Since the journey to the Empire was by road, Ethereal Tails' journey was slow.
Ed's abilities are higher than those of other horses, so a grant magic can shorten him considerably. But I don't want to be extra suspicious because the Empire has a lot of people in and out, and even on the road it can be considered very different from travellers, merchants, other adventurers, etc. So I decided to move this time without any particular enhancement.
As a result, you will be accommodated in a number of villages and cities by the time you reach the Empire.
"Are you headed for the Empire?
Asked was at one of those taverns.
One of the drunks talked about eating here as directed because it was on the ground floor of the inn where the Ethereals were staying and the meal was there.
"I plan on... what can I do for you?
Ethereum, who thought the drunk had just gotten involved, replied to the man in a somewhat harsh tone.
"Come on, brother, don't look so scared. Such a face. Then my sisters will hate me too. Kahaha."
The man teases Ethereum with a nasty laugh and opens the ale in his hand. I wonder if he's in his mid-forties or something, and he's wearing a one-handed sword on his hips, which makes him an adventurer too.
"So, what can I do for you?
Still, Aeta asked the same question without changing her expression.
"Damn, you're an interesting brother. It's not a big deal, but my brother seemed confident in his arm, so I called him. I hear the Empire wants a strong one now."
Saying so much, I grew a big ale again. The contents of the jock have been emptied, the man looks at the bottom and tries to lick it with his fingers.
"Can you tell me more about that story?
When Ethereum, caught in the man's words, finally devours the story, the man laughs and puts his right hand up his palm and forward.
"I have no choice..."
Ethereum, who considered it a necessary expense, puts it on a man's hand when he takes out some coins.
"Hehe, every time! Hey, sister, bring me some booze! Now, please."
At and with a nasty laugh, the man satisfied with the payment gives money to serve through the vicinity and orders additional liquor.
"Hey, talk to me before you get drunk."
Aeta cautions when she sees how it goes, but the man nodded knowing that he didn't look bad.
"You're a totally screwy brother, don't worry, I'll talk to you. Wait a minute."
When the man is transported the liquor, he puts his mouth on it and then turns his body toward Ethereum.
"So, what were you talking about?
"Hey! This is totally it, so the drunks... we're talking about the Empire collecting the strong ones"
The man seems to have forgotten with vegetables, and Ethereum finally reminds me.
"Yes, I was, Ha-ha. Bad, bad, so it's an empire, but they've been collecting confident ones in their arms lately. They're building a unit with direct command over everything that was a general, and they're trying to strengthen it there. They're hiring people to quit without discipline in other countries, but if they have the strength, they don't mind."
I am surprised that the General, whom Ethereum expects to be his enemy at this time, is augmenting his armament.
"Really..."
The reply I give back to the man is also obnoxious.
"What the hell, I don't care to hear from myself. It goes on more than that. This is the General's unit, but they're also paying a lot more favourably. That's why they keep signing up."
Still, the man seemed willing to talk about his liquor share, and went on to talk about another big jock.
Aotearoa, on the other hand, had made various speculations by hardening her expression. Enemy power is being strengthened, and will continue to be. That was an unhappy story for Aotearoa to think about.
"But... you better not."
Previously, the story was a really good one for the economy, but there the man stood back and dropped the tone of his voice.
"Why? I can be a direct subordinate of the powerful enough to be said to be a general, and it pays well, and I don't think there's any reason to stop if you don't care about your character?
"Ha-ha-ha, yeah. If you just ask the terms, it's broken. But there are bad rumors."
When the man says that much, he offers more hands. It was a reminder to pay me if I wanted to hear any more. I couldn't resist paying consideration for the information, but I was worried that the man would get drunk.
But I give the guy the extra money because he doesn't seem to be able to get on with it as it is.
"Every time, then we talk? Apparently, when you become a general's subordinate, you are grabbed by an inhumane task. Besides, the general is suspicious again, whoa... don't get caught if someone else asks you about this. Anyway, he seems to be strong and gentle with his men, but he even mentions whatever information he can't find out about anything else. It's like a prophet. And with the knowledge that no one else knows, he's made extraordinary advances in the technology of the Empire."
Hearing about a drunken man who talks in the open, Aeta comes up with one guess about the general.
"Could it be..."
He swallowed words that far.
"Hmm? Could it be? What the fuck?
"No, it's nothing. So that's it?
Aotearoa sends a cold gaze and asks questions not to be enlightened by the man.
"Oh, yeah, and then the general's got a big mansion out of the country, so much so that you've heard of him letting his men live there or something."
The man's drunkenness seemed to have totally woken him by receiving that gaze, and he looked surprised when he returned that much.
"Then that's the end of the story. Thanks for your help."
"Ooh. Bye."
The cold-blooded man remained solidified with a dismayed look, but in time he quietly returned to the table where he was originally.
"What did you just say?
Deena, who was following the man back with her eyes, asks Ethereum a question, but Ethereum shook her neck to the side.
"There are too many people's eyes here. Later."
Because I was watched interacting with an earlier man from around me, the Ethereal Fathers' table attracted attention, and I wanted to avoid being heard conversations as everyone was listening. The intention was conveyed, and Deena nodded quietly. Leila seemed obsessed with the meal in front of her and unaware of Ethereal's interaction.