147th Episode
As they camped a few times while heading toward the Imperial Capital, the scenery began to change.
Instead of dirt roads, well-maintained roads stretched long, and the shapes of buildings and clothing styles also kept changing.
The longer the journey went on, the taller the buildings became, and the clothes grew more luxurious.
Though there may be shadows anywhere, at least in the places immediately visible, they were being pushed aside.
The children from Phillip’s County would sometimes gape in amazement and other times feel deflated.
However, no one was bored.
Because the journey was long, there were many difficulties, but the most troublesome issue was the accommodation fees.
The closer they got to the Imperial Capital, the more astronomically expensive the lodging became.
Moreover, due to the recent turmoil in the Empire’s power structure, prices had surged again, causing their overall expenses to increase far beyond what they had anticipated.
Normally, they might have saved money by camping more often.
However, Mohamed’s group was currently en route to meet with the Emperor.
They didn’t know when others might start paying attention, so they needed to avoid any actions that would damage their dignity.
And setting up camp instead of staying at an inn was clearly undignified behavior.
In the end, while Mohamed stayed alone in one room, the rest of the children and servants had to cram into two or three rooms to get some sleep.
Even Alessia ended up rolling around in the same room as Karen, Johanna, and Luna.
Ray finally came back to reality.
When they had previously traveled to the Royal Magic Tower, the Osiris Count’s family had covered the expenses.
Thanks to the ample funds of the wealthy Osiris family, they could travel comfortably to and from the Royal Magic Tower.
At the Royal Magic Tower, Alessia even borrowed clothes and accessories from Florya.
However, this trip’s expenses were entirely shouldered by Philip Count.
Philip’s finances had never been good, either then or now.
Even with efforts to minimize the number of people traveling to the Imperial Capital, they were barely making ends meet. With all these extra expenses added to the trip, it was impossible not to feel the pinch.
‘This wasn’t thought through properly.’
Ray hadn’t anticipated how tight things would get.
Alessia seemed excited to mix with the kids, but nonetheless, she wasn’t receiving the treatment she deserved.
“Hmm…”
To be honest, he felt a bit sorry for her.
Still, there was no way to solve the problem before reaching the Imperial Capital, so they pressed on.
As they approached the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, the landscape changed once more.
All the power, technology, and capital of humanity thriving across the continent were concentrated here, flourishing right before their eyes.
It wasn’t uncommon to see everyday-use artifacts that couldn’t be mass-produced, and conveniences unheard of in the frontier lined the streets.
Compared to the people walking the streets, even Alessia’s attire looked shabby.
The children were overwhelmed, and Alessia too stood with her mouth half-open, marveling at the city.
Anyone could tell they were country bumpkins from the frontier.
Alessia pointed at a beautifully decorated building.
“I don’t know what that place is.”
“Uh… It looks like a restaurant. A place where they sell food.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it!”
In this world, specialized restaurants were hard to come by.
Most establishments provided meals as part of their lodging services.
However, since many nobles and similar individuals frequented the Imperial Capital without owning villas nearby, the service industry, including restaurants, had developed quite significantly.
Of course, commoners found it difficult to use such places.
When Alessia and the children lingered near a high-end restaurant, an irritable voice soon rang out.
“Get lost! Don’t loiter here!”
Having been insulted, Alessia ran to Ray, exclaiming dramatically.
“My knight!”
“Yes?”
“I’ve never been treated like this before!”
“…”
With both her and their carriage looking shabby, being ignored was practically routine.
This area was filled with people who, though perhaps of slightly lower rank than Alessia, wielded much greater actual influence.
Even noble heirs couldn’t afford to act overly proud around here.
Initially, no one even recognized Alessia as a proper noble based on her appearance.
Despite her pouting face, Alessia continued chatting with the children about the city.
Even on the way to find accommodations, there was plenty to see.
Though numerous convenience facilities for nobles lined the streets, they couldn’t enter them—not because of status, but due to dress code issues—and they certainly lacked the money.
As the carriage passed various shops, it stopped in front of a high-end dessert shop.
The children, their eyes drawn by the sweet aroma, hastily wiped the drool from their chins.
Alessia halted the carriage and took three servants and the children to the dessert shop.
Since eating inside was possible, they hoped to enjoy the desserts seated at a table.
However, the attendant guarding the entrance shook his head upon seeing Alessia and the children’s attire.
“You cannot enter.”
Feeling truly disheartened after being turned away, Alessia replied.
“Then please pack us a few pastries.”
Soon, a basket filled with sweet pastries was brought out.
Alessia handed them out to the children and servants, telling them to try one.
Eating food on the street was considered extremely undignified behavior, but Alessia’s spirit had been broken by repeated snubs.
“Mmmmm…”
Huddled together on the street, enjoying sugar-laden pastries, they looked exactly like country folk visiting the city for the first time.
Regardless of what others thought, the children and servants, tasting sweets so rich and flavorful for the first time, acted as if they were under the influence of some drug.
Alessia also marveled.
She hadn’t tasted desserts of this quality since her days at the Royal Magic Tower, and she couldn’t help but smile.
This was why she had gained weight during her time at the tower.
At that moment, a noble finishing his meal at the shop noticed Karen and exclaimed appreciatively as he approached.
“Ho, for a servant, you have quite a fair complexion.”
“?”
Karen froze mid-bite, startled.
The noble, adorned with jewels, seemed to have already assessed Karen’s status based on her attire and casually reached out to touch her chin.
“With proper grooming, you’d shine even more.”
The children, including Karen, exchanged wide-eyed glances.
Ray had repeatedly warned them not to act rashly, so they simply eyed each other cautiously.
Just as Alessia prepared to say something in a feigned angry tone, Ray spoke first.
“If you do not remove your hand immediately, I will cut it off.”
“?”
Ray’s unexpected and extreme statement left Alessia bewildered.
Where had the guy who kept advising restraint gone?
Clack!
One of the noble’s bodyguards instinctively gripped his sword hilt in response to the menacing threat, but Ray swiftly extended his arm and grabbed the pommel of the guard’s sword.
Despite trying to pull the sword free with force, the guard couldn’t budge Ray’s grip at all.
As the remaining bodyguards drew their swords, sensing the situation was serious, a flash of light erupted from the side.
It wasn’t the flash itself but the overwhelming pressure that swept past their skin that made the knights flinch.
Mohamed, having manifested Sword Energy, asked in a low voice:
“We are on our way to the Imperial Capital to sing the glory of His Majesty the Emperor upon his summons. What reason do you have for blocking our path?”
“…”
Sachelle, the noble who had grabbed Karen’s chin, quickly withdrew his hand and signaled his guards to step back.
Unless they belonged to an exceptionally powerful family, even nobles couldn’t treat graduates lightly, but more importantly, Mohamed had mentioned the Emperor.
Only then did Sachelle realize that the graduate from Phillip’s County he had heard rumors about was indeed the knight standing before him.
“I have committed a grave offense.”
Had he known these were the companions of a knight summoned by the Emperor, the situation would have been different.
Moreover, given Mohamed’s sharp demeanor, it seemed the servant he had just touched was no ordinary servant.
He entertained thoughts like, “Could there be some special relationship?” but, not wanting to complicate matters, Sachelle promptly apologized sincerely.
“I have shown great disrespect. To make amends for today’s mistake, please visit the Crawford family mansion in the Imperial Capital on your way back from meeting His Majesty.”
“I will consider it.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
After bowing respectfully to Mohamed, Sachelle quickly disappeared.
As Alessia watched Sachelle’s retreating back, she tilted her head in confusion.
“Shouldn’t he have apologized to me?”
Here, Alessia held the highest rank among those present.
However, none of the people unaware of her identity would have guessed that she was Lady Alessia of Phillip’s County.
Today, in an effort to save money, she had roughed it alongside the children, leaving her appearance less than regal.
“…Lady Alessia.”
“Hmm?”
“Until we arrive at the Imperial Capital, wouldn’t it be better if you pretended not to be a noble?”
“My knight, are you implying I’m embarrassing?!”
Unlike Alessia’s shock, both Mohamed and Jenkins somewhat agreed with Ray’s suggestion.
Given her current state, if Alessia revealed her identity, she’d likely be mocked behind her back as a country bumpkin pretending to be a noble.
Rather than enduring such ridicule, it would be better to wait until later to make a grand entrance after proper grooming.
“How unjust…!”
While sulking, Alessia clenched her fists.
On reflection, she realized her fair complexion had been overshadowed by Karen’s.
Hadn’t Sachelle specifically pointed out Karen among the similarly dressed children?
“Grrr…”
Though she had lived comfortably in Phillip’s County, how had things come to this?
Alessia was physically realizing just how insignificant the fame and influence of the Phillip’s family were within the Empire.
As Ray tried to console the whining Alessia, someone else approached.
The calm Ray suddenly tensed.
The mage, faced with his sharp aura, burst into laughter.
“The sword I gave you—where has it gone? Why are you carrying such a cheap blade at your waist?”
Narrowing his eyes, Ray scrutinized the mage’s face and gasped.
Though their encounter had been brief, the face was etched vividly in his memory.
“A… Could it be Master Jepelin?”
“You’ve recognized me correctly. I wondered if it might be you. You’ve grown a lot.”
Jepelin, passing by, had fortuitously spotted Ray and pulled back his robe’s hood.
Jepelin’s imposing figure, which was easy to remember, was fully revealed.
Ray smiled and greeted him warmly.
“It’s been a long time. However, what brings you here…?”
“I happened to have business in the Imperial Capital. But what about you?”
Ray briefly explained the situation.
Understanding the circumstances, Jepelin exchanged quick pleasantries with Mohamed.
Alessia stealthily approached and attempted to introduce herself forcefully.
“Pleased to meet you. I am…”
“Please refrain from bothering me.”
“!”
Shocked, Alessia’s body swayed to the side.
Ray chuckled and said,
“Why do you torment my lady?”
“I merely stated that something annoying is annoying.”
A master mage of Jepelin’s caliber had every right to ignore Alessia.
Many renowned knights bowed their heads to purchase the swords crafted by Jepelin.
Turning back to Ray, Jepelin curiously asked again,
“What happened to the sword I gave you? I didn’t give it to you to keep in storage.”
The X series swords crafted by Jepelin weren’t cheap.
It wasn’t unreasonable to assume the sword was either reverently stored or sold, but if the latter, Jepelin would be greatly disappointed.
Scratching the back of his neck, Ray answered,
“Ah, it broke.”
“…What?”
Jepelin, doubting his ears, asked again,
“It broke? The sword I gave you?”
“The freebie you threw in as a bonus didn’t seem very durable.”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Thus saying, Ray laughed heartily.
Traveling Road (3)
