The Reincarnated Lizardman Wants a Hamburger

After leaving Astram and going through various events, we finally crossed the border and entered the empire.

Spine Empire.

The strongest nation on the current continent, simultaneously holding a severe human supremacist ideology. While it may seem like a paradise to humans, the dark side of this nation involves the exploitation of non-human races.

At the same time, it is a nation plotting to open the dimensional gate once again, bringing a great threat to this world.

And the purpose of this journey is to stop that.

It was the longest journey we had undertaken since leaving the Lizardman Village.

However, even that long journey was finally beginning to show its end.

Having finally reached the empire’s border province, we…

“I can’t believe there are so many people…! I heard the imperial capital was crowded, but I never imagined it would be like this! It’s truly astonishing!”

“Shh. This isn’t the capital. We’ve just entered a border province.”

“W-what…!? With this many people, you’re saying this is just a border town…?”

At my words, Shu expressed disbelief, shocked that such a crowded place was merely the empire’s outskirts.

By the way, Shu was the new name of the demon girl we encountered in the ancient ruins just before arriving in the empire, derived from the second character of Ishtart.

Personally, I pushed for the name “Tart,” taken from the last three characters of Ishtart, and Shu agreed, but the others opposed naming someone after a food item, so we settled on “Shu.”

The girl, now named Shu, marveled at the scenery of the first city she visited, holding a cat and looking around.

Though, if you think about it, the existence of a demon is far more astonishing than a border town of the empire…

Come to think of it, we somehow managed to pass through the entrance checkpoint.

Surprisingly, Shu passed through the checkpoint easily. She simply claimed to be a rare beastkin with blue skin, and they believed her.

Firstly, there are countless types of beastkin on this continent, so rare ones unknown to ordinary people are common.

Secondly, demons themselves have not appeared in the human world for so long that even if someone looked like a demon, people wouldn’t associate them with one.

Lastly, our companions Daria and Aila vouched for Shu’s identity. Who would dare suspect Shu of being a demon when a sister of the Holy Kingdom and a holy knight guaranteed her identity?

Sometimes, boldly pushing forward can solve things surprisingly easily.

Having safely passed the checkpoint, we watched Shu hopping around and finalized our plans.

“The distance from the border to the capital is considerable, but compared to the distance we’ve traveled so far, it’s practically right in front of us. The Spine Empire, being a powerful nation, has well-developed transportation facilities. If we restock here and move without stopping, we can reach the capital soon.”

Daria unfolded a map and pointed out our current location as she explained.

“To make up for lost time, we must move diligently. Then, our rest in this city will be the last before reaching the capital.”

“Then we should rest well this time.”

At my words, Mari, perhaps thinking of sleeping in a soft bed for the first time in a while, spoke in a bright voice.

“Hoho. Then we can finally eat a proper meal from the kitchen.”

…Or maybe she was just excited at the thought of eating decent food.

“Then Aila and I will go meet the border lord.”

As my companions chatted about resting at the inn after a long time, Daria quietly stood up and spoke.

“The empire’s border lord?”

“If we suddenly go to the imperial capital and ask to meet the emperor, it would be awkward, so we should send a message through the border lord first.”

“Then, just in case, should I go with you?”

“No need to worry. Although the relationship between the Spine Empire and the Holy Kingdom isn’t great, they wouldn’t dare mess with a secret envoy from the Holy Kingdom.”

Daria said this while pulling out a secret letter from the archbishop and waving it.

In the Dragon Kingdom, we didn’t even have a chance to show the secret letter proving our status as secret envoys, but that was because the situation there was unusually chaotic.

At least the empire’s nobles, though human supremacist fanatics, weren’t barbaric enough to resort to violence without reason.

Especially if the other party was also human.

I nodded at Daria’s explanation but didn’t back down.

“Still, it wouldn’t be comfortable for us to rest at the inn while only you two go to the border lord. Let’s have lunch and go together.”

“Fine. If Kurt insists, we’ll do that.”

“Then let’s stop by the market before lunch to shop. It’s a shame to cook with preserved food when we’re in a city.”

“Great! I was getting tired of eating the same ingredients! Oh, not that I’m tired of your cooking, Kurt.”

“While we’re buying vegetables, I’d like to get some tomatoes if they’re available.”

“I want alcohol!”

Perhaps knowing that after this rest, we won’t be able to rest again until we stop the empire’s plot, the companions openly stated their demands without holding back.

And like them, I also wanted to make the most of this last rest.

“Then let’s have a grand feast before going to the border lord’s mansion!”

At my words, the companions cheered in response, and we noisily made our way to the market.

…

Since the Spine Empire rose to become the undisputed strongest nation on the continent, no country dared to invade it.

Yet, the border lord of the empire, Dane Roman, starts his day earlier than most.

Despite his status as an imperial count, which might allow for a more leisurely life, Dane rises early every morning to inspect the fortress guarding the border, never neglecting his vigilance.

This has been his routine for over 20 years since inheriting the position of border lord.

Whether there is an actual threat or not, protecting the empire from danger is both the emperor’s mandate and his own duty.

Even though there are no nations left to threaten the empire, the citizens respect him, calling him the Noble Wolf, for his unwavering vigilance and self-discipline.

Conversely, a minority who remember that he slaughtered his own brothers to rise to his position fear him, calling him the Iron-Blooded Wolf.

“Nothing unusual happened overnight.”

“Good. Were there any suspicious or unusual people among those who entered the city today?”

“No. Among those who entered, there were no unusual individuals. The only somewhat unusual entrants were a group of about ten adventurers, a mix of beastkin and elves, but even they were properly registered with the adventurer’s guild.”

“I see. Then maintain vigilance and stay alert for the remaining duty hours. Never forget that we are the empire’s shield.”

“Yes! Understood.”

Having inspected the fortress early in the morning, Border Lord Dane headed to his mansion after receiving the border guard captain’s report.

‘If I return now, it will be early lunchtime. Since I skipped breakfast, having an early lunch would be fine. After that, I’ll train in the afternoon and handle pending tasks in the evening.’

Dane planned his day as he walked down the street.

Citizens who recognized him bowed their heads, and beastkin or elves who saw him hid in fear, but he paid them no mind as he continued toward his mansion.

Then, at some point, the sound of a noisy commotion ahead broke his train of thought.

It wasn’t any premonition that made him act, but simply the loud voices disrupting his concentration.

However, when Dane looked toward the source of the noise without much thought, he felt a shock that made his entire body tense, forcing him to stop.

“Fried food! Fried food! We couldn’t eat fried food while traveling, so this time we must have fried food! We must!”

“Is that all you ever talk about?”

“Then how about something cooked in hot oil?”

“…That’s fried food.”

A seemingly dim-witted elf and a lizardman were having a foolish conversation.

In the empire, they were considered second-class and third-class citizens, treated as half or full slaves.

But their race wasn’t the important part.

“….”

“Border Lord, what’s wrong?”

Seeing the border lord standing still as if struck by lightning, a soldier assisting him sensed something amiss and asked.

“…Who are they? Who are those people making noise over there?”

“Ah, those adventurers? They’re the group that entered today, as the captain mentioned earlier. But really, making such a ruckus while wandering around, it’s typical of non-humans…”

The soldier casually made discriminatory remarks about non-human races.

But the border lord had no time to pay attention to the soldier.

‘No unusual incidents, you said?’

Perhaps he should discipline the border guard captain.

‘Damn it, why is the master here?’

The border lord clenched his eyes shut, feeling the intense pressure emanating from Kurt.

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