Chapter 164: The Coastal City (3)

A month had passed since the primates dwelling in the Deep Sea asserted their dominance over the nearby waters. During that time, the city had been completely cut off from utilizing the ocean. For a coastal settlement that relied heavily on sea trade for the distribution of most goods, problems with food and supplies should have been inevitable.Yet, the Bulkan Estate appeared remarkably stable—more so, even, than the capitals of many kingdoms. “Come to think of it... you’re right,” Aquaz murmured, the realization dawning on her as well. Lord Bulkan visibly flinched. His eyes darted around frantically before he managed to stammer out an explanation. “W-We were well-prepared with stockpiles beforehand, so there are no immediate issues! The land routes are still open, so we’re managing to procure supplies somehow.” “Even so,” Ketal observed calmly, “using routes you don’t normally rely on must be considerably expensive. You don’t seem overly burdened, though. You must have amassed quite a significant amount of capital.” “Uh, well...” the lord began trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. Ketal beamed. “Well, I suppose it’s all thanks to your excellent governance. Consider it genuine praise. Don’t worry about it.” “Th-Thank you...” The lord managed, his voice barely audible, sounding utterly defeated. Aquaz found his reaction peculiar but decided not to comment. With the threat from the Demon Realm presence being the primary concern, the lord’s financial situation didn’t seem particularly important at the moment. Ketal and his companions left the reception room. Left alone, the lord waited until the sound of their footsteps faded completely into the distance. Only when silence enveloped the room did he finally slump down, relief washing over him. “I thought... I thought I was going to die...” He gasped, spitting the words out. Despite his initial fears, the conversation itself had concluded without major incident. He had secured their promise of help, and they hadn’t made any coercive demands. 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Hurry Up and See Open div[style*="width:100%;text-align:right;"]{display:none !important;} No. Wait,” the lord muttered, shaking himself out of his relieved stupor. He thought about Ketal’s final question There was a reason he had reacted so strongly to it. His current situation wasn’t exactly one he could proudly present to a follower of a god. “I-I need to make contact. Quickly.” The lord scrambled to his feet and hurried away. *** Guided to their rooms, Ketal’s group gathered to discuss their next steps. “Looks like we’ll be staying in this city for a while,” Ketal stated. “It seems so,” Aquaz agreed. “As you suggested, Ketal, we should look around the city, gather information, and find people willing to help.” “That’s the plan.” “What will you be doing, Ketal?” Aquaz asked him. “The same. I’ll wander around and see what information I can pick up,” Ketal replied. Of course, his primary motivation was sightseeing. This was his first coastal city in this fantasy world, and he wanted to enjoy every bit of it. A grin spread across Ketal’s face. Aquaz turned her attention elsewhere. “What about you, Baker?” “M-me?” Baker stammered. “I don’t really have any specific plans...” Unlike Aquaz, he didn’t possess a burning conviction to quell the continent’s chaos. He had simply followed Aquaz because he liked her and had no real desire to take initiative. Having finally reached a city after a long journey, his main desire was to collapse onto a soft bed as soon as possible. “Hmm.” Ketal studied Baker for a moment. I’d like to get closer to him, Ketal thought. Baker was the first proper ordinary mage from the Mage Tower he had encountered. Naturally, he wanted to be on good terms. Since he would likely need to visit the Mage Tower eventually, forging connections now would be beneficial. After brief consideration, Ketal made his decision. “If you don’t have any other objectives, how about exploring the city with me?” “W-what?!” Baker jolted as if struck by lightning. “Go with you?” “I know you don’t exactly hold favorable feelings towards me,” Ketal said calmly. “I understand. You might see me as an interloper in your journey with Aquaz. I also know you might dislike me simply for being a barbarian. But from now on, you and I are comrades who will risk our lives fighting side-by-side.” The presence from the Demon Realm—its strength was unknown. Judging by its ability to engulf an entire city, it was likely beyond the level of a Transcendent. “So, how about we talk openly and clear the air between us?” Ketal asked him. “That sounds like a good idea,” Aquaz chimed in, supporting Ketal’s suggestion. She, too, had been concerned about the friction between Ketal and Baker. Since they would need to watch each other’s backs in the coming battles, hostility served no purpose. “Uh...,” Baker stuttered. But I’m not really hostile toward Ketal anymore... It was true that he had previously been hostile towards Ketal out of jealousy regarding Aquaz. But that was no longer the case. During their spar, Ketal had defeated him utterly and overwhelmingly. Baker hadn’t even comprehended how he’d been taken down when he collapsed. He realized with chilling certainty that if Ketal wished it, he could kill him before Baker even knew what was happening. That realization instilled a profound sense of terror in him. Although Baker had traveled alongside Aquaz, his own strength as a Transcendent mage meant he had never truly felt his life was in danger. This was essentially the first time he had confronted the fear of death. For a mage raised in the sheltered environment of the Mage Tower, this terror was almost unbearable. Right now, Baker was simply scared of Ketal. The thought of spending time alone with him was horrifying. “Um, well...” Baker desperately wanted to refuse, but the prospect of saying no was far too frightening. Ultimately, fighting back tears, Baker nodded stiffly. “A-alright...” “Excellent! Thank you for understanding! Truly. 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Aquaz decided to act alone, reasoning that grouping up wasn’t necessary for gathering information. Ketal strolled through the streets with Baker in tow. Unsurprisingly, their presence drew immediate attention. People rubbed their eyes, disbelieving what they saw, only to recoil in fear once they confirmed it was real, hastily creating distance. In moments, an empty space formed around Ketal in the middle of the bustling street. “W-where are we going?” Baker asked him, his voice barely a whisper. All he wanted was to get this over with quickly and return to the safety of his bed. “In times like these? A tavern, of course. That’s where we’re headed.” Ketal had already gotten the location from an attendant. His steps were light and buoyant. A tavern in a coastal city! Ketal mused. It was often said that seafaring folk were rough around the edges. He wondered about what kinds of exciting events would unfold there. It would surely be boisterous. Perhaps tempers would flare, leading to brawls! Ketal thought. The anticipation filled him with the thrill of a tourist exploring a new attraction. Ketal’s expression was one of pure delight, a sight Baker observed with a look of utter dread. Filled with high expectations, Ketal arrived at the tavern. However, the reality failed to meet his anticipation. Settling into a seat, Ketal murmured, “It’s quiet.” A fair number of people were drinking, yet the atmosphere was incredibly subdued. One could almost hear a pin drop—or perhaps a bug crawling. Momentarily baffled by the unexpected calm, Ketal soon formed an understanding expression. Well, the guildhall back in Barcan Estate was quiet too. No reason this place should necessarily be loud, Ketal thought. The silence here felt similar to the stillness in that guildhall. Although strange, Ketal decided to accept it. Maybe fantasy taverns are just different. “Is there some kind of law restricting noise? It’s remarkably peaceful,” Ketal murmured. Thinking about it, constant tavern noise would be quite irritating for nearby residents. Noise pollution, after all, has always been a major source of stress. Nodding to himself as if he’d uncovered a new truth, Ketal looked satisfied. Baker, however, silently refuted Ketal’s conclusion. I don’t think that’s it, Baker thought. While this was also his first time in a coastal tavern, he could tell Ketal’s reasoning was off. The patrons were stealing glances at Ketal, clearly wary. A few even quickly settled their tabs and scurried out of the building. Anyone could see they were keeping quiet because of Ketal’s intimidating presence. Even Baker had to admit that seeing a barbarian who stood two heads taller than himself planted firmly in the center of the tavern would make anyone nervous. Originally, the place was likely as loud and prone to brawls as Ketal had hoped. It was just that Ketal’s aura was so overwhelming that it could cow even the notoriously rough sailors into silence. Baker, being an objective mage, wanted to point out the facts, but his fear of Ketal kept him silent. I should write this down in my notebook, Ketal thought, arriving at his own conclusion that coastal taverns were surprisingly quiet. “I’m hungry. Let’s get something to eat.” Ketal ordered some food. Before long, a trembling server brought their dishes over with remarkable speed. The meal was a braised dish featuring a whole fish stewed in seasonings within a pot. Baker wrinkled his nose. The smell was extremely unpleasant. He carefully picked out a piece of fish flesh and put it in his mouth. “Urp–” Baker immediately felt a wave of nausea. The taste was incredibly fishy, salty, and foul—more akin to food waste than an actual dish. Seafood spoiled quickly, making preservation difficult. While magic could be used to keep it fresh, that was a luxury reserved for nobles. Commoners routinely used heaps of pungent fermented fish paste or heavy salting to preserve their catch. For someone unaccustomed to it, the taste was nauseating. Historically, even back on Earth during ancient Roman times, a fish sauce called garum was supposedly added to nearly every dish. It was said that a visiting clergyman, upon being served food with garum, found the smell so unbearable he chose to starve instead. Given that, it was hardly surprising the dish didn't suit the palate of a mage raised in the refined Mage Tower. Baker glanced sideways at Ketal, hoping Ketal felt the same so they could leave quickly. But Ketal’s reaction was entirely different from what he expected. “Ooh. This dish has quite an interesting taste.” Ketal was savoring the fish dish with a look of enjoyment. “I-Is it good?” Baker asked him incredulously. “It’s alright, isn’t it?” Ketal picked out more fish and popped it into his mouth. The strong, unpleasant taste of fermented fish sauce hit his tongue. It tastes pretty damn awful, actually, Ketal admitted inwardly. But it was special. No matter how bad or unfamiliar it tasted, the fact that it was fantasy food made the experience enjoyable. He was the type of traveler who could appreciate even terrible food in a foreign land simply because it was a new experience. And honestly, Ketal thought, compared to what we ate in the White Snowfield, this is quite decent. Ketal wondered if this was what medieval fish sauces or fermented pastes tasted like back on Earth. Smiling broadly, Ketal continued eating. “Aren’t you having any?” he asked Baker, noticing him merely prodding at his food with a fork. Baker jumped. “I’m already full...” “Hmm. Must be because you’re a mage; small stomach, I suppose. You need to eat heartily to stay healthy, you know.” “Uh, right... I’ll eat then,” Baker replied. Ketal’s words were genuinely meant as concern, but Baker, misinterpreting them due to his fear, hastily scooped some of the dish into his mouth. The overpowering taste of fermented fish filled his mouth. A saltiness akin to drinking seawater washed over his palate. The pungent aroma of long fermentation rose into his nasal cavity, churning his stomach. “Uuugh...” Baker barely managed to swallow down the rising gorge, tears welling in his eyes. How can he say this is alright when he cooks so well himself...? Baker thought. Ketal’s own cooking had been more than palatable, even delicious, by Baker’s standards. It was utterly incomprehensible that the same person could enjoy this bizarre concoction. Has his sense of taste gone completely haywire? Baker began to seriously wonder.