Kamero narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed the gigantic city before them.
Kamero: “Looks like we’ve arrived…”
The wind blew strongly atop that hill.
Their long journey had finally come to an end.
Aysa slowly raised a hand to her reddish hair, which swayed gently in the breeze, while her eyes sparkled at the sight before her.
Aysa: “Wow…”
Aysa: “What a beautiful city…”
Hitori stood a few steps behind, completely dumbfounded.
The immense urban structure before them reflected the golden light of sunset, creating an almost surreal view.
Hitori: “Damn…”
Hitori: “This place is huge…”
Yashina silently observed everything.
Her amber eyes reflected the city below, as though she were trying to absorb every detail of the place.
Yashina: “It really is…”
From atop the hill, they gazed upon the enormous city built beside the massive river that crossed the region.
Seven days had passed since the battle against the wolves at the Yamanaka farm.
During that time, the group had crossed vast forests, open fields, and ancient stone roads belonging to the region of Yzali, a vast area located between the Kingdom of Cevat and the Kingdom of Liogres.
The journey had been exhausting.
Long.
And at times, even stressful.
Despite traveling through territories linked to the Great Kingdoms, they had yet to encounter any important cities, military fortresses, or direct presence from the so-called Four Great Kingdoms of that world.
It was as though that part of the continent had been isolated from everything.
And then…
After hours of walking along the ancient roads of Yzali…
They finally arrived at the city known as:
Kamero: “Riverhold.”
He adjusted his backpack before continuing.
Kamero: “The City of the River.”
Riverhold was one of the largest commercial cities connected to the territory of Liogres.
However…
Unlike most cities of that kingdom, Riverhold did not answer directly to the King of the North.
It was a city-state.
An independent power.
Its own commerce.
Its own laws.
Its own army.
And above all…
Enough money that it did not need to bow easily to anyone.
From the hilltop, they could see enormous white stone buildings, monumental bridges crossing the Lovrelis River, and dozens of ships sailing upon the crystal-clear waters.
The gigantic river separating the city from the rest of Liogres was known as:
Lovrelis River
A river so wide that it resembled a sea cutting through the continent.
Merchant ships constantly sailed its waters, transporting goods, adventurers, nobles, and merchants from every corner of the world.
It was that river that allowed Riverhold to prosper so greatly.
Money flowed there like water.
Yashina took a deep breath.
The wind carried the fresh scent of the river mixed with the aroma of food coming from the commercial districts.
Yashina: “This city has such pure air…”
Hitori stared in amazement at the massive buildings near the urban center.
Hitori: “Look at those structures…”
Hitori: “This place is completely different from the starting city…”
Kamero nodded.
Kamero: “Which is exactly why we need to be careful.”
He cast a serious glance toward the three of them.
Kamero: “In places this large, we’ll encounter adventurers far stronger than us.”
However, Aysa seemed completely focused on something else.
Her eyes sparkled while observing the many shops near the gates.
Aysa: “So many stores…”
Aysa: “So much alcohol…”
Aysa: “This place is literally paradise.”
Hitori immediately replied.
Hitori: “Calm down, woman.”
Kamero sighed.
Kamero: “I wholeheartedly agree.”
Aysa puffed her cheeks slightly while admiring dresses, jewelry, and accessories displayed in the shop windows.
Aysa: “You people don’t know how to appreciate happiness…”
Yashina curiously observed the city.
Yashina: “I wonder if there’s an adventurer guild inn here.”
Kamero placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully.
Kamero: “There should be.”
Kamero: “But first we need to find a city map. Our current map doesn’t detail cities or regions. We need to acquire that item right away, as though we were unlocking areas as we progress. It’s rather troublesome in places this large.”
Hitori crossed his arms.
Hitori: “You could’ve just said we need to level up our maps and unlock regions…”
Kamero merely sighed tiredly.
Kamero: “Good grief…”
Then he turned to Aysa.
Kamero: “Come on, Aysa.”
Kamero: “We need to go.”
Aysa was holding an elegant dress against her body while striking a pose.
Aysa: “Already?”
Aysa: “I barely had time to look around…”
Kamero: “Exactly.”
Hitori immediately grabbed her arm.
Hitori: “Let’s go, you compulsive spender.”
Aysa stumbled slightly when he pulled her.
Then she shot Hitori an extremely provocative look.
Aysa: “Oh…”
Aysa: “You’re making me melt…”
The boy immediately let go of her arm as though he had touched something dangerous.
Hitori: “…”
Aysa leaned close with a smile.
Aysa: “Why did you let go, Hitori?”
Aysa: “Come on… pull me again.”
Hitori quickly turned away.
Hitori: “Forget it, woman!”
Aysa burst into laughter as she walked alongside them.
A short while later, the group finally arrived at the central district of the city.
The area was bustling.
People moved back and forth carrying merchandise, crates, and weapons.
Merchants shouted their offers.
Children ran through the streets.
And adventurers of various races chatted near the taverns.
There, demi-humans could also be seen living normally among the city’s inhabitants.
Men with beast ears.
Women with tails.
People with small animal features.
At the center of the plaza stood a massive fountain surrounded by roads leading to the different districts of the city.
And near it…
A large board containing the map of Riverhold.
Kamero immediately approached it. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Kamero: “This city is even larger than I imagined…”
Riverhold, the City of the River, was founded after the great war between humans and beastmen.
A place that did not depend economically on the King of Liogres, it possessed its own currency system and form of government.
A governor and several senators administered this city-state of Liogres, though they still maintained agreements with the kingdom so that the city remained under the watchful eye of Liogres’ royal guard, the Knights of the Lion’s Pride.
Returning to the city’s information, Riverhold had a branch of the river flowing through its center.
Along that branch, buildings could be seen, as well as a floating platform located at its heart.
The city possessed the banners of Liogres, a commercial district, and a noble district, in addition to inns for all types of people, from the poor to the wealthy and nobility.
The upper district housed the nobles who governed the city, such as the governor and senators, while fishermen and the lower classes lived in the lower district, selling their goods and ensuring a prosperous economy.
Despite the differences between nobles and commoners, harmony could be seen throughout the streets…
At least, that was what the sign claimed.
Yashina: “This city is well structured.”
Kamero: “Indeed.”
While Kamero analyzed the map, the other three sat down on the edge of the fountain to rest from their journey.
Without them noticing…
Someone had been carefully observing them ever since they entered the city.
Yashina discreetly looked around.
Yashina: “This is the first place where we’ve seen demi-humans living normally alongside humans. Until now, we’ve only passed through human villages.”
Aysa nodded.
Aysa: “Looks like this kind of interaction will become common from now on.”
Hitori, however…
Had his feet inside the fountain.
Hitori: “Wow…”
Hitori: “The water’s so cold…”
Yashina immediately became concerned.
Yashina: “I don’t think you should do that…”
Hitori: “Huh?”
Yashina: “There might be laws against it here…”
Aysa quickly agreed.
Aysa: “She’s right.”
Hitori rolled his eyes.
Hitori: “Alright, you nags…”
But the moment he started pulling his feet out of the water—
WHOOSH!
A blur shot across the plaza.
Before Hitori could react—
Something jumped directly onto his back.
???: “MOVE!”
A female voice echoed at the moment of impact.
SPLAAAAASH!
Hitori was launched straight into the fountain.
Yashina’s eyes widened.
Yashina: “HITORI!”
Aysa covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Aysa: “Wow…”
Aysa: “That was a beautiful fall…”
Hitori emerged from the water completely soaked.
Hitori: “Did somebody write down the score?!”
Yashina quickly approached him in concern.
Yashina: “Are you alright?!”
Hitori wiped his face.
Hitori: “As much as possible…”
Then he angrily looked around, trying to find whoever had pushed him.
Kamero finally turned around after hearing the commotion.
Kamero: “What happened?”
Hitori furiously pointed at the fountain.
Hitori: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT HAPPENED?!”
Hitori: “I JUST GOT THROWN IN HERE!”
Then he paused.
Because he realized something.
Hitori: “…Wait.”
Hitori: “Where did she go?”
Aysa tilted her head slightly.
Aysa: “She?”
Hitori immediately nodded.
Hitori: “Yeah!”
Hitori: “That girl is going to pay for this!”
During the brief seconds before falling completely into the water, Hitori had managed to partially see the face of the person who had jumped on him.
Even though she wore a cloak covering most of her body…
He had clearly seen feminine features.
And worse.
She had been smiling.
Hitori: “That brat even smiled at me…”
At that moment—???: “Hey, you!”
About five city guards came running through the plaza.
They all looked exhausted and out of breath.
???: “Did you see someone running through here?!”
Kamero immediately replied.
Kamero: “We just saw someone fleeing in that direction.”
He calmly pointed toward one of the side streets.
???: “Thank you!”
???: “Let’s go!”
The guards immediately ran off.
Hitori slowly turned toward Kamero.
Hitori: “I thought you hadn’t seen anything.”
Kamero smiled faintly.
Kamero: “That’s right.”
Kamero: “I simply wanted to see the expression on your face when I said that.”
Hitori: “Go to hell…”
Yashina watched the direction the guards had gone with concern.
Yashina: “I wonder why they were chasing her.”
Aysa crossed her arms.
Aysa: “Judging from their faces…”
Aysa: “That girl definitely did something serious.”
Kamero turned back toward the map.
Kamero: “Regardless, that’s none of our concern.”
Kamero: “Let’s go.”
Kamero: “I’ve already located a garrison.”
The group resumed walking.
Without realizing it…
Hitori still occasionally glanced toward the street where the girl had disappeared.
They crossed part of Riverhold’s central district while the city grew increasingly lively with the approach of evening.
Carriages traveled through the main roads.
Merchants shouted their offers from every direction.
And the constant sound of water splashing against the vessels on the Lovrelis River could be heard even from afar, blending with the noise of the crowd.
Hitori walked behind the others, still partially soaked.
His clothes clung uncomfortably to his body, and small droplets of water still trickled down his black hair.
Aysa noticed and let out a small laugh.
Aysa: “You look like a cat that fell into a bucket.”
Hitori shot her a deadly glare.
Hitori: “That wasn’t funny at all.” Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
Aysa: “Yes, it was.”
Yashina tried not to laugh as she walked beside them.
But her shoulders trembled slightly.
Hitori noticed immediately.
Hitori: “You’re laughing too, aren’t you?”
Yashina quickly looked away.
Yashina: “N-No…”
Kamero merely sighed while walking ahead, analyzing the small map he had copied from the central plaza.
Kamero: “Honestly…”
Kamero: “I’m beginning to think accidents naturally happen to you.”
Hitori: “You people are so ungrateful.”
Despite his complaints…
The atmosphere among them felt light.
Very different from the previous days.
The streets of Riverhold gradually changed as they advanced toward the inner districts.
The commercial area full of luxurious stores gave way to more organized and military sectors.
White stone buildings appeared on both sides.
The banners of Liogres waved atop towers.
And groups of knights could be seen patrolling the streets.
Then Kamero finally stopped in front of an enormous building.
The place possessed high walls, numerous blue and silver banners, and a massive main entrance guarded by armed soldiers.
Kamero: “We’ve arrived.”
Hitori slowly raised his head while observing the place.
Hitori: “Damn…”
Hitori: “Is this really a garrison?”
Aysa crossed her arms.
Aysa: “It looks more like a castle.”
Yashina observed the knights entering and leaving the place, a certain sparkle appearing in her eyes.
Yashina: “There are so many strong people here…”
Kamero nodded.
Kamero: “That’s exactly why we came.”
The group then passed through the enormous gates of the garrison.
The interior was even larger than they had imagined.
Soldiers trained in open areas.
Blacksmiths worked on weapons near the side corridors.
And adventurers of different levels walked around carrying swords, spears, and grimoires.
The smell of hot metal and wood filled the air.
Hitori looked around in amazement.
Hitori: “This feels like one of those old MMORPGs…”
Kamero answered without looking back.
Kamero: “Technically, this IS an MMORPG.”
Hitori: “Oh… right.”
Aysa placed a hand on her chin while observing some passing adventurers.
Aysa: “There are quite a few handsome people here…”
Kamero: “Focus on the objective.”
Aysa: “Handsome people can be my objective too.”
Hitori: “This woman is impossible…”
A short while later, Kamero managed to speak with one of the officers in charge of the garrison.
After receiving some directions, he returned to the group.
Kamero: “Alright.”
Kamero: “I’ve already discovered where beginner adventurers like us are supposed to go.”
Yashina: “And?”
Kamero pointed toward a more distant section of the building.
Kamero: “The eastern sector.”
Kamero: “That’s where the mission center, temporary dormitories, and training grounds for novices are located.”
Aysa immediately let out a long sigh.
Aysa: “I just want to throw myself onto a bed today…”
Hitori placed a hand on his stomach.
Hitori: “And I want food.”
Kamero crossed his arms.
Kamero: “In that case…”
Kamero: “I think we should split up.”
The three looked at him simultaneously.
Kamero naturally began organizing everything as though assuming leadership was the most obvious thing in the world.
Kamero: “Aysa.”
Kamero: “Go find an inn for us to spend the night.”
Aysa gave a playful salute.
Aysa: “Yes, sir.”
Kamero turned toward Hitori.
Kamero: “Since food is all you think about…”
Kamero: “Go to the garrison cafeteria and reserve a table for us.”
Hitori: “Hmm…”
Kamero then looked toward Yashina.
Kamero: “You’re coming with me.”
Kamero: “We’re going to examine the available missions before nightfall.”
Yashina immediately nodded.
Yashina: “Alright.”
Aysa enthusiastically raised her hand.
Aysa: “Roger!”
Hitori answered with much less enthusiasm.
Hitori: “Yeah, yeah…”
Thus, the group temporarily split up.
Yashina and Kamero headed toward the mission center.
Aysa left the garrison in search of an inn.
And Hitori…
Well…
Hitori was supposed to head to the cafeteria.
But there was one small problem.
Hitori: “I should’ve paid attention when that show-off explained where it was…”
Completely lost, he descended to one of the lower floors of the garrison while trying to figure things out on his own.
The corridors in that area were much quieter.
Unlike the bustling main building, that wing seemed almost abandoned.
Only the distant sound of footsteps echoed against the stone walls.
Hitori scratched his head in confusion.
Hitori: “There must be somebody around here…”
He continued down a narrow corridor until he reached a sharp turn at the end.
And then—
THUD!
The moment he turned the corner…
He violently collided with someone.
Both of them immediately fell to the floor.
Hitori: “O-OW!”
???: “Ugh…!”
Both started complaining at the same time.
But then…
They stopped.
Because they had finally realized who was in front of them.
Hitori’s eyes widened.
The person before him also froze completely.
The two spoke simultaneously.
– “You?!”