32 1.14.

"Hey Sequencee," Ro called.

"What is it?"

"You said we're going to find the warp gate tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah."

It was the evening. The sky was glowing golden and was beginning to dim. The roads were still busy with people, and the street lights had come on. Sentinel knights would soon begin their night rounds.

"You're someone who can stay up all night right? Just like how you did yesterday with Leticia?"

"Yes and.."

They wiped themselves down with the provided towel and warm water not long ago, so they felt somewhat refreshed. After a simple change of clothes, articles that were soiled were compiled and sent to the laundry. They were to pick it up the following day.

"Have you gone to the red light district?"

"I'm not going," Sequencee said resolutely.

'What's wrong with guys? Why is this topic on top of most people's minds?'

"Because you already have Leticia. Man, it must be great to have someone to love."

"We aren't even in that kind of relationship," Sequencee sighed.

'Even if we were, once she finds out that I'm a half-demon-lord she would most likely.. yeah. Let's not think about it.'

"Really? It doesn't look that easy from the outside, you know?"

"That's how it is. We're just close because we're similar."

"Hm.. similar huh?"

Ro rolled onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He stared at the thick, interlocking wooden beams which held the upper floors in place.

"I've only heard stories about the red light district. They say that's where you learn a lot about 'that'. Even though they've taught it in school, Weasly said that it's very different in practice than what is just explained."

"Weasly?"

"Yeah. Don't tell anyone I said this but apparently, he snuck out one night and tried."

Weasly was a forgettable classmate from Mane's Home. Sequencee thought he was quite interesting and now.. obscene.

"It's expensive, he says. Ah, shoot. I should really take better care of my money. Thanks for helping out with the expenses Sequencee. I don't know if it would be possible to stay somewhere like this without you."

"It's alright."

Sequencee lowered his head and returned to reading.

It was a book– a grimoire he had kept with him since the day he left the dead land after the calamity.

'I just need to be patient and keep working on myself.'

– I'll reach it someday.

===

"You look worse than when you were on the caravan," Ro said.

"Huh? Hm? Did you say something?" Lilian raised her head to reveal her panda eyes. She seemed like she was going to fall from her seat.

"The fatigue struck us all at once. I'm rather tired myself," Leticia yawned.

"Here is your order~ the total is 3 silver and 2 copper."

"Here," Sequencee pulled out coins from his system and handed them over to the waiter.

"Thank you."

"Eh.. Sequencee.. paying.. again? Lilian lulled.

"Sequencee, here, my share," Ro tried to hand a silver coin to him.

"It's alright. You'll need to save your money if things don't work out. We'd probably split once we go to Rika Nation."

"But still.."

The four of them started their breakfast of eggs, sausages, bread and mushroom stew. The taste was decent, though it wasn't something on par with what they were used to back at the home.

After the meal, they headed off in search of the warp gate to Rika Nation.

"I'm not familiar with the streets in this district," Leticia said.

"Then I'll help remember where we went," Lilian who had sobered up after a warm breakfast announced in enthusiasm.

"So where exactly is the transfer station?" Sequencee asked, having forgotten most of the directions since his last visit to the capital.

"It depends. Though, most of them are located somewhere close to the noble's district."

The streets were beginning to bustle once more after a quiet night of decline. At this sort of time, the predominant class of people loitering around were mercenaries and owners of their own businesses.

"There are so many shops here.. and look at their clothes! It's kinda cool.." Lilian said excitedly.

Ateliers, hawker stores selling food and rations, weapons shops, a woodworking place, small offices, a nature shop with plenty of potted plants, apparels – an innumerable variety; absolute chaos.

There was a team of 4 knights making their way down the street.

"Pardon my disturbance," Leticia walked up to one of them and asked. "Could I ask where the warp gate station is located?"

"To where are you headed, young lady?" he replied back with a deep tone.

"Rika Nation."

"That portal huh? Brutt, you guide these people there."

"Yes sir," a knight standing behind him saluted.

"Um actually.. we're joining going there to check things out. We'll only move over tomorrow." Leticia thought it was too excessive to relegate a knight as an escort for a mere direction.

"Don't mind it. It's our duty as knights to help who we can," Brutt said.

"Then.. thank you very much."

Knight Brutt branched off from his team and guided the four of them through the winding streets. They garnered unruly stares from the passerby, some thinking that perhaps these bunch were juvenile offenders of the kingdom.

It was a half-an-hour walk, and when they arrived, the place was packed like sardines.

A vast plaza with floors made with interlocking bricks. Huge portal gates lined both ends of the field which looked like the frames holding a giant, circular distorted painting. And in the center of the plaza is a humongous statue of Hero Rika in her holy armour, patina had already worn the once gold sheen into a green shade.

From the knight Brutt's elucidation, the admission process to enter any of the gates goes like this.

First, the individual would have to go to the office to buy a ticket. The office is that small building built near each portal, and from what Sequencee saw, had a line longer than anything he had ever seen.

Two, the individual would have to be inspected for anything illegal. Things like drugs, aphrodisiacs and potions. It's a time-consuming process but essential to maintain the safety and ties between the different regions.

Three, once the checks are done, the individual would be allowed to cross.

Of course, this process is only for individual travelers. The admission process is different for merchants who wish to bring products over.

"Is it possible to buy a ticket now and use it tomorrow?" Leticia asked.

"It's not possible," Brutt said.

"Eh, why?" Lilian blurted.

"We want to prevent overcrowding. So if you want to have a shot, I can only advise you to be very early. The office opens beginning at 6 am. It's advisable you be here at 4 am."

"Seriously.." Ro scratched his head. He looked towards the snaking line with a grimace.

"Then we should come early tomorrow then," Sequencee said.

"How early?"

"3 am."

Lilian and Ro fell sullen. Leticia didn't have much of a reaction.

"It's inevitable," Brutt said with a laugh.

===

"Do you remember where it is?" Ro asked.

"I can make out the general direction," Leticia said.

After thanking the knight Brutt for his guidance, the four of them returned to Bortfort inn.

"You sure have a good memory," Lilian muttered, seeing how Leticia was able to guide everyone from the gate station back.

They picked up their laundry and had lunch. After that, they went to their respective rooms to rest.

===

Ro's snoring echoed inside the room. With the dim flames of the magic lamp flickering, Sequencee sat quietly at the side of his bed and waited.

He had to tone down his usual routine to 500 situps, squats and pushups, putting off footwork training to not arouse Ro from his sleep.

Beads of various colours surrounded him as he stared at the wall in a meditative state.

Everyone's luggage had been packed so they could set off early. Sequencee was waiting for the clock to strike 2 so that he could wake up Ro, and that was quite soon.

His spatial magic reacted.

Someone was walking down the hall.

Then the presence stopped at the door in the adjacent room. He could hear the faint sounds of knocking.

'I wonder if it's a prostitute. It's rather late though..'

The presence then knocked on his room door. Sequencee didn't make a sound.

Then the presence began to knock on the door on the opposite side of the corridor and went in the reverse direction.

'Hold on. At this rate would the person knock on the girl's room?'

He got up and masked his half-horn and the elemental beads.

The presence began to leave his range.

He stood near the door and focused on his hearing.

'Hopefully they don't mistake whoever that is as me.'

They had already told each other that when it was almost time, whichever room that woke up earlier would knock on the other's door. So Sequencee was worried the person knocking might cause a ruckus.

Creak.

'Someone opened their door.'

Sequencee gripped the handle and listened closer.

There was a muffled chatter he couldn't make out before the door shut.

'Was it them or someone else?'

Sequencee couldn't make out who it was that opened the door. It could be some other room, and if so the 'prostitute' might've entered.

'Should I check?'

Sequencee twisted the handle, releasing the lock and peeking out into the dim corridor.

He saw the presence standing further down the hall as if contemplating. It was within his expectation that the person was a prostitute, an elf wearing a risque nightgown at that. It seems whoever it was that opened the door denied her service.

She turned to him, and for a moment their eyes met.

Sequencee quickly shut the door.

'Shit.'

The presence drew closer.

'Ro would've been so happy.'

And then she stopped in front of the door.

She licked her lips.

'Found you.'