Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Ruins City (2)
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“This is the ruins city...”
Someone's murmur carried a note of awe.
Arsen felt much the same.
The sight unfolding before them was that breathtaking.
Typically, an estate's size was determined by the extent of its purified zone.
But if the population was too small, like the Ormu estate they'd passed recently, they couldn't fully secure the zone, limiting livable space.
What Arsen's group was seeing now was the opposite.
A bizarre city had sprawled out beyond the purified zone due to an overabundance of people.
Even Arsen, who had seen far grander cities before, was overwhelmed by its sheer presence.
Bazkal gaped as he spoke.
“What kind of wall stretches that wide...”
Just as he said, the enormous barrier extended far beyond the estate's borders.
Looking down from a high hill, they could see intact buildings inside the wall and people moving about.
They were living their daily lives outside the estate proper.
“How is that possible? What about the magic beasts?”
Eloise exclaimed in surprise, and Arsen replied.
“With so many people and relics around, they've been clearing out the surrounding magic beasts over time and expanding their territory.”
It was also what the merchant Moro had told them.
This couldn't have happened from natural population growth alone; it required constant influx from outsiders.
Those drawn by the ruins city's fame were all hardened enough to withstand the poison miasma.
“Then we'll part ways here.”
Anun grinned and waved.
His mount let out a reluctant whine, shaking its head as if sorry to say goodbye.
“I pray your revenge succeeds. If you need any help, just say the word.”
Arsen hadn't originally planned to get involved in Anun's vengeance, but he'd grown fond of this knight who fought like a madman in battle yet was polite and friendly otherwise.
To the point where, if Anun asked for help, he might not confidently refuse.
True to his word, Anun had served faithfully and bravely in Arsen's forces.
He'd even cooperated rationally with retreats when fighting wasn't needed.
Arsen wanted to keep him under his command, but he couldn't hold onto someone with their own path.
“It's fine. An Elta clansman should handle their own affairs.”
“What about your way back? Joining a merchant caravan might be best.”
Anun's expression turned ambiguous at the question.
“Come to think of it, I might pass through Manar on the way back. Won't I have to pretend to be dead?”
Arsen shook his head at Anun's question.
“No issue.”
“Huh?”
“No one there knows Knight Anun's face. At most, Knight Karik might, but he wouldn't expose you just to embarrass you. If the chance arises, just keep the forest a secret.”
Anun grinned at Arsen's words.
“Got it. Until we meet again, may the God of War bless Knight Arsen!”
“You too, Knight Anun.”
Anun spurred his mount vigorously toward the city.
Everyone waved him off from behind, Bazkal's eyes even glistening with tears.
They'd bickered occasionally, but as fellow knights, they'd bonded.
“You're gonna cry.”
At Arsen's words, Bazkal hurriedly rubbed his eyes.
“Not crying. Narvik men don't cry.”
“You're quoting Knight Anun word for word.”
Eloise quipped from the side, and Arsen couldn't help but chuckle.
“No need to be too sad. We're heading to the same city anyway. We might even end up at the same inn tonight.”
That would make their touching farewell comical.
Like sharing an emotional goodbye at a bus stop, only to board the same bus right after.
By the time their chatter ended, Anun had vanished into the city.
“Alright, let's head in.”
As they approached the wide-open gate at one side of the wall, eyes turned their way.
Two knights, one magic knight, eleven mages, and thirteen well-trained warriors made for an impressive group.
Onlookers chattered and glanced, but no one blocked or approached them.
The two guards at the entrance hemmed and hawed, unsure whether to intervene.
“Where are you from?”
“Far east, from Belluan estate.”
Naturally, these ruins city guards from the far west wouldn't know the distant eastern Belluan.
One guard jotted notes on a clipboard.
“Belluan... east... What brings you here?”
“Why come to the ruins city? Interest in ancient relics, of course.”
At the utterly ordinary purpose, the guards nodded.
That was the goal for most visitors.
The mindset of picking up a relic to strike it rich was no different from a gambler's, but the guards cared little for visitors' morals.
“Welcome to Satién. As you know, unauthorized violence here will be judged by the guard force...”
Arsen nodded silently at the guard's warning.
The guard, burdened by their large group at the gate, gave only the essentials before letting them in.
And so, they entered the ruins city of Satién.
* * *
“So many people.”
Eloise swiveled her head, taking in the surroundings.
The others were no different.
Like country bumpkins in a new city, they were all entranced by the unfamiliar sights, distracted by gawking.
Being the outermost area, it was lined with simple stalls rather than proper buildings.
Items on the stands sometimes gleamed ethereally or emitted strange sounds, proving they were relics.
Relics that would be treasures elsewhere sat casually on roadside stalls here.
Proving this was everyday life, passersby showed little interest in them.
The hundreds strolling the streets were all sturdy and heavily armed, looking like they could conquer one or two estates if united.
All hardened warriors able to endure the miasma, so it wasn't an impossible thought.
[A mage just passed by.]
Eloise said through her earring.
Sure enough, with helmets off, mages were visible sporadically among the crowd.
All in black robes like Eloise's, they were identifiable even without helmets.
Surprisingly, pedestrians just cursed or spat and gave them wide berth—no excessive reactions.
[Everyone seems used to mages? Maybe because robes are relics.]
[Yeah. Wonder if the ones Luden gave us came from here.]
It was bittersweet that mages had to accept verbal abuse as normal, but this was astonishingly mild.
They'd heard roughly from the ruins city merchant Moro, but seeing it firsthand was shocking.
Pondering how this was possible, Arsen called Rino and gave orders.
“Find us a long-term stay first. We need to check at least three ruin sites, so we might be here weeks.”
“Understood.”
Rino bowed and grabbed two soldiers and two mages to inquire with locals about inns.
Soon, he returned with a middle-aged woman.
She looked like an ordinary matron, but able to roam outside the purified zone, she was surely no slouch.
Indeed, a sizable sword hung at her waist.
“She says a big inn just opened up. A group of explorers hasn't returned in months—probably all dead...”
“Big enough for us?”
The woman bowed at Arsen's question.
“Oh, yes, sir knight. Room for twice this many, no worries. Facilities are top-notch.”
“Good, lead the way.”
With that, Arsen flicked her a prepared copper coin.
She frowned slightly at the unfamiliar minting but quickly hid it, humming as she guided them.
“Trustworthy?”
Bazkal whispered.
“If not, make her pay.”
Fortunately for some, disappointingly for others, she led them straight to a solid inn without tricks.
The five-story building looked old but sturdy and upscale, thanks to well-fitted stonework.
Plenty spacious for dozens, with excellent interior facilities—perfect for staying.
The only downside? Pricey.
“Two silvers per person per week?”
“Yes. Meals and water separate. No firewood charge this season. Cheaper places are real dumps.”
Surprisingly, the owner was that very middle-aged woman hawking on the street.
With a rare vacancy and big spenders like them, she'd gone out and found them.
“You do have the coin, right?”
Arsen checked his funds.
Bazkal's contribution plus what they'd exchanged in Exekia made a decent sum.
He handed Rino a pouch of silvers.
“Rino.”
“Got it!”
Rino checked the contents and began haggling.
He offered based on headcount; she inspected the coins, turning them over.
“Not the local standard silvers.”
“Well, we're from far away.”
“Hmm... Common for distant visitors. Suspected it from the copper earlier. Hold on.”
She pulled items from the counter and tested the silvers: slicing with a dagger, weighing against her own, every method.
“Not fake. But smaller, lower purity. Two extra per.”
“What's the standard? Looks fine to me. You can't judge like that—these silvers...”
Arsen sat in a chair on the first-floor hall as they bickered.
The spacious hall had plenty of chairs and tables for lounging.
Mana lamps—rare even in lordly manors—lit the ceiling, making it bright as day despite closed windows.
“Everyone, rest up.”
“Understood!”
While waiting, Arsen chatted idly with Eloise at a table.
How much time passed? The door jingled open.
A middle-aged knight entered with a few comrades.
“I'm back, missus! Ale for one!”
His boisterous call halted as he eyed Arsen's group dominating the hall, squinting one eye.
“Who're these guests?”
“Guests, as the word says. Honored to meet you.”
Arsen stood and replied; the knight sized him up, then exclaimed “Oh!” and extended a hand.
“Lasur from Janash.”
“Arsen of Belluan.”
After shaking, Lasur snapped a finger lightly.
Arsen stomped once in response; Lasur laughed heartily.
“Young-looking, but no total greenhorn!”
Arsen skipped replying and asked.
“Where's Janash estate?”
“Up north. Plenty from there around here. And Belluan? Lived here years, never heard of it.”
“Far east end. Cross the central mountains from here, then same distance again—still won't reach.”
“That's brutally far.”
Lasur grinned, then frowned slightly at Eloise and the other mages.
But that was it; with impressive restraint, he masked it.
“Lots of mage friends. First time seeing so many.”
“Not surprised?”
“Used to mages. Got one in our group.”
Looking then, a woman stood apart from the others.
Her warrior garb had blended her in.
“Makes sense now.”
Then Rino approached.
“Done, captain. Leftover silvers in the luggage.”
“Good work.”
“We paid upfront for this week.”
Hearing that, Lasur smiled.
“Neighbors for a while, then. We're staying here too. Gotta head up. Good luck excavating a ruin.”
“You too—may you succeed.”
Arsen sensed Lasur awaited something.
Recalling Moro's advice on knightly greetings.
“A memorable meeting.”
“Same here—memorable.”
Only then did Lasur grin satisfied and head upstairs.