(Heartfelt thanks to 'Moonlit West Wind 2' for the 10,000 reward, and to 'Pokémon', 'Ever', 'You Bi Ji Yue', 'Yakumo Maki', and 'Zhun Dong Man Zhai Yi Zhi' for their rewards!)
—E-Rantel.
This was an important city located on the border between the Baharas Empire and the Slane Theocracy, yet belonging to the Re-Estize Kingdom and connected to all three nations.
The city's outskirts were protected inside and out by a full three layers of walls.
The towns within each wall had their own distinct characteristics.
The outermost wall enclosed an area that served as the Kingdom's military garrison, complete with extensive military facilities.
The innermost area was the city's central administrative district, containing warehouses for stored military provisions and guarded by heavily armed troops.
The middle area between the two was where the citizens lived.
There were several fairly spacious plazas in that district.
The largest among them was called Central Plaza.
Many people set up stalls here, selling all kinds of merchandise.
Beside the bustling crowds flowing back and forth, stall owners called out to pedestrians on the street.
The noisy sounds of haggling could be heard everywhere.
Cheerful laughter and conversations could be heard everywhere.
Anyone who came here would surely be able to feel the genuine atmosphere of everyday life, a feeling that was remarkably peaceful.
However, if one looked closely, one would notice something.
In this plaza brimming with the feeling of ordinary life, people occasionally emerged from the buildings on either side wearing longswords, leather armor, or even heavy full-body armor from head to toe.
The nearby residents merely gave these people, who stood out so sharply from the surroundings, a glance or two before ignoring them.
Clearly, people so out of place with their surroundings were not an unusual sight here.
The residents