I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess

Chapter 73: The Imperial Capital, Edelmarion (1)

Once we passed through the northern mountain range, a peaceful journey ensued.

There were no monster attacks, nor was this region infested with bandits.

No matter how decayed the empire might be, it wasn’t rotten enough to neglect the security of the capital’s surroundings.

By some stroke of luck, we encountered rangers at the mountain’s base.

Though they gave us the kind of look reserved for lunatics when they realized we had crossed the mountains during this season, it was a fair reaction. There was no counterargument to their perfectly reasonable disbelief.

The rangers, who were monitoring the mountains to ensure no monsters emerged, provided their escort thanks to the authority of Dersian and Baron Esquente.

One of them, perhaps out of concern, shared some advice about the area.

“It’s better to take a detour around the mountains during this season. I can see you’re skilled, but the northern mountains are unpredictable right now.”

“There were a lot of them, sure, but not to the degree you’re describing. Even hiring mercenaries from the capital should suffice to travel safely.”

“You were lucky. The situation has changed a lot recently. Just last year around this time, an entire caravan of considerable size was wiped out.”

The rangers, often referred to as the protectors of the Empire’s forests, were an elite force known for their strict discipline and their role in patrolling the mountains and hunting monsters. Their reputation extended across the empire.

People who live their lives on the battlefield aren’t prone to exaggeration.

When I asked for more details, they willingly elaborated.

“Is there something out there?”

“Yes. There’s a cunning one. It has killed dozens of people that we know of. We’ve found its traces a few times but failed to track it down. We suspect it’s a monster with red feathers, but we’re not certain.”

“We’ll heed your advice. Escaping the rangers’ pursuit means it’s no ordinary foe.”

“Unless you have a Swordmaster with you, please detour next time.”

“Haha…”

The rangers escorted us until Edelmarion came into view.

Even from afar, the capital was a grand and majestic city that dwarfed the distance.

The opulent imperial palace was visible even from here, and the temples of various orders lining the river caught the eye with their splendor.

Seeing in person the scenes that had only been described in the original story was a moving experience.

The novel’s author had little interest in world-building beyond the characters, so details about the capital were sparse. The settings seemed slapped together whenever necessary.

What a garbage novel.

“Well then, we’ll be returning to our post.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Safe travels ahead.”

After the rangers departed, we continued on.

With well-paved roads ahead, our pace was much faster than in the mountains.

As a result, we arrived without issue and were now waiting for the inspection to proceed.

The line was a bit long, leaving us with nothing to do but chat idly.

“Wow… They weren’t kidding when they said the capital’s walls are so tall they strain your neck just to look up.”

“Right? They really are massive.”

Isha Isha and Sirien shared similar yet different impressions.

Isha acted like a country girl seeing a city for the first time, while Sirien seemed mildly surprised but otherwise unimpressed.

My reaction wasn’t much different from Sirien’s.

The walls of the Grand Duchy of Eilencia were slightly shorter, but not by much.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen such things, so I wasn’t particularly awed.

Besides, I’d seen far taller structures in my modern life.

If I tried to recall… Hmm.

Vague memories of skyscrapers came to mind, but nothing specific. It felt like trying to recall a dream—hazy and indistinct.

Had it been too long since I last thought of them?

“Razen, what are you thinking about? Your expression doesn’t look good.”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, will this take long?”

“The baron went to check. He said inspections are taking longer than the last time he was here.”

Skyscrapers didn’t matter anyway. I wouldn’t be seeing any in this world.

What did concern me was the uneasy look on the guards’ faces up ahead.

At this rate, we wouldn’t make it through the gates before sundown.

‘We’ve got two nobles here, so you’d think they’d expedite things.’

In this world, status was immensely useful.

Once Hibras was officially recognized by the Empire, Sirien would likely make good use of her saintly status.

Though that would also draw the attention of the Empire’s pantheon, potentially branding Hibras as a evil god, as in the original story.

We stood in line for what felt like hours, shuffling forward step by step.

Isha Isha was restless, constantly fidgeting.

Even Sirien, normally composed, seemed a little irritated by the wait.

“This is taking too long. Should we send the baron again?”

“No need. If we overstep here, we’ll just cause unnecessary trouble. Let’s wait.”

Dersian responded with his characteristic calmness, but there was a faint edge to his voice.

Finally, we reached the inspection point.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The guards meticulously examined every document, comparing them to the faces of our group one by one.

“These are the traveling companions of Baron Esquente.”

“And what business do you have in Edelmarion?”

The guard’s tone was formal but slightly suspicious.

Dersian stepped forward and answered with confidence.

“We are here on behalf of the Grand Duchy of Eilencia. The baron has a letter of introduction for the imperial court.”

“Understood. Please wait while we confirm.”

The guard disappeared into the gatehouse with the letter.

Moments later, a figure in imperial robes emerged.

“Baron Esquente, welcome back. And these must be your distinguished companions.”

The man’s tone was warm, but his eyes lingered on me and Sirien longer than was comfortable.

“Indeed. They are emissaries from the Grand Duchy.”

“I see. Everything seems to be in order. Please proceed.”

With that, the gates creaked open.

The city of Edelmarion finally unfolded before us, and even I couldn’t help but be impressed by the view.

“So this is the heart of the Empire…” Isha whispered.

Wide boulevards teeming with people stretched out in all directions.

Shops lined the streets, their colorful signs advertising everything from exotic spices to the latest magic tools.

The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the aroma of roasted meats, creating a strangely nostalgic feeling.

“Stay close. The capital is bustling, and it’s easy to get lost,” Dersian warned.

“Understood.”

But Isha’s Isha excitement was already evident in her darting eyes.

Sirien, on the other hand, was alert and focused, her gaze scanning the crowd for potential threats.

As we made our way to the lodging prepared for us, a group of street performers caught our attention.

A fire-eater was juggling flames while acrobats leaped through rings of fire.

The crowd erupted in applause as coins clinked into their collection boxes.

“Amazing…” Isha breathed, her eyes wide.

“It’s nothing special. You’ll see much grander performances if we attend a noble banquet,” Dersian commented dryly.

But I couldn’t help but agree with Isha.

The vibrant atmosphere, the energy of the performers—it was something you couldn’t replicate in the sterile, polished halls of nobility.

“Let’s keep moving,” I said, pulling Isha along before she could get too distracted.

As we turned a corner, a commotion broke out nearby.

A man in tattered clothes was arguing with a merchant, his voice rising above the din of the crowd.

“You cheated me! This isn’t worth the price you charged!”

“Nonsense! You agreed to the price. Now leave before I call the guards!”

Sirien’s hand instinctively moved toward her sword, but I stopped her with a glance.

This wasn’t our business, and drawing attention now wouldn’t do us any favors.

“Let’s go.”

We continued on, leaving the argument behind.

But I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that the capital, for all its grandeur, hid a darker side beneath the surface.

By the time we reached our lodging, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the city.

The inn was modest but well-kept, with a warm fire crackling in the hearth and the scent of stew wafting from the kitchen.

“We’ll rest here for the night and visit the imperial court tomorrow,” Dersian announced.

As we settled in, I couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s events.

Edelmarion was everything I’d imagined and more, but it also felt… overwhelming.

For someone like me, thrust into this world with knowledge of what lay ahead, the capital was both a promise and a threat.

‘I need to stay vigilant.’

Tomorrow, the wheels of fate would begin to turn, and there would be no going back.

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