38 A Be (1/2)
A broad road lay behind the gate of Delpon. There was a crossroad every dozen meters. Square buildings of different heights stretched to the horizon, too.
There were many peddlers on the street, and many skinny beggars with ragged bowls placed before them.
Since it was morning, there weren't many people on the street, but it was already quite lively.
Roland and Betta simultaneously held their noses when they came in, because it was too smelly.
Animal and human excrement was everywhere on the street. Feces were floating in the drains.
Red Mountain Town was not very clean, but definitely much cleaner than this.
However, it was very medieval.
Roland and Betta attracted almost everyone's attention, but most people moved their eyes away after a peek at them.
Nobody wanted trouble.
Betta sensed the atmosphere, too. Blocking his nose, he said, ”I feel that people in this city are terrified of nobles. Both the merchants outside and the residents here are so wary. People in Red Mountain Town were not so scared of me.”
Roland thought for a moment and smiled. ”Red Mountain Town is just a remote town. The highest authorities there are Falken and the mayor. Both of them are gentle elders. Naturally, the villagers of Red Mountain Town have never suffered the intimidation of nobles. But things are certainly different in a city of a million people. There are bound to be some temperamental big shots here, and they may do terrible things.”
Betta thought for a moment and realized that it did make sense. The more people a place had, the more freaks there would be.
They walked on the street. All the passersby subconsciously avoided them.
Soon, they found a pool of sewage ahead.
The pool was long and wide, occupying the whole street. Neither Roland nor Betta could jump over.
Most passersby walked on tiptoes through it, ignoring the feces and urine inside. As civilians, they did not really care about it.
The nobles traveled on wagons and were not worried about this.
At this moment, a young man on the third floor of the building on Roland and Betta's right observed them with great interest.
”A young noble and a spellcaster who I've never seen.” The young man turned away and said to his partners, ”But they seem in trouble now. How do you think they will fix the problem?”
Another few nobles leaned close to the window and looked down.
One of them said, ”I'd take a detour.”
Another suggested, ”If I were them, I would spray some coins and let the pariahs crouch on the ground, so that I could step on them.”
”Not a bad idea.”
The other nobles agreed. The noble who came up with the idea was satisfied.
”Hahaha. John, you are as 'merciful' as always.”
The young noble named John chuckled. ”Let's make a bet.”
”What bet?”
”If the two people down below use any of the three methods we mentioned, I'll pay for your entertainment in this place.”
”What if they use other ways?” asked a noble.