Chapter 15: At the Gates of Norest

The cityscape that had once seemed so distant now loomed right before us.

The walls were tall and sturdy, and the gates were guarded by multiple soldiers.

It was on a completely different scale from any post town or village we had visited before.

So this was the city of Norest.

It might not rival the royal capital the magistrate knight had spoken of, but it was surely bustling.

Before the gates, travelers and merchants stood in line.

We joined the queue and waited our turn to enter the city.

Rowena’s eyes were wide as she stared at the massive gates she was seeing for the first time.

Eventually, it was our turn.

The guards stood in strict formation, carrying an air of authority.

Thinking how different they were from the guards of the provincial capital, I followed their instructions.

“We’ll inspect your belongings. Open your pack.”

His tone was flat and businesslike.

As told, I removed my pack and opened it.

After checking the contents, the guard’s gaze fell on the massive drake’s tail tied to my left shoulder.

“…What is that?”

The slightly younger guard standing beside him looked at it with both curiosity and suspicion.

“It’s the tail of a drake.”

I answered honestly.

There was no point lying, and it wasn’t something that could be hidden anyway.

The guards looked up at me in surprise.

“A drake!? That one!? How did you get it?”

“Well, I happened to encounter it in the Blackleaf Forest.”

I pointed to Rowena beside me.

She quietly watched our exchange.

“This child was being chased by something in the forest. I found her and took her in, and the thing chasing her turned out to be that drake.”

“Good or bad luck, it seemed already wounded. Even so, it was quite formidable… I fought while desperately trying to keep my distance, and by chance I managed to strike its weak point. When I cut off its tail, I was able to drive it away.”

By chance.

Desperately running.

I framed it not as a skilled swordsman slaying a monster, but as a mere traveler surviving by luck.

If I claimed to have inflicted a mortal wound on a drake alone, they likely wouldn’t believe me anyway.

It would only cause trouble.

“Even wounded… you drove off a drake alone?”

The younger guard still looked doubtful.

Understandable.

“Yes, well. Oh, and this. I found it in the forest. It seems to be a detailed map of the Blackleaf Forest.”

I took out the forest map I had found in the kidnappers’ hut and lightly waved it before him.

More accurately, I made sure he saw it clearly.

That should lend some credibility.

Upon seeing how detailed the map was, the young guard’s eyes widened further.

“Th-this is…”

“Well, I couldn’t exactly leave this child alone, so I brought her to the city.”

I concluded my explanation and waited to see how they would respond.

The younger guard looked from the map to me, to Rowena, and then to the drake’s tail.

Then, as if making a decision, he said,

“Understood. Please wait a moment. I will call my superior. Could you wait in that guard station over there?”

As expected.

Troublesome, but unavoidable.

“Understood.”

I nodded and led Rowena into the indicated guard station.

It was a simple room with only a few benches.

We sat down quietly and waited.

Rowena pressed close to me, looking uneasy.

After a while, the door opened.

Entering with the young guard was a middle-aged soldier clad in armor, clearly experienced.

He was likely in charge of this gate.

“I’ve heard from my subordinate. You encountered and drove off a drake in the Blackleaf Forest?”

His words were concise.

I met his eyes directly.

“That is correct.”

“And this map?”

He pointed at it.

“I found it in a ruined hut deep in the forest. It detailed the area thoroughly, which was a great help.”

I spread the map out before him.

He glanced at it once and appeared startled by its detail.

“This is…! To have found something like this. Can you show me where you encountered the drake and where this hut was located?”

I pointed out the approximate locations on the map.

The drake had been along the road.

The hut was off to the side.

“It would be difficult to explain precisely without this map. I apologize, but as I am still traveling, I cannot hand it over. However, if necessary, you are welcome to make a copy.”

This map would be extremely useful for the journey ahead.

Since it belonged to kidnappers, it might include information not found on official maps.

I couldn’t simply give it away.

After a moment of consideration, the superior nodded.

“A copy, then… Very well. Please wait while we examine it.”

He handed the map to the young guard and gave him instructions.

“Now, about this girl…”

I told Rowena to wait there for a moment.

She looked uneasy but nodded.

I stepped aside with the superior to a corner, lowering my voice so she wouldn’t hear.

“She has nowhere to return to. I found her alone in the forest and took her in. She also struggles to speak…”

I explained that Rowena could barely talk and that she was an orphan.

I honestly asked for advice on what to do next.

The superior listened silently.

Then he looked between my face and Rowena sitting quietly inside.

“I see… A child with nowhere to go.”

After a brief pause, he took out paper and pen from his pocket.

“This city has an orphanage. They should take her in. I’ll write you a letter of introduction.”

It was an unexpected kindness.

Though it was part of his duty, I hadn’t expected such consideration.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

I expressed my gratitude sincerely.

This would secure a place for Rowena.

While he wrote the letter, the young guard approached Rowena.

It seemed copying the map had been assigned to him.

After glancing at it, he began speaking to her.

Rowena was hesitant at first, but she showed interest in a small ornament hanging from his sword hilt, and they quickly warmed to each other.

Even without shared words, he made her laugh through gestures.

Watching them, I felt a small sense of relief.

I received the letter of introduction from the superior and got my map back as well.

After expressing my thanks, I went to get Rowena.

She waved goodbye to the young guard before taking my hand.

“Let’s go, Rowena. We’re entering the city.”

She nodded and squeezed my hand in return.

We passed beneath the grand gates of Norest.

The lively noise of the city rushed into our ears.

The chatter of countless people, the creaking of wagons, the calls of shopkeepers.

It was overflowing with vitality.

Now then, where should we go first?

There was no need to head to the orphanage immediately.

Perhaps I could show Rowena a bit of the city first.

And there was also the Golden Scales Inn the caravan had mentioned.

The drake’s tail was heavy and cumbersome.

At the entrance of the great city, Rowena and I came to a stop.