After a week of travelling, we finally made it to Nurrunld, the capital of Ergaos.

The journey from Minora to Nurrunld was surprising, to say the least. As we got closer to the city, more and more carriages and wagons appeared. They mostly came to other towns and villages. Most of them were transportation of people — some were transportation of various kinds of products and foods. It seemed many of this carriages travelled in packs, bringing different products to the capital. It was only a traveler’s nature to bring in unique products to sell especially to a capital of a kingdom.

As with every town and cities we’d been, bandits and highwayman roamed freely and notoriously. Almost all of these carriages had security escorts. Although there were soldiers roaming around, those mostly came from small villages. The escorts mostly looked like they were wanderers, others were mercenaries.

We stopped from villages to small towns getting supplies for our trips. Mostly, we slept at the hard surface of the open world but occasionally, we’d sleep at an inn. I could never get used to the feeling of sleeping outside, though that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it.

“Now that I think about it, I’m pretty nervous,” a nervous chuckle came from Fuyuki.

“You’re only nervous now? You’re really a weird woman.” Takana retorted quickly while glancing all over the place, he wasn’t the one to talk.

“Don’t worry…I’m with you, Fuyuki…” even though Kihana tried her best to alleviate Fuyuki’s anxiousness, she wasn’t helping much considering she herself looked nervous.

I took a glance at Risa, who was sitting besides Merry, and it seemed she had enough of this. “What’s wrong with you people?”

“They’re just nervous,” Merry caressed Risa’s hair, her fingers surprisingly slid smoothly on Risa’s hair. “They’ve been in the capital before and they left it carrying an unpleasant memory.”

“We’ve been gone for so long, I doubt they’d even recognized us.” Takana shrugged, though he still looked like a person who would be surprised the very moment someone would shout.

“Everyone, you can see it now!” Chance announced in front of the wagon. This prompted all of us to take a look, our heads sticking out the wagon.

I guess it’s the capital for a reason.

Though it still looked small in the distance, the scenery was impressive. Surrounding the vast, magnificent town was a great wall. The wall rose to a height of about fifteen meters, it must hurt looking up when under it.

Outside of the wall, an open field stood, acres of land used for agriculture. As we passed by, we saw people harvesting their crops. They waved at us as we waved at them. Such friendly people.

Similar to Prosk, the city had traffic, so we had to wait a bit. Soldiers checked each wagon for inspection as they always did in every town, though the inspection here seemed a lot more strict, thus the traffic. They had animals sniffing out any kinds of dangerous products and soldiers checking the inside of the wagon and letting people out for body inspection. The body inspectors were based on the genders, so it was assuring. If you thought about it, these soldiers were either paid well or were plainly hard-working people who cared for their city.

A number of soldiers were stationed inside and outside of the gatehouse. The claws of the portcullis hanged threateningly, its sharp metallic edges illuminated by the bright sun. Above the gatehouse, archers with their bows watched every corner of the capital with their piercing eyes. If the capital got siege, I had confidence it would last for a long time.

After we got inspected, we entered the city. The city didn’t look any special in terms of the establishments, they looked the same like in the other towns we’d visited. At the entrance of the gate, inns flooded the streets. Now, this weren’t like the inns we stayed before, they were big. They even had their own stables while some had their own but they were separated. Obviously, they were for the big shots, those who could afford their meal without worrying for tomorrow. For people like us, the inns were farther in the street.

As for the roads, they were barely paved. Even if they were, they did it horribly. The only place roads weren’t bumpy would be at the gates and near establishments for the rich. We also passed a bunch of market. Those products of those carriages and wagons we saw earlier made their way to each and one of the stalls. Life there looked simple, and most of the people were only there to chat or buy.

“This place still looks the same,” Takana wistfully grimaced as he looked out on the streets. What was he grimacing for?

“Hey,” Chance called out. “Where is the house of this William guy?”

“He’s in the noble’s quarters.” Fuyuki answered.

“The noble’s quarters…?” though I couldn’t see him, Chance’s voice sounded troubled.

As we continued on to the huge city, we came across another wall. This one was the same height as the one we saw earlier. It was also the same in terms of its defensive capabilities except that this part of the city had a moat, stretched along with the wall. The moat, filled with water, was deep, if an enemy ever fell in it, they’d have no chance of going back up, not without any help. With a moat, a drawbridge was a necessity. The bridge itself was made out of thick wood and with sturdy ropes.

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Eventually, we came to a stop. I heard someone talked to Chance then a soldier looked at the inside of our wagon and looked at each one of us. As an assassin, I could sense this fellow was up to no good.

“Get out.” We followed the orders of the soldier.

At first, a man checked me and Takana, looking pissed about it, too. Not only that but everytime he checked us, it felt like he was punching us. Takana looked ready to pounce on the guy but I told him with my eyes to just let it go.

“The girls, please.” There was that feeling earlier, the feeling of uneasiness. The soldier smiled creepily as he looked at the girls. What a punchable face.

“What the heck!” Takana snapped. “You people just want to cop a feel!” For someone who said sexually improper words to the girls and someone who literally jumped on Fuyuki before, he sure was frustrated about this but I didn’t mind this side of him.

“Huh? Do you want to get in or not? It’s one of our duties to check everyone to see if they have any hostile intention. If you don’t want to be searched, then scram!”

Shit. This guy is really a scumbag.

“Let’s all take a breath,” Chance smiled as he held a pouch and jiggled it, the clanking noise of coins turned the soldiers’ faces upside down. The soldiers’ delight was momentarily as they took a look at the money.

“It’s going to take more than that, mailman.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Chance smilingly scratched his head as he took out another pouch.

“Good, good,” the scumbag signaled his men for us to enter. “Let them in!”

I went to Chance and apologized to him. “Thanks for that, Chance, I’ll pay for what you spent. How much was it?”

He laughed. “No problem. The moment I heard where this William guy lives, I already prepared the money, these soldiers are as crooked as they come. As for the money, don’t worry about it, it was just enough to keep those rascals happy.”

“Well, thanks again, though I’ll treat you something as a way to make up for it.”

“A beer or two would be enough,” he chuckled.

After we passed through the wall, the irritating faces of the soldiers out of our sight, we officially entered the noble’s quarters.

Huh, of course it would be better.

The moment the wagon stepped on the noble’s quarter, the bumping on the wagon stopped and we ventured smoothly after we entered. The roads looked clean and proper, no single waste in sight. They even had decorations here and there such as gorgeous fountains and intricately trimmed bushes and trees. As a group who travelled in a timeworn wagon, it would make you feel embarrassed by seeing the grandiosity of this place.

The people wore elegant clothes. Though I said elegant clothes, I barely knew anything about fashion. Still, I knew from a glance if a person was rich or not, probably because my assassin intuition. Most of the people walking by had a servant with them. Some of them carried the heavy luggage of the person they serviced while some of them looked more guards than servants. It must be tiring holding an umbrella while bathing in the sunlight. Poor guy.

“Hey, can anyone tell me where this William guy lives?” Chance asked.

“Oh, I’ll lead you there.” Fuyuki went in front of the wagon.

After about thirty minutes, we stopped, seemingly arriving to our destination.

“I’m honestly surprised how you still remember this location, Fuyuki, considering we’d only been to this place once.” Takana did look surprised. Who wouldn’t, though? I barely remember the way to my school, and I went there since childhood.

“Seriously?” Fuyuki genuinely tilted her head. It was cute. “Well, don’t mind that, let’s meet William already!”

“I thought you were nervous!”

“That was before, now I’m ready!” Fuyuki threw her fist in the air.

The house was big. No, scratch that. This wasn’t a house, it was an estate. A mansion with a wide open field.

“Hey, what are you people stopping here for!?” two guards stationed at the ridiculously large gate angrily approached us.

“Fuyuki, it’s your time to shine,” I said, almost touching her back to give her a boost but I stopped myself.

“We’re here to meet William,” Fuyuki said respectably.

“Is that so? Pardon me for my rudeness, I thought you were looking for trouble. Do you have any invitation?”

“Ummm, no, we’re here to surprise him!”

“Then I’m afraid that wouldn’t do, we’d been order not to let anyone enter unless they have an invitation.”

“What!?”

“Yes, I must ask you to leave…”

Suddenly, Fuyuki turned crazy. He went to the gate and shouted at the top of her lungs, “William, it’s me, Fuyuki!” this prompted the guards to act, aiming their spears at Fuyuki.

“Wait, wait!” I went to the middle. “She means no harm! We’ll leave. Fuyuki, let’s go.” but she was reluctant. She shouted again and again. Takana was forcefully pulling her already but she held on to the gate as if it was her lover. Where did she get the strength to do that?

“What is all this ruckus!? The Young Master would not like to hear this at such a beautiful morning!” an old man, wearing a classic suit and tie, approached the gate, chastising the two guards. Though he looked old and beardy, his body was as big as Takana, maybe even larger. He must be a warrior.

“Lindwal!? Is that you?” Fuyuki’s eyes bulged as he looked at the old man, not only her but Takana and Kihana acted the same.

The old man called Lindwal looked at her for a moment then smiled at her. “Ah, if it is not Lady Fuyuki.”

“Lindwal!” Fuyuki went for a hug. If there was a person I still hadn’t figured out, that would be Fuyuki. Maybe Fuyuki was a mystery box that turned human, who knows at this point.

“So, how I may help you, Lady Fuyuki?”

“We’re hoping to meet William.”

“The Young Master?” Lindwal contemplated as he rubbed his chin, the black groomed beard rustled. “Hmmm, follow me.” he turned around and started to walk. I reflexively tried to ask him if needed help to walk but I stopped as he walked just fine.

“What about the wagon?” Takana asked.

“I’ll come back, I need to deliver these mails at the post office first.” Chance said.

“Take this with you, young man.” He gave Chance an envelope with an emblem on it. “Wouldn’t want any trouble at the entrance, right?” Chance humbly accepted it and away he went.

We followed Lindwal through the estate. The estate was unbelievably spacious that it took almost ten minutes to get to the house in the middle of it.

Is that a maid?

At the corner of the grandiose house, a maid trimmed one of the bushes. I hadn’t seen another maid except for Merry. Huh, seeing the maid wore those maid clothes made me glance at Merry. Would she ever wear her maid clothes again?

After what seemed like getting lost in the house, we stopped in front of an elegant door.

Lindwal knocked. “Young Master,” No response. Lindwal knocked again. “Young Master,”

“Lindwal? I believe lunch isn’t up for another thirty minutes.” Though, the door blocked the sound, I could still make out the voice.

“You have a visitor,”

“William, it’s Fuyuki!” Fuyuki, at the end of her wits, shouted.

There was a silent pause for a moment. Then came sounds of objects dropping and breaking. After that, the door quickly opened, revealing the man in question.

“What a fine day, indeed.” The man said, smiling from ear to ear.