Chapter 27 (2/2)

The great castle gates at the other end of the drawbridge is currently wide open, but of course, there are guards serving as security and city entrance inspectors. The guards are wearing the cliched matching chain mail, helmets, short swords, and spears, but their movements are brisk and lively, so morale must be high.

After lining up for about 20 minutes, Claura and I finally reach the front of the line. On the other side of the large doors, I see a beautiful stone-paved square with a fountain and men and women who appear to be minstrels playing tunes on their instruments.

“...... Come on, write down your name and ident.i.ty and place of stay.”

Seeing my attention drawn towards the other side of the great doors, Claura jabs me with her elbow. The city guard smiles wryly while offering me the ledger for travellers (it’s just a wooden board though).

Incidentally, Claura presented something like a pa.s.s.

“Ahh, apologies. Name…… Gio Margils. Ident.i.ty? Commoner, I guess. Place of stay……”

“Ma. Gi. Cian. Guild. is fine with you, yes?”

“Oh, alright, I guess. Next is……”

“Wait a-!?”

The city guard who offered the ledger raises his voice hysterically.

“Gio Margils?! Are you sure about that?!”

“...... Yeeeess, why?”

Un, speaking of which, the rumor about me has spread pretty far, hasn’t it. For some reason, I’m getting a sense of foreboding about this.

“In other words, you are the Great Wizard-sama, are you not?! The one who aided the Carbanera Knight Order and destroyed the anki nest?!”

“What did you say?!”

“Great Wizard-sama?!”

“It’s Gio Margils-sama! Our hero!”

“Great Wizard-sama who defeated the anki!”

Not only the city guards, the people in line behind us and the people on the other side of the door also begin raising a clamor. Ugu. I feel my face growing red from the embarra.s.sment.

…… In a second, I prepared myself to be crushed by the crowd, but the people respond unexpectedly.

With myself and Claura (and the poor city guard) in the center, the pa.s.serbys form a ring, directing heated glances our way.

“...... His appearance looks pretty normal though……”

“But black hair is rare……”

“I did hear that he came from a country across the sea……”

“Is that the staff that can shoot out a meteor?”

While I can hear the commotion, not a single person moves from their place.

“...... I think these people will not move until they hear at least a word from you.”

Though sighing, Claura is unexpectedly calm about this. How much will my words be exaggerated…… But well, there’s no helping it. I suppose I am going to have to give up aiming to live peacefully as an ordinary person in this world for the next little while.

“...... Apologies for the commotion, citizens of Lelis.”

I prop up my Wizardry Staff and slowly look around me. They might not hear me if I speak too softly, so I clench my gut and……

“It is an honor to visit the beautiful city of Lelis. Speaking of which, may we pa.s.s through?”

“Ah! Ex-, excuse me! Please, by all means! Um, welcome to Lelis!”

My delivery aside, words that lift up the other side coming so naturally to me means that I really am still a j.a.panese middle-aged salaryman on the inside. The second half of what I said was directed to the nearby city guard, at which all of the city guards, in unison, strike the ground with the b.u.t.t of their spears and bow respectfully. So cool.

“Well then, good citizens, please excuse us.”

After I acknowledged my ident.i.ty and gave them a word, I see the people visibly relieved. People begin offering me words of welcome and bowing to me while opening up the way towards the great doors.

“Come on, let’s get going.”

Claura immediately starts walking. Which reminds me, she’s accompanied me this whole while for the sole purpose of bringing me to the Magician Guild. I suppose I should also hurry a bit.

However.

“AAAAAH! GIO-SAN! GIO-SAN!!”

“Gufu.”

A small-bodied person weaves through the crowd and stops me from walking. To be more specific, it was done through a hug with enough force to almost qualify as a tackle.

“Gio-saaaan!”

With both arms locked around my torso, a brown-haired girl is looking up at me with teary eyes. Oh hey, it’s Mora.

<script>