SWNOVELXO Chapter 105
105. Arrival At The Royal Capital
“We made it. Finally.”
“So, this is the Royal Capital…”
Passing through the checkpoint and under the gate, a vast city sprawled out before us.
A large fountain stood in front of us, its lights softly illuminating the red brick ground.
Despite the late hour, many people were out and about, and the city had a different energy from Ortia. It was my first time here, and I couldn’t help but look around in awe.
The Royal Capital, Montrolia. I’d heard the rumors, but I was already overwhelmed by its immense scale. The bustling crowds gave the place a festival-like atmosphere.
“Well then, I’ll head home from here. What about you, Ar-kun?”
A clock in the plaza chimed, indicating it was 8 PM.
The journey had taken a long time, and it was already late. It seemed like a good time to part ways.
“I’m heading back to Ortia via warp. Once registered, I can come anytime.”
“That’s convenient. Let’s call it a night, then.”
Sierra-san stretched broadly, relieving her body of the travel fatigue. Having been in the same position for hours, my body ached in several spots as well.
“When will you return? With a warp slime, it’s instant. I can pick you up.”
“Really? In that case, how about you come to this fountain at noon in three days? Would that be okay?”
“Of course. I could even escort you home and register your place as a warp point.”
“Ah… No, it’s fine. I think you’re tired too, and it’s really close from here.”
Though I wanted to escort her home, especially after our mishap today, I couldn’t disregard her wishes.
When I nodded, Sierra smiled contentedly.
“Thank you for today. See you in three days.”
“Yes. Please get some rest.”
Sierra turned and walked deeper into the capital. I watched her until she disappeared into the city.
Alone in the vast Royal Capital, I felt a sudden sense of the world’s enormity.
“Well, I should head back too…”
I registered the fountain as my warp point and started preparing to return to Ortia.
Then I remembered something.
“Right… Raize had asked me.”
The day I told Raize I was going to the Royal Capital, she had given me an errand.
‘There’s a shop in Montrolia that sells delicious financiers. It’s near the gate and open late. Could you get some for me?’
For someone usually only interested in crepes to want these, the shop must be very good.
Despite my exhaustion from the journey, I decided to buy them rather than face her wrath.
“But with such a big place, where should I even start?”
The Royal Capital was three times larger than I had imagined. Even at night, it was crowded, and the buildings were densely packed, some extending upwards to the second and third floors.
Feeling like a lost puppy, I started walking the unfamiliar streets, scanning each shop’s name for the one I sought.
I knew the shop’s name and thought it would be easy to find. Raize likely thought the same.
But no matter how much I walked, I couldn’t find it. The farther I walked, the further I seemed from the fountain.
Am I really going the right way? The doubt crept in as I was about to sigh.
“Whoa!”
A jolt ran through me. Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed and bumped into someone, landing on my rear.
Suppressing the pain, I quickly looked up.
“I’m sorry! Are you hurt…”
The person I bumped into was a blonde girl.
The light from the buildings illuminated her golden hair like threads of light, and her emerald green eyes stared straight at me.
She looked at me emotionlessly, giving off a mechanical impression.
“Sis! I got the financiers!”
While I was stunned, a blue-haired girl with twin tails followed the blonde girl.
She was shorter and younger-looking, and she alternated her gaze between me and the blonde girl.
“Sis!? What are you doing? Did you knock this person over?”
“No! I just bumped into her!”
The blue-haired girl grabbed the blonde and started shaking her. I corrected her, and she finally stopped.
“Huh? So, Sis didn’t do anything?”
Seeing me nod quickly, the blue-haired girl sighed in relief.
“Oh, good… Are you hurt, mister?”
“Ah, no. If anything, I think I hurt her…”
“My sis is fine. Here, have this! Bye!”
The blue-haired girl handed me a bag of financiers from her paper bag and started walking away, pulling her sister along.
The blonde girl kept her gaze fixed on me without a single change in expression, but walked away silently when her sister led her.
The odd pair, with the emotionless sister and the responsible younger sister, disappeared around the corner.
I sat there, staring at the financiers in my hand. It was probably what Raize had asked for, but I was more shocked by the encounter.
“What was that all about…?”
After a moment, I got up and brushed off the dirt. I no longer felt like looking for the shop, so I summoned my warp slime to return.
Calming down, I realized something.
“Wait… Did that girl knock me over…?”
The blonde girl seemed more fragile and shorter than me. Normally, she would have been the one hurt.
But that didn’t happen. Maybe because I was distracted? But considering their unique presence, it didn’t seem like just that.
“What was that all about?”
Feeling puzzled, I returned to Ortia.