Volume 2 Chapter 56 The Commotion Of The Checkpoint
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He can eliminate the enemy and legally strengthen his familiars at the same time.
It’s a win-win situation.
’Kufufu. If we stir up enough chaos, we can even take advantage of the confusion to absorb Waterman’s underlings.’
(……Ah, that’s true.)
”Let’s go, Kian.”
”Yeah.”
Following Christy, he curls the corner of his mouth.
(If we’re willing to compromise on the vessel, it’s a viable option.)
* * *
To perform teleportation, they need to exit through the fortress gate.
So, for the first time, Kian had to pass through the fortress checkpoint on foot.
The area in front of the checkpoint was heavily congested.
Though, the congestion was on the side for entering the fortress──the exit flow was relatively smooth.
As he stood next to Christy, looking at the opposite passage, a loud shout echoed from the inspection area.
The flow of people had stalled, and at the front was a merchant’s wagon surrounded by armed guards.
”Can’t you speak the Western Common Tongue!? This wagon! Can’t enter! The fortress! Because you’re Azraelians!”
”‘We’re from the Merchant Guild Souna! We’ve been passing through here with our caravan every year! We’ve never heard that we can’t do business in this fortress! Why is it suddenly forbidden this year!?’”
In the center of the guards, trying to communicate, was one of Waterman’s subordinate knights.
Around the same age as Kian, he scratched his head, repeating the same phrases over and over.
On the other hand, the caravan members didn’t seem to understand what he was saying, and their voices grew louder and faster.
This only made communication even more difficult.
”Damn, what should I do… Ah! Lady Christina!”
”Ugh.”
The knight on the opposite passage let out a relieved sigh.
He called out to Christy in a loud voice.
”Hey! Can we get someone to translate for us? The person who can speak is checking another carriage over there.”
”Even if you ask me, I can’t speak Azraelian. I can manage with written words, though.”
”Let me translate.”
He gets in front, controlling Christy.
”‘These guys are going to move to that passageway now, but after that, can you let them skip the line and go through the checkpoint?’”
”No problem! That’d be a big help!”
”You’re too nice.”
”I’m just doing a favor now. It’ll definitely pay off later when we have to work as a team.”
No matter what their intentions were, a good deed is still a good deed.
Azrael, the god, would surely bless them.
’Though it seems more like they are cursed. Kufufufu.’
”────────”
Ignoring ‘glasses’ comment, Kian headed to the opposite passageway.
To summarize what the knight was saying, ‘The Knights of the Sun’s succession ceremony is coming up, and to ensure the safety of the guests, they can’t let foreigners in.’
If they really wanted to pass through the fortress, they’d have to wait outside until the ceremony was over.
Otherwise, take a detour.
And use the backroads in the northwestern hills where monsters might appear────.
The caravan leader got furious and protested, but after talking nonstop for 20 minutes, he got tired.
In the end, he said, “Fine, we’ll head to the nearest East End,” and started to return to the carriage.
”Ah, Kian. Call him and stop him. Before he turns back, let’s check his cargo.”
”Are you going to flip the cargo just to turn back?”
When Kian asked, the knight frowned.
”Not my idea. It’s Baron Waterman’s orders. ‘Thoroughly search every Azraelian unless they can guarantee their status,’ he said.”
”Guarantee their status?… Only a handful of people can do that.”
”True, people like Kian here or the big shots in the merchant guild. But this is a decision from above.”
Kian called the caravan leader and stopped him, explaining the checkpoint’s intentions.
The merchants turned pale and resisted, but the knights and guards forcibly flipped through the contents of the cart.
”────What’s this!? There’s an Azraelian here!?”
”Th-that’s a slave!”
The caravan leader shouted back, sweating.
”‘I was planning to sell them at the East End market…’”
”What are they talking about?”
They say it’s a product meant to be sold at the slave market.”
The knight’s eyes flared with anger.
”There is no legal market for Azraelian slaves within the fortress! This guy is illegal!”
”‘What? What are you saying? A, a fine?’”
”He’s asking if it’s a fine.”
”It’s not just a fine! He could be part of an assassin group! You all are being taken to the station!”
”Eek!” “What, what did we do!?” “Stop! Don’t point your spear at us!”
The guards roughly bound the merchants.
The knight turned to Kian.
”It seems the interpreter has returned from the back. Sorry for taking your time.”
”No, it’s mutual help in times of trouble.”
”I see. Well… thank you. You’re a good guy.”
”Good luck with your work.”
”Yeah, be careful on the way too. ──Hey! What are you doing? Excuse me, I’m off.”
The knight went to pull the merchant off the cart.
Meanwhile, Kian took Christy and passed through the checkpoint.
They moved to the opposite corridor and headed to the drawbridge.
Christy, walking beside him, spoke up quietly.
”That was quite an extreme response.”
”Yeah. They were doing illegal things, so it’s somewhat understandable, but… the way they searched belongings is hard to call ethical. At that rate, other goods besides slaves will be affected.”
It’s just that the forceful action isn’t illegal.
If you don’t like it, then don’t come to the fortress.
’There will be some backlash.’
(Of course. If they’re treated like that, foreigners won’t be happy.)
”Christy, we’ve crossed the drawbridge, but can we jump?”
”Yes, just wait a moment. I’m setting up the spell.”
She said that and stepped off the brown street onto a green hill.
This was to prevent interference from passersby.
Kian waited on the street for the gate to open, trying not to get in the way.
(The East End feels like a long time since I’ve been here.)
Maybe it’s because living in the fortress is so comfortable.
Christy, standing next to him, blurted out:
”That was kind of an extreme response.”
A yellow and black hole appears on the hill.
Kian sprinted up the hill and jumped into the teleportation gate.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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