055: Royal Capital Main Street

November 10, 2020 - 8 minutes read - 1550 words

“We’re here! The royal capital!” Al

A bunch of people are coming and going as we passed through the castle gate. There are adventurers returning after completing a request. Workers are taking a break off to the side of the street. Also, people who are packing luggage into their carriage before setting off. I can see streets bustling with traffic and stall lining both sides.

The main street is paved with stones and large stone buildings are lined up on either side. In the distance, I can see that a magnificent castle towers over the city. Is that the royal castle? It looks big from this distance, but would it still look so good if I got closer?

“Wow! It’s so big! It’s so pretty! It’s pretty!” Mina

Mina, who jumped down from the carriage to look around, is reacting with admiration, though she’s not very eloquent.

Is the royal capital a familiar sight for Nord, Elna, and Sarah? They’re not reacting like Mina and I.

“This is Mina’s first time to visit the royal capital, right?” Al

“Yes! That’s right! I wasn’t allowed to accompany the family last time!” Mina

Mina is very excited. If she was left alone, who know where she’d run off to. I wonder if she’s the only other person from our party who hasn’t been to the capital. I feel like I hear more female voices of admiration than male voices. Men were more likely to keep their impressions unspoken.

Suddenly, a wind gust blew through the road. Many of the women who were transfixed by the capital are staring up instead of watching their feet, and their skirts fluttered causing some women to shout out “Iyaa”. It’s fun to see which gentlemen were catching a glance of undergarments. Women are fascinated by the beautiful cityscape, men are fascinated by the women’s beautiful skirts. What a contrast.

“Where are you looking at?” Woman A

“Well, you guys should learn some manners” Woman B

“Really?” Man

“Manners!” Woman C

I can hear the criticism from various women here and there. Men are starting to curse the wind now.

“You looked for a moment, right?” Elna

“I just followed the motion… my gaze moved, but I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Besides, anyone would try to see who screamed, I wasn’t looking for the lower half…” Nord

“Excuse me…” Nord

“We’ll spend some time on this later” Elna

I can hear a conversation between my mother and father. What kind of punishment is Elna thinking of.

“That was a naughty wind…” Sarah

The carriage’s passengers rode on awkwardly.

After we got past the entrance, our party headed for a luxury inn. It looks like it was restricted to aristocracy, as it was very different from the inns we passed on the way. It’s clean, has a large bathhouse attached, has fluffy beds, and has security posted at the entrances. Aristocrats value their safety, so an inn would need proper security to be credible.

After the carriage and wagon were stored in the inn’s garage, Rumba and Gates headed to the Adventurer’s Guild. It seems good manners to make themselves known when they arrived. Well, both of them have been previously active in the royal capital, so it’s not that weird. Rumba and Gates were escorting our family on the way, but they’re not that necessary now. The royal capital is kept safe from the guards and knights that frequently patrol during normal hours. Late at night, it’s no so safe, but during the day there’s plenty of children running around the main street.

After we had lunch at the inn and freshened up some, I went out to explore the main street with Mina. Nord isn’t coming along as he’s being punished by Elna for his wandering gaze. Sarah is staying with them for maid duty, so it’s just Mina and I walking around.

“You get a different impression walking around than riding in a carriage.” Al

Delicious smells waft over from the stalls, since the lunch rush is still winding down.

The royal capital is arranged as large main streets radiating from a central square. The largest streets are the north to south and east to west boulevards that end at the main gates. Those are the busiest since they’re the largest and easiest to navigate. Shops line both sides and competition is fierce, whether it’s a cafe, a grocery store, a tool store, or a weapons store.

“This area is especially interesting.” Al

Are we in the vegetable district? I see a bunch of sellers calling out potential customers.

“Hey! We have many fresh vegetables. How about the pretty lady over there! Make a delicious dinner with our vegetables” Vendor

“Oh, do you mean me?” Mina

“Of course, beautiful. You should check out these vegetables handled by this strong shop owner. They take after my rugged physique, they’re guaranteed to make you strong.” Vendor

“Huh?” Mina

“Don’t be fooled though! The vegetables at other stalls will be squishy and undernourished! Look at this radish, it looks as strong as a human’s thigh!” Vendor

I’m pretty sure that there’s no relationship between a vendor’s physique and any effects of eating the vegetables. Also, don’t compare radishes and thighs.

“What is this radish? Doesn’t it make you drool with desire? Look at this amazing radish! The thickness is just perfect and it’s sweet throughout. If you put on some socks! What?” Vendor

Mina started to leave when the seller brought out some radish-sized socks. Why is there a shopkeeper holding a radish in a sock?

“Mom, that man is putting socks on a radish!” Child

“Don’t look at it” Mother

Mothers with children are moving away in both directions to prevent their children from being influenced by the strange vegetable seller.

“No thank you” Mina

Mina and I left that vegetable shop. What is with the capital’s vegetable sellers?

Mina and I walk through the vegetable district, not paying too much attention to the vendors unless we see something one of us wants to try.

“Mr. Alfred, this meat is amazing! When I chew it, it has a good toughness and stays delicious!” Mina

“Yeah, every time you bite down the juices ooze out and they’re delicious. It’s not pork or poultry, it’s somewhat like beef, but not quite…” Al

As I’m trying to place the meat type, the vendor called out to us.

“Oh? Haven’t you had Woocey meat before?” Vendor

“Woocey meat? What animal is that?” Al

“It’s a cow-like monster that can be hunted around the royal capital. Doesn’t this sauce bring out the inner flavours?” Vendor

Woocey

A cow-like monster that inhabits the grasslands near the Misfilt Royal Capital. It’s larger and more muscular than the cattle it resembles and has a ferocious temperament that causes it to charge any creature that approaches it. Hunters should prepare to receive or dodge the charge, but many adventurer’s underestimate the creature and are hurt every year.

The chewiness and flavour make the meat widely popular among residents of the capital. Thanks to the creature’s large body, thrusting attacks often fail, but if you can kill the animal, a significant amount of meat will be obtained. I’ve heard that monster meat can be consumed, but I’m not aware of any tasty species around Koriat Village.

“Shi’ve heard zhat monshter meat is edivle, but I didn’t frink it vould tashe sho good!” Mina

I which Mina would finish what she’s eating before speaking. I’m worried she’ll get sauce on her maid uniform, but she’s managed to keep it clean, that’s weird.

“They’re delicious, want another one?” Vendor

“Definitely” Al & Mina

I asked the Woocey skewer vendor about other recommended stalls, and later visited most of them. I’m currently resting my feet on the side of the road while drinking some fruit juice. Since the roads are so long, the government has added benches at various places for tired people to rest and hungry people to eat. This fruit juice mix is delicious, it’s sweet with just the right amount of tanginess. I wonder what juices are used? Maybe it would be good on shaved ice?

While I was thinking about fruit juice, I saw a little girl nearby walking around confidently. She has her blonde hair done up in twin-tails. She seems to be looking for someone as she stretches around, jumps, and looks around. As she moves around, the red ribbon in her hair flutters in cute manner. She’s about four years younger than me? With her fancy tailored white dress, she’s likely to be another noble like me. While I was watching her, I felt like our eyes met. I glanced away and pretended to take a sip of fruit juice, but I soon felt a tug on my shirt.

Of course this would happen, maybe I can get Mina to help her? Looking at Mina, she just crammed a bunch of cookies into her mouth, so I won’t get any help from her. She always seems to have cookies with her.

While I’m checking on Mina, another stronger tug on my shirt occurs. I look down to where the tug is coming from…

“What do you need?” Al

“I Ra-chan!” the girl replied cheerfully.

I have a bad feeling about this…