The Kingdom of Karruk, a land of light and darkness.

　Despite its small size, it prospered as the center of the trade routes of various countries, and economically it was as powerful as any large country.

　There is a large lake to the south, and in the past it was one of the medium-sized countries that was also called the Land of Water.

　However, since the neighboring country grew and the damage from demons decreased as the roads were improved, the Karruk Kingdom, a location where peddlers always stop by, rapidly became richer.

　Along with that, the gap between the rich and the poor within the Karruk Kingdom has also increased, and the terrible discrimination against the have-nots has spread to the common people.

　Still, in just over a decade, the Karruk Kingdom's finances became richer and its population swelled with immigrants and refugees looking for work.

　The number of indebted slaves has also increased at a rate far greater than that of other countries.

　The Land of Light and Darkness. This common name was given to the current situation of the Karruk Kingdom, which had become an economic powerhouse, with a touch of irony.

''.........It's a pretty tough country.

　I uttered those impressions while listening to the explanation from Yuri and Aifa.

　Eira, sitting next to me, and Maea, who brought the tea, are also pale. It would be a most frightening country for two people with a history of being enslaved.

　Aifa nods quietly at that and looks up at the screen.

''........I hear that the number of slaves and slave traders is so large that the number of slaves and slave traders, as well as the difference in the price that can be put on slaves is diverse. I've also heard that a high-class slave in the Karruk Kingdom will cost several times as much in other countries, and if you look for a cheap slave in the Karruk Kingdom, you can get a slave with a trash price.

''There's a lot of research on slave seals, so the types of slave seals are not comparable to other countries. Normally we wouldn't do it because it would lose its value as property, but there is even a slave seal that if the contractor dies, the slave dies with him...

　Eira's face was no longer pale with the horror of the story the more she heard it.

'Just how easy would it be to go and see them unseen in a country with so many immigrants and peddlers? It even looks like there's a lot of people out of town.

　Aifa nodded lightly as she looked at the image on the screen and said so.

　The screen showed a city surrounded by a large wall, with a tall castle like a tower in the center of the city. The more you go to the center, the more the earth has been heaped up, the taller the castle is, the taller the buildings are lined up around it, with the buildings a step below.

　The town is built as if the houses are lined up on the slope of the mountain. It is very interesting to look at, but if you look up at the castle from the bottom of the city, you might feel intimidated.

If merchants from many countries are coming to the city, it would be better to make it easier to walk around in the city, though.

　When he said that, Yuri tilted his head with his eyebrows in the shape of a C.

''That's true, but after all, the fact that various people will be stopping by means that some dangerous people will also come. So, the royalty and aristocracy and especially the wealthy merchants are in the nobleman's district, which is the center of the city, and the merchant's district, which is inhabited by merchants, knights and other reasonably wealthy folk such as shopkeepers and knights. There are two main areas: the merchant area, where merchants, slave traders, immigrants and other poor people live, and the street, where most of those who come from outside are only allowed to enter the street.

'Huh... so the awesome number of people around those walls are outside because they can't get into the stall area?

　When I ask that, Yuri raises his eyebrows with a difficult face.

'No, aren't those the immigrants and refugees who couldn't live in the city? The skilled merchant that Brother Januar is familiar with has also said something to that effect. As I recall, the two trading cities are not so much, but the royal capital is a considerable toll.

"Mm. That's what I've heard. 'One silver coin per person, as I recall. It's not an amount we can't afford, but it would be hard on immigrants and refugees.

I see.

　I nodded in agreement with the two men's dialogue. If you think about it the other way around, maybe too many immigrants and refugees are on the verge of a flat tire and they are restricting it with a high toll.

　And as I was thinking about this as I operated my farsighted camera, I noticed countless small houses in front of the walls of the city, which had no doors or anything else, apart from the huge gates.

　They were poorly built houses that looked like they were pieced together out of wood, but they were far more numerous than the size of the villages in the area.

''I've heard that immigrants have settled in many places around the walls surrounding the King's City, and those hut-like houses must be the ones.

'What? You couldn't get into King's Landing, so you built a house outside?

　I couldn't help but utter those words at Aifa's line. Then Eira, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth sadly.

''Ordinary humans would risk their lives to move from city to city. A merchant can hire an escort, but the people who can't afford it can't do that either. That's why they sought a temporary dwelling in front of the relatively safe city walls. If there was a successful knightly order or something like that, I might be able to accompany them, but in a rich country like the Karruk Kingdom, the knightly order is in every city and there would be no major movement...

　I listen to the three commentators and let out a sigh.

　It's better than the forest where I'm likely to run into monsters, but the rough city is also quite scary.

　No, if Aifa is going with me as an escort, it will be fine........

　As I was troubled, Yuri looked at me with a smile on his face.

''I hear that city is where various goods that flowed from the surrounding countries are sold and bought. I would love to see it, so I would like to accompany Taiki-sama.

　Yuri said that with a fluffy look and a radiant smile, waiting for a reply.

　When she was at a loss for an answer, this time Eira opened her mouth, a little flustered.

''Wow, I'd like to accompany Taiki-sama if he's going! Well, if the slave mark is being studied, there might be a way to erase the slave mark on the other hand...!

I see.

　I crossed my arms and nodded at Eira's words.

　I'm subtly scared, but I feel pretty safe if Yuri is going as well as Aifa.

　Of course, I'll have A1 come, but if Eira is going too, I'll take one more robot with me. Two skilled magicians and two robots I think we can do it.

Okay. Well, let's go for it, shall we? Oh, we need to bring some money and stuff with us.

　As I muttered that, Maia made her way to the elevator at a trot. Then, after waiting for a while, she came back with a leather bag the size of her face in her hands.

'Money,'

　Maea says this with a satisfied look and stands in front of me.

'Thanks,'

　I patted Maia's head and said so, and looked at the contents of the leather bag.

　There are dazzling gold coins jingling in it, but I wonder if this is how much is there if a single silver coin is taken for the toll?

　As I was twisting my head, Eira peeked in from the side and raised her eyebrows.

''........It's an amount of money that could build a house in the noble town, but is this much necessary.......''

　It seems that there were too many after all. However, Maea, who was pointed out to me, doesn't care about it and thrusts the bag towards me.

You can buy anything you want if you have a lot. Like meat.

　My shoulders relaxed as Maea's eyes sparkled as she said this.

What are you looking for, a souvenir?