There were only a handful of inns in the Asterion Sword Kingdom large enough to accommodate a carriage, and they were all massive establishments favored by traveling merchants.
Since our pockets were flush after selling the four horses we’d taken off Fiona’s hands back on the road, we decided to book a stay at a reasonably high-class establishment.
The inn was called The Sword Saint's Perch. It had a nice ring to it, feeling very much like the Asterion Sword Kingdom. Most of the other guests carried themselves like wealthy merchants, though...
The three of us shared a single room. For a moment, I’d wondered if it was appropriate to be in the same room as Neneva, but we had shared a tent many times during our journey from the Dusk Hollow Wetlands to the Asterion Sword Kingdom.
There was no point in separating the rooms now, and considering Neneva's safety, staying together made the most sense.
I woke up in one of the three beds lined up in the room and began contemplating our next move.
Our top priority was finding Former Count Bradley.
"I hope we can find him quickly..."
"Are you speaking of Lord Bradley?"
Graymond's voice drifted over from the far bed. It seemed he was already awake—the old man was an early riser.
Graymond and I continued our conversation across Neneva, who was still sleeping peacefully in the middle bed.
"Graymond-san, how long has it been since you last saw Bradley-san?"
"Let me see. I believe it has been about three years..."
He spoke with a nostalgic tone, clearly fond of his old friend.
Graymond was already familiar with Bradley. When I had first mentioned the man’s name as part of the "faction restraining the Second Prince's movements," Graymond had simply nodded in understanding and agreed to the plan of heading for the Asterion Sword Kingdom.
Graymond had previously mentioned that there were several people who knew of Neneva's abilities, and Bradley was one of them. It seemed the two were old acquaintances, and Bradley had been providing support for Neneva behind the scenes.
I suspected that the mastermind who had used Sasha to encourage me to visit the Dusk Hollow Wetlands was connected to Bradley.
That mastermind was surely someone at the heart of the Kingdom who despaired over the future of the Imuris Kingdom. That was likely why they had requested Bradley's cooperation and gathered various pieces of intelligence. They had probably learned of Neneva during the course of those operations.
"Even if we manage to meet Bradley-san, what should we tell him about Neneva?"
"...I believe we have no choice but to be honest and tell him she was granted the job of Saint. And also, that the royal family targeted her life..."
"What do you think will happen then?"
Graymond fell into a deep silence, thinking.
"I do not know. However, I doubt she will be allowed to live a quiet life. Now that she has been named a Saint, the Young Lady will have no choice but to step onto the public stage. The world will not leave her alone."
With that, Graymond stopped talking. He was likely imagining the many trials that surely awaited Neneva from here on.
After a while, Neneva began to stir in the middle bed. She sat up abruptly.
"I might be hungry!"
"You should know if you are or not."
Neneva slowly shook her head and looked me in the eye.
"Is this hunger truly... mine...? Or is it the world's...?"
"Zip it. Get ready, we're going down to the dining hall."
I headed for the door, followed by Neneva—who was already launching into a performance—and Graymond, who looked slightly exasperated.
Ever since she’d become a Saint, Neneva frequently put on these little acts, pretending she and the world were one and the same. Graymond, who had been so solemnly considering her future just moments ago, now walked beside me with a deflated look on his face.
If Neneva’s little performance was actually a way to cheer Graymond up, she was more perceptive than she looked.
The dining hall of The Sword Saint's Perch was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Merchants who looked like they were made of money, dressed in silk shirts and hair styled with fragrant oil, were enjoying an elegant breakfast.
The moment we sat at a table for four, a waiter brought over our food. At the Lizard's Tail, you had to order your meals, but it seemed things were different here. Come to think of it, I recalled them mentioning that breakfast was included in the room rate. As expected of a high-class inn.
"It—it’s so soft..."
Neneva whispered as she bit into a piece of white bread. During our journey, we’d roasted meat over the fire, but we certainly hadn't had the luxury of baking bread. Eating fresh, warm bread for the first time in a long while clearly moved her.
"What kind of egg is this, I wonder?"
Graymond poked at the omelet on his plate with the tip of his spoon, looking intrigued. The color of the yolk was much deeper than a standard chicken egg.
"I believe it's turkey."
When I pressed my spoon into it, a golden soft-boiled egg flowed out from beneath the thin, perfectly cooked skin. The scent of butter rose softly on the steam. It was delicious even before the first bite.
"This food is divine! This inn was the perfect choice! Through me... the world itself is filled with joy..."
"Just eat like a normal person."
The moment we finished our meal, the waiter brought over tea. As I raised the cup, the aroma of freshly roasted leaves deepened my sense of satisfaction.
"Hey, what are we doing today...?! Sightseeing, right...?! Please tell me it's sightseeing...!"
Neneva looked back and forth between Graymond and me, her red eyes shining with anticipation.
Regardless of my focus on meeting Bradley, Neneva was still just a fifteen-year-old girl. Having spent her entire life by the edge of a poison swamp, the Asterion Sword Kingdom was the first real city she’d seen in years. She was clearly itching to explore.
I caught Graymond’s eye. He gave a small, knowing nod.
"Alright, let's go see the city today. I’m sure the staff can tell us where to go."
"I suppose it can't be helped! I shall accompany you!!"
Neneva was so excited she tried to gulp down her tea while it was still scalding hot.
"Let'th go!"
"Did you burn your tongue...?"
"I'm fine!"
Neneva hurried toward the reception with her silver hair swaying behind her. Graymond and I followed her out of the dining hall.