I wanted another beer, so I walked downstairs to order one.

  The first floor was a restaurant. In this town, this probably counted as a mid-class hostel.

  All the other hotels were full, and this one was as well. My room had been the last empty one.

  Because of that, the restaurant area was full of people.

  “Hey, kid. Are you traveling alone?”


  Just as I was ordering another beer, a man spoke from behind.

  “Yes, I am.”


  “Are you here to replenish your stock ?……You don’t look like a merchant. Is there anyone around here that you know?”


  “Who knows. What about you?”


  “Me? I’m here to stock up. But……”


  “.……Have you encountered any issues?”


  “The merchandise I was looking for is gone. I wanted to buy some foreign products from the east, but there seems to have been some kind of conflict there.”


  “Conflict?”


  “Yes. The Boltique mafia is causing trouble. Going to the east right now would be quite dangerous.”


  “Are the people on top doing anything about that?”


  “I believe that the duke sent out some guards to deal with it, so hopefully things will calm down before long.”


  “Oh……is that how strong the guards are?”


  “Yes. Even the knight’s order probably shouldn’t underestimate their strength.”


  “.……What?”


  “Don’t glare at me like that, it was just a hypothesis……Kid, are you related to the knight’s order somehow?”


  “No, sorry. I just look up to them a great deal.”


  I seemed to have been glaring at the man before me without realizing it.

  With my hand I rubbed my brow, trying to smooth out the crease.

  “I see. In that case, sorry. How about seeing for yourself? Someone like you who looks up to the knight’s order would probably be able to learn something from the experience. You look quite strong yourself, so there shouldn’t be much to worry about.”


  “.……So Dida’s gone as well.”


  I murmured to myself.

  The man tilted his head as he stared at me. He seemed not to have caught what I said.

  “No, it’s nothing. Is the east well-known in this territory?”


  “Of course. It’s the main area for trade in this area. Rumor has it that it was the first place Lady Iris went after inheriting her current position.”


  “Oh?”


  “There are also several popular tourist spots in this territory. If you’re here to see the sights, I’d suggest you visit not just the capital, but also the east and the south areas. That way you’ll understand Lady Iris’s accomplishments.”


  “.……Is that so? Thank you for the information.”


  After that, I returned to my room, mulling over what to do next.

  “.……The east, huh.”


  I’d make a few more rounds in the capital……and then follow in her footsteps in visiting locations.

  These are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I finished the second beer and went to bed.