Chapter 51: Here to Report In

At six thirty in the morning, as sunlight streamed into the room, Wang Yu, who had just opened his eyes, squinted uncomfortably.

He blinked a few times before getting out of bed. His nose caught a whiff of a familiar and pleasant aroma wafting in from outside the room.

He got up and spent three minutes washing up and dressing, then pushed open the door and stepped out.

The source of the delicious smell revealed itself: a young woman was preparing breakfast in the kitchen attached to the living room. The counter looked a little small for Wang Yu, but it was just the right size for her.

The girl was busy with a frying pan. She cracked an egg into the sizzling, oil-coated surface, filling the room with the mouthwatering aroma of fried eggs.

Wang Yu took a deep breath, reveling in the nostalgia. Back on Earth, his breakfasts usually consisted of porridge and fried dough sticks, but fried eggs and bread were quicker and often his go-to when he was in a hurry.

"Just a moment! It's almost ready," Avia said, noticing Wang Yu coming out of his room. She turned to him with a bright smile. Fresh and clean in the morning light, her face glowed with warmth. The sunlight streaming in through the windows lit up her delicate, fair features, making her look radiant.

"Got it. Thank you for the effort," Wang Yu replied, nodding as he sat at the dining table to wait.

The girl finished frying the egg and placed it on a plate, on which were two other items: crispy bacon, fat rendered to a tantalizing golden crisp, and two slices of toasted bread, perfectly golden on both sides.

She put the egg and bacon between the slices of bread to make a sandwich—a simple but flawless breakfast.

"Try it," Avia said, bringing the plate to Wang Yu and sitting across from him. She glanced expectantly at his face.

"It looks great. Have you eaten yet?" Wang Yu eyed the plate, his appetite piqued, but paused as he thought of something.

"Me? Oh, I forgot," she admitted sheepishly, blushing. "I was so focused on making something you'd like. You mentioned before that you missed Earth breakfast, so I wanted to recreate it for you."

"That won't do. Here, have some of mine." Wang Yu grabbed a knife and sliced off a third of the oversized sandwich, placing it on another plate and sliding it toward her. Then, he grabbed the remaining two-thirds and began to eat.

"Ah, thank you." The girl accepted the plate and began to eat her share.

"You're the one I should be thanking," Wang Yu replied, his voice slightly muffled by a mouthful of bread, egg, and bacon. "This is delicious. I feel so lucky."

Simple as it was, the combination of flavors—the egg's softness, the bacon's savory crispness, and the bread's slight crunch—was perfect. For Wang Yu, happiness could be as simple as a good breakfast like this.

"I'm glad you like it," the young woman said, smiling contently as she ate her portion with far more grace than Wang Yu.

After finishing up, Avia tidied up quickly and changed into a magician's robes, pale yellow and unadorned.

Her choice of simple, practical clothing was clearly influenced by Wang Yu. Though she liked dressing up, she rarely spent much time or effort on it.

"This morning, when I went to the tavern to purchase some ingredients, I contacted my mother's friend from Stevenson Magic Academy. His granddaughter will be waiting for me there," Avia said as she finished tidying up and walked out the door alongside Wang Yu.

The city was vast; walking more than two blocks typically required a carriage. Fortunately, Redmaple Street was in the central district, and Stevenson Magic Academy, renowned even by the capital's standards, was nearby.

The streets were already bustling despite the early hour. Vendors and adventurers who had been absent the night before now lined the streets, loudly hawking their wares or services. The lively atmosphere felt familiar and comforting to Wang Yu.

Occasionally, children ran past selling newspapers, shouting out the latest news. Wang Yu considered buying one, but Avia stopped him.

"The ones they sell aren't very reliable. The Stevenson Magic Academy has official papers from the royal press. They're much better," she explained.

Wang Yu nodded. It seemed that Avia knew the city far better than he did. She must have done her research beforehand—as was typical of her.

After crossing a noisy market district, the atmosphere suddenly changed as they stepped into an alley. On one side was a bustling bazaar; on the other, a quiet haven of learning.

This was Glimmerstone Street, which was separated from Redmaple street by a single alley. Though the market's hubbub remained faintly audible, it felt distant.

The area exuded a studious, artistic vibe.Bookstores abounded, selling everything from fantastical tales to tomes on the arcane. The people walking through the streets did so quietly, browsing the shopfronts in silence or hurrying along without making a fuss.

Wang Yu found the overly tranquil atmosphere a little stifling, not being much of a scholar himself. He figured Avia might enjoy it more.

As they crossed through the serene district, the noice picked up again, this time from a lively crowd. It wasn't rowdy but rather naturally noisy due to the number of people present.

Stevenson Magic Academy finally came into view. The school resembled the campuses that Wang Yu had seen on Earth, with a grand entrance gate and even what looked like a guard booth.

Inside, the campus was vast. The buildings, constructed from stone and wood, were enhanced by protective magic arrays and created a mix of elegance and durability.

Mage towers dotted the campus, the offices of senior mages and instructors. There were dormitories, training grounds, and more—everything a student might need. The place was teeming with life, and the students' energy palpable even from the outside.

"We're here! I can't wait to start learning here," Avia said with excitement. She led Wang Yu forward. Unlike him, Avia was deeply passionate about magic and alchemy.

"It really is impressive," Wang Yu replied sincerely. The academy seemed like the perfect place for her to hone her abilities as a magician.

"Hey, hey! Are you Avia? I'm Wendy! Grandpa told me to meet you here," a spirited voice called out, interrupting them. They turned to see a lively young woman standing at the gate to the academy.

The young woman had bright red hair tied in a ponytail and wore the light armor of a knight. She gave them a wide smile, revealing a row of white teeth. She looked energetic and confident.

"That's me!" Avia waved back in response.

"I can't hear you!" Wendy shouted. Her voice easily cut through the crowd; Avia's softer one, however, was drowned out.

Wang Yu glanced at the young woman, likely the granddaughter of Avia's mother's friend. It seemed that she was here to escort her.

Wang Yu couldn't help but notice the massive sword strapped to Wendy's back.

It was a huge blade of black metal, at least half a fist thick, with a jagged, saw-like edge instead of a sharp one. The blade was nearly as tall as its wielder, yet Wendy carried it effortlessly. Her physical strength was astonishing—she was likely at the level of a fully trained knight.

"Is she a genius? Avia's sixteen or seventeen, and the other young woman looks to be a few years younger..." Wang Yu mused. The talent available at the capital was on a whole new level.

He shook his head, reminded that he had no reason to be proud of his modest abilities. Fortunately, he had never been particularly arrogant.

As they reached the gate, Wendy greeted Avia warmly and shook her hand with enthusiasm. "You finally made it! Grandpa told me to be here early to meet you. I've been waiting since three in the morning! Come on, let's go. Grandpa's really impressed with you. He always tells me that you're a true genius, unlike me!"

Avia was a little overwhelmed by Wendy's enthusiasm, but appreciated her kindness nevertheless. She let Wendy pull her along toward the campus as she waved goodbye to Wang Yu, who waved back in return.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

As he watched them leave, Wang Yu chuckled inwardly. "Her grandpa sure has a way with words. Who says that to their own granddaughter?" He shook his head, then turned to leave.

"By the way, Avia, who was that with you?" Wendy asked as they walked. She wasn't moving at a particularly fast pace; Avia was able to keep up despite her middling constitution.

"A very good friend," Avia answered quickly.

"Someone very important to you?"

The young woman nodded, her features morphing into a gentle smile.

After leaving the academy, Wang Yu prepared to report to the Nightblades. He took out the recommendation letter that Sieg had handled and carefully examined it. It seemed unremarkable, but he had been told that it would guide him once he reached Redmaple Street. He would figure things out once he got there.

As he crossed the boundary between Glimmerstone Street and Redmaple Street, the letter underwent a change. A tiny magical array inside the envelope activated, one that Wang Yu's keen senses was able to detect. The magical power came from powdered mana stones mixed into the ink, which now fueled the activation of this array.

A faint pulling sensation emanated from the letter in Wang Yu’s hand, guiding him in a specific direction. There was no need to overthink it; the letter was clearly acting as a compass to take him where he needed to go.

Following the pull of the letter, Wang Yu moved through the streets of Redmaple Street, noticing the intricacy of the city’s layout.

The tall buildings extending skyward created many gaps and spaces in the capital, large ones forming streets, medium-sized ones forming alleys and lanes, while small ones became dark passageways for the shadowy denizens of the city.

While navigating these winding streets and alleys, Wang Yu occasionally sensed figures darting through the shadows.

Even during daylight hours, the city’s underbelly bustled with activity. He began to understand more about the other side of this thriving metropolis.

"The taller the giant, the larger its shadow, huh?" Wang Yu murmured.

Finally, as the pull ceased, Wang Yu found himself at a dead end in a narrow alleyway. After twisting and turning through countless paths, he had arrived at a spot where nothing seemed unusual.

"There's probably some kind of mechanism here," Wang Yu said to himself. It was a reasonable guess, given how often such setups appeared in stories and shows.

He waited for a moment, but nothing happened. Growing curious, he decided to walk around the area, inspecting the surroundings for any clues.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in view of Wang Yu's inner eye. The person looked like a stage magician, dressed in a distinctive black suit with a stage magician's signature top hat.

"Hm?" Wang Yu almost unsheathed his sword, but quickly stopped himself. On the glove on the man's right hand was an emblem identical to that on Reynard's gauntlet—a sword piercing through an eye.

"Pick a tarot card!" said a youthful, slightly playful voice. "It will reveal and guide your destiny."

The magician's sudden exclamation suggested that he was trying to startle Wang Yu.

Unfazed, Wang Yu turned and observed the magician.

He had light brown, slightly curly hair just long enough to brush his eyebrows. His facial features were sharp and youthful, giving him a handsome yet boyish appearance.

All in all, he cut a handsome figure and was quite a bit taller than Wang Yu himself.

"The Sun," Wang Yu said without hesitation.

"And why is that?" The magician's voice made it obvious he was feigning exaggerated curiosity.

"Because the Sun deals AoE damage and restores you to full health. Justice is good too for basic drops, while Judgment is handy for selling hearts if you encounter a Black Beggar for decent gains. Oh, and the Hierophant is great—two blue hearts is better than some trash items," Wang Yu rattled off expressionlessly.

The magician: ???

Wang Yu, naturally, was completely bluffing. He was referencing the effects of tarot cards in a certain game from his past life. [1]

Beyond that, he had little knowledge of tarot cards or their meanings. Given the choice, and given what he knew, he would pick the sun.

The magician stared at Wang Yu with an expression of shock and surprise. The mysterious aura he had tried to maintain vanished almost entirely.

Still, the magician feigned anger and adopted an air of mystique. "Do you really think you should treat fate so flippantly? Aren't you afraid of being punished by destiny?"

"Well, I suppose the choice I just made is part of my fate too, isn't it?" Wang Yu replied, rubbing his chin. This stage magician might well be his colleague; his personality seemed playful and mischievous.

"Fait point. In that case, accept your fate." The magician nodded thoughtfully and seemed to agree with Wang Yu's reasoning.

He drew a card from his deck and handed it to Wang Yu. Sure enough, it was the Sun."

"Now what?" Wang Yu asked, curious about what the magician would do next.

"That Sieg told me the newcomer was an interesting guy, but you're more dull than I thought. Edward was much more interesting back then," the magician grumbled, snapping his fingers.

The card in Wang Yu's hand suddenly emitted a burst of intricate magical energy. In the next instant, space twisted around him. When the distortion subsided, Wang Yu found himself in an unfamiliar indoor space.

He turned to see the magician appear beside him and adjust his slightly disheveled attire. Extending a hand, the magician introduced himself, "Charles Ryder, pleased to meet you. One of your colleagues in the Nightblades' special ops team in the capital. A formal magician."

"Wang Yu, mid-rank knight-in-training. I dabble in wizardry."

"What a peculiar name, just like Sieg said. That's the only accurate thing he said about you, by the way."

"Mr. Sieg Wilsbach? What did he say about me?"

"Prone to jumpscares, highly eccentric, but ultimately weak and fond of pranking others in a half-baked way," Charles replied.

"...Are you sure he wasn't describing you?" Wang Yu raised an eyebrow.

"What? That horrible bookworm, sneaking in insults like that—let's go confront him!" Charles exclaimed, grabbing Wang Yu by the arm and dragging him deeper into the house.

Wang Yu took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The place looked like an ordinary but refined house. Frosted windows obscured the view of the outside, and even his void ripples couldn't penetrate the seemingly normal walls.

"What a fascinating place," Wang Yu thought. The teleportation spell that Charles had unveiled was no small feat, either, a clear indication of his skill. This was a fascinating place.

As they walked, Charles glanced at Wang Yu. "Our special ops team is quite unique. According to Archbishop Fang, we each have extraordinary talents. As for me, my nose can detect and identify demonic and devilish scents, and I'm also something of a magical prodigy. What's yours?"

"Me? Nothing much, I suppose. I have a strong will and immunity to void corruption. Does that count?" Wang Yu pointed at himself. His status as a knight wasn't anything to brag about, so this seemed like his sole selling point.

"Really? That's incredible! My abilities suddenly feel so lame—good thing I'm good with tarot cards," Charles exclaimed, first in awe, and then with mock self-pity. Wang Yu didn't know just how the two things were related in his mind.

"And the others?" Wang Yu recalled that he had four colleagues. Since Charles had mentioned his specialty, the others likely wouldn't keep theirs hidden.

"Sieg, whom we call 'Professor,' isn't just a skilled magician but also a walking encyclopedia. He's an honorary professor at the Aleisterre Royal Magic Association.

"Our captain, Hugin Smokes, is a special guy. I don't know what his specialty is, but he's strong—really strong!"

Charles emphasized that last word seriously. There was even a hint of fear on his face; it seemed as if their powerful captain had scared him a little.

"And the last one, Edward, right? The one you mentioned earlier?" Wang Yu asked.

"No, no, he's the most unique of us all. I saved him for last," Charles said mysteriously.

"Really?" Wang Yu's curiosity was piqued.

Charles leaned in and, with a dramatic tone, revealed Edward's secret. "Edward Wolyn—his father is the Grand Duke of Lionheart!"

"..."

The corridor fell silent. Wang Yu was initially taken aback, but after a moment of reflection, found this revelation oddly reasonable.

Sighing, he nodded. "Makes perfect sense. He's indeed the most unique."

"Shouldn't you be more shocked?" Charles seemed disappointed at Wang Yu's lack of expression.

"I am, but it's also very logical, isn't it?" Wang Yu replied, shrugging.

"I suppose..." Charles sighed as well.

"Hold on. Isn't the Grand Duke of Lionheart's last name Leonardo? Why would Edward's last name be Wolyn?"

"He's his father's only son, but for some reason, he took his mother's surname. It's probably some family issue," Charles replied nonchalantly.

With that, the two of them continued down the hall until Charles unceremoniously pushed open a door. Inside, Sieg sat at a table seemingly waiting for them.

1. The Binding of Isaac reference. ☜