2-4 Part 1
The Strange Book Makes an Unreasonable
Demand to Do 5 Laps Around the Stupidly Huge Imperial Capital
- Zirant's Paradise -
Translator : PolterGlast
I knew at a glance that it was a dream. The place was
entirely different from the world I knew. There was a blue lake. The warm
sunlight reflected white off the water's surface, which was constantly rippling
in the breeze.
Plants I had only ever seen in picture books grew like
mountains. Palm trees, ferns, pineapples, mangoes, phoenix trees, and
innumerable creeping vines. It was a tropical paradise with a lake.
“Ashley, welcome. I have been waiting for a long
time, for the day you would come here...” “What, it's you? What's with this
sudden change of attitude?”
Evil Dragon Zirant.
Or rather, the blue-haired girl who calls herself that seemed to be in a good
mood. After all, I am moving according to her wishes, following the guidance of
that book. ...For now, at least.
“Come here, I will praise you.”
“I'm not doing this to be praised. No, I remember now, Zirant;
I had something to say to you.”
“Very well, I shall grant any wish.”
“That helps. Then Zirant, I demand an improvement.
Certainly, that book has given me wonderful growth potential, but I cannot
accept that I glow regardless of the place.”
“Fumu...”
“Please, do something about it...”
Zirant's
reaction was not favorable. The youthful-looking girl with a well-featured face
gazed beyond the paradise with her eyes. I get it, it's impossible, isn't it...
“Alright, state another wish.”
“Then I need nothing.”
Near the lake was a white sandy beach. Sitting down heavily
there, I also gazed at this mysterious paradise from a distance.
“Do not be so sullen, Ashley. Or should I call you Shinza?”
“Don't tell me your hobby is peeping.”
“Yes, I see everything. But do not mind it; I am Evil
Dragon Zirant, not a race of the
surface.”
“So what? Does that mean you have the right to peep into my
private life?”
“Kukuku... It means that no matter how unsightly your
actions may be, I will never be disappointed in you.”
I don't really understand. Don't mind it because it's the
gaze of a human looking at a pet dog, or a god looking at a human. If that's
what you want to say, there's no way I wouldn't mind, Zirant.
Moreover, the petite beauty
sat down next to me and leaned her shoulder against mine. No, actually...
gradually, 'leaning on me' became the more accurate description.
“Sigrun, you, and Brother Georg... why does no
one listen to what people say...”
“You are lonely, aren't you?”
“What are you saying?”
“Say nothing, I shall comfort you.”
Isn't it usually the other way around? I was embraced from
behind by a girl much smaller than me. The girl with Dragon Eyes brought
her face close to the side of my face, which was looking only straight ahead.
And then Zirant—
“Fuuuuuu...”
“Ugh, uhyih...?! W-What are you doing, Zirant!!”
She blew her breath into my ear even more skillfully than Sigrun.
My body jumped sensitively, I fell backward, and losing my strength, I couldn't
stand up properly.
“Umu, while comforting you, I decided to test a honey
trap. Here, try remembering just the other day. Sigrun, she is an
interesting woman.”
“Damn, you really are watching everything...”
“Indeed. Seeing is my very essence, Ashley, despised
Child of the Emperor. Show me the continuation of your story.”
I understood. She calls herself an Evil Dragon, but
her perspective and values are those of a god. It was as if I were a book meant
to entertain her, while I myself was being spurred on by that book..
I had a strange dream, but let's forget about it, as it
affects my motivation from here on. When I woke up the next morning, I looked
down again at the Tome of the Evil Dragon—or rather, what could be
called a trophy list.
— Exploration —
- 【Lap the Imperial Capital 5 times】
- Completion
Reward: VIT +50
- “Walk,
do not run.”
Starting today, I intend to challenge this unreasonable
demand. That being the case, immediate action is required. I lined up the
dug-up yams on the desk and wrote a letter to Jii.
『I dug these up. Eat them and get
some nourishment since you're old.』
If I dawdle, Jii will come to wake me up. Therefore,
I immediately fled from the palace. After all, if I fill my stomach with
breakfast here, I won't have room for the deeply flavorful fast food of the Imperial
Capital.
Since it's a good opportunity, let me explain. About 100,000
people live in this Imperial Capital. Its name is Bergelmir;
apparently, the name comes from a giant of legend. This land houses the central
government offices of the Empire, military garrisons, the palace, the noble
district, headquarters and branches of trading companies from all over, and
every kind of specialty shop imaginable.
If you include the laborers and traders coming from the
suburbs, the daytime population would easily be more than triple that.
Therefore, I guarantee that just walking one lap around the inner perimeter of
the Imperial Capital will take at least a full day.
But it is worth doing. If I walk five laps like my life
depends on it, my VIT or whatever will increase by 50. A growth rate
likely six times the benefit gained from leveling up; if I want to get closer
to Brother Georg, this is the roundabout shortcut.
Or rather, the other challenges are too unreasonable. Then I
should vomit blood walking around the Imperial Capital and obtain a
tough body of VIT +50 before thinking about the others.
Now, let's go. Having sneaked out of the palace, I first
aimed for the Imperial Capital North Gate. From there, I plan to proceed
clockwise around the inner perimeter of the capital.
So first, I came out onto the Red Avenue. To use a
metaphor, it is the aorta of Imperial Capital Bergelmir. You could say
it is one of the prides of the Empire.
The spectacle would be its width and state of maintenance.
It is a road paved orderly with standardized red bricks, possessing a width so
vast that you cannot distinguish the faces of people walking on the opposite
side with the naked eye.
Therefore, every time people walk this street, they are made
to realize just how ridiculously huge this Empire is. The Red Avenue
cuts the Imperial Capital into a cross, each leading to the East, West,
South, and North Gates.
“Auntie, two Kebab Sandwiches.”
“Oh my, Ashley! You really don't get tired of them,
do you? Just wait a bit!”
Also naturally, this place has the heaviest traffic within
the Empire's territory. Just as ancient people built settlements along rivers,
merchants have made their shops prosper along this red cross.
“Excavation again today?”
“No, I thought I'd try doing a lap around the Imperial
Capital. On foot.”
I paid the price, received the Kebab Sandwiches, and
immediately bit into one. The auntie was exasperated too. Even I am exasperated
by the absurdity of this book.
“You're a boy too, huh... By any chance, is it a prayer for
success or something?”
“Something like that. Actually, Auntie, I thought I wanted
to become a slightly tougher man.”
“Ahahaha, you want to gain confidence! Do your best!”
“Yeah, I'll do my best.”
I wonder if Zirant is enjoying even this kind of
trivial conversation. Thinking that, somehow, coming full circle, I feel
something akin to empathy.
It means it's not so different from me being obsessed with
stories from another world.
“Ugh...”
In the evening, I finally exhausted my stamina. Eventually,
I collapsed with my back against a roadside tree, and for a while, neither my
head nor body moved a twitch.
I planned for one lap a day, but it seems I overestimated my
own stamina... The Imperial Capital is surrounded by castle walls in a
square shape. I walked silently along those walls from morning till evening.
Looking forward to the fast food I would eat at the next
main street. Deep-fried chicken, grilled skewers, steamed potatoes, flour
sweets with nuts, sandwiches, and freshly squeezed orange juice were all
delicious.
But exactly at three-quarters, I reached my limit. Starting
from the Imperial Capital North Gate and proceeding clockwise, I was
able to pay my respects to the East, South, and West Gates like this. I couldn't
achieve the goal, but this in itself brings a great sense of accomplishment.
“Zirant...?”
Did I worry her because I stopped moving? The book inside my
bag shook on its own. Curious, I checked inside, and text had been added to that
page.
— Exploration —
- 【Lap the Imperial Capital 5
times】
(Remaining: 4 + 1/4 laps)
- Completion
Reward: VIT +50
- “There
is a limit to effort. Rest for today, you fool.”
Even though I was exhausted, my lips smiled unconsciously.
Even though I was only responding to Zirant's absurdity, somehow I was
being worried about.
Truly a dragon-sama whose name of Evil Dragon is
unfitting. But no need to worry; the shared carriage station is right there.
Managing to stand up, I rode it and returned to the palace with exhausted,
tangled legs.
It's deadly tough. But I didn't know that walking through
the city was this interesting. Is this also Zirant's scheme? But this
kind of thing is most welcome; I can still keep going.
Because there are still countless Imperial Capital
gourmet foods I haven't eaten yet... I have the earnings from herb gathering
too. Now, what shall I eat tomorrow...? I'm looking forward to it.
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