My first impression was that it was a very murky place.
After parting with Muge-san, we, as foreigners, arrived at a place surrounded by walls high enough you have to crank your head up to see the topâa place as wide as a school ground.
There was a somewhat open square in the center, and only about 10 buildings in the whole place. Each building was also just a one-story, compact, stone building.
It seems that this was as far as foreigners can enter into the Lev Magic Empire.
However, there was quite a fair number of people. Nearly 100 people. Almost all were armed like adventurers.
âŠThey are not Lev citizens, so they shouldnât be able to enter inside. Are there really a lot of jobs in such a small space?
âThe delivery to the guild is over.â
Dante-san came back.
Our job this time was to deliver a letter to the Adventurerâs Guild â a building which would fill up if even 10 people entered, and was operating through window counters.
ăHere you go, Reiji.ă
I received an Adventurerâs Guild plate from Dante-san. It was the one I had issued before reaching this place â come to think of it, this is my first ID in this world.
ăAdventurerâs Guild: Kruvan Holy Kingdom Arsanyu City Adventurer Guild Issued
Name: ReijiRank: BronzeParty: Silver Balance
This registration card is to prove the affiliation of the above-named person to the Adventurerâs Guild. In addition, the above-named person should be allowed to pass without delay or hindrance into the country or territory in subject. ă
Iâm a bronze-rank newbie. Dante-san and the rest are in the Silver-rank â they were demoted the other day â so itâs a long way to catch up then. However, Iâm still happy to have a guild certificate with the same party name as everyone else.\n
On a side note, Zerry-san has also joined the party. She was already an Iron-rank adventurer, one rank below Silver and two above myself. I will never forget the fact that she annoyingly pestered me, âBocchan, from now on you have to call me âsenpaiâ, okă?â
Zerry-san wasnât around right now, as she went for a walk when we arrived here.
ăâŠThe atmosphere inside was a little bizarre.ă
ăBizarre? What happened?ăMimino-san asked.
ăThatâs⊠well, letâs finish Reijiâs business before that.ă
Iâm aiming to meet Lulusha-san in the Empire. The reception for visits to the Empire was held in a different building, which was also crowdedâthere was a line of about 10 people lined up outside the building. They were not adventurers but merchant-like people.
ăIâm talking about why adventurers are gathered in a place like this⊠Apparently, they are looking for adventurers to enter the Empire.ă
Dante-san said, as we queued up at the back of the line.
ăEh? To enter?ă
ăYeah. I didnât ask for details because we have to prioritize your visit, Reiji.ăDante-san said.
ăWe got into the Empire once, but that was only by chance because we happened to receive a similar request from the guild.ăMimino-san said.
ăThatâs right. Other people around us seemed quite envious at the time.ăNon-san added.
Silver Balance has been here before. They entered the Empire at the request of the guild. It seems rare to be able to enter the Empire, but not impossible.
But looking at this crowd of adventurers, itâs probably not normal.
ăHmm, gathering this many people⊠is it for a big subjugation?ă
Just when I asked that,\năăŒIs that really you, Dante?ă
A sudden voice called out.
Dante-san surprisedly looked back. There was a party-like group of seven adventurers.
The one who called out was an adventurer with reddish-brown swept back hair, seeming to be in his late twenties. He was tall and the armor he wore was a simple metal protector combined with monster leather.
His cloak was the most eye-catching of all. The bright yellow cloak looked to be brand new, and the other members were also wearing the same cloak.
ăLeonâŠ?ă
ăThatâs right! Hey, your petrification is healed? Seriously? How did you do it?ă
The man called Leon had amicable eyes⊠His tone of voice sounded friendly, but the way he was tapping Dante-sanâs left arm over-familiarly seemed almost bordering on shameless.
Dante-san had a complicated look on his face.
ăâOh, that shorty over there⊠is that you Mimino? Man⊠hahaha. You guys were hanging out together, huh⊠Mimino, I havenât forgotten about the money you stole from our party. Just as you would expect from a halfling.ăLeon said, raising an eyebrow and glaring at Mimino-san.
Wait a minute. âStoleâ? Mimino-san wouldnât do that.
Mimino-san was looking back at Leon with flames of anger burning in her eyes, an intense look that I had never seen before.
ăStole?!! Look at you running your mouth! If so, I can say you guys âstoleâ Danteâs future!ă
ăâMimino-san, please calm down.ă
Non-san got in front of Mimino-san, and I got beside Mimino-san.
ăThatâs right, Mimino-san. You donât have to get agitated⊠By the way, is it okay if I punch this rude man in the face?ă\n\nDante-san came up next to me and put his hand on my shoulder.
ăThis kid you made a fool of⊠Reiji, is stronger than me.ă
ăâŠWhat?ă
Leon directed a doubtful glare towards me.
But thatâs not true though, is it, Dante-san? Even I donât think itâs possible to break through your iron wall. Your defense is almost foul-like, you know?
ăIâve told you many times in the past that itâs a bad habit to look down on someone just by appearance. You donât seem to have changed⊠your rank growth is of no importance.ă
ăDante⊠do you think you can just walk away after making a fool out of me?!ă
ăOkay, thatâs enough.ă
Right then, one of the yellow cloaksâa woman with a slender body and hood low over her eyes, came in between us.
It was one of the three who looked like they didnât know what was going on.
ăYou didnât come all the way here just to get into a fight, right? Leader, Iâm not getting involved in unnecessary trouble.ă
ăâŠTsk.ă
Clicking his tongue, Leon turned his back to us.
ăJust you wait, Dante. Weâre going to reach heights you can never reach.ă
Leaving that sharp parting remark.
The hooded woman glanced at me, her emerald green eyes keen with interest, but soon followed after Leon.