Currency, Clothes, and a City of Clouds

"It truly is a different world!" the Nihonese man exclaimed, his eyes wide as he gazed about with unbridled excitement.

"It's unbelievable," he murmured, his voice filled with a breathless wonder that was more for himself than for us. "I must be the luckiest man alive. One moment, I was certain I was dead, and the next… I'm in a magical universe."

His words, 'certain I was dead,' struck a chord. Like me, he must have had a brush with death just before being summoned. It would explain the bloodstains soaking his clothes. The woman beside him, with her own grim countenance, likely shared a similar tale.

The old man was another story. Only a certain class of prisoner would be treated in such a manner. The fact that he was shackled to a human trolley suggested he was in transit when summoned—perhaps to an execution chamber? The thought that he might be a deranged killer made me wary, but I resolved not to make snap judgments based on appearances. I would first discover what kind of man he truly was.

"Tell me, where are we exactly?" the Nihonese man asked, his perspective shifting from awe to intense curiosity. "If magic exists, does that mean demi-humans and magical beasts exist as well?"

I glanced over and saw that the old man and the woman, despite their silence, seemed just as interested in the answer.

"I'm not entirely sure myself," I admitted. "I was just released an hour ago after being imprisoned underground for several weeks. What I do know is that we were forcibly brought here to be candidates for the role of 'heroes'."

"Hero candidates?" His eyes lit up. "Is there a demon lord or something? Does this mean we have cheat-level abilities or superpowers?" The word 'hero' seemed to galvanize him; the prospect of being magically transported to another universe excited him far more than it baffled him.

"Something like that was mentioned," I said, dashing his hopes. "But forget about it. It seems you three also missed your audience with the so-called Goddess to receive her blessing. That's why they abandoned us here. As far as they're concerned, we're just ordinary people without any special talents—another batch of failed heroes."

"What? No cheat abilities? That can't be right!" he sputtered, his excitement deflating instantly. "Can't they check our status or something? They're just going to abandon us like this? Without so much as a proper explanation? No knowledge, no money?" He questioned frantically, "We were supposed to be hero candidates, right?"

"Slow down, man," I cautioned. "I don't know anything about a 'status' or an 'appraisal,' but the King has already deemed us failures. And let's be honest, you don't exactly look the part. You look like a criminal." I gestured to the woman. "Especially you, missy. You even assaulted the King."

"Don't expect any preferential treatment. You're all lucky just to be dismissed. I 'accidentally' offended the King the moment I was summoned, and it earned me weeks in a dungeon. It's a miracle he overlooked your transgression," I added. "Just be grateful you aren't being executed."

The Nihonese man looked thoroughly dejected by my reality check. The woman merely scowled, her lips tightening into a thin line. The old man continued to stare at the scenery, seemingly lost in his own world. All the while, the floating woman followed us in her silent, ethereal way, as unconcerned as ever.

I, for my part, was quite content with how things had turned out. If things had gotten any hotter down in that dungeon, I had been fully prepared to force my way out.

As we walked on, the Nihonese man’s face was a mask of gloom. Our path took us past a grand fountain on the cathedral grounds, where he and the woman paused to wash the blood from their hands and faces. The envoy leading us seemed to have something to say but held his tongue.

A short cable car ride later, we arrived on the main island. A thought occurred to me then. These people had been compliant so far, but who knew how they would react if they were subjected to the same mockery from the military personnel that I had endured? The old man didn't strike me as the patient type, and while the Nihonese man and the dark-haired woman might tolerate it, a confrontation felt inevitable. Our strange, tattered appearances would guarantee it. The woman, in particular, would draw far too much attention in her skimpy negligee.

"Could you please get them a change of clothes?" I asked the envoy walking ahead of me. "They'll attract too much attention dressed like this."

"Clothes? Yes. I will procure some when we reach the gate post."

"Are we heading back to the training grounds?"

"No, my orders are to take you directly into the city. We will pass through the district gate, and we can find clothing there."

"Alright."

We followed him toward a massive gate set into towering, fortress-like walls. As we passed numerous grand manors and estates, we drew a few curious stares from onlookers who wisely kept their distance. At a small guard post by the gate, the envoy instructed a young man to fetch six sets of clothes.

While we waited, I struck up a conversation with the envoy, hoping to learn more about the city. Though he remained reserved, I managed to glean some guidance on how to start a life here. He confirmed that the royal family had severed all ties, meaning they would not provide us with identification. To obtain any, we would need to register with a guild—like the Commerce Syndicate or the Explorer's Guild—or other organizations authorized to issue formal identity.

He then offered a straightforward, useful overview of the kingdom, something the little princess had been quite secretive about. The Kingdom of Aeridor Valeria, he explained, was a rare nation situated at high altitude on an archipelago of floating islands. The chain consisted of over a thousand islands, all varying in size and elevation.

The city we were in was Valerion Aeris, the "Sky Capital." It was located on the largest island in the archipelago, at a relatively mid-to-low altitude. The royal capital and its surrounding islands were home to about five million of the nation's thirteen to fifteen million inhabitants. The rest were scattered across more distant islands at higher or lower elevations.

That statistic astounded me. Not the total population, which was modest compared to nations on Terra, but the fact that five million people resided in this single urban area. It was the population of a major metropolis, yet the island itself seemed only two or three times the size of Manhattan, with the city occupying just half of it. There were no visible slums; the architecture was well-organized and uncongested. The city had the pristine, idyllic air of a resort destination.

The city was divided into several districts, arranged not in concentric circles like a typical medieval city, but linearly from west to east. From the Sovereign District at the westernmost point, where we were now, to the city's main gate in the east, lay the Residential District, and finally the Scholarly and Merchant Districts.

We were currently in the Sovereign District, the most opulent neighborhood and home to the majority of the nobility, with the Royal Palace adjacent to it. The primary military base was also located here, positioned for the swift defense of the aristocrats and royals in an emergency. It was a predictable prioritization of the privileged, but I hoped they gave adequate thought to the security of the outskirts. The little princess had mentioned that villagers were frequently attacked by monsters and wild animals from the nearby forests, which made the military's location seem strategically inefficient for handling the most common threats.

Next to the Sovereign District was the Residential District, which comprised about forty percent of the capital. It was bisected by the main road connecting the Sovereign District to the city gate. This was the primary living area for the common populace, though some lesser nobles resided near the border with the Sovereign District. It was filled with numerous parks and open spaces, often used for festivals and public gatherings.

Finally, nearest to the city gate, were the Scholarly and Merchant Districts, split into northern and southern halves by the main road.

The northern section, the Merchant District, was a bustling hub of commerce. It housed everything from massive international trading companies to small roadside grocers. The district was further stratified into three levels: a lower tier for inexpensive goods, a middle tier for the more affluent, and an upper tier offering only the most luxurious products and services. The envoy noted that this class division had emerged naturally as shops with similar price points congregated.

Branches of many significant organizations—the Explorer's Guild, Commerce Syndicate, Forger's Union, Transmuter's Society—were located in the Merchant District. As the envoy listed them, the Nihonese man would let out exclamations of pure delight. "Explorer's Guild! Yes! Transmuter's Society! Awesome!" These fantastical institutions clearly captivated him. I made a mental note of his excitement; his apparent knowledge of these kinds of fantasy tropes might prove useful.

The Scholarly District, in contrast, was home to educational and research facilities. It boasted a national academy and numerous private schools, most of which taught subjects like magic and other fantasy-related disciplines alongside more conventional courses like mathematics and literature. Unsurprisingly, modern sciences like biology, chemistry, and physics were of little importance here. They existed, but were so marginal that the envoy wouldn't have mentioned them if I hadn't specifically asked.

The main road itself was a marvel—a straight highway running the length of the city, wide enough for a dozen carriages to travel side-by-side. In the western Residential District, it opened into a vast circular plaza, at the center of which stood a colossal statue of a great bird, the national symbol. This central plaza served as the city's primary gathering place for its populace.

The city's structure was genuinely impressive. Their civil engineering was highly advanced. While the buildings weren't twenty-first-century skyscrapers, the clear division between residential and commercial zones was expertly planned. It would help regulate commercial activities and prevent illicit businesses from cropping up in residential neighborhoods.

After his description of the city, I inquired about the surrounding landscape. He told me that small towns and farmlands lay just outside the city walls. The main road continued through these farmlands, ending at an open area with several buildings that served as a landing zone for aerial transport, complete with inspection points for incoming goods and travelers.

At this, the Nihonese man rashly interjected, "Are there griffins? Dragons? Other flying creatures?" The envoy looked taken aback. I flicked the over-enthusiastic man on the forehead to silence him. "Wyverns exist," I told him, remembering the creature I had seen that morning. He rubbed his reddening forehead and flashed a triumphant grin.

The envoy, recovering his composure, explained that a law prohibited aerial transports from entering the city's airspace. Any vehicle lacking a royal or noble crest would be shot down immediately. It was a security measure. Now that he mentioned it, I looked up and saw that the sky was a clear, unbroken blue, with no other islands floating directly above the capital.

Naturally, I asked what kind of armaments they used to shoot down flying objects and what constituted "aerial transport." His answers were simple: "Aether Cannons" and "the usual aerial transport beasts." He added that such things weren't important for us to know right now, and I didn't press further. The idea of flying monsters sounded fascinating, something I would investigate on my own later.

Shortly after our Q&A session, the clothes arrived—simple tunics, trousers, shoes, and gloves. They were more practical than the finery I had been given that morning. I decided to only change my shirt, as my pants and shoes were the last remnants of my life on Terra and held sentimental value. For now, I didn't mind the oddity of my red pants emblazoned with pizza slices and the phrase "Papa Ren's Pizzeria."

The woman changed in a separate room, emerging completely transformed. She now looked like a local, albeit a remarkably attractive one. Her new shirt was open at the back, a subtle yet alluring detail.

The old man donned the provided shirt and shoes but kept the trousers of his straitjacket, its slack belts hanging loosely around his waist. He still projected a menacing aura.

The Nihonese man changed his entire outfit. If not for his distinct features, which stood out among the predominantly European-looking locals, he would have blended in perfectly. We bundled our old clothes into the small leather bags provided. Now dressed like ordinary citizens (with the exception of the eerie old man and my signature red pants), we were ready to depart.

As we prepared to leave the district gate, the envoy called out to me and tossed a small object. I caught it reflexively. It was a stunning, oval-shaped crystal, the color of reddish-amethyst and perfectly sized to fit in my palm.

I shot him a questioning look. His expression remained as distant as ever. "A little money from me," he said flatly. "A token of my appreciation for your acknowledging the beauty of my nation."

This man was surprisingly thoughtful beneath his stoic exterior.

"Well, aren't you a shy one?" I joked, testing the waters. "I appreciate the money. But while we're at it, got any more? There are four of us, you know."

"And aren't you a shameless one?" he retorted, but then he tossed a small pouch at me. "Here, take these."

I was genuinely shocked that he had actually given me more. My joke had suddenly backfired, and a wave of guilt washed over me. I couldn't possibly return it now and admit I was kidding; the embarrassment would be unbearable.

"I had some spare change on me," he said gruffly. "That's all I have, so don't ask for more!"

…This was mortifying. It was happening again, for heaven's sake, on this world just as on Terra! I had the distinct feeling I'd just guilted him out of all his pocket money. I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to dig a hole and bury my face in it. Now I understood why the Little Princess thought my jokes were terrible. I finally got her meaning.

"Go now!" he commanded. "And try not to make rash judgments out there! I am more tolerant than most."