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Chapter 273 part 1

It didn’t take much time for a convoy from the Aldam merchant’s association, whom Gwandan and the others were scheduled to meet, to appear before us.

A big man of the Badger Tribe named Gudo, representing the merchant association, promptly arrived after being informed by Sazamina’s subordinates and vouched for Gwandan and his group.

Considering that the Arkrest Kingdom had been preparing this merchant association for decades for such scenarios, this was an expected outcome.

Gudo, who had taken advantage of the rebellion against the Romal Empire and was known to be quite a shrewd businessman, was a man of wealth and lived up to his reputation.

He wore a donning pair of balloon pants of quality silk and rare dyes. It was dyed in many vibrant colors of blue, red, yellow, and white, a sleeveless vest with the same colors, and a white shirt underneath. A sash heavily embroidered with gold tng over his shoulders.

He was dressed like the owner of a large, prosperous store, but his body, covered in badger fur around his neck and chest, was incredibly wide and thick, and he was a head taller than Gwandan.

If he were to stripped off his clothes and expose his body, anyone would believe that he was a powerful warrior. Gudo’s face, bearing the charm of a badger, was always adorned with a welcoming smile.

It seemed that he was being careful not to intimidate those he met for the first time.

「Hi Sazamina, these people are definitely guests at our Aldam merchant’s association. We did have a good business relationship with Miss Ana’s parents. I’m fully aware that you may not have a very good impression of them, Sazamina, but…」

「Is that so? No, I don’t doubt your word, Gudo, but it was hard to believe that a Romal person who knows the current situation in Uminal would set foot here.」

「Well, if we had talked to you in advance and come to greet Miss Ana, we could have prevented this situation. It was our fault, so please don’t worry about it.

I’m sorry, Miss Ana. If you had waited a little longer outside Uminal, I would have sent someone from the store to you in a hurry. Ah, no, that’s just an excuse. My apologies.」

「No, I was the one who was not considerate enough. I caused trouble not only for you but also for Mrs. Sazamina and the others.」

The stern gaze of Sazamina and the surrounding soldiers remained fixed on Amria as she bowed her head slightly. Perhaps it was because she’s still a normal human, even though her identity was secured by the Aldam merchant’s association? Or maybe they still harbored suspicions?

「No, we are simply performing our duties. Yet, it’s unadvisable for a Romal person like you to be seen walking around in Uminal. If there’s another incident, regardless of the Aldam merchant’s association’s guarantee, we won’t be able to overlook it.」

Gudo let out a dry laugh at Sazamina’s tiger-like intimidating presence, as the name of her race suggested.

It would be too harsh to say things like Gudo, contrary to his sturdy and intimidating appearance, had small guts, considering Sazamina’s sense of intimidation. She was still young, but she must have been through a lot of bloodshed.

Given the bloodshed she had been through against the Romal Empire, it was only natural that she would take such a harsh attitude towards Amria, a Romal person. No, maybe that was even a kind attitude.

「I understand. I will be careful. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience caused.」

As I glanced at Amria’s head when she bowed down once more, I apologized to Sazamina while I still could for the　『Trouble』 that would be beyond comparison to this one.

It was not yet certain whether the war would reach this land or whether Sazamina would go to the battlefield, but either way, there was no doubt that Uminal would be in an uproar.

We left the barracks under the stern gaze of Sazamina and the others. We were led by Gudo’s small carriage as we entered Uminal again.

Just before the carriage departed, Gudo warned us to make sure that Amria was not seen until we reached his mansion. Even he, who had considerable status and influence in Uminal, would find it challenging to shield Amria a second time.

Amria herself was finally being careful this time, and she was only peeking out from inside the carriage’s curtain.

Even that was only possible because I was secretly casting an illusion to prevent her gaze from meeting the eyes of anyone outside.

「We’re on the main street now. I bet you can hear the hustle and bustle even inside.」

When I spoke to Amria from the postilion’s seat to the back of the carriage, her small, muffled voice replied.

「Yes. We’re not at the port yet, but I can smell the salt water even stronger. And it’s overwhelming to see so many different races crowded together like this.

On our way here, Uminal, I saw less and less human as we got closer. But in this city they seem nonexistent.」

「Hmm, I don’t think they’ve been banished anywhere, but they may have been segregated together to prevent unnecessary conflict and maintain public order. Gudo will tell us the details.」

The Aldam merchant’s association’s store in Uminal was located near the port, and as we proceeded down the street, the number of stores selling seafood increased, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore became louder.

The number of Merfolk demi-humans, who were very helpful in fishing, also increased, and many of them were still wet with scales and shells.

We left the carriage and the horse golems at a stable owned by the Aldam merchant’s association. We passed through processing factories and the bustling auction markets and were then guided to the office.

It was a five-story brick building facing the street. We met with Gudo again in the representative’s room, which was far back on the first floor.

Only a few people in this association knew about us, and the fact that the Aldam merchant’s association was a front for the Kingdom of Arkcrest, and the butler who served us tea was probably one of them.

Gudo, a giant yet affable man, relaxed his tensed expression and drank the tea the butler had brewed and cooled to a comfortable temperature.

「Hmmmm, delicious. Aren’t you all thirsty? Please feel free to drink.」

Yachiyo, Fuuko, and Amria, who were sitting on a long chair across the long table from Gudo, took a sip of tea as he offered, while the three maids and I stood around them in case of an emergency.

Gudo waited for the three young ladies to finish their tea and calm down before he tightened his expression and spoke up. What would this veteran merchant, who had been doing business with the Romal Empire and the people of this land for decades, tell us? What would he ask us?

「I was quite surprised when I was told about you, but I was even more surprised that you would try to enter Uminal so openly.」

Although it could have been taken as criticism, Gudo’s voice only held genuine surprise.

It was Amria who answered Gudo. She was the most suited to talk to the merchant who knew Uminal better than any of us since she had been the one who wanted to visit this city, and it was also her responsibility.

「I apologize. I wanted to experience and learn about this city of Uminal and the people of this land for myself, including how we would be treated.」

「How bold of you. But in worse scenarios, such actions could have you being killed. As Sazamina mentioned, you must be more careful next time.」

「I have understood. Um, you say “killed’, do you mean that the relationship between the races in this city is that bad?」