CH 269

The next day, we boarded a horse-drawn carriage and headed for the Royal Capital.

The sky was clear and cloudless, and there was no snow in the scenery outside, but there was some slush on the ground from the melting of the snow the other day, so the carriage did not go very fast.

“This is why I don’t like the route to the Royal Capital.” (Merchant)

“I see.” (Rook)

As the carriage is moving at a leisurely pace, we are again riding in the same carriage with the small, chubby, middle-aged merchant man who was with us yesterday on the carriage to Cotte Village, and we greet each other somewhat and continue our small talk as it were.

He told me that the village of Cotte, like the town of Lubanni, is the domain of Count Sariol, but that from this village onward it is the domain of the Royal Family, and that he doesn’t like it very much.

“It’s just business, but if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be in the Royal Capital–well, we’re almost at the village of Viscount Oktay.” (Merchant)

“Huh? Isn’t this part of the Royal Family’s territory?” (Rook)

I think you said “Royal Family domain” earlier, but maybe I misheard you.

“It’s royal territory. The royal family gave it to Viscount Oktay.” (Merchant)

“Well… What does that mean? Is it different from Count Sariol’s territory?” (Rook)

“That’s right. Count Sariol’s domain has always belonged to the count.” (Merchant)

“Hmm… You mean that Viscount Oktay got his lands from the Royal Family and Count Sariol didn’t get his lands from the royal family?” (Rook)

As we were talking, the carriage passed through the village and continued on its way again toward the Royal Capital.

Apparently, there was no one who wants to ride in this village.

“You, I don’t mind, but you shouldn’t tell that to the people in Count Sariol’s territory. If those hot-blooded people hear you, they might beat you up.” (Merchant)

“Eh… I’m sorry, but I’d like to confirm for the future, that the people from Count Sariol’s domain are proud of the fact that the Sariol territory has not received the territory from the king. Is that right?” (Rook)

“Isn’t that natural? We follow the Solmaz Royal Family for some time now, but our ancestors pioneered and protected this land together with the Sariol family. If you put us together with the aristocrats who wagged their tails to the Solmaz Royal Family and took over their lands, there is going to be war, got it?” (Merchant)

Hiii… Terrifying…

But maybe it’s good to hear this story here. I guess the words that can be landmines may differ from person to person and region to region, but you won’t know about these things unless you actually ask the people there. If the common sense is too different to begin with, it may not be possible to reconcile what the problem is, and you may not know what the landmine is until it actually explodes.

“I have to be careful……” (Rook)

With that, he looked out.

The carriage seemed to be going up a gentle slope, and there was a slight incline inside the carriage.

After a while, there were fewer trees and more rocks in the surrounding landscape.

As we proceeded further, the terrain became rocky and the surrounding landscape became gray and rocky.

Even though the season transitioning from fall to winter, I can’t see much of the trees, let alone the flowers, and there isn’t much on the ground in the first place.

“It’s a desolate landscape, isn’t it?” (Merchant)

“Huh? Well, yes. It is.” (Rook)

“There are many rocky areas around the Royal Capital that are not suitable for farming. So, they are dependent on imports from other territories for their food, and they treat us as countrymen for growing those crops, it’s really upsetting.” (Merchant)

“Ah, that’s kind of…” (Rook)

I’m starting to see the relationship between the people of the Royal Capital and the surrounding territories, so I’m going to make a firm note of it in my head.

“Look, that’s the Royal Capital.” (Merchant)

I looked in the direction I was going and saw a large city at the foot of a rocky hill in the middle of a bare rocky slope.

As we approached the city, I could see a number of battered and dilapidated houses along the outer wall of the city, which resembled a slum, giving it a somewhat bizarre atmosphere.

It seemed that none of the houses had been built along the road leading to the entrance of the city, but a few battered shacks continued to stand a short distance away from the road.

“This is where people from the surrounding territories gather. There’s always work to be done in the mines, so anyone can move in at any time.” (Merchant)

“……I see.” (Rook)

“Well, if you fall over there, you can’t go back.” (Merchant)

“……I see.” (Rook)

As the carriage approached the slum, I was surprised to see people in tattered clothes sleeping outside on mats in this cold weather, people sitting on the ground all over the place, and the atmosphere was already bad.

I have been to many towns in this life, but I have never seen people living outside the walls, and although there are low-income neighborhoods all over town, I have never seen a place this bad.

I’ll have to stay away from this area for a bit…

“We’ve arrived at the capital.” (Driver)

As soon as the driver says so, the carriage stops.

When I got off the carriage, I found myself in front of the main gate of the town. Luxurious carriages pass through the gate unchecked, and ordinary people like us stand in line. This is usual, but there is a slum a short distance away from the gate, which makes us feel a little uncomfortable.

“Show me your ID.” (Guard)

“Here.” (Rook)

My turn came, so I showed my guild card to the gatekeeper, passed through the gate without any problem, and entered the town after parting with the merchant who had come on the carriage with me.

Completely different from the slums outside, many of the houses were made of stone, mud walls, and bricks. It felt like a completely different world. The town was bustling with people, but I wondered if just one more wall could make such a difference.

“For now, what should I do…?” (Rook)

I looked at the sky and saw that the sun was starting to sink, and it would be time for the sky to turn red in a few minutes.

It was a delicate time of day, whether to look for the adventurer’s guild or decide on a place to stay and relax for the rest of the day. So, I just went on my way and observed the stores around the area.

I checked out the vegetable stores and found that they seemed to be of poorer quality than the vegetables sold in the town of Lubanni. I wondered if the quality of perishable foods deteriorated while being transported from other places, as the land is not suitable for cultivation.

“Room without meals, large room, sleep sharing, four silver coins! We’re almost full!” (Woman)

A woman is shouting this on a street just off the main road.

“Four silver coins for a room for sharing and without meals…?” (Rook)

I ruminate over her words in my brain.

When I was in Rankfurt, I heard that there was an option to sleep with strangers at a super-cheap inn, but I heard that I should avoid it as much as possible because I don’t know what will happen to me while I’m sleeping. I haven’t done it until now because I’ve never been so short of money. But…

“If that very cheap option costs four silver coins… How much would a regular inn cost?” (Rook)

I’ve used private room inns in various towns, but I think the prices were usually between two and five silver coins. Ah, come to think of it, there were luxury hotels that cost as much as one gold coin. Anyway, considering that, four silver coins for a bed and breakfast without meals was an extraordinary price.

“Isn’t it dangerous if I don’t secure an inn early?” (Rook)

With this feeling, I think the competition for the best lodging is higher than in other towns.

A little impatiently, I walked along the main street, looking for a normal-looking inn that was neither too shabby nor too clean, and entered it.

When I opened the door, I saw a man sleeping at the counter in the back of the store, leaning his body against the back of a chair.

I was about to close the door and leave at that moment, but I stayed just in time and approached the man.

“Excuse me.” (Rook)

“Ngu…” (Innkeeper)

“Excuse me!” (Rook)

“…Hmm… Huh… Oh, a customer?” (Innkeeper)

The man who woke up looked at me and continued, “A gold coin.”

The same price as the luxury hotel I stayed at in Arnorn before! This is…

“…does that include dinner?” (Rook)

“It does.” (Innkeeper)

“Um, are all the inns around here this expensive?” (Rook)

“Huh? What, are you new to this town? It’s like this in most places. If you think I’m lying, look elsewhere. Well, I don’t know if you can find anything else.” (Innkeeper)

With that, the man poured something that looked like beer from a ceramic bottle into a cup and drank it down in one gulp.

Now, what to do… I don’t have a good impression of this place at this point, but as the man said, there is a possibility that I won’t be able to find another place to stay. If that’s the case, the worst that can happen is that I’ll go slumming.

Of course, I can sleep in the Holy Dimension, but there is a good chance that someone will see me if I do such a conspicuous act in town, and I want to avoid the worst of the worst. Which brings me to…

I take out a gold coin and put it on the counter.

Well, this is a good place to stay for my first time. I can start looking for a better place to stay tomorrow.

“Upstairs, front room.” (Innkeeper)

The man puts the gold coins in his pocket, pulls out a wooden board from under the counter, and places it on the counter.

I take it silently and walk past the man, up the stairs, and into the room.

“Phew… Is this inn alright?” (Rook)

Saying this, I unloaded my luggage, took off my cloak and put it on the bed, lowering Shion to the floor.

“What do you think?” (Rook)

“Kyu.” (Shion)

As I asked, Shion climbed up on the bed and curled up.