Kasim and the other mercenaries were able to reach Penslot after a full four days. Ever since they had begun training in qigong, they no longer tired easily, and the party’s pace had become remarkably swift. Yuliana, of course, was the exception, but Kasim solved that problem by buying a horse and having her ride it.
Thus, they arrived at their destination two days ahead of schedule. Entering the streets of Cordo, the capital, Kasim silently recalled the appointed meeting place.
“The place we agreed to meet was the Paradise Inn, wasn’t it?”
The reason they had chosen that place was simply because it was the only establishment in Cordo whose name they knew. On the back pages of Kasim’s mapbook, famous businesses from various regions were introduced, and Paradise had been listed as one of Cordo’s notable establishments.
“If it’s there, we should be able to meet.”
After looking over the map, Kasim had chosen it as the meeting place without hesitation. Back when he had been with the mercenary band, he had come to Penslot a few times, but he had never stayed in Cordo. Cordo was famous for its high prices, so the mercenaries back then had solved the matter of lodging by sleeping outdoors. As long as Paradise had not closed down, Damon would surely be waiting for the party there.
“We should head there first.”
Finding Paradise was not particularly difficult. Since it was marked on the map, it could be considered the most famous inn in Cordo. After asking a few people, the party soon found the Paradise Inn.
“Welcome.”
As soon as they arrived, a clerk dressed in uniform came running out. He looked at them a little strangely, as if they did not seem like the sort of guests who would come here, but he did not hesitate to bow his head.
“Please hand me the reins. I will take the horse to the stable.”
After handing the reins over to the clerk, the party strode into the inn without hesitation. As befitted its name, Paradise, the inn was decorated with extravagant luxury. In the past, its lodging fees would certainly have been so expensive that they would not even have dared consider coming here.
But the Kasim Mercenary Band was now financially comfortable enough that they no longer needed to worry about money at all. Passing between guests who were all dressed in fine clothing, the party went straight to the counter. As expected of a top-class inn, a manager in a neat uniform greeted them.
“Welcome. Will you be staying with us?”
“We will. Since we have a woman with us, give us one single room and one shared room.”
Though their finances had become abundant, frugality was firmly ingrained in Kasim’s body. However, the manager wore a troubled expression.
“I apologize, but we only have single rooms and double rooms here. According to our regulations, we cannot provide one room to three or more adults.”
Kasim opened his eyes wide as if this was unexpected.
“If that is so, it can’t be helped. Then give us four double rooms and one single room. Mitchell, you and I will share a room.”
“I don’t mind.”
But the manager did not readily hand over the keys. Judging from the party’s shabby appearance, he apparently did not think they would be able to pay for the rooms.
“I apologize, but our policy is payment in advance…”
Seeing the manager’s reaction, Kasim immediately understood the situation. Anger quietly rose in him, but since there was nothing to be done, he silently put his hand into his coat. As long as they were not dressed neatly, it seemed this was the sort of treatment they had to endure.
“How much are the rooms?”
“All together, it is fifty silver a day.”
If one room cost ten silver a day, that was an outrageously expensive amount.
‘Filthy expensive.’
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Kasim took out a small pouch from his coat. When he loosened it, a brilliant light pierced the eye. It was the money he had received from Damon, and the pouch was filled with one-gold coins. Watching this, the manager felt as though his breath had stopped. A guest who had seemed utterly insignificant was carrying an unexpected fortune. Kasim picked out one gold coin and held it out.
“We’ll stay for two days.”
“Understood.”
The manager, whose attitude had changed completely, quickly held out the room keys. Taking the keys, Kasim seemed to remember something and turned his head. The clerk who had first greeted them had come back inside after taking the horse to the stable. Kasim beckoned him over.
“Did you call for me, sir?”
Kasim held out a one-gold coin to the clerk who had hurried over.
“It’s a tip. Consider it a reward for greeting us politely and taking care of the horse. At the very least, you…”
Kasim lightly patted the shoulder of the clerk, who did not know what to do while holding the gold coin.
“Have a much better attitude toward receiving guests. Better than a manager who demands payment in advance because he’s afraid we can’t pay. Now, will you show us to our rooms?”
“O-of course, sir.”
The clerk, who in the blink of an eye had received a sum far exceeding a year’s wages, guided the party with the utmost courtesy. Behind him, the manager stood with an expression as if he had bitten into shit. His instincts, honed by business, had worked against him this time.
‘Damn it. If they wanted to be treated properly, they should have come dressed properly.’
But the more he thought about it, the more envious he became of the clerk, so the manager could only let out deep sighs.
As they walked, Kasim asked the clerk about Damon.
“One of our companions is staying here. I wonder if you might know him.”
“Please describe him. I know the faces of nearly all the guests staying here.”
Kasim immediately described Damon’s appearance. Upon hearing the description, the clerk’s face brightened.
“If it is an old man wearing a black robe, he is staying in a special suite. But he has someone accompanying him.”
“Someone accompanying him…?”
“A noble young gentleman with dazzling white hair. He is a very handsome man.”
After hearing the clerk’s explanation, Kasim soon realized who it was. Among humans, young men with white hair were certainly not common.
“Is it Lord Katroi? How did he meet Lord Damon? In any case, we should see them first. Will you guide us there?”
“Understood.”
Kasim’s guess was not wrong. When he entered the room, he saw Damon and Katroi in the middle of an intense argument. Hearing the topic of their argument, Kasim’s face filled with disbelief. The subject of debate was whether a dragon polymorphed into a human could truly have sexual relations with a human woman.
“You lunatic. At least say something that makes sense.”
“I think it’s entirely possible. If one uses magic, there’s nothing one can’t do…”
“Do you want to test it yourself?”
“No. I’ll decline. The very thought of rolling around naked with a human female gives me chills.”
“Ugh, I shouldn’t even bother talking.”
Damon irritably turned his head and noticed Kasim.
“You’re here?”
“Yes. But what is Lord Katroi doing here?”
Seeing Kasim stare at Katroi with wide eyes, Damon replied indifferently.
“He says he’s joining our mercenary band. Truly a madman. A dragon, of all things, with nothing better to do, dares join a dragon slayer party?”
“I can just sit out when you hunt, can’t I? You already agreed, so why are you nagging me?”
Listening to their quarrel, Kasim smiled bitterly. The situation was somewhat strange, but there was no reason to refuse when a mighty dragon was joining the party.
“Welcome to the Kasim Mercenary Band. Until you accomplish what you have set out to do, we will treat Lord Katroi as a temporary member.”
At Kasim’s words, Katroi’s face brightened. Arguing with Damon gained him nothing, so meeting Kasim, who was at least somewhat reasonable, was fortunate for him.
“I look forward to working with you. I cannot help during hunts, but I will try to be as good a companion as possible.”
“What help could a fellow like you possibly provide…”
Deciding that he needed to put an end to the argument for now, Kasim quickly changed the subject.
“Our immediate task is getting Mitchell into the royal castle. Perhaps we should discuss that first…”
The tactless Mitchell stepped in and ruined the flow.
“No, there is no need for you to concern yourselves with that. I have my father’s crest, so I will enter the royal castle alone. If I submit the application today, I should be able to undergo the examination by tomorrow. I think there will be no problem if I go alone.”
“Will that be all right?”
“Thank you for your concern. From here on, I will handle my own affairs.”
Having said that, Mitchell strode out. He had already asked around about the location of the royal castle on their way here. As Kasim, deflated, shook his head as if there was no helping him, Katroi approached.
“Let me sleep in your room. I spent three days with that bastard, and I’m on the verge of going insane.”
Though he would not have dared ask for it himself, it was exactly what Kasim had wanted, so he quickly nailed it down.
“Then Lord Damon should share a room with Mitchell. I will attend to Lord Katroi.”
“Fine by me.”
In this way, the dispute was neatly resolved. After exchanging greetings with the mercenaries he had reunited with, Damon said he was tired and crawled into bed.
“I need to sleep. Because of that bastard, I couldn’t sleep properly and was tormented for three whole days…”
Leaving the room with Katroi, Kasim first showed Yuliana to her room.
“Your Highness, please use this room.”
“All right.”
Since Damon had not so much as glanced at her, Yuliana, feeling somewhat dispirited, closed the door without a word. The mercenaries each went to their own rooms and immediately began immersing themselves in the mana circulation technique. To them, the mana circulation technique was quite literally a part of life.
Mitchell was walking quietly through the streets of Cordo. The thought of parting with the mercenary band weighed somewhat heavily on his heart, but he forced himself to straighten his chest.
“My dream was to become a royal guard knight of a proper kingdom anyway. It will benefit me to sever my ties with the mercenaries without lingering regrets.”
But the more he thought about it, the more regret inevitably welled up. He had become deeply attached to each of the mercenaries, and because he had come to clearly understand what camaraderie was, his reluctance did not easily fade. He was not even certain whether he would ever be able to meet such companions again.
As if trying to shake off his complicated feelings, Mitchell silently shook his head.
“If I become a guard knight, I’ll have many comrades, so I should forget them now.”
Lost in thought as he walked, he found himself arriving before the royal castle before he knew it. Mitchell immediately approached the gate guards.
“Halt. What business do you have?”
As befitted a powerful nation, the guards, with imposing builds and splendid armor, leveled their spears with practiced motions. Their stance suggested that if he did anything suspicious, they would pierce him without mercy. Looking over his own attire, Mitchell smiled bitterly.
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have come dressed a little more properly.”
The clothes he was wearing were the very same ones he had exchanged for ice troll pelts in the Kato Kingdom. On top of that, they were covered in dust from the journey, so they were hardly presentable. Originally, Mitchell had a fairly fastidious personality, but now he was certainly not that way.
‘It seems living with the mercenaries has dulled me quite a bit.’
For the moment, Mitchell brushed off the dust as best he could and raised his head.
“I have come to see the vice-captain of the Royal Guard Knights.”
“The vice-captain? For what reason?”
When Mitchell explained the circumstances, the guards looked less than pleased. In their eyes, Mitchell looked exactly like a country bumpkin who had come up from the countryside. But after hearing his story, they could not simply drive him away.
“If your father was a guard knight here, then you must have his crest.”
“Here it is.”
The guard carefully examined the crest Mitchell handed over, then silently nodded.
“Please wait a moment. I will first report this to the vice-captain…”
“I would appreciate it.”
The guards led Mitchell to a post inside the castle grounds. If the sight of the shabby Mitchell loitering at the main gate of the royal castle were discovered, a thunderous rebuke would surely fall upon them.