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Chapter 77. Uninvited Guests In The Wilderness

(Third Person)

Pilatus Royal Castle.

According to scant traditions, it was built shortly after the Great Midal Kingdom era. It is said that the northwest of the continent became uninhabitable land along with the end of Great Midal. Of course, this royal castle area was no exception and remained abandoned for hundreds of years.

But people crossed the Midal Mountains again and came to this wilderness. Although the royal castle had been abandoned for hundreds of years, it was still sturdy for practical use.

Initially, there was no ruler in this walled city, and refugees naturally gathered, forming a village community. This city, which developed as a single market, flourished as a maritime city.

However, a city without a ruler developed disproportionately without proper defense. That's when a mercenary group took notice.

Small-scale mercenaries with a modest force quickly overwhelmed the self-defense forces like vigilantes, and the city got occupied.

Then, the leader of the mercenaries proclaimed himself king, confiscated the wealth of merchants and residents, and used it to repair the castle, walls, and city walls, and further refurbished the largest port of that time.

Although the merchants resented him, the head who repaired the broken city walls alleviated the fears of the residents, garnering some support. Additionally, small-time merchants whose properties were not confiscated made fortunes at the refurbished port, also gaining some support.

Thus, gradually, the leader became king, and Pilatus the First was born.

Pilatus the First was fond of luxury and women, but by leading a mercenary group, he had a certain charisma and knowledge of leading people. Also, there were talented individuals among his subordinates, so the country developed relatively smoothly.

But Pilatus the First was not blessed with many children. He had many wives, but only daughters were born.

And finally, the son was born, who is the current king, Pilatus the Second. The First doted on his son. No, he spoiled him.

He indulged him as he pleased.

At the age of 27, Pilatus the Second succeeded to the throne.

And the era of the Pig King began.

After six years of the Pig King's rule, the Pilatus Kingdom had reached its limit.

The royal castle, built in an era when the technology of the Great Midal Kingdom remained, was small but still towering through the vivid sky even today.

And a procession of carriages approached the sandy-colored royal castle. These splendid carriages were unsuitable for this fallen country.

Surrounded by escort private soldiers, it seemed like a kind of army.

"Halt!"

The guards shouted at the gate of the royal castle. The guards, with their impressive armor, looked more elite than the soldiers patrolling the city, indicating their status.

Two figures stepped down from the carriage before these elite guards.

One was a flashy woman with red hair, red leather armor, red boots, and red chains. The other was a man in simple but expensive ethnic clothing. They were Cherina and Melvin, a close associate of the Veliero Trading Company.

"Good morning. Thank you for your service."

The woman bowed with a refreshing smile.

"Hmm, the Veliero Trading Company?"

"Yes. I'm Cherina Veliero. We sent a letter requesting an audience with His Majesty the King last night. Is there any problem?"

The guard frowned.

"Last night? It's unlikely that permission for an audience with His Majesty would be granted in such a short time. Don't you think it's impolite to come here so suddenly?"

The guard tapped the ground lightly with the stone tip of his spear, looking displeased.

"Yes. We understand your rudeness. Could you please check again?"

"We can't let in anyone without an appointment."

"Just confirming won't hurt. Could you please?"

Cherina slowly took the guard's hand and gave him something. After Cherina stepped back, the guard glanced briefly at what was in his hand.

"Hmm... all right... if it's just for confirmation, then it's fine. Wait here for a moment."

"Thank you."

The guard instructed another guard to run inside the castle. It seemed he was the highest-ranking among them.

Before the running guard reached the castle entrance, the gates were swung open widely. The guard, who hadn't signaled for the gate to be opened yet, looked up at the double doors in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

The guard lowered his gaze to the direction where he was addressed, straight ahead, and saw a man of medium build standing there. The guard recognized his face and ended up jumping up to knee level.

"Bu-bu-bu-bu!"

Was a fly buzzing around?

"Minister Blow Sora!"

He greeted with the highest salute possible in that position, but Blow waved his hand lightly.

"Why are you standing there?"

The guard was saluting directly in front of Blow. It was common to salute while stepping aside to avoid blocking the passage. It would be a major mistake for someone in an honorary position like a gatekeeper.

"I-I-I-I-I-I apologize!"

The guard managed to maneuver his body somehow to move to the side and took the saluting posture. At this point, the guard was prepared to get punished. After all, he had shown disrespect to Blow Sora, who was one of the top three people in the country. He couldn't stop sweating.

"Why were you in such a hurry?"

"W-Well! Um, there was a sudden request for an audience..."

He immediately regretted saying it. An emergency audience would never be allowed.

The guard shed tears in his heart.

It was over for him. His honorable position as a gatekeeper, which he had finally obtained, was over. Sorry, grandma.

"Oh, it's about Miss Cherina Veliero? I checked the document just a while ago. Miss Veliero is already here, isn't she?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Good timing. Please, show me the way."

"Y-Yes, right away!"

With tears streaming down his cheeks, the guard guided Blow to the entrance with the protocol for escorting dignitaries.

Blow breathed out lightly so that the man couldn't hear him. He knew what was going on in the guard's mind, and he had no intention of punishing him.

(I'm not that important, you know.)

Blow's mutterings went unheard by anyone.

――――

It's a bit complicated. But in the Pilatus Kingdom, there are four large gates called 'castle gates'.

Naturally, the original castle gate refers only to the castle gate. It refers to the massive double doors that Blow came out of earlier.

In times of war, this gate would serve as the last line of defense and is made of sturdy and splendid construction.

It usually remains closed, and it only opens and closes when certain individuals like royals, ministers, and generals pass through.

It also serves as a gate for infantry and cavalry to enter and exit during wartime.

In practice, if the enemy were to approach this far, it would be a defeat already, as the castle walls surrounding the castle would have been breached.

That gate in the castle walls is the castle wall gate.

For the citizens, this gate is the 'castle gate'. It's commonly known as the castle gate. It's where Cherina and her companions are waiting.

There are two other places referred to as 'castle gates'.

These are the north gate, and east gate in the 'city wall', which further surrounds the castle and walls.

For the common citizens, there is no distinction between the castle wall and the city wall, and especially from the perspective of foreigners, this outermost gate is the 'castle gate'. So, generally, there are four places referred to as 'castle gates'.

However, as mentioned earlier, there is only one official castle gate, the remaining are castle wall gates and the north gate and east gate of the city wall.

It's irrelevant, but Akira and Hagg entered the country through the north gate of the city wall, and they visited Cherina's experimental ground multiple times through the east gate of the city wall.

When Blow reached the courtyard between the castle wall and the castle and reached the castle wall gate, there was a group gathered with noticeable carriages.

"Good morning, Miss Veliero."

Blow Sora greeted the visitors with his usual expressionless face.