In a motion absurdly disproportionate to the beast's size, he executed a clean shoulder throw.
The gigantic gryphon slammed face-first into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Before it could recover, Yuto flashed forward and delivered a precise chop to the back of its neck.
The creature went limp instantly.
Seeing Griffith's anxious look, Yuto shrugged.
"Relax. I just knocked it unconscious."
On the other side, Izayoi mirrored the technique, swiftly subduing a second gryphon.
The third was handled personally by Griffith.
When all three lay unconscious upon the ground, the ever-proud leader of the Two Wings lowered his head—for the first time.
"Thank you… for showing restraint," he said quietly, gratitude replacing arrogance.
Yet before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief—
A melodious sound drifted through the wind.
The elegant notes of a harp.
Under that haunting melody, the three gryphons' eyes snapped open.
Crimson.
They rose once more.
And as the ground began to tremble, massive silhouettes emerged along the horizon—one after another.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Encircling Yuto and the others.
..
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