Entering the royal capital was surprisingly easy.

　Since quite a few people come and go every day, they might only do minimal checks. But it's not like it's national security to enter with just a single silver coin for tolls, verbal and personal belongings to confirm the country of origin and purpose of entry.

　The soldiers who are well-equipped are standing around and behind the gate, and because they have the power to make money, will it be all right? Well, if it is a country where so many merchants come from the surrounding countries, maybe the economy is the first priority.

　I was overwhelmed by the scenery as I passed through the gate and entered the city walls with such thoughts in mind.

　In front of the gate, two-story stone buildings are lined up, and stalls are lined up on the side of the wall. A large number of people came and went in the vicinity, and a bustling hustle and bustle dominated the city.

　I stepped on the beautiful cobblestone streets and looked around.

　Just by taking a quick look, there are various people from soldiers in armor, merchants in robes, to beastmen and elves. The variety of clothing is also interesting.

　And apart from the nearby scenery, behind the buildings, tall buildings peek out their heads on the steps towards the center of the royal capital.

　It was said that the center of the royal city was rising like a hilltop, but if you didn't know anything about it, you would feel that the royal castle rising in the distance and in the center was terrifyingly huge.

　However, for those with no status or money, the place might feel far away, as if they were being looked down on from beyond their reach.

''........Master Taiki?''

　As I was pausing to think about this, I was approached by Eira. When I turned around, everyone was looking at me.

''What's going on?''

'No I just thought it was a rather interesting form of town. How do we get into the center of the city?

The sturdy-looking building in front must be the entrance to the interior. However, the people who go inside are royalty and aristocrats and those who have a lot of money, so they might have to undergo a thorough inspection before they can get inside.

　Yuri replied with a troubled look on his face.

''Oh, I'm not thinking of going to the nobleman's district, so it's fine. Anyway, can we go to the stall there?''

Yes, I'd love to see it.

What kind of stuff do you sell?

　Yuri and Eira both look at the stall with interest. It seems that they are grilling meat, and the savory smell is appetizing. The meat is grilled on skewers like a grilled chicken, but the only seasoning seems to be salt.

　The middle-aged man grilling the meat looks surprisingly well-to-do. I had expected a more lightly dressed, street-level person to be grilling.

'Excuse me. How much is that one?

　When I called out to him, the man looked at me as he roasted the meat. He looked at me and then at Eira and the others. Finally he looked at Aifa, A1 and the others and blinked his eyes.

''........Oh, ah, yes. That's five copper coins for one of these........

　I turn to Eira with the obviously upset winded man at my side.

'Is it okay if I buy ten bottles?'

Ten, sir? You know, the money is perfectly fine, but can you eat that much...?

　He gave a puzzled Eira a wry smile and turned to the man in the stall.

'I'll have ten, please.'

It'll be ready in a minute.

　When we ordered, the man hurriedly checked the burnt meat and handed it to us. Eira received two and Yuri also received two.

　While the rest of the meat is cooking, we pay with silver coins, and Aifa, as if she had her mind made up, receives four dexterously, and I receive the last two.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Please come again.

　He responded to the man, who bowed deeply, by returning his bail.

'Yes, thank you.'

　I walk away from the stall with Eira and the others with meat in my hands and a question.

'What was that uncle nervous about?'

　Aifa nodded as she asked who it was.

'They must have thought you were a nobleman or wealthy enough to hire an elven sorcerer and a golem as guards. Although that's not necessarily a mistake.''

　Aifa said that seriously, holding the meat skewer in her hands.

''Well it's a country with a smaller population than a village.

　When I said that and returned a bitter smile, Aifa looked at me without answering anything. No, because the land of the sky has a population of ten people.

　I laughed to myself at that thought and turned my head to Eira.

''I want to go outside for a moment, okay?''

Outside? Ah, you can't be Taiki-sama....

　Eira didn't say anything else, but closed her mouth and smiled in annoyance.

　However, Aifa looked at me with a slightly raised eyebrow.

''........I thought that even if I gave some charity, my life outside would not improve.

'Yes, I know. It's just....

　While muttering this, I looked at the city again.

　Until just now, I was impressed by the otherworldly cityscape I was seeing in person for the first time, but once I settled in, my perspective changed.

　There is too much difference between the outside and inside of the city. Therefore, this exciting and unusual cityscape and the buzzing and lively people seem somehow contrived.

　The true appearance of the city is as dark and somber as the outside, and it feels as if some people are decorating it with papier-mâché to cover it up.

　Of course, there is no such thing as the real thing in this city, it's just a front and back view.

　However, it can't be helped that this makes it impossible to enjoy this city honestly.



　Aifa nodded quietly without saying a word as she told him this with a dry voice and a laugh.





　I walked out of the city while the soldiers on the gate guard looked at me suspiciously, and headed down to the kid from earlier.

　I knew that bread would have been stolen too.

　As I was walking around with this in mind, I saw a group of people gathered at the spot where the child had fallen.

　Most of the people gathered there seemed to be children.

'Oh? There's something about the number of people...

　When I stopped and muttered that, the kids turned to me in unison. Even though they were all children, I felt oddly intimidated when they were seen by a large number of people.

　As I was wondering what to do, the kids looked at Aifa and A1 and grunted softly.

''........Ugh.''

　They are obviously scared. Well, it would be scary to see Aifa or a big A1 or something that always looks scary in front of you.

'Yeah, I don't mean you guys any harm, okay? Hey, I had to take care of the kid over there...

　With that, I held out my hands to show them that they were harmless, but now the kids' eyes were glued to my hands.

　Come to think of it, we were a weird group of people who all had meat in both hands. And the kids were obviously dressed like they were having trouble eating every day.

　Meat, you have to hand it out, right? But there's definitely not enough of it.

　As I froze in my incomprehensible thoughts, a woman in a black robe came out from behind the children this time. She's dressed something like a church sister.

''Oh, well I'm sorry. The children were rude to me...

　The Sister said, and then stopped moving when she noticed that we were holding the meat in our hands as she stood, blue-faced and protective of the children.

　........What am I supposed to do with this?