Episode2：PRERAHAR KINGDOM
【The Royal Capital, The Kingdom of Prerahar, June 7, E.C.1657】
The Royal Capital of The Kingdom of Prerahar is a vast town surrounded by a huge wall located in the center of the country. The pure white building materials, illuminated by the sunlight, emphasize the nobility and sanctity of the city. Houses of all sizes line the streets, and only the roofs are brightly colored. The roofs are brightly colored, a remnant of a long-ago desire to make it easier for warriors returning from battle to find their homes, which in turn developed into a prayer for the safety of the warriors.
The Royal Capital, the pivotal city of the country, is naturally the most densely populated town in the country. The bustle of the city, with men and women of all ages passing each other, is a scene of peace itself. Horse-drawn carriages were passing by on the cobblestone pavement, which was paved without gaps or steps, and their hoofs were clacking loudly.
“Huh, I finally arrived”
A few days in a horse-drawn carriage. The agonizing physical environment caused by carriage sickness and buttock pain was purified at once. The news of arrival at the royal capital is a sense of relief that we have arrived safely. At the same time, it also gives us a sense of accomplishment that we are progressing smoothly and safely without any assistance from the master.
The sun was already slanting toward the mountains in the west, and the landscape was tinged with a dusky hue. Above, blackbirds echoed the town with their call of homecoming.
“Hello, Mr. Quon. I've been waiting for you”
A well-dressed man of mature age walked up to him as he stopped the carriage at the industrial and commercial square off to the side after passing under the gates of the royal city and proceeding along the main street for a while. The soft flab on his lower jaw was the embodiment of his wealth and privilege. His ample abdomen was an undigested storehouse of the many luxuries he had acquired over the years.
“I am sorry, Earl Edelwald himself greeted me”
“No, no, don't worry about it. Your master took care of me a long time ago. He will kill me if I keep complaining about this and that”
The man in front of you, with a bold smile on his face, is Knighthardt von Edelwald. He is The Earl in The Kingdom of Prerahar and one of the most influential nobles in the city, second only to the royal family. He is the personification of exception, having risen from the ranks of a local commoner to the top in just one generation. His good looks seem to directly reflect his character, and he was a rare nobleman who could treat everyone without distinction, without regard to rank or status.
And so it is even if he is the apprentice of a craftsman living in the countryside named Quon. It is true that Edelwald owes a small debt of gratitude to Quon's master in the past. However, it is clearly unusual for The Earl himself to greet him. Still, he knew it was the respect that should be accorded, and it was also a sign that he did not despise the message sent by his master.
“Now, I'll have my men unload what is in the back of the truck. In the meantime, Mr. Quon, you rest well”
But," Quon rebuts. It was indeed Quon himself who brought it, but he was too apologetic to sit idly and wait while it was being unloaded, and he wanted to lend a hand. However, Knighthardt softly restrains Quon from doing so.
“Don't worry about it. That's their job, and Mr. Quon's job is to rest. Society revolves around that”
Quon was convinced. However, as if to mock his understanding, Knighthardt smiles.
"...... and, well, I said something that sounds like it, but it's all sloppy comment. That may be true, or it may be a lie. Either way, that was the job I asked them to do, and I just wanted you to get some rest”
Knighthardt approaches a parked carriage and beckons Quon. As usual, Quon is invited by the beckoning and gets into his carriage. Knighthardt also gets in and gives a signal to the coachman.
“I read the message from your master. This is the first time you are coming to The Royal Capital alone, and he wants you to take good care of him. He seems to be a very concerned person. He seems to be giving you the sloppy instructions, but he never neglects to back you up”
“Indeed, this transport was told to him over drinks the night before departure”
“Hahahaha. That's so like that guy”
With sun on his left shoulder, the carriage heads north along the paved main road. Unlike the surroundings of his home, he felt no tremors, which is probably due to the quality of the carriage, but above all, to the impressive uniformity of its maintenance.
Quon patted the seat with his hand. The entire surface is upholstered in fine leather, and the cotton filling is of the highest quality. I was beyond imagining how much money could be spent to produce such a thing, and I couldn't help but be astonished. I have been on a few rides in the past, but even so, it is not easy to get used to it.
“Let's say you stay at my place today as usual, what about tomorrow? Shall you go home?”
“Yes. My master is waiting for me, and I thought I'd go home early to let him know I'm okay”
“I see. Surely if you don't get him home soon, that man will die of loneliness”
“He is the kind of person who, though he worries, will not die of loneliness”
“No, no, Quon, you just don't know. His nature is a lonely lump. He's like a rabbit”
“Isn't it a superstition that rabbits die of loneliness and loneliness?”
That's right, Knighthardt laughed. Soon the carriage entered the grounds of a luxurious house and stopped in front of the building.
Quon muttered to himself, "It's as out of the ordinary as ever," in a cheap and childish way. That's all he could do.
“Come on, let's have dinner a little early. It's probably ready by now”
The sun has completely set, darkness envelops the town, and a starry sky adds to the color. The door to the luxurious room was opened, and from inside, a mellow aroma stimulated my nostrils, which sent an electric signal to my brain and triggered various biological reactions. And then they walked through the door, and the entire Edelwald family and Quon enjoyed a warm and happy meal together.
After dinner, the adults enjoy an after-dinner breakout with drinks in hand. Quon is not in the habit of drinking -- there are no laws restricting alcohol consumption in The Kingdom of Prerahar, and drinking itself is allowed -- so non-alcoholic beverages are substituted.
“By the way, Mr. Quon. Did you have any trouble on your way here?”
“Trouble ......? No, everything went smoothly. Even when we stopped at the inn towns along the way, we didn't encounter any kind of trouble, and we didn't hear anything about it either”
When Quon asks what's wrong with that, Knighthardt says slowly.
“Recently, there have been reports of a number of Hexenbiests appearing in the vicinity of here”
The term "Hexenbiest" is a generic term for a race of animals living in the non-human sphere that occupies most of this continent, and which are particularly ferocious and harmful to humans. They are said to be the beasts that The Devil spawned when The Angels and The Devils were enemies in mythology, or their descendants, and they do not have an organized social structure like The Humans and some animals, nor do they have the ability to use tools. Therefore, those who know them share a common understanding that they are a species that exclusively relies on instinctive behavior. They are found on land, in the sea, and in the air, but all of them have a single, moonless dawn-color horn extending from their heads.
Unfortunately, however, there is no end to the trade from some collectors and traders for the purpose of converting them into all kinds of specimens, including furniture, accessories, and medicines. Thanks in part to this, we are facing a situation where the damage to The Humans is even more enormous and serious than the overlap of living areas.
“Surely there has always been a fair amount of damage from Hexenbiests, but more than that?”
“Yes, the damage is occurring at nearly five times the rate of previous years. And the death toll is just as high. The expansion of The Human's sphere of life brings us wealth and prosperity, but technology has not kept pace. As long as "safe" inter-regional travel has not been established, the damage will only increase. Oh, excuse me. I don't know if telling you this is going to help”
Anyway”, Knighthardt reminds me.
“Be careful when you leave. Don't choose to fight, saying, "I'll figure something out. Or shall I send a couple of guards?”
“Thank you for your concern. However, I would like to refrain from escorting you. As a maker of weapons and armor, I have learned how to use them in my own way”
Quon looks out the window while expressing his gratitude to Knighthardt, who reminds him again to be careful. Thanks to the lack of intoxication, he is able to turn his thoughts calmly.
Hexenbiests ......? I've never fought one, but, well, it's better not to meet ones.
Stars shine in the evening darkness. In this world where lighting technology is scarce, the main source of illumination is still limited to primitive fires such as candles and bonfires. Therefore, the zenith of the sky is full of stars that embrace us like a magic carpet.
The sound of a dog's bark reverberates in the distance. Almost no one is foolish enough to go outside at this time of night. Therefore, the nighttime silence was very different from that of the daytime.
The next morning, Quon gets up at sunrise and climbs into the back of the wagon. All the goods he had brought with him were carried out, and the empty cart was polished to a shine.
...... Earl Edelwald's instructions? I'd like to thank you for one of his help, but ...... he's gone and I'll see you next time.
Although it is only a complete speculation since he did not see the scene where he directly mentioned it, Quon guessed so and thanked him in his heart. He could not help but feel respect for the hidden concern that he did not express explicitly.
...... Sure, cleaning carriages is not my or my master's primary job, so if he take my place, he's not taking my job away from me. ......?
Quon nodded his head and climbed onto the dais. He checked to make sure he had not forgotten anything and took hold of the reins.
“All right, let's go home”
The coach moves forward slowly, as if signaling with a wave of the reins. Soon, the carriage, now at full speed, was pushing forward toward the exit of the royal city. The town is still bustling with the same bustle and excitement as usual, and people are still dancing to the beat of life in every corner of the city.