Chapter 49: Newly Arrived

The golden bread, baked to a crisp, flaky crust with a fluffy, airy interior, glowed with a pure hue, accompanied by honey that shimmered like liquid amber.

A spoonful of honey spread across the bread, followed by a hearty bite; the simple sweetness and the soft, yielding texture of the loaf flooded the palate.

The meat, seared to perfection with a slightly charred, golden-brown crust, was dusted with seasonings Wang Yu could not name, balancing saltiness with a savory depth.

He plunged his fork in and took a massive bite, the aroma of fat catalyzed by heat mingling with the meat’s natural juices, which, paired with the tender, just-cooked texture, left Wang Yu in a state of pure bliss.

He had simply wandered into a restaurant that looked decent enough, never expecting the fare to be so exceptional.

The proprietor was a master of roasting meat and baking bread, and a dab hand at desserts to boot; the prices were reasonable even for the opulent Royal City, leading to the scene of Wang Yu gorging himself.

Eating was one of the few hobbies Wang Yu possessed, and whenever circumstances allowed, he never hesitated to indulge it.

He personally favored the hearty, unpretentious style of tearing into meat and bread, and with the formidable physical constitution granted by his knightly profession, eating in excess was hardly a problem.

In fact, the high caloric expenditure required by knightly training necessitated a significant intake of food to sustain his energy.

The plates on the table were already piling up; while not quite a towering stack, he had easily consumed the portions of several men.

The proprietor was well-stocked and worldly, having seen all sorts of guests, so he remained unperturbed, bustling about the kitchen to keep Wang Yu supplied with fresh bread and roast meat.

By contrast, the girl ate with far more refinement and restraint; clearly, unlike a rough-hewn fellow like Wang Yu, Elvia preferred her sweets.

She popped soft, honeyed egg tarts into her mouth one by one, the crusts shattering into crisp flakes before yielding to a smooth, sugary center.

As for the delicate little squares of cake, Elvia nibbled at them bit by bit, her eyes never straying from Wang Yu.

She rarely saw Wang Yu express such simple joy; though he was usually cheerful enough, it was practically impossible to catch him in a state of distress or inner conflict, yet he rarely seemed to have any particular passions.

Most of his time was spent training or attending to serious matters, and Elvia seldom saw him engage in the simplest forms of recreation.

It made sense, really; compared to the "Earth" he spoke of, the "entertainment" in this world could only be described as abysmal.

At best, the pinnacle of entertainment in the Royal City stopped at the theater; the "movies, VR, and games" he mentioned were simply non-existent here.

It was not that they were impossible to achieve; the existence of magic and the manipulation of the void offered this world a far more magnificent and fantastical path of progress.

Never mind movies—even something as high-end as VR could be realized in the truest sense of virtual reality if left to professional illusionists or wizards skilled in distorting vision and senses.

But there was little point to it; the difference between the two worlds lay in the number and hierarchy of the transcendent.

Wang Yu’s world lacked transcendents, and the power of a single social stratum led to more uniform development and technology that touched every life—no matter how advanced, it remained accessible to all.

In this world, the existence of transcendent power caused a fracture in development; the technology mastered by top-tier transcendents, especially spellcasters, appeared as godlike to the common man, creating a fundamental divide.

This distinction led to a disparity in the accessibility of technology across various classes; Wang Yu’s world was essentially a single-layered society where technology and culture progressed and flourished within the same stratum.

In this world, the schism of the transcendent class made technological development different—fragmented, unable to achieve the universal prosperity of Wang Yu’s world, where those higher things remained forever the province of the few.

Elvia felt that Wang Yu had it tough; to someone from Earth, this world was a cultural desert. If it hadn't been someone like Wang Yu—who was interested in everything and possessed a terrifyingly firm will—she truly didn't know how he would have survived.

To Elvia, the most valuable thing about the stories Wang Yu told her of his home was not the technology.

Wang Yu was very clear that he was no researcher; he didn't even know how to manufacture gunpowder from the internet, and he knew nothing of the "transmigrator’s basic duty" of climbing the tech tree.

He had no intention of being a standout, trying to advance the technology of an alien world.

For Elvia, the most beneficial aspect of Wang Yu’s tales was the broadening of her horizons.

Whether it was the spirited chess matches of master strategists, simple fables, or even the small truths about daily life, culture, and conduct in that world, all brought Elvia a unique experience.

Wang Yu never believed that his status as a transmigrator made him superior to others, nor did he think that having lived two lives made him smarter than the people of this world.

The only thing he took pride in was the "perspective" gained from fully understanding a complete world that had developed in a way entirely different from this one!

It was hard to explain, but having it versus not having it made all the difference, and the things Wang Yu recounted were remarkably effective at broadening Elvia’s horizons.

She scooped the final piece of cake from her plate into her mouth, the sweet, fragrant flavor spreading as she narrowed her eyes in enjoyment.

Patting her flat stomach, the girl, who had a small appetite, felt full after just a few pieces of cake; it seemed girls truly did prefer desserts.

Watching Wang Yu eat his roast meat and bread with such genuine delight, Elvia rested her chin in her hand, tilting her head to watch his wild, uninhibited eating style, thinking to herself that she should cook for him sometime.

Thinking of Wang Yu’s love for food, Elvia herself broke into a happy smile.

Finishing the last piece of meat on his plate, Wang Yu wiped his mouth and signaled the proprietor for the bill. The owner named a price, and Wang Yu didn't haggle: four gold coins.

It was a significant sum, especially since there was no monster meat or the like, but Wang Yu didn't care; since he had the means, there was nothing wrong with enjoying himself.

His goals were clear: he couldn't be like those power-obsessed maniacs who did nothing but strive for strength. He didn't seek power for the sake of power; he sought it only to better enjoy his life—a simple, pragmatic philosophy of living.

He settled the bill with his magic crystal card, and he and Elvia walked out of the restaurant. Eating like this constantly wasn't sustainable—it was truly expensive.

The money Wang Yu had left would likely be gone soon at this rate, and he would have to start cooking for himself eventually.

Walking down the street, the moon was already high; when the carriage had entered the city, it was just dusk, but after the meal, the night had fully descended. It was only now that the difference between the Royal City and the outside world truly revealed itself.

No matter how prosperous a town might be elsewhere, once night fell, people generally extinguished their lamps and went to sleep.

Aside from special official venues or places like taverns and brothels that never closed their doors, most shops and residences chose to shutter their windows and douse their lights, partly due to security concerns and partly because there was simply nothing to do.

But the Royal City was different; it gathered the very best of the kingdom. Here, if your ability lagged behind others, you were automatically screened out and pushed aside. Every year, there was no shortage of people coming to the Royal City to try their luck.

It was indeed a great place to soar to success, but just like playing the stock market or buying a lottery ticket, hitting rock bottom was far more common.

Near the city walls lived the failures—it was dirty, chaotic, and most importantly, devoid of hope; their lives were no better than those in the outside world.

Yet, this was also where the most transcendents gathered—knights and mages alike—to exchange knowledge, make progress, and hunt for rare materials and supplies.

Even deep into the night, the magic crystal streetlamps on both sides of the road lit up automatically, emitting a glow that was not overly harsh but bright enough to illuminate the path.

The shops along the road weren't all open, most being half-shuttered. There weren't many pedestrians, and most of those who were out moved with hurried steps, seemingly busy with something—perhaps a transcendent gathering, or perhaps affairs belonging only to the night.

But at least, this reminded Wang Yu of the prosperity of Earth; there was nothing wrong with that—it felt familiar, and somewhat nostalgic.

However, thinking of the encroaching war, Wang Yu felt a sense of helplessness. Would this prosperity wither and vanish under the pressure of conflict?

Or, considering what he had seen and heard, was this prosperity built on a solid foundation, or was it merely layers of corruption, flesh, and bone?

He shrugged, casting these thoughts—which had nothing to do with his reality—out of his mind. He led Elvia down the street, following the signs to find the direction of Red Maple Street; being strangers in a strange land, the two walked with a bit of hesitation.

As they turned a street corner, they suddenly saw a large squad of soldiers rushing toward them, armed with a full array of blades, spears, and halberds. Pedestrians on the side of the road scattered, and Wang Yu followed suit.

The soldiers swept past him, and the faint but unmistakable scent of blood on them made Wang Yu frown. Was this place not peaceful either?

"I wonder if it's that cult, or if another serial killer has appeared..."

"It's true, it’s getting less and less peaceful. The number of people dying in the 'City Wall' district has been increasing every day... I don't know what's going on."

"That area has always been chaotic, and people die there every day, but the soldiers didn't use to care much. Lately, they've been rushing over there constantly; they say it's some kind of fanatical cult..."

"Sigh, I hope things get peaceful soon. I have to go for my pharmacy examination in a while, so I can earn a few more coins..."

As they walked, the chatter of passersby was captured by the ripples of his "Inner Eye" and drifted into Wang Yu’s ears. People were discussing their concerns for the future, their livelihoods, and the deteriorating public order, all for the sake of the simplest existence.

"Sigh, the mountain rain is coming; is this the wind that has already begun to blow?" Unconsciously associating this sudden cult with those fanatical, faith-driven goblins, Wang Yu decided to contact the Night’s Edge as soon as possible—it was his best way to gain more connections and sources of information.

"Elvia, are you planning to report to the Stevenson Royal Academy of Magic for your studies in the next few days?" Wang Yu turned to ask the girl following behind him.

"Yes, I plan to go there tomorrow to start learning early. My mother has already made arrangements; a friend of hers is an instructor there, and I will be studying under him."

"That's great. I'll take you there tomorrow, and after that, I'll go report to the Night’s Edge." Wang Yu nodded.

"That sounds lovely."

...

The two walked along the street, the flow of pedestrians thinning as the hour grew late.

Wang Yu was suddenly struck by a strange illusion: the city seemed to darken, the silence deepening in tandem with the encroaching night.

The magic crystal lamps along the road appeared to dim as the crowds dispersed and shops shuttered, though in reality, their glow remained unchanged.

Wang Yu felt the city sinking into a deathly stillness; the prosperity that had defined it only moments ago now seemed pale and desolate as people retreated into the sanctuary of their homes.

An inexplicable darkness and melancholy flowed like a tide, encircling the city, and Wang Yu and Avia, walking the streets, seemed to become objects of interest to that very gloom, which began to coil around them.

Wang Yu felt Avia clutch his hand from behind; the girl’s expression was strained, her unease mirroring his own.

Once the city fell into silence, a bizarre, uncanny quality emerged—it was hard to pinpoint, yet profoundly unsettling.

Wang Yu’s expression remained indifferent; this discomfort was merely a sensation, and none of his heightened senses detected any tangible threat.

Thus, he chose to dismiss the feeling as nothing more than a phantom of the mind.

Holding Avia’s hand, Wang Yu continued to navigate by the house numbers, ignoring the persistent, discordant unease.

Suddenly, the streetlights flared with renewed brilliance, and Wang Yu looked toward the distance.

A bright lamp ignited ahead, and a figure carrying a glowing lantern walked down the street; wherever he passed, that strange, oppressive feeling dissipated.

Wang Yu squinted, his vision obscured by the lantern’s intense glare, but as the man drew closer, his "Inner Eye" captured every detail.

A tall frame, a heavy axe strapped to his waist, light gray curly hair, an old-fashioned gentleman’s hat, a simple shirt beneath a long, oversized trench coat with trailing hems, and white gloves gripping the lantern.

A pipe dangled from his mouth, emitting flickering embers; he took a draw and exhaled, the smoke veiling his sharp, piercing eyes.

Wang Yu kept walking, and the lantern-bearer showed no reaction, though as they brushed past, a steady, magnetic, and slightly raspy voice drifted over: "Don't wander the streets at night if you have no business..."

Wang Yu nodded and continued on; after the man passed, the weird, deathly stillness vanished, as if the lantern he carried were designed to purge such things.

Wang Yu did not know his profession, but he seemed to be some sort of night watchman. As for that deathly silence, it truly seemed to be nothing more than a feeling.

Rounding a corner, Wang Yu finally reached his destination: Red Maple Street.

Entering the district, Wang Yu realized this was indeed the city center; it was bustling, and despite the late hour, many people were still moving about.

The shops remained open, mostly alchemy stores, weapon shops, and smithies, interspersed with small vendors selling miscellaneous goods.

Red Maple Street boasted only one tavern, the sole place where drunks and adventurers exchanged intelligence; it was easy to find—wherever the crowd was thickest, that was the tavern.

With a strange expression, he entered the tavern named "The Old John Whom the Light God Loves"—wasn't it supposed to be the Golden Cuckoo Tavern?

Wang Yu didn't waste time pondering the odd name, walking straight to the middle-aged owner who was instructing a young bartender on mixing drinks.

"Boss, my name is Wang Yu. The Goblin Chamber of Commerce should have left something here for me?"

"Hmm? From where?" The boss set down his glass.

Wang Yu thought for a few seconds. "District Eight, Building Forty-one."

"That matches. Here." The boss pulled a brass key from his pocket and handed it over.

"Many thanks." Wang Yu took the key and turned to leave.

"You're welcome. Not staying for a drink? Since you're new, this one's on the house," the boss offered.

"No need, I must return at once," Wang Yu declined; he did not drink.

Wang Yu and Avia turned and exited the tavern. Old John shook his head. "Sigh, coming to the Royal City at a time like this... it’s really not a good moment." He returned to his bartending lesson.

...

*Click.* The lock turned under Wang Yu’s key, and he stepped into his new home in the Royal City. A lit kerosene lamp sat on the table, accompanied by several spare bottles—it looked brand new, likely prepared by the Goblin Chamber of Commerce.

The layout consisted of two bedrooms, a living room, and a washroom; the furniture was sparse, consisting only of simple wooden stools and chairs, but it sufficed.

The bed was excellent, with a soft mattress and fine, supple bedding. Wang Yu lay down twice, quite satisfied; it felt much like the hotel beds back on Earth.

After a brief discussion with Avia, they each claimed a room, exchanged goodnights, and retreated behind their respective doors.

The room featured a lamp design similar to an electric light, though powered by magic crystals; a small switch on the headboard made it surprisingly convenient.

Wang Yu sat at the table by the window and withdrew the Endless Pages from the void above his head, beginning to flip through them.

He pulled a pen from his pocket, reading and organizing his thoughts simultaneously. Having just arrived in the Royal City, there was much to learn and record; he started with a brief log.

Driven by Wang Yu’s superior agility, the pen glided rapidly across the Endless Pages, documenting his experiences in the city.

Once finished, he began to highlight the key points within the scrawled notes.

The nib scratched against the paper as he circled several keywords.

"New cultist group," "Chaos in the wall district," "Deteriorating public security," "Strange, deathly silence," and "The lantern-bearer" were all marked.

After a moment of thought, Wang Yu underlined "Cultist group" and "Chaos in the wall district" with extra emphasis.

Regardless, the group of crazed goblins they encountered on the road had always struck him as highly suspicious.

And the "Lady of the Night" who had manifested in his mental space was an entity he could hardly ignore.

"A cultist group? It’s about time I learned more about this 'Lady of the Night.' Once I’m settled, I’ll see what exactly this thing is."

Wang Yu tapped his pen against the table. Having made up his mind, he stowed the Endless Pages, adjusted his posture, and sank his consciousness deep into his mental space.

He appeared above the boundless, crystalline lake that reflected the stars. He looked toward his mental temple and blinked in confusion.

The tall figure of the Lady of the Night was standing beside his ruined door, stooping down to peer into his temple. From this towering "Lady of the Night," Wang Yu perceived a distinct emotion: curiosity.

(Ah, still hoping for some comments, haha.)