Volume 18 - CH 6

Nine days after we left the Austin Magic Kingdom, we arrived at the Ufa Holy Kingdom earlier than expected.

Surrounded by steep rocky mountains, it was like a natural fortress city.

The road was narrow and crowded, but the carriages managed to get through.

However, it was a one-lane road, and if a carriage came from the other side, one of the carriages would have to wait on the shoulder for the other to pass.

「Oh no. We'd better think of something when we run away, or the second team might be caught.」

Saki said with a reluctant face, but I'm sure she'll come up with a good plan for that.

The castle town of Ufa was made of plaster, and its buildings formed a beautiful, pure white cityscape, just like the ones you see at snow festivals.

「...... So this is the Holy Kingdom.」

It doesn't look like a very big country, but I can feel that it is a country with a lot of energy.

Many of the passersby were wearing white robes, and it was a completely religious country.

It was more troublesome than I thought.

After all, people are like stone walls.

The King of Grandsword was even paying attention to the Holy Kingdom, treating them like a big country with VIP treatment.

And it's more different than any other country I've ever seen.

「Nicole, what are the taboos here?」

I immediately ask the young man who was born and raised here.

「Oh, right, it's not so much a taboo, but the common people have to be frugal. Also, it's not a good look for a woman of that age to show her skin.」

「No, that's all?」

It's not a religion, it's just a common morality that is accepted in every country.

It's not to the extent of being alien.

「Ah! Also, picking up girls is strictly forbidden. If you try to ask out a woman you don't know on the street, the priests will put a white cloth bag over your head and take you away.」

「Say that first!」

And you don't know where you're going taken? I'm scared.

「Be careful, okay? Alec.」

Serina looked at me and said with concern, but I'm not that stupid. I'll pick up girls in secret.

「Stop right there! Who are you people?」

A group of heavily armed soldiers stopped us in our tracks.

They were dressed in full plate armor and white military uniforms with emblems, looking very stern.

「Wait, these men are the guests of the high priest.」

Frederick stepped forward and said.

「Oh, this is Lord Denwein guest's. I'm sorry, but we've been notified by His Holiness the Pope. All of you will be required to show identification, no matter who you are.」

「What? His Eminence? What's going on?」

「It's ....... We'll talk about that later.」

The guard looks at me and says he's concerned, but I think there's a problem. I'm hoping it's just a matter of time before I have to do something about it.

But as for my ID, my adventurer's card from the Kingdom of Vernia seemed to be sufficient, and I was let in without being stopped.

Letty, however, was a different story.

「You go this way! Come here!」

Two guards flanked her and dragged her roughly across the ground.

「Heeey! What did I do!? Let me go! Let me go, you idiot!」

「Hmph, look who's talking, Crusher Letty? How dare you show up here after blowing up the sacred temple of Irv?」

Tsk, suddenly causing an irregularity in the plan, that's just what Letty would do.

If you knew where you were going, why didn't you just declare yourself?

The guard looked at me.

「I heard you're the leader of the Black Cat of the Wind, what's your relationship with her? Answer me!」

「No, we just happened to hire her as a short-term mercenary a while back for 10,000 gold. But I didn't know she was such an ungodly felon. I'm surprised.」

「I see. Maybe I'll ask you about it later. Tell the guards where you're staying.」

「Hey! Don't act like a stranger when your beloved is about to be taken away, Alec.」

「She's your beloved lover?」

「That's a bad joke. You see, Meena here is Alec's true love.」

「Yes, that's right!」

When Saki tried to play along with me, Meena nodded confidently with her chest out.

「You bastard! Don't tell lies that can be easily discovered!」

「Gyaann! Kuhh, Alec, remember this!」

Forgive me, Letty, but I have to save Elisa's life first.

Besides, it's your own fault, you know.

Why did you blow up the temple in this country?

「Geez, Letty you're so....we'll have to save her later」

「If we can afford it.」

「Alec-san ......」

Nene looked up at me with sullen eyes, but oh dear.

「I know. I won't abandon my friends.」

「Yes!」

Next time, I'll have to check carefully if the person I'm signing up has any criminal record.

When I looked at Saki, she seemed to know exactly what I was thinking and nodded her head twice with a wry smile.

「I never thought I'd be showing my love rival around my house. ......」

Fredrick says, looking at me with a complicated expression.

This is his home. It's a large and magnificent mansion.

However, as expected, there are too many people to accommodate even with second team, so I had them stay at a separate inn.

「It's just childhood friend's lover」

I correct myself and say.

「Hmph, I'll get to that soon. But it's late today. First thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to ask for permission to see Elisa.」

「I understand. I have some business to attend to, so I'm going to go out for a bit now. Is there any kind of security at the house?」

「Charms and guards. I'll tell the guards.」

Fredrick has reverted back to talking informally when it's just me and him, but he's too concerned about appearances now.

「Alec, I'll join you on the way.」

As I stepped out into the corridor, Serina came out of the women's room.

「I don't mind, but we're on our way.」

「Yes. I'll see what I can find out about Elisa and the Inquisition, and about the Papacy and the Privy.」

「And find out what you can about the Temple of Irv.」

「Heeh, you're really nice to Letty.」

「Not to her. I'm nice to Nene.」

「Fufu, yeah. I'll leave at that.」

I'll be sure to nail down the carefree Serina.

「Listen here, Serina, as I'm sure you know, when you ask questions, the other side knows that we are probing. Don't ask around about the Pope, doctrine, or any other sensitive areas.」

「Don't worry about it. I'll ask Nicole about that.」

「No, don't trust him too much either.」

「What? All right. He's not one of us, right?」

「Yeah」

He's a pleasant young man, but Nicole is a native of this country and a devout follower of the god Falbas.

That's why you can't just look on the outside.

I made sure that my left arm was equipped with a golden bracelet, and went outside with Serina.