Chapter 14
After that, it was peaceful.
They walked along the path, enjoying the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the sound of flowing water.
This was the usual state of affairs on the road between Boneyard City and Kingdom's End.
As the warm sunlight and peaceful atmosphere began to make the Mercenaries yawn, they finally reached their destination.
“Sir Knight, we sincerely welcome you to our city.”
Boneyard (Born Yard).
A white city, born from a colossal quarry, spread out before them.
Homi’s tail wagged vigorously with anticipation. Eugene’s heart pounded just as much.
“Though it may not be the greatest city, everyone here lives diligently and with pride.” “I’ve never been here, but I’ve heard much about it. It’s said to be the place that supplied stone for countless constructions of the Ancient Kingdom, and possesses a superior water supply system to most large cities, isn’t it?” “You are well-informed.”
Sorin was pleased. While it was information easily verifiable with a little research, praise from a great Knight always sounded different.
“But there’s no smell of stone dust.”
Eugene had worried about inhaling dust in a world without masks, but the city air was fresh.
“Mining stone for a living is a thing of the past; now, it has been transformed into a complete commercial city.”
Long ago, there were two dynasties that unified the entire Continent.
The first was Ruiaamor, founded by the Elves. In their language, it meant ‘First Favor’.
The second unified dynasty was founded by humans, and they simply called it the Ancient Kingdom.
This was because every Royal Family claimed to be its descendants, calling it by different names.
The Ancient Kingdom was inferior to Ruiaamor in every aspect, but it surpassed it in one thing: Stonemasonry.
The buildings and roads constructed during that era withstood the ravages of time, always maintaining their pristine condition.
“Our Boneyard provided the most stone to the Ancient Kingdom. For that... contribution, we were bestowed the title of the workshop that established the Foundation of the Kingdom (Born). Where else could such an honor be found?”
The City Guard guarding the city entrance recognized Sorin.
“Sir Sorin? You’ve returned already?”
According to the original schedule, he should have just arrived in Kingdom’s End by now.
“I was fortunate enough to resolve matters quickly.” “That’s fortunate. You’ve worked hard. The city is safe as always!” “Keep up the good work.”
The City Guard only knew the direction Sorin was headed, not the purpose of his departure.
“That person who just passed was a Knight, right?” “Yeah. High-ranking officials are constantly going out and bringing Knights from all over.” “Isn’t this going to lead to war?” “For that, there’s no Mercenary Group recruitment, and military supply transactions are as usual. What could it be?”
Even the low-ranking guards, having seen and heard things while manning the main gate, whispered uneasily.
As they passed the city entrance, Eugene felt a sense of incongruity all around him.
*The buildings are all... peculiar.*
This was because many buildings had unnaturally different upper and lower sections, not just in color, but in form and texture too.
“Was there a major earthquake in the city? It looks like places were half-collapsed and then rebuilt.”
“No, Sir. There has never been an earthquake here. The buildings are strange for a different reason.”
Sorin said with a regretful expression.
“As you know, this place was a quarry before becoming a city after the fall of the Ancient Kingdom. The problem is that when the kingdom disappeared, its Stonemasonry was also lost.”
“I see what you mean. So, they built upon the existing foundations with completely different architectural techniques, leading to this appearance?”
“That’s right. Since its foundation was a workshop, there were many structures without ceilings.”
Sorin pointed to several fairly large buildings one by one.
“Outdoor Worker recruitment centers became City Guard barracks, and stone drying yards became large warehouses, among other renovations. As wealthy individuals moved in, they also added second and third floors to single-story buildings.”
“So that’s why the buildings look different from top to bottom. But couldn’t they have just demolished them completely and rebuilt them?”
Sorin waved his hand as if the idea was preposterous.
“They don’t even budge if you hit them with a Siege Weapon.”
“Truly remarkable.”
Eugene had heard that the Ancient Kingdom’s Stonemasonry was a *Divine Domain*, but he had thought there was some exaggeration involved.
But doesn’t it surpass even the strongest fortresses ever built at this level?
* * *
“It was an honor to serve you, Sir Knight.”
Beard bowed respectfully.
“That’s what I should be saying. Thanks to you all, I traveled comfortably. It was a pleasure to share the first journey into the world with you.”
“I hope for the day I can serve under you again, Sir Knight.”
Eugene almost reached out to shake Beard’s hand but stopped himself. He was now the sole Successor left by the *Knight of Prophecy*, whom Homi served.
Even if he felt goodwill towards Beard, he had to maintain his dignity with a condescending attitude. That was the custom of this world.
After parting ways with the Mercenaries, Sorin guided Eugene.
“I know a good Tanner.”
They had skinned the warg, cleaned the hide, and filled it with sand to prevent decay, but that was only a temporary measure. To use it properly, it needed to undergo tanning.
From their conversation on the way, Sorin realized that Eugene had only recently undergone his Knight Investiture.
“I had no idea this was your first hunt after becoming a full Knight. In that case, we must take extra care to commemorate it. It will be a stepping stone for someone who will achieve great deeds in the future.”
Sorin was so insistent on asking Tanner to take special care that Eugene had to step in and stop him.
Homi was also delighted. Unlike the *Backwater* ruled by the Principal Religion, Demi-humans were not uncommon here. She could walk around with her tail exposed without any issues.
Sniff, sniff.
Her keen nose constantly twitched at the scents of various goods and foodstuffs.
“Sorin, Homi and I are both new to the city. We have some preparations to make, so could you give us about two days?”
“Of course, that’s possible!”
Sorin had secretly hoped for this, so he welcomed the request with open arms.
Several officials besides himself had left on missions to invite knights. With preparations for their reception in disarray, and Eugene arriving earlier than expected, there might be some shortcomings.
Two days would allow them to prepare a better reception. As the inviter, it would have been awkward for him to suggest it, so he was simply grateful that Eugene had asked.
“Then please take your time looking around. I will report to my superiors and return in two days.”
Sorin, who had arranged a temporary inn for them, bowed respectfully.
Upon entering the Inn, they saw the owner puffing on a pipe behind the desk.
“Hmph!?”
His indifferent expression changed instantly upon seeing Eugene’s armor and the polite Sorin behind him. He dropped his pipe, exhaled sharply, *whoosh! whoosh!*, and rushed out.
“Welcome, Sir Knight!”
“We’ll stay for two days.”
“What about your meals?”
“We’ll eat out; just bring us water.”
“Understood.”
The owner seemed to have no complaints.
Boneyard received a variety of foodstuffs from trade routes in all directions. It was common for newly arrived travelers to wander through the markets and indulge in street food.
Once inside their lodging, the two unpacked their belongings.
“Phew, that was tough, wasn’t it?”
Nod, nod.
The moment they were alone, Eugene completely dropped his stern expression.
“Putting on expressions and attitudes I’m not used to really drives a person crazy.”
But Homi shook her head and hands, widening her eyes as if to ask what he meant.
To her, her Liege Lord leading in battle was like a *Feudal Lord*. While she liked his usual easygoing demeanor, seeing him act with gravitas in front of the Mercenaries also made her heart pound.
This was a side of him she hadn’t seen while living in Kingdom’s End.
“This room is much better than I expected, isn’t it? My Master scared me so much with his Inn stories that I was nervous.”
Though not spacious, it was a clean lodging with no rotten spots. The sheets didn’t smell, and there were no bedbugs crawling on the walls or floor. Sorin had indeed found them a good place.
Flap.
But Homi meticulously checked by lifting the blankets and sheets, then sprinkled insect repellent powder everywhere.
Eugene took off his cumbersome armor and headed for the Inn’s courtyard. He was eager to wash his body, dirty with sweat and dust.
Homi pointed in sequence to herself, then to the armor, then gestured for Eugene to go down first.
“Thanks. I’ll wash first.”
While Homi prepared the armor, Eugene went down to the first floor.
This was a city equipped with a water supply system, a remnant of the Ancient Kingdom. While it couldn’t provide water to every single place, major buildings like government offices, City Guard barracks, and Inns always had access to clean water.
Originally, the City Dignitaries each selected plots connected to the water supply and expanded them, thus forming the Boneyard of today.
Perhaps because both male and female guests were considered, the bathing area was even equipped with curtains in the courtyard.
Eugene placed his sword where it wouldn’t get wet and began to wash.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
As he scrubbed his body with a soft cloth and the expensive, stiff soap he had bought, dirty water poured off him.
Unlike medieval *Earth*, solid soap that didn’t harm the skin was easy to produce here.
“Thank you, Ruiaamor.”
Eugene expressed his gratitude to the Elves who had vanished long ago.
This was because Ruiaamor, the first unified dynasty of the Continent, had developed and distributed plants for making hygiene products.
Even now that they are gone, these plants still thrive across the entire Continent. Only the gods know how many lives they saved from disease.
Whistle-!
“Yeah. I’m washing here. I’m almost done, so just wait a little.”
After drying himself with a towel and changing into fresh clothes, he felt incredibly refreshed.
When he drew back the curtain, there was Homi, ears perked up with an expression full of anticipation.
“It’s your turn next. I’ll keep watch, so don’t worry.”
Clap!
Homi smiled brightly, clapped her hands together as if in a baton pass, and went inside.
The sound of clothes being shed was followed by the rush of water.
Since the curtain hung about a hand's breadth above the floor, Homi’s pale white insteps and healthy calves were fully visible.
The silhouette of her washing her toes, balancing on one leg like a crane, showcased her unwavering sense of balance.
Just then, a man tried to sneak into the courtyard and met Eugene’s gaze.
“What are you looking at? Get out of here, now!”
Before the tall Knight’s menacing threat, the man scrambled away.
Whistle-?
“It’s nothing. Take your time washing.”
Eugene patiently waited for Homi, whose bath took about twice as long as his. She was always quick and efficient, but when it came to washing, she took her time.
Swish, swish, swish!
The sound of laundry being done could be heard from behind Eugene.
Homi was lathering her long, thick tail generously with soap and squeezing it under the stream of water.
While Eugene was done after just bathing, Homi had to do her own laundry as well, so it naturally took longer.
“Hum, hum~ hum~!”
Thanks to Homi’s cheerful humming, the waiting time wasn’t boring.
* * *
They had a decent amount of cash saved up, as well as rare ingredients like high-grade medicinal herbs and truffles.
In a rural village, there would be no one to buy them for a high price, but in Boneyard, there were plenty of places to sell.
Here too, the help of his capable Squire was invaluable.
Sniff, sniff.
Homi’s nose twitched cutely.
With her animalistic sense of smell and intuition, she detected whether the Merchant in front of them was trying to haggle down the price. More precisely, she could discern subtle lies.
*She said she could tell by their face, voice, and breath, didn’t she?*
It was a sense Eugene could never hope to match. This was also why he had briefly sought her opinion regarding Sorin’s invitation.
“This is truly a fair price, Sir Knight. If you mention Gamba in Boneyard, my name is synonymous with trustworthiness.”
Eugene was a giant, and to say nothing of it, Homi was also taller than most men.
Combined with the intimidating aura they both exuded, the Merchant, despite his 20 years of experience and cunning, was completely overwhelmed.
Nod.
At the affirmative signal, Eugene immediately concluded the transaction.
When selling truffles to a Merchant who supplied ingredients to a Noble House, a bit of haggling was necessary.
“Grrr-!”
“Gah!”
When Homi bared her fangs with a fierce expression, the plump Merchant’s legs gave out, and he collapsed.
“My apologies if you were startled. My Squire has a rather unique way of sneezing, you see. So, what’s the price?”
Eugene, with his lips pressed tightly together and only his eyes smiling, grabbed the Merchant’s shoulder, and the haggling immediately ceased.
“I-I made a mistake in my calculations. Oh dear, I suppose it’s time for me to retire. Hehehe!”
Eugene smiled faintly at the clinking sound of more silver coins dropping.
Thwack!
From an angle the Merchant couldn’t see, Homi’s excitedly wagging tail bumped into Eugene’s backside.
“Don’t you need a Spare Bowstring?”
Shake, shake.
“So, you just need bolts?”
Nod, nod.
“Still, you’ll need a Melee Weapon of your own. You can’t rely solely on a dagger going forward.”
He bought Homi a buckler that could be strapped to her wrist. This wouldn’t interfere with crossbow reloading or her movements.
He also added a warhammer to go with it. Despite its grand name, it was a normal-sized one-handed weapon. It had a hammer on the front and a sharp spike on the back.
Homi wasn’t skilled in Swordsmanship, but she was accustomed to hammers and pickaxes from frequent use in hunting and gathering. They would also be useful for setting up a campsite and maintaining equipment.
Eugene already had a good quality longsword and a Large Flail, so he didn’t buy any more weapons. Instead, he supplemented his defensive gear.
He bought Metal Greaves instead of his old Leather Greaves, and acquired an Iron Round Shield to protect his upper body.
He had wanted a more efficient Heater Shield for mounted combat, but the only shield with an entirely metal body and handle was a Round Shield tucked away in a corner.
The satisfying feel of striking with a shield was good.
He recalled the fight in the Underground Prison and the wargs that had burrowed into the flail.
A shield could block bolts and arrows, and was also good as a weapon to bash enemies who got too close. For withstanding his monstrous strength, a handle secured by mere leather straps felt utterly unreliable.
He had brought many things, such as changes of clothes, tableware, daily necessities, and hemostatic agents, so there wasn’t much else to spend money on besides equipment.
Their purse felt much lighter.
But even with that, both of them gave a wry smile at their suddenly much lighter purse.
Guest or not, I need to figure out how to make money first.
Fortunately, he and his Squire had many ways to earn money.
* * *
As Eugene unpacked the purchased items in their lodging, he suddenly felt Homi’s gaze.
Homi, having shed her outer garments, stood by the window, smiling as she basked in the bright sunlight.
Her fingers constantly fiddled over her alluring navel, which could no longer be called a girl’s. Her bushy tail also swayed ceaselessly, tracing S-shapes.
Homi's expression was like the one she sometimes showed when he'd say, 'The autumn leaves in the valley look beautiful. Shall we pack a lunch and go tomorrow?'
It was the same look she sometimes showed whenever he suggested they go for a picnic: the anticipation of the journey, the joy of simply being with Eugene.
Now that they were out in the world, every single moment had to be special. Perhaps that was why her smile seemed more poignant than any she had shown before.
“I’m glad you’re here. If I were alone, I wouldn’t just feel this pleasant excitement. There would also be a vague fear of the future, or something like that.”
Homi closed her eyes, focusing on Eugene’s hand as it stroked her cheek.
Leaving their beloved Cabin behind was regrettable, but it was alright. For her, a home wasn’t about a specific place.
It was this warmth, and this touch. The sensations Eugene provided were Homi’s home.