Will I End Up As a Hero or a Demon King (WN)

Chapter 209

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(10/12)

Chapter 209 – Across Borders

The eastern border is the “Rubelium Boundary.”

A deep valley extending from the south is the only connection to this area, forming a man-made bridge that allows east-west travel.

While it’s somewhat understandable that magical elements were used to build this bridge, it’s impossible to imagine how much effort was required—the valley is incredibly deep.

Fortresses on both sides also serve as checkpoints.

The bridge is approximately 100 meters long.

It is less than 10 meters wide. Even to the untrained eye, it’s clear that the defensive side would have a significant advantage in the event of an attack.

To bypass the bridge, one would have to travel south to the Palmera Great Forest or north to the Abraum Mountains, where Hans-san’s pet keeps watch. This makes the bridge’s importance to both countries clear.

I’ve been standing here for about three hours.

Should I stay here or cross the valley where there are no people? I’ve been asking myself that question for a while now.

According to the gorilla mayor, I’ll probably have to pay a toll to cross the checkpoint.

If I pass through without paying, does that make me a criminal?

With that in mind, I reluctantly wait in line.

This is taking a long time.

That’s all I can say.

But there are some things to enjoy while waiting.

Of course, people from the Kingdom of Waltz are also coming here. Among them are people who clearly appear to be beastmen.

I don’t know much about this country’s history, but I was moved by the sight.

Ah, that king who bowed down really did eliminate discrimination.

Some are carriage drivers; others carry large baskets on their backs. When I think about how trade has been successfully revived, I can’t help but smile.

It was worth asking the goddesses for help.

Then, another hour passed.

Finally, it was my turn, so I clutched my leather bag and prepared to pay.

I should have enough money, right? I’m okay, right?

“First, show me your proof of identity.”

“Yes.”

“Now show me the contents of your basket.”

“Huh?”

“If we confirm that the items are for commercial purposes, you’ll have to pay a goods tax. This is to confirm that.”

I let my guard down.

I was feeling cocky because I wasn’t selling anything. However, it seems my special basket caught their eye.

I’m not hiding anything.

“…”

“…”

“…Why do you have four pairs of women’s sandals?”

“It’s a hobby.”

“…”

“…”

“…I-I see.”

Phew… That was close.

I was nervous the conversation would turn for the worse and I’d be accused of killing women and children.

I’m relieved that it was only revealed that I’m a pervert.

After paying 50,000 beeke in tolls, I crossed a bridge that would make some people faint.

Then, at the other checkpoint… What? Again?

After more careful negotiations, I paid an additional 50,000 beeke and finally set foot in the Kingdom of Waltz.

Yeah.

Honestly, I don’t think I can do this again.

It’s not just about the money; there are too many other issues, such as time.

From what I overheard the merchant and the soldier talking about, it seems that many trade restrictions have been lifted, and now the merchants are busy.

The soldier apologized to the merchant, saying it would require patience for a period of time. I nodded in agreement behind them.

This must be the peak earnings season, and I’m sure coffee beans and other goods are being transported in large quantities from the Kingdom of Waltz.

Putting aside the time issue, my biggest concern is that my ID details were recorded in a register for the first time.

I don’t know how much data they’re collecting, but as a modern Japanese person, I prefer to share the least amount of personal data possible.

To make matters worse, even though I buried some items made on Earth in wooden boxes, the Waltz Kingdom soldiers saw the aluminum cases and everyday items inside, such as a calculator and a flashlight.

While being identified as an outsider is acceptable, I would prefer not to be identified as a transmigrator. Therefore, crossing the border through official channels will be a one-time occurrence.

In the future, I will avoid risk by crossing the border secretly from the air when no one is around.

With that in mind, I enter the mountains cautiously in this foreign country. After a while, I fly into the air to get a better view of the surroundings.

“Hmm… Is that a town I can see in the distance?”

I see a road stretching endlessly toward the east.

In the distance, I think I can see a man-made structure.

If so, let’s head there first.

I flew toward what I thought was the town.

▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽

The town of Grille Morg is located at the westernmost tip of the Kingdom of Waltz.

It is comparable to Lipsum in terms of size and vitality, with a moderate population. However, the impression from above was very different from that of Lagreath.

The streets are narrow.

That was my first impression.

Unlike Lagreath, whose wide streets stretch out like huge boulevards, Grille Morg can be described in one word: “maze.”

Just when you think you’re on the main street, a T-junction suddenly appears. The streets twist and turn so much that it’s hard to tell which direction you’re walking in.

The roads are wide enough for carriages to pass, but with so many twists and turns, reaching the center would take quite a while.

Well, that doesn’t really matter to me.

I only hesitated once when I first passed through the checkpoint.

I figured I’d have to go through one sooner or later in this country. Once I realized how inconvenient the town was, I quickly gave up.

I flew to the roof of a large building.

Unfortunately, the first place I found was an inn, but at least it had a bath, so I quickly secured a room.

After putting down my luggage, I wandered around the town in high spirits, looking for the hunters’ guild.

I’d say about two or three out of every ten people are beastmen.

Just as I had seen in Hans-san’s country, people with animal-like faces were casually working at shops or cooking at street stalls.

“Can I have one of these?”

“Sure, one for 1,200 beeke!”

I spoke to the dog-like shopkeeper, attracted by the goods on sale. Although his intonation was a little strange due to the language barrier, he seemed normal enough.

The food he handed me was…

“Oh, by the way, what kind of meat is this?”

“Pork. We raise a lot of pigs, so it’s cheap and delicious.”

“Hoho!”

The dog shopkeeper’s friendly manner made my body tremble.

(Here it comes… Here it comes… Here it comes!)

It looks like a slightly larger Kushikatsu.

However, there is no sauce. Instead, it is dipped in a fruity-smelling liquid before being handed over.

The mysterious sauce is honey-colored and slightly sticky, but when I try it, it has a strange, sweet, and spicy flavor.

I prefer the sauce I’m used to, but this one is also quite delicious.

The meat is actually juicy and delicious.

At 1,200 beeke, it’s a bit pricey compared to the average Lagreath food stall price, but it’s worth it.

Maybe the oil is expensive, or maybe this is just the cost of meat. But now that I think about it, money is beeke!

As Zink-kun and the others said, it’s nice that beeke is used as a common currency.

While eating next to the shop and talking to the dog owner, I learned that livestock farming is the most prosperous industry in the Kingdom of Waltz and that beef and chicken are widely available, as they are in Japan.

However, there isn’t much flat land, and grain imports from Lagreath were recently halted, so bread is expensive, and most people eat mostly meat.

I was worried that, once trade resumed and wheat started coming in, meat consumption would decrease.

I said, “When bread gets cheaper, sandwiches with that cutlet in them will sell like crazy!”

I imitated him and taught him, but he was more grateful than I expected for some reason.

Even though they are beastmen, they seem normal. Other than their appearance, I can’t tell the difference between them and humans.

(There are good people and bad people, regardless of race…)

Recalling Hans-san’s words, I took the route the dog shop owner had taught me to the Hunter’s Guild.

It was past noon, so the reception area was empty, and I rushed straight to the archives.

I wonder what the hunting grounds in other countries are like.

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