Chapter 329 - A City with Different Rules
We move along the Romariel Mountains to avoid the dangers posed by magical beasts. Thanks to our ability to detect these creatures while leveling the land, we can either take them down from a long distance or avoid them altogether, without wasting time on unnecessary battles.
Crossing several countries, we opt for roads less traveled, avoiding heavily guarded border areas and military bases. We clear through any minor forests blocking our path and use magic to forge through rivers and swamps, doing everything we can to minimize delays in our journey. The only issue was my sister's constant complaining, which was quite noisy.
Abandoning all side trips, which are usually the best part of any journey, we are now on schedule to reach our destination.
It's a bit disappointing that we can't stop at various towns and tourist spots, but this isn't a pleasure trip, so it's understandable.
The main reason for our uneventful journey was to avoid being seen and to travel quickly, as well as to evade any trackers or ambushes.
"If we cross that river and head about two kilometers north, we should reach the main road connecting the east and west. Should we join the main road now?" Violante's words made me realize we were already this close.
The capital of Berliza, Beltoria, is near. If we had traveled normally, it would still take us half a day, but we can get there much faster if we push it.
Berliza's reputation as the continent's premier nation is well-earned. I can tell from the extensive magic sensing I've been doing since crossing the border. Even in remote areas, there are bases and patrols, which serve to eliminate magical beasts and prevent bandits from causing trouble. The security in this country is impressive.
"...Let's do it. Once we join the main road, Violante or Layla will take over the driving."
"You've been in quite a hurry. Are you tired, Yukari-san?"
"Yeah, a bit. I got a bit too enthusiastic."
I'm the only one with the skill to level the land at high speed.
My eagerness to reach Berliza quickly led me to use magic almost non-stop for most of the journey. During breaks, I shuffled the vehicle occupants to help my sister bond with the guards, but aside from that, the journey was rather uneventful.
This monotonous travel is about to end. The major city of Beltoria is just ahead!
Before joining the main road, we take a break, reshuffle the passengers, and then resume our journey at a slower pace. Once we enter the main road, we travel at a standard speed despite the heavy traffic.
The road connecting Exembras and the capital is busy, but it's even more so near the capital. Many unfamiliar vehicles pass by, making the trip feel fresh and exciting.
"Ah, I can see it, Onee-sama!"
As we continue up the gentle incline of the road, it eventually turns downhill, and in the distance, the city illuminated by the sunset and the sea come into view.
Unlike Rigaheim, which is known for its orange-roofed buildings, Beltoria has a more diverse and eclectic appearance. From afar, there doesn't seem to be a unifying architectural style, except for the prominent castle and its surroundings, which exude history and charm.
"It's huge, just as I heard."
"Beltoria is the largest city on the continent in many ways, including size. It's been a while since I last visited."
Despite the troubles, my sister is excited about her studies.
"There really are no city walls or gates."
"That's because the country has excellent security, and the city is not expected to become a battlefield. The outer walls around the central castle and the Noble District are remnants of old times, though."
The city is vast. Even from a slightly elevated position, you can't see the end of it. Many ships can be seen in the eastern sea.
While Exembras is a vast city, Beltoria clearly surpasses it.
If we continue straight down the main road, we'll enter the outskirts of Beltoria, pass through the center, and cross the city. The road, which connects the north and south of the continent, is well-maintained, as expected. It's impressive.
However, if we deviate from the main road into Beltoria, we'll encounter a complex network of narrow streets. This is due to the city's long history. The urban planning is not as orderly, and the deeper you go, the more chaotic it becomes, even from a distance.
"Sigurdnaught, please guide us through the smaller streets. Which direction should we head?"
"Yes, Roberta. Let's head straight to the Academy. It's on the right side. You can see a few small green mountains in the distance, right?"
I enhanced my vision and looked out the window.
"I see a few small hill-like things. Ah, the one with the large building on top?"
"Yes, the large white building with a blue roof."
"That's easy to spot. By the way, is it okay to go there now?"
My sister's enrollment date isn't set in stone, just a general timeframe. That's why we rushed, but it's getting late if we go now.
"Our enrollment has already been approved. The dorm rooms should be ready, so we just need to check with the security. We'll greet the Headmistress tomorrow."
"Shouldn't we eat something first? I'm hungry."
"...You have a point."
My sister seems eager to get to school, but I agreed with Valeria's honest suggestion.
Indeed, if we go to the dorm now, we might miss dinner.
"Roberta, if we see a decent restaurant, we'll stop there."
"Understood!"
As we drive straight into the city's outskirts, we see a few restaurants. We choose one that looks moderately busy.
The ambiance of the place is far from stylish. Given that it caters to people entering and leaving the city, this is to be expected. The restaurant and parking lot are unnecessarily large, probably due to the cheaper land prices in the outskirts.
"Most of the customers seem to be merchants."
"Given the location at the city's entrance, that makes sense. Most likely, there are no local residents."
It's dinner time, so the number of people increases as we sit down.
Observing the gathering crowd, there's nothing particularly interesting. The continent is so racially mixed that it's hard to distinguish nationalities. The most noticeable racial differences are probably in the small states of subhumans. Moreover, the continental common language is widely used, so communication is not an issue. The only elements that evoke a sense of foreignness are the cultural remnants of different regions.
Before the crowd got too busy, we ordered and ate quietly. Despite being in the largest city on the continent, eating at a run-down restaurant wasn't what I expected. I should have thought about it more carefully.
However, the seafood dishes are excellent, which is a plus for a city by the sea. The lack of foreign cultural elements is a bit disappointing, though.
"...There seems to be some trouble over there."
"What, where?"
While casually observing the surroundings, Layla noticed something.
I stopped Roberta from staring and watched the situation discreetly.
"It's nothing serious, just an argument between merchants."
What started as a minor disagreement escalated when one of them shoved the other and overturned a table with food.
"That's a waste."
Despite it being early evening, both seem to be drunk. They're a nuisance. This place is a restaurant, not a bar, and the other customers seem annoyed rather than entertained.
The man who was shoved, instead of taking it outside, charged at the other in a fit of rage.
Just as the situation was escalating, two men in light armor emerged from the back of the restaurant to intervene.
"They're probably bodyguards. They look like mercenaries."
"They don't seem like regular guards."
Exembras is a unique city with its own order. Understanding this, it's worth seeing how the situation plays out.
If the drunks are beyond reason, the bodyguards will resort to force. They dragged the troublemakers outside by their arms. We, along with the other customers, watched from the windows.
I thought the bodyguards would beat them up and throw them out, but they seemed to be waiting for something while holding them.
"What are they doing?"
"They're probably turning them over to the law enforcement, known as the Bluecoats in Beltoria. Actually, something is wrong with Exembras."
We were a bit surprised by my sister's sensible comment.
Indeed, this is a civilized city with proper law enforcement, not a place where people extort money by brute force.
As expected, a group of men in bright blue coats, probably the city's law enforcement, soon arrived. They must have been alerted. After hearing the bodyguards' account, the Bluecoats took the troublemakers away.
"Onee-sama, they were caught just for that?"
"It seems so. It's hard to start a fight here."
"We need to be careful too. Layla and Harriet won't have issues, but Roberta and Valeria should be more cautious."
Even in Exembras, where we fear nothing, the Kikyo emblem holds no sway here.
Though Violante's warning was partly a joke, Roberta and Valeria took it to heart. To be honest, I might be the most problematic.
"...Anyway, if you do something, make sure it doesn't get noticed."
"Right, if it's not noticed, it's fine."
"Roberta, I'm worried. If you go out, no solo excursions. Layla can go alone, but everyone else should go in groups of at least two. Understand?"
I don't need to worry about Layla, who works for the Intelligence Bureau. The rest of us need to be extra cautious to avoid trouble.
"What should we do in the worst-case scenario?"
"True, we should avoid unnecessary trouble, but unexpected things might happen related to my sister's protection."
"A fine is acceptable, but if we're imprisoned, that's a problem. Breaking out would be going too far, though."
"We don't know the laws and systems here, but we shouldn't cause a major disturbance. I'll rescue you forcibly if needed, but..."
My sister interrupted, sounding concerned.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'd rather avoid being caught or pursued by the Bluecoats. Also, as I mentioned, students are generally not allowed to leave the campus. You can apply for permission, but given my status and the circumstances, it's not wise to go out too often. The Anastasia Union may be divided, but they won't take such risks with the Bluecoats. The kind of influence they have in Exembras doesn't apply here."
Indeed. What are we even doing in Berliza?
We need to build connections eventually since we're setting up an office here, but at least until my sister's protection is over, we need to avoid any trouble with the law.
Of course, as long as we're not caught, it's fine. Right?
"I understand. We shouldn't burden my sister with unnecessary worries. Let's cheer up and have dessert. I'll have all three recommended cakes."
"I'll have the same as Onee-sama."
"Me too."
"Me too."
With the dessert in front of us, we perked up and chatted for a while, which made us stay much later than intended.
During the journey, we camped and didn't visit any towns, so our spirits had risen unknowingly.
In the end, it was too late to go to school, so we decided to stay at a hotel and head to the school the next morning.
Of course, we won't drink or do anything careless. We can't show up smelling of alcohol on the first day.
What will the girls' school be like? After all, it's the prestigious institution that even royalty attend. It must be quite a magical place."
I don't think we'll end up dealing with the police. Probably. Or maybe not.
Starting school next chapter!