The next day, early morning.
Flare’s sleeping habits were atrocious. Between her treating me like a body pillow and the sheer amount of drool she left behind, I was hopelessly sleep-deprived. To make matters worse, when she finally woke up, she screamed and promptly shoved me off the bed. I wasn't exactly thrilled about the situation.
We quickly packed our bags, mounted our Emblem Horse, and set off toward the Royal Capital Arcana.
"Flare, isn't there quite a bit of space between us?" I asked.
"Huh?! Th-that’s not true at all!"
I glanced back over my shoulder while steering the horse. We had been glued together yesterday, but today she was leaving enough room for a third person to sit between us. She refused to meet my eyes, and her face was flushed bright red. I wondered if she was coming down with something.
I pulled the horse to a halt and turned around fully. "Do you have a fever?"
"Fueh!?"
I pressed my forehead against hers, but she didn't seem particularly hot.
"I-it’s nothing like that!! I'm fine! Really! Look, just keep your eyes on the road! Let's go at maximum speed!!"
"……Roger."
"Whoa!?"
I urged the Emblem Horse into a gallop.
Emblem Horses can be controlled through the rider's will. Much like how Gaia’s horse was faster than average, the upper limit of their speed depends entirely on the skill of the user. After four years of practice, I could push one to a top speed of about a hundred kilometers per hour. It was nearly double the normal pace, and since Crest Power is an inexhaustible resource, I decided to maintain that speed the rest of the way.
After a full day of riding, we finally reached the Royal Capital Arcana.
The night air, lit only by the moon, felt slightly chilly. It was spring, after all.
A massive circular wall enclosed the capital, dominated by a colossal castle at its center that had been visible for miles. Lanterns lined the ramparts, illuminating the entire perimeter even in the dead of night. The walls weren't just stone, either; they were reinforced with iron, making them near-impervious even to those wielding Crest Power. The defenses alone set this place apart from any other town I had seen.
"Phew…… I’m exhausted!!" Flare groaned.
"By the way, can we actually get in this easily?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am?"
We headed toward a massive gate that appeared to be forged entirely from iron. A gatekeeper stood watch, but the moment his eyes fell on Flare, he snapped into a salute and his stern expression melted away. A group of men, presumably knights, came swarming out to meet us. It seemed the knights handled the gatekeeping duties here.
"Flare-chan! Welcome back! Aren't you supposed to be on spring break?"
"I am! But I'm here for the Meritorious Star Decoration Ceremony."
"Oh! Flare-chan’s being honored?"
"The Battle of Emerald Plains was a total victory, after all!"
"Man, as expected of Flare-chan. Distinguishing yourself in your first campaign—I'm impressed."
"Ah—no, it’s not me. The one being honored is him. I’m just his escort!"
The knights at the gate turned their attention toward me. They looked me up and down, their eyes practically licking over my appearance.
"Riding double on an Emblem Horse, handsome, same age, and talented enough to be summoned for the Meritorious Star Decoration Ceremony... In other words, he's Flare-chan’s…… boyfriend. Gah……"
They all collapsed to their knees in perfect, despairing unison. It was impressive how in sync they were.
"Honestly! Stop talking nonsense! Leo is just a friend!"
"A-a friend! I see, I see. Leo-kun, was it?"
One of the gatekeepers gripped my shoulder with terrifying strength. He was smiling, but his expression suggested he was about to weep tears of blood. He looked like he was about to bite his own lip off.
"Flare-chan is the sun of the Arcadia Knight Order…… no, of all Arcadia citizens. You understand what that means, right?"
"No, not at all."
"It means if you lay a hand on her, I’ll kill you."
"Idiot!"
Flare delivered a sharp chop to the back of the gatekeeper's neck, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Ahaha. Honestly, they’re all such morons. Come on, give me Leo’s pass!! If you don’t start doing your jobs properly, I’ll tell my Papa, I mean it!"
"Hahaha, we’re just kidding, Flare-chan. Right, Leo-kun? It's just a joke…… mostly."
Their eyes were dead serious.
Feeling as though I was navigating a minefield in the middle of enemy territory, I finally received my pass. It looked like a modern ID card. Since Flare had introduced me and Gaia had sent word ahead of time, the process was relatively smooth. Without this card, entry into the capital was impossible. It was a strict system, a far cry from the lawless feel of Secondary. Then again, with the risk of royal assassinations, I suppose this level of security was a necessity.
We finally stepped inside the Royal Capital Arcana.
"Amazing……"
Compared to the memories of my previous life, it might have seemed unremarkable, but in this world, Arcana’s splendor was practically Tokyo. Even though it was late, the streets were lined with lamps that kept the darkness at bay. In Secondary, everyone would have been long since asleep, yet here the streets were teeming with life. Everyone was dressed in sharp, noble attire, giving the whole place the atmosphere of medieval Europe.
The sidewalks were paved with well-maintained stone. Real horse-drawn carriages—not the Emblem variety—clattered along the roads. The buildings felt elegant rather than rugged, colorful and full of character, with three and four stories being the standard. It felt like Paris, the city of arts... not that I had ever actually been there.
"How is it? The capital, I mean."
"I think it’s…… beautiful. Truly."
"Right? I love this city. It’s so cultural. Even though the world is plagued by swords and war, the Sword King wanted to build a place where people could flourish and live enriched lives. This city is the result of that vision."
"I see……"
The difference in civilization levels was staggering. My home village still consisted of simple wooden houses. Then again, the gap between Tokyo and the rural boonies back in my world was much the same.
We continued our walk, soaking in the cityscape. Just wandering around was enjoyable; the artistic decorations on the bridges, the fountains, and the buildings were all clearly designed with aesthetics in mind. I could understand why my mother wanted to visit so badly. Our temporary home in Secondary was cramped and cold. I wondered if, as a reward for my military merit, I could ask for a house here.
"And, we’re here!!"
"Hm? Where were we going, exactly?"
Flare made an exaggerated gesture toward a pair of monstrously large gates. Beyond them lay vast grass fields and solemn, majestic structures. It was a massive complex that looked exactly like a school.
"Ta-da!! This is our lodging for the night—my alma mater! The Arcadia Sword Kingdom Knight Academy!"