Chapter 17
Winqu was a medium-sized city 10,000 kilometers northeast of the Severlance Family Estate. The town was constructed inside a dead volcano thousands of years ago and is said to house the Eight Fire Clans of Winqu. Their magma steel mine and magma steel were their most popular points of purchase. What else? Apart from the eight clans and the magma steel mine, there's probably nothing else worth noting. The information above was given to me by the coachman I hired. Thank God I remembered to bring my space ring along. It doesn't matter how different a world is, space rings are still the same.
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Before I got into the coach, my bodyguard Kyong tried to stop me. Too bad, I used [Spirit Eyes] to play with his head, making him see a delusion of me descending from the carriage. The delusion lasts about a minute, so I'm sure he snapped out of it already while I'm already gone.
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"Hey coachman, how come you're not going to ask me about anything? Like, why is a child this young going to a town 10 thousand km away from his house? Or like, what family allows a child to travel on his own?"
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"Well, we all have our secrets. You have your thing, I have mine. I don't like to delve into someone else's secrets, unless they reveal themselves. Besides, I'm nothing but a coachman. If I ever come across a big secret that may implicate the country, I don't think I can afford to pay the price, because I am a mouthpiece." The coach started to chuckle.
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"Fair enough." Thus, the rest of the journey was continued in silence.
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About 3 thousand kilometers from our destination, I spotted a group of yellow skinned Ground Serpents slithering their way towards this coach with [Spirit Eyes]. The group of Ground Serpents weren't very large but the aura they exuded each was close to Peak Foundation Establishment realm. I don't even think I can contend with even one of them, much less a whole group. So yeah, I then gave my coachman the heads up to speed up the coach as to avoid a collision with the Ground Serpents. The Ground Serpents gave up after a 3 hour chase. They may be huge and strong but they aren't very fast. They were probably ambush type demon beasts because of their hunger, decided to go on the attack. They'll probably find something to satiate themselves, and it won't be us.
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By the way, you were expecting action right? Yeah, no. I'm currently only five years old, and I'd die if I were to face them head on. I will only fight if my life depends on it. In this case, no.
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Winqu, Southern Gate
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Okay, I know I'm not in a modern technological world, but it's also not a magical fantasy world. There's qi in the surroundings but are there no mobile cultivators? As I got closer to the southern gate of Winqu, I could make out a long line of people waiting to get in. And among those people were some cultivators who were meditating on the ground. Firstly, I'm impressed that there were no line cutters there. Two, how can those cultivators meditate so openly and without putting up any guard?? The world's a scary place, ya know? There were constantly stories of people dying due to carelessness, ya know? Some were even too dependent on their companions, thinking everyone was their friend that also resulted their early deaths. Of course, I'm not saying that it's better to work and travel alone, but it is advisable that one were to put up at least some form of guard or be vigilant at all times, even if one was taking a shit.
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As the coach got closer to the entrance, a guard from the front came over to redirect us into the line before taking our names and reason for visiting Winqu...pretty mandatory stuff to be honest.
"Name?"
"Williard Gilly."
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"The kid's name?"
"Uhm, Starfall"
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"Surname?"
"Gah, Sever...Severlance...The boy is Starfall Severlance."
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"Very well. Reason for visit?"
"Huh? Oh uh, the boy wants to buy some herbs and elixirs for himself. I'm just the coachman he hired."
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"Alright, neither of you seem to be lying nor do any of you appear to be bad guys. Very well, please follow me to the fast lane. Once we issue you visitor pass each, you'll be allowed to enter the town."
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And just like that, the guard brought us over to the gate station to issue us both visitor passes. But I was curious as to why the guard was so friendly. I'd seen him scold people who tried to cut the line previously but towards us, he was incredibly polite. Fortunately, the Coachman Gilly had the same doubts as he asked the guard.
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"Uhm, why are you so accommodating towards us? I don't see you doing that to anyone else."
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"Ah, that's because we were already expecting you. We've been notified earlier by the Lord of the territory that Young Master Starfall would be arriving here in a coach. We didn't know which coach he would be in so we had to conduct a thorough inspection at the southern gate, thus resulting that a long line has been formed."
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"Uhm, can I ask? Which lord of the territory told you guys that I was coming?" I decided to speak up.
"Ah, Young Master Starfall, this...he told us not to tell you even if you ask. So forgive me for I am unable to quell your curiosity. On the plus side, with your visitor pass, you can walk naked on the streets and no one will care. Just think Winqu as your personal playground, alright?"
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I nodded my head in response. Walk naked on the streets? Were the nobles of this world so...open?? If so, I might need to reform their education soon...Yeah, I'll probably do that when I turn 12.
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As the we were redirected to the southern gate's guard station, we attracted many curious and pitiful gazes? There were some people in the line who were directing meaningful glances at us for what? What's so pitiful about using the fast lane? Never used one before? Oh right, they aren't anyone important. Heh, a 5 year old was more important than them...Life fucked people up real hard. At these thoughts, I couldn't help but cast them meaningful glances as I quietly chuckled in their displeasure.
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By the time we got through the southern gate, the displeasured and annoyed faces of people had probably been spread to everyone in the line. For the finisher, I pointed two middle fingers at them. Even if they got in to the city, what can they do to me? Hit me? Bash me? Yeah right, if they were to touch even a strand of hair on me, I can assure them that their bloodlines end here.
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Do I sound like a rich kid now? No? Do I need to give everybody disdainful looks as well as act all and mighty like I have become Heaven's Son? Do I need to go and pick a fight with another lowkey genius of this world just to be beaten down and escape in humiliation? Yeah, I'm definitely not doing that. That said, I am a snotty brat with privileges? I can walk around the town nude! My public image might crumble but who cares? I'm only five!
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Yeah, that sounds arrogant enough.