Ch.357Garden of Paradise. Hyuren Plains (1)

“Ah… What a truly magnificent view.”

The citizens of Huren Plains should be grateful for the Sun’s words.

After all, these were the words of one who had traversed eight continents and experienced all their famous attractions.

A gently flowing brook. A small path winding between moderately sloped hills. Carriages racing along it, the sound of hooves echoing.

A low plain covered with thick stone walls and brick houses.

Hills blanketed with flowers and grass, mountains and fields dense with deciduous and coniferous trees. Clouds drifting leisurely and gentle breezes rustling the grass.

It was truly a beautiful place, one that could be imagined as an ideal fairy tale kingdom.

“While other places seem to hammer their scenery into your brain, this place is remarkably serene. But that’s why I like it more. Nothing particularly stands out, yet nothing feels lacking either.”

“I’m glad it’s to your liking. Actually, opinions about Huren Plains are quite divided. There’s a sharp contrast between those who find it visually unimpressive and those who appreciate its pastoral atmosphere.”

“Hmm… I suppose that makes sense.”

If other beautiful attractions were like delicious side dishes, Huren Plains was more like bland rice or bread—a “staple food.”

It was a place that satisfied humanity’s instinctive desire for “somewhere safe to live.”

In contrast, other places boasted either surreal landscapes like Long Legs, unique scenery like Maximus Canyon, or special narratives like Bloody Mary, rather than just terrain or climate. So it was inevitable that pilgrims who had visited famous sites on other continents would find this place somewhat bland.

“But I find it beautiful, and that’s enough for me. Simon, what do you think?”

“It doesn’t look bad to me either. The impression may be subtle, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing for a place to feel less like a tourist attraction.”

Viktor nodded at Simon’s words.

Most famous sites were tourist attractions. After all, people naturally flock to the four most outstanding places on this vast continent out of curiosity.

However, Huren Plains didn’t seem to attract many tourists. While there were processions of carriages and cars, the map showed no particular design or facilities catering to tourists.

It had the feel of a self-sufficient small city. Viktor, despite being a cold city man who spent his childhood in Parcival with a population exceeding 8 million, quite liked this pastoral atmosphere.

The people of Huren might take offense if they heard him calling their hometown small, but honestly, a population of about 1 million does qualify as a small city.

“Landing might be… too much. It would probably be inconsiderate to get too close. Let’s dock the flagship at a distance and use the shuttle.”

“Understood, my lord.”

Unfortunately, the small size of the city meant it couldn’t accommodate the large and beautiful Sky Warden.

While the shuttle would be sufficient for transportation, Viktor clicked his tongue in slight disappointment, having secretly wanted to see his flagship overshadowing the city.

*

Clank!

As the support struts detached, the shuttle carrying the Iron Walker party gradually descended.

The gentle breeze coming through the windows was remarkably refreshing. Perhaps without being a god, one couldn’t perceive such subtle sensations.

Despite it being only February, still winter, the evergreen leaves were free of snow, and the mountains and fields maintained their greenery.

Whether it was due to a favorable climate or nearby mountains blocking the cold was unknown.

“It reminds me of the old days.”

Suddenly, Viktor recalled events from the past.

The time several years ago when he had nearly been killed by three cheese-addicted bandits.

“Old days?”

“Before I met you or Raisha. It was also around the end of winter. The feeling of leaving Parcival for another city for the first time… I never thought I’d experience this sensation again.”

Viktor knew this feeling well.

It felt like just yesterday that he was feeding a two-year-old baby and riding on Spotty, repelling mercenary troops. Back then, Viktor was much smaller and cuter, and now he had become the God of the Sun—truly life’s fortunes can change unexpectedly.

“My lord, we’re about to arrive. Where would you like to land?”

“Is there no landing spot?”

“The square isn’t large enough for landing…”

“Then let’s land at the city entrance.”

“Understood.”

Though the shuttle might seem small as a carrier vessel of the Sky Warden, it was a substantial transport capable of carrying multiple tanks weighing over 70 tons and armored vehicles exceeding 40 tons. It wasn’t surprising that there was no suitable landing spot within the city.

As the transport neared the ground, carriages at the city entrance moved aside without prompting to create landing space. Soon the shuttle doors opened, and the Iron Walker party disembarked.

“It’s the Sun!”

“Goodness! I feel like I’m going blind!”

Acknowledging what had become almost routine adoration from ordinary people, Iron Walker entered Huren.

*

“O Sun, we sincerely thank you for visiting our humble city.”

The young—or to be honest, quite youthful-looking—representative of the welcoming committee greeted Viktor with a 90-degree bow.

True to the word “humble,” the welcoming committee was quite small, numbering less than 30 people even including the honor guard.

“Raise your head. Are you the representative of Huren?”

“No, Your Majesty. I am merely the son of the mayor of Huren.”

“The mayor’s son? Does this place operate through hereditary succession?”

“No, the mayor is elected by vote, but someone as astute as yourself would understand how politics generally works.”

“Hmm. Indeed.”

Simply put, it could become hereditary or not.

While citizens technically had voting rights, making it a democracy, the reality was that political participation was often limited to certain backgrounds or families—an ambiguous form of democracy that was surprisingly common.

“Since I have come here, you must have something to tell me. Speak.”

“Huren is both a retreat for the weary and home to 100,000 citizens. Its beauty may not compare to attractions on other continents, but my father taught me that beauty can be found not only in addition but also in subtraction. You have surely seen many places across numerous continents, but I dare say you have not seen anywhere quite like Huren. Am I correct?”

“You are, son of the mayor. Your father has raised you well. In my pilgrimage across Terius, the eighth continent, I have indeed never seen a place like this.”

The Sun responded with admiration to the son’s words.

Indeed, like father, like son. His intelligence, proving that youth does not equate to foolishness, was certainly worthy of the Sun’s attention.

“I thought as much. While other places seduce people with dazzling beauty, Huren offers rest through serene silence. Surely you’ve done it at least once? Imagined lying in a field, doing nothing, watching clouds drift by…”

“Haha. It would be a lie to say I haven’t.”

Nature isn’t inherently friendly or kind to humans. There are reasons why humans build cities and push nature away.

Predators and dangerous poisonous plants are all part of nature, yet strangely, modern city dwellers tend to romanticize living in harmony with nature.

Despite nature having no intention of befriending humans.

“There aren’t many people here. It doesn’t seem like many tourists visit.”

“Well… as I mentioned earlier, its charm lies in its blandness. In other words, it’s boring. Since most people aren’t going to live here permanently and will stay for at most a week, there’s not much tourism demand except from pilgrims.”

“I see.”

Not all adventurers undertake pilgrimages. Even a single continent is vast beyond measure, and completing a pilgrimage requires crossing dangerous seas and traversing continents at least twelve times—an arduous task.

While those who complete the pilgrimage are granted the right to establish a nation, having the right doesn’t necessarily mean having the ability to claim it.

“We seem to have talked too long on the road. Guide us to our lodgings.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. It is an honor to escort you.”

The son smiled brightly and led the Iron Walker party to the finest accommodations in Huren.