[Congratulations! You have completed the mission:
You have received 3000 system coins.]
After looking at the system screen, Jung sighed, then bent down to collect the shards of the broken dagger.
While he was gathering the shards, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Tracy walking towards him, accompanied by the old woman whose dagger was stolen, along with two soldiers wearing red armor. One was elderly, while the other was just a young man.
When they reached Jung's location, they all had expressions of shock on their faces as they looked at the thief lying on the ground before shifting their gaze to him.
Tracy approached Jung and asked him anxiously, "Are you okay...?"
Jung replied with a small smile, "Yes..."
The two soldiers shot sharp glances at Jung, and then the young soldier spoke in a cold voice, pointing to the thief on the ground: "This must be the wanted man. Why is he in this state... Is it possible that you did this?"
Jung understood why the soldiers were cautious of him. Earlier, at the capital gate, a guard had given him a bone to carry. When he held the bone, he felt a suction force emanating from it, but it didn't affect him or pull anything from him. He concluded that the suction was meant to absorb magic, most likely to ensure that neither Jung nor anyone else in line was a wizard.
Because if he were a wizard and stood in line instead of heading towards the side gates, it would mean one thing... he wasn't a wizard from the capital and could even be a spy from another kingdom.
Therefore, Jung decided to hide the truth and not tell the soldiers that he had defeated the thief, to avoid suspicion that he might be a wizard. After all, an ordinary man couldn't defeat a thief carrying a magical item.
Jung: "No, I found him in this condition, so I think perhaps a wizard from the capital saw him and dealt with him."
"Hmm... perhaps you're right."
The older soldier nodded at Jung, then asked again, "And where is the magical dagger?"
Jung showed his hands, holding the shards of the dagger, and said, "I found it broken next to the thief..."
Jung thought determinedly: 'I'm really sorry for breaking your dagger, grandma, but I promise, I'll give you something more valuable in the future...'
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He glanced at the old woman, who wore a sad expression as she looked at the dagger. After all, it was a magical item.
The older guard: "If that's the case, there's nothing we can do. Just come with us to give your statement."
Tracy said apologetically to the older guard: "I'm sorry, guard, but we're already here to attend the awakening ceremony, so if Jung goes with you, he'll be late."
The guard sighed, then replied, "Alright, alright... you can go."
However, the young guard objected: "But, sir, he might be the one who defeated him, so he could be a wizard from outside the kingdom..."
The older guard said quietly: "And even if that's true, he said he's going to the awakening ceremony, so if he's a wizard, he'll be revealed there..."
"But what if he's lying..."
The older guard raised his voice: "That's enough..."
Then he looked at Jung and Tracy, saying: "You may go..."
Jung and Tracy nodded and prepared to leave. And when Jung passed by the young guard, he noticed that the guard was still glaring at him with a cold look filled with suspicion!
---
About an hour later, Jung and Tracy were standing in front of a long black wall. It was magnificent, although it couldn't compare to the outer wall surrounding the capital.
In front of the gate stood two guards wearing white clothes, emanating an imposing aura. It was clear that they were wizards.
Tracy stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said: "We are here to attend the awakening ceremony...."
One of the guards nodded, then extended his hand. For a moment, a bright light emanated from his hand, and when it faded, he was holding a large book covered in black!
Jung stared at the guard in amazement and admiration, and at that moment, he heard Tracy whisper quietly: "Storage magic..."
The guard said: "Tell me your names, ages, and place of residence."
Tracy was the first to answer: "My name is Tracy Villald, I am eighteen years old, and I live in the Villald house in the forest."
Jung thought: 'Oh, so this is her full name and age... it seems I am a year older than her.'
The guard nodded at Tracy, then began writing in the book. When he finished, he looked at Jung.
Jung, pointing to Tracy, said: "My name is Jung Hyun, I am nineteen years old, and as for my place of residence, I live with her."
Upon hearing Jung's response, the guard gave him a strange look, and Tracy's cheeks turned red.
The guard sighed, and there was a hint of disdain in his eyes as he looked at both Tracy and Jung before shaking his head and starting to write again.
'What's his problem?...'
When the guard finished writing, the book surrounded by bright light. And when the light disappeared, the book did as well. He had used storage magic to store the book in a separate dimension.
After that, the other guard stepped forward and opened the gate for Jung and Tracy.
As Jung passed through the gate, he was stunned. Before him was a vast and incredibly beautiful garden. In this garden stood many young people, some talking in groups, while others stood alone, isolated.
When the gate opened, these young people raised their heads and looked at Jung and Tracy for a moment before returning to what they were doing.