Chapter 51: Reporting In, Colleagues

At six-thirty in the morning, the dawn light spilled into the room, stinging Wang Yu’s eyes as they snapped open with habitual precision.

He squinted, climbed out of bed, and caught the scent of something drifting in from the hallway—a savory, familiar aroma that stirred a sense of nostalgia.

He spent three minutes washing up and dressing before pushing open the door to investigate.

The source of the fragrance stood in the small kitchenette attached to the living room. The counter was a bit cramped for Wang Yu, but it fit the girl perfectly.

She was busy with a frying pan, cracking an egg into the sizzling oil. The sharp, rhythmic hiss of the egg hitting the heat filled the air, the edges turning golden and crisp as the distinct, mouth-watering aroma intensified.

Wang Yu took a deep breath, feeling a pang of longing. Back home, breakfast was usually congee and fried dough sticks, but eggs and toast were the standard for a hurried morning.

"Just a moment, it’s almost ready," Avia said, noticing him. She turned with a bright smile. She looked fresh and clean in the morning light, the sun catching her fair, delicate features and making her look radiant.

"Alright, thank you for the trouble," Wang Yu nodded and took his seat at the table.

Avia plated the egg alongside two other items: strips of bacon fried to a delicate crunch. The charred, fatty scent of the meat, mingled with the spices teased out by the heat, was exactly what had greeted him when he woke.

The bread was toasted to a perfect golden brown. She placed the bacon and the flawlessly cooked egg between the slices, and just like that, a breakfast worthy of a perfect score was complete.

"Want to try it?" Avia set the plate before him and sat opposite, watching him with eager anticipation.

"It looks wonderful. Wait, have you eaten yet?" Wang Yu looked at the plate, his appetite piqued, but he suddenly paused to ask.

"Oh? Mine? I forgot. You mentioned missing the breakfasts from Earth, so I just wanted to make it for you. I... I forgot about myself."

The girl blushed, embarrassed. She had been so focused on his reaction that she had completely neglected her own portion.

"That won't do. I'll share." Wang Yu picked up his cutlery and sliced a third off the oversized sandwich, pushing the plate toward her before grabbing the remaining two-thirds for himself.

"Ah, thank you." Avia took the plate and began to eat without further fuss.

"What are you thanking me for? I should be the one saying thanks. Such a delicious breakfast—this is true happiness." Wang Yu spoke with his mouth full, savoring the combination of bread, egg, and bacon.

It was a simple meal, yet a simple delight. The softness of the egg, the savory punch of the bacon, and the crunch of the toast were perfection. Wang Yu’s happiness was easily satisfied, and this was it.

"I'm glad you like it," the girl said, eating her portion with far more grace than him. Seeing him happy was enough for her.

...

After the meal, the girl tidied up and quickly changed into a light yellow mage’s robe, a simple, unadorned style.

In this, she was influenced by Wang Yu; while she appreciated beauty, she rarely spent time or energy on elaborate grooming.

"I spoke with a friend of my mother’s from the Stevenson School of Magic while I was out buying ingredients today. Her granddaughter is waiting for me there," Avia explained as they stepped out together.

The city was vast, requiring a carriage if one traveled more than two blocks, but they were lucky. Maple Street was in the city center, and the Stevenson School of Magic, a prestigious institution in the capital, was nearby.

The morning streets were already bustling. Vendors and adventurers, unseen the night before, lined the roads, shouting their wares or services. It was the familiar, gritty hum of city life that Wang Yu found comforting.

Children ran past clutching newspapers, hawking the day’s headlines. Wang Yu considered buying one, but Avia stopped him.

"Those aren't official. The Stevenson School has its own dedicated press from the capital’s newspaper office; it’s much more reliable than those rumors," she explained.

Wang Yu nodded. Avia’s knowledge of the city seemed to surpass his own—she must have done her homework. That was just like her.

They crossed through a noisy, crowded thoroughfare, and as if a single alleyway could divide two worlds, the bustling market vanished, replaced by the quiet, gentle atmosphere of a scholarly district.

Glystone Street, just a road away from Maple Street, felt entirely different. Even with the distant roar of the market, the air here was hushed and reverent.

It was a place of study and art. Bookstores lined the street, some selling historical chronicles, others filled with arcane texts. People walked quietly, browsing in silence, their footsteps hurried but never frantic.

Wang Yu didn't particularly care for such stillness—he wasn't much of a scholar—but he imagined Avia would love it.

Beyond this quiet district, the noise returned, not as a chaotic din, but as the soft, natural murmur of a crowd.

The Stevenson School of Magic stood before them. It resembled the schools Wang Yu knew from Earth: a massive entrance, and what looked suspiciously like a security booth.

The interior was vast, enclosed by magical barriers, housing a complex of magnificent buildings constructed from stone and wood, reinforced by various magical arrays.

Mage towers were scattered haphazardly across the grounds, each representing a mentor of at least Archmage rank. Student dormitories and training grounds were all visible, and the sheer number of students gave the campus a vibrant, living energy.

"We're here. I'm so excited to study inside," the girl said, leading him forward with genuine enthusiasm. Avia loved magic and alchemy far more than he did.

"It’s impressive, truly," Wang Yu remarked. The school was magnificent; the potential for growth here must be immense.

"Hey! Hey! Are you Sister Avia? I’m Wendy! My grandfather sent me to meet you!" A booming, energetic voice cut through the air. They stopped at the gate to see a red-haired girl standing there, waving.

She wore a ponytail and light knight’s armor, her smile wide and bright.

"It’s me!" Avia waved back.

"I can't hear you!" Wendy shouted, her voice easily drowning out Avia’s.

Wang Yu looked at the girl. She must be the granddaughter of Avia’s mother’s friend.

The average attractiveness in this world was high, and Wendy was no exception, but Wang Yu’s attention was drawn to the massive greatsword strapped to her back.

It was a colossal blade of black metal, at least half a fist thick, with edges that were jagged and serrated rather than sharp.

The sword was nearly three-quarters the height of an average person, yet Wendy carried it as if it were weightless. Pure physical strength—she had to be at least a formal knight.

"Is she a genius? Avia is..." Wang Yu grinned. Was the power level of the capital a tier above the rest of the world?

To have such strength at her age—it was a reminder that he had no room for arrogance. He smiled to himself; fortunately, he had never been a proud man.

At the gate, Wendy greeted Avia with great enthusiasm. "Sister Avia, you’re finally here! Grandfather told me to wait for you since three o'clock. Let’s go, he thinks very highly of your talent. He kept saying, 'This is a true genius, you’re nothing compared to her!'"

Avia was a bit overwhelmed by the girl’s intensity but could feel the kindness behind it. She didn't resist as she was pulled toward the campus, turning to wave goodbye to Wang Yu. He waved back.

Wang Yu chuckled to himself, thinking the grandfather sounded like a bit of an old fool for talking about his own granddaughter that way. He shook his head and turned to leave.

...

"By the way, Sister Avia, who was that with you?" Wendy asked as she pulled Avia along at a brisk pace.

"A very good friend."

"Is he someone important?"

"Yes!" A faint smile touched the girl’s lips.

...

Wang Yu, having left the school, prepared to report to the Night’s Edge. He pulled out the recommendation letter Zieg had processed. It looked ordinary, but since he had been told it would guide him once he reached Maple Street, he waited.

As he crossed the boundary back from Glystone Street, the envelope changed. A tiny magical array within it, powered by magic-stone dust mixed into the ink, activated.

A faint, almost imperceptible tugging sensation pulled at his hand, guiding him in a specific direction. The letter was acting as his compass.

Following the subtle pull, Wang Yu navigated the streets of Maple Street.

Only now did he realize the complexity of the city; the dense architecture created countless gaps and hidden paths.

The spaces between buildings became streets, alleys, and, in the smallest gaps, the true veins for those who lived in the shadows.

As he wound through the labyrinthine alleys, Wang Yu caught glimpses of the city’s underbelly. Shadowy figures darted through the darkness even in broad daylight.

"The taller the giant, the deeper the shadow it casts," Wang Yu muttered.

The tugging sensation stopped at the end of a dead-end alley. He had taken many turns to get here, and now, there was nothing.

"There must be a mechanism..." he mused. It was standard fare for stories and movies, and it made sense.

He waited, but nothing happened. He began to pace, searching for a clue.

Then, a figure suddenly appeared in his internal vision—an eye he never truly closed. The man looked like a magician, dressed in a black formal suit, complete with a top hat.

"Hmm?" Wang Yu nearly drew his sword to strike, but he checked himself just in time. On the white glove of the man's right hand was a sigil identical to the one on the old knight’s gauntlet, which had been driven deep into an eyeball.

"Pick a tarot card! It shall reveal and guide your destiny," a young, slightly flippant voice drifted into Wang Yu’s ears.

The figure who had appeared so abruptly, dressed much like a magician, spoke with a hint of amusement, as if he had intended to startle Wang Yu from the very beginning.

Wang Yu turned calmly to face this "magician."

He had brownish, slightly curly hair that just brushed his eyebrows, and his features were refined and youthful. He was handsome, though he could not quite shed a certain air of immaturity.

All in all, he was quite good-looking—far more so than Wang Yu.

"I choose the Sun," Wang Yu blurted out.

"And why is that?" the man asked, adopting a tone of feigned curiosity.

"Because the Sun deals damage to the entire screen and restores full health. Justice is decent, too, for the base drops."

"Judgment is also fine; if you get the Beggar, you can trade health for some pretty good gains. As for the others, oh, the Hierophant is nice—two blue hearts, better than some trash items!" Wang Yu spoke rapidly, his face devoid of expression.

The man: "???"

Wang Yu was, of course, talking complete nonsense; he was merely reciting the effects of tarot cards from the game *The Binding of Isaac*.

His knowledge of tarot began and ended there. He didn't even know the traditional meanings of the cards, so how else was he supposed to choose? The Sun was simply the most useful one he knew.

The magician-like man wore an expression that clearly asked if Wang Yu was joking, his previous air of mystery evaporating instantly.

Still, he feigned a look of indignation and mystery, intoning, "To treat destiny with such flippancy—are you not afraid of its retribution?"

"Well, I suppose the choice I make now is also a part of destiny, isn't it?" Wang Yu rubbed his chin. It seemed this colleague of his was a playful, flighty character.

"Hmm, that makes sense. Then accept your fate!" The magician nodded, looking thoughtful.

He actually accepted Wang Yu’s logic, pulled a card from his deck, and handed it over. It was indeed the Sun.

"And now what?" Wang Yu looked at the card-player, curious about what would happen next.

"God, Sieg said the newcomer was interesting, but he was lying. He’s far too calm! Edward was so much more fun back then!" the man muttered, then snapped his fingers.

Wang Yu suddenly felt a complex, if not particularly powerful, magical fluctuation erupt from the card. The next moment, the sensation of space twisting washed over him, and in a flash, he found himself indoors.

Looking back, the young man in the magician’s attire appeared beside him a second later. After smoothing out his clothes, which had been ruffled by the spatial shift, he reached out to shake Wang Yu’s hand.

"Charles Lade. Pleased to meet you. I’m one of your colleagues in the Night’s Edge Royal Special Operations Team. A formal mage."

"Wang Yu. Intermediate apprentice knight, with a minor in sorcery."

"A strange name, indeed. It’s the only thing Sieg got right in his description of you."

"Mr. Sieg Welsbach? What did he say about me?" Wang Yu asked curiously.

"That you’re jumpy, easily startled, and quite improper. That you’re actually quite unskilled but love to play half-baked pranks on others," Charles replied.

"Are you sure he wasn't talking about you?" Wang Yu looked at the young man with a strange expression. Though they had just met, the description seemed to fit him perfectly.

"Huh? Wait—that bookworm Sieg was badmouthing me behind my back? Unforgivable! Come, let’s go settle the score!" Charles pondered for half a second, then reacted, dragging Wang Yu off in a huff.

Wang Yu took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. It looked like an ordinary house, yet it was exquisite. The windows were made of frosted glass, obscuring the view outside.

He sent out a ripple of perception, but it was blocked by the seemingly mundane wooden walls; he could not peer into the outside world.

"A curious place," Wang Yu mused. Spatial displacement was no simple feat, yet Charles had achieved it.

It seemed that despite his flighty demeanor, he possessed real skill, and this place was filled with peculiarities.

As Charles strode down the corridor, he turned to Wang Yu. "The composition of our Special Operations Team is quite unique. According to Father Fang, the big guy, we’re all special in our own ways—each possessing a unique talent."

"My nose can smell and distinguish the scent of demons and devils, and I’m something of a magical prodigy. What about you?"

"Me? Nothing special. My will is firm, and I can ignore Void corruption. Does that count?" Wang Yu gestured to himself. His strength was hardly outstanding; his resistance to the Void was his only real trait.

"God! That’s incredibly powerful! I suddenly feel my own specialty is useless... at least I’m good at tarot."

Charles sighed in mock despair, then immediately looked smug when he mentioned the cards. It was a mystery how he connected the two.

"And the others?" Wang Yu remembered he should have four colleagues. Since Charles had shared his own, he assumed the others’ were no secret.

"Sieg—we call him 'The Professor.' That bookworm isn't just a powerful mage; he’s physically fit, and most importantly, his knowledge is terrifying. He’s basically a walking library and an honorary professor at the Alastair Royal Magic Association."

"Then there’s our captain, Hugin Smoke. He’s a special case. I don’t know what his specialty is, but he’s strong! Super strong!"

Charles emphasized it twice, looking genuinely serious—even a little afraid. One couldn't help but wonder what that formidable captain had done to him.

"And the last one? The Edward you mentioned... do you know his specialty?" Wang Yu asked.

"No, that guy is the most special of all, so I saved him for last," Charles said, his tone turning heavy and grave.

"Is that so?" Wang Yu nodded, his curiosity piqued.

Charles leaned in, his expression solemn as he whispered the final colleague’s secret: "Edward Wallin. His father is the Lionheart King!"

"........."

A deathly silence fell over the corridor. Wang Yu initially thought it was absurd, but after a few seconds of reflection, he found it perfectly reasonable. It made total sense.

Sighing, Wang Yu nodded. "Yes, that is very reasonable. He is indeed the most special!"

Charles looked at Wang Yu, who had only been slightly stunned, and seemed disappointed. "Shouldn't you be more shocked?"

"I am shocked, but it’s just so logical, isn't it?" Wang Yu replied helplessly.

"True..." Charles sighed as well.

"Wait, isn't the Lionheart King’s surname Leonardo? Why is Edward’s name Wallin?" Wang Yu suddenly felt something was off.

"He’s his father’s only son, but for some reason, he took his mother’s surname. I don't know why—family business, I suppose?" Charles seemed to have anticipated the question and answered quickly.

Wang Yu didn't dwell on it. After a few more steps, Charles unceremoniously pushed open a door and walked in. Sieg was sitting at a table, seemingly having waited for quite some time.

(The characters are slowly making their entrance. As the cast grows, the perspective may shift more often and the pacing may slow down; it won't be as tight as the first volume. Still, I think the second volume is quite rich in content. As an author, I must admit my skills are limited—nothing to be ashamed of. I will keep writing! Not giving up is success in itself, haha. Thank you for reading this far.)