Chapter 163: Erudite Kingdom (4)

The four of us came and basked under the warmth of the morning light.

The floor was made of grey-sand coloured cobblestone bricks interlocked in a fan pattern, bits of snow accumulated here and there. The bright light of the sun contrasting the bluish shadows back in the alley.

The sky was a beautiful blue with bubbly white clouds reaching as high as one could see-- there was even a blimp or two in the-- is that a dragon?! Dragon riders are a thing?!

A guy who looks like some factory worker holding onto a long bread, running. Another was a girl selling beautiful blue flowers in a basket. There was a merchant giving a sales pitch to one of the stall owners selling something like hawker food. A party of adventurers walking around with weapons and armour, their equipment clanked every step they took.

The girl with the basket of flowers came up to us. She looks like she's only 12.. and she's already doing sales. Wow.

"Would you like some flowers?" She asked.

Surprisingly, she looks asian, but her hair had a nice silver-purple shade to it. Freckles on her face with a beaming smile.

"How much is it?" I asked.

"One large copper for one," she held up the basket to me, blue hibiscus-like flowers, red clumps of small 4 petaled flowers, white lily, and eucalyptus leaves.. I don't know, I'm not a florist, I don't know flowers.

"Then I'll have three."

"Isn't that a waste of money?" Nine said nonchalantly, the girl with the freckle flinched.

"Nah, just watch-- I'll have two blue ones and one white one," I said. Grabbing three copper coins, the larger ones from my pocket and then passing it to her.

"Thank you for your patronage!" She bowed, then quickly pulled up the flower stem from what seemed to be a spongy cushion inside the basket.

"Thank you. Um, can I ask where the guild is?" Taking the flower, I passed the white one to Nine and held the other two blue ones in my hand.

"Which one are you looking for sir? The adventurer guild, merchants guild or education guild?"

Education guild? Okay.. such a thing exists?

"The adventurer guild."

"That would be down this path and when you reach a water fountain you take a left. Walk straight until you see the guild mark. Along the way, you should be able to see the road cut into the castle like a cake."

"Thank you, that's much appreciated," I swear the unneeded fancy words just came out of my mouth, "Can I ask something else? Are you alright being alone out here like this? Isn't it not safe?"

"I just came from my mom's shop there," she pointed at the florist shop at the corner there. Very obvious from the many flower pots hanging outside. Huh, looks like glass is a thing. This world is more modern than I thought. "Today is a holiday and mom told me I could get some pocket money this way."

"I see. Then be careful alright."

Another thing to note was that the stall selling stew was adjacent to it. Looks like the sales talk broke down, the sales person was sulking as he walked away.

Putting that aside..

I placed one of the blue flowers in Liliath's hand and tucked the other one behind her right ear. Maybe it's a custom of this world but it seems it's normal to let loose your hair.

"Help me tuck this behind Prune's ear too," I whispered to Liliath.

She smiled bashfully and nodded.

"Hm. Thank you?" Prune was surprised by that.

The blue flower suit's Prune's loose hair well. It's rare to see Prune not having her hair tied so..

"How do I look?" Nine asked, looking at me with her wide, glittering upturned eyes-- a white flower now tucked behind her ear.

"Cute."

"You're disgusting."

"Bitch.."

I was being honest and for that, this is what I received? Truly a bitch.

"Sir, that's vulgar, you shouldn't use that word," The girl with the freckle said.

"Sorry."

"Be sure to remember that," she nodded with pride. What tact she has.

"Thank you for the flower Noel, Liliath," Prune said.

"Yeah, no problem, let's go."

Leaving the girl with freckles that I don't know the name to, we walked towards the water fountain in the distance. I made sure to mark this spot on the map so that we can return here if we needed to… not that we would.

Shops and housing buildings were mixed together, and if anything, the way the buildings looked are like those pictures of Venice, quite colourful in fact. Moreover, you could see water running through some of the open alleys with small bridges. The windows were the wooden kind, painted with colours matching the building.

There was a proper drainage system in place, drains on both sides of the road that lead to the ditch perhaps? Or the river running through the city? Store fronts selling food, magic potions, scrolls, clothing hangers, dried fish, bread, wooden furniture, toys, fantasy clothes, souvenirs, gems of sorts-- the items were more of those day-to-day stuff. No weapons and armours sold in this district surprisingly.

Though we only gave them a short glance, nobody really stopped and observed the item in detail. Everyone must be interested in joining the adventurer's guild. I was the same. It's a must-visit place in any isekai.

Now then..

We reached the marble fountain, water pouring out of a trumpet of the supposed figure of an angle of this world?

"Hm. Goddess of Love, Aphrodite." Nine read the slate on the stand carved into the side of the fountain

"It's greek mythology?" Prune Looked surprised. So was I. Aphrodite is a Greek god? The only Greek Gods I know are Zeus and Poseidon.

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"The world is governed by 13 gods. God of Love, Aphrodite; God of War, Ares; God of Law, Thermis, God of Hunting, Artemis; God of Merchants, Mercury; God of Time, Chronos; God of Fate, Moirae.. to name a few. The god of war is also known as the evil god that causes the birth of a demon lord.. as for the God of Comfort, it seems her identity is unknown."

Unknown can't be the God of Comfort could he? I'm pretty sure that was just a coincidental pun.

"So there's a church here too?"

"Isn't that a given?"

13 gods huh? How fantasy-like. Hopefully I get to meet them some day.. I know it's inevitable so no point wishing NOT to meet them.

"I think this is the way to the guild, look," Nine said, pointing to one of the larger streets.. sure enough. The street goes straight towards a large gate and beyond that.. the magnanimous castle with all the spires and towers and the likes. You could even see the rows of rainbow sentinels from here.. tiny as a booger.

"I find it so hard to believe this is real," Prune muttered.

Putting that aside, we continued onwards, keeping our eyes peeled for the guild building.

We had to cross a bridge on the way. For some reason, there are just weird river-like ditches here and there. You could even see those small boats with the ends curled like a dragon floating on the water. It really feels like Venice except, it's wide and open.

"Why are there so many rivers here?"

"That's because the kingdom of Erudite is located close to the sea, seafood is a staple food here."

"Close to the sea? Are there Krakens?"

"They do exist in fact."

"Wow.. I want to fight one.." Nine said with a silly smile on her face.

"Slaves.." Prune suddenly called out in a whisper.

Turning towards her direction, just as she said, there were burly people pushing children off the wagon. Most of them were wearing rags, some of them wearing worn out tunics. A distinct feature about them was that.. they were all demi-humans.

Racial issues are a thing here huh?

Passersby would spare a glance without doing anything. Which proves that slavery is normal I guess.

"That's the difference between our worlds. I very much prefer yours," Liliath said with a bitter smile, and a sentimental tone to her voice.

"There's nothing we can do about it either. It's the fate of the world.." Prune's tail dropped.

"Yeah…"

This is the world I created. Should I be feeling guilty about this? I don't know. Would the slaves themselves think they're better off dead? I have no idea. Even the creator of this world is powerless against this huh? More like.. I don't plan on taking responsibility for all slaves in this world any time soon.

Having experienced that reality shattering sight, we finally reached a building that was slightly more crowded than the rest.

"What time is it?"

"It's around 11 am now," It's stated in the UI.

"Oh, interesting. Everyone has a missing stat or two.. weird.." Nine said. Looks like she's using her appraisal skill on others.

"Do you think we should return at a quieter time? Liliath, is it normal for the guild to be busy at this sort of time?" Prune asked.

"The busy period, from what I can recall, is around 7 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon. The afternoon is much quieter as most adventurers are out doing quests. That depends on each branch however. It may be different here," Liliath said.

"Then how about we walk around the place, have lunch before coming back at 1? I don't want to squeeze myself in the guild," Prune suggested.

"Hehh… isn't that what's fun about the guild, being all rowdy inside. I think there's a place to eat there too right? We were planning to eat at the guild right?"

"It's quite packed though.." Prune said.

"How about this, we'll come back at 12 and see if it clears up. If not then we'll just have to enter as is."

I don't really mind entering as it is but.. Prune is really hesitant about it. You could tell from her expression that she's a little worked up over this entire thing. Hopefully Nine is alright with this proposal, she's a gentleman after all.

"So where do we go in the meantime? We have like more than an hour, it's 1056 hours, to the church? An Atelier?"

"How about some tea to quench our thirst?" Liliath suggested.

"Tea again.."

"A tea house could be nice."

"I want to go somewhere else though.." Nine looked a little impatient. "Then you three enjoy yourselves at the tea house, I'll go exploring for a bit."

"Okay.."

I understand how Nine feels. Well.. no choice but to let her off the hook. Haah.. I feel like I'm stuck babysitting Liliath and Prune.. in a sense. Oh well. Let's not make a mess and go with Nine's suggestion. I doubt she'd get lost.. and even if she did, Liliath could find her in an instant.

"I'll return in a bit."

Nine then took a few steps back-- a very bad moon walk while waving her hand and in the next moment.. she ran back towards the fountain area, her mantle fluttering in the wind. I wonder where she's going?

Welp, I guess she'll be alright wherever she is. I turned around,

"Are there any good tea shops around here?" and asked.

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