Chapter 18 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

If there was any place in Tanzan Town that could alleviate Gawain’s disappointment and allow him to experience the classic and elegant beauty of another culture, there was only the rich district in the northern central part of the town. Several roads and a perimeter wall separated the district from the slum area outside. It was a relatively cleaner place where the ‘respectable’ people lived.

There were beautiful two storey buildings, each made of light gray stones and cedar wood. There were dried fish and cured meat drying on the balcony on the second floor. These were the symbols of the wealthy.

Although Tanzan was just a town, far from the size of a city, people who lived in the rich district would claim to be proud city residents.

They were people who were free and could afford to pay various taxes, and they had decent jobs in town, such as being the owner of farms or as a foreman in the mines.

Today, these respectable people stood on their balconies, where they dried fish and cured meats, and discussed recent events with their neighbors just like they did in the past. Anything that was slightly interesting was worth talking about. The most talked about topic was without a doubt the event that took place in Cecil territory.

Tanzan Town and its surrounding areas were lands held by Viscount Andrew, and Viscount Andrew’s territory was a neighboring territory to the Cecil’s. Although there were large desolate areas between the prosperous region of the two territories, there were still roads connecting them. Thus, even in this age of slow communication, news of what happened in Cecil territory had already been spread across the whole of Tanzan Town.

Firstly, a group of people looking like refugees fled here under the leadership of a knight and about a dozen soldiers. Then, the news was spread that Cecil territory had been completely destroyed by the flood of monsters and elementals.

This horrifying news was just like those stories spun by bards. The citizens, who lived in peace for many years, did not believe it at all initially, but those refugees and the battered soldiers had evidently entered their town. Subsequently, Viscount Andrew quickly gave out orders. Not only did he implement stricter curfew enforcement, but he also increased the number of patrols in the area around the town. Thus, the absurd horror story became a reality.

The grievous news from the Cecil territory went from being idle chatter among the city residents… to serious discussions.

At first they were only casually talking about that when they met in the taverns. Now, they had to stand at their balconies and discuss it seriously with dried fish and cured meat as the backdrop.

Just when these respectable people talked about how this was really the end of the declining Cecil Clan, those involved from the Cecil Clan had already passed through the rich district and the churches and entered Viscount Andrew’s castle.

Regardless of how difficult the life of the poor in Tanzan Town was, Viscount Andrew’s home always looked splendid. In fact, due to the populous and affluent territory and the clan’s ability to accumulate wealth, the castle built by the viscount was far more beautiful than the little old fortress Rebecca had lived in since she was a child.

After informing the guards of their identity, Viscount Andrew’s butler invited Gawain and the others into the castle. They were taken to a spacious and bright living room and sat behind a long wooden table, waiting for the Viscount to meet them.

Seated in the large and comfortable velvet seat and looking at the exquisite silver tea set before him, Gawain could not help but think of those poor people, who could be described as wearing clothes not even covering their bodies, and their houses which looked like shacks. He had to admit that this fantasy world of swords and magic was making him… disillusioned.

“Lord Ancestor,” Rebecca, sitting next to Gawain, slightly poked her ancestor’s elbow, “How do we introduce you later?”

“Just as we discussed earlier. Tell it straight,” Gawain said without batting an eyelid. “When we’re here, we don’t need to keep a low-profile.”

“Ancestor,” Herti said, sticking out her lips in Amber’s direction. “Do you really think that… it’s appropriate for her to be here?”

Amber was just sitting opposite Gawain. The half-elf girl was seriously studying the silver tea set in front of her. Her main method of studying was to pour out the tea and then put the cup into her clothes. In the brief moment that Gawain spent looking up, she had stuffed another spoon inside.

Gawain glared at the person opposite him. “Amber!”

“Wah!” The bandit lady exclaimed a little dramatically before embarrassedly taking the items out and putting them onto the table. The items included two teacups, three soup spoons, a silver plate, a pocket watch, a nut, two wine cups, and the monocle that the butler, from earlier, had hung at his chest.

Gawain: “?!”

What the heck? Miss Doraemon, how the hell did you do that?!

In that moment, Gawain could not help but touch the Sword of Pioneers beside him, and he felt a heartfelt gratitude for this holy bandit for being so kind as to not steal his sword back when she was digging his grave…