The Fraudulent Protagonist Arrives at Neveiria (1)

Early dawn. A road quite far from the Neutral Saintess's hospital. Thud-thud-thud!! A massive beast hurtled forward at tremendous speed.

"Yahoo~!! Run! Run, 'Fang'!!"

"Grrr!!"

"Eeeek~?! J-Joyeon! Too fast...!!"

"J-Joyeon-nim?! I'm falling! I'm going to fall~!"

"Neisila! Hold on tight!"

"Mugido! Grab Luna, not me!"

"Kyaaah~!"

Thud-thud-thud! The giant beast burst through the undergrowth, its form revealed beneath the moonlight. Roughly 7.5 meters long, its body was composed entirely of pristine white bones, with two enormous fangs rising higher than its skull and a lush mane of crimson energy.

The creature was none other than the largest and strongest Saber Leo that the War ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Troll General Phon had ridden. For Joyeon, who had long been searching for something to ride, the Beast Skeleton Fang was the perfect answer to his desires. Moreover, since the Saber Leo that once carried War Trolls over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠three meters tall had been resurrected by Joyeon's magic, carrying a few humans was a trivial matter.

Joyeon clung tightly to Fang's back, savoring the speed with the basic mana manipulation he had learned from Sirius, while Artie clung desperately to his neck, her face pale. The Rion Party members, aside from the still-novice Luna, managed to stay seated well enough on Fang's back.

"Ahahaha! This is great! At this speed, we're probably hitting eighty kilometers per hour! Can you go even faster?!"

"Grrr!"

"Excellent~! Phon! Fang is mine now, so go find yourself another mount! Got it?!"

—Kuu, kuwoo...

—Phon, it is unfortunate, but let us congratulate Fang on being chosen by the master.

Phon, robbed of his partner by an irresistible command, answered weakly. Tiasia offered him a half-hearted consolation.

"Rion! At this speed, how long until we reach that city called Neveiria?!"

"Guh~! I've never moved at a speed like this before--! I thought it would take at least two months if we walked, but at this rate, we might make it in under two weeks--!!"

"Perfect~~ Let's cross the distance in a week! Fang!!"

"Grrrraaar!"

Adrenaline surged through Joyeon like never before. Gripping Fang's shoulder blades, he urged the beast to go even faster. Artie, who had heard everything from right beside him, pounded her fists against his chest.

"Slow down~! I'm scared~!!"

"......"

When Artie shouted with genuine fear in her pale face, Joyeon glanced at her for a moment, then said,

"I suppose going slower would be better."

He reduced their speed, wanting to savor the moment a little longer.

****

Twenty days. That was how long it took for artificial structures to appear in the distance as Joyeon and his companions traveled toward Neveiria. They had covered a distance that would normally take veteran adventurers two months in less than half the time, thanks largely to riding Fang, who possessed boundless stamina.

"Haha... I never imagined we'd actually arrive this quickly."

"If there were proper roads and cars, it would have been much faster."

"Cars... I'd like to try riding one if the chance ever comes."

"If we wander around enough, we should be able to find cars that haven't been destroyed."

"Hey, Joyeon. Cars are whatever, but can't you give us just one of those Beast Skeletons? You said you have plenty, right?"

"Mugido! How shameless can you be?!"

"I know, Neisila. That's exactly why a guy like me has to ask. Even if it's shameless, you have to try at least once."

"Ahaha! Unfortunately, the undead I resurrect are bound to me, so that's impossible."

The lack of any major trouble during their journey was another key reason for their swift arrival. Dangerous monsters that could appear anywhere, or humans who might prove even more dangerous than those monsters—Joyeon and his group had encountered almost none of them.

That wasn't to say they hadn't seen any. Several times a day, Joyeon had spotted the souls of human and monster groups. Yet they had avoided conflict entirely, and Fang was the main reason why. A skeletal beast the size of a shipping container radiated an ominous aura and crimson glow as it bounded across the land; no one dared stand in its way.

"Joyeon-nim. That checkpoint up ahead leads into Neveiria. It would be best to send Fang back before the guards spot him."

"You're right. Fang, you've worked hard. I'll call you again later, so return to your grave for now."

At Joyeon's command, Fang nodded vigorously and sank into the ground without complaint. Crack. At the same moment, Tiasia emerged from the earth in his place.

"Lara, you didn't have to come out."

"I could not remain hidden. I only stayed inside because there were too many people earlier and I did not wish to cause trouble. It is my duty to remain at your side and assist you, Master. It is something only I can do."

—Uuu~ So unfair, getting special treatment~

—It is truly regrettable that I was resurrected as a skeleton at times like this.

Tiasia smiled and brushed off the playful jeers from the other followers.

****

Unlike the modern world, the magic world consisted of a single massive continent. While many nations existed across its vast lands, the most powerful was the empire that now ruled over most of Africa, Europe, and Asia after the fusion—Over Imperia. Three great powers stood in opposition to it: Beastro, ruled by beastmen and located in the Americas; the Spiral Blondi alliance of elves and dwarves in the middle of the Pacific; and Shun, a human-ruled kingdom spanning parts of Asia and Oceania, much like the empire.

Neveiria, their destination, was one of Shun's major cities and home to the largest temple of the Curia Church, the most influential religious order in Shun. When the modern and magic worlds fused, Neveiria had the good fortune of appearing in the middle of a Korean forest region. Though news of the world's transformation arrived late, the city managed to stabilize without major incident. Thanks to the Curia Church's considerable influence, the city's lord governed alongside the Curia Church's bishop of the Neveiria branch. Over eighty percent of Neveiria's citizens were devout followers of the Curia God.

****

"In short, Neveiria is essentially a large religious city."

While undergoing inspection at the checkpoint to enter the city, Rion gave Joyeon a brief explanation about Neveiria.

"Because of its nature as a religious city, the inspection process is quite strict. Smaller villages or trading cities only require a status plate issued by the Adventurer's Guild, but here they verify your identity, check for criminal records, and even inspect you again when you leave to ensure you caused no trouble during your stay."

"Inspection, huh... Then I've got a problem with the identity check, don't I? Won't they turn away modern people like me?"

"You needn't worry too much about that. The Curia Church is generally favorable toward everyone except beastmen. Besides, we have a Curia Church nun with us, so there shouldn't be any issues."

"A Curia nun..."

Joyeon's gaze naturally drifted toward Luna, who was speaking with the checkpoint guards. Despite her young age, she received respectful salutes from the soldiers as she earnestly explained something. A short while later, having apparently finished successfully, Luna returned to the group with a smile.

"They said we can enter after a simple inspection... We've been granted permission..."

"Ooh~ Impressive. You're more capable than I thought, Luna."

"Ah, it's just... There's a priest here that I know..."

Luna lowered her head shyly. She then led the group over to the guards she had been speaking with. The soldier who appeared to be in charge swept his sharp gaze over Joyeon and his companions.

"...I heard the story. You're modern people who rescued others at the Neutral Saintess's hospital in one of the neutral zones?"

Joyeon glanced at Luna before nodding.

"That's right. Quite a few people owe their lives to me."

"What exactly did you do?"

"My eyes can roughly tell when someone's life is in danger."

"Magic, I assume."

"Yes."

"...And that thing on your leg?"

"Ah, this is actually why I came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here. I was captured by bandits when the worlds fused. This was put on me then—it's a cursed item."

"...Understood. And the two beside you?"

The soldier's sharp gaze turned to Artie and Tiasia.

"I am Lara Tiasia. I was once the daughter of a noble house called Larasia. Now I am merely a mage whose life was saved by my master."

"Larasia... I've heard that family name before. Do you carry an emblem proving your nobility?"

Tiasia retrieved a small ornament the size of a thumb from her pocket and handed it over. The soldier examined it briefly, then passed it to another guard for verification.

"You had something like that?"

"Yes. I thought that even if the world changed, my status as a noble might still be useful, so I kept it with me."

"We'll return it after verification. Wait here for a moment. Next, the woman beside her."

The soldier finally called Artie.

"Name."

"Arty Stria Jewel Heroine... Modern person."

"A modern person... You have a different air about you compared to the others I've seen."

"I'm an artist, so I'm a bit unique. The magic world has people like that too, doesn't it?"

"...What is your purpose here?"

"Because Joyeon's destination was this place."

Artie answered in a calm, detached tone without even meeting the soldier's eyes properly.

"I see... Sister, can you also vouch for this woman's identity?"

"Ah, yes... She helped treat patients with me as well..."

"Understood. You may enter. However, if you are carrying any weapons, you will need to leave them here for safekeeping."

"Weapons? We don't have any. Right? Artie, Lara."

"Yes, we are not carrying any weapons."

"Neither am I."

"I will confirm that myself. Open your inventories."

"What? You're checking inventories too?"

Joyeon frowned at the request to show his inventory, something he would rather keep private, just like his status window. But when the soldier remarked that he could simply refuse entry if he preferred, Joyeon reluctantly opened it.

"Books and basic travel supplies... I see them. These rifles—aren't they weapons?"

The soldier lifted a rifle from the inventory, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glaring at Joyeon as though already familiar with firearms.

"Ah, they are weapons, but... I'm not the one using them. I'll leave them here just like you said. It doesn't matter to me."

"...Fine. Storage is acceptable. The other two, open your inventories as well. I need to check."

Apparently satisfied that Joyeon's expression and demeanor showed no deception, the soldier did not press further about the guns and moved on to inspect Tiasia and Artie's inventories. Artie's inventory was an extradimensional space with virtually no item limit, containing a few personal outfits and some food. Tiasia, being one of Joyeon's followers rather than human, had no inventory at all. Explaining that proved somewhat difficult, but after confirming that no inventory appeared even when she called for it and verifying that the Larasia family emblem was genuine, the soldier accepted the explanation well enough.

"Good. Inspection complete. Since Sister Luna is vouching for your identities, keep in mind that wandering alone without her may result in being detained by the guards."

After giving his final warning, the soldier ordered his subordinates to open Neveiria's gates.

"Welcome. To Neveiria..."

Receiving the soldier's less-than-enthusiastic welcome, Joyeon and his companions stepped into Neveiria.