Chapter 315: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It was a Mistake.
Chapter 315
The Failed experiment began to be suppressed faster than expected.
They were aggressive and couldn't be killed with blades, but they discovered that the Failed experiment caught fire easily. Once they figured out the strategy, they could suppress them quite quickly.
"The Failed experiment are weak against fire!"
"Throw oil flasks and burn them!"
"All oil and flame magic artifacts are subject to requisition! If you see any, requisition them immediately!"
However, if asked whether discovering the weakness of these failed creations played a major role in restoring stability to Vexilla, the answer would be no. With the sudden attack of devils, the destruction of important imperial facilities, and rumors of the Emperor's death, the atmosphere in Vexilla turned ominous.
Nobles and citizens trying to leave Vexilla formed long lines at the city gates.
"I'm sorry, but no one is allowed to leave."
"What?! Do you know who I am?! I'm..."
"No one is allowed to leave. This is the Emperor's strict order."
"Until when are we not allowed to leave?"
"Until the Emperor orders otherwise."
"Damn it all!"
While all roads leading to Vexilla were blocked, a shabby carriage rolled up to the city gate.
"Whoever you are, please turn back. The Emperor..."
"But the Emperor himself told us to leave?"
The red-eyed coachman handed over a document stamped with the Emperor's seal. Upon seeing the document, the guard immediately saluted Caesar.
"I just received word. You may pass through."
"Thanks for your hard work"
The noble who had been arguing earlier became furious.
"What the hell! Why is that guy allowed to leave?!"
The coachman took off his hat and flashed a refreshing smile toward the noble.
"You should get friendly with the new Emperor if you want to count."
"You, you are...!"
Caesar waved his hand dismissively as he left Vexilla.
Raven poked her head out of the carriage and said:
"Do you really have to provoke them like that?"
"This is the pleasure of using power, why wouldn't I?"
"Sigh."
Gloria opened the window on the opposite side of the carriage and spoke:
"Master, where are we going now?"
"Where else? We need to go to Shalibi."
"What? Shalibi? Not to Homigraph?"
"We need to pick up Pesson and Theon, don't we?"
"Ah, right."
"Of course, there's one place we need to stop by on the way."
"Where?"
Caesar looked at the signpost. On the weathered, rotting signpost was written 'Undertour, City of Adventurers'.
"Grezawa, the City of Sin."
***
Roland's sword came down with difficulty.
"Ugh!"
A devil, with its heart pierced by the sword, struggled. Roland forcefully pushed the sword upward, cutting from the devil's heart to the top of its head. Purple blood soaked Roland's scratched armor and hair. Roland's hair was a mess, clumped together with sweat and devil blood.
Roland looked around.
"...Is this all of them?"
The priests who had been carrying the Holy Grail were all dead, and only five Grail Knights remained. Roland looked at the dead priest who had been clutching the Holy Grail tightly.
The priest's back was covered in blood, and both shoulders were damaged to the point where bone was visible.
Nevertheless, the priest's determination to protect the Holy Grail was clearly evident in his wide-open eyes.
Roland forcibly pried open the priest's stiffened arms and took out the Holy Grail. Roland looked at the Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail was still emitting a stream of red light. Following the red light, Roland could see Vexilla.
In Vexilla, black smoke was rising from various places, and the sound of exploding shells could be heard. It seemed that these devils he had unfortunately encountered had come from there.
Roland looked at the end of the light emitted by the Holy Grail. The endpoint was directed toward the long avenue south of Vexilla. A single dot was leisurely moving along the avenue. Since the surroundings were covered in white snow, and there was only one black dot leaving through Vexilla's southern gate, it was extremely easy to spot.
"...Found you."
Roland heightened his spiritual vision to look at the black dot. The black dot was a carriage.
The person pulling the carriage was a human with red hair.
"The saint is there."
***
Undertour is a city built at the point where the Dre and Royder rivers merge into the Eileen River.
Usually, points where rivers meet have rough and complex waterways, making it difficult to build ferry terminals or bridges. It's also ambiguous for farming or setting up factories, and awkward for living off trade, making it geographically very difficult to develop.
However, Undertour is one of the few metropolitan cities in the central continent.
There are only two ways to enter this metropolis: Find a boatman who knows the waterways well and cross over, or cross the 'Cheche Bridge,' which is the only connection to Undertour.
Caesar decided to cross via the Cheche Bridge.
The Cheche Bridge was a narrow bridge that could barely accommodate two carriages passing, making it difficult to traverse, but it was much faster than taking a ferry.
"Why are all the people gathered at the ferry terminal?"
"Because the bridge toll is incredibly expensive."
"How much is it?"
"One gold coin per person, five gold coins for a carriage."
Gloria's eyes widened.
"What? Then we need to pay nine coins?"
"Why nine? It's eight. Kos isn't a person."
Kos expressed dissatisfaction by creaking and sticking her head out of the carriage. Yes, she really stuck out her head. Kos' head was adorned with a rather stylish red helmet shaped like an eagle.
[I am a person too!]
"If you're not going to pay, just go back to being a bracelet. Do you have money?"
[You're going to pay for me!]
"There's no reason to pay money that doesn't need to be paid. Stop being annoying and go back to Gloria right now.
"Because the tax collector is approaching."
Caesar took off the eagle helmet that was on Kos' head and put it on.
"And this is mine, so stop playing with it."
Kos seemed angry and quickly went inside the carriage. Soon the tax collector approached Caesar.
"You'll be using the bridge, correct?"
"That's right."
The tax collector tilted his head while looking at Caesar's attire. This was because Caesar was only wearing a red golden eagle-shaped helmet, with shabby clothes underneath.
"Why are you only wearing a helmet?"
"I just wanted to wear only the helmet. Is there a problem with wearing just a helmet?"
"No. Well, not really."
The tax collector tapped the carriage and said.
"I'll check how many people are inside."
The tax collector opened the carriage door. Inside were Gloria and Raven. The tax collector looked at Gloria's face and Raven's face, then nodded.
"Hmm, a total of three people and one carriage."
The tax collector did not think it strange despite seeing Raven and Gloria's faces. Not because Raven or Gloria weren't famous, but because Raven had cast a perception interference spell.
"That will be 16 gold coins."
"What? How many gold coins?"
"16 gold coins."
"16 Undertour gold coins?"
"Yes. Is there any other kind?"
"Isn't it 1 gold coin per person? And 5 for the carriage. Why has the price suddenly doubled?"
"That's up to the Mayor of Undertour. The atmosphere has been getting turbulent recently too. You know."
"What would I know?"
"Stop wasting time with unnecessary talk. If you don't have money, turn back. I'm already busy enough as it is."
Caesar trembled with anger. Should he just close his eyes and ask Raven to use teleportation magic?
Or should he just force his way through?
After contemplating, Caesar finally decided to pay.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
The tax collector began to weigh the gold coins with a spring scale he always carried.
"Has everything in Undertour doubled in price too?"
"That's right. The Mayor of Undertour has raised the taxes."
"What on earth for?"
"I don't know. Recently he's been hiring plenty of knights and purchasing military equipment. They say it's because public safety has become unstable?"
"Is public safety really that unstable?"
"Well, given the times. But Undertour is safe because insignificant individuals can't even set foot here."
The tax collector put the gold coins in his pocket and gave four tickets.
"Confirmed. One is the carriage registration and one is the bridge usage permit. When you leave, submit the bridge usage permit and keep the carriage registration with you."
"Got it. Just one last thing."
"Sigh, what is it?"
"Do the Holy Grail knights also need money to cross the bridge?"
"Pardon? Holy Grail knights?"
"Yes, Holy Grail knights."
Caesar's gaze turned backward. He saw six knights walking along the path by the Eileen River in the distance. They were wearing old and worn armor, looking more like defeated soldiers than Holy Grail knights. But among them, one man familiar to Caesar caught his eye.
Holy Grail Knight Roland.
The leader of the Holy Grail knights who escorted Gloria to the Royder Order.
That persistent man had now come close enough to enter Caesar's field of vision.
"Well, I think they would probably have to pay."
"Make sure they do."
"Pardon?"
Caesar gave the tax collector one gold coin.
"Make them pay no matter what."
"...Well, I'm just following the rules anyway."
"Good. Keep up the good work."
Caesar glared at Roland. His footsteps were quite fast. It seems he has realized that the saint is riding in this carriage.
***
While Undertour and Sapientia are both famous for their murderous prices, the difference between them is clear.
Except for a few specific areas, Sapientia is clean and tidy to the point of obsession, but Undertour is dirty wherever you look.
The carriage roads were bumpy, with rats running around, making it gloomy.
"If they collect so much tax, where on earth are they spending the money?"
"They're spending it on those guys over there."
In the place Caesar pointed to, men who appeared to be knights were huddled together in a gloomy spot, smoking cigarettes heavily. When the residents saw the knights, they lowered their eyes as they passed by.
"Are they planning to wage a war or something?"
"The world's gone crazy, I guess they think they can become kings too."
In fact, Undertour declares independence as a city-state after the Warlord Scenario unfolds. Not just Undertour, but nobles and local warlords who are not influenced by powerful figures like Count Vex or the Duke of Redfield family also declare independence thinking they can be kings too - this is the era of competing warlords.
There is no reason why an isolated city with a strong mayoral influence like Undertour would not declare independence.
"The world really has gone crazy."
"More importantly, how are you planning to get to Grezawa, the City of Sin?"
Caesar looked up at the sky. The sky was cloudy.
"A bright moonlit night would be best, but it looks like we'll have to go tonight."
"Go where tonight?"
"I'm going to dive into the Eileen River."
Caesar stopped in front of a general store.
[The General Store That Makes What It Doesn't Have.]
"I need diving suits because we'll be underwater for quite a while."
"Is Grezawa located under the river?"
"That's right. The entrance is exactly under the river here."
As Caesar opened the door to the general store, with a ding, an old owner looked at Caesar while putting on a monocle.
"...An unusual customer has arrived."
"It's not easy to find a customer who isn't unusual in Undertour."
Caesar took off his helmet.
"Are the three diving suits I commissioned ready?"
The old man pulled his glasses down and looked at Caesar's face intently, then nodded.
"Hmm... It's you."
Gloria spoke with a puzzled expression.
"Have you been here before, Master?"
"I stayed here for about two days waiting for you all."
"Ah... That's right."
Caesar leaned against the counter.
"I need it to go in tonight. Where is it?"
"Hmm..."
The old man avoided Caesar's eyes as if troubled.
"You're not going to tell me it's not available, are you?"
"...Hmm. It's not unavailable."
"What does 'not unavailable' mean?"
"Well... It means I don't have it right now."
Crack!
A vein popped on Caesar's forehead.
"Old man. I gave you 30 gold coins. And now you're saying you don't have it?"
"Hmm... That's how it turned out."
"That's how it turned out? Is that all you have to say? Are you crazy, old man?!"
"Hmm... I'm sorry. Hmm... but I had no choice."
"What do you mean you had no choice?!"
"Hmm... The mayor of Undertour suddenly raised the resident tax... I had no choice but to use it as collateral for a loan..."
"And you lost it already?"
"Hmm..."
"What's with the 'hmm'? Are you a cow? Why do you keep making that sound?!"
"Hmm... I have nothing to say so hmm... That's why..."
Caesar was about to go crazy and jump in frustration. Roland was right on his heels now. It was already going to be difficult to enter immediately, and now to lose the diving suit.
"How deep are you going that you need a diving suit?"
"I don't know about the depth, but it's because of oxygen and light issues."
"Can't my magic solve that?"
"There are traps that nullify magic scattered throughout. That's why oxygen tanks and a diving suit are absolutely necessary."
"Huh? How did you... Ah."
Raven remembered that Caesar had directly read ‘There is no Grezawa’ written by Cheche himself through psychometry.
"Did Wizard Cheche also enter Grezawa wearing a diving suit?"
"No, Wizard Cheche entered through a different route."
"Where?"
"I don't know. Cheche destroyed it so no one else could enter."
Caesar glared at the proprietor and said.
"Tell me where that diving suit is right now."
"Hmm... About that..."
"If you say 'hmm' one more time, I'll rip out what little hair you have left."
"Umm..."
This is driving me crazy. The old man rolled his eyeballs around and then opened his mouth.
"The mayor of Undertour..."
"What? Why does the mayor have it?"
"Umm... he said it was very unusual... Wanted to have it... For his collection..."
"Damn it."
The mayor of Undertour? If possible, I don't want to meet that eccentric man. That guy's personality is truly notorious even within the Valent Saga.
"Umm... But I do have... Some extra... Oxygen tanks..."
"Get those ready right now. I'll bring the diving suit."
"Umm... Understood."
Caesar stormed out of the general store.
"How will you meet Mayor Undertour?"
"I'll go directly and knock on his door."
"Will he meet with us if we go now?"
"He'll definitely meet us."
Caesar looked at Raven and smiled smugly.
"Especially when it's the green-eyed wizard who wants to meet him."