Chapter 19: The Coastal City (1)
The coastal city of "Wyvrich."
In the area known as the inn district, establishments ranging from cheap flophouses to high-end inns were clustered together.
"Get out of my tavern while I’m still using words. Unless you want to see something uglier."
The owner of a fairly famous tavern, "The Whale’s Nerve," scowled at the two men who appeared at dawn.
"I don't want to get involved with you 'Stigmata' bastards, so get out of my sight."
Their distinctive armor and emblem. The gloves that hid their pierced hands. Exactly as the tavern owner pointed out, the two men were members of "Stigmata."
"Ah, come on... can’t you cooperate with us?" said a thuggish-looking man with a scar near his eye.
"We can't help it either. These are orders from above, you know?"
"You certainly can help it."
The tavern owner crossed his arms, showing off his muscles. He was the former captain of a whaling ship. Despite a decade having passed since his retirement and his beard turning white with age, he still maintained his massive physique.
"Mr. Belmont. Can't you help us? For my sake, being a citizen of Wyvrich."
This time, a much younger man spoke. He looked like a novice, but his eyes were shadowed by deep exhaustion.
"What nonsense from you two. What? A citizen of Wyvrich? Did you think I’d pour a drink for a Stigmata dog just because we're from the same city?"
The owner, Belmont, slammed his hand on the table in anger.
"You’re spreading bad rumors among my customers, so get out of here! You filthy ex-convicts!"
The scarred Stigmata member curled his lips.
"You know, I was trying to be nice for your sake, old man. But it seems you prefer the rough way, huh?"
"What did you say? At best, you’re just a goat thief from somewhere—"
"Ah, ah, that’s enough."
The thuggish man flinched at Belmont's words and raised his hand.
"Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about your daughter, old man."
"What, you son of a bitch?"
"I heard her health has improved?"
Belmont, who was about to explode in a fit of rage, suddenly froze.
"What are you talking about? And what of it?"
"It’s just something to congratulate you on. After suffering for more than five years from a disease a sailor brought, she miraculously recovered."
The thuggish Stigmata member smiled, staring at Belmont.
"It would have been great if she hadn't been cured through heresy."
"......What kind of trick is this?"
Belmont tried to feign ignorance, but it was too late.
The bad hunch he had felt hit its mark.
"You hid it well, didn't you? But even if you burn it and bury it in the ground, there are ways to track it completely."
The man pulled out a mass of something, so burnt it was unrecognizable, and tossed it onto the table.
"I wonder what kind of magic is on this? Huh? Old man, give me an answer."
Belmont snorted.
"How should I know? You’re bringing some strange piece of trash."
"Ah, how stubborn you are. I guess something found near your house isn't enough for you, right?"
This time, the man pulled out an intact item and placed it on the table.
Belmont's eyes became bloodshot.
"This is the necklace you gave your daughter at her wedding. She had been keeping it safe in a drawer."
"You... you bastards."
A cold sweat broke out on Belmont’s forehead. After using the holy relic imbued with the power of an Ancient God, he had his daughter move away just in case, but it seemed that was useless.
"I knew you were filthy bastards, but this...!"
"We hear insults more than greetings in a day, so say what you want."
Belmont shook his head.
"It seems you want to accuse me of heresy with Ancient God nonsense, but in the end, all you’ve brought is some unidentified trash and evidence of the crime of breaking into my daughter's house, right?"
Belmont gathered his thoughts calmly and refused to back down.
"A holy relic of an Ancient God? I’ve never seen such a thing! I’ll report you to Luminaris and—"
"As you see, we..."
The man interrupted Belmont.
"We didn't want to bring this out. An old man like you needs his sleep. But it seems you’ll be spending many more sleepless nights from now on, huh?"
At the sight of the last item the man produced, Belmont's face went pale. Even the steadfast Belmont couldn't help but crumble before a single piece of parchment.
It was an official investigation request from the "Inquisitors," the most evil and feared of the three orders of the "System of Life."
"Do you want to see those Inquisitor bastards showing up at your tavern and your daughter's house?"
"Dammit... what do you want?"
"Now we're talking."
The thuggish man smiled and said, "All this trouble because of a damn Outer God priest. Isn't that right, old man?"
"Did you hear? Mercenaries are flocking to the coastal city because of something about an Outer God."
"What? Does that mean the checkpoint will be even stricter?"
Inside the carriage, people expressed their concerns about the inspection.
As I listened to the conversation, I thought to myself that there was no need to worry.
'I had a similar question once.'
While playing `≪Orders≫`, I asked Doll why the checkpoints seemed so lax. In a world with magic and miracles, wasn't inspection too simple?
'She said that tightening checkpoints would cause a fuss.'
The coastal city had a massive transient population. There were many merchants and workers who needed to board ships in a hurry, and many others who came for important business deals. With so many people coming and going, inspections required a great deal of manpower and resources, but they apparently tried to enforce them strictly once.
'The result was a flood of protests, so the inspection process was simplified. Instead, Luminaris were stationed there instead of regular guards.'
So, there was no need to worry about the checkpoint. They allowed most people through without much trouble.
"We have arrived. There will be an inspection, so please everyone exit the carriage."
Following the carriage driver’s instructions, the passengers in the carriage grabbed their bundles and got off. This time, I had transformed into a sturdy-built, middle-aged man with brown hair. I had placed my robe in my luggage, just in case.
'Well... I’m fine.'
Talia, on the other hand, drew the short straw again.
"Sigh......"
Talia, who had transformed into the form of an old woman who looked in her seventies, got off with a sigh. Her gloomy expression made me feel sorry for her.
"Welcome to Wyvrich. Do you have anything to prove your identity?"
As I watched Talia trudge along gloomily, pretending to be old, an inspector approached me.
'As expected, he doesn't seem to possess any magical detection tools or anything that can see through transformations.'
After a quick scan of the inspector, I answered that I had nothing. Most people didn't, so it wouldn't be a big problem.
"Purpose of your visit?"
"I came to work as a whaler."
I recited the backstory I had prepared. I had to pay an extra fee to Ander to craft this new and solid identity.
'Talia complained more than once as we moved from city to city. She also wasted two extra weeks.'
If my original plan was simply to evade the "System of Life" pursuit and use the port, I wouldn't have needed to put in all this effort. But since I also had to investigate the black market, thorough preparation was necessary.
"Have you visited here before?"
"I have. Last time, they demanded an extra inspection fee just because I was carrying a harpoon."
At my words, the checkpoint officer looked confused and scratched his head.
"Ah... is, is that so?"
"I found out later that there was no such regulation......"
I said, staring at the officer. It wasn't a complete lie. In `≪Orders≫`, I had once paid an extra inspection fee for carrying a weapon through a checkpoint.
'I could just bribe him... but a whaler should have a rougher image, so pressuring him like this is better than a bribe.'
"You won't bring up the matter of an extra inspection fee again, will you?"
"Go on. You may pass."
The officer, clearly wanting to avoid any emotional hassle, just waved me through.
'Talia is... hmm, she’s passing through easily as well.'
I had ordered Talia to play the role of an old woman with impaired hearing. As an extra touch, she was carrying a letter saying that her grandson, who went to sea, would be returning soon. Of course, I had written the letter myself.
'So this is the coastal city......'
Entering the city, I was truly impressed. A city bustling with life and crowded with people. It felt like a bustling Baghdad as portrayed in movies.
'The buildings, too, look much more advanced. To think there's such a difference even within the Demiurge Empire itself.'
The Demiurge Empire was the largest power on the continent of Everlore, where I currently was, a nation comparable to the Roman Empire. As the largest coastal city in the empire, Wyvrich was quite different from other cities.
'The architectural styles... and the clothes of the people are so diverse.'
I felt like a tourist, but I soon regained my senses and headed to the meeting place. I had told Talia to get a room at an inn, cancel her transformation, then come to the meeting place after some time has passed. I decided to head ahead.
'There is no better place than this. The Whale's Nerve.'
It was the most suitable place for gathering information. Moreover, its steadfast owner never cooperated with investigation requests from "Luminaris" or "Stigmata" of the System of Life.
'He looks very strong indeed. They said it's an old building, but it gives off a sense of age, doesn't it?'
I opened the door and entered. A typical mercenary guild scene unfolded before me—a lively crowd of colorful mercenaries talking, drinking, and eating.
"A room for the night. For two. My companion will arrive separately."
I called out to the owner, who was wiping a glass, and held out my money.
"Only a single-bed room left."
"Then I’ll take it... and bring me a glass of 'Captain Jack Dunkel' to quench my thirst."
Was it named so because the famous pirate, Captain Jack, was fond of it? The reason for my ordering this drink was to see the owner’s reaction.
"A new face, but you know the ropes, my friend."
The owner poured a wooden mug full of a dark, stout-like beer and asked, "Who sent you?"
"I can't say."
This drink wasn't on the menu. Only customers who come through a recommendation order it. And only those with good money can get such a recommendation.
"I suppose so. Your name?"
"Ahab."
It was a rather ominous name for a sailor, but after seeing my changed appearance, I had already decided to use it.
"So, what do you want?"
The secret phrase for buying information directly from the owner in a tavern where all kinds of stories were traded. It was interesting that the conversation from `≪Orders≫` was unfolding in exactly the same way.
"I am......"
Exactly when I was about to say I wanted information about Outer God tools, something caught my eye.
'......No way.'
He looked like an ordinary man of good build. He was quite handsome, even with his head shaved completely. That man was scratching his head. Wrenching his fingers. Only then, my attention was caught by another man who tilted his head twice in one direction.
'Both look like employees, but that signal......'
Having played `≪Orders≫`, I knew what it meant. To be precise, it was a signal I knew from playing a spy-like rogue character.
'......"Luminaris"!'
I smiled bitterly. It was a narrow escape. While I hesitated for a moment, refining the question in my mind, the owner looked at me, urging me to hurry.
"The red-haired man, one of those who recently got a huge bounty. I want information on the person they call an Outer God priest."
After I spoke, I discreetly watched the reactions of the two men. Exactly as I thought, they were looking at me.
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