The Imperial Capital of the Empire was also a port town spreading along the lakeshore.
"So this is a lake?"
"Haha, it's no wonder Your Highness is surprised seeing it for the first time. We didn't have a lake this big back in my hometown either."
I mean, I'd seen things called lakes in videos in my previous life, but the expanse of water here surpassed even Lake Biwa.
Even in the evening light, I could see waves rising.
And looking left or right, I couldn't see the end of the lake.
Not only that, but to the right, there were magnificent sailing ships lined up with their sails furled, far grander than the observation deck where we stood now.
"Wait, sailing ships? The entire corner of the lake is a harbor?"
"You know your stuff. That's the commercial district over there; they use the river to transport goods to the Imperial Capital."
Moreover, at this evening hour, lights were already on.
It seemed there were shops opening from this time, with their windows and doors open.
"Could there be taverns and such?"
"There are ones for commoners. However, those aren't places for Your Highness to visit."
"That's fine, but isn't oil expensive?"
I recall hearing that even in Japan's Edo period, oil was costly.
There were also stories about how cheap oil would produce heavy soot and bad smells.
"The refined oil used by nobility is expensive. The low-quality stuff is basically just animal fat with a wick stuck in it."
"Eh?"
"But there's something called a Small Thunder Lamp, sold at high prices from old estates. It's quite convenient because you can light it up by channeling a bit of magic into it, without using fire. Those lights over there are from those."
The mention of being sold from old estates referred to recycling usable items during demolition.
At the same time, it seemed people didn't understand how the Small Thunder Lamp worked.
Furthermore, because the design was utilitarian and rugged, meant for commoners, it wasn't found in palaces, and they couldn't reproduce it.
The great personages deliberately consumed firewood and oil to use fire as a way to assert their authority.
I looked again at the lights identified as Small Thunder Lamps.
They didn't flicker like flames, nor were they red, so indeed, it was visibly different from the others.
"Could it be... electricity?"
"Wait, don't tell me that Small Thunder Lamp is..."
"I think it's alchemy. I'll show you an experiment to generate electricity tomorrow. I think it'll produce a similar kind of light."
Could it be a lost technology?
If it's useful, it should have remained.
(Sefira, why would a technology still in use become lost?)
(If it is still functional, it is likely something that was created and spread, but afterward, new demand could not be developed for it.)
They made it sturdy and durable, so it still operates today.
Even if the population grew and demand increased, those who could make them had already abandoned the technology due to lack of new demand.
Furthermore, perhaps those who knew it was alchemy decreased, and it was forgotten.
There might be alchemists who could make them if searched for, but because people have forgotten how they were made, they cannot even search for them.
"How harsh..."
I gazed at the lake dyed in the evening glow, lost in thought.
"The Small Thunder Lamps are only in the hands of commoners here in the Imperial Capital. In larger towns, perhaps, but in villages, they go to sleep at sunset rather than using oil to light lamps."
"There's a difference in living standards."
"In rural areas, two-story houses are also rare."
Is that because they lack the structural design to support the roof?
I understand the cultural levels are different, but how different?
Looking at the Imperial Capital, it feels early modern.
But if two-story buildings are difficult, is that medieval?
Can such a gap in cultural levels exist within the same cultural sphere?
Ah, no... there were poor countries in my previous life too, and because the land is vast, there were stories of urban and rural areas being separated by centuries.
Not in some distant country, but right here on the same continent.
"This area is a tourist spot, so it's well-maintained."
"Does that mean there are places in the Imperial Capital that look like villages?"
"Not quite that bad. But the public order changes. So, don't stray from me."
That was educational guidance.
(Search, search, search)
And perhaps because I'd left her alone, Sefira seemed to be enjoying scanning the lake.
It was supposed to be an ability to read without opening books, but apparently, it could also be used to investigate without entering water.
(Anomaly detected in waveform)
She said something.
But I couldn't see any change in the lake.
"Helkov, is there something wrong? Sefira is investigating the lake and says there's an anomaly."
"What are you doing? But it's so dark... Hmm? Is that a magical beast?"
Helkov's voice changed.
And along with an ominous muttering.
When I strained my eyes, I caught sight of something foreign moving between the waves.
"Is that... a dorsal fin?"
"Step back, it's a magical beast."
Helkov moved me away from the lake and shielded me behind him.
Then, reaching behind his back, he lowered the sword that had been strapped there.
According to Helkov, this was the rule in the Imperial Capital.
Only permitted soldiers were allowed to carry swords in a way that allowed immediate drawing.
Therefore, the etiquette was to tie it upside down so the sword wouldn't fall, then loop it behind the back.
"Fast..."
Despite being tied to make drawing difficult, Helkov untied the cord binding the hilt and scabbard in a single breath.
Next, he had drawn the sword from its scabbard.
"Run away!"
A shout came from the direction of the dorsal-finned magical beast.
Looking closely, there was a group desperately rowing a small boat diagonally behind the dorsal-finned magical beast.
The sunset reflected off metal, so they appeared to be armed.
"Good grief, what hunters are those?"
As Helkov grumbled, the dorsal-finned magical beast revealed itself on the water's surface.
"A swordfish!?"
What appeared was a fish with a pointed face and large dorsal fin.
It was a size larger than the burly Helkov.
It leaped toward us, spraying water.
Moreover, the unnatural way the water followed it was surely magic.
Magical beasts can use single-attribute magic.
So I knew they were called magical beasts instead of beasts because they could use magic, but this kind of usage!?
Huh!?
Wait, isn't swordfish a sea fish!?
"Hmph!"
Unlike surprised me, Helkov stepped forward calmly and swung his sword.
It was a rough swing, as if smashing something.
But the power was tremendous, and the swordfish was slammed onto the observation deck with a single strike.
Just that was enough; the magical beast stopped struggling and went still.
"Eh, what did you do?"
"Heh heh, my clan hunts fish-type magical beasts for food. Something this small is breakfast. Salmon excited during spawning season with increased aggression are much more troublesome."
Salmon! Bears with salmon!
I really want to see that!
Also, so swordfish are freshwater fish here after all?
Perhaps my thoughts showed in my atmosphere, Helkov scratched his ear looking slightly embarrassed.
"Well, I have been away from my hometown for a long time, and I'm over forty, so my skills have dulled."
"Excuse us!"
As Helkov muttered, voices came from below.
The people who had finally rowed to the base of the observation deck were disembarking in a panic.
"Hey, you incompetent hunters!"
The hunters, beastmen with fierce bear faces, all shrugged their shoulders simultaneously at Helkov's scolding.
They looked to be still in their teens, shrinking back from Helkov's intimidating presence.
From my perspective, I thought it took incredible courage to make a living hunting magical beasts.
So I tugged Helkov's sleeve and made a small request.
"You looked really cool, so I hope you won't be too angry with them."
"Th-that's... I suppose it can't be helped."
Helkov said with a groan and stopped his scary face.
Daily Update
Next Time: First Time in the Imperial Capital 3