Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 186 - The Holy Country of Milis

We've arrived at Milishion, the capital of the Holy Country of Milis.

It's been a long time since I've been to this city.

Hmm. Third time in my life.

The first was during the liberation movement with Aisha. The second was when I asked Cliff for help. This is the third.

A river stretching down from the Blue Dragon Mountains feeds into a lake. At the center of the lake, the pure white White Palace floats like something out of a dream. Along the riverbank, the golden Grand Cathedral and the silver Adventurer's Guild stand side by side.

Seven towers rise up as if they're wrapping their arms around the entire city. Beyond them, grassland stretches as far as the eye can see.

Lucy was holding a book, reading as she took in the view.

"Dignity and harmony, both at once — this is the most beautiful city in the world."

Oh, my daughter. Pick up a book and her whole bearing changes.

The scenery matched the descriptions I'd read word for word, though I'd never actually paid attention to it on either of my previous visits.

Windsor was watching the view. She turned at Lucy's words.

"Lucy, what are you reading?"

Lara nodded along, equally curious.

Lucy closed the book and held the cover up in front of her two older sisters.

"'Traveling the World,' by the adventurer Bladyconda."

"Oh oh! I'm going to write a book like that someday!"

Lara had already mapped out her future with great enthusiasm.

Windsor looked interested in adventure too. Those two might end up going out together one day.

A mage and a swordsman.

Like me, Eris, and Aisha back in the day.

Oh?

Add Lucy and the lineup would be just about right. Her swordsmanship isn't much, but her magic is solid enough.

Then Roxy gave Lara a light chop on the head, throwing cold water on the whole thing.

"You can barely read and you want to write a book?"

"Ugh... I'm still little!"

"Lucy can already read an entire book cover to cover."

"Hmph! Mom is so mean, comparing me to Lucy!"

"I didn't want to either~ Lara brought up age herself. Lucy is the same age as you, you know."

"Hmph! Lucy doesn't count!"

Sylphiette covered her mouth, laughing softly.

Eris, like Windsor, had her eyes on the scenery with a look of quiet excitement.

Aisha sat beside me, calm and still, occasionally reaching over to pinch my face.

Hmm. No idea what that was about.

On another note, the one driving the carriage was Pursena. Apparently she only learned recently.

The veteran maids had not gone easy on her training, not even slightly.

She no longer breaks plates. She's learned all the etiquette.

Her cooking still needs work, but she can handle breakfast now.

The maids had assumed she'd know how to drive a carriage. She didn't.

A Beastman who can't ride a horse?

In any case, the maids taught her without complaint.

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Milishion from the south.

Truly beautiful.

The towering spires and walls block out everything that shouldn't be there. All that remains is one solemn city of white silver, glimmering in the light.

The walls hide whatever lies outside, and that absence only makes the city itself shine brighter.

The carriage rolled up to the capital's gate. Cliff was already there waiting for us, just as I'd expected.

He hadn't made a grand spectacle of it the way Ariel would have. No fanfare, no crowd.

He saw our carriage and walked over with a smile.

My best friend came out to meet me, the least I could do was step down to greet him.

"Rudeus! Welcome!"

"Cliff!"

We embraced. I glanced at the people standing behind him.

Young knights. A handful of them.

Cliff noticed where I was looking.

"You mentioned in your letter that you wanted to visit your grandmother first, so I kept things quiet."

"I'm not bothered by the lack of fanfare. I was just thinking — the Pope of a nation, with only this few guards?"

Cliff smiled.

"Milishion is the safest city in the world. Don't worry."

"Yes, I can see that. Safe and beautiful."

"It is. I think it's the most beautiful city there is." He paused. "Though its insides are probably the filthiest in the world."

"Oh? A filth even my best friend can't clean up?"

The guards behind Cliff shifted at that.

I didn't care.

Cliff didn't either.

He spoke with complete confidence.

"I'll change it. Your arrival is the turning point. Let every last doubt dissolve at the wedding the day after tomorrow. I'm going to give Lize the name she deserves, and I'm going to strip those old relics of their voice for good."

"What do you need from me?"

"Nothing. I've already won, it just needs the final push. The old men didn't believe you'd actually come to my wedding. Ever since I used your name to climb to the papacy, they've been questioning whether our relationship is real."

"So as long as I show up, they're done?"

"Showing up is enough. Once the wedding is over, I'll start sweeping out the parasites."

"Sounds almost too easy."

"It is. Now, didn't you want to see your grandmother first? Where does she live? Should I show you the way?"

"You coming out here to meet us was already more than enough. The wedding is right around the corner, go back and prepare. I know where her house is."

"Then I'll see you on the day."

"Mm."

Back in the carriage.

Lara immediately piped up.

"Daddy~ Who was that just now?"

"Hm? That's Cliff. His Holiness the Pope of this country."

"Pope...? Is that like Her Majesty the Queen?"

"More or less. Both are the highest authority in their country."

"Wow~ Daddy knows all the big names."

"Heh heh! Right? Pretty amazing, huh?"

"Ah, but saying it yourself like that makes you seem so ordinary. I take it back."

Eh?

---------

Zenith's family home was large.

About what I expected, really.

A tall main gate with lion statues flanking both sides. A long stone-paved path runs from the gate to the entrance, a fountain in the middle, the lawn trimmed into shapes that can only be described as eccentric.

And deep beyond all that, a clean white mansion, bright and beautiful.

This is what a noble's home looks like. Every detail matched the image in my head exactly.

The location was the residential district. Noble Street. Specifically the stretch where only the highest-ranking families had their residences lined up.

The atmosphere reminded me a little of the noble quarter back in Asura.

Though now that I think about it, that house is enormous too.

I have a house like this in the Asura Kingdom as well. Ariel gave it to me, hoping I'd visit more often.

Hmm. About the same scale as this one.

The atmosphere here is more solemn, but the level of luxury is roughly equal.

"Ah..."

Aisha sighed beside me.

She was looking toward the mansion with undisguised distaste.

We'd just arrived at the gate, all of us together.

I'd been planning to show the letter, but the guard took one look at me and bolted into the house.

"So, Brother, a word of warning. Grandmother is an extremely unpleasant person."

"How does Aisha know that?"

"I came to see her once, during my solo travels..."

"How did she treat you?"

"Hmph. She hates me. Said I'm the daughter of a concubine."

"She actually said that?"

"Yes. I know how Brother is, so I'm telling you now, don't lose your temper and do something to her."

"I'm not that extreme."

At that moment, Roxy and Sylphiette both took hold of my hands. Left and right.

They were nervous. Understandably so, given everything they'd heard about Grandmother.

Eris and Aisha were unbothered.

Roxy leaned close and spoke quietly.

"Rudy... What if Grandmother hates me? Never mind noble blood, I'm practically the same age as her. And I'm a demon on top of that..."

I patted her head.

"Roxy said something once — I wonder if she still remembers."

"What?"

"'Rudy is the husband I've acknowledged. I don't need my parents' approval.' It's the same for me. Roxy is the wife I've acknowledged. I don't need my grandmother's approval."

"That's what I said, but... I still want Rudy's family to like me..."

The children weren't nervous at all. Lara was feeding Daibai. Windsor was murmuring something to Pursena.

Lucy held her book and waited quietly.

I was watching them when several people emerged from the house.

Not just the guard.

Maids. A butler. About 12 in total, moving at a brisk pace toward us.

The maids formed two lines in front of the gate, arranged along the path.

The butler stood at the head of the group, spine straight, facing us directly.

Different from Ariel's formation. Different countries, different customs, I suppose.

This one looked like something out of a manga from my previous life, the kind of formal welcome you'd give an arriving company president.

The guard opened the gate. The butler gave a deep bow.

The maids lowered their heads in unison.

"Lord Rudeus, Madams, welcome. We have all been awaiting your arrival with the sincerest of hearts."

I nodded.

"Lord Rudeus, Madams, the Grand Madam is waiting inside. Please, this way."

"Thank you. We'll be in your care."

➤ Next: Grandmother — The Conversation