Myungho had warned me not to cause any trouble inside the city. This was outside the city, though. But still… if I caused chaos here, it would likely ruin my chances of entering the city.
I clicked my tongue lightly and glared at the guards blocking my path.
Even though their faces were hidden by helmets, I could sense them flinch. However, they did not remove the weapons that barred my way. In fact, their grips on their weapons tightened.
So devoted to their duty. But if that duty involves standing in my way… it becomes quite bothersome.
I attempted to create a wall between them and me, intending to politely push through by channeling mana into my horn, but Myungho stepped in front of me to block my way.
“May I inquire about the purpose of this inspection? My introduction came late; I am Myungho, a Hero of Koluscia. This one here is Alterra, a member of my party who doesn’t understand human speech. Please be lenient with her actions.”
The guards, who had been eyeing us suspiciously as if they didn’t trust Myungho’s words, soon straightened up upon seeing his distinctive medal-like badge.
“Ah, so you are a Hero on duty. It’s an honor to meet you. Recently, due to an influx from Golsamet, there has been a sharp rise in Wahanshin and other narcotics. By order of our new Lord, we have been instructed to inspect everyone entering or leaving the city for drugs. We apologize for the inconvenience. Could you please cooperate?”
Behind the guards stood others marked with silver insignias, similarly armed and waiting.
If I had come alone, these latter ones would’ve undoubtedly attacked by now. But seeing my badge and recognizing Myungho, they merely watched tensely without moving.
“Narcotics… very well. We don’t carry such things, but feel free to check. By the way, who are they?”
Myungho, noticing the figures behind the guards, asked about their identities.
“The inspections often provoke unrest, so our Lord hired these additional personnel to ensure our safety. Thanks to them, incidents of injury and drug smugglers slipping through have drastically decreased. We’re always grateful to them and our Lord.”
Another guard answered in place of the one Myungho had questioned. Despite not fully understanding, it seemed the guards here were happier than those in the cities I had visited before. Was it just my impression?
“Hired, huh… interesting. Though, I didn’t hear of such problems in Golsamet…”
“Of course not! How could the source of all these drugs be normal? Whether through deals with demons or some other means, over the past five years, they’ve grown fat like bloated corpses. Truly despicable—how can they only care about themselves when they were originally just a mining village?”
Though the guard suddenly vented his frustration, since Myungho cooperated smoothly, the guards let us step back a pace.
“That… Alterra. These people want to check your belongings for any… illegal substances. They need to look through your luggage too, is that okay?”
What surprised me wasn’t the idea of a baggage inspection—it was the existence of drugs. That startled me. Drugs existed even in this world?
Truly despicable. Back on Earth, I knew someone who used drugs and saw how quickly it ruined them. To think they make such things here too…
Shaking my head inwardly, I consented to the inspection. Since they weren’t taking anything, just looking, I didn’t mind.
In fact, showing what I carried didn’t bother me much either. As they rummaged through my belongings, some murmured in admiration or cast envious glances at the gold coins.
“…Alright, no contraband found in your possessions. Sir Hero, might there be any drugs concealed within your clothing or on your person? It’s impolite to suspect, but we’ve encountered cases where smugglers hid them internally.”
“I assure you, there isn’t. I swear by my homeland, Koluscia, and the name of the Goddess.”
Once the inspection was finally complete, Myungho and the rest moved past the guards. As I was about to follow, a guard stopped me by placing a hand on my shoulder.
“What is it? Is there a problem with her?”
As usual, I almost lashed out with my claws or tail, but remembering Myungho’s advice, I managed to restrain myself. Without him, blood would’ve been spilled long ago.
“This young lady has been covering her right arm since we noticed her. We need to check it.”
“Aha… Alterra, could you show your right arm? It’s been catching their attention. We’re almost done, so please, just this once.”
Running my fingers over my right arm, I could still feel some scales remaining.
It wouldn’t matter if I showed it. Among the adventurers who tried to kill me, there was one whose entire body was covered in scales, belonging to some strange race.
But I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to reveal this evidence of cursed blood to others.
So I forcibly peeled off the remaining scales. Pieces of nearby skin and flesh tore away as well, and drops of blood trickled to the ground.
When the blood hit the floor, the guards gasped, but regardless, I extended my right arm. The fresh wounds, healing scars, and already healed parts of my arm were visible.
There were no scales.
“…Alright, you may enter… next!”
As if nothing had happened, I rejoined the group and turned to Myungho.
“Did I endure well enough?”
Myungho looked at me as if he couldn’t quite comprehend why I’d done it, but still gave me the answer I wanted.
“…Yeah, you endured well. Still… did you really have to harm yourself? That part is questionable… but I guess you had your reasons, right?”
Self-harm? I merely erased the evidence of cursed blood. Moreover, this hardly qualified as self-harm. Even now, it was almost completely healed, wasn’t it?
Walking silently, Myungho seemed to give up asking further questions and followed along.
“To waste such precious blood on the floor… If I’d known, I would’ve prepared a vial.”
“You… that’s enough. Stop talking. Expecting refinement or common sense from you was foolish of me…”
The scenery beyond the city walls wasn’t much different from the towns I occasionally visited. The biggest difference, however, was that instead of guards surrounding me, there were ordinary people.
Most were humans, but occasionally, non-human figures appeared too, similar to those I had killed while reclaiming villages.
It felt reassuring, like blending into an ordinary life.
Of course, the crowd splitting apart like the Red Sea before Moses when they saw my horns, tail, figure, or badge wasn’t exactly ordinary. Still, it was better than being surrounded by guards.
This is what everyday life in a normal city feels like. Taking it all in, I imagined what might have been—if I had grown up normally in a city like this.
Even though I knew it held no real meaning.
“…So, Alterra, what do you think of Enshulos? Do you like it?”
“At least no one here points swords at me, which is good. People seem lively too.”
Perhaps… a thought crossed my mind. If I returned after severing my father’s neck, could I live somewhere like this?
Since the guards didn’t react negatively to my appearance, maybe people would simply see me as someone unusual and move on.
“It suits you, then. Good. Let’s find a room at the Adventurers’ Guild or an inn first. This luggage… it’s heavy.”
He carried lighter things than I did and yet complained more. Still, traveling without luggage was easier, so I decided to go along with his suggestion.
—
Most Adventurers’ Guilds have separate affiliated lodging facilities, but sometimes, especially in more affluent places, accommodations are built directly within the guild.
This was true in several places besides Golsamet, including Enshulos. There hadn’t been anything like that in Koluscia during my travels. Crossing the sea made things so much more prosperous.
Clearly, this land was cursed, I thought to myself as I approached the receptionist.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for a room to stay in. Are there any available?”
“Are you an adventurer? Oh… Gold Rank! And the Hero’s Badge?! Just a moment…! You’re the Hero of Koluscia! One moment… Yes! There are two rooms left! Do you have companions with you?”
Inside Koluscia, reactions were rather indifferent, but here across the sea, they were much warmer.
Among the summoned Heroes who wandered instead of protecting their assigned lands, many were strong and admired. My reputation clearly hadn’t reached here yet.
“Yes, here. There are four of us.”
“Wow… so many Gold Ranks…! So this is what it takes to be a Hero… Alright, could you sign the register so we can assign the cost?”
While technically Silver Rank, thanks to a spell, I was rated Gold, though I couldn’t properly use magic, making my conscience ache slightly. But with Transcendent Gold-ranked Alterra around, it should be fine.
Some places required payment to stay, while others offered free lodging. This one seemed to require payment.
Interestingly, there was also a section for race. Were they pricing based on race? After writing my name and marking “human” beside it, I filled out forms for Akashi and Yuna as well.
For Alterra… I knew the pronunciation but not the spelling, so I phonetically transcribed it. For race, I hesitated briefly before writing “Half-Dragon.”
“Yes, two humans, one elf, and a Half… Dragon? Excuse me, a Half-Dragon?”
The receptionist looked at the word and then at Alterra. Of course, Half-Dragons usually appeared as protagonists in fairy tales or villains in myths.
Dragons themselves were treated with fear due to numerous hunting and sighting stories of their various subspecies.
“So… may I see the female’s badge over there…? Gold 1… Alterra… issued… in Golsamet…? Just a moment. Does that mean you’re Golsamet’s Half-Dragon…?!”
As the receptionist exclaimed in surprise, the guild grew restless. I had already sensed that this area wasn’t particularly fond of Golsamet upon arrival…
But did anyone here believe the rumor that Half-Dragons powered Golsamet’s rise?
There was no real way to know.
However, it seemed the receptionist genuinely believed it.
“…Why is she reacting like that?”
Alterra stood there blankly, seemingly unaware that she was the cause of this commotion.
How am I supposed to resolve this?
