The City of Zore is a place located right at the very edge of the empire. This specific territory actually falls under the rule of the Kingdom of Halveron, which is a country that originally submitted to the emperor to gain protection during the chaotic times of war.
Because it was situated so far out on the border, countless lawless individuals use the vicinity as a place to hide. Fights tend to break out frequently in the streets, and the surrounding areas are much more heavily populated by dangerous monsters than the inner territories.
The city was located a vast distance away from the main capital of the kingdom, which meant that any requested reinforcements wouldn’t be sent here in time to help. After all, even if the capital did decide to send soldiers, the reason they were summoned would have already disappeared or been destroyed by the time they actually arrived.
And so, instead of relying on the capital, the empire and the kingdom have a system where they station newly appointed knights in this place. They tell these young knights that it is a relatively good place for them to train their skills and gain real-world combat experience. These newly appointed knights would then serve here for a couple of years— and by the time they were ready to leave, a fresh group of new ones would have already arrived to take their place.
This is the specific method they have used for a long time to keep a place this remote feeling safe and relatively protected.
At least, that is the information that Elianna had shared with me the other night during one of our talks.
"..."
As I stand here in front of the massive city gate, I immediately noticed that the stone walls are much more worn out and crumbled than the ones I saw back in the City of Nash.
The guards stationed at the entrance are also giving off a much stronger and more intimidating presence than the ones I have encountered before as well.
Anyway, our group is currently being checked by the authorities before we can enter the city; it really is quite convenient that we are allowed to skip the long lines of people waiting. After all, perhaps because of the growing rumors about the new dungeon, a lot of people are currently trying to gain entry into the city.
"Hmm, are you also a part of the group...? Why aren’t you dressed in the same uniform as the rest of them?"
Just then, one of the guards looked directly at me and asked that question with a suspicious look.
"Oh, he is a wandering knight who has been traveling along with us for a while now."
Kael answered the question for me, and I just gave a small nod of my head as a silent confirmation of his words.
"Do you have any official identification on you that can prove you are actually a knight?"
The guard then followed up with that request, which made me instinctively frown as I realized the problem.
"I have none on me currently. An unfortunate accident occurred recently and I ended up losing my plaque during the struggle."
I told him that, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
A knight’s plaque is a special item given to knights by their respective lords; they usually have detailed engravings of the territory’s crest with two crossed swords as a background. I had learned this specific detail from Elianna as well during our conversations.
I had told her that I lost mine when my home territory fell to ruin, and she had looked at me with a great deal of doubt back then— but she eventually decided to let the matter go in the end.
Anyway, this plaque is the standard identification for all knights. After all, knights hold a pretty high level of authority in this world, sitting just below the nobles, so a lot of idiotic people tend to try and impersonate them.
People exactly like me...
"I apologize, but unless your identity can be officially proven or confirmed by someone else, we simply cannot let you into the city."
The guard said that while looking at me with a deep frown on his face.
I managed to keep a straight face while he spoke, but deep inside, I was starting to get very annoyed. I began thinking about how else I could possibly get myself inside the walls.
’These people are much stricter than the ones in the previous cities I visited... Their level of security is incredibly tight.’
I grumbled those thoughts inside my head. I saw Kael start to open his mouth, and he was probably going to say something to try and help me out.
"I can personally vouch for this man, so let him in with the rest of us."
But before Kael could even let out a single word, a feminine voice cut into the conversation with a very authoritative and commanding tone.
We all turned our heads to look at who it was— and we saw Elianna standing there.
She had stepped out of the golden carriage and was currently holding Onyx in her arms.
"Saintess...!"
The guard exclaimed in surprise as he immediately bowed his head low in respect. He probably didn’t expect someone of her status to intervene in such a small matter— and to be honest, I didn’t expect it either.
"This man... are you absolutely sure that he can be trusted, my Lady?"
The guard then asked that as he looked up tentatively at Elianna. She just gave a slow nod of her head while she continued to pat Onyx’s head.
"He is not an enemy."
She declared that firmly.
And hearing those words come out of her mouth made me widen my eyes a little bit in surprise. I glanced over at Elianna, and I saw her looking right back at me with a neutral expression.
’Thank you.’
I nodded my head toward her to show my appreciation, and she just brushed her hand through the air casually as if it were no big deal.
"I got it. In that case... you all are free to enter the city."
The guard stated as he straightened his posture. He looked at me with a sharp glare for a brief moment, but I just chose to ignore it completely, and with that hurdle cleared— we finally entered the city.
"See, I told you that the Saintess clearly favors you quite well."
Kael said to me, whispering the words so the others wouldn’t hear.
"..."
This time, I wasn’t even able to find the words to rebut what he said. I really don’t know why she decided to do it— but she definitely took my side in front of the guards just now.
’Does that actually mean she doesn’t suspect me or my identity anymore?’
I asked that question in my head, feeling a bit confused about her change in attitude.
*****
Once we were inside the city—
"I suppose I’ll see you around, then."
Kael told me that with a friendly look. Now that we had finally reached our shared destination— it was officially time for us to part ways.
He extended his hand out to me, and I immediately took it in a firm grip.
"Thank you very much for everything you’ve taught me. I truly hope we get the chance to see each other again."
I said that as I shook his hand.
Because of Kael’s constant teaching and guidance, my [Unified Swordsmanship] skill had actually evolved into [Embodied Swordsmanship].
Now, a sword is no longer just a simple tool for me to use— it honestly feels like a natural extension of my own body now.
Anyway, I said my final goodbyes to the other members of the squad as well, and they all wished me the best of luck on my own.
And after them... it was finally time to say my goodbye to Elianna, the Saintess.
"..."
She looked at me in silence, and I just looked back at her. For a moment, we didn’t say anything to each other at all.
But after a while—
"You are planning to enter the dungeon as well, right?"
She asked me that as she reached out and handed Onyx back to me.
"That’s right, I am."
I confidently answered her as I took my baby back into my arms. The Saintess nodded her head slightly at my answer, and with her lips parting once more—
"Don’t you dare go and die in there. You need to stay alive to take care of those two."
She said that, pertaining to Onyx and Bong.
"Good luck to you."
She shortly followed up with that well-wish.
"Thank you."
I simply replied.
And with that final exchange— I separated from the others. They were the people I had been with the longest since I first came to this strange world.
I had seen them as potential enemies at first and even tried my best to avoid them entirely... I really didn’t expect that I would actually feel a bit sad to be parting with them now.
-Arf! Arf! Arf!
Onyx barked as he watched the others walk away,