Chapter 22: 21

The weather was bright and clear. Green sprouts of autumn wheat plants had shot up in the open field. Passing through the field, farmers got it on to pluck out weeds.

After dying our hair red, Shura and I were walking along the trail in the countryside. The farmers glanced at Shura curiously but not wary. It was near the Raven Castle in the southwest of the Kingdom of Caligo which was on the side of the Power of Darkness. So, it’s not strange for them to see Shura who looked like a Moon Elf passing through this place.

“Many humans live here too, don’t they?”

“Yes, master. In the western part of the kingdom, the majority of the population is human.”

The Kingdom of Caligo was dominated by the Dark Elves, the Werewolves, and the Bloods yet many humans were living here as well. In fact, a lot of people who believed the religions of the Darkness had already settled in this kingdom since a long time ago. And 80 years ago, the Carl Kingdom had fallen to the Yosrahim Empire.

Then a number of aristocrats and commoners, who were from Carl’s Kingdom and believed the religions of the Darkness, fled to Caligo Kingdom to keep their faith. Because of that, the western part of the Caligo kingdom which was almost a wasteland had been developed in full-scale. So now, many humans are calling this place their home.

“Mmm-hmm. I see.”

As we could see the castle from afar, Shura pointed to it with her hand.

“Master, that’s the Raven Castle.”

“Really? It’s kind of smaller than I thought.”

The Raven Castle was a large city with a population of 70,000. Even though it’s a pretty large castle, it seemed small to me. The castle where I had lived was the largest castle in the northern part of the Yosrahim Empire. And the Imperial Castle where I spent my school years was the largest castle in the empire.

“Then shall we go somewhere else?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just going to sell some stuff. We don’t have to wander around.”

My final destination was Kara, the Great Desert Trade City. I just stopped by the Caligo Kingdom to take care of some business. I didn’t have to waste my time wandering around. 

Not long after, we arrived at the Raven Castle.

In front of the castle gate, a queue of passersby stretched through by the moat. It’s a pretty long queue and didn’t get shorter quickly. It seemed like a heavily inspected area.

Kind of being troubled, I cupped my chin in my hands. I didn’t have a proper identification card and the gate was being heavily inspected. It seemed that I bumped against a wall.

But I had Shura beside me. She’s originally from Caligo Kingdom and most importantly, she’s the owner of Dalahan who was supposed to be treated almost like a Great Saintess. I was her fellow traveler so I wouldn’t be treated so badly.

I stood in line and said to Shura.

“What should I do? I don’t have a proper identification card.”

“Master, I think you can just tell them you’re from Aeem Village.”

Actually, it wasn’t a bad idea at all.

Shura used to live in the Aeem Village. Since it was a slash-and-burn farmers’ village, it didn’t belong to any country. So, it’s not strange at all when a person from the Aeem Village did not possess an identification card. 

“So we used to live there together and I’ve followed you to the Kingdom of Caligo. That’s our story, right?”

“Yes, master.”

“Sounds good. Then all I need to do is to create a new name.”

“Yes. You can’t use your real name.”

Not long ago, I wreaked havoc in the Great Temple of Divinum. So, I surely couldn’t use my name right now. If I revealed my name, I would be treated like an unpardonable villain who defiled the sanctity. Certainly, I needed a new name.

But I couldn’t give up my name Yan because my mother gave me that name.

After thinking over and over, I made up a name. It was a very weird and incomprehensible name. Yet, it was bearing my identity.

“Kaoyan Anuquin. I’ve chosen this one.”

“What meaning does it have?”

“In ancient Rune language, it means ‘Yan who returned from hell’.”

Shura rolled her eyes. Actually, the word order of that name was incorrect. Instead, it should be ‘Anuyan Kaoquin’ to bear that meaning.

But I couldn’t help it. I was a poor student who had failed at the ancient Rune language class in school. It was lucky that at least I got those words right. 

“That sounds great, master.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

She avoided my eyes. Actually, Moon Elves were bad liars.

Before we knew it, the queue got much shorter. When it was my turn, I walked to the checkpoint with confidence. 

Soon, a knight wearing a black armor approached and gave us an overwhelming atmosphere.

“Who are you and where are you from?”

Shura was inspected first.

“I am Shura Ides from Aeem Village.”

“Shura Ides…?”

“Yes.”

Repeating her name a few times, the knight in the black armor opened his eyes wide in shock. It’s because he remembered the message sent from magical communication yesterday.

He immediately ordered his subordinate soldiers to bring a folder filled with the requests of cooperation. After he looked at the list received from the headquarters, he spoke with trembling eyes.

“Are you perhaps Shura Ides who has recently become the owner of Dalahan in the Great Temple of Divinum?”

“Yes. I am.”

Once she nodded, the knight knelt one of his knees and prostrated himself.

“As a humble servant, I am presented to the owner of Dalahan!”

“God’s glory to the Great Saintess of Yin and Yang!”

He was followed by the soldiers on their knees. Then the passersby in the queue joined and prostrated themselves. Some of them even walked towards her on their knees to receive her blessings.

I approached Shura closely and whispered in her ear.

“Hey, isn’t the God of Yin and Yang neutral?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

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“Then why are the hell these people from the Church of Darkness behaving like this?”

“Well, maybe because he’s the creator god?”

“Is that so?”

The God of Yin and Yang was the name of Lumenox who’s one of the Supreme Gods and Creators. Even though it had the Divinity of Light, those on the side of the Power of Darkness could not ignore it. Besides, Lumenox was the father who created Knox, the God of Darkness.

Anyways, it wasn’t a bad thing. Thanks to their respect for Shura, I could enter the castle without worrying about an identification card.

Actually, as soon as I told them that I didn’t have an identification card, they made one for me with lightning speed. Moreover, it was the highest clearance card with which I could go anywhere in the kingdom.

Hehe, this is why a guy should get a good wife. But at this rate, I might become a shutter man.

* * *

“Now, this is the shopping street.”

One of the knights from the Raven Castle guided us to a shopping street. When the castellan came out to greet us, I told him that I had something to sell. Then he ordered one of his knights to guide us. What kindness. But it seemed that we were detouring. I thought we certainly passed the street on the right side before but now we were going backward along that street.

“I think I saw that street earlier. Isn’t it the same one?”

As I complained, the knight felt embarrassed and avoided my eyes.

“All the buildings look alike. So, sometimes people who come here for the first time are often mistaken.”

“Oh, really?”

The knight furtively tried to find Shura’s plan.

“By the way, the Great Saintess, your grace, do you really have to leave today?”

“Yes. I need to hurry to get to Kara.”

Kara was a desert city on the Great Desert Trade Route between the Prosia Continent and the Eastern Continent which was also called the Oriental Continent. Technically, Kara might not be considered a nation. Yet it was certain that Kara didn’t belong to neither the Kingdom of Caligo nor the side of the Power of Darkness.

“Kara… it’s a long way from here. Are you going to stay there for long, your grace?”

“Yes, probably.”

“Ah, I understand. By the way, we are preparing dinner at the castellan’s residence. Could you please attend, your grace?” 

As Shura looked at me to ask my opinion, I shook my head. Without any special business, I had no reason at all to hang around here and there.

“It’s okay. We’d be there at any minute if we take a portal.”

Shura looked at the knight.

“Thank you for your kindness but we’re a bit in a hurry.”

The knight sent a sharp glare at me. Somehow, he seemed to be discontented with me. 

‘What the f***? I am going to pick his eyes out right away. Wait. It’s been only several days since the last time I caused big trouble… Patience. Patience.’

I turned my eyes and looked around the shopping street. I could see restaurants serving all sorts of delicacies, fruit shops, and groceries too. 

Then I stood in front of some street vendor. An old man opened a stall and was selling wooden statues and carvings. I approached him because I was interested in a white mask on his stall.

It was a mask covering the lower part of the face and the sharp nose part was very impressive. I took a look at that mask and tried it as well. It’s comfortable to wear and fits perfectly as if it were custom-made for myself.

“Hey, old man. How much is this?”

“It is five riffs of bronze.”

Very cheap. With five riffs of bronze, I could have a meal at a cheap restaurant.

I gently glanced at the guide knight. We had a staring contest for a while. Eventually, he halfheartedly took out one riff of silver and handed it to the old man.

“Oh well… this is a huge sum of money…”

The old man got embarrassed. One riff of silver was worth 1000 riffs of bronze. There’s no way that a person who lived hand to mouth could give change for that huge amount of money.

Since the old man didn’t know what to do with that money, I waved my hand with a gentle smile.

“It’s okay. You keep the change, old man.”

The knight made a grimacing face and the old man was reading his countenance. But soon, things were all sorted out. As soon as I left with the mask on my face, Shura followed me. So, the knight didn’t even have to think about the change and followed us in a haste.

* * *

“Here’s the place.”

After all the troubles, I finally arrived at the building in which the ‘Boton Apparel Store’ was located. Since the building was pretty big and a variety of luxury clothes was displayed, it seemed like the right place where I could sell my item.

I opened the door and we walked into the store.

“Welcome.”

Rubbing his hands together, a middle-aged man with an affectionate face approached us. His name was Boton and he’s the owner of the Boton Apparel Store.

“I want to sell some clothes. How much money do you have?”

“Hahaha. What kind of clothes do you want to sell?”

“Very expensive clothes.”

He giggled a little bit. He was probably thinking about how expensive clothes could be. It’s still just clothes.

“Please let me see it first. After that, we can talk about the price.”

I unpacked my bag and took out the robe. It was the ceremonial robe I was wearing at the time I ran away from home. And the truth was that My uncle, the emperor, gave it to me as a graduation gift. Not surprisingly, it cost quite a lot because Sir Rolfrane, the imperial seamstress and the top garment maker in the Yosrahim Empire, made this robe.

“Here it is.”

As I showed him my robe, his eyes got wide open and were trembling.

It was the robe with lightning-shaped golden ornaments and all kinds of precious jewelry. The chest pocket had a button-shaped essence and the highest grade silk fabric was dyed with red dye which was very expensive by itself. If he took this robe apart and sold the materials being used, it would probably be worth more than all his assets.

He held his breath and then his eyes trembled as he looked at the sewing line. This robe showed little or no seamstress. Any garment maker could tell that this robe was elaborately made by a great seamstress with a huge effort.

Then he started to rummage through the robe and found out the maker’s mark of the swan pattern and the coats of arms of the Yosrahim Imperial Family. Immediately, he put the robe down in a panic. This robe was an imperial gift granted by the emperor of the Yosrahim Empire and made by Sir Rolfrane, the world’s best seamstress.

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