Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Chapter 2. The Tenth Fragment, Althemia
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Jeanne's gaze was burdensome. It was so straightforward that it was impossible to coldly refuse her.
Judah averted her eyes and let out a sigh. Strolling through the market as she suggested wouldn't be bad, but he wanted to get to Aslan as quickly as possible.
Just as unexpectedly as Count Jenner had been here, he worried that someone might visit the rundown shop in Aslan where the fragment was and snatch it away. If that really happened, he'd have to chase them down prepared to kill.
"Judah. Are you listening to me?"
She called his name from beside him, as if urging a response.
"Alright, got it. But how about we check out the market in Aslan instead of here? There'll be more people, sure, but as the capital, its market should be way more developed than this place."
"Um..."
This time, Jeanne pondered it over before nodding readily. Though she glanced back at the market with a hint of regret. He found her an inn. Fortunately, there was one not far from the market. Stepping inside, the interior decor was as neat as it had looked from outside, and the prices were reasonable enough. A double room would have been cheaper, but he rented a single for Jeanne's sake.
"Then rest up well, wash up, and we'll meet again tomorrow morning. If you want to browse the market, go ahead."
"Mm— Understood."
Judah handed her the room key. She took it, paused as if thinking, then pocketed it and waved.
"Then I'll be off."
Judah let out a hollow chuckle at how quickly she left the inn. She must have been really looking forward to it.
"Is it okay to let her go alone?"
The innkeeper, who had been watching, spoke to Judah. The words carried genuine concern. Phloria's public safety was excellent, but it didn't extend to meddling in personal matters. In other words, men might hit on a girl wandering alone. But Judah just smiled, unperturbed.
"It's fine."
If someone could seduce Jeanne, that'd be a skill in itself, and since he couldn't handle her with force anyway, he had no worries.
"I'd like to wash up first. Could you prepare some water?"
"Go into that room over there, and the water's already ready for you to bathe."
He headed in the direction the innkeeper pointed, finding a bathhouse. Several people were washing up, but they ignored each other, silently bathing or soaking in the warm water.
After lounging in the bath until he felt limp, Judah roughly cleaned himself, changed into comfortable clothes, and headed to his room. The tidy space had a plush-looking bed, and he flopped onto it immediately. The mattress cradled him softly. He figured sleep might evade him in unfamiliar surroundings, but accumulated fatigue pulled his eyelids down. Indeed, nothing beat stretching out one's legs in comfort.
Knock knock—
He cracked his eyes open at the knocking, having dozed off briefly. He hated waking up like this every time.
Knock knock—
Frowning, Judah rose from the bed and slowly approached the door.
"Yes."
Yawning as he opened it, there stood Jeanne, arms full of stuff.
"I heard you haven't eaten. Want to try some of this? I bought it from the market—got a ton."
Jeanne smiled and offered a paper bag. Inside were oily chicken skewers, french fries, and various other foods. With the aromas hitting him now, his stomach growled.
"Thanks, I'll dig in. But didn't you buy this to eat yourself?"
"Right. Of course we'll eat together."
With that, Jeanne headed downstairs, ordered beer from the waitress, and returned to Judah's room. She'd bought every kind she wanted, apparently hoping he'd help polish it off.
Even in a single room, there were two chairs at the small table.
"You bought a lot."
He'd sensed the bag's weight when she handed it over—not a small amount. But even so, it filled the tiny table with no room left over, which was overwhelming.
"I grabbed everything that looked good. Hold on a sec."
Blushing a bit, she fetched the table from her room. Now there was finally space for the beer glasses. Beads of cold water dotted the mugs as they clinked them together. Naturally, Judah recalled old memories of chicken and beer, gulping it down. The beer here was still baffling in taste, but drinking it after so long felt good.
"Ahh—
Exhaling in satisfaction, he set down his glass and reached for the market snacks as sides. One chicken skewer gleamed invitingly. He wrapped the saucy meat in paper and took a bite.
"......"
"…?"
As he chewed away, his eyes met Jeanne's—she stared blankly, beer mug in hand.
"Not eating?"
"Oh, yes, I am."
Had she drunk a lot before? Jeanne tilted her head. It wasn't the reaction she'd expected. Back when she'd bid farewell to Gentia and Judah, she'd shared a last drink with Gentia. Judah had come up in conversation, including how she'd never let him touch alcohol until his coming-of-age rite. She'd assumed he'd be curious about beer, but his response was that of a seasoned drinker. A newly adult kid shouldn't show that unless she'd been letting him drink all along—but her doubts didn't last. Judah was devouring the market haul faster than expected; no time to idle.
"So, how was the market?"
Judah asked mid-french fry, as if it just occurred to him. With hunger sated, he could finally spare thoughts elsewhere.
"The market...? It was incredibly clean. Shockingly so. Even the Empire's markets aren't this good—truly impressive."
"Aren't markets all the same wherever you go?"
Crowded with bumping people, chaotic, full of pickpockets. But loaded with tasty food and sights. That was Judah's idea of a market. Jeanne suddenly chuckled, took a swig of beer—nearly emptying her half-full mug. "Ahh—" she sighed, reaching for the food.
"I used to think so too, but Phloria was different. Shockingly so. How, you ask...? Ah."
She stopped mid-sentence, then let out a smirk laced with amusement.
"We'll hit the market in Aslan anyway. You'll be shocked then. To save that joy, I'll hold back for now."
Jeanne just smiled and ate. Judah stared blankly for a moment before sighing softly.
'From the way she talks, she just browsed the market normally.'
He'd hoped for something special like running into Count Jenner, but she said nothing. After the meal, she reminded him not to forget to check out Aslan's market and left.
+ + +
After resting at the inn, he stepped out around midday. A dedicated merchant guild handled carriages between Aslan and Dempa, so plenty were waiting—easy to hire one. On festival days like the flag tournament, even these might be scarce, but having a comfy ride was a boon. Judah hired a carriage and driver with Jeanne.
With ample funds, he rented a better one than from Serennia Castle, arriving in Phloria's capital, Aslan, quite comfortably.
"...Impressive."
Jeanne murmured in awe upon disembarking, eyes fixed on Aslan. Her voice trembled with excitement—totally understandable. As she said, it was grand and majestic enough to draw gasps. The driver, used to such reactions, wished them a fun trip and headed back to Dempa.
Judah absentmindedly returned the greeting, then gazed at Aslan again. Dempa's walls and castle were impressive, but Aslan was another level. Even from afar, he felt ant-sized.
'Amazing.'
That was the word that came to mind. Nothing else fit. Like Serennia, it had multiple walls of varying heights—the outermost wasn't low, but they grew taller inward. Glimpses of inner buildings suggested a mountain carved into a fortress. Ironclad didn't do it justice.
Imagining himself as a besieging general, he could think of no way to breach it save internal revolt or starvation siege.
Even scaling the lowest wall would reveal taller ones ahead—hopeless.
"Did you know?"
"Hm?"
Lost in the sight, Jeanne spoke up. He turned, but she wasn't looking—absorbing the view like she'd memorize it forever.
"Phloria has never once let enemies reach its capital. Yet they always prepare for the worst, fortifying even unguarded fronts. That's why the kingdom is called an ironclad fortress today. Isn't it amazing? So cool? They live in peace yet never slack, ready for trials anytime."
"......"
"My instructor who trained me... told us squires to visit Phloria's capital if possible. The Empire conquered many kingdoms, fears not even Baekje its rival—but the exception is 'Phloria.' I didn't get it then, why see Aslan, but now I do."
To Judah, it was just stunning scenery. To Jeanne, deeper meaning. She shone brighter than ever in their meetings. Eyes alight with anticipation, she trembled, grabbing his sleeve.
"Come on, let's go, Judah. What good is just looking?"
Jeanne pulled him toward the gate for inspection.