Vol 3 Chapter 25 – Boyhood: Autumn at Thirteen・Part 4

I entered the destination just after dusk. It was not a grand metropolis surrounded by towering city walls like the Imperial Capital, but merely a modest town encircled by a thin defensive wall about three meters high. The urban plan appears to follow the Empire’s standards, but the town’s appearance suggests it could hardly hold out for even half a month if besieged.

That said, if it’s only about a two‐day ride by fast horse from the Imperial Capital, there’s probably no need to defend it so zealously. If such a remote rural town were to fall, the Threefold Empire would either relocate its capital or be forced into an all-or-nothing battle.

We underwent a cursory identity check befitting the town’s feeble defenses and paid an entry tax of 50 as—initially, I was taken aback, but thinking of it as similar to a highway toll, I had no objections—to enter the town. Our aim was simply to complete the quest…

“Now, shall we search for an inn?” “Yes.” That is, tonight’s lodging.

Visiting an inn during mealtime is, by all common sense, simply unwise. Especially since Agrippina de Staal—renowned for her cantankerous nature—would no doubt call such behavior “stubborn,” it is best to exercise extreme caution. In the worst case, one should be prepared for an attack spell to be unleashed the moment the door is opened; such readiness is preferable for both mental well-being and personal safety.

Therefore, I prepared a small souvenir—a selection of fine sweets from the Imperial Capital. Since I was provided with a generous allowance, they probably expected me to be considerate even here.

“Excuse me, may I ask you something?” “Hmm? What is it?”

Anyway, since our actual appointment is tomorrow, I decided to search for tonight’s lodging. I caught the attention of a guard who looked rather idle and asked if there was any decent, inexpensive inn. He pointed one out, so I handed him a few copper coins as a token of thanks. It took some time to get used to this custom, as local public servants routinely expect tips.

I expressed my gratitude as I strolled through the sparsely built town. The main road was carefully paved with cobblestones, yet aside from the main thoroughfare inside the wall, the streets were nothing more than simple, leveled dirt paths. There were no streetlights like in the Imperial Capital; the place exuded the bucolic charm of a country town.

In the mess district near the city wall, we rented a room in a cheap inn—one where you rent only the room and provide your own meals—for 10 as. The somewhat tilted building evoked a sense of age, but the interior was surprisingly tidy, indicating that the guard hadn’t been forced to assign us a shoddy lodging.

We entrusted our horses, Castor and Polydukes, to a stable that serves all the lodging in this area. Though the stable looked rather worn out, the coachman and his son were sincere and treated us, even though we were minors, with the honor due to esteemed guests, so their service raised no concerns.

They cared for a horse for 15 as per day (with water and fodder), or 25 as for two. It might seem pricier than a human’s lodging, but such living creatures require extra care, so it’s understandable. Besides, as they are important companions on our adventure, I have no objections to the cost. I also gave them a tip of 5 as, wishing them to be well-fed, and now it was time to fill our own bellies.

“So, what do you feel like eating?” “Hmm, though there are few food stalls around here.”

It struck me that there were indeed few food stalls. After all, it would be odd to have a shop or stand on every corner as in the Imperial Capital. Even on my own estate, there was only one tavern and one mess hall, and food stalls were typically set up only by caravans in spring and autumn.

“Darn it, I messed up. I should have asked the guard about where to eat while I was at it.”

Realizing my error, I scratched my head. I could have asked the stable hand and his son—they likely would have happily explained the dining situation in this district.

Before I could reconsider, Mika tugged my sleeve and pointed to a tavern.

“How about that one, Erich? It seems to have quite a lot of patrons. It might serve delicious food, don’t you think?”

The tavern, as observed on his suggestion, had an appearance fitting the quaint mess district, and indeed, many patrons dressed in travel clothes came and went. Some even appeared to be adventurers or mercenaries wearing nothing more than a breastplate or armguard as light protection.

By the way, here too—as in the Imperial Capital—except for guards, nobles, and their escorts, carrying swords is prohibited. Consequently, no one was seen openly carrying weapons. The Empire’s cities generally ban dangerous arms, since even a minor incident could escalate into a serious public disturbance.

I also had left my “Wolf,” my plundered sword, and my full set of armor at the inn. My limited field equipment consisted only of a teardrop-shaped neck guard and gauntlets worn as part of my travel attire, a fairy’s dagger concealed in my sleeve, and a magical catalyst. Nevertheless, with my focus ring, I can basically accomplish anything I set my mind to.

Could it be that the decline of this ring-shaped focus is not merely due to the trend of emphasizing convergence ratios, but also because of rumors spread by government policy aimed at phasing it out? Even though it is made from rare materials, its properties remain exceedingly dangerous. Just one ring supposedly allows one to smuggle far more dreadful assassination tools than a simple dagger—it’s truly frightening.

Casting aside those dreadful thoughts, we stepped into the mess district.

Beyond the door, though the hall was meant to be spacious, the influx of customers and tables crammed to the brim rendered it extremely cramped. The nauseating aroma of alcohol and dense human odor, mixed with the smell of food, created utter chaos.

There were clinking glasses, crude laughter, and a mix of emotions from those engrossed in cards and board games. It was, in every way, a tavern at the edge of the world.

Yes, exactly—this is just right. With all the odd developments surrounding me, it is wonderful to behold a truly authentic fantasy scene like this.

However, just because two minors entered together did not result in any “Drink your mother’s milk!” scenario. After all, there were also guests roughly my age, probably riding with the caravan as apprentices.

“Okay, hold on a moment! It’s crowded, but there is a spot available!”

A waitress clad in a traditional northern ethnic outfit—with a deep neckline—cheerfully shouted. Her dark blonde hair was tied in a thick braid, and her freckled face shone with a sun-like smile, making her the very picture of a country belle.

She guided us to an empty counter in the corner. Nearby, men were engaged in card games, and copper and silver coins occasionally flew about merrily.

Although taverns are generally good for gathering information, I didn’t feel like striking up a conversation. After all, in a mess district near an inn, the people here were likely travelers or caravan members—and I didn’t expect to hear any word about Lord Fore.

“So, what will it be, you young ones? We slaughtered a sheep today, so the stew is delicious.”

Sheep meat? How unusual—around here, pork is the main fare, and sheep, which must be herded for grazing, are seldom eaten. Then again, perhaps because it’s difficult to overwinter livestock in the north, they do keep sheep that are more resistant to the cold.

“Ah, that brings back memories. Then, I’ll have that, please.”

Come to think of it, you mentioned you’re from the north, right? In that case, it should be a familiar taste, so there should be no mistake. I, too, followed Mika’s lead and ordered the same dish.

“Ah, we get to eat it after such a long time—I’m so happy. In the Imperial Capital, we hardly ever have it, you know.”

The Threefold Empire is fundamentally a forest-rich country, and consequently, pastures are scarce. In fact, the gently sloping land that might otherwise serve as pasture is converted into highly productive arable land, so cattle and sheep are rarely raised, while there is a high demand for pigs fed on acorns in the woods.

Perhaps that is why Mika is so hungry for the flavors of his homeland.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t had rice in ages. Though as a citizen of the Threefold Empire I am accustomed to a diet dominated by bread and pork, that ingrained taste which clings to my spirit and soul remains a bit nostalgic. And I do miss miso soup—even though it’s been a long time since I’ve had it, its flavor is truly unforgettable.

I’ve heard that in the southern inland sea region, people eat rice too, but it is likely far removed from the well-bred Japonica rice I am used to. It might be delicious in its own way, but the taste of home has become so distant…

“I’m so glad for you—make sure you eat to your heart’s content!”

Gripping my friend’s shoulder as he tried to soothe his own unfulfilled nostalgia, I ended up getting carried away with a passionate monologue. I didn’t mind if he looked at me as if, “What is this guy?”—it was a matter of deep sentiment for me.

By the way, the lamb stew that was served later, costing 8 as per person, was reportedly not prepared in the local style—it was said to have an overwhelming taste of ginger. It was generally tasty, but if I were to be picky, it could have used a dash of black or Japanese pepper.

After savoring the exotic flavor for a while, we decided to part ways. Mika, having enjoyed a blissful meal reminiscent of his homeland, said that he would surely have sweet dreams if he went to sleep now, so he retreated to the inn, while I set off for the public bathhouse to wash away the grime of the past few days.

The public bathhouse was located on the edge of town, near the river that carries drainage outside the city wall. Like the town itself, it had a modest appearance, but having been cherished by the locals for many years, it was well-maintained despite its age, and the patronage was quite decent.

After paying the entry fee and stepping inside, I found a bathhouse that—though simple—was solidly built as its unpretentious exterior promised. There was a cold bath, a warm bath, and even a hot bath… oh, how delightful, there was also a steam bath!

“Alright, it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a steam bath.”

Muttering to myself, I decided to revel in the long-awaited steam bath. The steam baths at the free public bathhouses in the Imperial Capital are always lacking—the temperature is never quite sufficient. It seems that city dwellers and country folk differ in their expectations of heat, so I hoped this one would be more scalding…

“Oh, it’s reserved—that’s wonderful!”

True to expectation, the wood stove heating the steam bath was blazing hot. As water was poured over it, steam billowed energetically, and with it returned a nostalgic scent and sensation. It brought to mind fond memories of leisurely bathing days at the estate. I suspect that if I had been there, even if Margit had invited me this year, I would have been compelled to join the men. Besides, although everyone naturally appeared youthful, mingling in a mixed bath would have been rather inappropriate.

As I was leisurely enjoying the steam bath alone, another guest arrived. I didn’t want to be ungracious about monopolizing the space—it is, after all, pleasant to share the pleasure with someone.

Pushing through the steam, the guest settled down next to me after a brief pause. As a matter of courtesy, I bowed, and despite the steam reducing him to a mere silhouette, I could discern his angular face watching me.

“…I don’t think I’ve seen that face before, have I?”

He spoke in Imperial language with a slight accent—perhaps a northern accent. In the Imperial Capital, I rarely hear anything but pristine court language, so I struggled a bit but managed to decipher his words.

“Yes, I am here on an errand for a while.”

“Really? It must be tough for someone so young. You’re doing your best, aren’t you?”

“I turned 13 this fall.”

“So, did you come alone?”

His creaking speech was delivered in the gruff tone of an elderly local. Ah, if only I could speak with someone like him—since he lives here, he might be able to tell me about Lord Fore.

“No, I’m here with a friend; camping alone is rather daunting.”

“Hmm, that’s the way to be; no one should be by themselves at times like this.”

As he spoke, a hand emerged from the steam and gently patted my head. However, this sensation was quite different from the patted comforts given by my parents or even occasionally by Agrippina de Staal. This rough, knobby texture did not feel like normal flesh at all—it was the touch of ancient timber that had long since dried out.

“Um, may I ask you something?” “What is it?”

Although I am still young, my experiences have taught me the importance of proper preparation. I once foolishly charged at monsters without knowing their nature, only to complain, “Hey, your blade won’t cut through this!” when fighting skeletons—though I have thankfully not repeated such mistakes.

Before departing the Imperial Capital, I had thoroughly researched Lord Fore. I learned that he is an exceptional reproduction master, that he has a fondness for sweets, that he loses his temper like a raging fire when his work is disturbed, and that everyone spoke of him as an eccentric, cantankerous fellow.

And then… “I take you for Lord Fore. What business do you have with this withered old tree?”

I had been informed beforehand that he was an old treant. Now, sitting beside me in the steam bath was unmistakably an ancient treant. His gnarled, intricately intertwined branch-like limbs and his eyes, gleaming like golden beetles, stood out amid the dissipating steam.

He widened his eyes in apparent surprise—if, that is, treants are capable of human-like emotions—then, after thoroughly scrutinizing me, he nodded magnanimously and switched from his previous Northern-accented Imperial language to polite courtly speech.

“Indeed. Now, little one, what business do you have with this withered old tree?”

【Tips】Treant: A being whose very appearance resembles that of a spirit more than a human. They typically possess high magical power and naturally transform their affinity with nature into strength.