Welcome to the Asonia Family
"We're headed to the capital. Including the carriage behind us."
Clink—.
The coachman handed over a coin pouch as he answered. There had to be at least five gold coins inside, no less.
"Understood."
The mage who received the fare moved with brisk efficiency. He placed his hand on the device before him and poured mana into it.
Woooom—!
The massive warp gate's mana stirred, and the barrier's color shifted all at once — a blend of silver and gold.
The carriage carrying Leon's party drove straight into it. The horses went first, then the cart followed behind.
Fzzzzz—
Leon sensed the flow of mana wrapping around them.
Oh. Last time I didn't feel a thing.
Leon was inwardly impressed. When he'd used a warp gate at the start of the semester, he hadn't sensed anything at all. But thanks to the growth he'd made since then, he could feel something now.
Thud!
The carriage fully crossed through the gate.
The first thing that hit them was an enormous racket. The sheer number of people made it incomparably louder than Elaim. The air was cooler, and the sun hung toward the east.
Leon looked out the window.
An enormous wall filled his entire field of vision. It was taller and thicker than he had imagined, stretching all the way to the horizon — a structure that fully displayed the majesty of the Latia Empire. The outer wall of the capital.
The gate Leon's party had emerged from was formed outside the outer wall. From the wall to the gate, a dense crowd formed a long, snaking line. At the front, people were being inspected at the gate, while more arrivals kept pouring in from the warp gate behind.
Of course, Leon's party's carriage casually took a side path and headed for the gate. It was a road reserved for nobles and distinguished guests alone.
Feels good.
Leon smirked as he watched countless eyes turn toward their carriage. Casually cutting past that enormous line was pretty enjoyable — like using a FastPass at an amusement park.
"By the way, what's the capital actually called? Everyone just calls it 'the capital.'"
Leon asked about a curiosity that had suddenly occurred to him.
"Same as the country. Latia."
"Ah, is that so?"
At Esabel's answer, the party members looked like they were hearing it for the first time. It was a question none of them had ever thought to ask. It was like how the capital of the Roman Empire was Rome — since the names overlapped, people simply called it "the capital."
As a side note, people on the continent rarely said "Latia Empire." They simply called it "the Empire." Over its long history, the Latia Empire had remained the only empire on the continent.
Rumble—!
The carriage raced without obstruction, passing through the outer gate without slowing down. There was no inspection. The guards who saw the imperial crest immediately saluted and cleared the way.
Once past the gate, a broad cityscape unfolded.
"Between the middle wall and the outer wall are Districts 5 through 11. This is District 5. Mostly middle-class residents."
Esabel explained as if she were a tour guide. The higher the district number, the more expensive the neighborhood, apparently. So District 5 was where the better-off commoners gathered.
Indeed, the buildings were taller, the roads cleaner, and the pedestrians better dressed. It felt just like the best part of Elaim's central district. Even within District 5 there were further tiers, and conditions improved the further inward they went.
The middle wall. Smaller than the outer wall, but far more heavily guarded. Again, no inspection. Guards who even to Leon's eyes looked quite skilled stepped aside without a word. In fact, as long as they bore the imperial crest, there wouldn't be an inspection even at the inner wall.
"Your Highness, so inside the middle wall are Districts 2 through 4?"
"That's right. Most of the nobility live here."
In short, it was the stronghold of the central nobility. Of course, even commoners who were wealthy enough would live deeper into District 4.
"Oh ho."
As the carriage entered the middle wall, Leon let out a quiet exclamation of admiration. Indeed, the atmosphere here was completely different from outside.
Modern buildings spaced generously apart rather than packed tightly together. Tree-lined streets, flower beds, parks, sculptures, gardens, ponds… Beautiful, atmospheric landscaping. Cleaning golems diligently roamed the streets, sweeping away filth and trash. Floating signs hung in the air, soft music played, and lavish lights glowed brightly even in broad daylight.
It was a magnificent sight — the Empire's magical engineering seamlessly blended into a beautiful European-style city.
"I didn't expect it to be this impressive. Amazing."
"…? You came here last year for His Majesty the Emperor's birthday banquet, didn't you?"
"Ah, I just mean it looks great even seeing it again."
At the party's puzzled looks, Leon hastily brushed it off. Anyway, they continued on — through District 4, District 3, all the way to District 2, the zone closest to the inner wall.
Before long, they arrived before a magnificent grand mansion in District 2.
"Instructor, is this the place?"
"It is."
Answering, Cheren placed her hand on the brooch pinned to her collar and infused it with mana.
Creeeak—.
The iron gate at the entrance began to open on its own. The brooch seemed to serve as a kind of ID card.
"…"
Aria briefly looked back and forth between the brooch and the entrance with interested eyes.
Rumble—!
Statues thrusting swords skyward lined both sides of the path, and sword-bearing swordsmen walked along the roadside. The carriage crossed the wide courtyard toward the main building ahead. It was magnificent — grand enough to pass for a palace.
Cheren crossed her arms and said calmly to Leon:
"Welcome to the Asonia Family."
Asonia Family mansion, main building, first-floor hall.
"Welcome to our family estate."
The head of the Asonia Family, Count Filtron, came out personally to greet the party.
"We will do our utmost to ensure you experience no inconvenience during your stay."
Blunt and stiff. Like father, like daughter — he had the exact same demeanor as Cheren. And as befitting the head of a renowned swordsmanship family, he carried a presence like a finely honed blade.
If those two fought, who would win?
Leon glanced between Lyman and Filtron and briefly entertained a childish thought.
"Show our guests to their rooms."
"Yes, my lord."
Filtron instructed Cheren.
"Then."
Filtron placed a hand on his sword hilt, gave a slight nod, and withdrew. It was one of the formal greetings used by martial artists.
"This way."
Click, click, click—!
The party followed Cheren toward the guest rooms where they would be staying. They climbed the central staircase in the hall to the second floor, then turned down the left corridor.
"By the way, is Your Highness staying here too?"
Leon asked Esabel with a look that said, why are you still tagging along? She was a princess, so she would normally live in the imperial palace in District 1. Why stay at someone else's house when she had a perfectly good home of her own?
"…"
Was he picking a fight right now? Esabel's mouth hung open for a moment in disbelief.
"…Ha, no, it's my choice, okay? Going back and forth is a hassle, and it's more convenient if we all stick together, right?"
There were plenty of other reasons too. She wanted to take this opportunity to look around the Asonia Family, famous for its swordsmanship. Entering the imperial palace was actually more inconvenient…
…And staying here meant she could comfortably remain by Leon's side.
"Hmm."
Leon nodded. In truth, he could have stayed at the Crusif family's villa himself, but he'd come along for similar reasons.
Click—!
Cheren's feet stopped.
"You can use the rooms on this side."
Maids were waiting in front of the doors lined up along both sides of the corridor.
"And these are identification badges for moving about the estate. They also signify that you are most distinguished guests, so as long as you carry them, you shouldn't run into any inconvenience within the family."
Cheren distributed gold badges engraved with the Asonia Family crest to the party.
"If you have any requests or questions, speak to the servants. Well then, I'll see you again shortly."
Once Cheren left, the party each picked out a room. Leon chose the room closest to the corridor entrance. Aria took the one next to his, and Celia went into the room across the hall.
Bang!
"…"
Leon flung the door open and roughly scanned the interior.
"Nice."
Spacious, luxurious, and opulent. Better than the dormitory room he'd used at Elprime.
"Young master. Is there anything you require?"
The maid who had followed him asked with a bow.
"Where's the training ground?"
Leon immediately prepared to leave. He didn't rest for a moment or unpack. The only times he returned to his quarters were to wash up and sleep.
"Th-the training ground?"
The maid was flustered by Leon, who was about to leave without taking a single step into the room.
"Th-then this way…"
"I don't need a guide — just tell me the way."
"…Go straight this way, then go down, and then…"
A short while later.
Having arrived at the Asonia Family's training ground, Leon—
"You little bastard, who the hell do you think you're talking to like that…!"
"You looking to die?"
"What the fuck are you?"
"Haha."
—had gotten into a conflict with a group of swordsmen.