How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 44

Living as the Third Son of a Trash Novel – Chapter 44

Chapter 16. The Kingdom’s Capital

The Capital.

That’s what they call the kingdom’s capital. The name itself simply means “capital.” No modifiers are attached.

The origin was simple. Before Emperor Bellancass unified the continent, wars raged constantly across the land.

It was a mess.

It was full of people claiming their territory was the center and that they were the true king.

It was Emperor Bellancass who brought them to their knees.

He united the continent and saved humanity from external threats.

Afterward, the Emperor built a new city in the center of the continent, which was originally his territory. Then, he declared that it would be the only capital of the continent.

He proclaimed that the heart of Midland was here. Since then, the capital of Midland has been called the Capital.

And now.

The towering spires of the capital began to appear in the distance.

“It’s the Capital!”

Varanka and Fleta nodded at the shout of a knight at the head of the group.

“It was a long journey.”

“You’ve worked hard, Princess.”

Lord Varanka and Fleta had already been here once. They didn’t seem to be particularly impressed by the word “capital.”

On the other hand, what about Ilia and Ruth?

Despite being members of the Wind Knights, they were both just country bumpkins in front of the capital. The two men and women rushed forward, admiring the spires.

“Woah!”

“Oh my, oh my…..”

Varanka smiled faintly as he watched the two marveling and approached me.

“This is your first time in the Capital too, isn’t it, Young Master?”

“It is.”

“You don’t seem too excited.”

“I’ve already heard stories and experienced it through books. There’s nothing to be surprised about.”

“Are you sure about that?”

What? That smile.

It’s just a slightly bigger city. I’ve already read enough about it in the novel and seen the inside in illustrations.

What’s so surprising about a castle like that?

I shrugged lightly, looking at the giddy Ruth and Ilia.

* * *

Scratch that.

I take back what I said about Ruth and Ilia being giddy.

“Capital.”

I had learned about the capital through novels and felt it.

But seeing it in person now, I could only gasp.

I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Frankly, I didn’t think my heart could be any more overwhelmed.

First of all, the huge gate that stood before my eyes.

A gate more than twice the size of Windnest. The people passing under it seemed like ants in comparison.

“I am Belcos, the commander of the gate guards. I sincerely welcome the visit of the Bachelun Duchy and the Lindaier family.”

I entered through the gate, greeted by the commander of the guard who had rushed out to meet us.

Beyond that, the palace, located on a hill in the distance, came into view.

Emperor Bellancass had golden hair and golden eyes. This trait was passed down to the royal family through heredity.

Therefore, the symbol of the royal family is also gold. The emblem is a gold dragon. Perhaps that’s why there was a huge dragon statue in front of the palace, as if it were about to take flight.

I was overwhelmed by its majesty for a moment.

“I, Ilia! Look at that! A ship is passing through the middle of the city!”

“Oh my goodness, the road is wide enough for five carriages to pass!”

Ruth and Ilia teamed up and continued to exclaim in admiration.

The capital was built at the same time as the Emperor’s unification of the continent, so its history wasn’t that long.

Still, it was a large city with hundreds of years of history.

Moreover, as a relatively recently built city, all of its structures were planned and technically advanced.

A canal in the shape of a U was dug inside the city, allowing sailing ships to enter the castle.

This was meant to facilitate trade, protect the city with warships during sieges, and serve as a strategic fortress.

Was that all?

As befitting its massive size, the Capital was on a different level from ordinary castles.

First, there was a fortress that encompassed the entire capital.

Inside, after passing through the area where ordinary commoners lived, the second fortress, the inner castle, appeared, and only after passing through that could one reach the palace protecting the royal palace.

And even the palace was a towering, impregnable fortress.

The impregnable Citadel.

That was the Capital.

“Oh my goodness… it’s like daytime.”

Ilia exclaimed.

Even though it was late afternoon, the capital was as bright as day. Whether it was due to magical enhancements, bright lights were shining from the streetlights located throughout the roads.

It was a stark contrast to Windnest, where only the main streets were lit up at night.

“It’s because it’s the Founding Day celebration. It’s not usually this bright.”

That was Varanka’s words. Of course, even considering that, it was still a spectacular sight.

‘It would be easy to get lost if I wandered around alone.’

I could memorize Windnest in a few days, but I felt like that wouldn’t be possible in the capital.

Even so, as I tried to recall the geography by reviving my memory as much as possible, Ruth approached me.

“Will we be heading straight to the inner castle?”

“That’s where we’re staying, right?”

“Yes. There will be separate residences prepared for the Bachelun Duchy and the Lindaier County.”

“How long will it take?”

“The vice-commander said that the roads are congested, so it will take quite some time. Why don’t you get in the carriage and rest for a while?”

The separate residence assigned to us would probably be inside the inner castle area where ordinary nobles stay.

“You said it’s a separate residence in the inner castle, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go on ahead.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll follow you to the inner castle soon, so go and rest first.”

“Where are you going…?”

“The official procedures don’t start until tomorrow anyway. I’m going to look around the capital beforehand.”

“Then I’ll escort you!”

“No need. I want to be alone.”

Ruth couldn’t cling to me any longer at my firm refusal.

“Understood. Then I’ll go ahead.”

“I’ll be there soon, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes.”

After saying that, I got out of the carriage and distanced myself from the group I had been with.

After sending Ruth and the others away with worried looks.

The place I headed to next was a magic shop.

I wanted to go to the Magic Tower to take care of some business and look around, but I would have to reveal my identity to buy things there.

Of course, I have no intention of leaving any traces.

Thud!

After visiting the magic shop, I took out the mana stone I had purchased and held it in my hand.

At the same time, I grabbed the sword and woke up Afen, and a voice was heard in my head.

[Slurp! That’s a mana stone, right?]

Afen was pretending to be a real person, even imitating the sound of swallowing.

The surroundings were noisy. It didn’t seem like anyone would hear me if I talked to myself, so I opened my mouth slightly.

“Yeah.”

[Are you going to give it to me?]

“I don’t know.”

“Why?”

“It depends on what you do.”

[Aaaah! That’s not fair!]

“Suit yourself.”

[No! It’s fair! So what do I have to do?]

“You know this city well, right?”

[Of course! How much did I wander around here with my mom!]

Well, in that case.

I looked around and headed into an alley.

Then, after confirming that no one was there, I dropped the mana stone and drew my sword and stabbed it.

[Mana!]

Afen, who had sucked up the mana with a slurping sound, smiled as if he was finally in a good mood.

[Well, I didn’t get much, but I’ll think of it as an appetizer for now.]

What is this gluttonous bastard saying?

“If you ate, you have to pay for your meal. Give me some directions.”

[Directions?]

“Yeah. You said you lived here for a long time, right?”

[Where do you want to go?]

“Library.”

[The royal library?]

“That’s obviously in the palace, you idiot.”

[Aha~.]

“If possible, is there a used bookstore or something?”

[A used bookstore… there is, I remember! But why there?]

“You don’t need to know, just guide me.”

After that, I came out of the alley and started wandering through the alleys, following Afen’s directions.

Eventually, what appeared before my eyes was a shopping district that looked quite historic. How long had I been wandering around, feeling the tranquility?

A bookstore with a shabby sign appeared, and I entered without hesitation. Then, the unique smell of old books began to linger under my nose.

“Welcome.”

An old man, who was dusting the books with a bent back, nodded at me when he saw me.

I also bowed my head lightly and slowly looked around the interior.

It wasn’t that big. But still, perhaps because it was the capital, there were quite a few books on display.

‘Books, it’s been a while.’

The moment I approached a bookshelf, recalling my past as a bookworm.

Hmm, hmm… but these books are…