2-4 Part 3
The Strange Book Makes an Unreasonable
Demand to Do 5 Laps Around the Stupidly Huge Imperial Capital
- Even a Prince Runs into Villains if
He Walks Around -
Translator : PolterGlast
Day 3. Thanks to Sister's devoted nursing and the unknown
delicacies, when I woke up in the morning, my fatigue had completely vanished.
So, I decided to resume that challenge.
“Ashley-sama, where are you going...”
“You don't need to ask, I'm going to walk around the Imperial
Capital. Please give my thanks to Sister, and my apologies to Brother Georg.”
“Understood. However, please do not go to dangerous places—”
“I know. See you, Jii.”
I felt something was slightly off about Jii's attitude.
Usually, he's much more unreasonable. But since I was so engrossed in my 'walk,' I didn't
pay it much mind. As usual, I sneaked out of the palace and made my rounds of
the Imperial Capital, starting from
the West Gate.
Let me just state the result: it seems I have grown. Last
time I could only go three-quarters of the way around, but this time, I had
brilliantly completed a full lap around the Imperial Capital by the time
evening arrived.
Day 4. Jii had seen through my plan to sneak out
early in the morning.
“Do you intend to go again, Ashley-sama!? You must
not! Please, at least rest for a day before going!”
“It's fine. I got new shoes and got the hang of how to walk.
See you, I'll go walking as a form of social study.”
I still had some silver coins earned at the guild left. I
took the plunge and splurged, changing from my worn-out rags to new shoes, and
the degree of fatigue was completely different.
If I am to be active as an adventurer from now on, as the
book invites, there was no loss in mastering the very basics of walking.
Day 5. Yesterday, I safely lapped the Imperial Capital,
reaching a total of 2 + 3/4 laps. It's strange, but there's no sense of
fatigue. As indicated by that book and Zirant's note, I seem to be a
stamina freak.
“Kuh... Brother.”
Just as I was about to leave the West Gate early in the
morning to do my best again today, Brother Georg was lying in wait in
front of the gate. He used to be reliable, a bit clumsy but kind, and
strong—truly the ideal older brother... But now? I just find him hard to deal
with.
“I was waiting, Ashley. Are you going again?”
“Brother Georg... I understand what you want to say, but
please, just let me go without a lecture.”
“I cannot do that. You are my younger brother.”
“Yeah, I suppose so...”
I searched for an escape route without letting him notice. I
can't beat Brother in a sprint. If I'm a stamina freak,
Brother is an explosive power and muscle freak.
“Do not misunderstand. I came to encourage you.”
“Encourage, you say...”
“I believed that the day would come when you would wake up.”
“No, wait a minute, Brother.”
“Physical strength is most important. Seeing the lives of
the Imperial Capital citizens with your own eyes is also the proper form
for a member of the Imperial Family. Go, Ashley! Become a tough man!!”
It became an unexpected morning. Even I almost let my tear
ducts loosen. Brother, who was so strict, acknowledged my efforts. I feel like
I'm being heavily misunderstood, though.
“Yeah, actually, I saw a chance to surpass you. So please,
don't grow any further.”
“Impossible. If I lose to my brother who is six years
younger, I'll lose face.”
I don't wish to work for the sake of the Imperial Family.
Rather, I'm starting to want to become a member of the Adventurer's Guild
and live alongside the commoners.
“I see, then I'm off. Oh, and that's right, Brother Georg.
...The dried meat was delicious.”
“Mu... umu, I don't know about that. Go
quickly before I change my mind.”
The other Imperial Family members were a bunch of trash, but
Sister Atomina and Brother Georg were different. It's funny, but
being expected of by my brother made me happy, and my steps were bouncy. I even
thought it would be better if Brother inherited this country.
However, maybe thanks to this encouragement. My steps did not
lose their strength. And to my surprise when I realized it. I had gone around
one and a quarter laps just today. It meant I would achieve the goal with one
more lap.
— Exploration —
- 【Lap the Imperial Capital 5
times】
(Remaining: 1 lap)
- Completion
Reward: VIT +50
- “It
is not Georg, but you who will become the Emperor.”
Don't say stupid things, Zirant. How many times do I
have to tell you that a deformity like me cannot become Emperor for you
to understand...?
Day 6. Today is effectively the final day. I will finish the challenge of walking five laps around the Imperial
Capital, a feat that would be laughed off as a lie no matter who I boasted
to.
First, I stood at the front of the usual cafe. That auntie
immediately spotted me and came over with a smile unchanged from any other day.
“The usual Kebab Sandwich, right!”
“Yeah, but just one is fine today. If I do my best today,
it's five laps around the Imperial Capital, goal achieved.”
I want to enjoy other Imperial Capital gourmet foods
with the empty space in my stomach. My legs still have plenty of energy;
stopping by that pasta shop I had my eye on would be nice.
I'll also try stopping by a confectionery shop, though they are hard to
approach.
“Being young is nice... For Auntie, just walking over there
is a big adventure. Well, do your best, Ashley!”
“Thanks, I'll come again, Auntie.”
I decided to walk counter-clockwise today. Heading to the
North Gate, I started walking west with the morning sun at my back. Then,
arriving at the West Gate after two hours, I ate the target seafood soup pasta.
“Thank you for your patronage. Ah, customer, your shoelace
is broken.”
“...Oh, it seems so.”
“If you need a shoe store, there's one on the West Street.
You should change to better laces.”
“I'll do that. Thanks.”
As I was about to leave the store, the owner kindly
introduced me to a shop. As told, I headed to the West Street and had the laces
replaced at the shoe store I found.
However, when I left the shoe store, my eyes were stolen by
the shop opposite. Unfortunately, it wasn't that there was a delicious-looking
restaurant. There was a young woman at the storefront, and two thugs were
surrounding her.
— Purge —
- 【Bury 1 Villain】
- Completion
Reward: EXP 200 / Shovel LV
+1
- “Put
an end to the breath of evil. Acquire the courage to execute justice.”
I opened the Purge page. If those guys are villains
as they appear, they could be targets for this challenge.
“I'll say it one more time. Come under the umbrella of the Hyamar
Trading Company.”
“Look, it ain't like you guys are losing out, either! You're gonna be an
affiliate of the renowned Hyamar Trading
Company! Talk about a rock-solid business deal, huh?!”
I've heard rumors in the palace that there is a vulgar man
named Political Merchant Hyamar. That he is skilled at ingratiating
himself with the Imperial Family, and his modus operandi involves monopolizing
businesses to jack up prices.
“Sorry, but as I've said many times, I can't be complicit in
wrongdoing. I want to do business more properly.”
“Haa?! Don't say things that sound bad, you brat!”
“Hyahaha, how is a tiny dump like this a 'proper business'
anyway? You need to cool your head and get real. Am I right or what?”
The more I observe the situation, the more they fit the
conditions indicated by the book. They were playing with the short swords at
their waists, clack-clack, intimidating her with an attitude that said
they would draw if necessary.
“Eh, really? But we haven't done anything to trouble people.
Anyway, I refuse the bid-rigging. Go home already.”
“You don't seem to get it... This ain't a proposal, it's an
order!”
“The one ordered was you, uncle. We have nothing to do with Hyamar,
so I don't know anything about that.”
“Hah! Then shall I
mess you up just like your brother, you shitty brat!”
I see, they are villains. No, but even so, she's a shop
owner with guts. Finding villains I won't feel guilty about burying isn't easy.
Isn't this a pinch for her, and a chance for me?
“Try it, you young baldy!”
“Ba-Baldy... Y-Yo-You, you bastard! You said something you
shouldn't have said, oi!”
“Don't underestimate us! Big Bro is sensitive about his
thinning hair! Let's get her, Big Brooo!”
The thugs drew their short swords. However, even then, the
shop owner didn't flinch. She boldly drew a self-defense knife as well. That
settles it. I'm stepping in...
“Oi, baldy.”
“Who are you calling bald, you bastard! Gehah?!!”
It's a situation where their consciousness is directed at
each other and they aren't looking elsewhere. It can hardly be called the act
of an ally of justice, but it was perfect for a surprise attack.
“I was going to say, 'Watch out, I'm going to hit your head
with a Shovel,' but I was too late.”
“What did you do to Big Bro! Ora, die!!”
“I refuse. ...Judgment.”
“Ugehh, y-you, gegaaahh?!”
Compared to Brother Georg's demon-god-like sword
strokes, their movements were far too simple and slow. The underling, too, was
laid out flat under the eaves in an instant after just two strikes from my Shovel.
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