Anyway, I'll head to the Royal Palace to finish my top priority business first.

　It's after that that I'll visit the Sun Dial Trading Company and the headquarters of the Adventurer's Guild, and have Garnett show me around the royal capital this way and that.

　After leaving the Argenteer family's annex located in a high-class residential area, if you look out towards the central hill of the royal capital, you can see the various buildings of the royal palace.

''It has high ground, which makes it easy to defend, and a large river, which makes it easy to transport. It's like the royal capital is a city that was meant to flourish.''

　While we were walking down the main street towards the hill, Garnett offered me a chat to pass the time.

'Right. I'm sure that all the roads in the country eventually lead to the royal capital, so it makes sense that this is the largest city on the continent. I don't think we can get around in a day or so.
'Hahaha!　I can't!　It's going to take a year just to walk around every nook and cranny, isn't it?

　I was about to retort that I was probably overreacting, but considering the large buildings that were densely packed over a wide area, maybe it wasn't excessive.

'It's about time you got ready for your first checkpoint.

　The hill on which the palace is located is surrounded by a wall.

　There are a number of roads leading away from the city and residential areas, but they are all blocked off once by the castle gates, and you have to pass through the watchful eyes of the gatekeepers to get up the hill.

　But it doesn't even matter to us.

　It would be enough for Garnett to reveal his knight's identity, and for me, the letter sent by the royal palace would be like a permit for passage.

　I pass through the castle gates with a rather unsettling ease and climb up the neatly paved, gentle slope.

''From here is where the nobles' homes are located when they spend time in the royal capital. The knights are at the bottom of the hill and the nobles are at the top of the hill, so it's allotted.
They say that powerful knights are more powerful than half-baked noblemen, but is that so?
It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It's funny that a baron who has only a pardoned domain is higher than us.

　One gets the impression from Garnett's narrative that he speaks jokingly about the facts of course, without any backward feelings of disgust or anything else.

　The reality that institutional class does not reflect actual power relations is still a matter not worth worrying about for Garnett, it seems.

　Well, in the first place, I didn't think Garnett was someone who would be aware of such a thing from the beginning.

　While I was thinking about that, I climbed up the gentle hill to reach the front of the royal palace.

It's even more awesome when you see ...... up close.

　A citadel for war and a palace for dignity - a great palace that beautifully sums up those functions.

　Perhaps because I have witnessed something so tremendous, I can only imagine how clichéd it is.

As expected of a castle of the Westland champion: ......
No, Your Majesty doesn't live here.

　Next to me, who was even impressed, Garnett simply said something like that.

''Eh, this is the royal palace, right?''
Yes, but they say he's too luxurious and uncomfortable, and he usually lives in the same residential area as the nobles over there. And he goes to work at the royal palace for his duties.

　Garnett turned around down the hill and pointed to the area we had just passed.

　When I looked again, I saw that there was a building one size larger than the other mansions, sitting along the road we passed.

　The area facing the road is the same size as the other mansions, so I guess I couldn't notice it earlier.

'Also, this guy is indeed a rumor, but I heard that he was stopped at all costs when he first tried to build a house down the hill.
I feel like it could be .......

　The truth is unknown, but if true, it is a typical episode of His Majesty Alfred.

　His Majesty Alfred worked as an adventurer until more than twenty years ago, when he was nominated as his successor by the king of the country that became the prototype of the Westland Kingdom, and after a period of preparation, he ascended the throne twenty years ago now.

　It's not surprising that the luxurious palace he inherited from the previous king didn't suit his taste, since that's how he became king.

''So this palace is purely a governmental office for the state government.
Yeah. I've heard that you have to stay here when you're busy. Government officials and ministerial nobles also live in this hill, so it's an amazing sight every morning.

　As Garnett said, it would be quite a sight to see a line of noblemen, who are so involved in the affairs of state, lining up to go to work at the royal palace.

　While updating my knowledge of the royal palace, I enter the grounds through the visitor's entrance set up at the edge of the protective fence surrounding the palace and enter the royal palace through a corner of the well-kept garden.

　All the while, a group of five guards are following us, which shows how tight the security of the royal palace is.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about them. I'm not sure if they are the same person, but I'm sure they are stronger than me.

　Garnett whispered an earful, as if he were talking amusingly.

　The Dragon King's Knights are the Kingsguard under His Majesty's direct control.
　It's only natural that they are responsible for the security of the royal palace.

''Are they that strong?''
''In terms of strength per person, they are without a doubt the strongest in the entire Order. Well, since we're a small group, the Golden Fang's strength as a whole is higher than the Golden Fang's.

　So, I mean, I almost got thrown into that kind of situation.

　I am once again reminded of how lucky I am that the conditions are not right.

　I'm not going to be the only one who has been in this situation.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.

''Welcome, Luke from the White Wolf Forest. I've already heard about your business. I hear you have a response to His Majesty's proposal. I'd like to hear it right away.
Yes, Your Majesty. I am grateful for the proposal Your Majesty has given me to establish a new Order.
'The young man must be ambitious, after all. His Majesty will be pleased.

　The nobleman nodded deeply as he sat down on a high-class chair.

　I only had to say a few words, but I felt quite tired due to the tension.

　I turned my head to Garnett to pull up for now - for some reason, Garnett was staring at the nobleman with eyes that were looking at something unbelievable.

''...... Garnett?''
"Duke of Kingswell. Are you in charge of this case? You're not going to be like that ......
''Technically, I'm one of them. Three dukes, including myself, are involved in the preparations for the establishment of the new Order. Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am in a position to welcome the establishment of the new Order.

　As they exchanged glances back and forth, unsure of why the two of them were having such a conversation, Garnett whispered in a wary voice.

''The minister who was the guardian of the brave Falcon, ...... in short, was the one who placed the suspicion of killing the brave on you.

　I turned back to the old aristocrat - the Duke of Kingswell, exclaiming.

　The nobleman did not change his expression and spoke to me in a calm and composed manner.

Do you have some time to spare? This is your chance. I think it's best to explain the situation to you in an open and honest way.
Are you saying that there was a reason for the ...... example charges?
Don't worry. The motive is nothing more than ugly self-preservation, with a consequent turn for the better. You don't have to change your assessment of me as the man who wasted a lot of time on ...... to know that I've stirred things up for nothing. You hit the nail on the head. But--

　The Duke of Kingswell stared at my face - my right eye, to be precise - with a reactionary self-mockery.

'If you intend to live with that 'right eye' for a long time, I suppose it's worth listening to this old man's defense.