That's the Horn, the royal capital of the Water Kingdom (Roses). And Roses Castle in the middle of it.
　The sight of it became clearer and clearer from the top of the airship.

''Surrounded by more than a thousand fountains and flowers, large and small, it's said to be the most beautiful castle on this continent.
　Christiana adds.

'But those construction walls are awkward!
　It's just like Mr. Sa-san said, the high wall under construction that surrounds the entire capital is destroying the landscape.

The Horns, one of the most famous tourist attractions on the continent, have only minimal defensive equipment, and we were trying to maintain the scenery.
''Demo, we are hurriedly reinforcing the city walls following the return of the Great Demon King that was predicted years ago.
　I see.
　It's been said that demons are becoming more and more active and violent lately.
　It's unfortunate.

"Hey, hey, where are you going to go when you get to the capital?
　Lucy asks with a gleeful look.

'First, I'll go to the castle and say hello to the king.
I thought you had plenty of time to make it to the deadline?
It said to come in seven days, so maybe we could do it earlier.

　I'd like to get the troublesome things done first.
　We can take our time exploring the city later.

Well, I think it's time we got out of here.
　Everyone nodded at Fujiyan's voice.

　◇

--The Boulevard of Hundred Flowers.
　It's a boulevard that stretches straight from the main gate of the Royal Capital Horne to Roses Castle.
　As the name implies, all sorts of flowers bloom along the side of the road.
　The brick buildings are reminiscent of the streets of Europe.
　The street is crowded with people.
　People of all races, human, beastmen, elves and dwarves seem to be on the street.
　Adults, children and old people are walking around.

　McAllen has a similar feeling, but the atmosphere here is a little different.
　They are rather sophisticated.
　The way they dress and talk is also good.

I felt as if I had come to the city from the countryside.
Haha, I thought the same thing when I first came to King's Landing.
　Fujiyan said with a laugh.

'Hey, hey,' sniffed Lucy, pulling on her sleeve.
　The one at the end of it.
'Oh I'm sorry, Lady Christiana,'
　Sheesh. The daughter of the Lord of McAllen is here.

"Don't worry about it. McAllen is a small town compared to the capital.
　He only smiled bitterly and forgave me.

Hey, what's that?
　Nice, sah. You've gotten me off topic.
　I can see a big tent in the square, pointing at it.
　I wonder what that is.
　In the previous world, tents like that were.....

That's the 'Fiendcraft Circus'. They're a group of miscellaneous skills that travel around the continent.
I saw it once, a long time ago, and it was quite a sight.

　I knew it was a circus.
　So there is a circus in this world too.
　I thought, but I heard that the circus in this world is not performed by humans, but trains demons to make a spectacle out of them.
　It's a different world in that area.

''Oh, there are giants and dragons!
　In the direction Lucy was pointing, she could see a giant that looked like it was ten meters long and a slightly smaller dragon in a cage.
''So you can train dragons too?''
　Demonslayer, wow.

''No, that's a flying dragon. As expected, a demonslayer who can control pure dragons would be hired by the state, not a circus group.
　Christiana told me.

'But those demons are stressed out.
Do you understand, Mr. Saunders?
Well, sort of.
　I guess it's called sympathy between demons.

The demons in the circus troupe originally attacked humans and were originally killed by the circus troupe, but the circus troupe bought them out. However, they are treated ... badly.
　Essentially, it means that they are using the demon to be defeated.
　If there was a monster protection group, there would be complaints, but I guess there is no such thing.

There are a lot of flowers in this town.
　Lucy seems to prefer flowers to the circus.
　She looks at the flower beds and potted plants everywhere.

'It's a beautiful city.'
　I really do. This is the City of Flowers.

We're about to arrive. I'll talk to the guards.
　I always leave the arrangements around here to Fujiyan.
　I'm bowled over.

　We entered Roses Castle through the artfully decorated gates.


　◇


Lift your head.

--and as soon as we entered, we had an audience with King Roses.　

　There were many other people visiting the king, but when we arrived, they gave us first priority.
　A bit of a superiority complex.

"You have done us a great favor by helping us defeat the abominable dragon in the Great Maze.
'The labyrinth city is a valuable source of wealth for the Water Country (Roses). You, the brave men of the other world, have saved us.
　King Roses and the Queen speak of gratitude in a matter-of-fact manner.
　As a token of gratitude, they asked me which I would prefer, the knighthood or the gold, so I answered 'gold', being a bit confused.
　As a nobleman, serving the royal family is not quite right.
　Isn't that fine?　Master Noah.

You are welcome to do as you please.
　It doesn't seem to matter.

　The king's words end, and finally Princess Sophia opens her mouth.
'Takatsuki Makoto, Fujiwara Michio. I have the permit for commerce in the water country that you have requested. It is signed in my name.
Thank you.
　Fujiyan takes it grudgingly.

　The Land of Water is a powerful nobleman and clergyman.
　Princess Sophia is a church priestess who believes in the water goddess.
　She is close to the head of the nobility and clergy.
　That sign means a lot, apparently.

(Well, I guess that's the last time we'll see each other.)
　I glanced up.
　I met his icy gaze and his eyes.
(Ugh ..., they're staring at me!)
　I'm hated.
　Princess Sophia continues to speak.

'Merchant Fujiwara. If you wish, I can give you a title.
What?
　At Princess Sophia's words, it was Christiana-san who let out a small cry of surprise.
''........No, the permission slip over here is sufficient, Princess.''
　In the end, it seems that Fujiyan refused that one.

　Thus, the audience was over.
　Ah, my shoulders were stiff.


　◇


Fujiyan, why did you refuse the title?
　I asked, wondering.
''If Princess Sophia grants you a knighthood, you'll have to reside in the Royal Capital Horn. Besides, that's more of a stepping stone to Lord Tuckey than to me.
What do you mean?
'Perhaps he found out that I and Lord Tuckey were partying and doing business in the city of McAllen. It seems your goal was to keep us tied to the watery land.
　The second half is a whisper.
　It seems he read Princess Sophia's mind.
　Was that the intention........

　When I looked over, Christiana-san had a difficult look on her face.
　What's going on?

True, we're going to explore the city! Lucy's all fired up.
　But you know what? There's more important things to do than explore the city!
No, let's explore the castle first.
　It's the basis of an RPG game.
　After all, this is the first castle I've ever been to in another world.
　I'll explore it all!

Mr. Tuckey, hold on.
Takatsuki-kun, wait.
　Fujiyan and Sa-san grabbed me by the sides.

''Eh?''
No cracking jars or checking drawers in the real castle, okay?
That's a crime, right?　We shouldn't be looking for hidden rooms or hidden passageways.
"...what?　No?
　I don't mean to imply...
　You can't do that.
　Yeah, I knew it.

　Lucy, Nina and Christiana are all very upset.
"....really?
Oh, no, is that a problem?
　Oh, I'm afraid of the game brain.
　I was going to smash a nearby jar and examine the inside of the chest of drawers.

(Huh!)
　I even heard the goddess sigh.
　What is it, guys?
　Treating people like freaks.


　◇


　Relieved that I had stopped my bizarre behavior, Fujiyan went off to say hello to the Chamber of Commerce in Horne.
　Nina accompanied Fujiyan.
　Christiana said she was going to greet the nobles in the capital.
　She left with her attendants.

　I was thinking that we should explore the streets of the capital.

'You!　Takatsuki no Makoto!　Why are you here?
　Suddenly, I was approached.

　When I turned around, it was a man who was the former guardian knight of the Water Priestess.
　Huh?　I thought you were fired.