Chapter 30: I have become the Child Emperor

Late in the afternoon, three friends found themselves in the heart of the bustling Capital, their eyes widening in astonishment at the magnificent sight before them. Coming from a remote village, the grandeur of the towering buildings and the sea of people was unlike anything they had ever witnessed. It made them realize that their previous experiences had only scratched the surface of the vastness and diversity of their own country. Filled with awe, Tatsumi and Ieyasu couldn't help but express their amazement, attracting the attention of passersby.

"Look at that!"

"There are so many people! The Capital is even bigger than I imagined!"

Observing her two companions drawing attention to themselves, Sayo became increasingly annoyed. Without hesitation, she swiftly delivered two powerful kicks to each of their backs and exclaimed, "You two are so embarrassing!" Unbeknownst to her, her scolding drew even more curious onlookers. Since they had arrived in the Capital, Sayo had noticed people whispering and gossiping about them, labeling them as country bumpkins—an epithet she had grown tired of hearing.

"Ouch, Sayo. That hurt," complained Ieyasu, rubbing the spot where Sayo had kicked him. Tatsumi followed suit, attempting to alleviate the pain. "Could you be a bit gentler next time?" Tatsumi added, causing Sayo's anger to flare up even more.

"People are watching, you fool!" Sayo retorted, her frustration mounting. She even threatened to attack Tatsumi once again, but Ieyasu swiftly stepped in, blocking her path. "Calm down, Sayo," he said calmly, exchanging a brief glance with Tatsumi as if having a silent conversation. Both men felt indignant about Sayo's actions but knew that expressing their grievances would only result in more beatings, something they preferred to avoid.

The commotion they had caused had attracted a rapidly growing number of curious onlookers, making the three friends acutely aware of the attention they were receiving. Reluctant to apologize for her outburst, Sayo determinedly led her friends towards the nearest tavern, dragging them along. Tatsumi and Ieyasu, resigned to the situation, chose not to resist and simply followed Sayo's lead.

As the melodic chimes of the wind danced through the air, the tavern fell silent, and all eyes turned towards the three young newcomers. Sensing the attention, Tatsumi and Ieyasu instinctively stepped forward, positioning themselves protectively in front of Sayo. In that fleeting moment, they exchanged a silent understanding and contemplated whether it would be wise to leave for their own safety. Just as the thought crossed their minds, a commanding voice resonated throughout the tavern.

"Yo! That's enough! Mind your own business," boomed the voice, instantly redirecting the collective gaze away from the trio. The three companions quickly identified the man behind the counter as the one who had come to their defense. He gestured for them to take the vacant seats near his counter. Glancing at each other briefly, the trio weighed their options before ultimately accepting the man's invitation. Being new to the Capital, they needed advice and directions on finding suitable accommodations for the night, and since the kind-hearted stranger had just come to their aid, they saw him as a potential source of information.

"You guys new in the Capital?" the man behind the counter asked while diligently cleaning some mugs.

Ieyasu, without answering the man's question, posed one of his own. "Are you the owner of this place?"

The man chuckled, undeterred by Ieyasu's lack of response. "Yep, I've been the owner of this place for years now," he replied, displaying no offense at the young man's directness.

Realizing that Ieyasu's inquiry might have come off as rude, Sayo swiftly intervened and answered the tavern owner's initial question. "Yes, the three of us are new in the Capital." She promptly took a seat at the available chair by the counter, with Tatsumi and Ieyasu following suit. "Is it that obvious?" she added with a hint of self-consciousness.

"When you've been in the Capital long enough, it becomes easy to spot those who don't belong," the tavern owner remarked as he poured each of them a cup of ale. "I don't know how old you guys are, but since you're new in the Capital, the first round is on the house."

"Nice!" Ieyasu exclaimed, his face lighting up with glee. He eagerly took the offered ale and downed it in one go. "Ah! I like that!" he proclaimed, slamming the empty cup onto the counter.

"Wow, that was quick," Tatsumi commented, taking a more measured sip of his ale. In the background, Sayo was seen reprimanding Ieyasu, cautioning him about the dangers of becoming an alcoholic. This sight brought a warm smile to the tavern owner's face, reminding him of the days he had spent with his own friends in his youth.

After finishing their ale, Tatsumi asked, "Old man, what's the nearest and cheapest place to stay in the Capital?"

Snapping out of his reverie, the tavern owner replied, "The building next to this tavern is a cheap inn where travelers usually stay." Curiosity laced his voice as he inquired further, "So, what plans do you three have in the Capital?"

Without a moment's hesitation, both Ieyasu and Tatsumi stood up from their seats, exclaiming in unison, "For fame and fortune!"

"Fame and fortune, huh?" the tavern owner muttered under his breath, his voice laced with a tinge of resignation. Years of experience and living in the Capital had numbed him to the sound of people harboring grand dreams. Countless were the individuals who had arrived with high hopes for their future, only to be crushed by the unforgiving nature of the Capital. Now those people are left seeking solace in his tavern with nothing but his ale to ease their disappointment.

Observing her companions' reactions, Sayo couldn't help but let out a sigh. "We mostly plan to help our village," she interjected, her voice tinged with a sense of practicality.

"I see," the tavern owner replied, his curiosity piqued. "And how do you expect to do that?"

"By joining the army!" Tatsumi exclaimed with fervor, while Ieyasu chimed in, "With our skills, we'll climb the ranks swiftly, reaching the rank of General in no time!"

"Well, that's an impressive dream indeed. But if you value your lives, I suggest leaving the Capital as soon as you can," the tavern owner stated bluntly, causing the three friends to exchange perplexed glances.

"What do you mean, old man?"

"Don't you believe in our dream?"

While Tatsumi and Ieyasu vehemently denied any doubts, Sayo fixated her gaze on the tavern owner's face. Something about his words intrigued her and sparked her curiosity.

"Honestly, achieving one's dream is hard; that's why it's called a dream. But the main reason I'm telling you to leave the Capital is because of the recent killings," the tavern owner explained.

"Recent killings?" Sayo murmured, her eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Yeah. Despite the rapid changes in the Capital over the past few weeks, the Emperor's efforts seem to be crumbling due to a series of killings. In fact, with the Capital guards unable to solve the problem, I believe the Imperial soldiers will soon take over the patrolling duties. If you three join now, the likelihood of you patrolling at night and encountering danger is extremely high."

Intrigued more than ever, the three friends decided to gather more information from the tavern owner before leaving the establishment. As soon as they stepped outside, a mischievous grin spread across Tatsumi's and Ieyasu's faces.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tatsumi asked, his grin growing wider by the second.

"We're going to hunt down that murderer, gain fame from it, and then join the army. That way, the army will recognize our strength, and we'll climb the ranks even quicker!", Ieyasu exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident. Sayo couldn't help but let out another sigh. She wasn't opposed to the idea, but she wondered how long it would take them to locate the murderer, considering even the Capital Guards were struggling to apprehend them.