The next day, from the carriage, we could finally see a big city before our eyes.
It is likely Norcheim.
“Is that Norcheim? those are quite the high walls”
Cecil, who is also sitting on the platform, said so.
I also look closely, but the whole city is indeed surrounded by a stone wall that is nearly 10 meters high.
It’s better to call it a citadel rather than just a city.
“That’s quite a heavy atmosphere it is giving. Brace yourselves guys.”
Cecil nodded to my words.
I already know that people of Norcheim hold grudges towards other races, but I didn’t think it’s enough to create a city so fortified like this.
They might be even more obstinate than we expected.
Thinking about what we’ll do from hereafter, I could only give a sigh.
“If they don’t let us in, we have no choice but to break in by force”
“Ah, Allan-sama! You can’t do that!”
Did she hear my mutter? Cecil immediately detained me in panic.
“But I must meet the King of Norcheim by all means. You know that, right?”
As I put emphasis on my mission, Cecil gave a frown.
This is also for Algarde. And half of my purpose.
I can’t go back to my country until I finished my mission.
“Well, that was the last resort anyway. Let’s try going straight to the front first”
“That’s right, Allan-sama. Who knows, they might surprisingly let us pass through”
Nodding to Cecil’s words, I advanced the carriage.
We approached the front in a dignified manner.
Then, some people came out from a checlpoint-like place next to the gate.
“That carriage over there, stop it next to the gate!”
A man of age, who is probably the leader, came out and incited us.
However, though it was lightly armored, he approached us with insecurity.
Some of the men in his back are armed with spears.
For the time being, I stopped the carriage next to the gate as instructed by them.
“All of you get off!”
“Yeah, I got it”
I also told Fran and the others in the carriage, and they all got off, one after the other.
“You, aren’t you an elf?” Morever, a fairy……. What do you want with this town?”
Perhaps I should have expected this, as the leading figure gaze at us with a suspicious look.
“This is not like Bivnaheim, and unless you have a good reason, all non-human races are banned from entry. I’m sure you have already heard it from them”
He said, and made a signal to his men to surround us.
It already became a pretty dangerous situation, and it’s not just from the arms they are carrying.
I really want to settle this with talks as much as possible.
That’s why – I removed the sword with the scabbard in my waist and presented it to the leader.
“Well now. I know you are all cautious, but they don’t have any weapons, so you don’t have to aim at them either”
“……Fine. Just hand yours over”
I handed the sword over as he said.
It’s good that the other party has opened to talks. If we were attacked in this time, we won’t be able to retaliate immediately.
Once they also sheathed their weapons, I began to tell our mission.
“Though I’m an ordinary elf to you, I am the prince of Arinheim. I want to have an audience with the king of this country”
To a suspecting party like him, I should not use such petty tricks.
Besides, I’m not good at lying anyway.
“A prince you say? And where is your proof?”
The leader frowned in displeasure.
“Alright. Is this enough for you?”
I who have been expecting those words, pulled out the branch of the King Tree in my bosom.
The leader who saw it almost popped his eyes in surprise.
“That is, it’s the King Tree’s-“
“Of course it is. Now do you understand the importance of this?”
And just like that, the leader, with a difficult-to-describe expression, said unto me.
“Wait here. I will call the person in charge”
Then he ran to the checkpoint.
“Now then, I wonder what kind of guy will come next. I hope he or she could be reasoned with”
“I hope so too, Allan-sama……”
Cecil agreed, while brushing Helena’s hair.
Maybe because of being surrounded by men, she felt uneasy.
In the meantime, the leader came back from the checkpoint.
Behind him was a woman.
“These are the guys that have the branch of the King Tree”
The woman is not wearing any armor, but you can tell that she is a fighter.
Perhaps, she’s the superior of these guards.
“Greetings. I am Allan, Prince of Alinheim. I came here to Norcheim to discuss a very important issue with His Majesty the King”
“The Prince of Elves want to discuss something with the King? I see……”
She nodded a few times as she appraised us with her gaze up and down.
Meanwhile, I am also observing the other party.
Her gait is tight, and her height is a bit higher for a woman. Though she’s still a bit shorter than me.
Provoking from the side of her navy blue hairs is a side ponytail.
Her eyes also gave a sharp glint, just like what you feel on a warrior or a knight.
And, the most noticeable part is that chest.
It is too big, even for my hands. It’s almost as big as Effie’s.
If our talks go well, I would like to invite her for a drink sometime.
“You are the group that gathers branches of the King Trees of the other nations, am I right?”
“What, you know it already? If so, then we can skip the details then”
“Yes, we heard these rumors just recently”
She replied, along with an introduction.
“I go by the name of Erune Nyx. I am the commander of the Knight Brigade guarding this city”
“Thank you very much for your courteousness. I’d appreciate it if you’d let us through.”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot do that”
I thought our talks will go smoothly with this, but Erune shook her head.
“I have certainly confirmed the branch of the King Tree is genuine, but we have no guarantee if you are really a prince. We still need confirmation.”
“Confirmation? Then what will you do?”
“Send a messenger to Alinheim. That will be our confirmation”
“Oh come on! Don’t you know how long will it take?”
“Everything is for the safety of our city”
I tried to persuade Erune, but she won’t give in no matter what I do.
This woman is too hard to crack.
“And just a warning. Don’t even think of breaking in by force”
Erune puts her hand to her sword in her waist, threatening us.
“I see. You are saying that you won’t hesitate to kill even the defenseless me when things get awry. Is that right?”
“Even if you are a prince, it is better than letting suspicious people enter our city”
Apparently, their vigilance against other races seems to be more than I expected.
However, I cannot wait that long.
As my companions have increased, my desire to return to my home country also increased.
It is fine with just me and Cecil, but it is bad even for me to have the others accompany me for who knows how many months and years.
If it comes to this, I have no choice but to rely on magic.
“Erune, can I have a moment? Just you and I”
While approaching her, I secretly invoked my temptation magic.
I haven’t made any big spells recently, so I still have enough magic power in stock.
“What, jus the two…of……us, you say?”
I can already see Erune feeling a bit dizzy from taking a direct hit as she looked at me.
Though Temptation Magic is strong, it was a spell that cannot be seen from the outside.
“I have no other intentions. I just want to speak with you, just the two of us”
I stood before her, giving her a good smile as I said that.
Usually, a smile like this is already enough to make any woman fall for me……
“Wh-what are you talking about? J-just the two of us is……”
She refused me, taking a step back.
By that action, I stepped forward, gradually approaching Erune little by little.
The magic spell has an effect that can make anyone aroused as long as they are nearby.
Anyway, I narrowed down the distance between the two of us, as I talked to her.
“I only want to have a good small talk with you. Can we settle this down with just the two of us? You don’t want this to escalate to a national issue, don’t you?
In reality, my father does not really know what I’m doing, what I have done, and what I’m about to do.
However, Erune is not supposed to know that.
“……I understand. But it will just be a small talk, you and I. Nothing beyond that, you hear?”
She’s still stubborn, but she accepted my offer.
Alright, now we can be alone with this!
After that, I will ask Erune for some help, as usual.
