Chapter 57

Hikaru was waiting, thinking, "It's quite noisy, and I can hear everything clearly..."

A top-tier tailor shop in Forestia. When the fitting room door opened, a shop assistant came out, and then,

"A, ah..."

Ravia appeared, her face bright red.

"———"

Hikaru was speechless.

The dress, which he had custom-ordered 10 days ago. Although 10 days seemed like a long wait for Hikaru, in a world where tailoring often took months, it was quite quick. He had paid a substantial expedited fee to get it done.

The fabric chosen was Obvious Silk, a high-quality "silk" made from monster materials. Known for its beautiful color when dyed and its resistance to stains, it was said to be favored by top female adventurers. Hikaru had chosen it immediately upon hearing this.

The dress, made from an abundance of Obvious Silk, was a deep blue, like a mysterious lake, with embroidery in beige and blue threads. It was a stunning shade of blue.

Her hair, which was a mottled silver when examined closely, had been dyed flaxen but the color had not completely returned. It would blend back to its original color over time. Her hair, which had been cut short, was now quite short, but it would grow to a more feminine length in time.

Around her collar, a scarf with a pattern popular in the Forestia Union—a pattern of irregular checks—was tied. The edges were adorned with several pom-poms, which was apparently the current trend.

To be honest,

(She's incredibly cute...)

Hikaru was captivated.

When they first met, he thought she was a beauty that seemed almost unreal. This was partly because her eyes lacked vitality and her skin was pale from staying indoors. But now, with more time spent outdoors, her skin had a healthy glow. Her short hair made her look not just "beautiful" but also "cute" and more approachable.

"How... how does it look?"

Ravia, for some reason, was using polite language, and

"A, a, well... I think it's very cute."

Hikaru, for some reason, was also using polite language. They left the store together, with Ravia beaming.

The coat made by the armor craftsman Dodono from Pound had also arrived. Made from the hide of a Conceal Dragon, it was a light brown and astonishingly light. It was so light that the receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild had asked, "Did you order cotton?"

With everything done in Forestia, Hikaru rented a carriage to take them to Scalaria. Since they had money, it was a private carriage with no other passengers.

"~♪"

The carriage had luxurious interiors and cushions. Even without these, Ravia had been in high spirits lately. Despite the four seats available, she sat next to Hikaru.

(No need to wear a hat or dress as a boy. Is that why she's so happy? She's free now.)

The dress was so luxurious that it drew attention, but her appearance alone was enough to make her stand out. Walking through Forestia, they attracted a lot of attention, and even men approached her, despite Hikaru being right there. Tired of turning them down, Hikaru used "Group Concealment" to get through.

(I need to think about what to do in Scalaria...)

If they entered the National Academic Institute, they would likely have to act separately more often. Hikaru planned to study "Stealth," and he didn't want to involve Ravia during that time. He thought she should study what she liked.

(Maybe I'll think about it when the time comes.)

The carriage headed north.

Scalaria, a two-day carriage ride from Forestia, was a city spread out at the foot of a mountain. The National Academic Institute, the highest point in the city, was located there. Despite the approaching summer, it was chilly in the shade. Hikaru thought of Hokkaido, which had a similar climate—cool and dry, with vast grasslands outside the city.

Compared to the capital of Forestia and the capital of Ponsonia, Gii-Ponsonia, the latter was much larger. However, the satellite city of Scalaria was much larger than the satellite city of Pound, with a population of about 40,000.

The city's value wasn't just as an academic center. It was also a key trading hub for the northern countries of Kirihar and Ludansha, which were part of the Union. Forestia, located at the southern end of the Union, was so because the north was mountainous and coniferous, making the south the only fertile and habitable area.

"Next person—"

When the carriage arrived in Scalaria, the guards checked their Guild Cards to enter the city. When Hikaru showed his, he was asked to touch the "stone tablet" that checked criminal records. Of course, there were no issues. On the other hand, when Ravia showed her Rank G Guild Card with a proud look, she was let through without a check.

"Huh? ...Oh, it's because I have a Ponsonia Guild Card?"

It seemed that checks for domestic adventurers were relatively lax.

"Hehe. I entered the city with my own Guild Card."

Ravia seemed delighted by this small achievement. After all, they had traveled to Forestia using Hikaru's "Group Concealment." She had only received her Guild Card a few days ago.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes!"

The two stepped into the academic city of Scalaria.

The National Academic Institute, or simply "the Academy," was located at the northern end of the city. The city of Scalaria existed first, and the Academy was established later. Therefore, the "center" of the city was the Scalaria government building, along with public institutions like the Adventurer's Guild and the Merchant's Guild. Surrounding these were restaurants, shops, and workshops, with residential areas further out. Fresh food markets were located near the north and south gates, making it convenient for transporters to finish their work without entering the city.

"This country doesn't have nobles, right?"

"That's right. It's very rare."

"Really?"

"Yes. Ponsonia and Quinbrand, as well as other countries, have nobles. In Forestia's case, the seven small countries each had their own culture, and they may have disliked imitating other countries. When the Union was formed about 100 years ago, it was explicitly stated in the 'Constitution' that no 'nobles' would be created."

"Unique cultures, huh?"

"Rather, there are 'clans' or 'families' that form a cohesive unit, as I've read in books."

"Hmm."

It wasn't clear how these "clans" or "families" differed from "nobles." As expected, each small country was dominated by these "clans" or "families."

(The Queen and the Prime Minister must have a hard time.)

Hikaru felt a slight sympathy.

"Oh, is that it? The Academy—"

A distinctive feature of Scalaria was that all public buildings had spires. The roof was covered with what looked like cinnabar tiles, arranged like scales. The walls were made of stone, with the gaps filled with white plaster. The columns were made of dark wood, like walnut or rosewood, which was a significant feature.

The Academy was surrounded by a moat filled with water, with bridges at five points: east, west, south, north, and southeast. The security wasn't overly strict, but there were walls, and the layout could withstand a siege. The grounds were filled with trees, making it look like a park from the outside.

At the entrance, they had to show their Guild Cards as identification, state their purpose, and Hikaru had to touch the stone tablet again. The people crossing the bridges were diverse. There were Spirit Elves like the Queen, as well as hairy men. The ages varied, but there were no elderly people. The younger ones, around Hikaru's age or in their early 20s, all wore the same jacket. It was a navy blue jacket with an embroidered lion holding a pen, symbolizing the Academy.

"…This dress doesn't seem to match…"

Ravia said, looking dejected. Hikaru couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Sorry, sorry... I'm just happy you like the dress. We can get you new clothes made. We'll be staying in this city for a while."

"Really?"

Her eyes sparkled.

"Of course."

Starting from the next chapter, it will be the Academy arc. Sorry, I just had to do it...!