Chapter Twenty: "Heras City"

After three weeks…

"Ah, finally! I've arrived. That took too long."

Nevalis grumbled. He wasn't used to traveling such long distances this way.

He had hired a magic-powered carriage, which made the journey take longer than usual.

Of course, the trip would have taken only hours if he had been able to use the teleportation array in the main city. In the past, he would have done so without hesitation—after all, he was once the son of a well-known count's family. But now, he was without an identity. Using teleportation arrays required two things: money, which he had, and identification, which he lacked.

Finally, after traveling for three weeks by magic carriage, Nevalis arrived at Heras City. He had never visited it before, but it was breathtaking. The sight of it left him in awe.

He had read about the kingdom's four major cities and their grandeur, but after seeing one in person, he realized that books hadn't done them justice.

Now, he stood before one of those four cities—perhaps the most important one in the kingdom. The reason was simple: it overlooked two crucial battlefronts—the border with the nation of Isfelda and one of the most dangerous mountain ranges on the continent: the Nyarhaf Mountain Range.

The city stretched across the horizon like a colossal fortress, covering a vast expanse. Towering black stone walls surrounded it, built to withstand the test of time and the fiercest sieges. The walls stood dozens of meters high, adorned with closely spaced war towers that resembled silent sentinels, equipped with massive spears and catapults, ready to defend the city at any moment.

Simply put, it had earned its title as "The Impregnable Fortress."

From afar, the city resembled a slumbering beast, its walls casting long shadows over the surrounding land, while its towers reached toward the clouds. Dark clouds often gathered above it, adding to its ominous presence, as if warning outsiders to stay away.

Nevails admired the view before him, his excitement growing as he anticipated seeing the city from the inside.

He headed straight for the main gate.

Located on the eastern side, the main gate was an architectural marvel—a massive structure forged from black iron, adorned with ancient carvings that told stories of past wars and legends. In front of the gate stood towering statues of knights with raised weapons, displaying power and majesty. Armies and merchants passed beneath it via a drawbridge that stretched over a deep water-filled moat.

The city's perimeter was secured by a double moat—the first filled with water and the second lined with iron spikes.

Guards stood at the city's entrance, their presence intimidating. They stood at the ready, as if expecting an attack at any moment.

Nevails approached them without hesitation. As expected, they asked for his identification. He had already prepared an answer.

"I'm here to register my name at the Adventurers' Guild headquarters."

The guard gave him a scrutinizing look. Nevalis had done his best to appear older, but to the guard, he still looked too young. However, after inspecting him and completing the necessary checks, the guard handed him a token and said,

"You have half a day to complete your registration. If you remain a minute longer, you will be arrested."

Nevails wasn't surprised by the strict security—it was natural, given the city's significance and its influential inhabitants. Not to mention the presence of high-ranking generals and the kingdom's most powerful military family—the ducal house of Lankros.

After passing through multiple security checkpoints, he sighed in mild frustration before stepping inside. And for the second time, he was in awe.

Even though he was accustomed to castles and grand cities, this one was different.

The moment he entered through the massive gate, he was greeted by wide streets paved with dark stones, designed to withstand the weight of soldiers and heavy carriages. On either side of the roads stood militarized buildings—a fusion of dark stone and steel—that gave the city an air of discipline and rigidity.

Unlike the capital, there were no decorative statues or lavish gardens. Instead, barracks, training grounds, and weapon shops dominated the landscape. Even the markets here were different; they specialized in combat equipment, armor, and weapons crafted from the finest materials. Everywhere he looked, soldiers and adventurers moved between shops, inspecting gear or training in open courtyards.

But amidst all this, two buildings dominated the skyline, imposing their presence over the entire city.

At the city's very heart stood the Lankros Ducal Manor—an enormous fortress-like structure within the city itself. Built from solid black stone, it was surrounded by towering walls, reinforced watchtowers, and heavily armed guards. Its massive iron gate bore the Lankros family crest—two crossed swords behind a shield, symbolizing strength and authority.

The manor was the largest and most fortified structure in the city, not just because it was the duke's residence, but because it also served as the military command center. No one could approach it without authorization, and the guards stationed there were an elite force trained exclusively to protect the duke and his family.

The second-largest building in the city was none other than the Adventurers' Guild headquarters—the only structure that came close in size to the ducal manor.

The guild building was a massive fortress consisting of multiple floors, its walls built from reinforced gray stone and steel to withstand any potential attack. Its windows were wide yet protected by layers of enchantments, preventing any unauthorized intrusions. Despite its militaristic design, the interior was tailored to accommodate large numbers of adventurers.

"A city of war..." Nevalis muttered as he walked through the streets, feeling the weight of the place's atmosphere. Here, there was no room for luxury or excess—everything had a purpose.

Despite the rampant corruption within the nobility and government, the kingdom's military strength remained largely unaffected—or at least, there was no room for its decline. The reason was simple: the kingdom couldn't afford to let its army weaken.

Two key threats ensured the kingdom maintained a strong and disciplined military presence, at least here in the west.

The border with Isfelda and the Nyarhaf Mountains.

The border with the Kingdom of Isfelda left no room for complacency, while the Nyarhaf Mountains were another story entirely... The beasts and savage creatures lurking within allowed no margin for weakness. No matter how corrupt the nobility became, they couldn't afford to tamper with the military—or the kingdom would collapse between the jaws of foreign invasion and relentless monster attacks.

"At the very least, here in the west, the kingdom's military strength is at its peak."