Chapter 195 - Backyard of Stray Priest ⑧
This is a continuation of Chapter 5, Episode 12. It is the first-time Royal Capital sightseeing arc.
It was my first time sightseeing in the Royal Capital.
Since Paul-san said he would guide us, we decided to have him take us to the main thoroughfare.
"What should we wear?"
"The ones for the banquet would be a waste. I did bring three good outfits just in case, but I wonder if they'll look inferior compared to the people in the Royal Capital?"
Beatrix and Mary were already agonizing over what clothes to wear tomorrow.
In any case, we were going to go to a clothing store first and change into what we bought right there. I thought it wouldn't matter what we wore, but...
"What are you saying? The first clothing store is the most crucial part. If you go in wearing something strange and have them look at your feet, just you watch. (T/N: 'Looking at one's feet' is an idiom meaning to take advantage of someone's weakness or desperation.) They'll push some weird leftovers on you. If that happens, you'll be made a fool of the entire time you're in the Royal Capital."
Beatrix rattled on, and Lyudmila nodded with a serious gaze.
"They'll find out anyway. Since we're country bumpkins."
I didn't think there was much point in putting on airs.
"Even if we are country bumpkins, it's the Royal Capital we've finally reached. Even if it's only for a short while, we have to dress up to the nines and enjoy ourselves."
Mary, for her part, seemed to be worrying in a different sense. This kind of worrying was healthier and better.
"Are you going in your priest robes?"
"Yes. It's the only thing I have. Since it's a special occasion, I'll wear my medal."
"I see, there was that option too."
In the end, Beatrix decided to wear her medal as well.
Decorated individuals who wish to sightsee in the Royal Capital can stay in the guest rooms of the Royal Palace for a week, including the night before. While it would be obvious we were country folk, we could report any shops that tried to sell us strange things to the people serving in the Royal Palace. Fearing damage to their reputation, they likely wouldn't plot anything wicked.
We went to the dining hall to eat breakfast.
It was the same place where we had the banquet with the King and all the dignitaries last night.
Raw and honey-soaked fruits, several types of bread. Cow's milk and cheese. Seared fish and oat porridge. Bacon. And eggs. The ingredients were lined up on the table in succession.
"Let's see. A small amount of boiled vegetables is fine. Seared bacon on rye bread, and a poached egg on top of that."
Mary was ordering like a young lady from somewhere.
"And for your drink?"
"Could you put a little honey in the milk? Ah, and could I have some strawberries crushed and mixed in?"
"Certainly. I shall bring it to your seat. Please wait a moment."
"Thank you."
With a smile and a light bow, she pointed to a prime seat by the window and walked over, saying, "Let's sit there."
It was the same yesterday morning, but it was truly impressive. It was the result of being strictly disciplined by her mother.
For the time being, the three of us said in unison, "The same thing, please."
"Hey, what is that 'some-kind-of egg'?"
"Don't ask me. I'm a priest of honest poverty."
Beatrix asked me, but Mary was the one who ordered it. Wasn't she asking the wrong person?
Lyudmila also tried to avoid eye contact.
"Guests. If you would like, would you care to see how it is made?"
The staff member suggested it, and there was no reason not to watch.
"Yes, please," the three of us said, lining up.
In a pot of boiling water, they were stirring in salt and some kind of liquid.
"It is vinegar. We use a small pot. The hot water is about this much, and the amount of vinegar is about this much. We stir the water to create a vortex. There, we slide in an egg that has been cracked into a bowl. Once the white begins to cover the yolk of the spinning egg, we turn off the heat and cover it. It is finished after counting to about a hundred. Please adjust the count according to your preferred yolk firmness."
Using two large wooden spoons, they scooped up the egg, which had become a somewhat flat mass, and drained the water. They placed it on top of the bacon, which was on top of the bread. When cut slightly with a knife, the runny yolk began to melt out.
The rich aroma of the egg entwined with the savoriness of the bacon.
I involuntarily swallowed my saliva.
As the four of us were enjoying the 'some-kind-of eggs,' Paul-san arrived. He was wearing Green Marble.
"Paul-san. Are you wearing that out?"
"Of course. What's the point if I don't advertise? Even the Corps Commander praised it as the ultimate field uniform. As a scout of the Nakanohara Vigilante Corps, it has to be this."
No, um, that's not the Vigilante Corps' uniform. It's just that the hunters are buying it on their own accord.
"What's this, you lot are being extravagant. Are you eating such things?"
"It's delicious. The melted yolk goes so well with the bacon fat."
I nodded along with Mary's explanation. Tomorrow morning, I'll have to call Dune.
Paul-san's food was brought over.
Oat porridge and grilled fish. A soup with boiled vegetables. The drink was milk.
"It's no different from Nakanohara."
Beatrix interjected.
"Of course. Just because I've come to the Royal Capital doesn't mean I should eat different things."
"But these boiled eggs are delicious."
"Call them poached eggs."
"You know about them?"
"Of course. Try staying at the most expensive inn in Nakanohara. If you order the night before, they'll serve them properly."
We don't stay at inns in Nakanohara. It was my first time seeing them.
"They taught me how to make them. I'll try making them next time, so please give them a taste."
"Get Angelica to teach you the knack. It's difficult to make them this beautifully."
It seemed we were the only ones who didn't know.
Paul-san was our guide, but he said he wouldn't wear his medal.
"There's no need to go out of my way to wear it."
"But if you have it on, we might avoid being taken advantage of."
Lyudmila also nodded seriously.
"You can just have the people working here tell you the recommended shops. If you say you heard it at the Royal Palace, any normal shop will give you the best service."
"Is it okay to do that?"
"Of course. When staying at a town inn, everyone at the expensive ones does that. Besides, try walking through the city wearing a medal. You'll be targeted by pickpockets as a country bumpkin carrying reward money."
I hurriedly took mine off. Apparently, even priests are sometimes targeted in the Royal Capital.
Just then, Gladys-sama and Roberts-sama arrived.
Both were wearing Green Marble. Roberts-sama, who had been drunk under the table by Dune, looked a bit pale. He only brought water and bread in his hands.
Gladys-sama seemed to have ordered seared bacon and scrambled eggs. She was tearing bread by hand and spreading the eggs on it with a knife as if it were butter, then tossing it into her mouth.
It couldn't be called very good manners.
When I looked at Mary, she was sighing, "How cool." I don't really understand her criteria.
"Are you eating here?"
"What? Am I in the way?"
"In the way? Not at all. I just thought that since you're both royalty, there would be a dedicated place."
Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama looked at each other and laughed.
"It's better here. Because you can choose for yourself."
Come to think of it, I've read about the daily lives of royalty in fairy tales. It was a funny story about how the menu is always fixed, and since they can't eat until after the food taster has finished eating the same thing, the food is always cold.
"Is the food taster okay?"
"What is that?"
When I explained it was this and that, they laughed at me.
"That would be the greatest perk of all. To eat the best food in the country first, right in front of the master who is starving. Unfortunately, our country has no such system. If it did, it might be perfect as a measure for the destitute."
I see. They get to eat luxurious meals every day and even get a salary. If nothing happens, it's a bargain.
"What happens to the leftover food here at the Royal Palace?"
"It's the staff's meals. It seems there's a scramble for it during banquets."
When I glanced at the server, they smiled and said, "It was a feast."
After Gladys-sama's eyes widened for a moment, she looked down and stifled a laugh. Seeing how she hurriedly drank water, she probably almost choked.
"They're waiting with their families, you see. Thanks to that, there's no waste, which is good."
During banquets, they apparently take turns serving and quickly clearing the plates. They all eat what has been replated in the kitchen.
"Is that why you were taking small plates?"
There was one server for each table of large platters. For the portion you ate yourself, you had the server put it on a small plate for you. Of course, there were people who said they'd take it themselves, but no one ate directly from the large platters.
"Of course. You'd lose your appetite for a dish that others have picked over. It's food that the chefs went to the trouble of making. It's better for everyone to eat it while it's still hot. Half of it will be left over anyway. For a drunkard who can't even tell the taste anymore, gnawing on some jerky is more than enough."
Well, that's true. As long as it's moderately salty, anything is fine, I suppose.
Gladys-sama scooped up the egg stuck to the plate with her thumb. She then brought it to her mouth and licked it. Her manners were quite poor.
When I looked at Mary, she sighed, "How cool." By now, everything she did might look cool to her.
When Lyudmila glanced at Mary and mimicked her, Mary, who is usually strict about etiquette, frowned, causing Lyudmila to pout.
"How will you spend your day today?"
"We're going shopping. Since we've finally come to the Royal Capital, we have to see the main thoroughfare."
"Then, would it be alright if I came along as well? Roberts is in the state you see, and it seems he wants to rest in his room today."
"By all means!"
Mary, who had been listening to the exchange between Gladys-sama and Beatrix, stood up.
When Lyudmila frowned, Mary cleared her throat with a "Ahem," then sat back down with a composed air.
When we met at the entrance, Gladys-sama had come wearing Green Marble.
"Are you going in that?"
"Yes. Is it not allowed?"
"I'm grateful that you seem to like it, but are you sure? That was originally a hemp sack."
"Is it not good because it's durable? Since I don't have to worry about it getting dirty, I can move to my heart's content."
Hearing that we were going not just to the main thoroughfare but also to the lower town, she seemed to be in an adventurous mood.
"Lyudmila and I will change once we buy new clothes, is that okay?"
"I don't mind. There's no need for concern."
Well, if she says so herself, it's fine. We decided to go just like that.
First, we went to the main thoroughfare. We would feast our eyes first, and then go shopping in the lower town.
As expected of the Royal Capital. The atmosphere was full of things that looked expensive even at a glance, and I felt hesitant to even enter the shops.
"There are several shops that handle clothing for royalty, so let's go there."
At Gladys-sama's suggestion, we suddenly started from the highest tier.
I had imagined a large storefront like a mansion, but it was surprisingly narrow.
"Well, well, Gladys-sama. To go to the trouble of visiting us in person, I am truly sorry. If you had only called, I would have visited you at any time."
The initial greeting was already different. The owner suddenly came out, and I never thought they would be flustered by a customer coming to the shop.
"It's quite alright. Today, I've brought some acquaintances. Since they are interested in clothing design and are trying to make their own, I thought I'd let them see the clothes here to learn."
She introduced Beatrix and Mary. Both were trying to look composed, but the corners of their eyes were completely lowered. Their joy was leaking out everywhere.
With that, they decided to show us around the shop.
The few samples were all magnificent. The silk that shone brilliantly and the gold and silver thread embroidery were dazzling to the eyes. There was one made in a blue color I had never seen before. It was a one-piece dress, but it must be quite expensive.
The undergarments were also all imported cotton or silk with embroidery, and there was no linen.
After that, we entered shops at random just to look around, but every shop was narrow. It seemed that the only customers who bought ready-made goods were tourists, and there were almost no people from the Royal Capital. Since they bring fabrics and designs to the customers' homes for them to choose, and the customers purchase them if they like the finished product, customers usually don't come to the shop. There's only a storefront, and the shop itself is like a signboard.
The main branch of Highway Cookies was the same. There was only a place to eat, and they were manufacturing elsewhere. In other words, there wasn't even a bread oven. What they were selling were souvenir-style items for people who came from the countryside. Well, I bought some, though.
While we were drinking beverages at a pub to take a break, Beatrix and Mary were tilting their heads.
"It's somehow different from what I imagined."
Beatrix and Mary want to have their own shops in the Royal Capital. It seemed different from the image they had envisioned.
"You won't get customers by opening a shop on the main thoroughfare when your name isn't known. You start from the lower town first."
Told this by Paul-san, they decided to go to the lower town if that was the case.
When we went to the lower town, there were shops lined up that were no different from the main street of Nakanohara. Somehow, it felt reassuring.
After walking for a while, Gladys-sama and Paul-san were exchanging glances.
"Is something wrong?"
"Don't look back, no matter what. It seems we're being followed."
"Eh!"
I was told not to raise my voice.
Is it a pickpocket, or a robber...
"We'll enter that alley. Everyone run as soon as we turn. Don't trip, whatever you do. Also, Beatrix, use lightning magic. Lyudmila and Mary, deploy magic defense if it comes to it."
"Y-Yes."
We stopped in front of the alley, pretending to look for the way while chanting. Just in case, I chanted [Light]. It was daytime, but it would serve as a distraction if I caught them off guard from the front.
My hands started to shake. It was my first experience like this. My knees were knocking. I-It'll be bad if I trip.
Everyone nodded and we ran all at once. Gladys-sama was in the lead, and Paul-san was at the rear.
As Gladys-sama ran, she tucked up her hem, and I could see a short sword tucked into her waist.
From behind, I could hear the sound of footsteps running clatter-clatter. This is bad. It's the real thing.
We turned the corner. It was a dead end. There's a limit to how much of a cliché this can be.
"Now that we've come this far, no one will stop us even if we use magic."
"Yes. If they are insolent, let's punish them."
Gladys-sama drew her sword. Holding it in her mouth, she took out a scroll.
Wait a minute, please. Weren't we running away?
"Is there any need to run? We'll strike them back."
Whaaat!
Before I could even be surprised, five or six men arrived.
Three held knives, and two were holding up their right hands. Are they mages?
"Hmph. To go out of your way to run into a place like this, are you country bumpkins?"
They were grinning.
No matter how you look at it, they're robbers.
"Hey. If you value your lives, hand over your money. We'll have the ladies keep us company for a little while, though."
Confirmed.
"Do it!"
At Paul-san's signal, I illuminated with all my might. Beatrix fired magic rapidly. Lyudmila deployed magic defense. Gladys-sama released a [Magic Reflection] scroll toward herself and dashed toward the thugs.
Fast! And there were no footsteps!
"Good! It's so cool!"
Mary clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes moistening.
"W-What are you lot! A-Are you going to do it? Gyaa!"
"Quickly, the magic..."
"It's no use, it's being reflected... Gyaa!"
"S-Stop! I get it. I was wrong!"
"Let's run! Eh? What is this, I can't escape... Gyaa!"
Paul-san had deployed a wind barrier behind the thugs. The thugs trying to escape were blocked by the wall of air and had lost their way out.
Gladys-sama was in a frenzy of activity, punching, kicking, and throwing them.
As I watched, I started to feel sorry for the thugs.
Toward the thugs who were huddled in the corner whimpering, Paul-san drew his machete from his back and pointed it at them.
"Hii!"
There was no one who wasn't bleeding from the nose. Their clothes were also scorched. The one who had been knocked unconscious by Beatrix's magic was brought back to consciousness by Gladys-sama's backhand slaps after Mary splashed water on him. It might have been better if he had stayed asleep.
"P-Please help us. O-Only our lives."
"W-We won't do it again."
They were desperately prostrating themselves.
"No. It's the rule that people like you won't reform. For the sake of the world and the people, I shall punish you. Don't worry about what comes after. I'll burn your corpses cleanly with magic."
Beatrix and Lyudmila created flames in their hands.
When Paul-san swung his machete with a 'swish,' the hair on the top of one man's head disappeared.
"Hiiiii!"
He finally started crying.
"If you value your lives, show us some sincerity."
Paul-san held out his left hand while tapping one man's face with the flat of his machete.
"S-Sincerity... is it?"
By now, I didn't know which ones were the thugs.
As expected, as a priest, I couldn't overlook this.
"You are to donate to the church. If you do, the Goddess will grant you mercy."
They hurriedly handed over their wallets.
Paul-san checked the contents and spat.
"It's not enough. Are your lives only worth this much? It won't be worth it unless I take at least two of each of your arms."
"T-That's, any more than this is... somehow, the arms..."
They were stripped of their belongings and left buck-naked.
"I'll spare only your lives. Stay here just like that until the sun goes down. If you run, I won't show mercy!"
"Yes! We won't run!"
Their exposed buttocks were kicked, and they were made to stand with both hands against the wall.
I felt like something was wrong.
In the end, we called the guards, and the thugs were safely apprehended. The clothes were handed over to the guards, and the contents of the wallets were to be donated to the church.
The thugs seemed to have completely lost heart after learning they had attacked Gladys-sama. They were being led away while being lectured quietly.
"Are you lot newcomers who just came from the countryside? You're lucky you weren't killed."
"Hah."
"You know that Gladys-sama has many fanatical fans, right? The local bosses around here are all like that. You'd better be prepared for the rest of your lives."
"Hah."
They had faces as if their souls had been pulled out. It was my first time seeing that.
"Now then, shall we continue our shopping?"
Gladys-sama laughed brightly.
It seems that the Royal Capital is a place where everything exceeds my imagination.