While the six rulers of the human race sat in terror at the thought that a new divine being had already been born, Evan had finally arrived at the gates of the Royal Capital after a long and grueling journey.
"What is the purpose of your visit?"
The guard at the entrance looked to be in his thirties, but through Shadow’s ability Evan could sense the man’s true strength beneath the surface.
D-rank (Mid-stage)
’Even the gate guards here are at this level.’
He couldn’t help but be surprised by that. The Royal Capital truly operated on an entirely different standard.
He stated that he had co from BranLeaf, which made the rest of the check-in process considerably faster. It wasn’t unusual these days to see people from BranLeaf or the surrounding villages making their way here, most of them seeking refuge.
The kingdom had decided to find accommodations for the displaced, but it wasn’t doing so out of generosity, and it certainly wasn’t letting anyone walk through the gates without going through the proper channels first.
The nearby cities had been tasked with absorbing the survivors while the kingdom deliberated over what to do with BranLeaf’s territory.
Evan moved through registration quickly. Having an adventurer’s license from the Awakeners’ Association helped, it streamlined the process considerably. That said, while he received a small discount on the entry tax, he still ended up handing over ten silver coins.
By most standards he was considered wealthy, even by the capital’s asure. But watching those ten silvers leave his hand, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling robbed.
’Doesn’t matter what world you’re in. Taxes will find you wherever you go.’
It was his first ti setting foot here, and while he’d heard plenty about the Royal Capital over the years, seeing it in person was sothing else entirely.
"Not bad," he murmured, taking in the sprawling city that stretched out before him now that he was inside. "Lives up to the reputation."
Wide stone roads stretched in every direction, crowded with people coming and going without pause. rchants shouted from both sides of the streets, displaying goods from every corner of the kingdom, while carriages moved steadily through the flow of traffic.
Towering buildings rose one after another, their heights increasing the closer they were to the center of the city. In the distance, above everything else, stood the Royal Palace.
Even from here it dominated the skyline, its presence impossible to ignore.
The entire city felt alive, carrying an energy that none of the towns or settlents he had visited so far could co close to matching.
His first stop after arriving was the Awakeners’ Association, or more precisely, to update his records there. Failing to do so was a risk he wasn’t willing to take. If he were stopped and his ID still reflected outdated information, he could find himself in serious trouble.
People had used old ID cards in the past to exploit kingdom relief programs and similar benefits, but doing so had beco considerably harder with the tightened security asures now in place.
Because of that, he was required to be assessed again so his progress could be recorded and his ID updated accordingly.
That said, he’d decided to take his ti getting there, enjoy the city, take in what it had to offer. The capital had no shortage of things worth stopping for.
After roughly an hour of wandering, he finally arrived at the Awakeners’ Association headquarters. The building stood tall and imposing before him, spanning several floors. He found himself comparing it instinctively to the branch back in BranLeaf, and quickly concluded that the two weren’t worth comparing at all. This one was larger by a significant margin, and far more impressive in scale.
Inside, however, the feeling was familiar. Adventurers moved about in every direction, filling the space with the sa restless energy he rembered.
He located the right counter without much difficulty and joined the queue.
At the reception desk stood a girl with a cute appearance, slightly shorter than Evan, black hair tied in a ponytail, and a delicate face. At first glance she looked younger than him, though she was clearly older.
Due to his bloodline assimilation and synchronization with his two clones, Evan’s growth had exceeded the norm, to the point that although he was fifteen in this world, he had the appearance of an eighteen-year-old.
The receptionist worked through the line with practiced efficiency, processing each person at a steady, impressive pace.
Then it was Evan’s turn.
"Welco, how may I help yo—" the receptionist began her usual greeting with practiced precision and professionalism, but the mont her eyes landed on Evan, she froze, staring at his face with a shocked expression.
"It’s you!"
Evan, who had been reaching for his adventurer’s license, paused. There was sothing familiar about her.
’Wait, isn’t she...’
Just as his mind was piecing together where he recognized her from, she seed to catch herself and adjusted her tone.
"Mad Adve- ahem... I an, adventurer Evan. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I’m glad to see you made it out as well."
She had nearly let slip the nickna Evan had earned back in BranLeaf, the one that apparently hadn’t faded.
And how could it have. The impression he’d left on her was not a small one.
That adventurer had left a strong impression on her, and after all, how could he not? The commissions from his missions alone had made her earn several tis more than she had in her entire career. So much so that not only had she beco wealthy, but even higher-ups had noticed her performance and offered her a position at the main branch.
At first she had been unsure whether to accept this career shift, but the Branleaf incident made the decision for her, bringing her here.
She had only joined a few days ago. The work itself was going well enough, and the pay was decent, but the total she was bringing in now was nowhere near what she’d been making back then.
So seeing her lucky star appear in front of her again after all this ti filled her with joy, and she couldn’t help but look at him like soone who had no intention of letting him leave easily now that he was here.
Evan noticed the shift in her deanor instantly. The mont he caught that particular look she was giving him, he felt a brief chill run down his spine.
’Heavens, I’ve been targeted by a legal loli.’
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