Chapter 489: The Largest Noble Territory Capital in the Country 

The party of the saint entered the Marquisate of Haragura.

Since it was the domain of the leader of the largest noble faction in the Kingdom of Sart, Tauro was inwardly curious about what kind of place it would be.

The road the group traveled on was well-maintained, and patrols by the territorial soldiers were frequent, giving an impression of good public security.

“As expected of the largest noble domain in the country. But it looks like the other roads branching off from the main highway aren’t as well maintained…”

Tauro commented as he looked out the carriage window.

“That’s usually how it is. Once you leave the main road, security gets worse and the roads aren’t as good. You must have noticed that during the journey, right? — Well, in our case, even when we stray from the main roads the roads are well maintained and security is good even,”

Aeris replied to Tauro’s observation, adding a boast about the Van Dyne Marquisate.

“It’s the same with Count Graundewald’s domain. I imagined that since this was the territory of the mighty Marquise Haragura, the infrastructure would be perfect, security would be good, and the standard of living for the people very high. So it’s surprising that it’s pretty much like any other noble domains,”

“Now that you mention it, it is certainly a familiar sight, for better or worse. If anything, I get the impression that the public order in the Bariella Dukedom is still better and the standard of living is higher.”

　Ankh agreed with Tauro’s sentiments.

“Both Count Graundewald’s and Aeris’ Vandyne Marquisate aren’t losing out at all. I wonder if the Haragura Marquisate isn’t a big deal.”

Ragune said, comparing their respective homelands.

“I thought so too!”

Zion, who’s also from the Graundewald domain, also seemed to notice the difference compared to Marquis Haragura’s territory.

Just then, a royal guard knight escorting their carriage informed them,

“Lord Tauro, the capital of the Marquisate of Haragura is in sight.”

Tauro opened the carriage door and leaned out to look in the direction of the capital.

“…Sorry, I take back what I said earlier. It really is the largest noble domain in the country…”

After seeing something, Tauro suddenly apologized to the others inside the carriage.

“What happened?”

Aeris tilted her head, curious at Tauro’s sudden change of heart, and looked out the window.

Ahead of her stretched incredibly high castle walls, sprawling as widely as those in the royal capital.

Though still distant, it was visible at a glance.

It was the same impression Tauro had when he first visited the royal capital, so it was clear just how incredible Marquis Haragura’s capital city was.

“…I had heard rumors about it, but it really is a large capital city…”

Aeris agreed with Tauro’s astonishment and returned to the carriage.

Ankh, Ragune, and Zion also leaned out to see.

“““This is huge!”””

Though Duke Barriella’s capital city was also large and prosperous, as expected from the prime minister’s domain, the size of Marquis Haragura’s capital was clearly larger in size.

It might even be larger and grander than the royal capital of some poor little kingdom.

Tauro and the others felt everything they had said up until then had been completely overturned.

Marquis Haragura’s capital city was even more impressive upon entering.

Or rather than impressive, “flashy” might be the better word.

There were many buildings that looked like they must’ve cost a lot of money, and it was clear at a glance that the wealth of the territory was concentrated here.

The roof tips of each building were sharp like iron towers, gilded in gold or silver, clearly costing a fortune.

It’s like the Gothic architecture from my previous life, but even more extravagant.

The decorations were uniform and overall gaudy.

“You can tell just by looking that a lot of money was spent, but it seems wasteful…”

Tauro muttered as he got out of the carriage, he couldn’t help but say this as he looked at the cityscape, which was filled with luxurious architecture.

“What do you mean wasteful! This is the symbol of wealth for the House of Haragura! There’s no other cityscape like this, not even in the royal capital! How can a commoner not understand its magnificence!”

Suguro, the grandson of Marquis Haragura, became even more arrogant upon arriving at his home turf.

“Even if you’re not a commoner, if this much money is spent, you’d think the same,”

Aeris, the Marquis’ daughter, retorted on behalf of Tauro.

“Hmph! You fools who can’t see the value! You probably don’t understand what it’s like to be the head of the kingdom’s largest noble faction. Besides, this capital was finally completed in my grandfather’s generation — a ‘perfect city.’ Not only is wealth concentrated here, but magic power is also focused on this city, and is equipped with magical technology to make the most of it. As a result, it is literally a ‘perfect city’ built with cutting-edge technology that can repel all kinds of disasters!”

Suguro boasted, revealing some of advanced technology of the city that he probably shouldn’t mention out loud.

“Magic power focused?”

Tauro was intrigued by the phrase.

Aeris seemed to feel the same.

“Does that mean that magical power is flowing from all directions into this city? It seems that it’s forming a barrier around this capital city… but I don’t really like the feeling of it,”

Aeris frowned and gave her honest impression.

“Heh heh heh… The technology of the House of Haragura is coveted not just domestically but by other countries too. An ordi person like you would neverunderstand,”

Suguro snorted at Aeris’s words and strode into the castle-like manor he called home with his cronies.

“Aeris, I also don’t get any good feeling about this barrier thing,”

Zion seemed to feel the same way as Aeris and made a displeased face.

“Right? It might sound weird, but it feels like some sort of sorcery,”

Aeris, encouraged by Zion’s agreement, confidently shared her suspicion with Tauro.

“Sorcery? …Now that you mention it, I think I sensed something like it somewhere before… Ah! It’s similar to the feeling when I reversed a curse that was placed on me!”

Tauro remembered the time he doubled back a curse from an assassin guild’s sorcerer in the capital of Count Daredar’s domain.

“Oh, that was when the leader single-handedly fought back while we were away delivering the client’s mother,”

Ankh recalled and pointed out.

“…Either way, It doesn’t feel like the good kind of technology,”

Tauro exchanged a glance with Aeris and frowned.