Chapter 296: Arrival at the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Yelenetta

When I told Bell and Rosalie that I was going to the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Yelenetta, they immediately asked to accompany me without a second thought. Just as expected. And Ortho and his group also decided to follow along. I am truly grateful.

As a result, Bell and Rosalie decided to come along with just one carriage and two peddlers this time, solely to make connections, and the group moving consisted of the Panamera Chivalric Order, the Seatoh Village Chivalric Order, and twenty adventurers.

“The Kingdom of Yelenetta trades with the Central Continent just like the Hessel Confederation, so you can get valuable spices and fabrics. There are many adventurers who earn some pocket money on the side while doing escort requests and such.”

“Peddlers travel back and forth with at least two large carriages considering tariffs, but how much do adventurers usually buy?”

“Eh? What’s a tariff?”

“Dunno.”

Listening to the terrifying conversation between Ortho, Bell, and the other adventurers from the side, my face twitched. When I asked, it seems they rarely travel on the highway because moving along the entrance of woods or forests increases the probability of obtaining magical beast materials and ores.

No, they would definitely take the highway during escort missions. They must be doing it knowingly. Those tax-evading adventurers.

By the way, since they originally traded with the Kingdom of Yelenetta using the coastal road, which is the normal travel route, they said this is their first time heading there via Fortress City Murcia and Fortress City Cayenne. Apparently, mermaids can rarely be seen on that route, so my excitement rose a little. I thought they might be the sea version of apkallu, but I was told there are slight differences in their appearance.

Having such conversations, we aimed straight for the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Yelenetta. As expected, a solid highway was maintained from Fortress City Cayenne to the Royal Capital, so the travel was comfort itself. Well, there were holes due to deterioration of the road, but even so, it was far better than mountain roads. Although I paved the mountain road in the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range, it couldn’t be helped that it ended up winding and twisting with many slopes.

In contrast, the highway after exiting the mountainous area had many straight paths. Fortunate that the weather was good, it was the most enjoyable carriage journey I’ve had so far. For some reason, even at the larger towns serving as checkpoints, we were able to pass through without inspection just by Panamera stating her name. Well, I knew that when passing through the towns, the townspeople were trembling in fear, whispering things like “Is that the Flame Empress…?” and “I hear she turns anyone who opposes her to ash…”, so I didn’t find it particularly strange.

“The citizens of the Kingdom of Yelenetta are quite docile, aren’t they?”

Panamera muttered that wonderingly, but I only returned a forced smile. I would like her to learn the truth from someone other than me.

“Ooh, I can see it. That is the Royal Capital.”

Unaware that she was being spoken of like a Great King of Terror behind her back, Panamera said that triumphantly. At the Great King’s words, we all looked up in unison.

At the end of the highway paved with gray stones continuing straight ahead, there was a city wall stretching out in a straight line. I could see the shadows of several buildings that looked like towers in the back, but I couldn’t confirm the royal castle itself.

Even from a distance, I felt an atmosphere of history, so I thought there might not be many large buildings. However, as we got closer, that thought was denied.

Simply put, the city wall is huge. Getting closer, it looked to be about twenty meters high. Its presence seemed even greater because the surroundings were flat land. Of course, if Van were to build it, he could make something even bigger, but this aged city wall must have been built nearly a hundred years ago. Thinking about that, it seemed to have been built with tremendous wealth, labor, and time.

“It looks like a rather sturdy city wall. However, making it this wide to the left and right makes defense difficult. Would attacks by mages from atop the wall while engaging in field battles be efficient? It is good that enemies can be spotted from quite a distance, but I would want a few more facilities for defense.”

Panamera voiced such an evaluation immediately upon gazing at the city wall. It is just like Panamera to immediately assume a battlefield scenario.

“But it is very large and magnificent. It must have been hard to build this.”

When I muttered that, Panamera snorted and glanced at me sideways.

“It sounds like sarcasm when you say it, Boy. But, well, it is quite a city wall for an old city. Perhaps it hasn’t been a battlefield often, but just maintaining that costs a considerable amount of money.”

“No, in my case, it’s also because Esparda and other first-rate Earth mages help me.”

“That’s not the dimension we’re talking about.”

While having such a conversation with Panamera, the city wall grew larger and larger. Finally approaching close to the city wall, it became a wall that I truly had to look up at.

And the castle gate installed in such a city wall was also huge. It was a large double door that even a giant could pass through if they stretched, but this style also seemed old. Perhaps iron plates were affixed to the wooden gate; it had a heavy atmosphere.

“You there! Please state your names!”

As soon as we stood in front of the castle gate, we were told that from atop the city wall. Panamera’s subordinate, Macan, answered this. He properly introduced not only Panamera but me as well.

Then, a presence of clear agitation spread atop the city wall.

“Th-The Empress of Ashes…”

“Is the Royal Capital finished already…”

I heard some new nickname for Panamera. Nicknames might be increasing rapidly as rumors get exaggerated.

“Oi, wasn’t I called by some strange name?”

When Panamera narrowed her eyes and looked at Macan, Macan nodded faithfully.

“Yes. I believe they called you the Empress of Ashes.”

It seems Macan took on the role of conveying the truth to the Great King of Terror. Thank you, Mr. Macan.

While counting the number of cracks in the city wall thinking such absentminded things, Panamera burst out laughing.

“They’ve given me quite an imposing name. Well, it is better than the Fresh Blood Demon King or whatever I was called when fighting a small country before.”

Panamera laughed it off. I wonder what exactly Panamera did in the battles she participated in in the past. By the way, I do not have the courage to ask.