Fortress City Of Ilhail

“So this is Ilhail.”

“Hmmm.”

The boy clad in splendid armor looked at the enormous city and murmured in surprise.

Countless houses, and a great wall that seemed to continue forever.

The sight of the enormous city called a Fortress City stirred a slight sense of awe in the boy… Kikori.

Well, unlike the awe he had felt when first seeing Nilgen, it was more the kind of feeling that said, “I finally arrived.”

Orphe, the fairy flying near Kikori, did not seem particularly moved, though.

The Fortress City of Ilhail in the Beast Kingdom of Savain.

Unlike Nilgen, this Fortress City was mostly populated by beastmen, so naturally, its guards were beastmen as well.

“You there, ordinary human, stop!”

In front of the enormous gate of the Fortress City of Ilhail, Kikori was stopped by the guards.

“What is that fairy!? Are you planning to bring a monster into the Fortress City!?”

“Hah?”

Orphe immediately glared at the guards as they pointed their spears at them, but Kikori held her back.

“This fairy is my companion.”

“Your companion? Ordinary human, have you colluded with a monster?”

“I came here under the orders of His Excellency Defense Count Seims of the Fortress City of Nilgen. I have also been entrusted with a letter of introduction addressed to His Excellency the Defense Count of Ilhail and a pendant bearing the Seims family crest.”

He had ended up playing the cards he could use right away, but since it had nearly turned into a dispute, it could not be helped.

There was no way he could fight the guards… though Orphe looked ready to fight at any moment.

And in fact, the physical proof of Defense Count Seims’s letter of introduction and the family crest pendant seemed to have worked, as the guards exchanged glances.

“…What is that fairy?”

“She is my companion. His Excellency Defense Count Seims is aware of her as well.”

“I see. Then we will deliver the letter of introduction to His Excellency the Defense Count. Hand it over.”

As they were made to wait for a while after that, Kikori noticed other travelers and carriages arriving and looking at him and Orphe.

Those gazes were… to put it mildly, not friendly.

“This is an unpleasant town.”

“Hmm… From Kuon’s perspective, Nilgen seemed to feel similar too.”

“Who’s Kuon?”

“A cat beastman. I was in a party with him before.”

“A woman?”

“A man.”

“Hmmm.”

As they were talking about that… one of the guards came over.

“We have confirmed it. You may pass.”

“Hey. You made us wait, and that’s all?”

“A Fortress City is the final defensive line. No matter the circumstances, there is no reason to lower our guard.”

“Thank you. Then we will pass.”

“Yes. Try not to cause any trouble.”

Kikori passed through while holding Orphe back, but Orphe looked like she had reached the peak of her bad mood.

“I’m so a-nnoyed!”

“Calm down. You remember how people reacted when I first brought you back, right?”

“I remember, but more than that, it’s this Defense Count or whatever here. Isn’t he way too rude compared to the old man over there?”

“Haha…”

Well, it was true that this did not quite feel like the proper treatment for someone who had brought a letter of introduction from a fellow Defense Count, even if the country and race were different… but since Kikori could also imagine that the position of Defense Count was not exactly one that allowed easy mobility, he could not really say anything.

“Well, for now, let’s go to the Adventurers’ Guild here. There are various procedures to handle too.”