Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Unexpected Meeting (1)
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"We're about to cross the bridge over Fairy River now, so it might shake a bit. Please be careful~"
Curiosity piqued at the mention of crossing the river, Yuno stepped out of the carriage and climbed up to the driver's seat.
"My lord, it's dangerous! Please go back inside and hold on to the handrail."
To maintain security in case of any unforeseen issues, Yuno's group had asked Count Grime to provide an ordinary carriage suitable for common merchants. They'd also changed into clothes befitting well-off commoners or low-ranking nobles, and concealed the weapons of their escorts, including Cordelia, as much as possible.
As a result, the coachmen pulling the carriage had no idea of Yuno's party's true status. But even to their eyes, Yuno's group clearly looked like people of high standing just from their appearances, so the coachman treated the much younger-looking Yuno with utmost courtesy.
"Hahaha, don't worry about me, old timer. By the way, if this is Fairy River, then crossing here should take us into Nikana Baron's territory, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Nikana Baron was such a good man... But he went to the capital a while ago. He had no heir to inherit the territory, so he wanted to spend his remaining years in comfort... Sigh~ I wonder what kind of person the next one will be..."
"I heard that Nikana territory and Tesida territory are being merged. Didn't you hear about that?"
"Oh~ I think I've heard something like that. But what does it matter to folks like us who live day to day?"
The coachman gave a wistful smile, then seemed to remember something and cautiously spoke to Yuno.
"Oh, right! Nikana Baron was a good man, but the newly appointed guard captain named Gerard is causing absolute havoc. He charges extra tolls every time you pass through the gates and extorts shop owners under the guise of running tabs, so you all need to be careful."
"What? There's such a thing? Collecting anything beyond the established taxes is clearly illegal."
"What do we know about the law? If they demand it, we pay. And if you don't pay up on the spot, they'll beat you senseless without mercy."
"Couldn't you at least complain to the lord? Nikana Baron would have listened to his people's grievances."
"Oh, don't even get me started. To see the lord, you have to go through the administrator, and that guy's in cahoots with the guard captain. So we have nowhere to turn. Plus, the original tax is 30 percent, but they're slapping on all these special taxes..."
Yuno had never heard of special taxes outside of wartime, so he clicked his tongue at the coachman's words.
"Doesn't the lord come out for inspections of the people's livelihood? Couldn't you report it then?"
"He does occasionally, but Gerard's men crack down so thoroughly that they only let him meet with locals who've been coached on what to say. There's nothing we can do."
"My goodness~ Thank you for sharing such valuable information. We'll definitely be careful."
"No trouble at all. Still, you folks look like nobles at a glance, so they probably won't hassle you too much. If the guards start acting up later, I'll give you a signal—just slip them a few silver coins."
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind. The scenery around here is truly spectacular, though."
"Isn't it? If you head a bit south, there's Fairy Lake, the pride of our hometown. It's not far from your destination, Kiese Castle, so it'd be perfect for a vacation sometime."
"But isn't there a Bekes clan elf settlement downstream from Fairy Lake? Have they been causing any trouble lately?"
Nikana territory had long disputed ownership of the lake with the Bekes clan, making it one of Yuno's key interests.
Of course, mobilizing the imperial army could wipe them out easily, but they hunted all the monsters flowing into their territory from the mountains and posed no real threat to imperial citizens. They'd been left alone so far, and Yuno had no intention of interfering as long as they didn't stir up trouble.
"Really? I haven't seen a single elf shadow in nearly ten years. Come to think of it, hunters used to clash with them in the forest all the time back in the day, but I haven't heard a peep lately. Meat prices have even dropped a bit thanks to that."
"Hmm~ Is that so? Thanks for letting me know."
Having gleaned a general overview of the territory from the coachman, Yuno climbed onto the carriage roof to admire the distant lake while sorting through the information in his mind.
'First off, as the coachman said, once we arrive at Kiese Castle, I need to investigate the guard captain and the administrator. I can't rely on one side's story alone—I should hear from multiple sources. And check if the Bekes clan is behaving too.'
Lost in thoughts about the territory, Yuno soon found himself captivated by the stunning scenery.
'Whoa~ If I moored a boat here and brought Mom, Eliza, and Katrin for some deck action, it would be absolute heaven.'
As if sensing Yuno's thoughts, Eliza climbed onto the carriage roof and leaned against him, enjoying the view together.
"Whoa~ Yuno, this place is so pretty~ Let's come here on a date just the two of us sometime! Okay?"
"Hahaha, if it's Eliza's request, anytime!"
Though the coachman warned them it was dangerous and told them to come down, such minor shaking was no issue for masters like them, and they had no fear of falling or injury. Yuno slipped his hand into Eliza's top, fondling her breasts while savoring both the scenery and his lover's body.
Eliza clearly enjoyed his touch too, so Yuno indulged in their secret rooftop date with her until the lake view faded from sight.
Even leaving Grime territory at dawn, the distance to Kiese Castle was considerable. It was only as dusk fell that the carriage carrying Yuno's group finally arrived.
"Ughhh~ So stiff~ We made it at last. Felt like we traveled nearly 100 km, and it still took this long. This place really is far out."
But contrary to Yuno's hopes for a quick rest, Kiese Castle's gates were firmly shut.
"Halt! Once the sun sets, we absolutely cannot open the gates. Come back when it rises tomorrow!"
As armed guards blocked the way at the gates, the coachmen rushed over pleading.
"Please, sirs~ The sun hasn't fully set yet~ And if you don't open up, we'll have to camp in the woods, where dangerous beasts could come out—you know that. Just this once, have mercy."
"Hey now, Leroy, Jenkins—these folks know the rules! That's why you should've come before sunset!"
Faced with the guards' firm refusal, the coachman driving Yuno's carriage signaled to Yuno, who was sitting in the driver's seat.
Yuno, having been briefed on what the signal meant, sighed and stood up.
'Never in my life have I heard of verified people being denied entry after sunset, even at the palace gates—and this isn't wartime.'
"Ahem... Excuse me, good sirs~"
"Who are you?!"
"I'm called Noyu. I used to live in Adria, but my wife's health took a turn, so we've come to Nikana territory for the fresh air to help her recover."
"Hmph. Show us your identification!"
Yuno slipped a few silver coins under his party's forged documents as he handed them over. The guards' expressions softened considerably.
"Ahem... Identity confirmed. Well... Nikana territory is famous for its clean air, so your wife should recover soon. Don't forget to register as new residents with the administrator tomorrow and pay your respects!"
"Came from the capital, huh? Very polite fellow. Behave like this, and you'll live comfortably here."
The guards signaled to their comrades atop the gate, and it creaked open.
'Hmm~ Security's decent... but they're quite accustomed to bribes...'
With the coachman's words proven true, Yuno grew eager to verify the rest of his information.
"We've arrived inside the castle. Where should I drop you off?"
He'd originally planned to head straight to the lord's residence, but Yuno adjusted his plans slightly.
"Take us to the best inn in Kiese Castle. We'll stay there until we find a place to live."
"Right away~ It's a backwater town, so it might not suit tastes from the capital, but there's a pretty decent inn."
The inn he led them to wasn't luxurious, but it was impeccably clean. The reasonable prices and lack of other guests put Yuno at ease as he let his party disembark.
Once everyone was out, Yuno paid the coachman the balance and sent them off.
"Ughhh~~ So tired. Just sitting and dozing made me exhausted. Who rides in a carriage for 12 hours?~ This really is the boonies."
"Huh? Why didn't we go to the lord's residence? Aren't we there?"
"It'll be a bit uncomfortable, but stay here just for tonight. I have some business in town."
"Ohhh~ When big bro brings Marie to an inn, it must be for... you know, that stuff—Kyaaack!!"
Marie got smacked on the back by Yuria for her nonsense.
Watching Isabella and Eliza giggle, Yuno instructed Cordelia to stay at the inn with them and provide protection.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Until I say otherwise, no 'Your Majesty.' Just call me Yuno."
"Understood, Lord Yuno."
Yuno asked her to drop the honorific altogether, but the steadfast Cordelia refused.
After some back-and-forth, Yuno gave up. Leaving his party at the inn, he headed to the market.
'Let's see~ Shops are still open, so I should be able to gather some info.'
Pondering where to start, Yuno opened the door to a blacksmith shop. He was startled wide-eyed by a voice recognizing him immediately.
"Second Prince—no, Your Imperial Highness?"
"Eh? You... you're Legion Commander Meyer?"
"Ah! I'm not a legion commander!! It was just one proxy command!! My comrades still tease me about it!!"
The one who recognized Yuno was Meyer, who had commanded the legion in his stead during the previous Strev expedition. Yuno grabbed his old comrade's shoulders in delight, shaking them vigorously.