THE ADVENTURER OF EDEN
4.2 "Adventure in the Capital"

On the way to the Capital, it had already been a day since Shiki and his three heroines left from Guildtown.

They stopped, made a bonfire and rested tonight before proceeding to the capital the next day.

In the middle of Shiki preparing a drink for them, Alicia told Yui and Reina something. A story about the tragedy that became the "turning point" of the Asteria Kingdom 400 years ago.

"The Crimson Crown tragedy?" Yui repeated that.

"Yes." Yeah." Alicia nodded. "This is the origin of the three royal noble families..."

400 Years ago a tyrant called "Vile King" became King of the Kingdom of Asteria. Vile King colonizes, inflicting suffering and despair, and his ambition to rule the world brings him into a coalition with the Abyss.

When the Vile King's crimes run rampant as the Abyss terror comes, the "Great Mother" sends down revelations of three noble weapons on the three allied nobles of the people to fight the Vile King.

"The Sword of Victory; Caliburn. Sun Magic Wand; Apollon. Divine Light whose real name is unknown."

The Blackmores defeat the Vile King and the Monsters, Romanova saves the citizens and Stardust manages to seal the GATE back from the Abyss.

Each of the three royal noble families was worth 400 years ago, and that was why they became rulers of Asteria. Although the Blackmore family was "slightly superior" due to those who seized the throne of the Asteria Kingdom from the Vile King.

"That's the Crimson Crown tragedy. The origins of the three royal noble families became the "heroes" of this land." Alicia tell me again.

"Huh.really a heroic story. Did Blackmore really do it?!" Yui did not believe that of course, to her who was a hater of the Blackmore family, it was a lie.

"Either, but well.the tragedy of the Crimson Crown has never been described in detail. So it's only natural that someone thinks it's a lie." Alicia raised both shoulders.

Shiki agreed with that. "You're right."

Reina had been quiet ever since, even since they had rested there. Shiki nanya is there a problem?Reina replied she was just nervous, it's been a long time since she didn't come to the capital.

"I've been to the capital for a long time! Maybe it's been a year, not three years! Last time I was there was a ball at the Thousand Stars Castle!" reina said again.

His face is down now. Shiki was curious what Reina was worried about, rather strangely Reina was actually nervous about this, let alone meeting with Parliament officials. But seeing from his clumsy nature, Shiki felt reasonable.

"You have to stop feeling so inferior. If you're like that, they'll use you." Alicia advised him seriously. "You're so strong, yet you look so weak so easily."

"..." - ".Reina silently heard that, then apologized. "Sorry..."

Yui laughed at that and Shiki sighed. Shiki thinks it's time she found out more about their friendship. Especially about what makes the two of them can have an awkward relationship like this.

***

They arrive at the Capital, a sprawling fortress city that Shiki says is 5x wider than Guildtown. A dense city with a large white castle in the central area of the city.

Alicia explained that the Capital was built before the Asteria Kingdom was established 700 years ago. Although the history is uncertain, but some say this city already existed more than 1000 years ago.

The city is big, broad and dense. A city that is suitable to be called the Capital with their population of about 12 thousand people.

"Well, and do they all prosper? I doubt that!" yui crossed her arms.

"Well, it's hard to find true prosperity. The people are never satisfied because they have their own egos and it is impossible for you to satisfy every citizen of this country as a politician." Alicia smiled at that.

"My dad was like that, he knew that. I want everyone in this country to prosper. I think such naive thinking is a derivative of my own father."

Shiki smiles hear that, feels funny. Shiki is curious about her father Alicia, Duke Peter Romanova, the name of a famous politician of course. A popular nobleman and liked by everyone, Shiki can describe how his father educated his daughter to live like that.

"There's an entrance check, how is this, Alicia-san?" Reina nanya, she was sure to "giggle" if the military soldiers knew she was the princess like they came with a horse cart and escorted two people only.

"We're going through as usual..eh?" alicia answered, then realized something.

Someone had been waiting, the woman was dressed differently than the royal warrior. Wearing a purple knight suit according to her pigtailed hair color, and a somewhat dark complexion that matched her pretty face.

"The suit.he's a Star Knight." Alicia knows.

The woman approaches their wagon horse, and Shiki stops.

"Shiki the Strongest Adventurer. You're escorting Princess Alicia and Princess Reina, right?" The woman asked; shiki blinked, she had seen this woman before and replied; "Yes, they are both inside."

Alicia and Reina came out, and the woman introduced herself.

"My name is Hibari. I am the fifth-seat Star Knight, assigned to escort you both during the meeting with Parliament." Hibari bowed, saying that to Alicia and Reina. "A pride can escort you both, Princess Alicia, Princess Reina."

They understood, then with Shiki's wagon horse, they entered the capital.

...

A city full of buildings, crowded and busy. Usually they would give way if any royal nobility passed by, but with the disguise of an ordinary wagon horse, then there was no problem.

Hibari is not surprised Alicia and Reina like this, because they are also familiar with Shiki who is an Adventurer.

Shiki remembered who Hibari was, the star knight was also like Leonard.

"Where's Leonard now?" ask Shiki.

"I locked him up so he wouldn't meet you." Hibari answered with a serious face.

Shiki was astonished to hear that, despite being locked up, Shiki felt it was only a matter of time to see Leonard again.

The two of them reached the House of Parliament which was near the Thousand Stars Castle. Not too far away, and only 20 minutes from there.

Hibari waited outside, Shiki, Yui and the two Princesses will enter to meet the members of Parliament as they are the representatives of the Guild in this meeting.

In a large room, as soon as they entered, there were five people already waiting for them to sit at the front of the round table.

"Famous names, from the top. Magistrate, rich merchant, middle noble... This is the first time I've seen you since a year ago, isn't it?" Alicia greeted the Parliament member first. "Dad never hesitated on 20 of you, neither did I..."

"Thank you for your praise, Princess Alicia. We all managed to do it because we love this country." said a thin yellow-haired man, about late 30s and he was the "top" of the five.

Count Erick Edelweiss; owner of the Great Port in the East Area which is the largest port in the Southern Continent and arguably also the largest in the world.

Shiki had heard of his name, and first met this important man. Just imagine if something were to happen to this Count Erick, the Asteria Kingdom would definitely be shaken.

"Daughter of Alicia and Princess Reina... If the Princes were still around, they would be happy." said a black-haired man, he was the middle noble of the West Area, Baron Hormet Quantin.

"Baron Hormet Quantin..really?" Alicia knew him, the "Baron" noble who was also a landlord in the West Area. The reason why he became an official was because he was also a leech; alicia had heard that from Alfred.

"My relationship with Princess Reina with the princes was not good enough. Their deaths were unfortunate, but that was their fate."

"Haha." Yui laughed insinuatingly with it and Shiki nudged her younger sister with elbows.

"You're right, Princess Alicia." Serious-faced man with talking glasses. "You're a realistic and logical woman, that's your appeal as a smart woman."

He was the "great judge" of the North Area, arguably as important as Count Erick Edelweiss, this man was named "Jacob Rutwop"

"Jacob..." Alicia certainly knew him, Romanova City was in the North Area and Jacob was the man her father trusted.

"Hoho, Judge Jacob is so familiar with Princess Alicia, right? Are you looking for a position as her husband?" A man with a distended stomach spoke. "I'm not surprised if you do that."

"Who are you?" Alicia was a bit annoyed asking that. It's a formal meeting and gossip talk like this shouldn't exist.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself, I'm a new member of Parliament." The man introduced himself. "Shiki the Strongest Adventurer knows my name for sure, I'm familiar with those Adventurers."

"Who are you?" Shiki doesn't know.

"UH!" He was startled, and then kept his image in an honorable way to introduce himself. "My name is Sharukh Polis. I am the richest merchant in the South Area! Well, I just became a Parliamentary official 6 months ago anyway!"

"Once, you're new. I was hoping you could keep up the saying, Sharukh." Alicia looked at him seriously, and said; "or you'll be the same fate as Freddy after this..."

Sharukh smiles and someone named Freddy shouts in shock at Alicia's threat.

"UH! Why are you taking me, Princess Alicia?" Freddy panicked. He was one of the rich merchants in the Capital, Freddy was his name.

"You don't know? You were the one who sent Kira and Mira to me, and you were the one who advised Alfred about them, right?" Alicia showed her intimidation as a royal noble.

"Are you my NARcolator, Freddy? If so, I expect a lot of information from you when Shiki the Strongest Adventurer interrogates you."

"EEEEH!" Freddy panicked, and Shiki was astonished to hear that; "Why take me?"

Freddy said he would explain why, and everything about NARAKU after this. Freddy knows Alicia is angry with him, and he doesn't want to "lose the relationship" with the Romanova family.

"Ehem, I think it's time we've had these pleasantries, Princess Alicia." Jacob talk. Alicia agreed to that.

"True, I will share the report and the plea for help written by the Adventurers Guild Leader, Silvaria Noortman. If you have any questions, you can ask me everything." Alicia told them.

...

After reading his report and plea, the 5 Parliamentarians spoke.

"So that's it, help to damage the city to completion, huh. Shouldn't the Amatha Family help as well? They are Guild sponsors, aren't they?" Count Erick nanya's.

"True, unlike you who only provide assistance once, the Amatha Family has been providing good assistance since the battle was over." Shiki explained that. "They'll help with "preparedness" and you'll provide "greater" assistance so that Guildtown can be built faster."

"I see, what do the four of you think?" count Erick asked a fellow official.

"There's no harm in helping, no problem" Jacob said.

"But this help is done, you know! That means the Adventurer Guild will owe us." Baron Hormet said there; "Obt...! I always liked that!"

"You're right, Baron." Sharukh agrees. "But I don't think the Adventurer Guild will fall into your trap. As a loan shark, aren't you weird hoping they owe you one?"

Baron Hormet was upset to hear that as well. "I just want to make a big profit. You don't need to talk to me about that."

"Added, Freddy's in charge of this. Since you sent those "both aides" you caused unnecessary chaos." Sharukh blames Freddy who is of course upset to hear that;

"Shut up! The attack on the Adventurer Guild has nothing to do with me! Take care of them too! I'm not their metabolizer...!" Freddy's pissed off being accused of that.

"Shut up." Count Erick told the two of them to stop arguing. "Are you not ashamed to blame each other like a boy in front of the two Princesses?"

"They were like that, even during our usual meeting." Baron Hormet smile. Freddy and Sharukh looked at each other in annoyance. Their rivalry as traders is high.

The five of them returned to discuss several things, especially about NARAKU, who is currently a common enemy of the Asteria Kingdom.

"I thank you for providing information about the NARAKU generals, but for information of this magnitude, there must be a reciprocal you want." Count Erick had suspected before, according to him this important information should be silenced for a while, but Alicia and her allies provide information about the general NARAKU.

"No, this is not reciprocity." Shiki says. "Maybe 'help each other' is one thing, here we ask for your help, but if you don't know, then it doesn't matter."

"I want the remaining GATE location information." Shiki. "Do you know that?"

...

Surprisingly, one of the 5 members of Parliament knew the remaining 3 GATE locations. They tell there are three locations of GATE scattered in the Kingdom.

"Near Omo Village in the North Area. Metrania Falls in the West Area and Kinoko Caves in the East Area."

One final GATE location is unknown, and Shiki is aware that they must travel around the Kingdom of Asteria in order to find Duke Robert Stardust.

...Chapter 4.2 "Adventure in the Capital" - completed...