Chapter 152 (1/2)

We arrived in the royal capital of Galbaran.

I was amazed at the number of people passing through the magnificent boulevards.

It is probably the most developed city I have ever seen.

Splendid buildings line the roads, and even those who appear to be commoners wear beautiful clothes.

At a glance, I could tell the living standards here were high.

This place is unbelievable.

There are clearly-expensive items in the stores, but if you look at the price tag, they cost half what you would expect.

From time to time, groups of well-organized soldiers pass by.

Their military strength is quite high.

In addition, many other races could also be seen.

It is very different from the other countries I visited.

I looked around and saw a man in military uniform sitting on some nearby stairs.

I approached him and asked him how to get to this city's ruins.

He said there was a staircase at the end of this road that anyone could use as he pointed towards it.

I approached Kaede and Frau who had also gone off to ask how to get to such a place.

”Master, those people told me that we need to go down those stairs.”

”Kyu~”

Kaede and Frau point to a place opposite of what the soldier had told me.

In other words, there are multiple entrances to the ruins.

For the time being, I decided to use the stairs Kaede showed me, which are probably the closest.

As I descended the old stairs, I took in the chaotic landscape.

Oh!

The situation down here is very different from upstairs.

Huge pillars lined the ceiling, and the surroundings were littered with countless tents that exhaled white smoke. In addition, on the road that ran like a vein, there was a river of people. I could feel firsthand that the place was prosperous, where other races intermingled.

The atmosphere is very different, it leaves you with a strange feeling, but is exciting as well.

I think I like the dirt down here better than how tidy everything is up top.

”It smells really bad. There's garbage everywhere.”

”Kyu.”

”Ugh,,, this strong fermented smell reminds me of a village I once visited with master.”

”Are you feeling well? If you don't like it, we can rest.”

”It's okay, I can go on. I'm sure it won't be a problem once I get used to it, so I'll ease the pain with this for now.”

She pulled out a small cloth and buried her face in it.

Kaede had an ecstatic expression on her face.

I'm curious as to what it smells like.

”This isn't an ordinary chair, is it?”

”Exactly. This is what's called a mobile chair found in the ruins. You can go anywhere you want while sitting using the magic power it has accumulated. I guess the drawback is that its movement speed is about the same speed as walking.”

There were a number of relics laid out in front of the store as if they were scrap metal.

The store owner, a dwarf, was sitting low with a salesman's smile.

'Hahahahahaha'

Suddenly, a laugh echoes through the store.

”What's this!? I touched it and it suddenly started laughing!”

”Oh, I don't think it's a good idea to touch that.”

The store owner lightly taps the box emitting the laughter.

I don't know how it works, but that act made the laughter stop.

”What is this bottled stuff?”

Kaede was very interested in the small bottles on the shelf. Inside were powders, labeled for easy identification.

”That's a condiment. Most of them are still being made, but some of them are mixed with ingredients whose manufacturing process is unknown, so it's primarily a product for people who like to cook.”

”You don't mind if I check the taste?”

”Not at all, I recommend you try the white powder.”

”.....It has a strange taste, like a condensed flavor.”

After licking the powder, Kaede immediately decides to buy it.

I'm already curious about what Kaede can make with this. I'm looking forward to her next meal.

Panda wandered around the small store for a while and found a thin tablet with letters engraved on it.

I was curious, so I picked up the lithograph.

”I can't read it. Frau, what does this say?”

”Let's see, the training center guide..... It was created as a facility to improve the motivation of newcomers and also to enable them to practice efficiently. The difficulty varies according to the level, and it is our greatest enemy...hmmm, I can't read any further because the text is faded.”

”Maybe it's a phrase for an ancient warrior.”

”Maybe... Although it can also be used as a household decoration.”

Even if it is an object for decoration, I would first need a house to place this in.

Besides, it's rather expensive.

I carefully placed the board back on the shelf.

I was eating noodles soaked in broth that I bought at a food stall in the ruins.

It's a strange dish, but very tasty.

”This place is much better than I imagined. But it's a shame we couldn't get any information.”

”You'd think it would be easy to find some information in such a big country.”

Frau replied as she sipped her soup and Kaede nuzzled Panda in her lap.