Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Imperial Capital
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The next morning, the lord summoned Kim Tae-jin and handed him a pouch of coins.
"What is this?"
"Proceeds from the auction items you put up yesterday."
He had completely forgotten about the auction money amid being suddenly nabbed by the guards and dragged all the way to the lord's castle. Opening the pouch revealed a hefty stack of silver coins, along with no fewer than six gleaming gold ones.
"The notebook went to the Alchemists' Guild. The writing set and the light-emitting rod were snapped up by the dwarves. The notebook didn't fetch a particularly high price, but they say the writing set and rod both sold for similarly steep sums."
It was a truly thoughtful explanation.
"Thank you. I nearly forgot all about it."
The lord grinned broadly and added,
"And since you're heading to the Empire, I've had a carriage prepared for you."
"You've prepared a carriage? Isn't there usually one running from Mercia City to the Empire border?"
"Of course there is, but we can't have our esteemed guests traveling in anything less than the best."
Impeccable service right up to the end. Was it because he ruled a tourist spot that even a nobleman was this accommodating?
"I appreciate it. I won't forget your kindness."
"Think nothing of it. Safe travels."
The lord had simply prepared the carriage hoping to avoid any incidents around his territory, but there was no way for anyone else to know that.
With a new carriage in store, they had to part ways with their previous coachman.
Kim Tae-jin slipped Viscount Helio's coachman twenty silvers as spending money and sent him on his way. It was far too much to call mere pocket change.
But the help from the coachman uncle had been invaluable, and Tae-jin's pockets were flush besides. The man had faced mortal peril alongside Tae-jin's group, so it could be seen as a sort of consolation prize.
It took two days to reach the Empire border, and a full seven more—hitching a fresh ride there—to arrive at the capital.
Nearly ten days on the road, but Renata's bubbly, sociable chatter kept boredom at bay. It was so enjoyable that Tae-jin almost wished the journey could stretch on longer.
True to its name, the Imperial Capital dwarfed every other city they'd visited in size and tidiness.
Upon reaching the outskirts, Tae-jin levitated into the sky for a better look at the Empire.
The first thing that came to mind was the orderly grid of Changwon cityscape he'd seen once. The neat, precise layout unique to cities built from a master plan.
The capital radiated outward in layered concentric rings from the central imperial palace.
But the city's layout wasn't its only hallmark. Even without checking the structure, a glance at the citizens made it abundantly clear this was the Empire's heart.
Unlike the sunburned, earnest faces of Helio City's folk or the bright, smiling countenances of Mercia City's residents, the capital's people all shared porcelain-pale skin. Their clothes weren't flashy, but they were impeccably clean and finely made. Nothing proclaimed the continent's wealth and power converging here quite like their faces.
The group planned to eat near Richer's home before heading in. No sense expecting food in a house left empty for years.
And what surprised Tae-jin most was Richer's renown—or more precisely, the prestige of a War Mage. Even retirement seemed irrelevant.
He'd thought the treatment back in the Volterio Kingdom was impressive simply for being a War Mage, but here in the Empire, it was on another level entirely.
Richer found the deference burdensome and only flashed his credentials when absolutely necessary. Before seeing it, folks traded light banter; after, they groveled like convicted traitors.
"Gramps, you're even bigger here than I figured."
"Show your master a little more respect. I wasn't the type to get fawned over wherever I went."
Without exaggeration, Richer could traverse the entire Empire without spending a single coin, credentials alone in hand.
Some shops went beyond comping the bill—they pressed travel funds on the group. The restaurant they'd just left was a case in point.
With five hearty meals that should've cost three silvers, the owner had instead shoved thirty silvers back at them, insisting it was for the road. His hand trembled as he proffered the silver.
When Richer pocketed one large ten-silver coin and returned the other two, the owner stared at them, face etched with uncertainty.
And Richer hadn't even shown his ID at the restaurant.
"Five people eat a full meal and walk out with money instead of paying? Doesn't that feel off?"
"It's not like I enjoy it. If I pay—or take back less—it actually puts their minds at ease."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Richer let out a deep sigh.
"Too many War Mages are crotchety bastards. Locked in back rooms from childhood, grinding away at research and training. Once they're worth a damn, straight to the battlefield mowing down hordes. You think those are normal folk? Half of 'em could slaughter someone in the street on a whim without a shred of guilt."
"No punishment?"
"The palace just shrugs. At worst, a slap on the wrist like house arrest. Might as well be a weapon doing the killing, not a person."
As he'd said before, War Mages were human meat grinders. With that, Richer wrapped up.
The five finished eating and arrived at a modest wooden house. The timber had clearly been cut and processed once or twice, yet stepping near filled the air with a fresh woody scent. A cute red roof perched atop like something out of a storybook. This was Richer's home.
Tae-jin had imagined a grand mansion for such a high-status War Mage, but nothing of the sort. Just a touch larger than his hometown apartment. A bit cramped for five people.
Unlike neighboring homes, though, the yard was generously sized. The front bloomed with pristine white flowers, and amid them stood a low gravestone barely reaching the knee. No deep thought needed to guess who lay beneath.
"Mira, I'm home. It's been a while."
Richer carefully parted the white blooms and embraced the stone with a serene expression. The gesture was as natural as greeting the living.
Seeing that, Tae-jin could easily grasp why the grave fronted the yard.
To offer such casual hellos, the front made more sense than the back. Better sunlight, too.
He lingered there a few seconds before rising with his usual demeanor and turning to the group.
"Alright, let's head in. It'll be snug, but make yourselves at home."
The party filed inside, glancing about.
The wooden house matched its exterior: nothing extravagant within. Utterly ordinary furnishings anyone might own. No pricey heirlooms in sight.
Every stick of furniture was worn, the living room shelf listing from a rotted support. Yet not a speck of dust anywhere. Someone kept it up.
The front yard flowers wouldn't have bloomed so neatly without care, either.
Everyone claimed a room and unpacked. Garam took a quiet corner one and sank into thought. Pavilion and his daughter settled in a bedroom with a bed. Renata, unfazed by the long trip, bolted straight to the yard.
As Tae-jin scanned for his spot, Richer called out.
"You, come with me."
"Where to?"
Richer shot him an odd look.
"Forgot why we're in the capital? To dig into Gates and spatial magic?"
"Sure, but can't we rest a day?"
"Quit dragging your feet. I've got a packed schedule starting tomorrow, so we're knocking out what we can today. Library registration first."
"Got it."
Richer and Tae-jin chatted as they walked the streets.
"Gramps, what's the Empire's official country name? Come to think, I've never heard it."
"Country name?"
"You know, like Kaiso Kingdom or Volterio Kingdom. Why's the Empire just... the Empire?"
"It doesn't have one. Just the Empire."
"What do you mean? No name for the nation?"
"Exactly. There used to be one long ago, but not anymore. Same for the emperor—he sheds his name upon ascending the throne."
"Why? Embarrassed by it?"
"Nah. The term 'Empire' points to one thing only, so no need for anything else. Nobody asks 'which sun?' when you say 'the sun.'"
"Then how do you refer to dead emperors? There've been plenty—without names, how do you tell which is which?"
"By ordinal. The current one's the 19th Emperor."
"Kinda sounds like a product serial number, if you don't mind me saying."
"The arrogant put up with inconveniences to flaunt themselves."
Their conversation halted as they reached the library.