Chapter 448
Judeus's presence was noticed only by those on our side.
Esmeralda confirmed it with a momentary glance as she moved her head. Genjirou, who had probably been aware of him from the start, remained unchanged. The Garden Guards escorting us also noticed Judeus in a similar manner.
Only the group from the kingdom remained unaware.
At that moment, Judeus flashed us a hand signal in an instant.
He moved his right and left hands quickly in a single motion. None of us missed it. We saw its meaning, but didn't react with sighs or change our expressions.
"Well then, I'll guide you to the embassy now so we can prepare for tomorrow's tour of the academy."
"Understood."
"Yes, no problem."
For now, guiding Catia and Lady Iris takes priority.
The message Judeus conveyed was a report of an attack on the land route, with minor damage.
As we were getting off the train, I sent a hand signal back in response, hidden while guiding the two, instructing him to conduct a reverse tail and investigate the culprits.
Seeing that, Judeus slipped away without being noticed by the kingdom group.
With this, we should obtain detailed information.
Estimating that the report would come around evening, we boarded the large elevator installed at the station platform and ascended to the upper level.
"Amazing."
"I've never seen such a beautiful cityscape."
At the top of the elevator, we emerged into the residential zone built on the rooftop.
That said, this elevator is installed in the central plaza of the residential area, allowing access to various places from here.
Having it directly connected to places like government offices, the embassy, or my house would pose security problems, after all.
The meticulously planned city and its infrastructure, like roads.
A city designed to prevent the formation of slums, maintain the scenery, and also facilitate治安 maintenance and patrols.
This scene shocked not only the two girls who had lived in the royal capital, the kingdom's largest city, but also the two escorting knights and Mongre.
While functional beauty was pursued for roads, districts, and public facilities, individual residences were allowed to express their individuality, so the cityscape lacks uniformity.
Nevertheless, the residential area built by Don and his team using all their skills retains a certain beauty.
"Are those... spirits!?"
Princess Catia, who had been looking at the cityscape, exclaimed in astonishment.
Following her gaze, I could hear surprised exclamations from the others as well.
'Ah! It's the president!'
'President! No abnormalities to report!!'
'Amina-chan is doing well tooー!'
"Ooh, good work on patrol. After you finish your rounds, go get some snacks from Teresa-san's place."
'Okay!'
Wind spirits floated and flew through the sky above the city.
Behind them, a slightly larger bird-like middle-ranked wind spirit watched over them.
I returned their clumsy salutes with an equally clumsy one of my own, and when I smiled at them, the spirits giggled and returned to their patrol.
"...Is this a city where you can't survive without being constantly surprised?"
"You'll get used to it eventually."
Without explaining, I continued walking after seeing them off, and Catia called out from behind. Turning around, I could also see Lady Iris tugging at Esmeralda's dress, silently appealing to her sister for an explanation.
"So you have connections with spirits too."
"Fortunately, I've been blessed with good缘分."
"I've heard they don't usually show themselves to humans so easily. But in this city, spirits are everywhere."
"Well, they're also residents of this city. Ah, they're not students, though. But they do sometimes participate in classes. They're good neighbors."
Smiling wryly at their reactions, I didn't stop walking and continued along the main street of the residential district.
Occasionally, spirits called out from above, and I waved back and greeted them.
It was as casual as greeting a neighbor.
To Catia and Lady Iris, it must have looked like an impossible sight.
However, Esmeralda and Ingrid showed no surprise, and the Garden Guards accepted it as a matter of course.
"It seems even the residents take it for granted."
"Yeah, we've interacted with the spirits a few times during festivals, so we've become able to interact with them normally."
And it's not just us; the residents of this city interact with spirits in the same way.
Earth spirits helping an elderly woman carry her luggage.
Fire spirits making snacks together with housewives.
Wind spirits running around with children.
Water spirits participating in gossip sessions by the well.
Spirits have become integrated into the daily life of this city.
"I was trying hard not to be surprised, but it seems that's going to be futile. What's next? I wouldn't be surprised if there were dragons on a farm."
"Ah, we haven't achieved that yet. But it's planned for the future."
"...So a wyvern nest might appear inside the walls?"
"That's also planned."
"..."
With one extraordinary scene after another, Catia's facial muscles momentarily showed a twitch, as if her brain's processing capacity had finally reached its limit.
"Ar-are there other future plans?"
"Well, I'd like to get some horned dragons. Also, water dragons to start a maritime shipping business in the future, and various other things?"
I didn't miss that moment.
It was a suspicious glance, the kind you'd give someone who's clearly out of their mind, as if thinking, "What is this guy saying?"
Catia briefly directed such a glance at me, and beside her, Lady Iris kept glancing at her sister, silently asking, "Is that true?"
Watching these busy young ladies, the embassy came into view ahead.
Normally, having two young ladies walk is a breach of etiquette, but I included it as a way to show them the cityscape and the lives of its people.
"This is the embassy where you two will be staying from now on."
"......"
We arrived in front of the embassy, built with passion by Don and his team, beyond a sturdy fence and gate.
The grounds are smaller than the Duke's mansion, but the building itself is not inferior.
As I had heard beforehand, since a princess and a duke's daughter would be residing here, I paid close attention to the design, ensuring enough rooms for embassy staff, servants, and security personnel.
Furthermore, it's equipped with an ambassador's office, a reception room for guests, and a courtyard with a party hall connected to it, allowing for parties.
"Was this insufficient?"
"No, I never expected you to prepare such a splendid residence. Right, Iris-san?"
"Yes, Lady Catia. It has exceeded our imagination."
The embassy came loaded with various other facilities.
I don't think there will be any problems with work or daily life, and I put my all into it, even to the point where Esmeralda said I went overboard.
"Is that so? Glad to hear it. I'll explain the interior as well, so let's head inside for now."
Seeing the results of my efforts, I watched the two's faces gradually tighten as I took a key from my pocket and unlocked the gate.
"Golems!?"
"Ah, those are security golems. They're programmed to react immediately to unauthorized intruders. They use swamp dragon magic stones for the golem cores, so they have considerable output."
As we passed through the gate, Mabel and Maria instinctively reached for their weapons upon seeing golems armed with shields and maces, but I stopped them with a hand gesture.
The golems merely turned their heads towards us and made no further reaction.
"It's fine while I'm here, but before you enter, touch the golems and channel your magic power into them. That will make them recognize and register you."
Guardian Golems.
Golems for base defense.
By installing a Commander Golem to control them within a territory, they perform specific actions.
With Class 5 equivalent materials, they can't perform intricate movements, but they're sufficiently capable as tanks or for defense.
They're sturdy enough that Nell can silence them with a full-powered blow, but they also serve as alarms to detect and react to assassins from the Heretic Church or opposition forces.
"Like this?"
"Exactly. As long as someone with registered magic power accompanies you, they won't react, so later, when the embassy staff and caretakers arrive, register them together."
First Mabel, then Maria channeled their magic. After confirming there was no problem, Mongre, Catia, and Lady Iris did the same, registering their magic with the golems.
We can't guard the inside of the embassy around the clock, so I had these installed.
Spirits will take turns guarding the Commander Golem, so in an emergency, they should buy us time until we arrive.
Besides these, there are also concealed golems placed throughout—Block Golems disguised as walls, Turret Golems disguised as roof decorations that fire crossbow bolts, etc.
This gatekeeper golem is a conspicuous threat, intentionally placed as a decoy.
And by channeling magic into this golem, they are designed to register with all the other golems on the embassy grounds.
After Lady Iris's registration was complete, the tension among the kingdom group increased as they entered.
The interior of the embassy is quite ordinary.
The decorations and furnishings are, for noble circles, not exactly frugal but can be described as simple.
"......"
However, the young ladies and their escort knights remained wary, still expecting something else.
In fact, Block Golems and Turret Golems for protection are潜伏 inside this embassy as well, so it's not like there's nothing.
That said, they only activate in emergencies, so I won't activate them just to startle.
Well, that's not to say there aren't any surprises.
"First, this is the security room. From here, you can view footage of the embassy grounds, except inside the private quarters."
"Su-such facilities exist? Couldn't these be installed in the royal castle?"
"The cost would be astronomical, though?"
Yes, such facilities exist, I answer.
Mabel is surprised by the security room and the number of monitors I show first.
"This is the party hall, and beyond that is the courtyard."
"It's spacious."
"Yes, it can comfortably invite over a hundred people."
"The courtyard has a glass roof, so it can be used even in rainy weather, and with magic tools for ventilation, a live kitchen is also possible. Use it for interactions in the noble manner. However, whether you can invite outside guests requires permission from us."
The two young ladies' eyes widen at the unexpectedly spacious party hall and courtyard.
"This is the training ground, and next to it is a training room."
"What is this wall made of?"
"It's a stone wall hardened by a special method. Ordinary magic won't break it, so you can train at full power."
Next, I guided them to the training ground, essential for anyone becoming a student here.
Sufficient space is secured to allow magic use, and the floors, walls, and ceiling are all mixed with Mark of the Weakling to prevent breakage.
Maria was the one interested in this.
Rugged stone walls and a sand floor.
The ceiling height is considerable, so it shouldn't feel cramped.
From there, I successively introduced the office, large bath, dining hall, and toilets.
For reference, I've prepared facilities that would be comfortable even by Japanese living standards.
Temperature and humidity can be kept constant in all rooms. Both cold and hot water are available.
The bath can be used 24/7, and the toilets are heated seats with bidet functions.
"Lord Liberta."
"What?"
"The living environment here is better than the royal castle."
"It's also better than the ducal residence."
After showing them such things and explaining that they would be living here from now on, the expressions of the young ladies said this:
"We might not be able to go back. How are you going to take responsibility for that?"