I'm still a little further away towards the gate but I can already see the small figure of the guard that is guarding the gate.
The walls of the gate looks thick and it has a great amount of height.
I walked towards the gate and I was immediately noticed by the guard.
The guard that noticed me had the look of surprise on his face, after a few seconds of just staring at me, he immediately ran towards me with great speed.
Seeing the scary look of the guard, I felt nervous.
The guard finally stopped in front of me.
He's wearing a heavy-looking metal armor while holding a large metal spear on his hands.
He finally relaxed his body, he then looks at me straight in the eyes.
[ You... where did you come from? ] He asked with a heavy and scary voice.
[ ... ] I wasn't able to think of an immediate reply.
The pressure of the guard's voice prevented me to immediately think of an excuse.
[ answer me! ]
[ I... I'm fro-from a village ne-near here... ] I answered, stuttering.
I didn't want to lie but there's no chance for me to say the truth that I came from another world.
[ a villager...? ] the guard muttered.
[ do not lie to me - ]
Feeling totally nervous, I wasn't able to think of any excuse to make anymore.
I should've prepared a convincing story before trying to go inside this gate...
Darn it!
[ yo newbie! ]
before the guard can finish his sentence, a large and heavy voice came out of nowhere.
The guard that was facing me immediately turned around. I moved a little to the side too to look at who just came.
[ He-he's huge! ]
Two large brawny men came fame from inside the gate towards us.
One particular man is huge enough that after seeing his figure, I can't think of anything of the two other guards anymore other than kids.
[ Bo-boss! ] The guard exclaimed in surprise.
Boss...? I guess the largest one of them is the boss, huh?
The Boss immediately noticed me. He then looked at me in my eyes as he walked towards me.
The boss is only wearing normal medieval clothes without any piece of armor or weapons with him.
The boss guy looks more intimidating than the other two guards but unlike them, I can't feel any pressure from him.
[ You're not from here, are you? ] The Boss asked as he leaned towards me.
[ ...yes... ]
[ hmm... black hair... black eyes... ] muttered the boss quietly.
[ umm... what was that...? ]
I'm pretty sure he muttered something about my appearance...
[ uhh... nothing, nothing, anyways, you need to pay a toll of 5 copper coins to enter the gate. There will be no problem if you can pay that amount. ]
What...!? I need to pay a toll before I can even enter!?
I don't even have a single thing with me right now except for my villager clothes...!
[ ...is there any way I can enter without paying the toll? ]
[ hey! leave already if you don't have the money! you're just wasting the boss's time! ] one of the two guards shouted at me.
[ hey...! leave this to the boss. The boss knows what he's doing...! ] the other guard muttered angrily.
[ yea-yea... ]
[ anyways, there is a way you can enter here without paying the toll. ]
[ really!? ]
[ that is... if you can beat me at arm wrestle! ]
The Boss proudly said as he crosses both his arms to his chest to emphasize his muscles.
[ wha-what! the boss is going to arm wrestle with a kid!? ]
[ yes! that is to show that kid the lesson that he can never enter to this gate without beating the boss! ]
[ ...but he can always pay the toll to enter, right...? ]
Comment the two guards who's watching behind the boss.
[ My name is... ]
The Boss pause to pose to emphasize his large body again.
[ Jacked Jack! ] he posed again, then he shouted from the top of his lungs.
Just from posing this much, I can see his muscles bulging from his clothes.
It feels like this guy can crush me with just one hand...
[ You think you can beat me, kid? ] asked Jacked Jack... san.
I don't know if I can beat this monster... but I have some kind of power with me now, I'm pretty sure I might stand a chance.
[ I don't know, but let's give it a try. ]
[ table! ]
[ yes! ]
The guards immediately got us a table, then they place it between the two of us.
[ chairs! ]
[ yes! ]
The guards immediately place two chairs for us to sit on.
Jacked Jack instantly sat on the chair then he readied his arm on the table.
I did the same thing too, I placed my arm on the table and I hold onto his large hand.
[ then, let's go! ]
***
In a pink room filled with stuff toys, Clair was laying on top of her bed while hugging a large pillow.
[ haah... my job is finally finished... ]
Really... the job that Elein gave me is totally absurd.
I even needed to use the first hero's magical orb to revive that kid here... all of that just to teach that kid of hers a lesson...
[ Well, I guess it doesn't matter! A house filled with sweets is better than an orb with nothing of use! ]
I'm too tired to use my own powers anyways.
I just hope it doesn't have any side effects!
haah... I want to get my sweets delivered immediately...
***
[ uwaah... I never thought you'll be able to beat me... ]
[ ye-yea... me too... I guess I was just lucky... ]
This jacked jack guy was crazy strong! we almost broke the table we were fighting on.
If I was still a normal person, my arm could've been crushed immediately by his force!
[ I can't believe it... the kid beat the boss... ]
[ who is that kid...? ]
muttered the two audiences.
[ well, I guess I have to keep my promise, also, here. ]
Jacked Jack-san took out a piece of coin from his pocket, he then threw it towards me.
[ consider that as my thanks for the great experience. Really... I haven't lost to someone for a long time now. You have my thanks. ]
[ re-really? then, thank you for the great experience too... ]
As we finished our exchange, the coin landed on my hand.
The coin that he gave to me was a large gold coin.
[ ...is that...? ]
[ ...that is... ]
[ [ A large gold coin! ] ] Shouted the two guards at the same time.
Their head is now pale and the expression on the faces is both shocked and surprised.
From their looks, I can immediately guess that this coin has some great value.
[ That's a large gold coin, it's equivalent to five gold coins, I'm sure you can live for about a month or two with that amount on your hand. ]
[ wha-what!? are you really okay with giving something like this!? ]
[ of course, I may not look like it, but I'm a noble of this country, I have hundreds of that coin. ]
[ re-really!? ]
Well, it's true that he doesn't look like a noble... but I'm still surprised he gave me something like this...
[ hmm... what is your name kid? ]
[ uh, that's right, my name is Haruto Yuki. ]
[ Haruto Yuki, is it? then Haruto-kun, you're now free to go inside. ]
[ is that so? ]
[ well, go on inside now. Just know that I'm very famous in this city, so if you get into any trouble, just call me. ]
[ i-is that so? then I will... ]
After that, Jacked Jack-san guided me inside the large gate.
[ then! Welcome to Citrine City! ]
At the end of the gate, a beautiful city was revealed to me.