Chapter 310

While leisurely traveling through the skies of the country called Libelhight for seven days, Tatsuro and his party had visited a few sightseeing spots.

Now, they were finally heading toward the next country, Casapisti, a nation that boasted the world’s highest peak, Banramonte Mountain. During their journey, Tatsuro and his companions were discussing the next country in a room equipped with reclining seats.

“According to the book I bought in Libelhight, Casapisti is a cold country with an average temperature of about 7 degrees Celsius. It’s also described as a rigid monarchical state, unlike Heldamdo or Libelhight… Is there something different about it?”

Though the two countries they had visited apparently had kings, Tatsuro, who didn’t fully understand the difference, sought an explanation from Leah, a former citizen of Heldamdo.

“Hmm. I wasn’t particularly interested in politics, so I don’t know the details. But if you’re okay with a rough explanation, like something you’d tell a child, I can try. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, even a general idea is fine. I just want to avoid unknowingly offending the king when we get there. I’d like to at least know the basics that even kids might understand.”

Nodding at Tatsuro’s words, Leah placed a hand on her chin, tilted her head as if pondering, and began to weave her words as though recalling memories.

“Well, to put it simply, in Heldamdo and Libelhight, a king’s decree can be rejected if certain conditions are met, but in Casapisti, that’s not possible.”

“You can reject a king’s decree in Libelhight?”

“Yes. It’s probably more complicated than that, but in my rough understanding, if we say the king of Heldamdo has a speaking authority of 5, certain royals involved in politics have 4, high-ranking nobles like lords have 3, mid-ranking nobles have 2, and low-ranking nobles or mayors elected from each territory’s citizens have 1. That’s the general idea. When the king proposes something, if enough opponents with higher combined speaking authority gather, they can reject it.”

“So, even if the king and two royals combine for a speaking authority of 13, if 14 mayors oppose it, the proposal gets rejected?”

“I think so. In reality, it’s probably more complex with various interpersonal dynamics at play, so it’s not that simple.”

“And in Casapisti, there’s no such system, so the king’s word is absolute?”

“Exactly. In Heldamdo, this speaking authority applies not just to the king but to other nobles as well. So, if a lord tries to impose an oppressive law on their people, using the earlier numbers as an example, four or more mayors could band together to have it repealed. But in Casapisti, rank is absolute, and those of lower status apparently cannot defy those above them.”

“Huh. Sounds like a troublesome country. Let’s take care of our business and get out of here quickly.”

“Agreed! Oh, by the way, how are adventurers like us treated in that country? Same as commoners?”

“Hold on a sec, Sis.”

Nana flipped through a few books about Casapisti and quickly found the relevant section.

“It seems that ordinary travelers are treated the same as commoners, but adventurers are exempt from rank-based command authority. So, even if a noble orders us to do something, we have the right to refuse. However, being rude to a noble could apparently result in a death penalty.”

“Sounds like a hassle, as expected. Like you said, Dad, we should leave as soon as possible.”

“Yeah. What about you, Cardina and Jeanne?”

“Peewee”

“Neigh!”

Their conversation was relayed to Cardina and Jeanne, who were working hard outside, via a speaking tube, and they signaled their understanding and agreement.

“Then, let’s finish our business at Banramonte Mountain and leave the country right away.”

With their general plan for Casapisti set, Tatsuro and his party headed toward the border, filled with equal parts anticipation and anxiety.

Between Libelhight and Casapisti lay a neutral zone belonging to no country, so they landed there as well.

However, with no notable landmarks, they carved their names, Tatsuro and Ai, in Japanese along with a shared umbrella symbol into a protruding stone that had likely been buried for centuries, and took a commemorative photo.

After such detours, they dressed warmly to blend in and arrived at the border gate around noon. Like in Libelhight, the gate was divided into four lanes, and though they considered lining up in the lane for high-ranking individuals, given the country’s strict customs, they opted for the adventurer’s lane.

The two guards in charge of that lane had a gloomy demeanor, looking at adventurers’ identification cards and slumping their shoulders in disappointment.

“They look disappointed just checking people’s identification. That’s kind of rude.”

“Yeah. Maybe they’re looking for someone specific?”

As they spoke, it was Tatsuro’s group’s turn. Seeing a group mostly composed of children, the guards, already looking disappointed, casually asked for their identification. Expecting this reaction, Tatsuro and the others showed their identification without getting upset.

However, the two gloomy guards suddenly jolted as if struck by lightning. As the group tensed up in surprise, one of the guards grabbed Tatsuro’s right hand with both of his.

“You’ve finally come!”

“Huh? Uh, what exactly—”

“Come, come, this isn’t the place to talk. Please, step inside!”

“Whoa—don’t pull my hand like that!”

“What’s going on?”

“No idea. They don’t seem hostile, though.”

“Let’s just follow for now. They’re dragging Big Brother along.”

“He could just shake them off.”

Despite the almost worshipful looks directed at him, Tatsuro couldn’t bring himself to shake off the grip and was dragged toward the guard post.

Ai and the others, overwhelmed by the scene, followed behind, saluted by the remaining guard as they passed through the border gate.

They were led to a small rest area for guards inside the gate, where they were offered seats on worn, square box-like chairs pulled from under a four-person table

There weren’t enough chairs for the guards and Athena, so more were brought from the back while another guard prepared tea. Once settled, the guard who had brought Tatsuro sat across the table and spoke.

“You’re high-ranking adventurers here for that matter, right? The Adventurer’s Guild was still looking for capable people, and since no one had come for so long, we were getting worried!”

“…Huh? Are you perhaps mistaken? What exactly is that matter?”

“Don’t joke around! That matter is that matter! You know what I mean, right?”

The guard’s hopeful expression turned desperate as he pleaded, but Tatsuro looked around at his companions to confirm if anyone knew about “that matter.” Everyone shook their heads in denial.

“Sorry, but I think you’re mistaken. We have no idea what that matter is.”

“S-so… you’re saying you weren’t sent by the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“Exactly. From what you’ve said, it sounds like that matter involves the Adventurer’s Guild, but we’re here purely for personal reasons. A friend asked us to check on someone in this country when we had the time, that’s all.”

“Oh… I see… Sorry for holding you up. You’re free to go…”

Realizing their mistake, the guard and his colleagues, who had been listening nearby, reverted to their earlier gloomy expressions. The man who had spoken seemed too drained to stand, staring blankly at a point on the table.

{This feels unsettling, but staying here won’t help. Let’s go.}

{Yeah. We still don’t know what that matter is.}

{They’re deliberately vague about it, so it’s probably not something outsiders should pry into. Best not to dwell on it.}

{Got it.}

After a brief telepathic discussion with Ai, the two stood up simultaneously, followed by Nana and the others.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”

“Yes…”

The guards’ dejected demeanor made Tatsuro’s group feel almost guilty, so they quickly left. Walking briskly, they stopped after covering over a hundred meters.

“That was weird right from the start. Should we head to a nearby town to get a feel for things?”

“If it’s too strange, we can always turn back since we’re close to the border.”

Originally, they had planned to head straight to a town near Banramonte Mountain, the world’s highest peak, but sensing an unsettling atmosphere, they decided to visit Gagapoa, the town closest to the border.

It was close enough to reach on foot, so Cardina used Child Form to fit in a pocket, Jeanne stayed inside Tatsuro, and the rest walked.

After about ten minutes of brisk walking, they reached Gagapoa. The town had two gates: one plain, blending into the town wall, and another, twice as large, adorned with gold and purple patterns. Only the plain gate was open.

“Clearly one’s for commoners and the other for nobles.”

“They go through the trouble of opening that fancy one for important people? What a hassle.”

“Doesn’t exactly feel like a country I’d want to live in.”

“Indeed.”

“True.”

While talking, they joined the short line at the commoner gate, and their turn came quickly. Tatsuro and Ai braced themselves, wondering if their high-ranking adventurer status would cause another odd reaction, but they presented their identification anyway.

“—High-ranking adventurers, I see.”

“Yes.”

The female guard seemed slightly surprised, but it was a normal reaction compared to other countries, so they relaxed.

“Is this your first time visiting a town in this country?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, let me explain some precautions.”

“Alright.”

Just as they began to relax, this unprecedented procedure reignited their caution.

“In Casapisti, every town has designated residential areas based on citizens’ ranks. Lower-class citizens live in the outermost area, where the ground is brown. General citizens live inside that, where the ground is green. Upper-class citizens are further in, on red ground. Finally, nobles live in the town’s center, where the ground is purple. Townsfolk are forbidden from entering areas designated for ranks above their own.”

“And you’re explaining this to adventurers, so there are restrictions for us too?”

“Yes. Adventurers without a rank can only enter the lower-class citizen area. Those with at least Rank 1 can go up to the general citizen area, and those with Rank 4 or higher can enter the upper-class citizen area. As Rank 6 high-ranking adventurers, you two can enter the upper-class citizen area, but please avoid entering the nobles’ purple-ground area.”

Feeling exasperated by the strict class divisions, Ai raised a concern.

“What about facilities like the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“Merchant guild shops exist in each district, with different grades of goods sold. The Adventurer’s Guild is located in the outermost area, so anyone can access it, no worries. If you, as someone allowed in the upper-class citizen area, wish to bring someone restricted to a lower area, you may bring one person per individual.”

“Only one per person… Got it. Any other precautions?”

“Yes. When walking around town, always wear this visibly.”

They were handed objects with colored strings and square plates: red for Tatsuro and Ai, brown for Nana, Leah, and Athena. Apparently, these were to be worn around the arm or neck to signify their right to be in certain areas. The female guard and the male guard watching nearby both wore similar green ones on their arms.

“Giving these to someone of a different rank or wearing one meant for a higher rank is a serious crime in this country, so please be careful.”

“Understood. Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s everything. Please put them on now and enter the town.”

Thinking this was a rather stifling country but seeing no point in complaining, they all promptly hung the strings around their necks and entered the town.