Chapter 66

The location of the guild was easy to find as described.

While walking and looking at the streets, the voices of the employees standing in front of the shops were still low.

While thinking about such things, when I opened the guild's door, it was quiet inside.

"Can the guild really function like this..."

Indeed, the busy times at the guild are early in the morning when people receive requests and in the evening when they come to report, but even though it was midday, I had imagined it would be busier.

When I called out to the receptionist who looked idle, she seemed surprised as if she had been deep in thought.

"S-Sorry. Welcome to the Torres branch. What can I do for you...?"

"Ah, I'm planning to go to the Imperial Capital, and because of the war, I want information about there."

I took out my guild card from my pocket and placed it on the counter, and the receptionist checked it and looked surprised.

"Rank A!?! S-Sorry. Information about the Imperial Capital... not much..."

The receptionist's expression was cloudy. Perhaps the information hasn't come in yet.

"I see... I understand. Well, I plan to head there tomorrow—"

"Right now, entry to the Imperial Capital is strictly reviewed... Oh, by the way! There's a request for an escort to the Imperial Capital. If you're going, would you like to take it? No one else has taken it..."

Honestly, I didn't plan to involve anyone for the infiltration into the Imperial Capital...

But if the entry review is strict, I might be suspected if I go alone.

In that case, it might be better to enter together as an escort. Besides, I can't use Kokuyou when the Imperial Capital is near.

Going by carriage might be the right choice...

"If you can leave tomorrow, I'll take it. If the departure is delayed—"

"No, the client requested as soon as possible. If you take it, can you come to the guild tomorrow morning?"

"Alright, I will."

"Thank you. Honestly, since no one else was taking it, it helps the guild too."

I took the request slip and headed out to the market.

Even though it was quiet, goods were displayed, so I bought what I needed one after another.

You can never have too much food.

"Let's take it easy today in preparation for tomorrow..."

In the evening, I returned to the inn, finished my meal, and went to bed early.

◇◇◇

In the early morning, after checking out, I arrived at the guild early, and a carriage was already there.

Could that be it...

I took out the request slip and approached the driver's seat.

"...I accepted the escort request. Is this the right one?"

The person in the driver's seat, who was wearing a hood, turned around and removed it.

"Oh, you're the one who accepted the escort! I'm Alice. I came from the Salandiel Kingdom to the Imperial Capital, but my escort left halfway..."

"I'm Touya. I was an adventurer in the city of Fendy in the Salandiel Kingdom. I'm in the Empire now..."

Hearing that we were from the same country, Alice smiled broadly.

"You're from the kingdom. I often visit Fendy. So, please take care of me until the Imperial Capital."

Alice extended her right hand from the driver's seat, and I shook it lightly.

"Alright, get in the driver's seat. I'll drive, but sit next to me for supervision... no, for company."

"Sure, I'll keep an eye out. Nice to meet you."

I got into the driver's seat, and we set off in the carriage.

The road to the Imperial Capital was patrolled by soldiers, so no monsters appeared.

We were told it would take two days, and we encountered several squads of about ten soldiers from the Jenereate Kingdom.

They seemed to know we were merchants, so we were just looked at but not stopped as we arrived at the Imperial Capital.

"Oops... It looks like it will take some time..."

"There's no helping it... Let's wait in line..."

Several carriages were lined up at the gate of the Imperial Capital, waiting for the review.

Since the Imperial Capital was just occupied, it was obvious that spies would enter if the entry was lax.

While thinking it couldn't be helped, I joined the line at the end.

During the journey to the Imperial Capital, I managed to gather some information from Alice, even if a little.

I was told about a recommended inn, and I planned to stay there.

Gauros said that if I could enter the Imperial Capital, the other side would make contact, so I wasn't worried.

"Next!"

Finally, it was our turn for the entry review. It had been about three hours since we arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Capital.

We were told to get down, and the cargo and the request were checked.

"You're both from the Salandiel Kingdom..."

I also showed the request slip and my guild card.

The soldier checking the guild rank looked a bit surprised, probably because I was B-rank at this age.

I put away the returned request slip and guild card.

"Alright, you can enter."

The review was over, and Alice drove the carriage forward.

"Phew, that was tough... I didn't expect it to take so long to enter."

I nodded lightly at Alice, who smiled despite being a bit tired.

"Let's go to the inn first. It's close to the guild, and the food is delicious, so look forward to it."

"Sure, I don't have any other plans. I'll stay there."

I still had a lot of funds in my dimensional storage, so even if it was a bit expensive, it wouldn't be a problem.

Ideally, I'd like an inn with a bath, but I can't be too picky.

After driving the carriage a little, Alice stopped in front of an inn.

"This is the inn. I'll check in first and then sign the request slip in the room."

"Sure, that's fine."

We entered the inn, and Alice waved to a woman in her thirties at the reception.

"I'm here. Are there any rooms available? Two rooms..."

"Oh, Alice! It's been a while! You made it to the Imperial Capital safely. That's good..."

"Yeah... Well, anyway. The escort, Touya, is also staying here, so please take care of him."

The receptionist sent a slightly wary look at Alice's words but soon relaxed.

"Since it's Alice's recommendation. Due to the current situation, the prices have gone up a bit. Is one silver coin per day okay?"

"Oops, it's that high..."

"Yeah, the tax has doubled. And the kingdom's soldiers have been coming multiple times, saying it's a war tax..."

The expressions of the two of us darkened a bit, but Alice smiled brightly again.

"Can't be helped! In exchange, I'm looking forward to the delicious food!"

"Leave it to me! I'll make sure you don't regret it."

I couldn't help but smile at their conversation.

It's a bit more expensive than other inns, but since it's the Imperial Capital, a slight premium is understandable, especially since it was just occupied.

"The rooms are on the second floor, next to each other. Alice, can you show the way?"

"Sure! Touya, follow me."

I placed two silver coins for two nights at the reception and followed Alice up the stairs.

On the second floor, we had two rooms, one at the very end and the other just before it.

Alice handed me the keys.

"Take a look at your room."

I tilted my head at Alice's smile and opened the door. The room was about ten tatami mats in size, with a slightly larger bed and a sofa, cleaner and more satisfactory than a typical inn.

"The room is better than I expected. I thought it would be smaller."

"Hehe, right? I always stay at this inn when I come to the Imperial Capital."

Alice entered my room.

Then—she closed the door and locked it.

"So, Touya...—You've heard the instructions from Gauros. We'll start tonight."

I was surprised by Alice's unexpected words.

---

It's been a while since I last wrote.

Volume 2 will be released by MF Books on March 25th.

Also, the isekai comic (Niconico Seiga & Comic Walker) will start serialization from March 24th.

Please enjoy them together.

I plan to post the next chapters this week.

The book version is quite different, so please understand.