Capital City
The empire was drawing near.
Even from a distance, the towering city walls were clearly visible, making it obvious that this was an immensely large city.
Some people even refer to it as the "Imperial Capital."
As the road extended toward the empire, it transformed into a sturdy stone path, and the number of travelers naturally increased.
After barely managing to enter the bustling city within the empire's strict checkpoints, the streets were teeming with people, bustling with activity and a great number of pedestrians moving about.
Stalls were set up all around, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Is it always like this here?"
When I asked my superior, Yuri, he said the city was currently in a festive state since the new Empress had recently taken the throne.
It had been like this for about a year now.
Although it seems prosperous, the number of people has reportedly decreased compared to just a few years ago.
I heard that the new Empress is too young, so a few loyal vassals are tightly supporting her.
There are rumors that some nobles are dissatisfied with this arrangement.
They say there's no smoke without fire, so there must be something to it after all.
Even in the empire, they spent the night staying at a lodging facility. That evening, they received orders from the group leader.
This time, the Empire will primarily focus on supplying materials.
We don't plan to make much of a show of it. Resupply will be handled at familiar locations. Some people will be free to roam. Within the territory, they may move about freely—but be careful not to get involved in any incidents."
Free movement was granted primarily to younger individuals. It was emphasized that spreading information is equally important. Quite progressive.
Noel and the escort group seem to be heading toward the arena.
As for me, I've heard there's a library in this empire.
Since arriving in this world, I've hardly been able to obtain any proper resources. Now, I might finally be able to access decent information.
I headed toward the library, my heart swelling with anticipation.
As I approached, I noticed many scholars around, all neatly dressed in a way that seemed slightly more put-together than usual.
Around the area stood peculiar buildings that looked like experimental facilities, occasionally echoing with sounds resembling explosions.
Is everything alright...?
The library appeared significantly larger than the surrounding buildings, housing an enormous collection of books.
I stepped inside without delay...
I couldn’t get it.
Apparently, I need something like a recommendation letter or membership certificate.
Neither is something I can easily obtain, and I don’t even know how to get one.
After pressing further for details, I was told there’s a library open to the general public… said with a sigh, clearly annoyed.
When I went there, I found a rather shabby building.
It looks like a regular two-story house, but the ground floor seems to be used as a library.
Inside the building, there was only the caretaker and receptionist, an old man smoking a cigarette.
According to him, taking books out was forbidden, but I could read freely. That said, there were only three shelves.
Still, better than nothing—it's a valuable source of information.
I read through anything related to magic, history, geography, language, fairy tales, and everything else about this world, picking up whatever caught my eye.
Of course, I couldn't finish reading everything in a single day.
It looked like I'd be coming here for several days. I read with the full concentration I'd honed at university, running through the books all day. Before I knew it, the sun was beginning to set.
I decided to stop here for today and left the library.
As I passed by the building where the explosion had occurred in the morning, I saw several people standing there, heads bowed.
One woman was apologizing profusely. Was it that girl who caused the accident...?
I reluctantly kept walking, unable to tear my gaze away.
After returning to the lodging facility and having dinner with the group, Noel quietly told me something important.
"Taro, don't use magic in town, no matter how small it is."
"Why not?"
"Magic stones, magic, and spells are basically the domain of the wealthy.
Some rich people and nobles have even claimed such power is sacred, promoting a chosen people mentality.
If they find you, it'll cause trouble."
"I see. I'll be careful."
Noel, as usual, couldn't resist being meddlesome and offered to explain everything in detail.
After finishing dinner, he returned to his own room.
One thing he'd learned from researching at the library was that this world still remained dominated by a noble class, and its civilization, economy, and technological capabilities were still underdeveloped compared to the original world.
Interestingly, people's lives seemed on the verge of leaving the Middle Ages behind, yet the standard of living enabled by magic stones and currency created pockets of conditions reminiscent of the eve of the Industrial Revolution.
It's a rather inconsistent world.
Let me organize what I've discovered today. Among the harvest was a world map. I can't say how accurate it is... but it's a tremendous find.
It seems, according to this map, that the world consists of a single large continent, with smaller islands confirmed around its perimeter.
While I can't determine the size of the planet, it's hard to imagine a world with just one continent. The surrounding islands appear faint and indistinct.
Perhaps there are many more out there—just not yet discovered...
In addition to these, five major nations have been identified, including this empire.
The Ilruris Empire, nestled between two mountain ranges
The Kingdom of Libesia, located beyond the northern mountain range
The Republic of Nihon, situated to the west
The Principality of Puetoji, positioned on the equator
The Allied States of Alasoot, located to the south
It is clear that people have spread across the entire landmass. There are also a few nations that stand out as particularly intriguing.
Yet whether it's magic or a way to return to the original world, gathering information seems incredibly difficult...
Still, with so many countries out there, there might be a way back to the original world somewhere.
Though it's a daunting task, my heart leapt at the increased possibility.