Chapter 79 – What lurks in the darkness of the Imperial City (VI)

In a corner of the Imperial City, near the walls. The area surrounding the walls housed the poorest class of residents of the Imperial City. In a small stone house. A man was preparing a meal with his clumsy hands by lighting a fire in a hearth set up on the dirt floor.

“Are you hungry?”“No, I’m fine.”

When he called his ten-year-old daughter into the living room, which had only a dirt floor, she answered. His wife had died, leaving him alone with his daughter. As he stirred the pot, he turned his attention to where his daughter was mending with hands familiar with the task.

“Good girl. I’m almost done. Just a little more.”“Yes.”

The contents of the pot were barley porridge. Also, with some vegetables added, such as potatoes, carrots and beans to bulk it up. It was a poor meal, but for a man who could not work openly due to the circumstances he had, he could not ask for more luxuries.

“Okay, it’s ready.”

He carried the pot into the living room and served the barley porridge to his hungry daughter, who smiled at him. A knocking sound echoed at the door of the house. The man got up quietly and picked up a sword that had been placed in a corner of the living room. When he saw that his daughter had stopped eating the porridge and was looking anxiously at her father, he patted her head reassuringly and went to the entrance.

With his sword drawn and held in his right hand, he opened the door just a little.

“…It’s just you.”

It was a familiar face. He loosened his expression and relaxed his whole body which was tense. Seeing this, the daughter, who had an anxious expression on her face, began to eat the porridge once again.

“For this week.”“I thank you.”

The visitor handed the man a bag of coins. The contents were enough for the father and his daughter to live a modest life. Compared to the amount of money the man used to earn, it was only a small amount. Right now, however, he could not afford to demand more.

“And a message from that man: ‘I’m sorry for the inconvenience I’ve caused you. Please be patient.’ That’s all.”“Please, I don’t deserve such words.”

The guest nodded with a mysterious expression on his face.

“Have you been training…? No, that was a silly question…”

Just by looking at the muscles in his arms peeking through the man’s shirt, you could tell he had been training. He couldn’t devote time to his work, as he spent more time working out than he used to.

“And this is from me.”

The guest pulled a package from the pouch hanging from his waist and presented it to the man. He leaned his sword against the wall, and when he received the package, it was quite heavy. Looking inside, it was fresh meat.

“Boar meat. Feed it to your daughter.”

The man bowed his head at these words. Meat was a luxury item. He hadn’t eaten fresh meat in a long time.

“Just wait a little longer.”

With that, the guest left. The man, who had had his head down until the guest left, closed the door and looked back into the living room. His daughter was looking at the package her father was holding. She must have heard the guest say “boar meat.” The man looked at his daughter’s face, which was somewhat expectant, and said:

“Tonight we will have a feast.”

His daughter’s face lit up.

◇◆◇◆◇

The morning market was taking place in the square in front of the south gate. The morning air was filled with the scent of roasting meat, spices and freshly baked bread. These smells wafted through the alleys, and many people came and went.

A series of simple stalls lined with tents, with foods such as meat, vegetables and spices, suspicious medicines and useless knick-knacks and ornaments, were arranged on the sidewalk, and shopkeepers shouted to attract the attention of customers.

“I was surprised that it was different from the image I had. It’s a lively and fun place.”

Cornelia murmured as she looked at the various products lined up in an odd way.

“Anyone can open a stall here as long as they pay for the place. So, in addition to the citizens, there are also people living outside the walls who open their stores.”“But, above all, you have to get up early in the morning.”

Leticia laughed and said, as Wynn continued.

“It’s worth getting up early.”

Cornelia smiled happily and nodded.

“Hmm, not bad morning air so full of vitality, huh?”

Seri looked back as she walked ahead of Leticia and Cornelia.

“It’s like a festival.”

The voices of the merchants and the chatter of the customers on the street were full of enthusiasm to sell and buy good things, and Cornelia’s body naturally felt like it was full of vitality.

“Is it always like this?”“Usually yes. When I first came to run an errand, I thought there was a festival, too.”“Onii-chan was coming to shop after his morning training, wasn’t he?”

Leticia looked back. Wynn was walking behind the three girls.

“Oh, yes. After the running workout.”“Your body is well trained, isn’t it?”

Seri said admiringly when she heard that he was getting to work after such rigorous training.

“After training, I used to get really hungry. Letty used to drool in front of the stalls.”“What, that’s not true!”“If you looked at them eagerness, the shopkeepers used to give in to your gaze and give you some food.”

“It was like feeding a puppy,” Wynn said.

(TN: That last one I’m not at all sure if it’s right or not. Very sure itsn’t.)