Chapter 14

Chapter 14

THE NEXT DAY, after I raised the castle back upon a cliff with Structural Renovation, Clara and I set out for Relis City. (After all was said and done, I really didn’t feel like spending another night at the castle in its current state.)

The road that connected Yulei to Relis and stretched northward to the distant Shrendal Kingdom was called the Lawful Way. I learned from Sedam that the road was one of many paved throughout the kingdom at the height of its prominence, two to three hundred years prior.

In the chaos that followed a large outbreak of daemons, the kingdom declined and was divided into separate states and unions, like the Ryuse Alliance that controlled this region—et cetera, et cetera. Upon hearing that, my first thought was, So, Shrendal is this world’s stereotypical ancient advanced civilization, huh? However, my assumption was somewhat incorrect. The Shrendal Kingdom continued to exist, and was no different from any other country with a storied past.

Even though it had lost much of its territory, the Shrendal Kingdom continued to wield power and influence befitting of its status as the oldest civilized country in Sedia. As evidence of that fact, the Calbanera Knights still pledged allegiance to Shrendal’s royal family (though they paid them no taxes), and Clara boasted that the Andell family line traced its origins back to the Shrendal Kingdom.

Clara complained that the phantom horse would make us stand out in a bad way if we continued to ride it along the more heavily trafficked Lawful Way, so we decided to dismount and continue on foot.

While there were some dips and rises in the road, it was relatively level, and thus made for easy walking. We occasionally passed shepherds herding livestock, merchants with their caravans of carts, and simple travelers. It was very peaceful—so much so, I was beginning to wonder where all the bands of bandits were, whom I had heard so much about, but one of the merchants we camped with along the way was only too happy to explain. “Recently, a great and powerful magic user moved into the area, and all the evildoers turned tail and left!”

The news had traveled a lot faster than I’d thought! Although, once I reasoned it out, I assumed much of that speed was due to Captain Sardish purposefully spreading rumors about me.

I wondered when the last time was that I’d been able to simply walk, carefree like this, for hours on end. It had to have been decades…or, I thought, This might be the first time I’ve experienced something like this at all. Looking over a medieval-ish countryside, traveling with a beautiful (but loud) woman… It was probably the first time since I’d arrived in Sedia that I felt thankful for being sent, though I would probably be uncomfortable admitting that to my old friends, my co-workers, and the workplace I’d left behind.

***

Three days after we left Castle Getaeus, no matter how fun and peaceful the road was, I began to get bored of the never-ending sameness of our journey. People these days, bored after only three days? I thought, shaking a metaphorical cane at myself from my metaphorical porch—but then relief came.

“Once we get to the top of that hill, we should be able to see Lake Ryuse and Relis City,” Clara said.

“Really?” I asked, delighted as a child, before quickening my pace up the slope toward the peak. Now that she mentions it, I feel a bit more moisture on the wind, I thought. When I reached the top, I was awestruck.

If I had not known ahead of time that it was a lake, I might have mistaken it for the ocean. The blue of the water’s surface stretched as far as the eye could see, off into a misty horizon, with no hint of an opposite shore. I thought back to when I’d looked out over Lake Biwa in Japan, from an observation deck—this lake was certainly larger than that.

So, this is Lake Ryuse, I thought, but my attention was soon stolen by the city on its shores.

“Wow! It’s a real fortified city!”

Lo and behold, there was Relis City, spread out along the shores of Lake Ryuse. Two rings of fortified stone walls encircled the city, though the outermost wall partly gave way at the shore to a port, where I could see large sailing ships docked. Most of the buildings in the city appeared to be made of stone, and their colored roofs delighted me.

I’d been impressed when I first saw the Castle of the White Blade, but this city was on an entirely different level.

“Wait up! You’re going too fast!” It was Clara.

I glanced back at her. She was sweating and struggling to keep up, but I paid her no mind—at least at first. I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel at least a small pang of guilt.

“Sorry about that… I just really wanted to see the city.”

“That’s all well and good, but…how do you have so much stamina at your age?”

“Well, listen to you! ‘At your age,’ indeed. Entirely uncalled for.”

To answer her question (though I didn’t tell her): The boots I was wearing were magical traveling boots. If I wanted to, I could walk at the same pace as a horse for an extended amount of time and not feel any exhaustion. Although, now that I thought of it, cutting corners like that probably wouldn’t be good for my overall health.

Relis City took advantage of its access to water by having a moat dug around the outer wall. A drawbridge spanned the gap, congested with the traffic of merchants, peasants, and cargo-laden carts.

“But the city really does look amazing,” I said. “It makes Yulei seem very rural in comparison.”

“Relis City is the largest city in the Ryuse Alliance. It vies for first or second place among all the cities on the continent—not just in scale, but in terms of its history and culture as well.” Clara stuck out her chest with pride.

The Lawful Way not only spanned eastward to Yulei, but extended northward as well. The city appeared to be a major hub, and the number of travelers gathered outside the gate were the most I had seen in one place since I arrived in Sedia.

The gate on the other end of the drawbridge was wide open, but it was flanked with guards, who were conducting inspections of people and goods as they waited to enter the city. The guards wore matching helmets and chain mail, and were equipped with short swords and spears. It was as you would expect in any medieval fantasy setting, but I noted that they were energetic as they went about their work. Morale must be high, I thought.

After about twenty minutes of waiting, Clara and I made it to the front of the line, where we stood in front of the guards. Beyond the gate, I could see a stone-paved square complete with a fountain, around which bard-like men and women were performing music.

“Pay attention,” said Clara, elbowing me in the side. “Here—write your name, status, and where you’ll be staying.”

After Clara pulled my attention back from the square, a guard with a bit of a forced smile handed me a travelers’ registration application (a blank wooden writing board to be exact) and something to write with. Clara, meanwhile, had an official-looking pass, which she presented to the guard.

“Oh, I’m sorry about that. My name is Geo Margilus,” I said as I spelled it out. “Status? Will ‘commoner’ do? As for where I’ll be staying…”

“You don’t have to think too hard about it. ‘The Sorcerer’s Guild’ will do,” Clara said. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to spell or just make a point, but she put a lot of stress on those words.

“A-all right, I’ll go with that then…”

“Wait a second! Did you say you were Geo Margilus?!” the guard exclaimed, stunned.

“That is correct… Is there a problem?”

That’s right, I thought, remembering how fast the rumors of me had spread. I have a bad feeling about this…

“So, you’re that great magician, right?! The one who helped the Calbanera Knights destroy the daemons’ nest?!”

“What?!”

“The great wizard is here?!”

“It’s Lord Geo Margilus! The hero!”

“It’s the lord wizard!”

Not only the guards at the gate, but the people waiting in line behind us quickly caught on. I felt my face turning red.

For a second, I was worried I might be mobbed by the crowd, with everyone trying to get a better look at me—but the opposite happened. Soon, a ring formed around Clara and me (and the guard inspecting us) as everyone took a step back to stare. I saw a variety of emotions on all of their faces: respect and excitement from some, but anxiousness and worry from others.

I remembered the reaction I got at Yulei and felt my mood sink.

“He looks a bit more normal than I thought…”

“Kind of…plain?”

“Well, I hear he comes from a country beyond the sea…”

“Is that the staff he used to summon meteors?”

“Hey, don’t push! If we make him mad, he’ll turn us to stone!”

The people began to murmur, but otherwise, no one moved.

“We’re not going to get through unless you say something to them,” said Clara, with a sigh. She seemed surprisingly calm.

There’s no telling what rumors will be spun from whatever I say here, I thought, but it didn’t seem like I had any other choice. I might as well kiss any possibility of living a commoner’s life goodbye…

“I apologize for the disturbance, good travelers and citizens of Relis.” I stood my Staff of Wizardry upright on the ground and slowly turned to look at everyone watching me.

“I am indeed the wizard, Geo Margilus,” I continued, raising my voice so all would hear. “I am pleased to make your acquaintances. I find it an honor to visit the beautiful city of Relis.” I paused for a few seconds and then turned to the guard. “If that is all, I don’t suppose you would mind letting me through, would you?”

“F-forgive me! Yes, please, head on through. Welcome to Relis!”

The exact wording aside, as a (former) Japanese corporate employee, I was used to the practice of addressing others in formal style, so I wasn’t entirely out of my element here. The guard didn’t need much convincing, and in a show of respect, all the other guards struck the ends of their spears on the pavement. Man, that’s cool, I thought.

“In that case, my friends, if you would excuse me…”

Acknowledging who I was seemed to help allay the fears of those in the crowd: Many of them called out to welcome me, or bowed their heads as they cleared the way for me to enter the city, but no one reached out to me for a handshake—everyone kept their distance.

“All right, then. Let’s go,” said Clara, paying the crowd no mind.

I remembered that she had only accompanied me thus far to take me to the Relis Sorcerers’ Guild. We should probably get going, then, before I waste any more of her time, I thought, but someone suddenly stood in the way.

“Hey! Mister Geo! Mister Geo!”

Umph. A little person came flying out of the crowd and tackled me with a hug, nearly knocking the wind out of me.

“Mister Geo!”

I looked down and saw a teary-eyed girl with chestnut-colored hair looking back at me. It was Mora.

“Mister Geo!” Mora said, hugging me tighter.

“H-hey, Mora. It’s been a while. I never thought I’d run into you so soon after I arrived.”

If I had been twenty years younger, maybe even just fifteen years younger, it would have probably made me happy to have a sun-kissed young girl like this be so clingy with me, but I was over forty years old, both inside and out—her fondness for me was no different than a child excited to see a visiting relative. I was taken by surprise and still had some of the grandiose tone in my voice from my acting before, so I worried Mora might take offense, or think strangely of me, but I needn’t have worried. Once I regained my composure, I patted her on the head and gently pulled her off of me.

“But Mister Geo! I waited for you, but you never came! Even after you destroyed the daemons’ nest! Then the knights came to deliver my father’s goods, but you weren’t there… I thought that you were avoiding me!”

“Of course I wasn’t avoiding you. How could I, after all you’ve done for me? I still have business with your father as well.”

“But…I hardly did anything at all… You’re the one who helped me.”

Mora’s view may be correct, objectively speaking, I thought, but she is the first person I met in Sedia, and I’ll never forget how I felt when I first gained her trust. (For those taking notes: Yes, I may have “met” Jargle and the bandits first, but I don’t think you can blame me for choosing not to count them.)

“Great wizard… I cannot thank you enough for what you have done…”

“Our young lady has been passing by the gate every time we go out, waiting for your return.”

A kind-looking, middle-aged man and woman stood behind Mora. I guessed they were servants assigned to look after her. Both bowed their heads toward me in thanks.

“It wasn’t much trouble for me. Please, don’t mention it.”

“We live on Commerce Street. I know my father will be pleased to see you again. Let’s get going!” Mora tugged on my arm, but Clara stood in her way.

“Mora? I’m sorry, but we have some business to attend to,” said Clara.

“Really? Then I guess I’ll see you later,” replied Mora. “This way, Mister Geo.”

“I said we!” Clara exclaimed, grabbing my other arm and pulling me in the opposite direction.

What’s going on here? I thought. Are these two beautiful young women fighting over me?

There’s no reason to panic. Think about this rationally. I’m not well versed in child psychology, but Mora’s fixation on me can’t be anything more than what a child feels for a teacher or a relative, or something similar. Clara, on the other hand, is just determined—out of a sense of duty—to make sure I get to the Sorcerers’ Guild. Well, if I’m a bit more optimistic, she might think of me as a comrade in arms, after what we’ve been through together…

I’ve known many a poor creature (middle-aged men) to mistake such a tug-of-war for being “popular with the ladies,” but I will make no such mistake.

“Um… Uh, Mora? I’m sorry, but I’ve really kept the Sorcerers’ Guild waiting for a long time. In this kind of situation, it’s always better to get the worst things over with first. Is it all right if I visit later?”

I had to keep my priorities straight.

“I-I’m sorry,” said Mora. “You must have some difficult job to do, right?”

“Something like that. Once it is over with, I’ll be sure to stop by, so please tell your father I’m coming, all right?”

“Okay!” Mora said, brightening up. “We live in the biggest shop on Commerce Street, so it should be easy to find. I’ll be waiting for you!”

Mora bowed and then skipped off with a smile on her face. The two servants also bowed and followed after her.

By then, most of the onlookers had already dispersed, and one of the guards helped break up the crowd of those left. However, before the guard returned to his post, he couldn’t resist telling me one more thing. “The bards have already begun to sing of your heroic deeds, Great Magician!” That was more information than I cared to know…

“I’d rather not stand out even more than I do already…” I grumbled. “Still, I didn’t think I’d meet Mora again so soon.”

“How nice for you…” growled Clara, a vein pulsing at her temple.

“I’m sorry about that. Anyway, let’s get going. To the Sorcerers’ Guild!” I said, realizing Clara was near her limit.

“Yes, let’s get that…what did you call it? Worst thing over and done with, shall we? My lord wizard.”

“I said I’m sorry.”

The streets of Relis, or at least the stone-paved main roads, were clean and pleasant to walk on. Some of them even had mosaic designs in their pavement. Most of the buildings were constructed from wood and stone, reaching three stories high or more. Given that walled cities could not branch out laterally, once their concentration hit a certain point, the only way to go was up. Especially in this aspect, the city itself was very much in line with the descriptions of medieval cities in the game materials I read up on when I was an active TTRPG player. The passersby on the street were dressed in bright colors, and none of them were barefoot. Though the designs of their clothes were for the most part simple, the wealthier accessorized with hats, shawls, capes, and skirts worn over their clothes.

None of the people we passed realized who I was, but many waved or gave short bows to Clara. She really is famous, isn’t she? I thought. Come to think of it, she did say she was the daughter of some noble.

Wait… I thought with a shiver.

I had been lost in thought for the past few minutes, paying only enough attention to not lose track of Clara as I followed her—but after remembering a troubling bit of trivia, I refocused my attention to the upper windows and roofs of tall buildings.

I did not say anything, but I must have been acting strange, because Clara turned around.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“It’s nothing, just…from what I’ve heard, in large cities like this, people dispose of their excrement by throwing it out of windows…”

“What?!”

Thankfully, as Clara later explained, sewers were installed in cities that reached a certain size, and Relis City was no exception. In fact, there was even proper plumbing installed in parts of the city, made possible by Relis’s access to fresh water.

“Is this city aiming to be this world’s Rome or something?” I muttered.

Well, I suppose I should not be surprised that there are differences between medieval Europe and Sedia—it would be strange if there weren’t. The Watcher did paint a picture of a more light-novel-themed other world, after all…

“While we’re on that topic,” I wondered, “how large is the city, population-wise?”

“If I remember correctly, when I looked up the records from a few years ago, about twenty-five thousand citizens were registered…if you include those without citizenship, I would guess the city’s population was between thirty and forty thousand.”

Forty thousand! I thought. Relis is definitely a big city, then! If there are even a handful of other cities this size, it would be safe to say Sedia is farther along the path to civilization than medieval Europe. When I think that the daemons’ nest was only a few days’ walk from this city… We really were on the verge of a catastrophe.