Counter-plan [1]

I opened my eyes as I slowly regained consciousness.

Ah my head hurts, it's feeling like my brain is gonna come out through my ears.

I was lying in the same area where I was, before Aki teleported me to another dimension. I'm still feeling dizzy; teleportation is not as convenient as it looks! Or is it because this was my first time?

Well, it doesn't matter—

"Vuuahhhhh"

Just when I stood up, some rich juices came out from my stomach through my mouth and, not just once but three times that is.

"Cough! Cough!"

'I am never ever going to try teleportation again!' I thought to myself and created a mental note as I cleaned my clothes.

Come to think of it, I was just fine when I was teleported there right? Could it be that there was some kind of protection magic or is it because it was another dimension?

Anyway, this is not the time to think about this; I have bigger things to do!

Stop the war without using much violence! He said it like this is nothing, easier said than done Aki!

Hanako's plan was to trigger the crown prince by killing his father so he can attack the demon kingdom in anger. In order to stop that I have to explain the situation to the prince and tell him not to attack the demons, but.

Will it really go that smoothly? I mean, how will I explain that I know about her real plan and what exactly happened three hundred years ago? A true god told me! Hell, like anyone's gonna believe that crap.

I have to come up with a false story to explain the situation, a story that sounds normal. It will be better if the prince is not a muscle-head, and on top of everything I have to do it before the prince decides to attack the demon kingdom, I don't even know when he is going to do that!

First I have to gather some more information, I am living in this city for a few weeks now, it's the capital of this country, and I don't even know who the prince is and what he looks like. Wait, I didn't even know the king's face! Man I was only focused on magic and…

Yeah, I was with them. I didn't feel like I was in unknown territory. Come to think of it now my emotions are much more stable than before, guess that skill Aki gave me is working fine, though I feel guilty for suppressing my emotions, but I think this is for the best.

For now, I think I should go towards the center of the city if I want some valuable information, this city is divided by a river in two parts.

The outskirts of the city are where travelers, merchants, and newbie adventurers stay when they arrive in the city; you can say it's more like a place for tourists. There's a manmade circular river that divides the city's outer part from the inner part.

In the inner part of the city, people like nobles, elite adventurers, and those who have the citizenship of this city live. The central part is also divided into two parts, not physically but legally. The outskirts of the inner area are for people who are not that rich, basically middle-class people and slaves. (Yeah slaves are legal here).

The central part of the inner area is where important buildings like government offices and the magic academy are located and there only rich nobles and those who are connected to the royal family live. That part is where I am headed now.

Until now I was living in the outer area (tourist zone) because we needed to head out of the main city for quests, but now I have other priorities also.

If you are wondering how I know all this, then the answer is books, there is a library near the inn I used to visit and they have pretty useful books with lots of info in them. I like books more than anything, they never lie to you. If the information in a book is wrong then that doesn't mean the book is lying, it's just telling you the info it knows without hiding anything.

And there's nothing like the internet in this world so books are the only things I can depend on to get valuable and legitimate information.

Wait; there could be a new library in the inner area of the city! I read all the books in that library (not history books though) and now I don't have anything else left to read.

I think I should pick up the pace!

I increased my speed and started talking fast and large footsteps. After a heavy walk of two hours, I finally reached the river which divides the city.

Phew! I'm tired; even if my stamina doesn't run out, I still get tired mentally by walking this much.

In front of me is a bridge which connects both sides, it's about fifty meters long and has two tower-type gates on both of its sides.

I crossed the bridge and entered the inner part of the city. As I continued to walk further, I noticed a sudden change in the environment around me. The roads are cleaner and the people are dressed well, there is also a slight change in the pattern in which the houses are built.

Even the quality of items in shops is looking pretty impressive!

Being amazed by my surroundings I continued to walk towards the castle, and soon it was visible clearly. It was huge! I mean really huge! This was the first time I was seeing something this big, and it was looking pretty expensive also.

And then I heard some rumbling voices coming from my stomach!

Grabbing my stomach tightly I screamed in my mind.

Ahhhhh! I don't have time for this now! I need to talk with the prince as soon as possible!

But it's also true that I haven't eaten anything for five hours I think, and don't forget the rich liquid I threw up when I teleported back here.

When I was fighting a war with my stomach inside my mind, my nose suddenly picked up a pungent and rich smell.

'What is this mouth-watering smell?' I thought to myself.

Tracking the smell I turned around and started looking for its source; after moving my eyes here and there and moving around a bit I finally found it!

The source of this rich mouth-watering smell!

It was coming from a three-floored building; it was made from light brown coloured wood and had detailing and windows on the walls. From the looks, it was looking like an inn.

It was an inn but far more clean and managed compared to the inn I used to live in.

'Meeting with the prince can wait a bit, it's not like he is going to attack just tomorrow right!'

After convincing myself, I hurriedly ran towards that inn.

A bell rang when I opened the door; it was attached to the door through a thread. Maybe it is a welcome bell or something like that.

Just like my old inn, the first floor has tables and chairs for serving food and a reception counter. The first floor works more like a restaurant and less like a hotel, the rooms are located on the other floors so if anyone just wants to eat then they can just come here eat and leave. I have to admit, this system is quite convenient.

There were around eight round-shaped tables and each table was surrounded by six chairs. I walked in and sat on one of those chairs; a few minutes later, a woman came to take my order.

"One meat stew and bread please," I said

"I'm sorry sir, but we don't server that here." She replied, and there was a clear look of pity in her eyes.

Oh shit, how did I forget! This inn is located in the inner area; it's obvious that they will only serve expensive and high-quality food!

Now she will definitely see me as an uneducated, poor, dumb adventurer!

Wait, from when did I start caring about what other people think about me?

"Which is the best item you serve here?" I asked while fully ignoring the pity she was showing towards me.

"Uh…." She was surprised, she never expected me to react like this. Yes, Nailed it!

"Mam?" I proved her.

"Huh? Yes, Roasted chicken and omlet rice are the best dishes we have."

"Please bring one plate each."

"Okay" She note down my order on a writing pad which she was holding in her hand and then went inside a room (kitchen probably).

Phew!

After this matter was solved my attention shifted to my surroundings, there were not many but few adventurers who were also here to eat. All of them had high-quality weapons and armor.

My my, I can easily tell that many of them are just sons of a rich man and have zero skills when it comes down to real combat. I mean from when an archer started wearing a full-metal armor.

Well now it's time to for brainstorming I guess.

The security in the city is a little tighter than usual but I didn't see any uproar of people panicking here and there. This means the government hasn't announced that the king is dead, well I think is the best option to avoid curfew and throne takeovers from the opposition and to maintain the city's atmosphere.

Now what story I should tell the prince, how did I get the info on Hanako's real intentions; a story which is easy to believe and reasonable.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I started rubbing my head as I continued to think.

Got it!

This story is perfect! It's not entirely a lie so I can also give them evidence If they want.

I was on the ninth cloud, now everything was solved. I just need to tell the prince about this and tell him not to attack the demon kingdom. I won't go that smoothly but I'll manage.

But suddenly all of my ambitions broke when a second problem dropped upon me like a bomb.

How the hell am I supposed to meet the prince!

He will be in the castle and I don't think that it will be possible to enter the castle at this time.

Should I sneak in? I can easily do that, no will notice!

No, if by any chance I got caught then they won't trust me even a bit.

I have to figure this out quickly at any cost!

My eyes were closed when I was thinking and suddenly a pleasant smell entered my nose.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that women were putting my order on the table from before. Roasted chicken and Omlet rice! It's looking so damn delicious!

She put the dishes on the table and went away. My attention quickly shifted from my plan to the food which was served in front of me.

I cut a piece of chicken and put it in my mouth.

It's so juicy!

I repeated the same thing three to five times and then turned towards the omelet rice.

I used the knife and cut the omelet in half. The yolk which was half-cooked came out and covered the rice which was under it. I took a spoon full of rice and put it inside my mouth.

'Mmm, so delicious! The sudden burst of flavor inside my mouth is amazing!'

I repeated the process again, spoon after spoon and before I realized it, both the dishes were finished.

I then grabbed the attention of that woman by waving toward her and said.

"Excuse me, I want seconds please; and a cup of coffee also"

One after another I eat three servings of Omelet rice and two servings of roasted chicken along with a large cup of coffee.

"Man, that was delicious! The food here is way better than the outer area."

"I'm so full!" I said as I put my hand on my stomach.

When I was about to stand up from the chair, a girl who was accompanied by several royal guards entered the inn. She was wearing a silver-coloured armor and had a sword on her waist.

Huh, it looks like I have seen that armor before somewhere? Where was it?

Ah yes, I remembered!

When I was checking out from my old inn she entered that inn also. Wait is she following me!

I stood up from my chair and called for her.

"Umm, Excuse me, miss!"

She turned towards me and I saw her face and that face…..

Was very familiar!

"Mary!" Those words came out of my mouth as soon as I saw her face.

It was Mary, a friend of Zen and Jessica whom I saved back in the forest.