Book 17 Chapter 21

Chapter 114

The blue city, <Terbenople>.

This place is a sacred ground, as it was built by 'Terbel, the Sun of the Azure Sky,' who boasts the most brilliant tales of valor among <Those Who Came>.

The seven great cities of the Republic form a golden ratio, with three on each continent and one on the Tersh Archipelago. <Terbenople> is the center of the great cities on the Acrad Continent and was in an implicit rivalry with the red holy city of <Shuriganakyus> on the Adrion Continent.

"Somehow… the impression is a bit different from what I expected."

Of course, my whole body trembled at the majesty of the Territos, the flagship of the Golden Fleet, which divides the city into east and west at the point where the great river ends and the sea begins.

That was all.

Among the fleets of <Those Who Came> active in the mythical era, only that Territos remained so completely intact.

Its very existence was a mystery.

It felt like proof of how they had managed to subjugate all the kings of the abyss and bring forth the dawn… like an existential proof of creation.

Not only that.

All the structures were made entirely of bluestone, and the city, true to its name, bloomed with a blue light, which also left my pupils dazed.

"Multi-story houses, which are only used in special buildings like aristocratic mansions or mercenary guilds in the Empire… are everywhere? How is this possible?"

Normally, at this point, the crazy shaman and the sun parrot would have teamed up to tease me, but Fride had had a bug-eaten expression since earlier.

"Are these playing games with me…?"

It was the sight of countless strangers in such a civilized society – war orphans, the poor, widows, and the elderly – sitting out on the streets.

"Shamaness, the city is already at saturation point. <Terbenople> is burdened with all the refugees from the Adrion Continent."

The yellow witch in charge of welcoming the shamaness broke into a cold sweat, defending their situation.

"It would be fortunate if they were only refugees from the Adrion Continent, but the Acrad Continent is also currently in chaos, so people are flocking to this city from all directions."

"Yes, it must be saturated. There's nothing that can be done. Because those arrogant 'Blue Bloods' refuse to accept foreigners into that <Teranidonia>!"

Fride yelled, pointing with her kiseru pipe to the west side of the city, divided by Territos.

<Teranidonia>.

A castle whose stonework, not of this world's material nor this era's technology, shines brilliantly, soars into view.

"Blue Bloods?"

At my murmur, Lista quietly explained.

"It refers to the descendants of the tribunes. The Republic is a bicameral society with an upper house council centered on dragonkin and a lower house council centered on humans. Tribunes are lower house members who exercise speaking rights in that council. Except for men, all of them are witches."

<Teranidonia> is a famous fortress said to have been built directly by Terbel.

In the mythical age, this was the territory of the Lord of Time, so it is said to be a fortress built in preparation for when war would break out again.

Therefore, it was considered a holy place within a holy place, and only those who were sacredly set apart were allowed to enter.

"Originally, the standard for being able to set foot there was based on those who became tribunes. Because it meant a person so pure that the dragonkin recognized their entry into the council!"

"Sh-shamaness…"

"But what about now? It's just become a place for inheriting wealth and status, the epitome of pretense! In this situation, this desperate situation where people are out on the streets, they still can't abandon that damn chosen-people mentality?"

Fride grabbed the yellow witch by the collar.

"Call all the representatives of the Blue Bloods. Right now! Otherwise, I'll fly over on my broomstick and blow all their heads off!"

Fride's demeanor struck me as both amazing and unfamiliar.

Is it something to get that angry about?

I rarely get angry. Even if someone insults me, not really? The only situation I can't tolerate is when someone openly insults the Headmaster.

And, hmm, what else is there…?

If an item on my [Strongest Mage Bucket List] was interfered with just before completion, I might get a little hot-headed, but it wouldn't be enough to throw such a fit.

"…"

In the past, I would have thought, 'Why is she making such a fuss over something like that?' Perhaps I wouldn't have even cared, being in [Reading a Grimoire to a Cow] mode.

But back then…

The feeling I had back then…

At the time, I didn't fully understand my own heart, but it was probably envy.

- Rin.

To genuinely grieve and rage for people you don't know… that was Headmaster Atlante, your character, which I could not emulate in my previous life.