Dragon Knight Chronicles ~ From a mere mercenary, rise to success through tactics! A small harem with the princess and the lord's daughter!? I'll also develop my territory! ~ - Chapter 112

Chapter 112   Lodging in the Ram Basin

Late December, Year 567 of the Unified Calendar—

Amidst the falling white snow, we entered Ram, the capital of the Cade Confederation. Due to the busyness of the year-end season, the shops throughout the city were bustling.

We exchanged the materials we had gathered from monsters at shops that dealt with such items, lightened our load a bit, and then enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the city.

“Excuse me, sir, have you already decided on lodging?”

“No, we haven’t yet…”

“We still have some good rooms available.”

Though I felt like exploring the city a bit more, we were approached by a staff member who looked like an innkeeper.

Indeed, both His Highness and Professor Gunter seemed visibly tired. They had said nothing about the difficulty of traversing the rough, pathless terrain, but it must have been exhausting for them.

“Alright, we’ll take a room.”

“Thank you very much.”

We entered the inn, which was a fairly large building, and paid the fee at the counter with coins from our leather pouches. We handed a tip to the attendant, who took our dragonets and horses to the stable behind the inn.

“For four guests, that’ll be four large silver coins.”

Although the currency units differed between the Kingdom and the Confederation, the purity and weight of a silver coin were the same, likely a remnant of the Unified Dynasty. So, we were able to use the currency as if it were the same.

“First, we need some food. Please show us the way!”

“Certainly.”

The innkeeper guided us to the tavern attached to the inn, where many travelers were enjoying their drinks.

“Your Highness, is your leg alright?”

“Ah, it’s fine, no problem!”

At the tavern, the first thing we ordered was a tub of warm water to wash our feet. After traveling through snowy mountain trails, our feet were covered in frostbite.

We all warmed our feet together and carefully dried them with cloths before finally turning to the drinks and food.

“Hey, bartender! Four mugs of ale, please!”

“Right away!”

We arranged copper coins on the table and waited for our drinks. What arrived was lukewarm ale and a side dish of mountain vegetables pickled in vinegar.

“Cheers!”

We all took a sip of our drinks and savored the satisfaction of being alive. After days of sleeping in the snow-covered mountains, we hadn’t felt alive at all.

“I’ll have this and this too. And be sure to add extra salt.”

“Sure thing.”

We requested extra salt for our dishes, which was quite valuable in this remote mountain area.

The first dish that arrived was roasted sparrows. I particularly enjoyed the wings, which are rich in flavor and juicy, often making my hands messy while eating.

“Lord Reister, this is delicious!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Sparrows are common fare, and it seemed to be Her Highness’s first time trying them. I was pleased to see her enjoy it.

Next came venison, perfectly seasoned with just salt and pepper and cooked over an open flame.

“This meat dish is also delightful.”

For nobles like Her Highness, venison is usually served in elaborate dishes with dairy-based sauces. Simple salt-grilled venison is more commonly enjoyed by lower-ranking soldiers celebrating a victory.

Meals during our journey in the deep mountains consisted mainly of hard-baked bread that could break your teeth and thoroughly dried fish. The meat juices from the roasted venison were unbelievably delicious.

Having not drunk in a while, a small amount of ale quickly gave us a pleasant buzz. We finished our meal with warm barley porridge flavored with goat cheese.

“Here you go.”

After satisfying our hunger, the next stop was, of course, the bath. A bath is a precious luxury, and although it was expensive, it was one of my favorites.

I removed my dirty clothes and put on a bathrobe. The bath at this inn was not a traditional tub but a steam bath.

Entering a small room, I poured water over hot stones. The sizzling sound was accompanied by a large amount of hot steam, transforming the entire room into a steam bath.

“Ah, Your Grace, a bath is such a pleasant thing, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

It seemed that Sir Gunter, who joined us, was experiencing a steam bath for the first time. After warming up and sweating thoroughly, we jumped into a cool water pool.

“Yahoo!”

That night, everyone fell into a deep, restful sleep in their bedding, as if they were dead.

◇◇◇◇◇

The next day—

After having breakfast at the inn, we headed to a clothing store in the city. Our travel luggage was limited, and we hadn’t brought formal attire for anyone other than the queen.

“How about this one?”

“…Hmm.”

We carefully examined the clothing to ensure it met the minimum standards of propriety for nobility.

After changing into the new attire, we arranged for a neat and respectable carriage and proceeded to the residence of the head of the Cade Confederation.

“Stop!”

The carriage was halted in front of the residence.

“This is our identification.”

I presented a pass bearing the coat of arms of the Rillburn family. Although this pass was issued by the Owen Alliance Kingdom, it was generally accepted in neighboring countries as well.

“You may proceed, but please park the carriage to the side.”

“Understood.”

Upon showing the pass, the attitude of the gate guards softened. I also handed them a few small silver coins to take care of the carriage.

“Everyone, please come this way.”

A servant of the Cade household appeared from inside and guided us.

Along the way, the residence’s garden featured rare plantings and a pond with beautiful freshwater fish swimming. The serene atmosphere seemed to cleanse our spirits.