Three days had passed since Kai, the Yanslot Mercenary Group, and the Herdan Merchant Group first met. The horizon remained long, and monsters attacked frequently. It was the typical daily life of a medieval fantasy world, not much different from three days ago.
And now, just like the monsters that had ambushed them over those three days, another group attacked. The number was the same as the goblins from three days prior. It wasn't just the number that was similar; there was a Higher Species among them, and it was one that attacked the mind.
The only difference from three days ago was that these attackers were not goblins, but Kobolds—canine-like monsters that walked upright. And their Higher Species was twice as strong as the goblin leader.
"Argh! Get away! G-gaaaah!"
"Kugh!"
"Heeek! A monster, it's a monster!!"
The Yanslot Mercenary Group fought bravely against the swarming Kobolds. However, when the Higher Species Kobold unleashed its mental attack, they all collapsed one by one. They foamed at the mouth. Their eyes were filled with terror. They drooled uncontrollably. They wet themselves.
Yanslot also sank to the ground, staring into empty space, trembling violently. The world was filled only with darkness. Within that darkness, something truly indescribable was watching him.
Ooooooh—
Was this the sound made by thousands, tens of thousands of gathered vengeful spirits? Was this the sound of the most nefarious beast living in the gloom? A horror that could not be expressed by any other means became a sound that eclipsed the sky.
The thing he was watching gradually drew closer. Before it, Yanslot was a mere insect. A demon. That thing was a demon. A vile demon that no human could ever hope to oppose. God did not exist. He felt it only natural to die. Only "Death"—that single thought filled Yanslot's mind.
He believed it. In that split second when he was about to accept his demise—
"Light! Establish the will!"
A white light exploded from behind Yanslot, driving away the darkness. It erased the demon.
Kyiaaaaak!
The beast. The tens of thousands of souls. They let out a piercing scream before vanishing in an instant.
"Huff!"
At the same time, Yanslot snapped back to his senses. A shadow fell over him. Yanslot looked up. A massive horse, dyed in white light, made a great leap and passed over his head.
Kwoooong!
The horse landed lightly in front of him. It immediately galloped toward the Higher Species Kobold, which possessed the nefarious power. Seated upon it was the Knight, bathed in white light. The one who used magic. The incredibly large and strong Dragon Blood Knight!
The Knight shouted:
"I shall be your light! Have courage! Hold onto hope! I, Kai Pendragon, shall stand before you! Follow me! I shall let neither darkness, nor demons, nor any foul thing touch you!"
It was a loud, firm cry. It was the resonance of light becoming hope.
"Ooooooh!"
Courage, fueled by hope, surged through his entire body. A faint white light appeared across his frame, just like the Knight's.
"Aaaaagh!"
Yanslot sprang up and let out a shout colored with overwhelming emotion.
"Die, you low-life demons!!"
He raised his sword, ran toward a Kobold, and cut it down. A Kobold was split in half with a single strike. It was a feat he could never normally achieve! Yet, he was not surprised. The courage of hope made him believe that he could naturally do what he previously could not. Yanslot moved with unrestrained energy, cutting down the Kobolds.
"Aaaaagh!"
"The Knight of Light is with us!"
"The White Light Knight protects us!"
"Magic! Power! Rise!!"
It wasn't just Yanslot. All members of the Yanslot Mercenary Group, who had fallen to the Higher Species Kobold's mental attack, stood up. They were glowing faintly as they seized the Kobolds. None retreated. None lacked bravery. Even those who were injured lunged forward to cut the Kobolds down.
And it wasn't just the mercenaries. The merchants and laborers of the Herdan Merchant Group also went berserk.
"Uaaargh!"
"You sons of bitches!"
"Today is Dog Meat Day!!"
Each grabbing clubs and weapons, they rushed in a swarm to beat the Kobolds to death. In terms of numbers, the Kobolds had the advantage. However, in terms of morale, the Yanslot Mercenary Group and the Herdan Merchant Group were far superior.
The battle, which could have ended easily due to the mental attack, was flipped in an instant. The mental attack could no longer be sustained.
Yanslot saw it. The Dragon Blood Knight who had leapt over him, the one who instilled hope and courage and showcased the magic of light—the Knight named Kai Pendragon—smashing the Higher Species Kobold to pieces with his mace!!
"Fuck, you're disgusting!"
A string of curses could be heard for some reason. Regardless, curses were familiar to mercenaries. Thus, the Knight who used light magic felt even more approachable.
'I pray to Lord Luciraus, and I make my wish to Lord Luciraus. I will follow that man even at the cost of my soul! Even if I die, I shall die at his feet!'
Yanslot's resolve became even firmer, and he cut down the remaining Kobolds with even more vigor.
"Die! Die! You nefarious servants!!"
"Gwahaha! I am Johnson of the Axe!"
"Today is Dog Meat Day!!"
Including Yanslot, the surviving mercenaries and even the merchants were all brave, their eyes bloodshot, foaming at the mouth as they slaughtered the Kobolds like madmen.
'…What is with them? That's scary.'
Kai watched the mercenaries who had gone insane because of his magic and wondered if this was actually okay.
Human civilization has always followed the rivers. The Ascaria Continent was no exception to this origin of human civilization. Where there is a river, people gather; where people gather, a village forms; and as a village grows, it becomes a city.
Kai, the Herdan Merchant Group, and the mercenaries finally crossed the horizon. They then entered a massive city surrounded by a waterway flowing along the river. From a distance, the noise of bustling crowds, the sound of hammers striking metal, and the creaking of wagon wheels greeted them as one giant symphony of sound.
"Sir Knight! That is Mesotonia City!"
Seeing the great city that welcomed them through sight and sound, Herdan shouted with an excited face.
"It is the largest trade city in the Shol Kingdom, built along the Mesotonia River! Not to brag, but our merchant group is located right there!"
"Oh!"
In Kai's eyes, the Mesotonia River was a large river about the size of the Han River. Mesotonia City, the trade hub nestled against such a massive river, was surrounded by high stone walls. The town that circled around it was so large it couldn't be taken in at a single glance. Even the town had a sturdy wooden palisade resembling a fortress wall; in fact, it looked like a stronghold.
'I heard about it in Newrington and at the village taverns I visited during my wanderings... I finally get to see the trade city of the Shol Kingdom with my own eyes.'
As Kai remembered, Mesotonia City was said to have water and sewage systems, public bathhouses, good security, and even streetlights that were lit at night.
'If that's true, it's no different from a cutting-edge city of this era. Come to think of it, did they say the population of Mesotonia City is around 200,000?'
This was also information obtained from buying a drink for drunks in taverns during his travels. For a wandering knight, information is a vital survival tool to stay alive. You must find out, investigate, listen, and remember to see tomorrow's sun. Of course, because it was information from drunks, it wasn't entirely reliable, so Kai asked Herdan if the information he knew was correct.
"Oh, that is correct, Sir Knight! According to a recent survey, there are about 30,000 to 40,000 people living inside the fortress walls where the nobles and the City Lord reside. In the town established outside the walls, there are about 160,000 to 170,000 residents."
'Wait, why does he know this so specifically? Was he a civil servant?'
Kai was surprised that he knew the details so thoroughly.
"You know it very precisely. How do you know such things? Were you perhaps a civil servant?"
"Haha. How could that be? A kingdom official is a noble profession; I am still far from that. This is information I gathered myself. As a merchant, isn't conducting direct economic research an essential requirement?"
"Impressive!"
Kai thought that one must do at least that much to become the leader of a merchant group in this era.
'Anyway, to have 200,000 people living together in this medieval fantasy where human life expectancy isn't even 40... Well, I suppose that's why it could develop into one of the few cutting-edge cities in this age.'
If there are many people, the economy circulates actively, so it cannot help but develop. Ultimately, a trade city can be seen as possessing the conditions to become the center and the "flower" of the era. An active economy is the driving force that enriches human life.
'I don't think there were many large-scale trade cities like this. Let's see... ah, right. I remember the drunkard saying there were two in the Shol Kingdom, and about two in each of the other kingdoms.'
He definitely remembered the drunk saying that.
"The palisade surrounding the town outside the fortress is made of Oak-sea wood, which is famous for being thick and hard. That's why it's incredibly sturdy. It even withstands collisions from Orcs, who have a similar name. Furthermore, the kingdom's soldiers within the city stand guard frequently and look after the security within the town, so it is safe."
While Kai was thinking about the information the drunk had provided, Herdan was still boasting about Mesotonia City. This was new information. Kai paused his thoughts and stored the information Herdan was giving him in his mind.
Hoping more information would come out, Kai entered Mesotonia City while keeping Herdan talking. As they approached the city gates, a complex smell mixed with leather, sweat, and sweet spices hit his nose.
"How much longer do we have to wait?"
"Well, it'll happen when it's time. Anyway, the goods I brought this time have to sell well."
"Jensen! Don't run!"
"Emma! Over here!"
The boisterous voices of people could be heard everywhere. The wind blew with the vitality of people living together in a massive city. Kai felt that great vitality with his whole body.
'This is the scent of human life.'
Though there were occasional foul odors, this was far better than Newrington. The scent of a city for the first time in a long while. Kai smiled slightly, enjoying that breath of human existence.
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