Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 06
“No, Souji, I apologize for my rude behavior earlier. I never expected you to be more than just the rumors suggested.”
After the battle, as we began walking along the highway, Jaze bowed his head in apology.
Even as A-Rank adventurers, they must have their pride, but it seems that many high-ranking adventurers I know possess strong character.
“As I mentioned before, it’s only natural to be skeptical. I think that power is quite extraordinary myself.”
“I don’t think it’s just extraordinary. And what about that mace and shield? I can barely even lift something like that.”
“Indeed, those weapons are quite selective.”
“Isn’t that an understatement?”
Jaze scratched his head, a wry smile on his face, completely shedding the suspicious demeanor he had just moments ago. The saying “Seeing is believing” holds true, and the sheer presence of those two weapons must have been convincing enough.
“However, if you’re participating, it seems the finals of the martial arts tournament are already decided. I can’t imagine anyone else winning besides you, and that’s a first for me, aside from Princess Marishielle.”
“That’s quite an honor. But Princess Marishielle must possess extraordinary strength as well.”
“Well, yes. I think Gramas knows more about that. There’s even talk of creating a rank above A-Rank just for her.”
I feel like I’ve heard that discussion before.
However, if Princess Marishielle is indeed that strong, I can’t help but feel a sense of kinship. Could it be that she also possesses the ‘Divine Fortune’ Skill?
“Grand Master, could it be that Princess Marishielle also…?”
“Oh, no, she’s different. She has a unique Skill of her own. I can’t go into details, but it’s incredibly powerful. Of course, she’s also a diligent worker, and that synergy has led her to be called the strongest adventurer in the Empire.”
“I see. I’m looking forward to seeing just how powerful such a renowned individual can be. There will be several other distinguished participants in the martial arts tournament as well.”
“It wouldn’t be surprising if the members of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ dominated the top ranks.”
The expression on Lady Dorozitte’s face was ambiguous, a mix of irony and a wry smile.
While we are aware of our own strength, it’s difficult to receive a fair evaluation due to our unique circumstances. Perhaps it’s a blessing that we can gauge that in the Imperial Capital.
After three more days of traveling alongside the Polar Drake, the highway widened further, and the number of people bustling along the cobblestone streets increased significantly. This was the first time I had seen a road with separate lanes for vehicles and pedestrians since arriving in this world.
As the highway gently curved northward, we walked for about two more hours. Finally, a grand fortress city emerged in the distance.
“Imperial Capital Pleione,” that was the name of the sprawling city that lay before us.
The first thing that caught my eye was the long, towering walls stretching from east to west. It was astonishing that even from afar, the ends were not visible.
Beyond those high walls stood numerous buildings. The walls themselves appeared to be at least ten meters tall, so there must be countless structures even taller than that. It reminded me of the time I first visited a metropolis in my previous life and was left speechless by the skyscrapers.
In the heart of the city, the land seemed to rise, forming gentle hills adorned with many white buildings. They all appeared to be grand mansions, likely the residences of the Empire’s nobility.
And, of course, at the center stood a magnificent white castle, shining brilliantly. The castle towered over the surrounding buildings, symmetrical like a bird spreading its wings, boasting a beauty that seemed meticulously calculated. The spires that reached for the heavens had unique shapes reminiscent of avant-garde art, leaving a powerful impression of the Empire’s architectural prowess.
“This is a breathtaking sight. Truly, the greatest city on the continent.”
“It’s a wonderful city, Souji. I’ve never seen such a magnificent castle.”
“Indeed. Just thinking about how much time, effort, money, power, and population it took to build this city is overwhelming.”
“I believe you will one day govern a city just as grand, Souji.”
“Haha… Well, I have no intention of doing so, even if it were possible.”
Freinir’s words were likely spoken out of goodwill, but they were quite far-fetched.
As I chuckled while ruffling her hair, Larni approached from behind, wagging her tail.
“By the way, Souji, once we enter the Imperial Capital, what do you plan to do first? The martial arts tournament is still a ways off, right?”
“First, I need to pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor. The main reason for coming to the Imperial Capital is to introduce Geshura to him. After that, there’s also the matter of presenting a dragon, which will likely earn us some rewards as well. In between those, we can explore the Imperial Capital and challenge an A-Rank Dungeon, and then prepare for the martial arts tournament.”
“Hmm, sounds like there’s a lot to do. So, we won’t have much freedom at first.”
“It would have been nice if we were just ordinary adventurers.”
“Becoming legendary adventurers isn’t easy, is it?”
Larni’s joke aside, since we are not ordinary adventurers, a bit of hassle is unavoidable.
However, the thought of having to go to that distant symbol of immense power makes me uneasy.
I felt considerable stress when entering the royal castle of the Vermilian Kingdom, but here, I sensed that the stress would multiply several times over.