Chapter 86: The Tin Knight and The City of Struggle (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 86: The Tin Knight and The City of Struggle (5)
To everyone’s surprise, Dorothea did not, in fact, raise her staff and smash the heads of the Iron Stake Mercenary Group.
This was because Dorothea was a civilized, intelligent person.
She was no barbarian who resorted to violence just because she heard something she didn’t like. (Beating up the Tin Knight didn’t count as a demerit for a civilized person.)
Therefore, Dorothea tried to persuade them with reason.
“What kind of bullshit is this? Stop this nonsense and get your heads up.”
“No, Big Sis! We are sincere!”
“Ah, right. You’re worried I’ll silence you, is that it? I have no intention of doing that, so don’t worry. I just need you to make a little contract in blood…”
“A blood oath!” “We’ll mix our blood in a cup and share it!” “As expected of you, Big Sis! You’ve got style!” “Boys! Go get some booze!”
“Damn it.”
Dorothea despaired.
These people were acting as if they were all on drugs; they wouldn’t listen to a word she said.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ congratulates you, saying your attire and position are finally in harmony!]
“Toasting with comrades you’ve fought alongside to reaffirm your bond. It’s nice. Very cool, Witch!”
“By the principle of majority rule, shouldn’t you be the one to concede here, Miss Dorothea? Ah, or perhaps I should start calling you Big Sis from now on?”
“Do you all really want to die?”
Even her own companions, far from helping, were just teasing her from the sidelines.
Dorothea felt she was beginning to understand why her master avoided people and played only with corpses.
If she could have just annihilated all these annoying people with curses and poison and led an army of the dead, her blood pressure might have lowered a bit. But unfortunately, Dorothea wasn’t that cruel.
She was strong against malice, but relatively weak against goodwill.
She chose to simply ignore them.
They’ll get tired and give up eventually.
The consequences of Dorothea’s choice remained to be seen.
*
Despite the minor incident at the end, the party arrived safely in Thracus.
And their impressions upon seeing the city were as follows:
“It’s a mess.”
“What a vibrant city.”
“It feels like a lot of different cultures are mixed together, doesn’t it?”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it just looks like a typical hodgepodge city!]
Though their expressions differed, the meaning was largely the same.
“Hahaha, since this city lies on the border of the Empire, the Magic State, and the Federation, it’s bound to be different in many ways compared to the inner Empire. Of course, that means it has many good points, too! The food is delicious.”
Hindler, who had latched onto the group, added an explanation like a tour guide.
Since the entire mercenary group couldn’t tag along (Dorothea was sick of them), he had been selected based on the logic that at least one of them should accompany her.
Dorothea had reluctantly accepted the condition, as it seemed they would all drop to their knees and beg again if she refused.
Besides, it was more convenient to have someone familiar with the local situation than to start their investigation from scratch.
“First, we should secure lodging. I have a place the mercenary group uses, so I’m fine, but it’s likely too shabby for you and your party, Big Sis.”
“I sleep in the carriage sometimes, so I don’t mind if it’s cheap.”
“Oh, please don’t say such things. Of course, with the knight here, no one would dare try anything with force, but those places are often unsanitary, and there are plenty of scoundrels who might try something underhanded. If you plan on staying for a long time, it’s best to get a safe place, even if it costs a bit more. Especially since there are three women in your party.”
“Hmph. Well, if you say so.”
“Understood. I’ll guide you right away.”
Watching Hindler skillfully manage Dorothea’s mood, Adel remarked in admiration.
“He’s like one of those household fairies from the stories.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he certainly doesn’t look human!]
“Uh, no, that’s not what I meant!”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ is impressed, saying it’s even more vicious if you said it without thinking!]
“That’s not it!”
“Now, now, Sir Tin. Let’s stop teasing Lady Adel and follow him.”
Hindler’s boast that they could leave the guidance to him was no bluff; the inn he led them to was quite impressive.
“The quality here is good, and the price is cheap for the service, so it’s a great value. We sometimes stay here ourselves when we’ve had a good haul.”
However, a problem arose that even the capable Hindler couldn’t solve.
“I’m sorry, miss. We’re all booked up at the moment.”
“Hm? Hmm. My apologies, Big Sis. It seems this place won’t work. But rest assured, I have several other candidates!”
Hindler said with a smile.
“Sorry, but we have no room.”
“We’re full, so try somewhere else.”
“An empty room? We have one, but I can’t just give it to you. But hey, the young lady in black there. How about a drink with me—Gah! What is this crazy armor!”
He failed spectacularly.
Every inn they went to shook their heads, saying they had no vacancies.
Hindler’s face grew pale as he began to glance nervously at the party, but Dorothea’s group didn’t blame him.
It was easy enough to guess how this situation had come about.
“It seems tourists from all over have flocked here because of the upcoming martial arts tournament.”
As Sophia summed it up, Dorothea crossed her arms and pondered.
She spoke to Hindler.
“Are these all the inns?”
“Well, there are exclusive inns for nobles, but… the thing is, those inns are in a district you can’t even enter without an access permit issued by the city.”
“What are the criteria for issuing a permit?”
“I don’t know the exact details. However, I’ve heard the guards at the checkpoint are extremely haughty and strict, and they won’t bend for money alone. You have to be someone of very high status, or hold an exceptional position. They say only people like that can enter.”
At Hindler’s words, the party’s heads slowly turned.
Receiving the gazes of the knight, the witch, and the scarecrow, the little lion was flustered.
“Huh? Yes? Me?”
Dorothea nodded.
She said, “We have one right here. A person of high standing with an exceptional position.”
*
“Halt! No one may enter this area without permission!”
As the party approached the entrance to the special district, a gatekeeper stepped forward to block their path.
Behind him, eight soldiers stood by in a state of semi-alert.
For guards who had to stand at the entrance all day, not just temporarily, their vigilance was quite strict.
Just then, Sophia spoke up.
“Of course, we’re aware. We’d like to have an access permit issued.”
“Hmph. State your identity and purpose of visit.”
“I am but a humble servant. The one who requires the permit is my master.”
As she spoke, Sophia guided the gatekeeper’s gaze toward Adel with a natural gesture.
Most of the soldiers looked puzzled at Adel’s adventurer attire, but the gatekeeper in charge was different.
He recognized Adel’s golden hair and violet eyes and was astonished.
“I see, a member of the Lennart Ducal House.”
“However,” he added.
“The appearance of the Lion Duke’s bloodline is so famous that some try to impersonate it or mimic the look. Most wouldn’t dare, fearing the wrath and retribution of the Lennart family, but occasionally there are those who can’t distinguish between recklessness and courage. Could you tell me what position your master holds within the ducal family? This is by no means to insult you or your master, but a measure to ensure the safety of the guests staying in the special district. I hope you will not take offense.”
Sophia nodded as if it were a matter of course.
“Of course. If you let unsavory individuals wander in freely, you might have unknown people causing a ruckus. Like a monster in disguise, or an evil mage.”
“Haha, thank you for your understanding.”
“My young lady, Adelaide von Lennart, holds the position of representative instructor of the Tik-Tok branch of the Lennart dojos, of which only five exist in the entire Empire.”
A mixture of awe and suspicion rippled through the surroundings.
The awe was for the prestigious name; the suspicion was for Adel’s appearance, which was not just young, but childlike.
The gatekeeper spoke.
“That is… astonishing. Do you have any way to prove it?”
“We don’t have a token or anything of the sort. However, wouldn’t you find out immediately if you checked with the main family? For a checkpoint like this, in a place like this, you must have the means to do so.”
‘Though, I would appreciate it if you didn’t keep us waiting too long,’ Sophia added with a bright smile.
The gatekeeper was impressed.
Though she called herself a mere servant, Sophia’s every word and action exuded an undeniable sophistication.
If this was the kind of person she kept as a mere page, the caliber of her master was surely something to behold.
They say that for those who have reached a certain level, the correlation between appearance and age becomes meaningless. Could this be one of those cases?
The gatekeeper nodded.
“Very well. You may enter.”
“Oh my, is there no separate verification process?”
“We have no way of finding out that quickly. The special district is divided into a preliminary area and a main area. For now, please stay at an inn in the preliminary area. Once we have completed the verification, we will issue a permit for the main area. This is also a measure to ensure security and safety, so I ask for your understanding.”
“That’s what he says. What should we do, my lady?”
At Sophia’s question, Adel said nothing.
She simply closed her eyes and opened them again.
At the sight, which for some reason exuded an air of dignity, the gatekeepers were once again impressed.
“My lady says she understands. She also commends you for your hard work.”
“Hahaha. We are truly grateful for her words. Please, enter.”