Abandoned by my Childhood Friend, I Became a War Hero

4 – An Unexpected Encounter

As they got closer and closer to the island, the wagon slowly slowed down. It was because the procession to Jedo was increasing and filling the road. There were people like me riding in wagons, and at first glance, fancy wagons that looked like they were ridden by aristocrats passed by.

“Get out of the way, get out of the way! This is it!”

A carriage was speeding along the middle of the wide road. Unlike the wagon I rode in, the roof was intact and it was a two-headed carriage pulled by two horses. The carriage did not slow down, as if to avoid whether or not there were people on the road.

“Wow, what a man! Great.”

A passer-by who was about to be hit by a horse was about to spit out curses, but when he saw the large coat of arms of aristocrats embedded in the carriage, he lowered his head as if nothing had happened and hurried on. It was because he knew that there was nothing good about fighting with nobles.

This is a wise decision. Seeing as they ride in a double-headed carriage, they may not be nobles with great prestige, but nobles are nobles anyway. During the war, what annoyed me the most was not the demon corps of the Demon King’s Army, but the officer who was a nobleman and only knew how to show off his neck.

I wonder if the saying “Our main enemy is an officer” Has spread widely among the soldiers.

Of course, since the monster army gave equal death to both commoners and nobles, those types generally did not live long. It was a problem because an incompetent officer didn’t die alone when he died, and he took a normal soldier with him.

Anyway, because of that experience, when I was called an aristocrat, it was the first thing I felt awkward about. The only exception was the easy-going and friendly commander-in-chief who did not assert his authority even to a single soldier.

The tumultuous road became quiet again as if it had never happened before. The eyes of the people walking towards the island looked very tired to be angry at the natural disaster. The wagon riders, like me, were only part of the drafting procession;

I looked at the profile of the traveler passing by. He had dark skin that was hard to find in the Empire. He wasn’t the only one. A grassland people with their upper bodies exposed, a dog beast with animal ears protruding, and even a yellow man from the east, said to be at the edge of the continent, was seen sparsely.

“There are many immigrants.”

My self-talk was picked up by the coachman.

“Right. Right now, the islands are teeming with aliens and alien races from all over the continent. It is truly a melting pot of races.”

“It sounds like you have a lot of problems.”

“Of course. Those without money threaten the security of the empire from the bottom, and those with money take away the jobs of good citizens of the empire. They’re not even citizens of the empire, but they’re like parasites who eat the sweet water of the empire. If a different race tried to ride in my wagon, I would have beaten him badly.”

“Um.”

That wasn’t the problem I was talking about. Uncomfortable with this conversation, I folded my arms and nodded my head casually.

With just that simple gesture, the coachman’s excitement rose, how much harm the foreign peoples were doing to the empire, and that it was making it difficult for the good people of the empire to live. It has come to the point of claiming

I listened to the coachman’s conversation and admired the scenery outside the carriage.

Soon, the wagon arrived at the gateway to the islands. It was just one of the many gateways in the system, but there were so many people gathered at that one gateway that it was hard to count. I was dubious about whether I would be able to get in even after tomorrow if I waited in that line.

I had already paid for the carriage, so I jumped off the carriage without delay. Then the driver who was unloading the carriage grabbed me with a loud voice.

“Oh, guest! Please wait.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you looking for an inn to stay? As you can see, the system is now full of outsiders, so it won’t be easy to find a room. So, if you are having trouble finding a place to stay, go here.”

The coachman smiled and slipped a small piece of paper into my hand. When I opened it up and checked it, it said ‘Area 21, Red Bear Inn’.

“Is it a hidden attraction in the islands? The room is clean, but the alcohol is especially delicious. The customer seems to have a connection with me, so I’m giving them a special notice. Enough then.”

I looked at the back of the coachman as he handed me the paper and quickly left.

I don’t really want to go to an inn recommended by a racist. With a shy face, he put the paper the coachman had given him into his bosom. Once you know, there’s nothing wrong with it.

I had no intention of waiting in that long line. However, it is not possible to enter through the special gateway for nobles.

I moved to a small entrance in the corner of the gateway that is not noticeable unless you look closely. It is a so-called employee entrance used by soldiers guarding the gateway to and from work.

Of course, it was a side door that only one or two people could barely enter, but two armed soldiers guarded the entrance sternly.

As I approached the entrance, a soldier opened his mouth in a menacing voice.

“Stop! Only authorized personnel can enter this place. I think he’s a soldier because he’s wearing a military uniform, so if you’re not on business, just use the gate.”

Then another soldier beside him slapped him in the back of the head.

f*ck! The soldier who had been struck by a blow so powerful that his helmet fell off looked at his partner with a bewildered expression, but he didn’t care and came towards me with a perfect imperial salute.

“Glory to the Empire! Welcome, Captain. This is Sergeant Guillem Roxon of the Institutional Gendarmerie.”

“Is there a rookie next to you?”

“Sorry. I think it was because it was the first time something like this had happened since I had been on duty for only three days. I will educate you well later.”

“You may not be familiar with it at first. It’s nice to see him working hard.”

“Thank you. Hey! Say hello to you too.”

“Thank you. Captain.”

A new soldier bent down as he adjusted his helmet, as if he had understood the situation only then. I nodded my head to be greeted, then took out a change of position from my pocket and handed it to Sergeant Guillem. Sergeant Guillem politely accepted the document with both hands.

“Change of position to Fillion Academy… Subject Captain Ion Graham. Has confirmed. Welcome to Islands. Captain Graham.”

“Oh, good job.”

As expected, the rank was good. If he had been discharged as scheduled or if Marquis Karlstein had not preserved his rank, he would have had to wait in that long line.

To be honest, if I just showed the rank insignia, everything would have passed, but showing the order was neat and there was nothing awkward about it.

After passing through the entrance and entering the islands, an overwhelming sight unfolded. The streets, carved from pure white marble, were lined with shops and vendors selling all kinds of goods, from spices and textiles to weapons and armor.

The faces of the merchants who were soliciting customers were full of energy, and there was a busy but colorful landscape of the islands where people of all races and backgrounds harmonized.

“Huh.”

It is said that the first scenery you see upon entering a city gives you an impression of the city, and the first impression I felt after seeing the system was ‘glamour’. Marble reflected the sunset light falling overhead, and the streets dyed in daylight were enough to create a small wave in the sensibility that had dried up from the war.

Indeed, it was a scenery I would miss if I came to the countryside after living in a place like this.

Appreciation is appreciation, and you should do what you have to do. When I lifted my head, the indigo darkness was slowly creeping in from far away in the sky dyed with the glow of the sunset. The sun will set soon. If we go to the academy at this time, it will be difficult for both of us, so we should look for a place to stay today.

I got the address from Marquis Karlstein to come to the islands, but I had no intention of going there. It must be an aristocratic mansion worthy of the name of the Marquis of Bona Mana, but that is too much and too burdensome. During the war, they slept well even on the bare floor with rolling stones, so a shabby inn was enough to spend the night.

But did I underestimate the system too much?

“You mean the room? No, no! Find out elsewhere.”

“Would there be a room left when people flocked to it? I can give you food, but no bed.”

“Looking for a room at this time? It must be difficult… Go to District 4, not here. It’s a place used by nobles, so there’s probably room left. Of course it will be very expensive.”

“… ….”

No matter how much I searched the inn, there was no room left. The island is vast, so if you look everywhere, there won’t be any, but the sun has already gone down and the lights of the magic lanterns are coming on one by one in the streets. If they didn’t find a room before it was too late, they would be completely homeless.

Now that this has happened, the military police dormitory… No, no. What would the military police think if a guy named Captain couldn’t find a room and asked to stay overnight? No matter what, it shouldn’t hurt Gao.

“… There is nothing you can do.”

I checked the paper the coachman gave me at the gate. ‘Area 21, Red Bear Inn’. Area 21 was on the outskirts of the island, so it wasn’t too far from here. I’m only staying for one night anyway, so it won’t be a big deal.

I couldn’t even say that Area 21 was tidy even empty words. Due to the nature of the system, where security deteriorates the farther away from the gateway and central road, District 21 was somewhere between downtown and slums.

A district where low-class people and day laborers who struggle every day live together. It’s a place where you can feel a sense of life, but for some reason you feel like you shouldn’t walk down the street until late at night.

The Red Bear Inn was in the middle of District 21. A place where the workers of life, who earn and live day by day, gather and drink a glass of beer to end the day. The Red Bear Inn was an inn with exactly that kind of atmosphere, both in its name and appearance.

So I never imagined it. The moment you open the door and enter.

“Welcome. Is this your first time?”

I forgot what to say at the golden hair looking back.