Published: February 1, 2026
Demon Ore Nation “Kavana”.
Further southwest from the Commerce Nation (Malcaid), which lies south of the Capital City (Parteda), there stands this city.
Like Malcaid, it’s called a “nation” because it exists as an independent entity, but in truth it’s just one more city of partedar.
Rather than simply bordering the mountains, the city actually bites into them. This entire area is one of the kingdom’s great mineral vein zones, containing abundant resources from ordinary ores to magic stones. Kavana was originally founded as a base to mine those resources.
Everything dug up is sold wholesale to Malcaid, then distributed not only throughout the kingdom but to other countries as well.
“Is there really any demand for theater in Kavana?”
“That place’s a country for guys who either work or drink, damn it! Women and kids starving for entertainment are gonna eat it up, obviously!”
After finishing its run in the Capital City and now busy dismantling the set, theater troupe “phantasm” received a visit from Lizel.
The adventurers hired to help with tear‑down were working away diligently.
Among them were the two parties who had come to help with setup as well. They’d helped build the stage with their own hands and then gotten to watch a high‑level performance; apparently it left them with some pretty deep feelings.
Their expressions were bright and refreshed—there wasn’t a trace of reluctance to be found.
Lizel hadn’t accepted any of the tear‑down requests, thinking he’d only be in the way, but before leaving the kingdom he’d come alone to the plaza at least to say goodbye.
The next destination, the leader had said, was Kavana.
Just as she’d put it, most of the people there lived lives of “dig and drink,” so depending on the program their plays could apparently even serve as something to go with the alcohol. For such a skilled troupe, they had zero qualms about how they marketed themselves.
While receiving a few why‑are‑you‑here looks from the surrounding adventurers, Lizel murmured, “So, Kavana, huh.”
He’d wanted to go once, but if it was even farther than the Commerce Nation, traveling there would be a pain.
“It’d be nice if I could get there more… you know, in a snap.”
“Like hell things ever go that conveniently, damn it!”
“Figured as much.”
Times like this made him think of his original world.
The greatest user of teleportation magic there had been someone who, as long as he’d once been to a place, could take Lizel there in an instant.
Lizel was probably the only one allowed to treat the king like a personal mode of transport. No one else could even bring themselves to ask, never mind think of it.
If he were here, they’d be in Malcaid in an instant and then only need a carriage from there… Having such utterly unceremonious thoughts about the king he respected so much, Lizel looked down as the troupe leader folded her arms and scowled up at him.
“If ya just gotta go that bad, I GUESS I could let ya ride my carriage for free in exchange for guard duty, damn it!”
“I appreciate the invitation, but…”
“You’re turnin’ me down?!”
Laughing at the agitated leader, Lizel offered a “Take care on the road,” as a parting remark and walked away.
If he hung around too long, he’d just be in the way. The surrounding troupe members were already looking at their leader like, You work too.
As Lizel stepped over the ropes partitioning off the plaza and started to leave, the troupe members waved, calling out their thanks for the help on opening day.
Eleven was staring fixedly at the showcase in front of him, letting out a low “hmmmmm.”
The place was a specialty chocolate shop in the central district, a short walk in from the West Gate.
Their chocolates were coveted by women of every class from commoners to the wealthy. Each piece was quite pricey, but worth every coin—no other shop’s flavors could even compare.
The fact that they’d managed to open a store in the central district said enough: business was booming every day.