Chapter 509: I Don’t Want to Do This Anymore!

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At the gate, the guards stopped us and asked our purpose for entering. It should have been a mere formality.

"This is a Sage who was a companion of the Heroes. We’ve come looking for the Heroes’ attendants who came with us from the Royal Capital."

I reported honestly. The guards looked suspicious.

"I heard all the Kingdom’s Heroes are dead. Is it true that one of them is still alive? Don’t lie. Lately there have been too many people claiming to be Heroes, and it’s become a problem."

Their expressions clearly said they thought we were lying. Two kids—one an ordinary child and the other a black-haired, black-eyed boy who was only slightly older—showing up and saying something like that? There was no way they’d believe it.

"I’m the Sage, Yunosuke Noshima!"

Noshima shouted, but if shouting was enough to earn trust, the world would be a much simpler place. As expected—

"You think we’ll believe that!? The Heroes’ attendants left for the Royal Capital yesterday morning! If you were alive, why didn’t you go with them? Why is a Sage here alone!?"

The guard yelled at us. I was stunned. They’d left him behind... and of all places, they’d fled all the way to the Royal Capital!? Still, if the attendants really had set out for the capital, it made sense.

It was starting to feel like nothing I said would work. I tugged on Noshima’s sleeve to shut him up.

"I’m sorry. Could you at least let us inside? Please let us stay for just one night."

As I spoke, I pressed a large copper coin into the guard’s hand. He looked at it, grinned, and said,

"If you’d acted like that from the start, this would’ve been easier. Go on in."

He let us through. There was no "Welcome to the city of Itsuki."

"Why won’t they believe me!? It’s because they’re low-ranking! They won’t understand unless someone higher up comes out!"

Noshima was indignant, but first we needed to find a place to stay for the night. Would any inn take in two kids? Two children traveling alone was probably unthinkable by this world’s standards. Showing money might get us a room, but a cheap inn felt like it could cause problems. That meant we needed somewhere that looked reasonably high-class.

I asked people on the street and was directed to the best inn in the area.

The man at the front desk looked us up and down. Our clothes were of decent quality—good enough that we could pass as noble children at a glance. However, noble children would normally have attendants. We had none. It was extremely suspicious. I showed him the family crest on the sword pommel I’d displayed the night before and flashed some money, and we were finally allowed to stay. I was glad I had the crest. I could only thank the people of Eisleben.

Since Noshima had no money, I was covering the cost for now. I was covering it, but would I ever get it back?

We ate dinner together. It was the cheapest set meal the inn offered, yet it still felt expensive—probably because it was a high-class inn. I’d never stayed somewhere like this on my own money before. I thought Noshima might complain about the food, but he ate without saying anything. He did mutter,

"Ah, I miss Japanese food. I want a hamburger steak! Ramen, curry... I should’ve brought some. If someone had told me, I would’ve prepared."

I felt the same way. Even just white rice would have been fine.

The inn’s dining hall was quieter than I’d expected, with few other guests. Noshima suddenly leaned in close.

"Lord Marie, want to go to a brothel? Have you been before? When I was in the Royal Capital, I went every day! It’s a great place. I don’t know any amateur women, so I’m an amateur virgin, but after sleeping with different women at the brothel every day, I stopped caring about that! The women there are great! Come on, let’s go!"

He was begging to go to a brothel. How could he say something like that when he had no money? The habit of playing with other people’s money must have seeped into his very bones. Going to a brothel tonight wouldn’t really strain my wallet, but his attitude irritated me so much that I absolutely did not want to go.

"We’re not going! What are you saying!? Adults might be fine, but people like us won’t even be entertained if we show up! Let’s stop."

"Ehhh, are you worried about money? It’s fine! Once we get back to the Royal Capital, they’ll pay us back! Oh, right—tomorrow morning, let’s go see the margrave. He’ll lend us money!"

Noshima said it with a smile. How could he be so optimistic? It was baffling.

"Then I’ll give up for today and sleep quietly, but tomorrow night, please! Hehehe."

Well, good luck tomorrow. I wasn’t going with him. More importantly, I needed to find a shared carriage heading to the Royal Capital.

—-

In the middle of the night, the inn suddenly grew noisy. It sounded like several people were checking rooms one by one. Had someone reported that thieves were staying here, and they were conducting a raid? It wasn’t as if I’d brought a hostess back from a cabaret and was relaxing with her when public security burst in, like in some countries.

I listened carefully, trying to hear what was happening in the other rooms. A woman’s voice cried out. I heard things like "Please stop!" and "Have mercy!" Maybe public security really had come to crack down. Since I was alone, part of me was curious. Then it hit me. Had Noshima asked the inn to arrange a girl, and was he getting along with her right now? Was that okay? But that should have been decided already.

Noshima and I were in separate but neighboring rooms. Our doors were knocked on almost at the same time.

I opened the door nervously. Several soldiers stood outside.

"Sorry for the late hour. We’d like to know your name and place of origin. Do you have anything that can prove your identity?"

The soldier at the front looked briefly confused when he saw me, but he asked politely. They didn’t peer into the room, so maybe it would have been fine even if an older sister had been inside. Then what was the commotion downstairs?

"My name is Robin Marie. I’m the eleventh prince of the Marie Kingdom. This proves my identity. If it’s not enough..."

I took a sword from my mana bag and showed the crest on the pommel. The lead soldier glanced at the man behind him. That man stared for a while, then nodded. My words were probably correct. The one in the back must have "Appraisal."