Expenses for the First Day After Summoning:
Shirt, Pants, Cloak, Leather Belt: 1,000 Barts (10 Silver Coins)
Lunch at Sea Sound inn: 25 Barts (25 Copper Coins)
Dinner at Kaimei Pavilion: 40 Barts (40 Copper Coins)
Sword: 500 Barts (5 Silver Coins)
Chakrams x20: 2,000 Barts (20 Silver Coins)
Potions x5: 1,000 Barts (10 Silver Coins)
Antidotes x5: 1,000 Barts (10 Silver Coins)
Simple Tent: 500 Barts (5 Silver Coins)
Map of the Western Continent: 100 Barts (1 Silver Coin)
Backpack: 100 Barts (1 Silver Coin)
Inn Stay (with Breakfast): 100 Barts (1 Silver Coin)
The total amount spent on the first day after being summoned was 6,365 Barts, equivalent to 63 silver coins and 65 copper coins. This showed that meal costs were relatively cheap, but consumable items like potions and antidotes were quite expensive.
Considering the risks of his new world, these potions, though costly, were necessary.
Silva calculated that, aside from his initial investment in equipment, earning about 200 Barts (2 silver coins) a day would be enough to cover meals and lodging.
...
Meanwhile.
"Everyone, thank you for your efforts last night! I am now going to announce our new strategy!"
Rolf's booming voice echoed through the plaza in front of the castle gate under the early sun light.
"Lady Shaldina, Lady Celia, Lord Orland, and I will each lead a unit of 30 to 40 men to begin our search along the southern and eastern borders! The formations have been communicated in advance. As you all know, the suspected perpetrator, an otherworlder, has killed Lord Gaius. Be extremely cautious. Now, move out immediately!"
As Rolf watched the soldiers fall into formation, his thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night.
Silva and the imperial pursuers had crossed paths at the castle gate.
Celia, Rolf, Orland, and Shaldina spent the afternoon until midnight searching and tracking. However, the guard who had left through the gate suddenly vanished, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.
"What on earth is going on?!"
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Celia's furious shout echoed through the gates of the imperial capital, Ortomea.
The guards sent out in all directions returned to the gathering point at the castle gate empty handed. The failure weighed heavily on them, their heads hung low in defeat.
All they knew was that someone wearing a guard's armor had left around 2 p.m., just 20 minutes before Celia and her group arrived. The subsequent ten hour search until midnight had been utterly fruitless.
"Calm yourself, Lady Celia."
"Lady Shaldina..."
Celia's tone softened.
"Let's call it a day for now... everyone is exhausted."
Shaldina glanced around. Although no soldier openly displayed fatigue, it was evident.
"But... if we leave things as they are..."
Celia protested, but Shaldina remained firm.
"Even around the capital, it's dangerous at night. Let's rethink our strategy and start fresh tomorrow."
"Indeed, Lady Shaldina is right. We should regroup. What do you think, Lady Celia?"
Rolf's words left Celia with nothing more to say. Emotionally, however, she struggled to accept the reality of letting her family's murderer roam free.
"Lord Orland, please escort Lady Celia back to the manor. It's been a difficult day for her, especially after the death of Lord Gaius."
"No, I can go back on my own!"
Celia rejected Rolf's concern. However, it was clear to everyone that her defiance was merely a facade.
"You shouldn't push yourself, Lady Celia. Lord Orland, please escort her."
"Yes, Lady Celia, let us go."
At Shaldina's words, Orland moved quickly to support Celia.
"Orland! Let go of me. I can return on my own."
But as she brushed off Orland's hand, Celia lost her balance and collapsed. It was no surprise, she had been searching frantically for over ten hours without rest. In the end, Orland had to carry her back to the manor.
"Lady Shaldina, what should we do?"
"What can we do? It's hopeless now..."
In response to Rolf's inquiry, Shaldina shrugged her shoulders and replied bluntly.
"So, it's hopeless after all..."
"Our best chance was within ten minutes of the guard leaving the castle gate."
"But we already stretched the limits of our formation..."
Hearing Shaldina's words, Rolf, who had been in charge of gathering the troops, showed a pained expression. He took pride in having done his best, but without capturing the target, his efforts felt meaningless.
"I understand. I'm not blaming you, Lord Rolf."
Shaldina shifted her gaze toward the forest.
"The chances of capturing him near the capital were slim from the start. After all, we don't know his face or age. If he had been wandering around in guard attire, we might have had a chance, but..."
"You think he's no longer dressed as a guard?"
"Most likely… yes."
Shaldina nodded in agreement with Rolf's words.
(If it were me, I'd quickly change clothes... especially if I knew pursuers were after me...)
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
"I've already ordered the borders closed, but now..."
Shaldina shook her head.
"We have no choice but to search toward the borders starting tomorrow."
"But which border did he head for...?"
Rolf's concern was valid. The Ortomea Empire is one of the five great powers of the Western Continent. However, as an inland power, it is surrounded on all sides by hostile nations. The reason the pursuit force was hastily assembled with only around 150 men was due to the need for border defenses against neighboring countries. The imperial capital's knightly orders could not be fully mobilized in case a war broke out.
Without knowing the target's face or age, and without being able to deploy overwhelming manpower, Rolf, a seasoned military man, found himself unable to devise any solid strategy.
"At least we've narrowed it down to two options."
Shaldina's words caught Rolf by surprise.
"Two options? So you believe he headed either south or east?"
Images of the distances from the imperial capital to the borders formed vaguely in Rolf's mind. Given two options, it was natural to consider the closest southern route and the next closest, east.
"Yes. But it's likely east..."
"May I ask why?"
Shaldina responded with a smile.
"To be honest, it's just a hunch. But I'm fairly confident in it."