Trip to the capital

A message, not from a random, not even a low noble, but from the king himself. And of course, it sounded like it was phrased nicely but we basically had no other choice than to go. We were kinda far from the capital and of course he didn't send us a carriage or something, it's not like he really want to make us come. I had time to read some books that I took from the library or some shops, whenever we took a break I was infroming myself on the kingdom, the surronding countries, geopolitics, manners... I learned by reading that the actual hero is the son of the grand duke so someone very close from the rooyal family. Knowing that already tell us that he has close to no advantages by making us come to reward us. But again, just like we have no other choices than to go, he has no other choices than to make us come.

Like seriously, how can you ignore a team that cleared every single tower that existed and also save people and cleared a bunch of other dungeons. With our contribution, other adventurers could focus more on the demon king army, the kingdom bugdet for the tower is lowered so all win for him but he can't let us gain nothing. He has too make it look like he like us when if fact he can't let the popularity of the hero or the army go down.

- Mike : "I wounder what we will gain ? maybe a title ? some lands ? more money ?"

- Me : "A title is bothersom, lands we already have some and it's big enough and we have more money than the royal budget"

- Lanos : "That's harsh, but at the same time, making us come without telling us why seems like a lost of time"

- Mike : "Well we wouldn't say no to more money anyway, the more the better"

- Lanos : "You don't understand, with that money they want to bind us here, and make us a good dog that will clear problem for them"

- Me : "The only thing that we should take is the autorisation to go clear other kingdoms"

- Mike : "Can he even give us something like that ? it seems like spies coming to take riches from other kingdom perspectives"

- Lanos : "You are kinda wrong, the towers cost more than they benefit from it, they would definitly agree if we give them a part of the ressources"

- Mike : "What ?? If they want some of it, they would have to clear it themself"

- Me : "It's no problem, we can hide some money anyway, we will give them the less possible, it's not like we need to be super rich"

We continued to walk while talking and thinking, on our way to a bigger town we were escorted by some kngihts onto the capital. Hopefully they didn't ask us to put on special clothes or whatever and we even took time to bath before going to see him at the requested time.

When we finally were in the capital, we could saw gigantic buildings, a damn lot of people, knights, rich people, carriages, a lot of things. We were escorted by a group of knights into the royal palace. When we were not far we got stopped by the army asking us why we were in front of the door of the big palace.

- Guard : "Who are you ? I'll have to ask you to not stay infront of the palace"

- Escorting Guards : "We are here because of the Royal invitation ?"

- Guard : "Oh I'm sorry, you can go with the vice-captain ?"

- Vice-captain : "Hi to you, I'm the vice-captain, Rex Sarvilla, Thank you to have come that quick beside your work"

- Me : "It's our pleasure, we didn't had a lot of time to buy good clothes so I hope you don't mind"

The night before when we took a bath and prepared, we talked about what to say and what not to say and just decided that Jeremia or I would be talking because Jermia is used to take a lot of requests from the nobles and I studied some manners.

We got escorted to the palace, decided to enter and were getting into a waiting room because it was not exactly the good time. While waiting, we were talking about what to do infront of the king or not and how to bow properly even though I hate that.

- Mike : "Do we really have to do all of that ?"

- Me : "Do you understand that we could get decapitated if we don't"

- Lanos : "Yeah let's try to saty alive please"

- Me : "I'm sorry but I'll have to act as the leader during this time evern though we are a free team"

- Mike : "You are from far stronger than us so it's okay"

I knew I couldn't really force them to listen to me beacuse we were onmly together to act more efficiently but with the time we spent together we had a pretty great coordination. Nobody was giving "orders" or whatever but even without that, we always did things as a team.

- Rex : "It's your turn, you can go now"

- Me : "Okay, then guys, please follow me and act as I do"

They all noded, it was really the first time that people really were listening to what I said, that changed from my old world where people did not care at all, but I guess things really did change a lot.

- Royal announcer : "The team of adventurer composed by Mike, Lanos, Aryna, Jeremia and Kein is coming into the hall"

We walked slowly in the hall while being applaused by some people (mostly village chiefs because some of them have little titles so can attend royal gatherings) but the nobles were not even looking at us. I showed my respect to the king and with little time I had to prepare the team we did great I think.

- Me : "We present ourselves infront of his majesty the king"

- King : "No need to be so stiff, I know adventurers don't like all those manners"

- A noble : "But your majesty..."

- King : "Don't interrupt me, I asked you to come here to reward you for your actions, you cleared out the majority of the towers, helped villagers and even get out of your way to help other people or destroy little dungeons, that act can't be let unrecognised. For your service I decided to give you all the title of baron and the right to manage the little city of Eranbord in the south"

- A noble : "Your majesty that's just too much"

- King : "You all stop talking, it's my decision and it will stay the same"

- Me : "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to say that but we can't accept your gift"

- King : "What did you just say ?"