บท 51: Calice (1)
Calice was the southernmost city of the kingdom of Alterna. It neighbored the Exiled Lands at the south and the Diadel Duchy to the west.
Due to its closeness to the Exiled Lands, Calice city's surroundings were filled with monsters. Most of these monsters were the descendants of monsters that escaped from the exiled lands, reproducing through the years until becoming a threat to the people of the city.
The kingdom tried more than once to eliminate the monsters, but the killed monsters were quickly replaced by new monsters that emigrated from the exiled lands, attracted to the abundant lands in this side of the mountain range.
In the end, the kingdom could do nothing about the source of the monsters, the exiled lands. So, after various expeditions, the kingdom stopped trying to kill all the monsters.
Thus, the monster population grew. Weak and strong monsters of different sizes and different shapes reproduced and thrived in this land. The surroundings of Calice soon became in a paradise for monsters.
But where is a supply, there is a demand.
With the increasing number of monsters, people that gained a living through the killing of said monsters started to arrive in the city.
Some of them were experienced hunters and adventurers, others were naïve youngsters with the fantasy of killing a mystical beast and becoming rich overnight. Many of them died under the fangs and claws of the monsters, but others survived and managed to achieve their dreams.
It created a delicate balance with humans and monsters killing each other. Occasionally, some strong monsters would attack the city and kill many people, and other times, a courageous adventurer would kill a powerful monster and show his spoils of war to gain the praise of the entire city.
After some decades, Calice started to be called with another name.
The City of Dreams and Nightmares.
"A rather fitting name." Regina nodded when she finished hearing the story of the city.
Bloed smiled. "Calice can be considered as one of the economic centers of the kingdom. The yearly earnings the kingdom gets due to the killing of monsters is equivalent to a seventh of the kingdom's total income."
"… Bloed, you are pretty knowledgeable about the kingdom, huh." Liu Ying looked at Bloed in curiosity. Bloed could only smile wryly. It's not as though he could tell her that he was once the prince of Alterna.
Currently, the group was lining to enter the city. Instead of entering through the southern entrance (which goes to the exiled lands), Bloed and the group flew over the city and entered through the northern entrance, the entrance that goes to the kingdom.
The southern entrance was mostly used by hunters, explorers, and adventures that left the city to hunt monsters. It would be suspicious if Bloed and the group used it to enter the city. After all, someone could wonder why a group of newcomers arrived through the southern gate instead of the northern one.
If for some reason, anyone suspected that Bloed and the others came from the exiled lands, things could turn complicated. Bloed and the others were people with secrets, so the last thing they needed was people being suspicious of them.
The line to enter the city was pretty long. The group had to wait for almost two hours before it was finally their turn. Then, they had to pay to enter the city.
Liu Ying turned nervous at that point. How could they have money when they just left the exiled lands?
But to her surprise, Bloed took out the money for the three of them and gave it to the guard.
However, the guard did not immediately let them enter after Bloed paid.
Instead, he pointed to Tito and Leto (Whose size had been reduced to one meter and fifty centimeters of height.)
"Are these magic beast yours?" The guard asked.
"Yes." Nodded Bloed. "Their names are Tito and Leto."
The guard observed at the puppy and the wolf carefully and furrowed his brows.
"I have never seen monsters like them before. Are they perhaps of an exotic race? Mmm, I can't feel magic from them, so they probably are not very powerful."
The guard was even more sure of his hypothesis after it saw Tito's cute shape and behavior. Of course, it was still a bit wary about the wolf.
"Magic beasts are allowed in the city, but you will have to pay extra for them." The guard explained. He then put on a grave expression and looked at Bloed and the girls seriously. "Besides, you will be made responsible if your beasts cause any problem, so you better keep them under control."
Bloed nodded politely. "I understand."
The guard was slightly surprised by Bloed politeness. Bloed's clothes seemed pretty fine and he was accompanied by two refined-looking beautiful girls, plus, he had also two exotic magic pets with him.
When the guard first saw him, he thought he was the son or descendant of some noble.
It was not weird for nobles to come visiting this city seeking the adventure and glory this city offered, of course, not many were as polite as Bloed.
Hence, the guard could not help but get a slightly good impression of him.
"Boy, I will give you a piece of advice. I don't know your background, but you don't seem someone simple. However, this city is not as beautiful as rumors. The chaos and danger in this city is not something you can imagine. And someone like you, who is accompanied by beautiful girls and valuable looking magic beats is definitively a good target. Believe me, many will not care if you are a noble or not and will attack you due to their greed."
For a moment, Bloed did not know how to answer to the guard. Although the guard had good intentions, Bloed was not the one in danger. Instead, if someone dared to plot against the girls or the dogs, they will have to be ready for a beating.
Of course, Bloed did not bother to explain it to the guard. Instead, he nodded in thanks and entered the city.
Not even one minute later, Liu Ying was unable to suppress her curiosity.
"Bloed, where did you get the money from? Did you rob someone? Why did I not see anything?"
Bloed smiled wryly before Liu Ying's great imagination. He looked at the demon with a smile and shrugged.
"The method to mint coins in this kingdom is rather undeveloped. I just needed a bit of gold, silver, and the design of the coins, and I was able to replicate it perfectly."
Liu Ying was stunned, but soon, she shook her head. "Yeah, I should have expected something like that from you. You even created a flying golem, so making money did not seem crazy in comparison."
Bloed shrugged. Well, Liu Ying was right.
The interior of the city was very crowded, with carriages and people walking through the narrow streets. Bloed and the girls had not taken more than a few streets and they were already frowning. The smell of their surroundings was not the most pleasant.
They were surrounded by sweaty men, fat merchants, animals in cages, and moldy buildings. It seemed as though the guard's words about the city not being as beautiful as the rumors were not exaggerated.
Bloed decided firstly to get an inn, one in a better part of the city. They needed a place to spend the night during the days they would be here.
However, before their first ten minutes in the city, they were stopped by an elegant middle-aged man.
"Friends, my young master has asked for your presence."
...
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