Chapter 459: D169. City in the Sky
Leaving the Weapon Store, it was nearing noon.
The Fourteenth Princess carefully packed away the materials given by the store owner and agreed with the Hero on their next destination.
“Then let’s head to the military district next.”
The Hero had once fought shoulder to shoulder with the famous Ghost Warrior Sergeant at the Border, and after the battle on the Highland, she had also become immensely popular among the troops. Knowing this, the Fourteenth Princess nodded without surprise.
“Holy Maiden”… This wasn’t a title that just anyone could gain popularity with.
“Let’s have our lunch at the military district then.” She pondered for a moment, her lips curling into a smile, “It just so happens that I’ve wanted to try the meal at the military district. Although dining is a trivial matter, it reflects many administrative nuances. I don’t think there are any problems with Count Uncle’s governance, but it’s a rare opportunity, so trying it out is fine.”
Stepping out of the somewhat oppressive atmosphere of the Weapon Store, the Fourteenth Princess’s tone became light-hearted once again.
[Travel Options]
1. Take a carriage♛
2. On foot
D2=d2(1)=1
“Then let’s take a carriage, it’s quite far away.” The Hero initiated.
The winter sun was bright and clear, warmly shining on both of them.
Even though the Fourteenth Princess appeared energetic, walking to the military district was a trivial matter for the Hero but probably a tiresome journey for the Fourteenth Princess.
“Ah, are you worried about me?”
The Fourteenth Princess smiled warmly, matching the sunny warmth of the winter day.
“Don’t be fooled by my lack of Magic Power, but my body is still quite healthy.” She clenched her fist and bent her arm, showcasing smooth muscle lines.
“Not to mention, precisely because I cannot become a Professional, I need to train more in everyday life.”
Although she was a Princess, and her travels were always accompanied by a full logistics team, she had been touring the Kingdom all year round. Although her travels were not exactly roughing it, the hardships of travel were routine for the Fourteenth Princess and far from being pampered.
“After all, the protection of others is ultimately limited. If I can’t even endure a simple walk, unless I stay inside the carriage all the time, I will eventually be overwhelmed by various difficulties. And if that were the case, touring would be meaningless,” the Fourteenth Princess said calmly.
The exhaustion of long journeys, the local extreme weather, the difference in diets… To overcome these challenges, which might seem insignificant to the Hero, the Fourteenth Princess knew best how much she had sacrificed.
“However, your suggestion makes sense. Not to mention how long it would take to get to the military district, and whether I would have the strength left to eat afterward, I can’t expect you to adjust to my slow pace.”
The Fourteenth Princess gracefully waved her hand, stopping a Bird Carriage parked by the roadside, and briefly explained the destination.
The coachman, recognizing them, immediately bowed respectfully, putting in twice the effort, and the pulling Chocobo puffed up its chest as well.
“Actually, I don’t mind accompanying you, Princess, to walk there.” The Hero spoke softly.
“Of course, I know. But I just wanted to say you don’t need to worry about such a small matter, and I didn’t say I insist on walking. I won’t make an unnecessary show of stubbornness.”
Refusing the coachman’s help, the Fourteenth Princess stepped directly onto the carriage and turned back with a smile towards the Hero.
“Of course, when it’s time to ask for help, I won’t be shy about it. With a body like this, if you want things to go smoothly, you always need to adapt and be flexible.
“Now we have some time on the road. Before this, it was always me listening to stories about you, so would you like to hear some of my experiences from the journey?”
She reached out her hand to the Hero.
The Hero’s eyes lit up and she quickly nodded, then took the Fourteenth Princess’s hand and was pulled up into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the young girls continued their relaxed and joyful conversation. The Hero listened intently to the Fourteenth Princess’s past stories, admiration occasionally appearing on her face, causing the Fourteenth Princess to shake her head in slight embarrassment.
“Actually, I didn’t adapt to this lifestyle from the start. I remember when I first tried local foods, I almost upset my stomach. That was really uncomfortable…”
[Flavors of the Capital (the higher the number, the spicier) (Hero has a sweet tooth)]
D100=d100(96)=96
Listening to the Fourteenth Princess’s stories from her travels, the Hero’s expression varied from longing to confusion, and at times even turned ashen.
“People in the Capital all love spicy food, especially the scholars. It is said that ‘the more one can maintain a composed face while eating spicy food, the more it proves they have a calm Wisdom.'”
“Although I can’t taste those overly spicy dishes due to my body’s limitations, I’ve witnessed my elder brother breathe fire from his mouth after eating ‘Molten Slime Tofu,’ a truly astonishing sight.”
As she listened to the Fourteenth Princess’s narrative, the Hero’s face turned pale as Death Ash.
Before becoming a Hero, she had liked sweet foods and couldn’t handle spicy.
Now, after Awakening the power of the Dark Element and becoming extremely Perceptive to stimulations, she couldn’t even imagine what such foods would feel like on her tongue.
As she listened to this dreadful information, the expected trip to the Capital suddenly seemed like a journey to Hell, making her shiver slightly and almost considering backing out.
Observing the Hero’s reaction, the Fourteenth Princess narrowed her eyes with pleasure.
“You don’t have to be so scared. The Capital is an Open city with visitors from Foreign Countries. To say that the food scene is diverse might be an exaggeration, but it’s certainly not monotone. Even if you don’t like spicy, you’ll definitely be able to find dishes that suit your taste.”