The Greek Peninsula.

One of the most developed areas in the world, a war-torn peninsula where many city-states (polises) continue to attack and fight.

The easternmost city-state of the Greek Peninsula.

A man steps in there.

"This is Clarice, the trading city between the Greek Peninsula and the Persian Empire ..."

A man looks up at a huge city wall.

Claris has a population of 250,000.

It is the second largest city-state in the Greek Peninsula.

Originally only a colonial city built by one of the Greek Peninsula's city-states, it is the only place connecting the Persian Empire with the Greek Peninsula, facing the Ash Sea to the north, facing the inland sea to the south, and the natural land called Kazuno Bay. Because it had a good port, nature and merchants gathered.

Influential merchants who gained strength in East-West trade rebel against the sovereign nation and became independent.

Today it is a prosperous trading city in the world.

"Hey, brother.

"Oh, sorry."

The gatekeeper has a friendly laugh.

"Immigration tax ..."

"No, it will hinder business. Well, if you stay for more than a month, you have to pay a stay tax ... but for the first time, are you the first time? If you say so, it looks like a face ... where did you come from? Is it? "

"I'm from the land of the Scarlet Empire. You're the Far East silk country.

"Hey, from the land of silk ..."

The gatekeeper stares at the blue light.

"Okay. I'll give you some advice. Claris has two types of people: one is a first-class citizen, a reasonably wealthy citizen who can pay a high capital tax, and another is a second-class citizen. They're poor people who can't afford to pay taxes. It's better to stay away from the second-class citizens' streets.

"This is this ... thanks for your advice, I'll be careful."

Aoki laughed with a smile and passed through the gate.

"Five bronze coins"

"Um, isn't it a Persian bronze coin?"

When Aoki hears, the stall owner frowns.

"... Please exchange money there"

Akira exchanges Persian bronze coins into Christian bronze coins at the money changer whose shop owner points with his thumb.

Fees are charged, but there is no help for it.

"Hello!"

"Thank you"

Seimei buys a snack called Dolphitz that was sold at a stall.

A dumpling-shaped dough made of flour is fried in oil and skewered.

It seems that sugar is used and it is a good price.

Probably doing business with first-class citizens.

Akira eats Dolphitz thinking so.

Simple sweetness.

But a little oily.

As the light was running, a dingy man jumped out of the crowd.

He has a leather back in his hand.

"Someone! Catch it !!!! Suri!"

Seimei kicks the man's leg with all his might.

The man was fine.

Seimei picks up the back away from the man's hand.

"Is this a second-class citizen ..."

Seimei looks down at the man.

It will be a crime committed to life.

There is room for sympathy ... but crime is a crime.

It is not allowed.

A police officer who hears the fuss takes second-class citizens.

"Don't do it! I won't do it anymore, so only slaves!"

"Do you want to shut up and be sent to the mine?"

The man disappeared from the spot as if dragged.

"Thank you! The people there!"

"No, no"

Akira gives her back to the running black-haired woman.

The woman's skin color is olive and the face is deeply carved.

There is a word in the mind of Seimei that a Christian woman has many beautiful women.

The woman holds the bag she received from Seimei in her chest.

"Is it so important?"

"Yes, I'm aiming to be an architect. These include the sketches of buildings I saw in Greece and Persis, and the blueprints I thought of ..."

Akira is a little surprised at the words.

Architecture requires knowledge of mathematics and physics.

Women do not learn much.

The job of women is to protect their homes, no learning is needed, and there is no place to hire where they have learned.

That is common sense in the Scarlet Empire, home of Akira.

In the first place, it is only a small part of the eastern part that even a noble daughter can read and write characters.

So it's quite surprising that even the richest first class citizen, the woman in front of her, who looks like a town girl, "is aiming to be an architect."

"What?-Do you think it's weird that you aim for a job like that?-Is she a spell or wait for her husband at home?"

The woman in front of her frowned unpleasantly.

Seimei shakes his head in a hurry.

"No way, I was just surprised. In my hometown, few women could read and write."

"Hmm"

The woman has a slightly convinced face.

"Maybe everyone. Can you write letters?"

"In the first place, first-class citizens must be able to read, write, and calculate a minimum of characters, so all of Clarice's first-class citizens can do that much, except for babies and the elderly who are amazed. "

Akira is impressed.

As expected, it is one of the world's leading commercial cities.

"I would like to thank you for helping me by the way ..."

"Well then ... can you guide me? This city"

When Akira suggested so, the woman nodded greatly.

"Good. My name is Ismene. You?"

"Yo Seimei. He is Mr. Seimei and his name is Seige.

…… Actually, it is better to describe it as a name to the Christians.

Aoaki gave himself while thinking so.

"By the way, how much do you know about Clarice and about Greece?"

"Yes ... two Persis-Christian wars, olives and grapes are specialty. There are dozens of city states (polises) on the Greek Peninsula. Only around here ..."

"I see……"

They had finished walking around the city and had dinner in the dining room.

It's blue light.

In return, Ismare tells blue light about Greece.

"Okay, the Greek city-states have alliances with each other to form antiwar agreements, and there are also agreements between the alliances. For example, once every four years, stop the war and enjoy the festival Or a foreign enemy ... when Persis attacks, they will intercept together. "

"I see ... I was wondering. Why did Greece win the war twice even though it was a disjointed country? That's why."

Seimei writes in a notebook made of parchment.

He wrote down everything he had seen and heard on his journey.

"Surely Claris is the ally of the Eastern Alliance, right?"

"Yeah. Alto of the Southern Alliance. Telvi of the Western Alliance. Lame of the Northern Alliance."

"I see, I see. I will study."

Seimei writes in the notebook one after another.

"Alto is a people's council of adult men, Tervi is a Senate of privileged aristocrats, Laim is a king and aristocratic, and Claris is a privileged merchant. Political ideas fall apart, so it's hard to get along."

"But when fighting the Persis Empire, keep pace. It's interesting."

Seimei does not stop moving his left hand pen while eating with his right hand.

Very bad manners.

"Is one good?"

"what?"

"Ismare is a first-class citizen. Is this a so-called nobleman? I guess he's there ..."

Ismare grins grinning to Aoki's question.

"Good question, first of all, first-class citizens and nobles are different. We're so-called ordinary people. In Claris, they're basically equal, so there's no man. Yeah. "

"Hey ... the world is wide."

Blue light runs a pen.

Ismare grabs it.

"Don't go.

"Ah, sorry."

Blue light keeps his pocketbook in his pocket with a shy smile.

"By the way, why are you traveling?"

When Ismare casually listens, Seimei shines and says.

"To see the farthest seas ... the end of the land (Oceanos), in the style of the Greeks. I was born on the eastern edge of this continent. When I was five, I traveled with my parents to see the end of the world. And my parents died on the way, but at that time I was told to look at the end of the earth. ''

"Is that your dream?"

"No, no."

Seimei shook his head.

"It's my parents' dream. My dream is different."

"What? Don't be too much."

Ismare leans forward.

"It's about compiling a book of what I've seen and heard along the way. I want as many people as possible to know the world."

"Well, I don't hate it.

Ismare smiled.

"But it was good. My dream will come true soon. There will be a boat from Claris to the city of Lezado on the Aderni Peninsula the day after.

"Is it true? The long journey ends ..."

Seimei looks at the ceiling unintentionally. Expectations for the westernmost sea, which has never been seen, increase.

"By the way, should I go with you if you like?"

"Hmm? I don't mind ... Is there anything you need to do?"

When Akira heard, Ismare nodded.

"There are so many good architects in Russia that rotten. Here I am not even involved in architectural work, but in the Aderni Peninsula, which is a less developed region. You should want it to come out. ''

"So that's it……"

The Greek Peninsula is a good place to hone your skills. There are many rivals.

But it's not a good place to make a name.

On the other hand, if you are in an undeveloped land, the place of employment is more obvious.

"I see. Let's go together!"

"It's decided!"

The two shook hands.

Next day……

"Ugugugugu ..."

"Are you okay? Aoi?"

He talks to the screaming blue light behind the toilet door.

I can't afford to answer Aoki.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I forgot to say that if you're unfamiliar with eating Greek food, you'll have a high chance of getting hungry.