Chapter 174
Chapter: 174
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 174
>Chapter Title: Logistics Relay Station (5)
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>Surprisingly, it was Lady Claudia who came to the defense of the dejected Rolan.
"Cheer up, Rolan. Why would that be frivolous? If love is the theme, I think you've got the direction spot on."
Rolan perked up his ears and lifted his head.
"...You really think so?"
"Of course. The image you're chasing—that's the ultimate form where a man and woman's love can remain most beautifully in memory, isn't it?"
A brief silence fell over the group gathered around the campfire.
"...A fleeting, burning love? And then cherishing each other for life after parting?"
"That's precisely why it can remain beautiful. The longer a romance drags on, the more you just end up seeing each other's petty, ugly sides, right? Even if that became a song, who would want to listen to it?"
...Is that so?
The unexpectedly persuasive argument made everyone start reflecting on their own experiences.
"Come on, Sir Valery. You're one of the top playboys in the Saint Marthias Knights. Care to weigh in?"
The flighty inquisitor gave a feeble smile.
"Playboy? That's not true at all. I was always faithful to my lovers."
"But they change so quickly."
"It was personality clashes."
Sir Valery, who had answered thus, rested his chin on his hand with a somewhat serious expression.
"Hmm. Now that I think about it, you're right. The excitement is only momentary. Often, without knowing why she was angry, we'd grow distant, then part ways full of disappointment in each other. That process wasn't exactly beautiful."
Lady Claudia nodded and turned to the side.
"Lady Maria. You were once famous as the longest-lasting couple in the First Knights, weren't you? How did it end?"
Suddenly called out, Lady Maria hesitated before answering.
"Huh? Uh, yeah. We'd been together so long, but the breakup was over something trivial. Right after I got promoted to senior knight, he suddenly wanted to split."
Then, as if recalling that moment, her face twisted in anger.
"...That worthless bastard!"
"See, Rolan?"
Lady Claudia declared firmly to the wide-eyed young man.
"Real love is far from beautiful. So if you're making something about romance between men and women, there are only two paths: fantasy, or melodrama!"
"...Fantasy... melodrama?"
Lady Claudia flashed a broad grin and thrust the dagger home at Rolan, who gaped at her in a daze.
"Rolan. Be honest—you've never properly dated, have you?"
"......!"
"See? That's why you need to make the songs. Your fantasies about love are still pure and intact."
Rolan now looked utterly shocked, as if his soul had fled.
Lady Claudia, stop! The guy's about to cry!
* * *
The Holy Emperor's group set off at dawn and arrived in Regina before the sun had even reached midday.
"...It's huge!"
After passing through the gate with simple procedures, Seongjin let out an honest exclamation at the grand sight unfolding before him.
Towering buildings built in fierce competition, and gaudily painted signs of all sizes.
A massive radial network of roads stretching from the logistics relay station, filled with wagons constantly streaming in and out.
It had a bustling metropolis vibe, utterly different from the orderly Imperial Capital.
"The large logistics relay station in Regina isn't there by coincidence. It's on flat land easy for building roads, and above all, it borders a major river to the north."
As Seongjin listened to Sir Masaine's explanation and gazed out the window.
"You mean the Breeze River?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Goods heading to eastern Ortona and Kypros mostly pass through the relay station and travel along the Breeze River. They say the fare drops significantly because of the swift current."
"I see. If we head that way next time, taking a boat might be good..."
Seongjin trailed off, struck by a sudden sense of dissonance as he spoke absentmindedly.
Next time?
"...Your Highness?"
"Uh, nothing."
Scratching his cheek awkwardly in response to the puzzled Sir Masaine, Seongjin thought.
Thinking of future trips so naturally—jeez. I've gotten way too used to living as Morel lately. Sometimes I even forget I possessed this body.
'How long do I think I'll be in Morel's body...'
[Hey, Yi Seongjin?]
'Yeah?'
[...Nah. Nothing.]
What's with this guy, backing off so anticlimactically?
Meanwhile, the carriage slowly made its way toward the inn.
Though a small retinue, it was a journey escorting an Imperial Prince of the Empire. By Hermann's arrangements, one knight had ridden ahead a day early to reserve a luxurious inn.
Upon arrival at the inn, the bard Rolan approached Seongjin's carriage, bowed deeply, and said.
"I thank you again, Your Highness. You saved my life yesterday."
"Heading out now?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, I've safely reached my destination, Regina. I'll never forget this favor."
Seongjin silently scanned the surroundings without replying.
As expected of a renowned upscale inn, besides their group, two large merchant caravans from yesterday were entering the gate. And a fair number of mercenaries glaring murderously at Rolan.
Is this guy really okay like this?
Oblivious to the mood, Rolan chattered brightly.
"Now I've got a big dilemma to ponder. I've realized the ideal image I was chasing might not be perfect after all."
"So no more love songs?"
"I'll take time to think it over slowly. Whether to refine my ideal further, or completely change my repertoire. Maybe, like the other knights said, staying in this city will revive my inspiration perfectly? After all, it's overflowing with decadent love."
Then Rolan grinned, sporting a purple bruise around his eye.
"Who knows? Someday I might compose an epic ballad with Your Highness as the protagonist."
"......"
Seongjin gazed down at Rolan silently for a moment.
Why is it that I feel certain this guy will never make anything like that?
"You sure you'll be fine? Most of the mercenaries who tried to kill you yesterday will probably stay in Regina with the caravans."
Rolan's face stiffened, lips twitching upward in a forced smile.
Even if drunk, the trauma of a group lynching was clearly strong for him.
Watching his expression, Seongjin added.
"How about going north while you're at it? We're heading to Sigismund Territory now. If you want, we can escort you there safely."
"Sigismund Territory?"
It was an offer beyond generous, but Rolan wasn't keen.
A land perpetually blanketed in snow. A frozen wasteland where even budding love would wither.
"Yeah. It's isolated, so people there would welcome a bard with open arms."
"But would inspiration for love strike there?"
"Who knows. I don't know about love, but seeing the Wolf Knights in action in the demonic realm might inspire some heroic epic at least. Who knows? Maybe you'll make your name with something like [Orlando's Epic of Heroism]."
Rolan blinked in confusion at the unexpected suggestion.
"A heroic epic?"
"Yeah. Or learn more about that 'melodrama' from Lady Claudia. Love mixed with melodrama might be pretty fun."
Though said to persuade Rolan, Seongjin was somewhat sincere.
Anything would be better than his current outdated love tales, right?
"Heroic epic with melodrama... Hmm......"
Pondering, Rolan turned and caught sight of Lady Claudia chatting with Lady Sharon in the distance. Before he knew it, his lips curved into a smile.
"Yes. That might work. I'm not sold on melodrama yet, but I just got a pretty good inspiration about that freckled miss."
Whoosh.
For a split second, Seongjin felt a faint attractive force coiling around his arm.
Though fleeting, he recognized the familiar sensation.
It was the feeling of [Causality] at work.
* * *
"We plan to spend today with no schedule, resting in Regina."
After roughly unpacking at the inn, Hermann addressed the group.
Even rushing, the distance to the next destination meant they'd likely end up camping midway anyway, he explained.
Of course, the real goal is tracking the Milo caravan.
Merchant groups typically stay a day in Regina to handle order confirmations, customs, and other complexities at the relay station all at once.
"We'll head to the relay station first to keep an eye on Milo caravan master Giacomo."
As Orden added gravely, Seongjin inwardly clicked his tongue.
What an idiot. Knights like us blatantly tailing merchants to the relay station? No way they won't get suspicious. Wait.
About to chew him out, Seongjin changed his mind with a sudden idea.
Hold on. If they draw attention openly, won't it make it easier for me or Dasha to move?
"Got it. I'll hear the detailed report tomorrow."
They'll come back empty-handed anyway.
Sending off Orden's group, Seongjin holed up in his room. To link up with Dasha, he'd have to wait for nightfall, right?
He planned to meditate quietly in the meantime. But the group freaked out and talked him out of it.
"You're serious, Your Highness? Regina's a city full of sights!"
"No way you're coming to a famous place like this just to train in your room?"
"Your Highness! There's an amazing famous eatery in Regina! You have to go!"
Hmm. If the protectee stays cooped up, the knights get stuck here too.
Above all, the Demon King—who'd tasted breakfast with him—was excitedly belting out songs in his head.
[I wanna eat yummy food! Yummy stuff! I really really wanna go to that famous place!]
'......'
Fine. Just for today.
If it's like this tomorrow, I'll seriously exorcise you!
Thus, Seongjin headed out with the group—minus the two channelers who hated crowded, mentally draining places.
Since the inn was in the heart of the bustling district, they decided to walk and sightsee. Even similar commercial areas felt worlds apart from the Imperial Capital's Bertrand or Desté Streets.
Lined with restaurants and all sorts of quirky shops, it felt like being abroad.
Karmen, experiencing life outside the capital for the first time, was gawking nonstop, eyes wide—embarrassing to be seen with.
'Come to think of it, I said I'd get souvenirs for Dad...'
Eyeing a small antique shop, Seongjin thought. With time to spare, maybe get some for Sis, Logan, and the kids too.
[You know it's just a day's trip back to the capital from here? What souvenirs from a place like this?]
'Then buy more elsewhere. What's the problem?'
The more souvenirs, the better, right?
Lost in trivial banter with the Demon King, Sir Masaine suddenly pointed somewhere.
"Your Highness. That's the relay station building."
"......!"
The logistics relay station.
More a massive rectangular structure than a mere building.
Though tall, its vast sprawl made the height hard to notice.
The first floor had walls replaced by dense pillars, with countless wagons streaming through.
All paths led straight inside—a purely utilitarian design. From there, broad radial roads extended across the city.
Truly worthy of being called the hub where all northern and eastern logistics converged.
[Yi Seongjin.]
Awed by the unimaginable scale, the Demon King whispered tensely.
[Be careful. Faint, but I sense demonic energy from inside.]
'...What?'
Glancing back quickly, inquisitor Sir Valery showed no sign of noticing, grinning as he enjoyed the cityscape.
[Too faint for humans to detect. Probably only high priests or your brothers would sense it.]
The Demon King explained.
Unless summoning a demon directly, humans—cultists or contractors—don't emit demonic energy easily.
That direct demonic energy meant one thing.
[No doubt, Yi Seongjin. There's a demon hiding in that building.]