𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐
(2)
Just as Luo felt relieved after the practical session was over, he was called into the office again.
ㅤ
“Please wear this.”
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What was handed to him was a leather belt. It was slim and short, colored green on the surface, and had fine characters branded onto it.
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“F, Fourth.”
ㅤ
Knox explained.
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“Fourth-grade wizard ‘Rockwall’ Luo from the Bureau of MagicArche branch. That will serve as your ID.”
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The belt was actually a collar.
Wizards with dangerous powers are feared by normal citizens. Such individuals wandering the streets unknowingly is unbearable. Thus, they are distinguished in a way visible to everyone.
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“Wizards registered in the kingdom must always wear this, except when sleeping. There are penalties for breaking the rule, so be careful.”
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Next, Luo received a job description.
Although he didn’t fully understand, it seemed to be a job checking distant locations from high places. He was told to ask the direct employer for details tomorrow. A large red tent outside the north gate was the landmark. Luo was given a simple map, presumably drawn by the client.
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“Now. . . . . .”
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Luo thought the grueling time was finally over.
However, Knox placed a thick document on the counter.
Luo turned pale.
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“Next, we’ll decide on your residence. If you wish, you can live in a rental property commissioned by the office. This property is commonly called the ‘Wizard Tenement’. The advantage of living there is that you only need to submit a monthly living report to the landlord.”
“I━━”
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Speaking with unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar land was already overwhelming for Luo, and he couldn’t understand what Knox was saying. It felt like a foreign language.
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“I don’t want it!”
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Unable to stand it anymore, Luo ran away.
Knox didn’t chase after him. Perhaps all the necessary procedures were completed. Once outside the office, Luo heaved a sigh of relief.
However, he was lost.
Luo had arrived in the city of Arche this morning after a long journey from his home village. The moss collector guild’s cart had gone somewhere. In this vast city, Luo was alone.
But what a magnificent city it was.
Beautiful cobblestone streets bustled with elegant carriages. The towering buildings, built from stones and bricks, were mostly three or four stories high. The largest building in Luo’s village was the two-story moss collector guild.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell echoed. It was the noon bell. Startled, Luo instinctively covered his ears. Next to the office was a bell tower, and high above, someone could be seen striking the bell.
As he looked up in astonishment, a group of about ten women in glamorous outfits approached, laughing playfully.
Luo realized too late.
Collision was imminent.
He braced himself, but the group that engulfed Luo continued on without slowing down, chatting happily. They passed without even looking, and no one collided with him.
As he stood in amazement, a large carriage stopped nearby. Four horses were attached. Startled by the horses’ neighs, Luo stepped back.
Several men and women disembarked from the carriage.
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“Boy, are you getting on?”
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Luo, when asked by the coachman, hastily shook his head.
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“The carriage to the East Gate is departing now!”
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The bell attached to the carriage rang, and the carriage set off.
All Luo did was stand still.
This city is noisy. It’s filled with voices and various noises. The scenery keeps shifting, and it’s distracting.
His stomach grumbled.
He has dried meat in his backpack, but it’s rude to eat while walking outside. Luo had been taught that by his mother. For now, he decides to head towards the North Gate.
According to Saji, the city of Arche is one of the biggest even in the frontier. Due to its proximity to the “wilderness”, where numerous demon beasts reside, the city is surrounded by tall, thick walls.
As he moved a bit, the noise intensified.
Facing the street, many shops were lined up. There was a morning market in Luo’s village, but the scale was incomparable. The number of shops and people was extraordinary. Perhaps there’s a festival?
With that thought, Luo remembered another task.
While being careful not to bump into the crowd, he searched for a store that deals with spices. He wanted a big and thriving store. That’s what Saji had said.
He found one.
Dried fruits and root vegetables were displayed at the storefront. From the clay pots arranged tightly inside the store, a unique aroma wafted out.
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“Hey, kid. This isn’t a place for children.”
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The store owner, who sported a magnificent beard, noticed Luo’s collar, but seemed to reconsider, thinking there’s no way a child could be a wizard.
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“Playing wizard, huh? Kids these days.”
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Luo took out a wooden package from his backpack. He poured a little of its content onto the lid and presented it to the store owner.
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“Hmph, blue moss? I don’t care where you stole it from. We have legitimate suppliers. We don’t deal with suspicious goods. Now, off with you━━”
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The owner’s beard twitched slightly.
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“T, This scent. Could it be?”
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With trembling hands, he took the lid and sniffed it.
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“P, Purple moss? It can’t be. The legendary one that trades for the same value as gems!”
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Passersby started to take notice. Realizing the attention, the store owner quickly hushed and invited Luo behind the counter.
He leaned in close, his beard almost touching Luo’s face.
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“Kid, where did you get this?”
“The Grand Canyon.”
“You’re here to sell this? Right?”
“Yeah. My Aniki said to use it for living expenses.”
“Alright!”
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The store owner carefully weighed the purple moss. He then calculated the value using a wooden tool with many beads. His fingers moved at an incredible speed, shifting the beads up and down.
Finally, the store owner brought a leather bag from the back of the store. It was filled with gold and silver coins. The amount was much higher than the market price Saji had told him about. Seeing the surprised look on Luo’s face, the store owner, perhaps misunderstanding, said with a hint of irritation.
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“Just so you know, it’s the fair price.”
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Money is important, Saji had said. In the city, with money, you can buy almost anything. But for now, Luo didn’t have anything he wanted.
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“Thank you, Mr. Beard.”
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Rather than that, he’s more worried about tomorrow’s work.
As he walked away from the market and headed towards the north gate, the scenery gradually became desolate. The streets were narrow, intricately intertwined like a maze. All the building windows were shut, and there was no one around. A faint smell of alcohol lingered in the air.
The destination he arrived at had a magnificent facade.
It’s taller than any other building in this city. It seems to be made up of huge rocks stacked upon each other.
Let’s try climbing it.
There wasn’t anything to grip with his hands or feet, but the current Luo has the blessing of “Ishigami-sama” in addition to magical powers. The weight of the backpack wasn’t an issue. Luo effortlessly climbed the vertically stacked outer wall. The top of the wall was a pathway. It was wide enough for about five adults to walk side by side.
The wind is strong.
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“Whoa.”
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From there, he could see the entire city of Arche.
The central part seemed to have many large buildings. He could see administrative buildings and a tower with a bell. The streets were arranged in concentric circles, with lots of people walking and carriages running around. There were occasional open spaces, apparently with plants and trees.
Many people also lived outside the walls. There were only crude tents, and the roads were not well-maintained. He compared the view with the hand-drawn map he got from the office. Luo confirmed the large red tent near the north gate.
The city is noisy, but it’s peaceful up here.
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“Hmm.”
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Luo liked this stone wall.
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