[Endymion]
This was once the capital of the Argland Council State, and now it was the capital of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
After a brief period of adjustment, the city quickly began to show new life.
Stalls lined both sides of the streets, while demihumans of many different races moved back and forth among them.
The cries of shopkeepers and the voices of customers haggling with them came one after another, making the whole place feel especially lively.
Endymion, city gate.
At this moment, a long line had already formed there. The soldiers were conducting inspections one by one, and only those confirmed to be free of problems were allowed through.
Among the crowd, two figures stood out in particular.
"Endymion, huh? I never thought the former capital of the Council State would be renamed like this."
"It looks like a very lively place."
A man with shoulder-length golden hair and blue eyes looked around with obvious interest.
Although he was dressed simply, he carried an unmistakable air of nobility at all times.
Caspond Bessarez.
That was his name. One of the Holy Kingdom's royals, and also the Holy Queen's elder brother.
Standing beside him was Pabel Baraja, one of the Holy Kingdom's Nine Colors.
Pabel glanced to the side, and a trace of helplessness flashed through his sharp, narrow eyes.
Ever since receiving the Holy Queen's orders, Pabel had hurriedly said goodbye to his wife and daughter, then rushed nonstop toward the Sorcerer Kingdom.
He understood the Holy Kingdom's situation clearly, and he knew very well what his mission was. Because of that, he had been deeply troubled the entire way, constantly thinking over what he should say once he arrived.
But the day before he reached the Sorcerer Kingdom, something unexpected happened.
Thinking back on it now, Caspond had approached him at their campsite with a smile and asked to accompany him to the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Pabel had frozen on the spot.
His whole mood had instantly turned for the worse.
Did the Holy Queen even know that Prince Caspond had secretly slipped off to the Sorcerer Kingdom?
It was hard to describe how he had felt at that moment.
Pabel had wanted to send him back to the Holy Kingdom, but doing that would have meant giving up his mission to travel to the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Caught in that dilemma, Pabel had briefly weighed the pros and cons before reluctantly compromising.
In the end, he chose to bring Caspond along to the Sorcerer Kingdom first, then escort him back to the Holy Kingdom after everything was over.
That was how things had ended up like this.
"Don't keep pulling such a long face, Pabel. I'll explain things to Calca myself, so there's no need to worry."
Sensing Pabel's mood, Caspond stopped looking around and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Empowered by the charm of the [High Noble] class, he naturally gave off a reassuring presence that soothed Pabel's agitation.
"Prince Caspond, why did you personally come to the Sorcerer Kingdom? If the nobles find out, it could bring a lot of trouble to the Holy Queen."
Pabel let out a sigh and voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Caspond's status was simply too sensitive.
As the former heir to the position of Holy King, any move he made could shake the Holy Kingdom to its core.
"I understand your concerns, but I had to come this time. Calca may have sent you here to offer congratulations, but that alone isn't enough!"
"She's still too conservative."
In Caspond's eyes, the Sorcerer Kingdom was both a problem and an opportunity.
Unlike the Holy Queen, if it would benefit the country, he would seize any chance he could.
A person who aims to achieve great things cannot be overly concerned with trifles.
The Holy Queen's approach might not have been wrong, but to him, it still was not enough.
A ruler cannot be too hesitant.
When the time comes to act decisively, they must be decisive.
"This..."
Looking at Caspond's resolute face and sensing that unwavering conviction, Pabel's throat moved slightly, his feelings tangled.
Compared to the Holy Queen, perhaps this man was the one truly suited to become the Holy King.
"Let's go. It's our turn."
Caspond's words pulled Pabel back to reality.
"Welcome to the Sorcerer Kingdom. Please register your information."
At the city gate, a demihuman soldier spoke while holding a ledger in one hand and a pen in the other.
They resembled moles, stood around 140 centimeters tall on average, had long, sharp claws, and somewhat squat builds.
They were the Quagoa, a race that did not exist in [YGGDRASIL].
As the first race to submit to Nazarick, the Quagoa had been living quite comfortably lately.
They had official posts, high wages, good benefits, and food and lodging were all provided.
Especially Pe Riyuro, the captain of the security force, who had even gained the opportunity to enter and leave Nazarick.
There were even rumors that late at night, people could often hear the Quagoa King laughing loudly.
It sounded like he was shouting something about how he had "bet on the right side."
"Hm? Is there something you need?"
Seeing the two humans staring at him, the Quagoa adjusted his glasses and asked in confusion.
Because of their racial traits, Quagoa have much sharper vision than humans in darkness, but in bright environments they suffer from near blindness.
After noticing this, the ever-considerate Naohara specifically instructed Cocytus to craft light-blocking glasses. Using magic, they were mass-produced so the Quagoa could work during the day.
"My apologies. I was just thinking about something."
"My name is Caspond Bessarez, and this is Pabel Baraja."
"We come from the Holy Kingdom. It's our first time visiting the Sorcerer Kingdom. Is there anything we should be aware of?"
Coming back to himself, Caspond first apologized before asking politely.
Demihumans this courteous were quite rare.
A trace of curiosity flickered in Caspond's eyes, and the same could be seen in Pabel's expression.
As one of the Nine Colors of the Holy Kingdom, Pabel dealt with demihumans regularly. Yet this was the first time he had seen one like this.
Compared to the savage demihumans he was used to, this one felt more like a human.
"If there's anything to keep in mind, the Sorcerer Kingdom's principle is 'Everyone has the right to pursue happiness.' There aren't many strict rules here. As long as the two of you behave yourselves, there won't be any problems."
The Quagoa soldier patiently replied while taking out a seal and gently stamping the back of their hands.
"Everyone has the right to pursue happiness..."
Pabel's expression became complicated. The phrase reminded him of his daughter.
Neia Baraja.
As she grew older, the two of them had begun to disagree on certain things.
Neia wanted to become a righteous Paladin like her mother. But from Pabel's perspective, he knew very well that his daughter simply didn't have the talent for it.
Instead of continuing down a path she wasn't suited for, he believed she should inherit his skills and become an archer.
But Neia's will was firm. Even though both her parents opposed it, and her mother had even threatened her with a weapon, her determination to become a Paladin never wavered.
"Perhaps I shouldn't interfere with Neia's fate. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. For her, becoming a Paladin might be her happiness..."
Pabel found himself thinking quietly.
Meanwhile, Caspond's thoughts moved in another direction.
He had to admit that the Sorcerer Kingdom's guiding principle was somewhat unexpected. Still, it didn't take him long to grasp the hidden meaning behind it.
Encouraging everyone to pursue happiness.
But what if someone's pursuit of happiness interfered with someone else's?
A very obvious loophole, yet undeniably clever.
Looking at the dragon-head emblem stamped on the back of his hand, Caspond smiled faintly to himself.
"Thank you for your help."
Caspond nodded, then took out some coins to pay the entrance fee.
In this world, no matter which country it was, anyone who wished to enter a city had to pay a fee.
The amount varied depending on the nation. The Sorcerer Kingdom also had its own system.
Adults paid three copper coins, children paid one copper coin, and merchants were charged different amounts depending on their goods.
As for pregnant women, a certain Dragonoid had waved his hand and declared them completely exempt.
"Alright, registration complete. Enjoy your stay in the Sorcerer Kingdom."
The Quagoa soldier accepted the six copper coins, recorded their information in the ledger, and then gave a professional smile.
Caspond nodded and led Pabel into the city.
The registration process continued.
"Where are you from? And what are your names?"
The Quagoa soldier pushed up his glasses and looked at the group in front of him.
"Ninya."
"Arche Eeb Rile Furt."
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