After parting ways with them as they continued their work, I decided to head east once more.

I rose slightly above the trees of the forest and, after advancing a short distance, glanced back. Despite the considerable distance, I could still see the city walls of the domain capital.

On the extension of the highway, the eastern gate was faintly visible.

It’s perfectly lined up in a straight line.

The southern village governed by Luban also has a highway drawn straight from the south gate, so at this rate, the northern outpost will likely be constructed in line with the northern gate as well.

…The north isn’t a demonic realm, just the regular eastern forest of Mesaria, but even so, there are plenty of monsters and beasts living there. If I go through with my plan to clear part of the northern forest to build an outpost, it’s going to be a tough job.

In that case, tackling both the east and north at the same time—regardless of how many people we have—probably wouldn’t be feasible. Starting with the east is definitely the right move.

◇

I fluttered along toward the eastern outpost for a while.

As usual, there were almost no travelers on the road, but gradually I started to sense the presence of adventurers fighting in the surrounding forest.

Both the people and the monsters are fairly strong.

The fact that adventurers of this level are hunting outside rather than in a dungeon must mean the monsters in this area are worth the effort.

“…Oh!? I can see it now.”

I had mostly been looking toward the forest, but now that I looked ahead, I could see a wall built by roughly driving logs into the ground, surrounded by a moat.

The wall was about… three meters high?

And the moat was filled with water.

At the gate of the outpost stood sturdy pillars on both sides, with what looked like a bridge suspended between them by chains or something similar.

I guess they probably raise the bridge and seal off the gate at night?

Even though it’s made of wood, there’s an actual gate door… pretty secure.

Rather than a village, it’s basically a fort.

I had come out here before from time to time, and even without going inside, I had seen the outpost.

Back then, it had somewhat of a fortress-like feel, but now that sense seems to have intensified.

Looking closely at the logs making up the wall, I noticed a mix of small scratches and brand-new wood.

Maybe the number of people living inside has increased, and the monsters have picked up on that and started attacking.

This place is intense…

◇

Well, there’s no point hovering around nearby forever, so I decided to head inside the outpost for now.

The people here know who I am, and more importantly, the two soldiers standing at the gate could see me.

Those two, and the ones handling security here, should be members of the 2nd Squad—some of our rougher guys, but ones who especially like working in places like this. They’re the rugged type.

I could probably just fly over the wall without a problem, but this place feels even more serious than any town or village in the domain. If someone shot an arrow at me, it wouldn’t be funny—better to enter properly through the gate.

“Good work out there—”

“Yo.”

That’s the response I got to my greeting.

I mean, I’d be put off if they smiled at me, but keeping a stern expression without even a flicker of change is kinda intimidating too…

“Mind if I head inside?”

“Yeah. Do as you like. Just know a messenger came early this morning from the capital, so it’s a bit hectic in there. Might be kinda noisy.”

“Ahh… gotcha, gotcha.”

That messenger was probably there to report about the people I met on the way here.

Even if it was just five people, they were sent from the capital, so of course the outpost needs to handle it properly.

And it sounds like things inside are in a bit of a frenzy—probably because of that same reason: someone was dispatched here from the capital for some sort of investigation. The question is, what for?

The only people who regularly come and go here are soldiers, adventurers, and merchants—and mostly the same crowd at that.

Everyone’s familiar with each other, and it’s not like the capital where critical information gets exchanged.

If security is lax in that regard, info could spread easily.

Maybe that’s what the gate guard meant by “hectic”?

They should know I live at the lord’s manor, so someone might ask me something…

I could just take off and circle overhead once and leave, but…

I came all this way, and I already said I’d go inside.

Guess I’ll have to brace myself a bit.

Hmph!

With a firm breath and some resolve, I went through the gate.

At that moment, I think the soldier at the gate was watching me, but… let’s not worry about it.

Anyway, I went inside and…

“Whoa… so manly in here…”

Adventurers with unsheathed swords slung over their shoulders, soldiers carrying spears without scabbards.

Even an old merchant-looking guy walking down the street had an intense aura, the kind you wouldn’t see in the capital or any other town.

The domain capital isn’t that far away, but this is clearly a different world altogether…

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Sera・Blessing・【Hideout】+1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind’s Garment】

Blessed Item・【Floating Orb】+1【Shadow Sword】+1【Scarlet Bee Needle】【Fairy’s Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Serpent’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】【Red Sword】【Monkey’s Arm】・8 cards

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・0 cards

Elena・【】・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】・4 cards

Alec・【Power Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・10 cards