A sprawling metropolis surrounded by elliptical walls, travelers seeking to enter the city of Pesengwigel had to first pass through either the eastern main gate or the western rear gate.
Most travelers preferred the official main gate, the eastern one. It was secure enough, and the guards were rather friendly.
On the other hand, the western rear gate was originally a passageway for Beastfolk, and it was of such low quality that normal folks hesitated to step foot there.
The guards performing identity checks and searches weren’t just thugs—no, they were outright thugs! The passersby were all lunatics who would draw a blade at the slightest provocation.
Those without any means of protecting themselves, riches, or strength would find themselves beaten to near death over trivialities and thrown straight into a slave market.
“We’re going to the rear gate.”
“Excuse me?”
Of course, this didn’t apply to us. I confidently chose the western rear gate while fully aware of its notorious reputation.
There was only one reason for this.
“Hey, tall lady! We’re gonna have to search your body, so take off your helmet—”
“Excuse me, you must be having a hard time in this weather. It’s quite cold, so please allow me to treat you to some warm stew after your shift, just a small gesture.”
“Oh wow, what’s this…! Thank you! Enjoy your trip!”
Since the guards at the rear gate had such a terrible attitude, giving them a handful of coins allowed us to skip the identity verification process altogether.
If I hadn’t had any money or power, I would have been subjected to a body search right there and dragged off to the guards’ quarters.
“Is it really okay to be so blatant like this?”
“Yeah. Here, it’s how things work.”
Right after passing through the rear gate, Friede glanced back in disbelief and said, “Those guys are at least somewhat conscientious. They don’t seem to want to squeeze out more just because you look wealthy.”
“Is that really what you’d call conscientious…?”
Friede sighed and shook her head. She had just set foot in the city, and already her expression suggested she disliked it.
“Well, thanks to that, we got in without any checks, right? Isn’t that what matters?”
“Haah….”
I smirked and patted her head to comfort her. Having entered without any commotion after spending a little cash was a net gain for me.
In reality, they didn’t let us pass just because they were conscientious givers of small pleasures.
If someone with pocket change for tolls was rash enough to mess with us, the repercussions could be disastrous, hence they let us through.
If greed blinded them and they made a mistake, they would end up stuck with all the blame and attempt a non-stop dive for 24 hours.
Those who dared to pickpocket openly yet managed to rein in their insatiable greed could be the only ones in charge of the guards at the rear gate.
Those who couldn’t? They all ended up as fish food.
◆◆
Pesengwigel was divided into six sections centered around a main thoroughfare connecting both gates.
The large entertainment district located in the northwest, the street of pleasure.
The Fountain Square in the northeast bustling with shops and residential homes.
The southern southwestern region hosting a large coliseum, a stronghold for Beastfolk.
The slums in the southern area adjacent to the coliseum.
The adventurer’s guild outpost established in the southeastern section.
And, the central marketplace in the heart of the city known for hosting large-scale slave auctions every month.
Each section had its own distinct atmosphere and purpose, resembling six completely different cities blended into one, creating a unique vibe.
“But isn’t this eventually a city controlled by crime organizations?”
“That’s true. But let’s not say that too loudly or we’ll stir up trouble.”
If those controlling the sections had been normal, Pesengwigel might have become the grandest tourist city in the Kingdom of Hervor.
However, none of the powerful and affluent wished for Pesengwigel to be normalized in such a way.
Bribes were always sweeter when they came from darker money.
For this reason, four separate crime organizations operated under the nobles’ tacit approval, governing each section as their territory.
Including weaker organizations, there were even more than four.
“So, where are we headed now? We’ve just been walking around since a while ago.”
“We’re going to Fountain Square. I need to find a room to stay until the auction begins.”
An inn in Fountain Square dedicated to travelers. Other sections had inns too, but for safety’s sake, that was the best option.
The quality of the inns might have been best in the pleasure district, but it was absurdly expensive, and with three women roaming around, it would attract unwarranted trouble.
True to its name, the pleasure district was filled to the brim with massive gambling houses, taverns, and brothels, thick with drunken lechers.
The slums, chock-full of junkies and muggers, were best left unmentioned, and the coliseum area was notoriously dangerous at night.
There were Beastfolk who lived half their lives on instinct there. It wouldn’t be odd if they broke into an inn and raided it late at night.
“What about the adventurer’s guild? We could also restock on supplies.”
“Daytime’s fine, but don’t go at night. They may call themselves an adventurer’s guild, but it’s basically just a gang.”
In a normal city, adventurers would usually be poorly skilled thugs, but in a lawless place like this, it was even worse.
The Adventurers Guild of Pesengwigel, while bearing the name “guild,” was essentially just a group vying for interests among the ruling elite.
High-ranking adventurers were the absolute overlords, imposing all sorts of injustices on their lower-ranked peers—a downright mafia.
They’d maintain some decorum towards clients with money, but they were merciless devils towards weaker colleagues.
For them, backstabbing and selling out a uniformed adventurer with no real skill was a completely normal daily occurrence.
Lower-tier adventurers who had stepped foot in this town instead of a reputable one would undoubtedly lead lives as transient as mayflies, with nobody searching for them if they just vanished into thin air.
Thus, they could commit crimes freely. No worries of any consequences.
Even outsiders, who weren’t adventurers, would try to shake down unsuspecting clients unless they were here for business.
The mindset of adventurers reflected the nature of the merchants affiliated with the guild, who openly ripped off lower-tier adventurers.
Even the innkeepers, when asked by high-ranking adventurers or given thick purses, were scummy enough to hand over keys to someone else’s room.
No one could sleep soundly even locking their inn doors!
“…This is beyond my imagination. Is Prince Argantir really aware of this and just lets it happen? That’s rather contemptible, isn’t it?”
“Argantir? Why are we talking about him all of a sudden?”
“He supposedly controls all the organized crime in the kingdom, right? So it sounds like the one letting this city rot is him, doesn’t it…?”
“Oh, that’s a special case. The nobles are too deeply entangled, so even he can’t just step in.”
Setting about to take action but ultimately failing, perhaps?
Rumors have it that he clashed with the Beastfolk’s crime organization, Bagest, and got completely annihilated.
The secret police force of Argantir, known as the Shadow of the Eagle, had utterly collapsed and was expelled from the only city it couldn’t handle.
That city was none other than Pesengwigel.
◆◆
Unlike the rear gate, which was filled with grim-looking thugs, the area around Fountain Square had somewhat of a livelier neighborhood vibe.
Women chatting cheerfully about various things while browsing jewelry on display in stalls.
Children leaps around the fountain in the square, laughing and playing.
Couples locking arms as they left clothing stores, and men sitting around tables in restaurants enjoying a late lunch filled with laughter.
Common scenes you could find in any city.
“This feels like a completely different city….”
“Mom, Mom! The water’s coming out upside down! How amazing!”
Though a district ruled by violent organizations, it was still a tourist city, and some people were surely leading peaceful lives within it.
This place, Fountain Square, was peaceful enough to be compared favorably with other cities.
“This area is tightly managed by the Guild. It’s only natural that it’s different from the violent turf.”
Thanks to the protection of the self-governing organization, the Pesengwigel Vigilante Guild, which maintained order in the area.
Unlike other organizations, which would take lives or abductions if it brought in profit, the Vigilante Guild was founded for the explicit purpose of ensuring safety for the residents.
Ordinary people without the means to protect themselves flocked here seeking help, and as a result, Fountain Square became a refuge and resting place where anyone could feel secure.
“Mr. Hans, this month’s protection fee is already three days overdue.”
“Ahh…! My bad! Just give me two more days! I promise I’ll pay in two days….”
Although the Vigilante Guild also needed to eat, residents had to pay protection fees in exchange for their services.
If someone had no money for the fees, they could either join the Vigilante Guild as a member or risk being kicked out and sent to the slums.
This meant the Guild wasn’t purely a kind-hearted service organization…
‘…But still, compared to other sections, it’s almost noble.’
After all, what organization would look after the destitute for free? Even the church couldn’t manage such a feat.
It wasn’t about willpower; it was about ability.
There’s a limit to pouring water into a bottomless bucket, and if one tried to operate an organization with a free service feel, even the kingdom’s treasurer would ultimately lead it to bankruptcy.
◆◆
“Three people is fifteen silver, in advance, please.”
I selected a suitable inn and rented a room.
The rate was somewhat high. They charged by the number of people, not the size of the room, so we couldn’t save expenses by renting a twin room.
“This is really expensive….”
“We have to see it as money paid for safety. While there are cheaper inns, you probably wouldn’t sleep well at those places.”
No matter how strong someone might be, they couldn’t defend against an attack in their sleep.
If you weren’t going to stand guard in your room, it was wise to choose a safe inn even if it meant paying extra.
“Friede, you stay here for now. With Elie.”
I unpacked my baggage and placed it in a corner of the room, while recommending that I’d step out for a bit and to take it easy with Eladra, who was bouncing around on the bed.
“Excuse me? Where are you planning to go alone, Hilde?”
“I just need to swing by somewhere real quick. I’ll be back before nightfall.”
“I want to go with you! Do you think it’s safe to wander around here alone?”
Does she think I’m some lost little girl? While I appreciated her concern, it was slightly burdensome.
“It’s actually safer that way. I have this helmet, you know? If I’m alone, I won’t attract any attention at all.”
“Oh….”
As I lightly tapped the helmet on my head, Friede nodded as if she suddenly remembered.
A helmet enchanted with an identification-obscuring magic.
Throughout this time, I had been under all kinds of scrutiny due to the attention drawn by the golden-haired girl calling me ‘Mom’ and the angelic-faced Friede…
‘But if I walk alone, it’s a different story.’
Unless I whip out my sword and start swinging right in the middle of the street, everyone would just pass by me and think I’m an ordinary passerby or background scenery, and wouldn’t even register me in their minds.
Of course, that was merely an excuse to persuade Friede; my real intention for wanting to go alone was different, but…
I couldn’t tell her that.
I planned to do things that couldn’t be shown to the elderly and children.
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