“The line is.. long even though we’re this early it’s insane.” Ro exclaimed.

“At least it’s a lot better than yesterday, let’s go,” Leticia said.

They have to camp for another 2 hours before the booth opens. During this time, they had their rations and bored themselves to death.

“Do you think that succubus will come chasing you?” Ro asked.

“I doubt so,” instead of Sequencee, it was Leticia who answered.

“It wouldn’t make sense for her to follow me.”

“Ro and his fantasies~” Lilian said.

“And you’re part of it too.”

“Hey!” she retorted.

There were various people around who were aiming for Rika Nation. Mercenaries, merchants, families, even beastkins. Most of them had some sort of blanket on the floor to sit on while they waited. Leticia had something similar prepared so the four of them didn’t need to tire themselves out.

A group took the line just behind them.

Sequencee shifted his attention and noticed how it was a fat merchant with a team of 3 slaves. Unlike Yelen, the young, children slaves he were seeing definitely were clearly emaciated.

Sequencee then peaked in Leticia’s direction. He noticed the stiff expression on her face.

‘It’s probably unpleasant to be around these people.’

“Leticia, how about you and Lilian go around and explore the place a bit. Ro and I will wait here, we’ll watch your luggage.”

“Ah, really?” Lilian had an awe inspired expression.

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Thank you Sequencee,” Leticia said without minding the specifics.

Together with Lilian, the two of them went away to explore.

“Still think you and her aren’t in a relationship?” Ro nudged.

“It’s nothing like that.”

===

A grueling 3 hours later, they finally bought themselves a ticket of admission. It was 7000G per person, which came as quite a shock to Ro and Lilian. Sequencee could cover 2 at most. So in this situation, Leticia was the one who subsidized Lilian and Ro’s fee.

“I’m really sorry..”

“Thank you..”

Lilian and Ro both lowered their heads.

“Once we get to Rika Nation, you two really need to find odd jobs to do,” Sequencee said.

““We understand.””

They approached the momentous gate. Like an illusion where one was entering a whole ‘nother world, the still pink-orange sky of Rika Nation beyond the gate contrasted the already bright cerulean sky of the capital of Equestria.

When they reached the inspection site, they saw tamed wolves and owls sniffing on bagages.

Lilian, Ro and Leticia got through just fine. But when it came to Sequencee, both the wolf and owl reacted at once.

“Huh?”

“Hold it, please come over here and open up your luggage so that we can conduct an investigation.”

“S-Sure..”

‘Did I bring anything illegal.. oh right. I have ‘that’ don’t I?’

Sequencee signaled to the three who had already crossed that he would be alright.

He opened up the luggage and took out a small chest with an unusual marine sheen to it. The frame of it was made of mythril, while the outer body was covered with leather from a wyvern.

“I think this is the one they’re reacting to,” Sequencee said.

“What is inside?” the knight narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

‘I didn’t want to show this but I suppose I have no choice.’

He placed the box on the table.

Click.

He released the notch.

Slowly he raised the lid.

Revealed inside were 3 black horns sitting on red satin, each larger than the next. And there was a note written by the late baron from the land which he once lived on.

“Don’t tell me those are..”

“High demon horns. It’s something I received from the baron from.. well, that territory is gone now.”

‘These are my horns actually..’

The knight would normally have difficulties inspecting the authenticity of an item because they hadn’t much knowledge about the nobles of the many different territories. But he did remember the baron this specific territory which the demons attacked 3 years ago. It seems that this kid was a survivor.

The knight shut the box and waved at the other knights to give it the clear. Sequencee’s luggage was inspected once more and no more suspicious reaction was found so he was let pass.

“Thank you.”

“Be careful where you carry that item.”

“I will.”

‘That was close. If they decided to confiscate it, I think I would’ve needed killed them.. no.’

Sequencee thought he’d more likely steal the box back if such a thing happened.

The four regrouped and together they passed through the gate–

An air which tasted different from the one at the capital, breeze blowing with a slightly cooler temperature.

“Wow..”

“So this is Rika Nation?”

The architecture of the city was unique in that the structures were cultural references to the world the hero came from. A unique mix of blocky buildings and wooden temple-style structures from afar. A large pagoda at the crest of the hill overlooking the world.

The streets were paved using some black soot called asphalt which helped the carriages glide over with ease. Surrounding structures were complimented with trees and greenery all around.

‘It’s a really unique city.’

“We’re blocking the line,” Ro said.

“Whoops.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

===

It was still day, so the four of them, went to a restaurant which was a must try for newcomers. Many delicacies had been passed down from the hero’s knowledge base spread far and wide. However, it was said that to experience the authentic taste of the heroes’ cuisine, you had to come to Rika Nation as they had best preserved the original quality of the dishes.

Sequencee was trying a dish known as ‘japanese’ curry. Compared to the one he had in the home, it was more mellow with quite a bit of that saltiness to it. A generally satisfying taste which he couldn’t quite put his tongue on.

Leticia had tonkatsu rice. Ro had char siew ramen. Lilian had onigiri with fermented plum.

“It’s not bad but..” Lilian’s cheeks were stuffed, though her expression was a little conflicted.

“I think this ramen is great,” Ro said.

“Maybe it’s because you didn’t add enough of that soy sauce?” Leticia said, pouring more of that black liquid onto the meat in her rice.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to have onigiri with soy sauce?” Lilian stared down at the seaweed rice that had crumbled in her hand.

“Sequencee, do you want to try adding this to your curry?” Leticia asked, shaking the bottle.

“Sure.”

If the actual hero was here to witness how a country bumpkin just added light soy sauce to curry their reaction–

“Their clothes look very nice. I wonder if that’s how the clothes in Hero Rika’s world looked like,” Lilian observed her surroundings while licking the seaweed flakes off her fingers.

Unlike the familiar tunics, robes and belts they were familiar with, many commoners here wore simple collared clothes with skirts or trousers. It’s got that sense of a cheaper nobility-class.

“The design seems similar to the ones we’re wearing though?” Leticia said, stretching the clothes under her robe.

“No. No. The material itself is different. See how that girl’s shirt shines a little? It’s like cotton yet not.”

‘Lilian sure knows a lot about fashion.’

“I’m pretty sure those aren’t mercenaries. There’s no way a mercenary can not have their equipment around them,” Ro reasoned.

Sequencee would argue otherwise. He had met many mercenaries who looked like they were wearing casual clothes on the outside when in fact, those clothes were hiding a lot of features underneath.

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

After brunch, they headed off to search for a suitable inn after asking around.

They had to turn tails on a couple recommendations due to the immensely high rates. To find somewhere cheaper, they would have to leave the portal hub area. Location plays a large part in determining the price of the rooms.

As none of them had come to Rika Nation before, they went in absolute circles for a couple hours until they found something that matched their budget. They almost gave up trying at one point, having gone to six different places.

“That would be 3500G.”

“Here.”

Leticia passed the coin to the male clerk.

Settling their accommodation for the next 2 nights, the team shut themselves inside their room. This time around, they managed to book rooms that were adjacent to each other.

“I’m totally beat.. “ Ro sank into the fresh bed sounding dim.

“It was quite a tiring day.”

“I didn’t think it would be so expensive.. is it really alright to spend all that money for Lilian and I?”

“Would you prefer that we just abandon you?”

“No.. really, thank you. Now I just feel guilty..” Ro sighed.

“Don’t be. Because after this we’ll have to split up.”

“...”

“Sorry Ro.”

“I understand. It’s the reality of things.. I don’t even know if I would be able to earn a spot at the academy. What was I thinking? I can’t even think to match you or Leticia and here I am thinking to bet my luck.. Sequencee, any idea what I can do if things don’t work out?”

“You can try to go to the welfare center, if there is any, and ask for advice there, perhaps.”

“What’s a welfare center? Do they help with things like that?”

“They do. But you’ll have to take care of yourself because there’s a limit to how much assistance they can provide.”

Sequencee recalled how he and her mother visited a welfare center once by the request of the baron. It was a chaotic place to be. The work the volunteers did served a good cause, and it was also there that Sequencee learnt that..

‘It's not easy to solve the root problem of things.’

You can’t keep providing people with fish. They’ll eventually have to learn to use a net or fishing rod eventually. However, trying to teach someone to use a net or fishing rod when they don’t have hands is..

“I’m starting to regret my choice now,” Ro laughed weakly. “Maybe I should’ve just stuck to Luddite..” his voice trailed off.

“You’ll learn from this and come out stronger. No matter what, don’t drown in alcohol or prostitution or otherwise. There are other paths outside of becoming a mercenary that can earn you a good income, so there’s that you can consider.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

Digesting his words, Ro closed his eyes to relish the limited days of comfort he had left.

===

Dinner was a mixture of this hero cuisine and bread stew which they were familiar with. Stew really is just an indispensable dish in almost every inn that provides meals on a daily basis.

“How much do you have left?” Leticia asked.

“About 14 thousand,” Sequence said.

“I still have about 20.”

“I barely have two thousand..” Lilian said sullenly.

“It’s the same for to.. haha..” Ro laughed weakly.

“Nevermind that. We’ll go check out Riestallia Academy tomorrow and ask how we can enroll.” Leticia said.

“There’s still a week to go before they appraisal, isn’t it? Or is it this week?” Sequencee asked.

“I have no idea if it’ll coincide with the heroes summoning festival. Though, I would think otherwise. Either earlier or later than the date.”

“True.”

“We better go early in the morning, right? Else it’d just be like the time we tried to take the warp gate,” Ro said.

“Then we’ll wake up early again tomorrow.”

“How early?”

“I don’t think we need to go to such an extreme. Maybe around 5, we’ll have breakfast and leave.”

“Uh.. I’m not used to the food here..” interjected Lilian who had no part in the important discussion.

“That’s because you added too much soy sauce.” Ro looked at the once white stew now coloured brown.

“I didn’t know alright!”