Chapter 17: The Long Road to the Imperial Capital
In the fortified city of Cassina, we found ourselves staying at an inn prepared by Count Karman. With D, C, and B-class Dungeons surrounding the area, we successfully cleared all of them over the course of five days.
In the D and C-class Dungeons, everyone gained resistance Skills or leveled up their existing Skills.
In the B-class Dungeon, Larni acquired Advanced Enchantment Magic. Currently, her sword’s cutting power had increased significantly, leaving her with fewer opportunities to use Enchantment Magic. However, when stronger foes appear in the future, she may find it invaluable.
Shizuna obtained the Skill Heavy Impact, which naturally enhances the power of her Spirit. Thanks to Spirit Evolution, her rock golem had transformed into a near-iron golem, towering over two meters in height. With an increase in attack power, it would become a reliable guardian in both offense and defense.
Sakurahime gained Swift Run, drastically improving her mobility. This left me as the only frontliner without a high-speed movement Skill. For some reason, I had yet to acquire such a Skill, but perhaps the day would come when I would. Regardless, it was undeniable that Sakurahime’s combat prowess had significantly improved.
Aside from that, Freinir, Sfenia, Mariane, Karma, and I only experienced level increases in our existing Skills during the B-class Dungeon. Of course, that was still a very important development.
Having completed our tasks, we passed through the northern gate, which served as a checkpoint, and finally entered the buffer zone between our territory and the Empire.
“Hmm, I’ve been feeling it for a while now, but it feels a bit chilly,” Karma murmured, wrapping her arms around herself as we walked along the road. Although we were approaching summer, the temperature had indeed dropped by about three to four degrees compared to when we were in the Kingdom.
When I turned my gaze toward her, the well-informed Mariane chimed in.
“The Empire is located further north, which contributes significantly to the chill. Additionally, the overall elevation of the land is higher than that of the Kingdom, and cold winds constantly blow down from the northern mountains, making it cool even in summer. As a result, crops are harder to grow, and food conditions can be quite poor in some regions.”
“So, the Empire’s expansionist ambitions might be partly due to that?”
“Most likely. However, it’s also true that the late Emperor was quite ambitious.”
“That’s why the current Emperor is struggling to maintain order within the Empire. The current Emperor is still young, right?”
“Yes, I believe he is still under thirty. According to the Grand Master, he is an exceptionally capable individual for an Emperor.”
“To bear the heavy responsibility of being Emperor at such a young age is unimaginable. I’m grateful I don’t have to deal with that.”
As I expressed this somewhat mundane thought, Sakurahime looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Are you saying, Lord Soushi, that you would refuse a territory even after obtaining a noble title? That seems quite strange from the perspective of the Empire’s nobility…”
“I’ve never even considered becoming a lord. I prefer to live freely as an adventurer.”
“Hmm… I understand what you’re saying, but I believe it will be difficult for someone of your caliber to remain without a territory in the future.”
“And why is that?”
“Your strength is already comparable to that of an entire nation’s military. For someone like you to roam freely is a terrifying prospect for many nobles. Currently, your power is not widely known in the Empire, so you may be overlooked, but once it becomes common knowledge, who knows what will happen…”
“So, you’re suggesting they might want to make me a lord to keep me tied to a specific land?”
“While the wording may not be ideal, that is essentially the meaning.”
As Sakurahime nodded in agreement, Sfenia also chimed in with a knowing expression.
“She’s right. Unfortunately, the more fame you gain, Soushi, the more precarious your position will become. Of course, you currently maintain a good balance with the royal families and churches of various nations, but I believe it will become increasingly difficult to sustain that.”
“I see… I understand what you’re trying to say. It’s quite a troublesome situation, but it does make sense…”
It feels strange to say this about myself, but I had already become a figure referred to as a “hero.” If I were to achieve similar feats within the Empire and my name became widely known, I could easily lose my place in the world. Looking back at Earth’s history, it was almost always a choice between becoming a king or meeting a tragic end for those labeled as “heroes.” I had never heard of anyone living a peaceful life after such a title.
“Well, when that time comes, I could always go to the Beastman tribe and become their chief, right? I’d be perfectly fine with that.”
“That sounds great! If you can keep the wolf and tiger beastmen in check, there wouldn’t be anyone in the tribe who would oppose you. You might as well become the leader of all beastmen!”
As Larni and Karma joked, even Sfenia and Shizuna joined in.
“No, if you come to the Inner Elf Village, we can promise you a suitable position. It might be nice for you to spend your days there in peace.”
“In Oz, the High Priestess is at the top, but there was once a position known as the Spirit General beneath her. If it were you, Lord Soushi, it would be possible for you to become that Spirit General.”
They continued to tease me with such suggestions.
Finally, Freinir grabbed my arm and looked up at me with a serious expression.
“I believe you should establish your own country, Lord Soushi. It would surely become a wonderful nation. When that time comes, I will do my utmost to assist you.”
Her earnest gaze made it hard to dismiss her words. I understood what everyone was trying to convey, and with such encouragement, I felt I should reconsider my stance. However, the truth was that it was troubling to be expected to take on such a role when I was just a man with strength. Nevertheless, I knew I had to think about my future eventually. After all, I was no longer alone in this journey.