Chapter 74

Neither Iiria nor Kururu suffered from seasickness; instead, Gerario and I were the ones who were done in.

For all their talk about how pathetic we were and so on, the two of them nursed us, and somehow seemed to be enjoying themselves.

After that two-day voyage, however, every time we stopped at a port along the way, clergy and their retinues came aboard.

And when they saw Iiria and Kururu, they all started in shock, and once they received an explanation from the priest, they had a look that said, “I see, so that is them.”

Because things were like that, by the time Roran came into view, I was not particularly surprised by what Gerario said.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

Amid the bustle of preparations to disembark, Gerario lowered his voice in front of Iiria, Kururu, and me.

“Roran is the provincial capital, and a province means a bunch of barbarians who were only just incorporated into the empire and don’t know a thing about manners or anything else.”

Iiria and Kururu seemed to understand what that meant.

“I know what you’re trying to say. I saw it from the ship when we were sent to Jirenu Territory. I’m fine.”

Kururu spoke firmly, and she was gripping Iiria’s hand tightly as if to encourage her. But perhaps Kururu herself was also receiving strength from Iiria.

Marks had said that when these two were sent to Jirenu Territory, they had still been truly little girls. How anxious must those two young girls have felt when they were put on a ship and saw Roran through a small, cut-out window?

The beastfolk walking there had all apparently been wearing handcuffs and shackles.

I did not know how much support I could be, but surely things had to be better than they had been back then.

“All right. Don’t be swayed by every little thing you see. That’s the essence of the battlefield. Trust only your comrades.”

If Gerario had been in my previous world, he might have been able to become a coach who led an amazing sports team.

After their shoulders were patted, Iiria and Kururu looked at each other and nodded.

As it happened, the weather was not very good, and the sky was heavily overcast.

Roran, the provincial capital of Azuria Province in the Doflore Empire.

Beyond the swaying ship and the seabirds flying about, we could see church spires stretching upward like a rebellion against the heavens, and a cluster of buildings packed tightly together like the cracked earth of hell.

They say seeing is believing.

I felt that keenly the moment we got off the ship.

“Move it!”

What the man held in his hand was a vicious-looking weapon, like a thick club with several knife blades thrust into it. The ones receiving orders from the overseer, who tapped his own shoulder with the handle of that weapon, were beastfolk wearing handcuffs and shackles.

The beastfolk walked without even raising their faces. Some silently boarded ships, while others came down from ships. Some were made to sit together in groups at the landing, and others worked while carrying loads larger than their own bodies.

In terms of beastfolk density, it was on the level of the mine in Jirenu Territory, but there was uniformly no light in their eyes.

Then, by chance, I noticed that the ground of the landing was blackened in places.

Those were traces of blood shed by the beastfolk.

The humans supervising the beastfolk did not carry whips because such things were meaningless against thick fur, and those clubs with several blades jutting out were probably not for intimidation, but were actually used.

“Oh, you have come so far, servants of the holy god and my brothers!”

An oddly cheerful voice rang out through that abnormal harbor.

When I looked over, it was a reception party for the group of clergy.

Luxurious carriages were lined up, and even the coachmen were dressed splendidly.

“Come, come, please board the carriages. Preparations to entertain you noble guests are all in perfect order!”

The plump, red-faced clergyman was, of course, dressed well.

I did not know the ranks of the church, but judging from the way the priest from Jirenu Territory was bowing and scraping, he seemed to be of quite a high rank.

Then, after he had the group of clergy board, the red-faced clergyman looked our way. Just as it seemed one could almost hear him thinking, “Hm, they do not look like clergy…,” his gaze turned to Iiria and Kururu. The instant it did, his eyes became somewhat chillingly cold, and he whispered something to a subordinate nearby.

I did not know what answer he heard, but after seeming to understand something, he suddenly smiled, bowed deeply, and before long had climbed into his own carriage.

Once the group of lavish wagons drove away, a rather luxurious carriage arrived belatedly.

“Excuse me! Are you the party of the lord of Jirenu Territory?”

One of the men sitting on the coachman’s seat practically tumbled down from it.

“My deepest apologies for failing to welcome you properly. The people from the church drove us away and told us to clear the space.”

I understood that this man bore no ill will, but the intentions of the person who had ordered him to come welcome us were somewhat transparent.

There was only one carriage to greet us, and there were no nobles from the Bax Company, such as Carini or Cole, in sight.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Ostro, proprietor of the Iron and Tide Inn, and I have been instructed by the Bax Company to attend to all of you. Please make my acquaintance.”

Taking off his hat and bending at the waist, Ostro first respectfully took Iiria’s hand and greeted her.

Then he took Kururu’s hand, Gerario’s, and finally mine to greet us, which was probably like a dog accurately discerning the hierarchy of a pack. Ostro seemed to be a capable innkeeper.

“All matters concerning your stay in Roran shall be handled by our Iron and Tide Inn on our honor. Please command us as you will.”

Iiria still had the smile of a lord pasted on her face, Kururu was agitated by the treatment of the beastfolk at the harbor, and Gerario was smiling wryly at Ostro’s servile manner.

Subcontractors had it hard everywhere, I thought as well.

“Let’s head to the inn first and get out of our traveling clothes. My feet still feel like they’re swaying.”

At Gerario’s suggestion, both Iiria and Kururu nodded.

“Then I shall take you there. Please watch your step.”

Ostro personally helped Iiria and the others into the carriage, but just before Iiria and Kururu boarded, they turned back, unable to stop worrying about the state of the harbor.

Gerario had called the management of Jirenu Territory playing house.

In the truest sense, that may have been correct.