Clip-clop, clip-clop~
As the light horse hooves tapped against the cobblestone streets, the carriage slowly rolled through the town.
The [Crystal City — Ream] of the kingdom’s Eastern Province was a magnificent city.
Over 80% of the kingdom’s mineral deposits lay dormant in these surrounding mountains.
Stepping into these endless mines, what you might tread on could be a solid slab of mithril — or even gold.
Countless merchants and mercenaries came here, hoping to leave their names etched into this city’s history.
But for most…they ended up like stones buried deep within the mines —— forever resting beneath the earth.
And even so, people still flocked here in droves, dreaming that one day they might become that one special exception.
When she previously showed up as the “Blood Flower Demon,” everyone avoided her like the plague, and Ilea hadn’t noticed.
But now, after disguising herself and getting up close to observe, Ilea realized something.
Among the people bustling about this city, their clothing was indeed quite varied, and there were far more outsiders than locals.
Aside from the pure merchants hauling cargo, the largest group was clearly mercenaries of all sorts.
Some were clad head-to-toe in armor, looking valiant and extremely reliable.
Others wore tattered clothes, their heads wrapped entirely in black cloth — shabby yet mysterious.
“Mercenaries…among them there should be quite a few extraordinary people, right?”
Ilea touched her chin, suddenly thinking of a good idea.
Right, what if she went to the mercenary guild to post a request, and added a condition that the person must know magic?
Wouldn’t she then be able to gather exactly the kind of information she wanted?
Smack!
Ilea instinctively slapped her own forehead, startling the goddess beside her.
“Wah?!”
Veil squealed, looking blankly at the young lady in front of her.
Why…did she just hit herself?
Sure enough…she’s…a total pervert…
Of course, the silly goddess’s little yelp couldn’t interrupt Ilea’s train of thought.
Really now — hadn’t she thought about the benefits of being part of the privileged class before?
But her mind always seemed stuck in the mode of someone powerless and forced to rely solely on her own efforts.
“Yumina! To the mercenary guild!”
No time to waste, Ilea immediately gave an order to the twin-tailed maid driving the carriage.
“Yes, milady.”
With a flick of the reins by the twin-tailed maid, the carriage started moving smoothly again.
“Eh? We’re not going to eat first…mmm! Mmmph…”
Before Veil could finish her protest, her cheeks were pinched by Ilea and squished playfully in her hands.
According to the young lady, having something soft to knead helped her relax.
Though Veil had already protested before, saying this was shameless, inhumane, and outright bullying, her objections sank like stones in water — getting her cheeks pinched had basically become part of a “personal maid’s” duties.
“Hm~ it’s only been three days, but why does it feel like your face is rounder again?”
Feeling the pleasant squish in her hands, Ilea tilted her head and asked.
“Mmm! I…I’m not fat! I’m just…just recovering! Regaining my normal shape!”
The goddess instinctively squirmed, but that only led to more relentless kneading.
“Hehe~ at this rate, Veil will definitely turn into a perfect little plush ball~”
As she teased the goddess, Ilea couldn’t help but sigh.
“Milady, what’s…a plush ball?”
Up front, the twin-tailed maid Yumina asked curiously.
Veil also looked at her master with wide eyes, clearly having no clue either.
Uh…
“Ahem, a plush ball…just means something cute~”
“Mmm…”
Suddenly praised, Veil’s face turned slightly red.
“Even if you flatter me like that…I won’t be happy about it, hmph!”
“Then what about me~? Am I the young lady’s plush ball too?”
Yumina turned her head, sticking it into the carriage with a grin.
“Huh? Ah…yeah, Yumina is also…my plush ball.”
Ilea’s mouth twitched a couple times before she reached out to pat the maid’s head.
“Ehehe~”
Clip-clop, clip-clop…
As the three of them played around, the carriage gradually began to slow.
“Milady!”
Yumina, now focused back on driving, suddenly called out.
“Look outside.”
Hm?
Ilea slightly raised an eyebrow, let go of Veil’s now-reddened cheeks, and turned her head to look out the window.
They were already quite close to the mercenary guild.
Outside was a decently sized plaza, and at the fountain in the center, a large crowd had gathered.
“What’s going on over there?”
Ilea asked instinctively.
“Looks like a speech. Something about…how exploring unknown paths is arduous and all that…”
Ilea had only asked casually, but suddenly Veil spoke up beside her.
“Huh? You can hear that?”
The carriage was on this street, at least 500 meters from the fountain…
How could she hear so clearly from that distance?
“Ah…yes, I can hear it. Can’t you?”
Veil blinked her large, dark eyes in confusion.
And in the next second, her little nose twitched.
“Ah~ that’s the smell of creamy stew~”
This girl…
Ilea stuck her head out of the carriage window, following Veil’s gaze.
She saw a large chimney atop the mercenary guild’s three-story building.
Looks like they also served lunch there.
And that was even farther away than the fountain, probably about 800 meters.
Not only could Veil hear, she could even track scents.
Which meant…this girl’s five senses far surpassed an ordinary person’s?
No wonder she was so afraid of pain.
She didn’t know whether it was the so-called “goddess’s” innate gift, or just some talent this girl naturally had.
Hmm…
Uh-oh.
Why does she suddenly feel like this useless goddess might actually be a little useful?
“Yumina, get us closer…I want to hear what that speech is about.”
“Yes, milady.”
As the carriage gradually drew near, the loud cries of the person standing at the fountain’s edge finally carried into the carriage.
“If we never take that step! Then we’ll forever be birds trapped in a cage! Don’t you want to see the world beyond?! The endless forests, the mountains that link to the sea of stars, the Milky Way you could grasp with your own hands!”
“We live in this world, so we have the right to witness these things! And I believe only those who have witnessed them can truly be said to be alive! Truly living in this world!!”
That man was giving a speech like a madman, flailing his arms, eyes blazing with passion.
Under the sunlight, both his sweat and spittle were clearly visible.
Yet hardly anyone below made any effort to dodge.
Their thoughts seemed carried away by his words into those endless forests, to the edges of the starry sea, boarding ships made of the Milky Way…drifting off into the distance.
It’s certainly quite stirring…but why does it sound so much like a pyramid scheme?
Putting on a black veil and hood, Ilea stepped down from the carriage, flanked by her two personal maids.
She stood on the outskirts of the crowd, having little interest in the man’s fervent speech above — mainly, she was listening to…he conversations around her.
And from that, she picked up a few things…
It turned out this fellow wasn’t some leader of a shady pyramid scheme, but rather a scholar from a group called the “Lighthouse School.”
The purpose of this school seemed to be exploring lands beyond the kingdom’s borders.
Just like the scenes that man had described — and then erecting their own milestone-like structures in those places.
But more than scholars…
These people seemed even more like reckless adventurers, willing to give everything just to see more, and to experience a freer world.