Chapter 17
"...Yaaawn..."
The morning sun streaming through the window roused me from sleep.
It couldn’t have been long since daybreak. I got up and looked down at the streets from the window, but hardly anyone was out and about.
I’ve always been an early-to-bed, early-to-rise sort of guy, but I feel like I’ve gotten even more so over the past few years. Is this what getting older is like?
I quickly got ready and went from my room on the second floor of the inn down to the lobby.
I’d called this inn cheap before, but compared to lodging in the countryside, like back in Bidden Village, it was still built to a much higher standard.
"Well, I suppose it’s unfair to compare them."
I muttered to myself as I descended the stairs.
For all that, it was an inn in the Central District of Baltrain, the capital. It wouldn’t stay in business unless it was at least decent.
"Good morning, Mr. Gardinant. You’re always up early."
"Yes, good morning. It’s just in my nature."
I exchanged greetings with the innkeeper, who was seated at the counter.
I planned to grab a quick breakfast, then take a stroll around the city in the early morning. After exploring with Kuruni and Fissel the other day, I’d realized I might as well get to know more of Baltrain.
Maybe I’d stumble across something interesting again.
"Then I’ll have the usual, please."
"Of course."
It had been a fair while since I’d settled on this inn as my base.
The owner seemed to have a good grasp of my routine, and now this little exchange was all it took for him to prepare my usual breakfast.
I didn’t mind. It sort of made me feel like a regular, you know?
Well, it was just an inn, though.
"――Thank you for the meal."
I enjoyed the simple fare and finished breakfast.
It was an ordinary breakfast of bread, bacon and eggs, salad, and milk. Even so, the quality and flavor of the ingredients were more than good enough—just what you’d expect from an inn in the Central District.
"Well, off I go."
I took a breath—not that it required any real resolve—and left the inn.
The street before me was lined with buildings of decent height. The road was narrower than the main street, but its well-maintained stone paving still made it clear that this was a proper city.
What should I do? Maybe I’ll wander around and take a look at the city streets.
There was still plenty of time before training started with the Knights.
"Hmm, another beautiful day. The air is so fresh."
After walking a little, I came to a deserted main street.
Even on Baltrain’s main thoroughfare, there were no carriages at this hour, and the few people around were few and far between.
"I wonder if this part of the city has been here for a long time."
I hadn’t really taken a good look before, but none of the buildings seemed newly built. Judging by their exterior walls, they’d been standing for quite some time.
Since it was called the Central District, it was probably the center of the Reberis Kingdom from long ago. It seemed more likely that the kingdom had gradually expanded its territory in every direction over the course of history.
"You there!"
I wasn’t an anthropologist or a historian, so there was no way I knew the details. Still, letting my thoughts wander down that sort of path was a nice way to unwind.
"You! Wait, I say!"
Since I was here, maybe I’d take another look at the Reberis Palace for the first time in ages.
The palace had grown rather faded in my memories, but seeing it now might stir up some feelings.
"Do not ignore me!!"
"Whoa?!"
That startled me. Really startled me.
I’d heard someone calling out for a while, but it never occurred to me that they were trying to stop me. I hurriedly turned around at the sudden shout.
"Um... can I help you, little miss?"
Standing there was a girl who looked to be about ten years old.
Her lustrous golden hair, which reached down to her waist, sparkled in the morning sun.
Her clear, translucent skin was dazzling, and she looked like a healthy young girl. Her outfit, which boldly exposed her thighs and shoulders, was the sort of thing I’d never see in the countryside.
It was easy to get caught up in how unusual it looked, but the quality of the garment was obvious at a glance. The delicate embroidery here and there, and the short, shoulder-baring robe-like design, made her already lovely appearance even more striking. That was the impression she gave me.
"Who are you calling little miss?! Honestly... You’re Beryl Gardinant, aren’t you?"
"...That’s right. What is it?"
She seemed to hate being treated like a child, but no matter how you looked at her, she was a little girl. It couldn’t be helped.
More than that, I was surprised that a girl so young knew my name.
"My name is Lucy Diamond. I’m the commander of the Reberis Kingdom Mage Corps."
"So your name is Lucy-chan, then."
"I said, listen to me! And stop calling me 'chan'!"
This girl was the commander of the Mage Corps? Ha ha ha, nice joke.
Her appearance was rather ornate, but she could certainly pass for a mage. She was probably at the age where she idolized that sort of thing. When I was little, I used to play at sword fighting with my village friends, wooden sword in hand. Ah, those were the days.
"Enough! We’re getting nowhere. How about this!"
"Hm? ...Whoa?!"
As she spoke, the girl who’d introduced herself as Lucy raised one hand high.
It might have looked like a child’s game, but a powerful burst of flame shot from her raised hand.
A massive blaze appeared without warning, scorching the air.
With a sound like something exploding, enough to awaken a primal fear, the flames lit up the surrounding area and blazed ever brighter.
"Are you convinced now?"
"Huh...? Wait, seriously...?"
Her right hand, now literally wreathed in searing heat, pointed casually at me.
Wait, seriously? This girl really is the commander of the Mage Corps?
The Mage Corps was an organization directly under the kingdom, and Fissel was a member of it too.
It was one of the Reberis Kingdom’s proud main forces, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Leberio Knights.
"...Well, you’ve certainly convinced me you’re no ordinary person."
"Hmph. I should think so."
I had no way to verify whether her story was true, but I could at least tell that the girl before me was no ordinary child.
"Even so, I don’t think you should be doing something like that in the middle of town."
"U-ugh..."
Still, you can’t just unleash flames in the middle of the city like that.
What would she do if it spread?
I could understand wanting to prove her strength, but as an ordinary middle-aged man, I couldn’t let something this dangerous slide.
"So... um, Miss Lucy, is it? What did you need?"
"Oh, that’s right."
She seemed to really dislike being called 'chan,' so I’d better stop. I wasn’t about to grovel, but I didn’t want her throwing a tantrum and burning me either.
After she dispelled the searing heat gathered in her right hand, she seemed to remember what she’d wanted and told me why she’d gone out of her way to call me over.
"I’ve heard about you from Fis. You’re coming with me for a bit."