“Then, Leon, I leave this to you.”

“Yes. I’ll be on my way.”

The location was along the roadside near the Five Lakes. Half a day’s walk further down the path lay the city of Fratara.

The delegation had decided to send scouts ahead to confirm whether Fratara was suitable for resupply and rest. Leading the scouting party was Leon DeGlatt, the delegation’s head of security. He mounted his horse while being seen off by Agritend Levania, the delegation leader.

And accompanying him—

“Ms. Zwanzig, I’ll be counting on you as well.”

“Understood.”

Zwanzig, one of the escorts from Paraiso, had volunteered to join the scouting mission. She had pointed out that her presence would allow the use of a magical mechanical golem for added protection.

Although there were initial reservations about involving her in such a potentially dangerous task, her undeniable combat prowess and her role as part of the escort made her inclusion the natural choice.

“We don’t intend to stay long, only long enough to assess the situation. If everything seems fine, we’ll send word ahead. But if we’re not back by sundown, please refrain from approaching Fratara City.”

“Understood. We’ll wait until midday tomorrow, but don’t get yourself killed.”

“I have no intention of dying. Especially with her at my side.”

Leon mounted his trusted steed, while Zwanzig climbed aboard her magical golem. The golem, which Zwanzig referred to as "Bokki," had been stored within a larger transport golem. This smaller unit was roughly the size of Leon’s horse, though its width was easily double. With its four sturdy legs, it resembled a spider, albeit with fewer limbs. Its low stature made Zwanzig’s seated position slightly lower than Leon’s.

“Let’s go,” Leon said.

“Onward,” Zwanzig replied.

As Leon’s horse broke into a trot, Zwanzig’s golem kept pace effortlessly. Its movements were smooth and surprisingly silent, a testament to its advanced design.

The Journey to Fratara City

It would take half a day to walk to Fratara City, but on horseback, the journey was significantly shorter. While small magical creatures might occasionally appear near the city outskirts, they rarely attacked horses and could generally be ignored. The primary concern was bandits, though this area was unlikely to host any such activity. Trade between Iron Town and the surrounding regions had ceased over a year ago, leaving little reason for bandits to prowl these roads.

Leon’s horse galloped steadily, and soon, the distant walls of Fratara City came into view. He signaled to Zwanzig, who was following behind.

“There it is, Ms. Zwanzig. From here, we’ll proceed as planned.”

“Understood. I’ll follow your lead.”

At Leon’s nod, Zwanzig pulled the hood of her cloak low over her face. Her appearance was striking enough to attract attention, and covering up was an effort to avoid unnecessary scrutiny. She also donned a magical device she called "goggles," which obscured her eyes entirely. While the combination of the hood and goggles gave her an eerie appearance, it also made her seem unapproachable, deterring unwanted interaction. This was preferable to the alternative: rumors of a beautiful, fox-eared girl spreading like wildfire.

No one in the delegation trusted the local security situation. The general consensus was that if Paraiso representatives revealed themselves openly, a swarm of kidnappers would descend upon them in an instant.

The purpose of this reconnaissance was to ensure that Fratara City hadn’t fallen into ruin or been taken over by bandits during the extended period of isolation.

Approaching the City Gates

“It doesn’t seem like the city’s in ruins,” Leon observed.

“Yes… There’s no sign of desolation. I can see smoke rising, which suggests people are still living here.”

Indeed, thin columns of smoke, likely from cooking fires, were visible. However, Leon noted that Fratara City had previously used magical stoves powered by mana stones for cooking. The presence of wood fires implied either a shortage of mana stones or an inability to repair broken magical tools—neither of which was a good sign.

“Let’s hope civilization hasn’t regressed too much,” Leon muttered.

Zwanzig turned her head slightly toward him, her fox ears twitching, but she said nothing and returned her gaze forward. Leon hadn’t expected a reply, so the silence wasn’t bothersome. What did surprise him, though, was that she had heard his murmured comment in the first place. Clearly, her sharp hearing wasn’t just for show.

(I’ll have to remember that discussing anything privately in front of her is impossible, Leon thought.)

He resolved to keep this realization in mind. If Kuravia Telek, the head merchant of Telek Port City, learned of Zwanzig’s capabilities, he would likely faint on the spot. However, given that nearly all conversations were already an open book to Paraiso, there wasn’t much that could surprise them.

Leon and Zwanzig continued their approach. Fratara City’s outer wall was rudimentary, a raised mound of earth topped with wooden palisades. At roughly three meters high, it was sufficient to keep out bandits and small magical creatures.

“There’s a gate on the right. Let’s head there,” Leon said.

“Understood.”

To their right, they spotted a closed gate. No guards were immediately visible, but it wasn’t surprising—this side of the city likely saw little traffic. The real issue would arise if the gate were locked, forcing them to search for another entrance.

“Well, let’s ask,” Leon said.

He dismounted and approached the gate, gesturing for Zwanzig to remain mounted. As he moved, he heard the metallic sound of something being adjusted and turned to see Zwanzig fiddling with her rifle-like weapon.

“This? Just a precaution. Don’t mind me,” she said.

“…Understood.”

It made sense to be cautious outside the gates, where an ambush was always a possibility. However, Leon decided he would need to ensure she refrained from any overt actions once inside the city.

“Hello! Is anyone there?” Leon shouted, pounding on the gate’s knocker. After repeating himself twice, a loud clang from inside indicated someone had heard him.

“I hear you! Hold on, I’m coming!” a voice called back.

After a moment, a small viewing slit in the gate creaked open.

“What’s this? Why’d you come to this gate? There’s nothing out here,” the man inside grumbled.

The speaker wore a bandana dyed in distinctive colors—a uniform of the Fratara City guards. Leon relaxed slightly; at least the city’s security forces were still functional, even if their exact condition was uncertain.

“I’m not from here. Do you know of Telek Port City?” Leon asked.

“…No, can’t say I do… Wait, you mean another city?” The man’s eyes widened.

“Yes, our kingdom’s sole port city. Surely you’ve heard of it?”

“Port city? I think I’ve heard something about that! Hold on, I’ll—no, wait, I’ll let you in! How many of you are there?”

“I’m a scout. It’s just me, one horse, and a golem. Will that be a problem?”

“A horse and… a golem? No, no problem. Head straight to the lord’s manor once you’re inside. Just wait while I open the gate.”

There was a flurry of activity behind the gate, and soon, one of the doors creaked open outward. The gatekeeper seemed to be working alone, so Leon stepped forward to help push it.

“Ah, thanks! That helps a lot. This gate rarely gets used, so it’s just me here,” the guard said.

“I figured as much. Don’t worry about it. We’re all just doing our jobs.”

The gate was heavy, and they only managed to open it halfway. It was enough for them to enter, though.

“Let’s go. Ms. Zwanzig, please follow me,” Leon said.

Leading his horse, Leon stepped through the gate. Zwanzig followed on her golem, drawing a stunned expression from the gatekeeper as he gawked at her and her unusual steed.