SWNOVELXO Chapter 57
The handover of Eurua was not taking place in the familiar surroundings of the Royal Capital’s black market, but in the corner of a desolate ruin some distance away from the city. Moss grew on the crumbling stone walls of the ruins, and a caravan led by Banku, who was about to embark on his journey to the next country, was stopped nearby. In front of me stood two figures with deep brown hoods pulled low over their heads.
“Is the contract complete… Shall we proceed?”
“I have no objections.”
A black pattern, resembling a welt, spread across my right wrist. According to Banku, this was the mark of ownership over a slave. Similarly, one of the two hooded figures, the taller one, had a matching emblem spread across their right arm.
Banku, standing between me and the two hooded individuals, was beaming with a smile broader than I had ever seen. It was not one of genuine celebration, but more the smile of a businessman pleased with a successful transaction.
“I am well aware that this favor cannot be repaid in years, or even decades… I will be in your care from now on, Master.”
“You can just call me Allen. No need for formalities.”
Since only Banku and a few other close associates knew the situation, the two who had been wearing hoods removed them.
“Hm, for a human, you’re quite handsome…”
“A-Aria-sama… Please mind your manners when speaking to the person who will be taking care of us…”
Though I had seen Eurua several times before, this was my first meeting with the other woman, Aria.
Strictly speaking, I had seen her before when she was unconscious, but this was the first time we were officially introduced.
“Considering you’re Elven royalty, should I be more formal in addressing you?”
“No need for that. Even though I’m a High Elf, I was born just like any other Elf.”
Despite the complex circumstances, Aria held a high standing as a High Elf, a superior rank among Elves. Her small stature made her look no older than a middle schooler, but her mannerisms exuded a certain dignity.
Apparently, she was a High Elf through atavism, but I wondered if she had already learned such graceful etiquette.
Aria possessed beauty that could easily rival Eurua’s—perhaps even surpass her in the eyes of some. While she had a somewhat youthful appearance, her speech and presence carried a mysterious allure.
In addition, her long golden hair, visible from beneath her hooded cloak, was stunning. Even longer than Eurua’s, which reached her waist, Aria’s hair nearly touched the ground.
Moreover, from her radiant golden locks, a translucent, rainbow-like aura seemed to emanate.
Combined with this magical sight, her entire figure appeared ethereal. Based on my sense of things, I could tell that the mysterious aura flowing from her hair was overflowing magical power.
(Amazing… I had expected this, but I think she might have more magic power than even Saioji or Rey.)
Though she couldn’t compare to Sakakibara, who was a royal and a reincarnator (or perhaps possessed?), Aria was an exceptional presence. She was an outlier, the statistical anomaly. Setting her aside, she undoubtedly had the most magical power among the people I knew.
Though having an abundance of magical power doesn’t necessarily equate to strength, it’s certainly a significant indicator.
(Considering there were purist conspiracies at play, what kind of monster could have inflicted such grievous injuries on someone like her?)
As I observed Aria’s immense magical energy, I felt a slight chill. I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of creature had brought such a powerful individual to the brink of death.
I couldn’t ask now, since this was just a formal introduction, but I resolved to ask her when we became better acquainted.
—
Unlike our arrival, we chose to enter the Royal Capital via the southern gate instead of the eastern one. The Royal Capital has four large gates—north, south, east, and west—but the busiest are the west and south gates.
The west gate is mainly used by those transporting goods to shops within the capital, while the south gate sees heavy traffic from adventurers and merchants related to them.
In contrast, the north and east gates are far less frequented. The north gate, in particular, is restricted to the general public, making the east gate the least lively of those accessible to civilians.
As the saying goes, “Hide a tree in the forest,” and I figured that using the busiest southern gate would allow us to slip through with only a cursory inspection, even if we were dressed a little suspiciously.
Of course, I had already made some preparations to avoid suspicion, just in case…
“This crowd is unbelievable… As expected of a human kingdom,” Aria remarked.
The inspection areas were set up in a row, resembling checkout lanes at a large supermarket.
It was around midday, and adventurers who had ventured into nearby dungeons were returning to the city for lunch. As a result, there were more adventurers than usual gathered at the southern gate’s inspection area.
Standing at the end of the long line, Aria marveled at the sight of the crowded line.
Towering before us was the massive defensive wall that had taken centuries to construct. The wall, which surrounded the capital, stood several meters tall and was built from a special stone said to weaken the power of magic.
This superior building material was highly durable, though its weight was substantial. Despite its magic-weakening properties, it was rarely used for equipment and was mostly reserved for military structures.
The defensive wall surrounding the capital was a testament to the military might of the Kingdom of Kainriese, whose royal family and nobles were known for their high magical abilities. This combination of magical prowess and military power had allowed the kingdom to enjoy centuries of peace.
Incidentally, the special stone used in the wall’s construction was classified as a military resource and was strictly regulated, with private ownership being prohibited.