Chapter 34

Kirisia Peninsula.

One of the world's leading advanced regions, it is a peninsula of constant warfare where numerous city-states vie for control.

At the easternmost tip of the Kirisia Peninsula lies a city-state. A man stepped into this city.

"Is this Claris, the trading city that connects the Kirisia Peninsula and the Persian Empire..."

The man looked up at the massive walls.

Claris has a population of 250,000 and is the second most powerful city-state on the Kirisia Peninsula.

Originally, it was just a colonial city built by one of the city-states of the Kirisia Peninsula, but as the only place connecting the Persian Empire and the Kirisia Peninsula, and with its natural good port called Deer Horn Bay facing the Ash Sea to the north and the inland sea to the south, merchants naturally gathered here. Powerful merchants who gained strength through East-West trade rebelled against their home country and declared independence.

It is now one of the world's leading trading cities.

"Hey, mister, come on in."

"Yeah, sorry."

The gatekeeper smiled.

"Entry tax is..."

"There isn't one. It would hinder business. Well, if you stay for more than a month, you'll have to pay a residence tax... Are you new here? I don't recognize your face... Where are you from?"

"I come from a country called the Crimson Empire, the land of silk in the Far East. My name is Seimei."

"Wow, from the land of silk..."

The gatekeeper scrutinized Seimei.

"Well, let me give you some advice. Got it? There are two types of people in Claris. One is the first-class citizens, who are relatively wealthy and can afford the high head tax. The other is the second-class citizens, who are poor and can't pay taxes properly. It's best not to go near the second-class citizen areas. I think you'll be able to tell which places are dangerous just by looking. By the way, I'm a first-class citizen."

"Thank you for the warning. I'll be careful."

Seimei smiled and passed through the gate.

"Five bronze coins."

"Um, can't I use Persian bronze coins?"

When Seimei asked, the stall owner frowned.

"...Go exchange them."

Seimei exchanged his Persian bronze coins for Kirisia bronze coins at the money changer the owner pointed to with his thumb. He had to pay a fee, but there was no choice.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Seimei bought a pastry called Dolphitz from the stall. It was a dough ball made of flour, fried in oil, and skewered.

It seemed to use sugar, so it was quite expensive. It was probably aimed at first-class citizens.

Seimei thought about this while eating the Dolphitz. It was a simple sweetness, but the oil was a bit strong.

As Seimei was walking leisurely, a dirty man suddenly jumped out from the crowd, holding a leather bag.

"Someone!! Catch him!! He's a pickpocket!"

Seimei kicked the man's legs hard, causing him to fall flat.

Seimei picked up the bag that had fallen from the man's hand.

"Are you a second-class citizen..."

Seimei looked down at the man.

He must have committed the crime out of desperation. There was room for sympathy... but a crime is a crime.

It cannot be forgiven.

The police, who had heard the commotion, took the second-class citizen away.

"Stop it!! I won't do it again, just don't make me a slave!!"

"Shut up, do you want to be sent to the mines?"

The man was dragged away from the scene.

"Thank you! Thank you, sir!"

"No problem."

Seimei handed the bag to the black-haired woman who had run up. She had olive-colored skin and a sharp face.

The thought that Kirisian women are beautiful came to Seimei's mind.

The woman hugged the bag she had received from Seimei.

"Is it that important?"

"Yes, I aspire to be an architect. This bag contains sketches of buildings I've seen in Kirisia and Persia, and design plans I've come up with..."

Seimei was a bit surprised by her words. Architecture requires essential knowledge of mathematics and physics.

Women do not often pursue academic studies. Their job is to protect the home, and there is no need for academic knowledge, and even if they learn it, there is no place that will hire them. This is common knowledge in the Crimson Empire, where Seimei is from.

In the East, even noble daughters can read and write are only a small part. Therefore, it is very surprising that the woman in front of him, who looks like a town girl, aspires to be an architect, even if she is a wealthy first-class citizen.

"What? Do you think it's strange for a woman to aim for such a profession? That women should only practice magic or wait for their husbands at home?"

The woman in front of him frowned in displeasure. Seimei shook his head hurriedly.

"Not at all, I was just a bit surprised. In my hometown, there were very few women who could read and write."

"Hmm..."

The woman seemed to be somewhat convinced.

"By the way, do you know how to write?"

"Basically, first-class citizens must be able to read, write, and do basic math. So, except for infants and senile old people, all first-class citizens in Claris can do that. I don't know about second-class citizens, though."

Seimei was impressed. No wonder it's one of the world's leading commercial cities.

"By the way, I want to do something to thank you... How about giving me a tour of the city?"

When Seimei suggested this, the woman nodded vigorously.

"Sure. My name is Ismene. What's yours?"

"Seimei. Sei is my surname and Seimei is my given name."

...Actually, it's a character, but it's better to explain it as a name to the Kirisians. Seimei thought this as he introduced himself.

...

"So, how much do you know about Claris and Kirisia?"

"Well... the two Persia-Kirisia wars, olives and grapes as specialties, and there are dozens of city-states on the Kirisia Peninsula. That's about it..."

"I see..."

The two had finished walking around the city and were having dinner at a restaurant. Seimei was treating Ismene. In return, Ismene was telling Seimei about Kirisia.

"Okay, the city-states of Kirisia have formed alliances and signed non-aggression pacts. There are also agreements between these alliances. For example, they stop fighting during the festival held every four years and enjoy the festival, and when an external enemy... Persia attacks, they jointly defend against it."

"I see... I was wondering how Kirisia could win the war twice despite being a collection of separate countries. So that's the reason."

Seimei wrote in his notebook made of parchment. He was writing down everything he saw and heard during his travels.

"Isn't Claris the leader of the Eastern Alliance?"

"Right. There's also Altor of the Southern Alliance, Telbai of the Western Alliance, and Rhyme of the Northern Alliance."

"I see, I see. I'm learning a lot."

Seimei kept writing in his notebook.

"Altor has a citizens' assembly composed of adult males, Telbai has a senate composed of privileged nobles, Rhyme has a king and nobles, and Claris is governed by privileged merchants. Their political ideologies are different, so they don't get along."

"But they coordinate when fighting the Persian Empire. It's fascinating."

Seimei continued to write with his left hand while eating with his right hand, which was very impolite.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Are you a first-class citizen? I think that means you're a noble, and you should have a surname..."

Seimei's question made Ismene smile.

"Good question. First, first-class citizens and nobles are different. We are commoners. In Claris, commoners are basically equal, so there are no surnames. I think Altor doesn't have them either. Telbai and Rhyme seem to have them, though."

"Wow... the world is vast."

Seimei wrote with his pen. Ismene grabbed it.

"Stop it. We're eating."

"Hehe, sorry."

Seimei put his notebook in his pocket with a sheepish smile.

"So, why are you traveling?"

Ismene asked casually, and Seimei's eyes lit up.

"To see the edge of the sea... or in Kirisian terms, the end of the earth. I was born at the eastern end of this continent. When I was five, my parents and I set out to see the end of the world... but they died along the way, and they told me to definitely see the end of the earth."

"Is that your dream?"

"No, it's not."

Seimei shook his head.

"That's my parents' dream. I have a different dream."

"What? Don't be so dramatic."

Ismene leaned in.

"To compile what I see and hear during my travels into a book. I want as many people as possible to know about the world."

"Wow, I like that."

Ismene smiled.

"But it's good. Your dream will soon come true. A ship to Lezard, a city on the Adelni Peninsula, leaves from Claris the day after tomorrow. It's a short trip from the Adelni Peninsula to the westernmost sea."

"Really! My long journey is about to end..."

Seimei looked up at the ceiling, his anticipation growing for the westernmost sea he had never seen.

"By the way, if you don't mind, can I go with you?"

"Huh? Sure, but do you have something to do?"

Seimei asked, and Ismene nodded vigorously.

"There are plenty of excellent architects in Kirisia. I can't even get involved in architectural work here as a woman. But it's different in the underdeveloped Adelni Peninsula. The countries there must be desperate for excellent architects."

"I see..."

The Kirisia Peninsula is a good place to hone one's skills, with many rivals. But it's not a good place to make a name for oneself.

In that sense, an undeveloped land would have more job opportunities.

"Alright, let's go together!"

"Deal!"

The two shook hands.

The next day...

"Ugh... Ugh..."

"Are you okay? Seimei?"

She called out to Seimei, who was groaning from the other side of the toilet door. Seimei had no time to respond.

"Sorry. Kirisian cuisine uses a lot of oil... I forgot to mention that people who aren't used to it often get diarrhea. Teehee, forgive me?"

Note: Don't eat at the tavern.

Just remember Seimei and Ismene for now.

They are scheduled to appear in Chapter 2.