Checkpoint - 3
The Franz territory is the largest domain in this entire region. Our Franz clan has held this land at the foot of the Great Mountain Range—where danger is simply part of everyday life—since the distant past. In return, every single day is pure chaos. And when people think of the Franz territory, the first thing that comes to mind is the Great Mountain Range itself. The place overflows with colossal monsters, so anyone who enters is either suicidal, a genuine adventurer chasing the unknown, or someone hunting for the high-quality magic stones and specialty goods that grow there thanks to the rich mana.
In any case, this Great Mountain Range is commonly called the western region, splitting the whole area in two: the northwest and the southwest. For people in the southwest who want to travel to other regions, there are three main routes. One is by foot. When southwest locals travel on foot or by carriage, they use one of three roads. The best of them is the sort of high-speed highway that the Franz family has developed and maintained over the years. Its official name is the Franz Grand Road. It’s the shortest and the fastest. Using that road, people from the southwest can pass through Franz, continue on through Borang, and reach the Brahms capital or even other countries.
Because of that, while it can’t match Borang’s developed trade routes that connect directly to other regions, a fair number of people still pass through Franz. Hm? The other two routes? One is crossing the Great Mountain Range with everything on the line, and the other is writing your will before sailing across the sea. At least with the mountain route, lucky people do make it through, and there are even guides who make their living that way. Most of them have short lifespans, though… As for the sea… the ocean is far more dangerous than the land. Fishing in this world never ventures far; they stick to nearby waters, and even then the hazard pay is quite high because of the risk. No matter how much magic power you possess, fighting sea creatures on the open water is a life-or-death gamble even for nobles. Ordinary fishermen? They’re basically marching to their deaths.
That’s why, while many people head to Franz as their final destination, plenty more simply pass through on their way elsewhere. Remember that large merchant group I mentioned before? A caravan, I think it was. The word originally referred to desert trading parties, but I can’t think of a better term right now, so caravan it is. These caravans roam the southern regions trading all sorts of goods, but the main exchange point between the south and the southwest is right here in Franz. Even though Borang isn’t that far away, the distance is still considerable by local standards. Direct trade is difficult, so they trade primarily with the caravans first. Those caravans then carry southwest goods to the southern regions—especially Borang—where most of the real business happens.
Still, Franz does have a few specialty products it can boast about. That, for example.
“Oh. That one right there.”
“It’s a long-necked black-scaled turtle. Quite large, too… and the shell has very few scratches. It should bring a high price at the upcoming auction.”
An ox-like beast was pulling a cart that carried the massive carcass of a monster. Calling it an animal would be wrong. It was definitely a monster. In this world, anything with magic power is a monster; anything without is just an animal.
“Was that a mid-class one?”
“Yes. No word from the knight order, so it must have been subjugated by adventurers. It would have been quite difficult to catch. Looks like a well-known clan.”
On the enormous cart lay a giant… no, a massive mid-class monster. In terms of build it was smaller than the large-class black wild boar I’d mentioned before, but it was still the size of a three-story building. A quadruped with a long neck and a distinctive shell covering its back. I’m not sure why they call it a turtle, but it lives near water. Its vitality is monstrously strong, making it hard to kill, and if the fight drags on it attracts other monsters from the surroundings. The other materials sell for decent prices too, but that shell is what really commands top coin. It’s incredibly tough and used in all sorts of applications. So the fewer scratches, the better.
Still, what I personally consider most important is something else. The meat on that thing is fantastic. The steak from the tail section under the shell is out of this world. Even nobles can’t eat it often because supply is so limited. Well, I do eat plenty of other delicious meats, so it’s not like I’m deprived.
After watching for a moment, a crowd began to gather. The already busy area in front of the gate grew even more crowded. I observed slowly from a distance.
“Hahaha! If you commission our Giant Eagle Wing Clan, catching a monster of this caliber is child’s play!”
A large, burly man was shouting with boundless confidence. Looking closer, I saw a flag bearing a pair of wings on the smaller cart leading the procession. When solo adventurers band together in large enough numbers, they begin carrying banners that represent their group. A turtle of that size was certainly enough to justify the boasting. Even Chloe, who was usually stingy with praise, had called it pretty impressive, so they clearly had the skills to back it up. The surrounding crowd was cheering enthusiastically.
Normally, making a scene like that in front of the gate would be considered bad manners and the soldiers would intervene, but at this level the sight was rare enough for ordinary people that they simply let it slide as entertainment. Indeed, besides the adventurers dressed like the shouting man, regular citizens and merchants had gathered to watch as well.
This was one of Franz’s specialty products… or rather, one of the Great Mountain Range’s. Thanks to its location at the foot of the mountains, small and mid-class monsters were abundant. Adventurers targeting them came and went constantly, and every once in a while—very rarely—a large-class monster would appear on the market. Merchants who needed monster materials visited often. There was a city closer to the Great Mountain Range, but for specimens of this quality, auctions in Franz commanded the highest prices.
Still, a clan capable of taking down something like that… Maybe I should have called Isabel after all. I could have asked her directly. There were injured members and people being carried, but the fact that they were smiling through the pain suggested there were no fatalities, or at most very few. Subjugating a mid-class monster with so little loss meant they were genuinely skilled. They had to be a fairly famous clan.
Hmm. Giant Eagle Wing Clan, huh.
“Now that I think about it, you can’t draw the whole animal, can you?”
“Of course not. That would be impersonating a noble. Off with your head.”
Chloe answered as if I’d asked something ridiculous. I cleared my throat. The major noble houses of this world use animals as their symbols. Just as Franz is represented by the Golden Lion, they usually combine a magic color with a specific creature. Clans often follow the same practice, but drawing an entire animal is strictly forbidden. Depicting only a part of one—like an eagle’s wings—is permitted, though using any color is still prohibited.
“I didn’t see any lion emblems, though.”
“Are you familiar with that clan, my lord?”
“…Ahem.”
Cheeky bastard. That turtle does look delicious, though.
“Sigh. Well, no one around here would be bold enough to claim the lion as their symbol. Though if you go farther away, there are a few who do.”
“Really?”
The lion here isn’t the same as the one I remember, but it still carries the feeling of the king of beasts. It looks similar enough. Of course, seeing it paired with a name like long-necked black-scaled turtle makes it sound very different from the lions I knew. Unfortunately I’ve only seen illustrations; I’ve never laid eyes on a real one. It’s a large-class monster that lives deep in the Great Mountain Range. The only records are of sightings from a very long time ago.
“Are we just going to stand here?”
“Mm. For now.”
It was a decent enough show, so I watched a little longer. Good thing I’d gotten off the carriage early. If I’d gone any closer I would have ruined the atmosphere. I activated the presence-blocking magic I’d once enjoyed using with Grace, the same technique that shut out prying eyes, and approached the base of the castle wall.
As the massive crowd at the gate suggested, there were far more than just a handful of soldiers and knights working here. They operated in full units, and the building where they waited also served as a temporary holding area for suspicious individuals.
As I slowly drew near the building set slightly back from the gate, the knight who had been notified in advance and was waiting at the entrance turned toward me, sensing my magic power.
“Greetings! I am Selene Poena!”
“Mm. Nice to meet you.”
I gestured for the female knight—who had immediately snapped into a salute—to stand at ease. Even at a distance, drawing unnecessary attention would be a hassle. At that moment I felt Chloe hesitate briefly. An acquaintance?
At my glance, Chloe paused, then looked at the female knight named Selene Poena. The knight stood rigidly, her face tense.
“We were in the same class.”
“Ah, same class.”
“Yes! Chloe and I trained together and shared the same quarters!”
She was practically shouting, her expression stiff. Did she realize what she was saying? Mentioning that they shared quarters seemed completely unnecessary. Behind me, I heard Chloe let out a quiet sigh.
This classmate of Chloe’s—Selene, was it?—seemed extremely nervous. Well, Chloe was still a rookie herself. She probably had no direct connection to me. Wait, hadn’t she participated in that test before?
“Unfortunately I was unable to attend at that time.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I was away on a mission. However, she is an outstanding knight whose skill is in no way inferior to my own.”
At least she was looking out for her classmate. I studied Selene after hearing Chloe’s endorsement. Honestly, when it came to swordsmanship I wasn’t exactly an expert. At best I could only gauge the quality and quantity of someone’s magic power. Hers was roughly on the same level as Chloe’s. Chloe wasn’t the type to give empty compliments, so she must be a genuinely promising knight.
“If Chloe speaks that highly of you, then you really must be a promising knight. You’re working hard for Franz today as well.”
I reached out and patted her shoulder a couple of times, offering what I hoped was comforting praise. Wait… doing this myself felt strangely… It reminded me of those high-ranking officers who would suddenly show up during my days as a private and tell us “good work, men.”
When I glanced at Selene, she was sweating coldly, staring blankly into space.
…Damn it. To think I’m now in the same position as those guys. For a moment, I felt utterly hollow.