While there were races such as the Mermen, with whom the Holy Kingdom had a long history of mutual cooperation, the memories of war with demihumans still remained, so such a thing would never be accepted.
Had the Sorcerous Kingdom only accepted Giants? Or did it also take in other strange races? If she encountered demihumans here similar to the ones who had attacked the Holy Kingdom, could she rein in the anger within her heart?
No, if I don’t control myself…
For instance, what would happen if she met a Snakeman here? It would be a Snakeman who came from a land far removed from the Holy Kingdom, living in peace with humans in this nation. Perhaps it might not be possible to use an emotional appeal to dissuade the others from showing hostility, but given the present circumstances, they would have to do just that.
Neia looked uneasily at Remedios’s back.
Could she do it?
She mentally shook her head. Worrying about Remedios like that was very rude. She was the leader of this diplomatic party, and she was working to save the country. She could certainly do that much. Such concerns were were being disrespectful to her.
“Can we just enter like that? How about going in through another gate?”
The gates might be open, but the Giants were working. She was worried about whether they would mind the passing of the humans at their feet.
“We’ll go in like this. If word gets out that the Hoy Kingdom’s emissaries went in through another door because they were afraid of Giants, everyone who knows will laugh at us.”
“...Understood. Then we shall obey your instructions, Captain.”
And so, the group advanced toward the gates.
Fortunately, the Giants took a look at them and then stopped their work for a while, allowing them to pass without incident. Neia felt that this was less goodwill towards humans than a mysterious sentiment towards visitors to the Sorcerous Kingdom.
Normally, they would have been stopped outside the gates, but since they had sent someone to announce them, they were ushered in by human soldiers who looked like street guards, and the group passed through the gates, under the light of magical lanterns. Their illumination was distinctly different from that of the sun, and the trained warhorse harrumphed uneasily under their radiance.
“Welcome to E-Rantel, city of the Sorcerous Kingdom. Is this your first time visiting here, honored paladins?”
“Ahh, yes.”
“I see. Then, I beg your pardon, but can you please dismount?”
This was probably a luggage check, Neia thought. While it was somewhat inconsiderate to conduct one on people calling themselves emissaries from another nation, they were justified in doing so
There was no protest as the group got off their horses and obeyed the instructions to “Walk this way please,” which brought them to a huge door beside the gates.
Going by common sense, this ought to be a side tower, a combination of troop barracks and a defense base.
“Please enter here. This city is different from the cities of the Kingdom and the Empire in that it possesses all manner of different locations within, so first time visitors will have to attend a workshop in the room ahead.”
“A workshop?”
“Yes. This is to minimize unnecessary disturbances. Only people who have attended this lecture may enter the city. What say you?”
They had come all this way, so obviously they could not refuse the request to attend. While it was to be expected, Remedios’s answer was a definite “Yes.”
“Then, may I request that you give your weapons into our safekeeping?”
Naturally, they could not refuse that, but just as naturally, Remedios had a put-upon look on her face.
Remedios’s sword was a divine treasure of the Holy Kingdom. Just by bearing it, she would not even need to kneel before the Holy King. She could not surrender such a treasure before even meeting the king of the realm, and after hearing that much, the soldier nodded in understanding.
“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped. Then please remain as you are and enter, everyone. The truth is, holding onto your swords was intended to ensure your safety. In that case, please promise me that you will not draw your weapons no matter what once you’re inside. If you can’t do that, I’d advise you to leave this city instead.”
“Understood. We shall return the trust you have shown in allowing us to bear our swords, and so we shall not draw our weapons while we are inside.”
Remedios touched her hand to her chest — to the emblem of the Holy Kingdom there — as she made that declaration. She swore to do so on her honor as a paladin and that of the Holy Kingdom.
“Then I’ll trust you to do that. First, I shall ask the guard for this area to step outside.“
Within the Holy Kingdom, this was an absolute oath that might even draw gasps of surprise from those who saw it, but it was much more mildly received in other countries. After that bland response, the guard knocked on the door.
After that, the door slowly opened, and what suddenly appeared before their eyes was—
Neia went Aiiiieeee, in a voice that was somewhere between a gasp and a wail.
The being that slowly emerged was excessively large in every dimension.
Its black colored full plate armor was covered in red tracery that resembled blood vessels, and it was covered in spikes. Demonic horns protruded from its helmet, and its open-faced helmet revealed a rotted human visage. Its empty eye-sockets contained points of red light filled with hatred and the anticipation of carnage.
The temperature in the room plunged in an instant, as though the darkness was chilling them.
“Please do not draw your weapons!”
Everyone’s shoulders shuddered from the guard’s shout.
“Nothing will happen if you do not draw your swords! But if you do, you will be slain instantly! After that, you will be bound to eternal suffering! Please don’t make me have to witness something like that again!”
His mournful cry sounded like he had experienced this sort of thing before. Had he personally witnessed such an event in the past?
The undead being slowly glared at Neia and the others. There was the feeling that it was waiting for them to draw their blades.
“...And this undead being is…?”
Remedios’s voice trembled faintly as she spoke.
“They are guards who are stationed throughout this city in large numbers.”
“...Really?”
Remedios’s quaking voice was somewhere between surprise, fear, and consternation. Neia felt the same way as her. It was unthinkable that a nation would possess so many undead of such extraordinary power.
“A-Ah, excuse me. Is this undead creature under the control of His Majesty — the Sorcerer King?”
The guard nodded in response to Neia’s reflexive question.
“Indeed, that is so. Also, he rules over undead who are more powerful than this one over here.”
“Is it not dangerous?”
The soldier responded immediately to Gustavo’s question. He sounded like he was dying to inform them of this.
“Yes, to date, there have been no incidents in this city where people were killed without provocation.”
The undead were beings who hated the living. As someone who could utterly dominate them and keep them from harming living creatures, the Sorcerer King must be a truly incredible person. Neia was deeply impressed by the might of the Sorcerer King.
“...I see. Ah. Then, can you take us inside the room?”
“Please follow me.”
The black undead creature slowly stepped away from the door, and the soldier boldly walked past him. In contrast, Neia and the others seemed to be looking at each other to see who would make the first move.