Chapter 48
48 . Riding in a carriage for days to get there .
The official capital Estgar, which we arrived at after being rocked by carriage for days, has a somewhat refined atmosphere that is different from the miscellaneous streets of Orphen . Perhaps because it is closer to the empire, the style of the imperial culture is used here and there, and the walls of the streets seem to have been repainted, so you can’t see any major stains .
There is a big river running through the middle .
It is said that in the past, the imperial army of the northern defenders and the allied army of the northern great tribes fought across this river . The victorious imperial army built a town here, and Estgar prospered through trade using this river . Even today, ships of all sizes still come and go on the river .
Here and there there are piers and docks, and the piers extend deep into the river, and the houses are lined up on wooden floors that look like small boats pieced together . It seemed to be populated by people who made a living by steering and fishing .
「…… What do you think they’ll do when the water in the river increases, Mr . Gill? 」
Angeline muttered, frowning at the wind that was whistling in from across the street .
The woman called Gil, who was pulling the reins, narrowed her eyes .
「Here, look at that,」
Angeline looked at the end of the pier as she pointed, and it seemed that the end of the pier was just floating on the water, using empty barrels and such . The house, too, seemed to be tied up in a maze, but could be paddled and moved, if she wanted to .
Angeline nodded in admiration .
「Great …… but why bother with …… on the water?」
「There’s a legend about mermaids as an ancestor . Superstitious people believe this and try to live close to the water . 」
「…… Really? 」
「Lies . Hmmm . 」
Angeline leaned back against the back of the carriage with her mouth agape .
It seemed that Angeline was going to be traveling alone, but one of Lionel’s former companions was going to accompany her as a baggage carrier and miscellaneous attendant .
His name was Guilmeña . She is an active AAranked adventurer with reddish brown hair cut short .
He’s the same age as Lionel and the others, so even though he’s already close to forty, his face is so youthful that one could say he’s in his twenties .
In Lionel’s party, he is mainly in charge of support and general behind-the-scenes work such as resupplying, searching for enemies, and preparing for the trip, and he is skilled and resourceful . He was a good choice for someone who would be able to help Angeline in that aspect .
Angeline was quite fond of talking to her, as she was aloof and said the oddest things quite often .
The streets were wide and the carriages could come and go . Since the capital is under the direct control of the Grand Duke, there must be a lot of aristocrats coming and going .
Angeline is also the first time in Estgar .
It’s not just the heart, but it’s the feeling of going to an unknown place . The anger that had been burning at the time of our departure at being wiped out of our homecoming seemed to have subsided somewhat during our nearly half-month journey .
But when I remembered the scenery of Tornella, I became angry again, and the scenery of Estogar suddenly seemed less interesting .
「…… Have you ever been to Estgar, Gil?」
「There is . Across the river, the Imperial Guard of the North . On this side of the river is the imperial Northern Frontiersmen, and on this side is the great hero, Barabrien . The battle was a sight to behold . 」
「…… Did that ever happen? 」
「About three hundred years ago . 」
「…… 」
「Well, so much for the joke: …… 」
Guilmeña said .
「Do you want to go to the guild?」
Angeline shook her head .
「I’m not here to work, and I’m not interested in the …… Estgar guild . 」
「You’re not in a very good mood . You’re ruining your pretty face . 」
「It’s not pretty: …… 」
「You’ll ruin your not-so-cute face . Hmmm . 」
「You don’t have to restate it: …… 」
Angeline mused and thrust her elbows on her knees and placed her cheeks on them . Guilmeña gave her an amused look and pecked Angeline on the head .
Eventually they arrived at the travel basket . It’s a large inn that also takes care of horses and carriages . There are a lot of adventurers, peddlers and travelers coming and going .
The ball will be held in three days . The itinerary is going too smoothly and we have too much time on our hands .
But now that we’ve decided to go, there’s no point in getting swollen with Orphen anyway . The only thing that matters is to get the trouble done quickly, Angeline forced herself to open up .
She carried her bags to her room, had her bring her tea and smoke . A room on the second floor . Since it was a riverside inn, there was a river running under the window .
Guilmeña nibbled on a piece of sugar candy like a squirrel .
「I’ll wait here, but you can go to the Grand Duke’s house . 」
「What: …… Why? 」
「Because you are an invited guest, you should go to …… and ask them to prepare a dress for you . You’ll be entertained in a luxurious room, huh? 」
「So, Gil, why don’t you come with me? …… I don’t feel comfortable on my own . 」
「I don’t think there’s any point in going . Angie is invited because of his accomplishments, but basically the nobles don’t get along with the adventurers . 」
「…… You’re the one who comes in with all these requests and stuff . 」
「That’s the thing about being an aristocrat . To them, it’s like you’re doing it with adventurers . Hmmmm . 」
Angeline leaned back in her chair in a bad mood and drank her cup of tea .
「I don’t like it …… I knew I shouldn’t have come …… 」
「I think so, too . Why did you come? 」
「…… Why is that? I thought it would be a problem for everyone: …… 」
Guilmeña chuckled .
「You’re serious, Angie . Well, I suppose so . I’m sure you’ll be able to find a way to make your life easier for yourself . It’s a good thing that you’re not going to be able to find out what’s going on in the world by yourself . 」
「…… What are the nobles for? 」
「It grows of its own accord . When it rains, they pop up everywhere . And then they grab money and medals out of their pockets and corrupt us . Hmmm . 」
「…… Are you kidding me? 」
「Yes . 」
Angeline sighed as if she had given up .
Even though they were the same nobles, Sasha, Seren, Helvetica and the others were good people . I wish all the nobles were like that, but it seems that the world isn’t so well organized .
In any case, now that you’re here, you have to at least show your face .
I don’t know what a decoration is, but if it ends with giving me a medal, I can go to the ball, get a medal and go home quickly . I’d rather do that .
Angeline stood up .
「Then I’ll go …… but I can’t find my way . Show me the way . 」
「Sure . I don’t know the way, either . Mm-hmm . 」
「Have you not heard of ……? 」
「No . I know . 」
Angeline loosened the corners of her mouth and poked Gilmeña silently .
They left the inn and walked down the street, not in the carriage . A cold wind was blowing, rubbing their bare ears and noses mercilessly as they went .
「You brought the invitation, didn’t you? 」
「Yes . 」
Angeline checked the envelope in her cloak pocket . It was crumpled, but it read properly .
Guilmeña put her hand on Angie’s shoulder .
「Angie, I know you don’t like a lot of things, but you shouldn’t explode, okay? Let’s just phase it out, get it over with, and get the hell back to Orphen . 」
「…… Yeah . 」
「And be careful what you say . Aristocrats can’t afford to have their navel bent . 」
「…… We’re going to look into it positively . 」
They walked along the river with Guilmeña leading the way and turned off in the middle of the road .
Gradually the road sloped upwards, and the streets gradually became quieter and quieter, and each mansion seemed to grow larger .
Some of them seemed to have small military camps for private soldiers, and we could hear soldiers training in them .
At the farthest end of the building, high up, was a large building that stood out from the rest . Surrounded by high stone walls, it looked like a fort . It was built of stone, sturdy, and looked to be steeped in history .
Looking back, we could see the city of Estgar spread out on both sides of the wide river .
Perhaps it was a fort built to guard against foreign enemies across the river and is now being used as it was .
The large iron doors were open . There are soldiers standing on both sides, staring at the area with wide eyes .
They are probably preparing for a ball, but men and women who seem to be servants, a nobleman’s carriage that seems to be loaded with souvenirs, a dress tailor, and people who seem to be wholesalers of various foodstuffs are coming and going .
Angeline stood there for a while, but eventually spoke to the soldier at the entrance .
「Um,」
「What about you? This is not a place for poor people . 」
The soldier responded to Angeline with obvious contempt .
Angeline huffed and sniffed and silently took out the invitation and handed it to him .
The soldier looked dubious, but when he saw the markings on the letter, he opened his eyes and looked inside and compared the letter to Angeline, who was even more surprised to see it .
「Well, the “black-haired warrior maiden” of the Demon King’s Slayer ……? 」
「Do you have a problem with ……? 」
「No, no, go to …… 」
The soldier opened the way, dismayed . Angeline frowned .
「Hey, I don’t want to just be let through . Isn’t there anyone who can figure it out? 」
「Gumm…… we are just gatekeepers . Go inside and ask the servants . 」
「Yes, …… thanks . 」
Angeline bailed lightly, then turned around and looked at Guilmeña .
「I’m going to go, but …… is it okay, Gil? Don’t come . 」
Guilmeña chuckled .
「 I don’t like to be in a glamorous place, and I don’t want to fight with the nobility . I don’t want to quarrel with the nobility, so I’ll be waiting for you at the inn . Take care of yourself . 」
「I’m off to …… . 」
Angeline walked through the gates with a large stride .
The inside of the wall was a courtyard, with bare dirt bare and clearly marked with the marks of carriage wheels where people walked by, but the rest of the place was covered in grass, with manicured flower beds and garden trees everywhere .
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The colors were subdued because of the season, but several trees and grasses were still flowering and seemed to be pleasing to the eye in their own way .
Attached to the wall is what appears to be a former watchtower . Several buildings made of wood, stone and stucco stand in a row . I wondered if they were places where servants and guests stayed .
Passing through such a place and going to the back, I found a dazzling large building . This must be the main house .
The entrance door was wide and double swinging, and over the open doorway I could see the entrance with a wide terrace . It seems to be made of marble and it was very beautiful and shiny .
The house of the Bordeaux family was magnificent, but this house was much larger and more splendid by comparison .
Angeline stood there, a little pressured by the completely unfamiliar landscape .
She had no idea who she was addressing .
A group of noblemen who had apparently come to seek the grand duke’s good mood with their souvenirs looked on, laughing mockingly and whispering to each other .
At that time, someone called out to them, “Hey . I looked and saw a middle-aged man standing there, who looked like a servant .
「Who are you? Where’d you come from? 」
「…… Is your uncle from here? 」
「What about it? Dressed in such a shabby outfit, you’re in the Grand Duke’s mansion: …… 」
「I was invited here by invitation . Where is the Grand Duke? 」
Angeline handed him the invitation . The servant looked over the invitation and opened his eyes in surprise .
「Oh, you’re that “dark-haired warrior maiden” …… I’ve heard rumors about you, but you’re really young . …… 」
「Is there a problem? 」
「No, no . Sorry for my irreverent mouth, just give me a minute . 」
The servant walked into the pavilion at a fast pace .
Angeline folded her arms and sighed . I shouldn’t be so tired . If you look around, the building and the people in it are all gorgeous . You’ll find that you’re the only one who looks shabby and stands out in a strange way .
I’m not sure if that’s a reason to feel depressed, but when it actually happened, I felt a little out of place and embarrassed .
「…… Fearful Aristocrat . 」
Angeline leaned against the wall of the mansion and closed her eyes .
Eventually she heard footsteps and opened her eyes to find a servant standing there .
「An intercession is ready . Come in here . 」
「Thanks …… 」
Angeline was taken into the mansion by a servant . As soon as she entered, she slumped again .
A huge chandelier hangs down from the ceiling of the entrance hall . It is decorated with glass and gold and silver, gleaming and glittering, and is said to be made of yellow sparkling stone instead of fire .
Angeline is dumbfounded and interested in the use of so much yellow sparkle that it would cost a gold coin to buy one, but she is somewhat dizzying .
The marble floor beneath her feet is polished and shiny and seems to reflect when she pulls her face closer to it . I can’t help but notice that my shoes are dirty .
I was led down a carpeted hallway and into a room .
「He wants me to wait here . 」
The servant man said something to the maid standing next to the entrance and left at a quick pace .
It’s not a very large room, but it was neatly furnished and seemed to have subtle designs here and there, as if it were for guests . There was an open door at the back of the room, and when I casually looked in, I saw the bathroom .
I sat down on a carved chair and squirmed in it for some reason .
The cushions under my hips are soft . It was supposed to be comfortable, but I felt like I wanted to get up . The maid made me a cup of tea, but I didn’t want to put my mouth on it .
It is certainly too beautiful and uncomfortable .
It was no wonder Guilmeña didn’t want to come, Angeline agreed . It’s a good thing that you’re able to get a good idea of what you’re looking for .
「If you stand …… naked, everyone is the same . 」
I muttered to myself . Regardless of whether he was dressed in gorgeous clothes or lived in a fine mansion, he would be the same person if he was thrown out into the wilderness, naked or otherwise . When that happens, if I’m going to return, I’d much rather be in front of a Tornella fireplace that smells of soot and straw than in this uncomfortable place .
Just then, the door opened and someone walked in .
It was a man a little over twenty . He had a medium height and medium flesh body wrapped in small, neat clothes and stroked his habitual ash brown hair .
The man stared at Angeline with an inspecting look . Angeline didn’t like it, but she didn’t say anything but a slight furrow of her brow .
「…… are you the ‘black-haired war maiden’ Angeline?” 」
Angeline nodded in silence . The man frowned and sat down across from Angeline, snapping his fingers grimly . The maid came hurrying over and poured tea into a cup .
「You’re a brusque fellow, aren’t you? I’ve just presented your ordination to your father . 」
「…… who are you? 」
「Oh…? Hey, what’s with all the talk! 」
「…… I’m a redneck, so please bear with me . 」
Angeline bowed her head and hid her frown .
I was tempted to slap her across the face right now, thinking that she had summoned me here . But that would be a disaster . He crossed his hands in his lap and squeezed them tightly .
The man was indignant, but he sniffed with a huff to calm his mind .
「Well, even if you’re a Demon King killer, you’re still an adventurer after all! I’ll forgive a certain amount of disrespect! 」
「…… thankfully happy . 」
The man slumped back in his chair, perhaps slightly regaining his good mood at Angeline’s condescension .
「I’m Villar Estgar . Have you ever heard of me? 」
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Angeline shook her head to the side, but reconsidered and nodded her head . As I expected, Villar raised the edge of his mouth in pride .
「Ha, is it still known in the countryside like Orphen? 」
Angeline nodded vaguely, though she didn’t actually know anything about it at all .
Villar leaned back with his elbows on the table .
「The Demon King was strong, wasn’t he?」
「Yes, …… was strong . 」
「Well, …… yeah, that’s good . 」
Villar stood up and paced back and forth across the room .
「I’m relieved . If you’re going to offer a decoration to a poorly trained person, you’ll be embarrassed . But when you have defeated a powerful magical beast, you deserve a medal . Shouldn’t it be an honor? 」
「is …… . 」
「Hmm . …… This will make your father think twice about me . …… I can’t keep making your brother look good . 」
Get it over with, Angeline said bitterly, sipping her tea .
Apparently, this man, Villar, had offered Angeline’s ordination for herself, either to compete with her brother or to be remembered better by her father, the Grand Duke of Estgar, but anyway . It’s disgusting to think that I’m being played along with the power games of the nobility .
Putting down her cup with a clink, Angeline said .
「So when will I get my …… medal? The sooner we can, the better, if possible . 」
Villar looked dumbfounded .
「You don’t just get a medal, do you? There is to be a solemn ceremony and you are to be foiled . Otherwise, who would know you were decorated? It’s not going to be an honor of any kind . 」
I wanted to say that no one needs to know, but that’s not going to happen . Remembering Guilmeña’s words, Angeline nodded grudgingly . In short, they couldn’t leave until the ceremony, which was to take place at the ball .
Villar stared at Angeline and sniffed with a huff .
「He snorted . It would be a shame for me to go to the ball dressed like that . Hey . 」
Villar called the maid .
「You take care of this one . I want you to bathe him, clean him up, and give him a fine dress . Don’t you forget that I have invited you to be my guest of honor? You have three days to get thoroughly cleaned up . You’re a little skinny, so eat plenty of food! You should also teach me some minimal etiquette . Don’t embarrass me . 」
「Yes, sir . 」
The maid nodded .
Villar smiled with satisfaction and looked at Angeline .
「I’m busy, you stay here . Don’t cause too much trouble, okay? 」
With that, Villar walked out in a big gait .
As soon as the door closed, Angeline gingerly relaxed from her body .
Even if she fought a high-ranked demonic beast, she would rarely get this tired to this extent . They were supposed to be the same aristocracy, but they were completely different from the three Bordeaux sisters . I would like to praise myself for not exploding .
「…… Fearsome Nobles . 」
Angeline muttered and approached the maid .
「Um, can I have another cup of tea ……?」
「Yes, sir . 」
I sipped the tea that was brewed for me . It felt calmer and tastier than before . Angeline took a deep breath and spoke to the maid .
「What kind of person is that person ……?」
「What? Didn’t you know that? 」
「I don’t know… …… names only . 」
I added that in passing . The maid nodded in agreement .
「Lord Villar is the second child of His Highness the Grand Duke . 」
「…… What do you think of that guy? 」
At Angeline’s question, the maid swam her eyes as if she was a little troubled . Angeline chuckled .
「Don’t worry, I’m not an adventurer …… nobleman’s spy, okay?」
The maid chuckled too .
「Yes, …… I’d like to ask you to keep it confidential . 」
「Of course . 」
According to the maid, Villar is a typical young nobleman .
He was born a nobleman, and unlike the upstarts, he doesn’t have much of a desire for money, but he does have a strong desire for power, and is said to be trying to compete with his brother Fernando, the Grand Duke’s heir, at every turn .
However, Fernando is superior to Villar in every way, and it seems that he is not doing so well .
「It was Villar’s idea to ordain Angeline, too . It was probably in response to the Grand Duke’s words about something that would be the centerpiece of the ball, 」
That’s why the time of the ordination was oddly late, over a year, Angeline sighed . It was too silly a reason to be angry, and she seemed to lose her temper .
「Are you …… siblings not getting along?」
「What do you think? It doesn’t look like that from the side: …… 」
「Hmmm . …… Two brothers? 」
「No, you have a sister downstairs . And you have a half-brother . A half-brother, for a total of four . 」
Angeline poked her cheekbones . Would she see them too sooner or later?
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The maids walked around Angeline in a daze, watching her sullenly .
「…… what?」
「No, I was just wondering what kind of dress would look good on you . 」
「…… I’m not a fan of dresses . 」
「Not so fast, my dear . I think Lady Angeline is a gem when she’s polished . …… Would you like to take a bath? 」
「……, so be gentle with me, okay? 」
Angeline stood up .
I wonder what her father is doing now .
That’s what he thought .
By the time Angeline arrived in Estgar, winter was about to arrive in Orphen .
The first snow had fallen the other day, turning the traffic white, but like a shakeout, a warm day came and the snow melted, and then the cold winds began to blow again . A few cold and warm days like this come and go, and gradually winter is in full swing .
Angeline’s absence wasn’t so much of a hindrance to the guild’s operations as it was to the fact that the management team all knew each other . I feel as if I would somehow miss her if we didn’t see each other .
That day, too, in the guild that was crowded with clients and adventurers, Yuri was sitting at the counter, organizing documents .
The reception desk for high rank adventurers only, unlike a normal reception desk, does not have people coming in one after another .
「Hmm …… a B-ranked demonic beast …… this one at the equivalent of a D-ranked place . 」
Sometimes old request materials can be useful later on . Check the contents along with the report and keep them categorized according to the case .
You can create a database so that you can look up past cases when a strange situation arises . This is a matter I learned from the Demon King fiasco .
Lionel wandered over . I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but I’m sure it’s a good idea .
「Yuri …… near Asterinos …… C-rank dungeon material …… 」
「Hey, Lio, are you okay? 」
「Ha ha ha …… I feel so guilty already . …… Angier, are you okay? I hope Gil supports me properly: …… 」
「Already, then you should have told me earlier . You didn’t have to be so cruel as to tell me the day before: …… 」
「I was going to pretend that I had already left, but the Lord of Orphen had a letter as well, and he knew that Angie-san was in Orphen . …… So I tried to turn a blind eye to it, but he nailed me right before I got there . …… Why are those people so afraid of you if you’re not strong enough? 」
Yuri sighed .
「That’s what happened when you were on your own again . It’s fine to try not to bother other people, but you’re causing the most trouble as a result, so think about it a little more . 」
「…… Yes, it is . That’s a bad habit . …… 」
Lionel breathed heavily .
Just then, a figure appeared on the counter . He slapped the counter with a thump .
「Tda!」
「Huh? 」
Yuri’s eyes darted to the ground .
Ears as pointed as bamboo leaves and silver hair as smooth as silk . It was an elf standing there . Its face was triumphantly suspended in its eyes, but it looked as beautiful as if it had been made up .
The two of them were speechless at the beauty of the elf, which they rarely saw .
But as opposed to her beauty, the elf girl screamed fornicately .
「This is the reception area? I’m here to be an adventurer! What do I do! 」
「Well, um, this is the reception desk for high rank only: …… . 」
「Right! No problem! Because I’ll be an S-rank soon enough! 」
「Um, Mr . Elf, ……? There is an order to things: …… 」
「Order! Then make it quick! What am I supposed to do? 」
「Hey . 」
Someone tapped the elf on the shoulder from behind as he leaned forward .
「Marie, I know you’re happy, but you can’t ask me like that . 」
「Is that so? 」
「That’s right . Your staff is in trouble . 」
Then the middle-aged man appeared behind the elf and chuckled .
The man wore a fur vest underneath his cloak, his red hair was clipped back and an equally red beard covered his chin .
His features looked like something I’d heard somewhere .
Lionel and Yuri gaped and opened their mouths .
「Ah, ah, ah, what about you?」
「Oh, I’m sorry . 」
The red-haired man walked up to the counter and smiled in a friendly manner .
His right prosthetic leg poked and prodded .
「My name is Belgriff . Angeline …… I’m here to see my daughter, do you know where she is? 」
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