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The crowd gathered in front of the gate was indeed as Catherine suspected; it was prepared by King Seophon to welcome Alfred.

However, the reason the people inside the gate were welcoming him was still unclear. Even when I tried to listen, their shouting turned the welcoming cries into mere noise.

“Still, throwing petals suggests it might not be someone else’s order.”

“It’s noisy, so shut the window.”

“Sure.”

As I obediently closed the window, Catherine opened her book again. Considering the scale of the capital seen from outside, it looked like it would be quite a while longer until we arrived, so I guessed she planned to read in the meantime.

“But this place feels bigger than Coldon, but lacks that Borderster smell.”

“The reason is the same as Coldon.”

“Coldon? So, is it about the sewer?”

As I muttered about the idea that popped into my head, Mary nodded. While tidying the luggage that had been unpacked inside the wagon for our descent, she pointed to the ground below.

“The sewer of the Ancient Catacombs (an underground cemetery) built by the Palatino Empire is as large as the city. The ancient empire was notably particular about cleanliness.”

“Hmm. But wasn’t there a city here a long time ago?”

“Perhaps not on the same scale as it is now, but yes.”

“But they built a sewer, you say?”

Construction isn’t just about putting up buildings and calling it a day.

Even in modern times, complaints and protests flood in for various reasons before any construction starts, and you mean to say they built a sewer in the old Bendleig where people were already living?

What would happen if such a thing occurred in a place where it’s permitted to kill someone without consequences? The residents would surely attack the Imperials. The reasons are plenty: noise, housing prices, and so on.

“It must have faced quite a bit of opposition.”

“Well, I’m not sure about that.”

“You’re curious about everything, aren’t you?”

As Catherine interjected between the two talking, she added, “It’s those who designed this city. There’s hardly any change. Above all, the term Catacombs itself means an underground cemetery, a phrase now in Servianus’s Palatino language.”

“Oh… so you’re saying they ruined the existing city and replaced it with newcomers?”

Catherine hesitated briefly, swallowing hard.

Ruined? What on earth does that mean?

“What kind of phrasing would make the Bersengzeto Elves rush at you with skewer sticks?”

“So, which means they burned everything down and killed all the residents?”

“First off, let’s correct two things. They neither burned down Bendleig, nor did they kill all the inhabitants.”

“Oh, that’s unexpected.”

Despite being scared by the climate in Iceland, they must have been quite warlike to conquer an island nation back in the ancient times.

“When the Palatino Empire conquered there, I imagined they’d done it in a blazing way, like burning the second World Tree.”

“There was no need for that. The Bersengzeto at that time was embroiled in civil war, so it didn’t take much effort.”

Catherine shook her head as if she couldn’t bear it any longer, staring at Karem with half-closed eyes.

“Just don’t say that in front of the Bersengzeto Elves. Unless you fancy a life-or-death duel.”

“Hmm. But how do you distinguish the Bersengzeto Elves from others?”

Aside from the dark elves or the gray elves, I honestly couldn’t tell.

Catherine, sensing Karem’s thoughts, poked his chest.

“So don’t even think about it.”

“A city larger than Coldon, with underground cemeteries and sewers. They must have had excellent construction technology.”

“Thanks to that, cities touched by the ancient empire tend to be surprisingly clean, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides.”

“Downsides, you say?”

I could guess the sewers were overflowing.

Isn’t that more a matter of exceeding capacity than a problem?

“The Catacombs, being vast and sealed, are the perfect breeding ground for monsters. The same goes for the sewer.”

Monsters breeding and appearing.

I had a hunch.

“So… a dungeon?”

“Correct. As a reward, here’s a shelled walnut for you.”

Mary emerged from her seizure of doing nothing and presented the walnut she had shelled.

“Various creatures like rats, insects, wild dogs, as well as slimes, undead, black dogs, kobolds, goblins, sahuagin, orcs, and many more frequent the place.”

“That’s also a reason why adventurers flock to this city without discrimination.”

“Beginners gather starting funds, while those with some skill find it an optimal place to hone their abilities.”

“There are also bounty hunters and adventurers aiming for the diverse phenomenon criminals and lunatics that have emerged for various reasons, targeting high-grade monsters.”

As the two servants recounted various urban legends about the catacombs and sewers, Karem made a face of disgust.

‘Goodness.’

On the surface, the city appeared a bit complicated yet odorless, but I never imagined it could be such a dangerous place. It’s practically a city built over a dungeon.

And that city happened to be the capital of a nation.

But a capital so dangerous…

‘Guess it doesn’t matter that much?’

I suddenly recalled a memory where war broke out in my past life, starting with the capital being set ablaze, always with the entire nation prepared for total mobilization.

Maybe it isn’t as dangerous as I thought?

“No, that’s wrong. It is dangerous. What the hell was I thinking?”

“It’s pretty clear what you’re thinking. The danger isn’t that high if you think about it.”

Catherine waved her hand dismissively, turning the page.

“Well, in various ways, it is the final destination for all sorts of criminals and lunatics, and high-grade monsters also nest here, so while it’s not without danger, it’s not entirely safe either.”

Cancel that last thought.

It really was dangerous.

“Stop the unnecessary worrying. The wagon seems to be stopping soon.”

Indeed, Mary’s words were correct as she tidily finished organizing the luggage while gathering the book Catherine was reading.

Anyway, Karem was the personal cook. Along with that bonus responsibility as a servant, it was usual for him to accompany Mary and stay near Catherine.

And Catherine is a Grand Wizard.

It was only natural that danger would seem non-existent.

However, thinking about the similarity of the sewer and the catacombs to an actual dungeon, that thought quickly vanished the moment they stepped off the wagon.

The castle situated in the center of the capital Bendleig.

Winchester resembled Coldon’s Winterhome.

As the capital of the kingdom, and notably a place touched by the renowned ancient Palatino Empire, the plain borders were impressively adorned.

With high, varying towers that seemed challenging to conquer and the intricate castle walls connecting between them, plus the central castle that towered as high as the spires.

Karem, who extended a hand to Catherine to help her down from the wagon, blinked rapidly while surveying all around Winchester.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“Uh, no. Just it resembles Winterhome?”

Catherine, having shooed away the castle servants trying to help, cast an eye at Mary working alone while throwing a glance back at Winchester.

“Your lord, who was staying in Bendleig Castle, moved here to Winchester after becoming friends with King Seophon. So, it’s possible it was influenced by that.”

“Thinking back, it does have a similar structure to Coldon, doesn’t it?”

The outer castle, inner castle, and the castle with sewers underground.

The general structure of the two cities was strikingly similar.

“Although Coldon seems a bit more systematic. No, I should say it’s similar to Bendleig’s structure.”

Then an idea suddenly struck me.

“But why did we come into the royal castle?”

“Are you only now asking that?”

Catherine looked at me with an incredulous expression, but I couldn’t help it. Captivated by the scenery of Winchester, how could I focus on anything else?

It looks like the escort forces they hired were dismissed at the outer castle.

Most of those numerous guards seemed to remain in the inner castle, as the duke’s entourage that entered the royal compound was but a handful.

That included us, of course.

“Sir Atanitas. I shall guide you to your room.”

Unable to resist Mary’s stubbornness, we followed the servant leading us through the castle. We attracted glances as we passed by.

“Mary, let me share some of that load.”

“It’s not particularly heavy.”

“That’s an outright no.”

We crossed a park and garden, entering the main castle. We climbed stairs and passed through corridors repeatedly, until a slight pressure was felt in my calves when the servant finally stopped.

“You may use the two rooms on either side of the one assigned to Sir Atanitas.”

After waving goodbye to the departing servant, Mary carried the luggage in her hands and entered Catherine’s room.

“Certainly. This room lives up to its name as a palace.”

What Mary meant was that the room was exceedingly spacious.

And her statement was spot-on.

Compared to what I’d seen in Winterhome, the luxurious furniture including wardrobes, desks, and vanities, along with the window made of remarkably clear glass, were impressive.

“Hmm. The magic stone lamps can adjust brightness simply by thought.”

“Wasn’t the magic stone lamp turned on and off with claps or finger snaps?”

“I believe they can be customized in various ways according to spells. And these thoughts that adjust brightness are… quite the advanced creations.”

While the luxury of Catherine’s room was indeed the pinnacle, the two rooms on either side were equally lavish. Plus, the white marble-clad restroom and bathroom looked like something out of modern-day facilities.

Most importantly…

“What the heck is this?”

Modern toilets and sinks.

Modern bathtubs and showers.

“Come to think of it, she mentioned that reincarnators are rare—”

But not nonexistent.

Catherine had said that before.

There were similar things in Winterhome’s restroom and bathroom.

But unlike the lavishly decorated items, what lay before me now was merely white ceramics, looking like toilets you’d only see in modern times.

‘Who would have thought I’d encounter the existence of the world tree here?’

And to experience it in a restroom no less.

The mix of excitement and absurdity left me momentarily speechless.

“Karem? What on earth are you doing, staring blankly in the restroom?”

As I came to my senses, Mary tilted her head, seeing my reflection in the sleek, transparent modern mirror. I locked the door with the room key and rejoined Catherine.

“Hmm? Why look so dazed?”

“Because I’ve confirmed the physical evidence of another reincarnator’s existence?”

“Karem was grinning as he wandered the restroom and bathroom.”

Mary’s comment made Catherine’s face twist into a bizarre expression.

“The restroom and bathroom?”

“That place looked exactly like my restroom in my past life, as if it was just copied and pasted.”

I wasn’t joking; I was serious.

“Well, since the real schedule starts tomorrow, we have free time until then.”

“…Then I suppose I should take a look at the kitchen.”

Karem was about to pull out a chair to sit when he promptly pushed it back in.

Regrettably, unlike in the Obsidianberry Hotel, there was no kitchen in any of the rooms we were staying in.

That meant, as a cook, I had to explicitly check out my future workplace. Additionally, tasks to ensure I could work comfortably were necessary.

“Ah, and it seems it’s snack time too.”

“Regardless of Kingsland, we should be able to use the kitchen freely.”

Karem turned to the sparkling-eyed Mary.

“Would you like to check it out together now?”

“That’s quite an enticing offer.”

“Shall we go see how great and splendid the castle’s kitchen is right now?”

“However, it can’t be done immediately.”

But Mary’s reaction was different from what I expected.

“I need time to tidy up what’s assigned to each room and the rest of the luggage first.”

Then she immediately began her cleaning task.

Karem comprehended in an instant.

It seemed she was quite fidgety.

 

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