Chapter 16: The Exiled Marquise Becomes an Adventurer, Part 2
Orclaugh Kingdom, Margraviate of Makikomarkrow, Double Barrier City Hecate.
Three days after crossing the border, we arrived at Erika’s—our—destination.
Hecate, just as its name suggests, is a fortress-like city enveloped by a Double Barrier.
It’s the most crucial city for national defense within the Margraviate, but the Faltar Kingdom and the Orclaugh Kingdom are friendly nations.
To begin with, the Margraviate itself doesn’t border the Faltar Kingdom.
Margrave Makikomarkrow isn’t protecting the country from humans.
He’s protecting the country from the region known as the Demon Realm.
“I had read about it in books, but seeing it in person is truly amazing, isn’t it?”
Erika said, looking at the Barrier surrounding the central part of the city.
Behind us was the Barrier we had just passed through.
A Barrier within another Barrier—that’s a sight you won’t see anywhere else but here.
And the atmosphere of the city itself is unique.
The fact that the Demon Realm is nearby means there are that many Monsters around.
In other words, it’s a workplace for adventurers.
Therefore, Hecate is just as famous for being a city of adventurers as it is for its Double Barrier.
The sight of armed commoners all over the city isn’t something you see often.
A proper noble would probably feel uneasy at this sight, but unfortunately, I’ve deviated from being a proper noble, so it doesn’t particularly bother me.
In the Faltar Kingdom, there isn’t a single city where adventurers gather to this extent.
One reason is that there’s no Demon Realm within its territory, but also, the frequency of Monster appearances itself isn’t that high in the Faltar Kingdom.
As if to make up for it, powerful Monsters tend to appear more easily, but well, let’s set that aside for now.
However, that’s not the case in the Orclaugh Kingdom, which has a Demon Realm.
After all, the Demon Realm spawns all sorts of Monsters, and in large numbers.
Perhaps because of the Demon Realm, the frequency of Monster appearances is high even within the kingdom’s territory.
If the Monsters spawning from the Demon Realm are left unchecked, the Demon Realm itself will grow larger.
Fortunately, powerful Monsters rarely emerge from the depths of the Demon Realm, but in their place, weak to moderately strong Monsters swarm out as if overflowing.
Naturally, the kingdom can’t just ignore such things, so they deal with them using the Knights Order and whatnot, but…
Unfortunately, they can’t focus solely on Monsters; the kingdom is busy with various things like preparing for invasions from other countries and maintaining public order within its borders.
Therefore, it became difficult for the kingdom alone to handle the Monsters, which led to the creation of the Adventurers Guild.
Yes, it’s said that the Orclaugh Kingdom was where the Adventurers Guild, now found in various countries, was first established.
Furthermore, its headquarters are located right here in Hecate.
And so, we arrived in a city where residents carrying swords, spears, axes, and the like walk around nonchalantly—a city likely to make a proper noble feel faint.
The residence prepared by the Prime Minister was a small, comfortable-looking house.
Although I say small, it has a garden and a fence.
It’s only small by noble standards; by commoner standards, it would probably be considered average or slightly better.
Looking at the neighboring houses, they all seem neat and tidy, so the neighborhood’s public order appears to be good as well.
Personally, I have no complaints whatsoever, but what about her?
She is, after all, the daughter of a Marquis House.
If she were to say something like, “I can’t possibly live in such a shabby house,” it would indeed be a bit problematic.
It’s not that she can’t live in a mansion; in fact, even if not immediately, the Prime Minister would likely arrange one if asked.
However, doing so would render the whole farce meaningless.
Surely the Church doesn’t honestly believe the Prime Minister wouldn’t provide his daughter with any aid whatsoever, but…
Still, they wouldn’t be pleased if she were living a carefree, extravagant life after being exiled.
After all, from their perspective, the stripping of Erika’s Nobility Status and her Exile are punishments meant for her.
Therefore, we want to avoid as much as possible any risk that might make the Church change its mind.
Now, what should I do if she says she doesn’t like it?
As I pondered this in front of the house gate, looking at Erika’s face, she looked back at mine and smiled.
“It’s a nice house, Shin.”
I hadn’t expected that kind of reaction.
“Looking at this house, I’ve realized it for the first time.”
What? I asked with just my eyes.
“That I am no longer a noble, but a commoner. I am free, my future is unknown, and there is nothing I am supposed to become.”
Heat lit up within her eyes.
Ah… those are the eyes I saw so many times at the academy.
Back then, I saw them in profile; now, I see them head-on.
“It’s just like a stormy sea on a tempestuous night.”
“Are you anxious?”
There’s no way, I asked, convinced otherwise.
“No. After all, I have a reliable companion on this voyage.”
Saying that, she held out her hand to me.
“Will you enjoy this voyage together with me?”
“Gladly.”
I grasped her offered hand.
“Boss, ain’t it about time ya helped carry the luggage?”
Merseja said, sounding exasperated as she unloaded luggage from the carriage.