Chapter 488 The Populated Streets Of Stronghold City

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The Enormous Stronghold City greeted our sight, as the airship quickly descended and arrived in the morning, right before breakfast time. Evelyn hurriedly told us to pack our things and quickly follow her, we didn't had much time to do anything at all other than taking a quick shower and get dressed in the most presentable clothes we had.

"Now, now, let's go, there's no time to waste. We need to go pick up the uniforms that should already be done by now and then we'll rush straight to the Academy, the entrance exams are about to begin." Evelyn said.

"Wait, what about breakfast?" Erika complained.

"You'll have to skip it for now, you can have lunch in the academy." Evelyn said.

"Eeeeh?! But I can't function without breakfast!" Erika complained.

"Me neither…" Elizabeth sighed.

"I think I am fine…" Erdrich shrugged.

"I said that you can have lunch in the academy, children." Evelyn's eyes flared with flames, she wasn't messing around, I suppose.

"Ugh…" Erika rubbed her belly.

She honestly looked gorgeous in the dress she was wearing, a pink and green dress with tree decorations made out of the yarn. It was the fanciest thing she had so far.

"Don't worry, here. I prepared for this." I said.

Knowing that Erika is always hungry, I had prepared over twenty sandwiches and packed them inside the Grimoire's Inventory, I quickly took them out and gave her two.

Her eyes quickly shone brightly out of pure joy.

"Uwaah, Sandwiches! Thank you so much Blake!" She happily gave me a kiss in my cheek as she started snacking on the sandwiches while we walked outside the airship.

"I made them out of your favorite ingredients. Mayonnaise, grilled wild boar cutlet, sweet tomatoes, lettuce, and garlic sauce."

"I love it!"

Seeing her happy made me smile a bit, as I quickly sensed the presence of my friends behind me, their glares felt like daggers stabbing my back.

"…I also have for everyone."

I quickly gave them each one a sandwich so they stopped looking at me like that.

Evelyn ignored everyone snacking on sandwiches (me included) as she led us across the city.

There was so much to see and explore, yet we were forced by the clock to not go and see everything for ourselves as much as we would had wanted.

The entire city was bustling with people everywhere, from all sorts of appearances. We saw people with animal-like ears and tails, others had scales growing over their hands and horns atop their heads, some were small and burly, others tall, sleek, and long eared, and more.

There were colors everywhere, and even balloons in the air, as if it was a festival going on, but this was merely the Main Street, filled to the brim with shops and market everywhere, a large area of Stronghold City that looked straight out of our dreams.

I could see shops of everything I could have imagined everywhere, materials for alchemy of even the rarest of monsters, magic enchanted weapons of all sorts of qualities, expensive food ingredients, the most premium vegetables, and fruits, and more.

There was even a puppet show in the middle of all of it, with bards singing and people dancing. Is a festival not really going on right now?

"Uwaah, look at that shop! There are so many magic items!" Said Erika.

"I-Is that an Alchemy Shop?!" Asked Eric.

"Oh, who's that little bearded guy over that shop with the big chimney? Is that a dwarf? First time I see one!" Said Erdrich.

"Hey Blake, where's your shop at?" Asked Chris.

"I have yet to setup anything but the place the Duke bought for me should be rather far away from the main street." I said. "This place seems very populated so sales must be great, I guess that also implies incredibly expensive rent for a shop to stay here. The Duke was only able to get me a place farther away."

"Oh, I have been told by my higher ups about that." Evelyn said. "The Duke of your Duchy has gifted you a place for you to open a shop, isn't it? You might be able to visit the place after today classes ends. Usually students are allowed to do as they please once classes are over."

"Well that sure makes it more convenient." I nodded with a smile. "Anyways, Erika, your mother should be waiting for you at the Academy."

"Y-Yeah…" Erika seemed to be nervous.

Erika had yet to meet her mother after all this time, but she had been in contact with her for a while now. Thanks to the Duke's help, she was able to get a special message sending magic artifact, and with it she had been exchanging messages with her mother weekly, as the messages have a delay of a few days between receptor and sender.

Thanks to that, through these years she had been learning more about her mother, who seemed rather nice to her. There was no hint of hostility within her, but due to her own job, she wasn't able to come to our village.

And her job is… well, she's a teacher in the Stronghold's City Academy, a graduated Illusionist and Dream Weaver that became a Magic Theory and Magic Practice Teacher, Cattalina Goldriver. Erika's true name is Erika Goldriver as well, so she's regarded as nobility in the Academy.

…But the place's filled with Nobles everywhere, so it is not really special.

"I was honestly surprised after I learned that you were the daughter of Lady Cattalina, she's a very experienced and well-known Magic Theory Schoolmistress. She's known for having protected the city alongside many other teachers from the invasion of Demons and the Dungeon Breaks. Although our city is regarded as the safest in this continent, it is also because of these impressive people protecting it! As her daughter, I have high expectations of you, Erika!" Evelyn seemed happy to have her despite showing to be clearly annoyed by her some minutes ago.

"I-I see… Mother told me about it…" Erika sighed. She was trembling a bit due to her nervousness.

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