Published: January 15, 2026
“Pl-please, this way!”
Guided by guards who looked as startled as if they had been visited by an alumnus they thought had already graduated baseball club, we moved through the capital city. The main street, though old, had a charming foreign atmosphere. Buildings with clay or plaster-like walls lined the road, and many shops appeared to be clothing stores or eateries. Yet, there were almost no people around. Those present were mostly adults or guards. Seeing this clearly abnormal state of the city, Til and Arte, who were in the same carriage, wore anxious expressions.
“...Are they on high alert, do you think?”
“...I guess it makes sense for them to be cautious.”
“You don’t need to whisper, both of you.”
The two spoke in hushed tones as if scared because we were in enemy territory. Smiling wryly at this, Kamushin placed one hand on the hilt of his sword and poked his head out of the carriage window.
“...Even if anything happens, I will definitely protect you.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
I smiled in response to Kamushin’s reassuring words. As Kamushin grew more knightly, I felt a fatherly fondness toward him, but then reminded myself that he had already been a fine knight from the start.
Just then, Dee, who had been listening beside us, puffed out his chest on horseback and laughed.
“Wahaha! You’ve got some nerve! As knight commander, I can’t lose to you!”
Dee’s voice echoed loudly through the quiet city, startling some of the guards, who let out strained sounds. Well, even when not fighting, Dee was imposing, riding his horse with a greatsword slung over his shoulder.
“I guess you’re really feared around here, huh, you two?”
Kusala blurted something that couldn’t be ignored, but I had to object.
“No, no, it’s Count Panamera who’s feared. There’s no way anyone’s scared of such a cute boy like Viscount Van.”
I pointed this out, but Ort and the other adventurers just exchanged looks and smiled wryly.
“Lord Van, that’s a bit of a stretch...”
Even Pluriel said that with a smile, which stung a little. The adventurers whispered things like, “Well, he’s pulled some stunts,” and “You know, this and that,” chuckling quietly. Tax-dodging adventurers.
Deciding in my heart to raise the price of Van-kun’s custom weapons, I looked at Ort.
“What’s this city usually like?”
Ort glanced around and answered.
“Well... I think it used to be bustling enough to be worthy of being the First City of a great nation. Honestly, it was probably the richest city among those I’ve been to.”
I nodded with a simple “I see.” It felt harsh to ask if he’d ever been to the capital city of the Kingdom of Scuderia here.
Looking closely, I could sense people watching from second-floor windows and down alleys. It was undoubtedly a densely populated city. We should probably stay on guard. As I settled my nerves, a large castle came into view.
It was a rugged castle, looking like a cluster of squares, but with a rather charming air. It was a stone structure with a long history. Perhaps it had stood as a fort even before the city developed. If I asked Espada about it, a history lecture would probably start, but having forgotten most of what I learned about the history of the Yelinetta Kingdom, I hesitated to ask.
The guide guard looked back as we arrived in front of the royal castle.
“...This is the royal castle, Three Points. His Majesty and many of the royal family and retainers are currently under house arrest within this castle, so we hope you can clear up any suspicion quickly...”
He started speaking somewhat sternly, but when Count Panamera looked at him, the guard’s tone gradually softened and trailed off. It seemed he was angry about the mistreatment of his country’s royal family but was cowed by Panamera’s gaze.
It must have taken considerable courage for a guard to voice such an opinion to a noble, so it was understandable. However, Panamera did not seem pleased with his timid attitude.