Vol 6: Chapter 1 (1)
Encounter and Omen
★ Port Town Zackerhafen Adventurer’s Guild ★
The Adventurer Guild’s stone counter stood unyielding even when Dante leaned his massive body against it. However, the guild receptionist behind the counter was trembling nervously.
「…Which means, the guild ignores my report, right?」
「T-That’s not the case… I-It’s just a very outlandish story, so…」
「I am a pure gold adventurer. To think that I am not even taken seriously.」
「L-Like I said previously, this guild can’t handle such significant information! Even the communication with the capital is only one regular monthly report… not nearly as active as the Keith Gran Federation…」
「It can’t be helped, huh. Sorry for the trouble.」
Dante stepped away from the counter and left the guild.
There was only one receptionist and a submaster in the guild. There were no other adventurers.
「Hmm… in this country where the knights reign supreme, there is no chance for adventurers to grow.」
The sun was high up in the sky. Intense sunlight shone on Dante. He brushed up his thinning hair with his hand, and headed for the inn.
The Adventurer’s Guild has branches across national borders, so they are in possession of various information. If there is something wrong in the world, it is likely that the Adventurer’s guild will be the first to notice.
That’s why Dante wanted the guild’s top brass to know early on — but a branch in a rural town with too few facilities and functions couldn’t do anything.
「Dante-sama.」
「Oh, if isn’t Dante boss〜」
「Anastasia, Zerry… Are you two leaving now?」
Anastasia decided to travel to Sylvis Kingdom. However, since traveling alone might be dangerous, Zerry is supposed to accompany her.
「That’s right~. The ship is about to leave. If we miss this one, the next one will be in five days. So we have to hurry.」Zerry-said.
「…………」
「Dante boss?」
「I will go too.」
「Huh!? What are you talking about? Your job is to get in touch with the Adventurer’s Guild.」
「That’s not possible here. I have to go to a bigger town.」
The receptionist said:
——Not as active as the Keith Gran Federation.
If so, there is no reason to stay in the Saint Knight Kingdom. And a ship is the best way to travel from Zackerhafen.
「Dante-sama, Zerry-sama and I shall contact the guild on our way to the Sylvis Kingdom.」Anastasia said.
「That’s right. Besides, what will you tell Non?」Zerry asked.
Currently, Mimino and Non are heading to the lord’s mansion in this city. This is to convey information about the “collapse of the world” to the governing authority of the Saint Knight Kingdom through the lord. Furthermore, it will take a whole day to report on the “Sage of Medicine”.
「They are supposed to help with Lark’s treatment. I don’t need to be there.」
「But……」
「I’ve talked a lot with Non.」
Dante had already heard from Non that she will return to the church after Lark’s treatment at Zackerhafen. He knew that this day would come eventually. And Dante accepted it.
「This isn’t going to be our last farewell. And Non has her own responsibilities.」
It is Non’s task to inform the upper levels of the church about the crisis of the world through her Master, Riviera.
「Alright, we understand. To be honest, it’s quite reassuring to have you with us, boss.」
「Thank you, Dante-sama.」
「You can rest easy, Anastasia. I won’t let Zerry drink alcohol while I’m on the lookout.」
「Boss!? At least let me have 1 cup a day !? Just one bottle!」
「There is a huge difference between a cup and a bottle.」
The three of them hurried to the port. The boarding procedure from Zackerhafen to the Keith Gran Federation across the border had begun.
They sent a message to the inn where Reiji was, and then boarded the ship. The passenger ship left the port shortly afterwards.
(Non, see you again.)
Dante thought of his daughter while gazing at the port town.
Thinking back on it, Dante was poisoned by petrification while shielding one of his party members from the Golden Brigade. Mimino told Non about his condition even though he forbade it. It is quite impossible to leave the Church once you enter, but instead you are guaranteed food, clothing and shelter. Non said that she was only able to leave because of the recommendation of her Master, Riviera.
At that time, Dante thought “These are the last moments I can spend with my daughter.”
So he talked about what he thought was important. He didn’t even talk about his wife, who died when Non was still a child. As was his wife’s will.
(But it’s different now. There is still much I haven’t talked about yet.)
He knew that Non would return to the Church.
And he is approaching the end of his career as an adventurer.
Thus, he started planning to live in the town where the church Non will be assigned to is located. He will live out the rest of his life in that town while visiting the church.
(I couldn’t even dream of such a life when the petrification started… A life where I could live out my life peacefully and quietly by Non’s side.)
The reason Dante could dream of such a life was Reiji.
Reiji healed Dante’s petrification. As such, if there is anything at all he can do for Reiji–
(Saving the world is no big deal at all.)
** Valhalla, the capital of the Keith Gran Federation **
Even Dante, who had traveled all over the world, was mesmerized by this metropolis which he stepped foot in for the first time.
A city that spreads around a huge white-walled castle, which seemed to be an entire town by itself. Valhalla is the center of the Keith Gran Federation, a federation of several nations, and is the largest city in the world.
The city was like a living thing in itself.
It breathes, consumes food, and people and money flowed around like blood.
It is impossible to keep a big city like Valhalla alive with the existing technology of a horse-drawn carriage and road. As such, technology in this city naturally advanced.
Ringooon…… Ringooon…… Ringooon…….
Dante looked at the iron track underneath his feet with a puzzled look. He then heard the sound of a bell from a distance.
「Ossan, you’ll be run over if you keep standing there.」
「Huh?」
「Come over here.」
Dante was pulled away from the iron track by a child in the town. After a while, a freight car and a passenger car mounted on huge iron wheels ran past. The vehicles passing by with the sound of an earthquake, strangely, had no horse pulling it, and black smoke was rising from the leading vehicle.
「W-What is that…」
「Don’t you know, Ossan? Are you from the countryside? It’s a steam train that runs on sorcery and steam.」
「Steam train, huh…」
Railroad tracks cut through the city of Valhalla. These railroads were indispensable for the daily operation of Valhalla.
The power that did not rely on horses was typically seen in magic airships. But the steam locomotive running in Valhalla is similar to the cars seen running in the Lev Magic Empire.
