Chapter 18
So huge...
Uvelmains, the capital of Duke Achenbach's territory, was a city completely encircled by tall stone walls. Even looking to my left and right, I couldn't tell how far the walls extended.
The homes that couldn't fit inside stood in rows outside the walls, but they weren't merely residences. They were also shops and inns catering to travelers who had come seeking the capital.
The fact that businesses like those could thrive showed how long it took to enter the capital. A long line of people stretched from a point where the city gate looked no bigger than a bean.
Those in line included travelers, merchants, and people carrying their household belongings as though they were moving—and various others. Everyone glared resentfully whenever a domain soldier's horse came galloping past the entire line.
"Mmm... at this rate, we won't get in until tomorrow, y'know."
"Tch, can't be helped. I'll head over there and take down a beast or something."
When Raikira-san said that and started to leave the line,
"Oh, Beastman big bro, going hunting? If you take down a Hamadara Bird, sell it to me. I'll pay good money!"
called out a merchant standing ahead of us.
"Huh? No way. You look pretty crafty."
"Come on, that's what merchants are supposed to be like, isn't it?"
"You've got some nerve. Yeah, well, I'll let you know if I find one."
Saying that, Raikira-san cut across the grassland toward the forest.
I had braced myself for something like discrimination against Beastmen, but this merchant didn't seem particularly concerned.
"A Hamadara Bird is a bird that has blades of grass attached to its body and walks around on the ground. Its camouflage is quite impressive, though, and only someone with a keen sense of smell can bring one down."
Dantes-san explained. Beside him, his daughter Non-san also looked dreamy-eyed and said,
"Hamadara Birds get really fatty from after winter through summer. They're delicious... It would be nice if he brought back at least one—or, well, I won't be greedy, even one leg would do."
Wouldn't the bird already be dead—or unable to move—if he managed to take one of its legs...?
"Well, let's wait and see. Raikira always comes through when it counts."
"Oh. Now that's something to look forward to."
Before I knew it, Mimino-san, who had been negotiating a sale with the merchant, was saying just that, and the merchant chimed in with a smile.
As it turned out, Raikira-san didn't return until late that night, trudging back without having obtained so much as a single bird—or any result at all.
I wanted to try a Hamadara Bird.
As usual, we ate dried meat and camped out. Dried meat is delicious.
When sunrise came, the gate, which had been closed during the night, opened. Around noon, the towering walls and gate finally came into view. Though they called it a gate, it seemed to be nothing more than a wooden fence made by lowering logs, one at a time.
The reason entry was so slow was that taxes were being collected. Travelers paid one silver coin per person—roughly a thousand yen. Merchants were taxed according to the contents of their wares, so apparently appraising their goods took time.
They could just have separate lines... Even airport customs has separate lines for foreigners and citizens.
"Next."
At last, it was our turn.
A domain soldier wearing a pointed helmet much like those worn by the mining soldiers called us over. They wore chain mail and carried short spears.
"We're the party 'Silver Scales.'"
"Oh, adventurers. Move along."
Mimino-san presented something resembling an iron card, and the domain soldier merely glanced at it before ushering us farther inside. Jeez, if it was this easy, they could have let us in sooner.
Still, we were finally in the capital. It was my first major city since coming to this world—.
"—Hold on."
As I tried to walk past, someone grabbed my arm. My sleeve had ridden up slightly, revealing the marks of my tattoo.
This is bad—.
My heart leaped into my throat.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Raikira-san cautiously move a leg, and Dantes-san put a hand on the dagger at his waist.
Then, farther ahead, Mimino-san, who had been walking at the front, opened her eyes wide and fixed her gaze on the domain soldier—as her magic began lifting her hair. Wait, wait, wait! What are you trying to do!?
No! I couldn't let everyone get dragged into trouble because of me!
"...What, a slave?"
But that was the extent of the domain soldier's reaction.
"I figured you weren't an adventurer because you're a child, but... slaves, like travelers, are charged one silver coin in taxes."
"I see. I wasn't aware."
Non-san smoothly stepped in front of everyone, handed the domain soldier a silver coin, and gently clasped the soldier's hand in hers. "O-oh," the soldier said, blushing slightly as they stared fixedly at Non-san's breasts.
"Aren't you a nun...?"
"Yes. However, I have received special permission from the Church to work as an adventurer for now. Here is my adventurer's card."
"Y-yes, indeed."
"Thank you for your service. Now, let's go."
After Non-san urged us along, we started walking. Once we'd gone some distance inside, we turned off the road and entered an alley.
"Father, Raikira-san, and Mimino-san, too! What was all that killing intent!?"
Non-san scolded us.
Right. That had definitely been killing intent, hadn't it?
"We agreed that, if it came to it, we'd claim you were a slave the party had purchased, didn't we!? Why would you give off killing intent over such a minor unexpected problem!? Honestly!"
"S-sorry. Things had gone so well at the start, and I just..."
"...My bad."
"...I'm sorry."
"If that had turned into a dispute, we'd have ended up fighting every domain soldier! I'm sure some of them noticed the killing intent!"
I hadn't known. They had even discussed what to do if I were stopped, all for my sake.
Dantes-san bowed repeatedly as he apologized, Raikira-san looked away sheepishly, and Mimino-san looked as though she were about to cry.
"I-I might've put Reiji-kun in danger... It was my fault, y'know..."
"Wait, Mimino-san, it's okay! Really, it's okay—we made it into the city, didn't we? Right? Non-san isn't angry, either."
"Of course not. ...I'm sorry. I seem to have been a little shaken up, too."
Non-san also bowed repeatedly. The gesture was so much like Dantes-san's that I was keenly reminded they really were father and daughter.
I was—so fortunate. To have been taken in by such a wonderful party...
As I stood there, deeply moved, I had no idea even greater happiness awaited me.
The inn we were staying at even had a hot spring.