The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman

The carriage continued moving and eventually arrived at Zu, the Zora Federation’s capital.

“Oh! That’s the Zora Federation’s capital!”

Despite the moving carriage, Cornelia calmly opened the door and stuck half her body outside. Her excited voice was clearly audible.

“You’ll get hurt if you fall, Cornelia.”

She probably wouldn’t get injured, but aura couldn’t prevent pain.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I think the carriage door would break before I’d fall.”

“And that’s fine?”

Lucia retorted suspiciously, but Cornelia kept laughing “I’m fine, I’m fine~”

Oh well. Cornelia was the type who wouldn’t feel pain even if her arm was cut off. Even if she fell from the carriage, she’d probably just laugh cheerfully. Just don’t break the carriage. Wind would come in and make reading difficult.

When I said “Close the door already, Cornelia,” she answered “Roger” and obediently complied.

Sheila, sitting across from me, breathed a sigh of relief. She had the same reason as me.

“Hey hey, Luka.”

“What?”

“What do we do once we enter the city?”

“First, an inn. We couldn’t make reservations, so let’s find some high-class place.”

“Are there places where humans can’t stay?”

“Who knows. I’m not that familiar with the Zora Federation either. What do you think, Sheila?”

“Hmm… this is my first time going to the Zora Federation too, so I can’t say for certain… but the possibility is high.”

“Really?”

I didn’t know the Zora Federation people were that barbaric.

“Among demi-humans, many races still hold onto old grievances and strongly antagonize humans. The fact that they enslave humans shows their level of civilization.”

“I see.”

I closed the book I’d been reading with a snap.

The empire we lived in also had slavery. Without money, anyone would have to become an orphan or slave.

However, we didn’t target specific races for slavery like the Zora Federation. Rather, the two demi-human races of elves and dwarves were promised decent treatment.

Both elves and dwarves were valuable.

But from what I heard, the Zora Federation had no such mercy. Their civilization was low enough that any human was automatically out.

In that case, as Sheila said, we might have trouble finding lodging even after entering the capital.

“Camping out at worst? I really don’t want that.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine to just kill the innkeeper? The Zora Federation is just a weak nation that couldn’t possibly oppose the empire anyway.”

“That wouldn’t be bad in terms of causing a coup, but getting caught up in miscellaneous affairs besides the coup would be troublesome.”

Adopting Cornelia’s suggestion would lead to endless conflict.

I’d come all the way to the Zora Federation specifically to stir up the coup. Being attacked by other small fry would be extremely annoying.

“I’d be totally fine if I could cut down lots of people.”

“Then you stay at a different inn alone.”

“I don’t want to be left out!”

“Wouldn’t it be nice? I’d be happy if the princess was popular.”

“Let’s put only Lucia in a different inn.”

“Why me!”

The two suddenly became noisy.

I ignored them and told Sheila:

“For now, let’s look for an inn, and if there’s nowhere to stay, we’ll threaten them a little.”

“Is that okay? Doing such things might get us involved in trouble.”

“Much better than camping out. Besides, it’s their fault for not preparing rooms just because we’re human. It’s not like I’m planning to kill them like Cornelia would.”

They’d change their tune after a little pain. Hitting them would be more profitable.

“Well, I don’t want to camp out either…”

“By the way, are there only human-haters in the Zora Federation?”

“Not exactly. About sixty percent hate, thirty percent fear, and the remaining ten percent are mild-tempered.”

“Fear… huh.”

“Human numbers are overwhelmingly large. Those who know the past of fighting and losing naturally fear humans. Especially humans with abilities like us.”

“That’s correct as living beings.”

“Yes.”

But for us who’d be pressed for time, it was supremely troublesome.

If possible, I hoped we’d quickly find an inn. We could pay any amount of money.

While thinking this, I saw large main gates ahead. Many carriages were stopped in front of the gates.

That was going to take time…

▼△▼

As I’d expected, waiting in line before the main gate, it took considerable time for us to reach the checkpoint soldiers.

Outside it was already evening. The orange sunlight was truly beautiful.

“Next, you guys.”

Finally our turn came. The coachman first showed identification to a dog beastman. Then:

“Hmph. What business do humans have coming so far? If we let guys like you into the city, we’ll get yelled at.”