Re: Zero The Great Sage

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{3rd Pov}

A few hours earlier—

After parting ways with Subaru, Gloria, and Beatrice, the carriage carrying Reina and Emilia had arrived in front of the city's gates ahead of the others.

Their carriage driver wasted no time in presenting a noble insignia to the stationed guards, raising his voice with formal authority as he declared, "The Royal Candidate Emilia and the Sword Saint Reina are visiting the city under the auspices of Marquis Zero."

The guards exchanged a glance and nodded without hesitation—they had been informed of the visit in advance, a full day prior, and had taken the necessary steps to prepare for the distinguished guests.

In anticipation of their arrival, the city's main road leading directly to the central mansion had been cleared of all other carriages and vehicles.

This was done to ensure an unimpeded and dignified passage for the visiting nobility. The entire process of clearing the way had already been completed the previous day, following the notice of their arrival.

All commoners and travelers seeking to enter the city had been halted where they stood. No other carriages would be permitted entry until Emilia's official carriage passed through and a designated half-hour had elapsed. It was a strict, if temporary, hold on all movement into the city.

If this had been one of the great cities of the kingdom—those brimming with powerful noble houses, bustling trade, and dense populations—such an elaborate reception might not have been possible or even considered necessary.

However, this was a relatively small city, modest in size and scope, governed largely by baronial houses and minor nobility. As such, a show of formality and reverence for high-ranking visitors was both feasible and politically advantageous.

The barons themselves did not live within the city proper. Instead, they resided in castles just a few kilometers beyond its outer limits, protected by strong stone walls and surrounded by vast, manicured gardens.

These estates were also in proximity to farming villages and open farmland, which provided food and resources to the city and its surrounding lands.

Governance of the city itself was delegated to lesser lords—minor nobles appointed by the barons, often their own blood relatives.

These lords, though not in the direct line of succession for the baronial titles, were nonetheless entrusted with significant authority and expected to manage the affairs of the city on behalf of their liege lords.

At first glance, this decentralized governance structure might appear disorganized or inefficient, but upon closer inspection, it began to make a certain kind of sense.

It allowed the barons to retain direct control over their strongholds and lands while placing trusted family members in administrative positions within urban centers.

Inside the carriage, meanwhile, Emilia's gentle gaze fell upon Reina, whose crimson-red eyes briefly flashed with a faint golden hue, betraying a moment of intense inner focus or perhaps frustration.

"Is something troubling you, Miss Reina?" Emilia asked with polite concern. "Your eyes—just now—they were glowing gold."

Reina blinked, caught slightly off guard, and quickly realized her slip up and potential clues while using this specific Divine Protection.

"It's nothing serious," she replied in a calm but slightly evasive tone. "I was merely utilizing a Divine Protection technique for reconnaissance."

With a quiet breath, Reina willed another Divine Protection into existence—this one designed specifically to mask the coloration of her eyes while using divine abilities.

It was a subtle but strategic defense, ensuring that in future moments of divine activation, no visible change would give away her intentions or abilities.

Divine Protection of Eye Colouration has been acquired.

Od Laguna, the mysterious source of divine blessings, granted the ability without hesitation. In doing so, it stripped the blessing from its original bearer without remorse or negotiation—an act as merciless as it was efficient.

Back at the gates, the guards completed their verification of the necessary documents and responded with crisp, respectful salutes to the occupants of the carriage.

This ceremonial deference was customary.

In fact, had it been the King or Queen themselves visiting a great city, identical security measures and formalities would have been enacted.

Here, however, the gestures carried even more weight, given that Emilia was a Royal Candidate in active contention for the throne, and Reina was not only a Sword Saint but also an heir apparent to a Duchy—wielding considerable authority over these lands.

Her presence, alongside Emilia's, and by extension Subaru's delegated influence, merited such an elaborate welcome.

The carriage was then directed smoothly onto the main road, flanked and led by two city guards mounted on lesser-breed ground dragons—creatures far less majestic than their high-dragon counterparts but still imposing enough to serve as suitable escorts for nobility.

A hundred years ago, horses were still widely used across the world as the primary means of land transportation. They were dependable creatures, deeply integrated into everyday life for travel, commerce, and labor.

However, all of that changed with the rise in population of ground dragons.

This surge was particularly due to the introduction of a newly bred, significantly slower and physically weaker subspecies of ground dragons—one engineered precisely for its ability to reproduce easily and rapidly in vast numbers.

Despite being considered a low-breed variant, even the most basic ground dragons possessed stamina, strength, and speed that far surpassed that of ordinary horses. More importantly, every ground dragon—regardless of breed—was born with an innate Divine Protection.

These divine blessings enhanced their speed further, making them not only faster and more powerful than horses but also more comfortable and reliable as mounts or as beasts of burden. The natural advantages offered by these creatures quickly made horses obsolete in nearly every region. T

he use of horses as a primary form of transportation quietly faded into history.

Back in the present, the two guards escorting Emilia's carriage dutifully cleared out the thoroughfare.

At a junction ahead, they brought traffic to a full halt, directing both pedestrians and carriages away to prevent any obstruction or delay in the path of Emilia's procession. This level of deference was rare but not unheard of, especially when it involved individuals of high political and noble standing.

Word spread like wildfire. News of the arrival of Royal Candidate Emilia and the Sword Saint Reina reached the ears of the townsfolk almost instantly.

Residents peeked out of their windows, curious eyes watching from above. Others stepped outside, gathering along the edges of the street in hopes of catching a glimpse of their prestigious guests.

Inside the carriage, Emilia glanced out the window, her delicate features reflecting a mixture of curiosity and composed warmth.

Her long, silvery hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her vibrant amethyst-purple eyes scanned the surroundings. However, her distinct and mystical appearance caused some onlookers to momentarily flinch in apprehension.

Despite this, Emilia mustered her usual gentle courage and offered a small wave in their direction. Her hand moved gracefully through the open window as she observed the streetscape, taking in the design and structure of the houses and buildings with interest.

"Other than being a bit larger and more spacious than the homes back in the village," she murmured thoughtfully, "they still resemble the rural cottages... Unlike the Capital, where most buildings are constructed entirely of stone and painted with vibrant colors."

"It is no surprise," Reina replied, her tone calm and analytical as she also looked out of the window. "This is a small city, after all. There are eighteen such cities scattered throughout the Kingdom of Lugunica. Their main function is to serve as logistical hubs—connecting farming villages and rural settlements to the larger cities. These cities facilitate the transport and exchange of agricultural goods and other raw materials, making trade smoother and more centralized."

Emilia nodded in understanding. She had read about this infrastructural structure before in various documents and official texts.

But reading something and experiencing it firsthand were two very different things. Seeing the physical routes, the urban layout, and the citizens going about their lives brought new clarity to what she had only previously understood in theory.

After some time, the carriage reached the small Noble District located at the heart of the city. The path took them through another set of defensive walls, guarded by a more disciplined and better-equipped unit of soldiers stationed specifically to protect this elite area.

The moment they passed through the gate, the difference in architectural quality became apparent. The residences here rivaled those of the Great Cities—elegant, luxurious, and meticulously maintained.

For Emilia, it was a striking reminder of the stark contrast between the lives of nobles and commoners.

Previously, she had not paid much attention to such disparity. A simple girl by nature, Emilia had spent years living in a humble wooden cottage deep in the forest, accompanied only by her beloved spirit companion, Puck.

Although being brought to Roswaal's mansion had exposed her to a more extravagant lifestyle, she had never truly cared for wealth or status.

As long as she had a warm bed, a meal to eat, and someone to call family, she could endure any hardship without complaint.

But now, as one of the Royal Candidates aspiring to become the ruler of Lugunica, her perspective had begun to shift.

It was no longer enough to remain humble and content. She now bore a responsibility—a duty to improve the living standards of the people. Even if she could not elevate everyone to the level of nobility, at the very least she should ensure that their basic needs, safety, and sanitary conditions were sufficiently met.

In fact, during her previous visit to the Royal Capital, Emilia had temporarily parted ways with Ram, driven by a deep curiosity and a desire to explore the vast and vibrant city on her own.

After all, it was her first time in a Great City of such magnitude, and everything about it—from the towering stone buildings to the bustling markets and intricate alleyways—was new and fascinating to her.

However, true to the innocent and somewhat naïve nature she still carried at the time, she had made a critical oversight: she ventured out without bringing any money separating from Ram who carried all the money. Worse yet, amidst the overwhelming crowd and unfamiliar surroundings, her royal insignia—an item of immeasurable importance—was stolen from her.

While these thoughts weighed on her mind, the carriage came to a gentle stop before a stately mansion. It was surrounded by a well-kept garden, neatly trimmed hedges, two flowing water fountains, and a sturdy fence enclosing the property.

Two guards stood vigil at the front gate, straight-backed and alert. The city escort moved ahead of the carriage and addressed them with formality and precision. "Lady Emilia and Lady Reina have arrived!" the lead guard announced in a firm voice.

Another guard accompanying them stepped forward and presented both the official certificate and the noble insignia that verified the guests' identities.

The receiving guards took the documents and placed them against a specialized magical apparatus—likely a metia device—that confirmed the authenticity of the noble tokens. Once verified, they saluted sharply.

With formalities complete, Emilia and Reina stepped out of the carriage gracefully.

The mansion they were entering was notably smaller than Roswaal's estate. Interestingly, even Roswaal's mansion—modest by noble standards—was considered small for someone of his influence and title.

This building, while less grand, held significance of a different kind. It served as a communal location where the city's most influential figures could gather—wealthy merchants, visiting nobility, local minor lords, and diplomatic envoys alike.

It was a venue of status and power, previously under the exclusive ownership of Margrave Roswaal himself. Now, it functioned as a center for strategic meetings and coordination under Subaru's administration.

While the surrounding villages had been under the jurisdiction of other high-ranking nobles, the city itself had been ceded entirely to Roswaal, who had expressed no objection in offering his full support to Subaru's appointment and authority here.

As Reina and Emilia were escorted into the mansion's spacious guest room, they settled comfortably onto the ornate furniture. The room was quiet, filled with soft light from a large window, and modestly decorated in noble taste.

Wasting no time, Reina activated her recently acquired Divine Protection—Divine Protection of Eye Colouration—allowing her to use her recon abilities undetected. She focused her vision and extended her observation on Subaru using another Divine Protection.

Her sharp eyes soon located Subaru and Gloria, casually entering a tavern and placing food orders. She observed them for a few seconds, then decided to end her surveillance—for now.

She let out a subtle sigh and leaned back.

Just then, the door to the room opened with a light creak. A middle-aged man entered. He had dusty blond hair combed back, a well-kept brown mustache, and wore the formal attire of an administrator.

"I greet you, esteemed ladies," he said with a courteous bow. "My name is Chilard, and I currently serve as the acting governor of this city on behalf of the noble houses."

To be continued...

(A/N: I hope you liked the chapter.

I saw a fic where the MC was a former American, and he was jealous about his Indian friend having the hottest woman in the entire college with million of followers.

I was very amused, because all I think about Indians going to foreign is simply to earn money.

But seriously, is this is happening in foreign? I did saw some racist ramblings of a man who said their American wives were being stolen by Indians.

Bruh, he was admitting that he was insecure in front of everyone, also Indians stealing foreign women?

I can think women choosing foreigners or of 'Other races' but I don't think Indians are stealing women unless you think of single women as your 'Property' ughh he was being both sexist and racist!

You lot change spouses as changing clothes, even I don't change that many clothes in a year than these people change spouses.

That is some funny shit.

But seriously what do you think of India if you are foreigners especially European and American?

No need to mention about pollution here, and unhygienic stall foods, I am living here and I hate it more than you feel, especially when I am sick so regularly when all I do is breath in this air, my house is daily cleaned yet some cockroaches still manage to pollute the environment.

Other than these matters, there are always bad seeds or exceptional people, but I want to ask what you think generally?

This a decent topic.)