I step on to the pale red bricks that make up the city streets and the noise of the city hits me right in the face; The buzzing of the crowd almost knocking me over. I have never been anywhere this loud before.
I never was allowed out of the house before my parents killed me, so seeing the crowded streets full of shops and magical infrastructure is a new experience for me.
I can’t help but look around with excitement at the colorful buildings selling all kinds of items, from magical cookware to enchanted clothing, to even magic powered cars!
Everything is so new and amazing. I can even see a functioning public transportation system that would put anything on earth to shame. Not that such a feat is difficult.
Shining trams running along grooves in the road as people dart across the streets. Plenty of greenery integrated into the bright and beautiful city. It smells so clean and fresh. Far better than the constant smell of sweat and blood you get in The Sea of Trees.
The most interesting thing is that everything here runs on mechanical parts and mana. I never would have questioned it if I didn’t know about electricity from my life on earth. Surely with mana and advanced technology, incredible things would be possible. However I had learned from Alice a while back about the Grand Curse that covers the entire mortal realm. A nasty thing indeed.
The curse puts massive limits on any advanced forms of technology and is why I can’t create certain kinds of light with magic. It seems that the curse was put in place by the people of the world to stop The System’s creator from doing something. Not even Alice knows what, but whatever it was, it was enough that the entire mortal realm was willing to sacrifice their advanced civilization to stop.
It must have been a chaotic time considering no records of it seem to exist in the modern day. These people on the street don’t even know that this curse exists. It is odd. Usually some records of something that old would remain, especially with how long people can live thanks to magic.
I shiver at the thought of the mental manipulation that Alice says the system often does.
The more I learn about The System and its creator, the more glad I am that I am not connected to the thing.
“Hey, what are you daydreaming about? You said not to call you a kid but you are certainly looking like one right now with all your excitement.”
Helimos decides to take the opportunity to tease me. We had all been getting along better after spending several weeks in each other's company. I couldn’t keep myself closed off forever, not if I wanted to take advantage of these people.
“I was just never allowed outside as a kid. I spent every second of every day training or studying. So seeing all this is a new experience for me.”
My very truthful response immediately kills his teasing mood as I continue to look around.
We don’t end up walking very far as our destination it turns out is fairly close to the gate.
The Adventurers Guild.
The building is stupidly massive. I can see throngs of armor clad adventurers moving in and out of the towering double doors that are permanently open. The doors are the same light grey and brown color as the trees I have grown too used to seeing over the past year. Spirit wood, and Class 4 spirit wood at that. I can’t even imagine how expensive that door alone must be, but the rest of the building is just as impressive.
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The walls stretch up over 5 stories and extend backwards taking up several city blocks. A glass dome can be seen peeking out from the top over the battle arena in the center of the impressively huge structure.
Wood, marble, and Glass make up the majority of the building. Normally one would pick less fragile materials for an organization that would see so much abuse from adventurers, but this speaks to the power of magical materials. That glass could likely brush off a nuke from earth if I am being honest.
No one bothers to look at us as we walk in, but a few curious glances turn my way at seeing a kid walking around with some well known gold rank adventurers, nothing more though.
I still felt rather nervous that someone might notice Alice so I had her climb into my bag for the time being. I really do feel sorry for her, because sadly for her she is not the tiny kind of fairy, she is over a foot tall and it can’t be comfortable in a bag made of nothing but wood.
Even if she is made of wood herself.
Eventually we made it to one of the open counters after waiting in line for a bit. We are greeted by a cute girl with cat-like ears. A common result of body modifications after Class 2 due to a bestial type of magic. She is wearing a slightly puffy green and white military style uniform. The whole ensemble would be adorable if not for her slightly dead eyes for being stuck in the morning shift.
“Good morning, and how may I help you today?”
Helimos, not reading her mood at all, responds with far too much energy.
“Hey! We just completed our investigation of the second ring and need to talk to the vice-guildmaster. Things got a bit complicated so we would like to do this as soon as possible, ha ha ha!”
I am not sure what he finds funny but I can see the clerk wince at his volume.
She directs us to a waiting area and goes to call the vice-guildmaster.
After waiting for about half an hour we are finally let in to see the vice-guildmaster in her office.
As we enter the room the first thing I notice is the tail of blue flame whisking around behind her. Dozens of runes float around inside the flames for all the world to see. Her magic having materialized into the world around her. She is Class 4.
I swallow hard as I can sense the waves of power rippling off her. I really hope this goes well.
The 6ft tall woman points our group to a sofa and then sits down across from us, her long red ponytail swaying as she takes her seat.
After everyone is situated the three adventurers get to work explaining the whole situation.
“So, the reason the Class 2 leaders in the forest were dying rapidly is because this little Class 2 by your side went on a hunting spree?”
Rose shifts awkwardly in the chair at seeing the woman instantly treat me like an adult and not a child. I can see a blush creep onto her cheeks as she no doubt feels more ashamed of her actions when we first met.
“It is certainly relieving that the situation could be resolved without any of this Demon Lord crap getting worse.” I have to hold back from flinching at that. “However, attempted murder like this is a serious issue. Lua, was it? Can you give me more information on how you came to find yourself in that forest?”
This is the question I was dreading, I don’t want to share too much in case my parents come after me again-
Before I can even think things over, the woman adopts a more concerned look on her face compared to her completely serious one from before. My thoughts must have shown on my face again…
“I can see you are hesitant to speak of it out of fear of retaliation, but I promise you we can protect you. We are the adventurers guild and no one no matter who they are can push us around.”
“But isn't that more the job of government authorities, why would the guild be interested in protecting me?”
She gives me a wry smile for my cautious and slightly pessimistic perspective.
“That is because you have reached Class 2 before turning 15 years of age. The guild would never let such a talent be chained down by something as ridiculous as fear of her parents. We will do our best to resolve the situation for you and see that your parents are brought to justice, provided you join the guild of course.”
I am not sure how I feel about the sales pitch here. I was planning on joining anyway but being offered so much for free would make anyone suddenly hesitate.
I also get the feeling that this woman is aware of the fairy I have in my backpack, and it is further influencing her image of me. This whole thing feels like I am walking a tightrope considering I am the Demon Lord they would not hesitate to kill if they knew it was me.
Shaking off my overly complicated situation on that front I focus on my other more relevant complicated situation.
I really thought I would have to deal with my parents on my own, I never considered that I could have something as powerful as the guild get involved. It seems like a perfect deal where I get everything and don’t have to give them anything.
I can’t really say no at this point. So I accept the deal, nodding my head with a bit more of a relaxed attitude.
“Wonderful! Now please tell me more about who your parents are and what happened to you.”
“Ok, first of all my full name is Lua Knight and I am the daughter of Baron Thomas and Veronica Knight of the Alcott Kingdom.”
That gets the first shocked reaction out of the vice-guildmaster since we entered the room.
As well as the other three adventurers who are now all staring at me with their mouths hanging open.
“Well that certainly complicates things.”