Chapter 342: The Kingdom of Lugunica, Land of the Lion's Heart
Roy abruptly appeared on a bustling city street.
The crowd moving along the road froze in place, staring in surprise at the sudden figure.
"This 'Ark' crossing isn't as considerate as the 'Main God Space'—it doesn't even bother to shield me from the surrounding crowd."
Roy muttered to himself before raising his left hand and snapping his fingers.
The people around him, who had been staring in astonishment, immediately lost interest and resumed their movements. The quiet street quickly returned to its usual noisy clamor.
Manipulating the perception of an entire area with magic in an instant would require extensive preparation for an ordinary mage. But for Roy, who stood at the pinnacle and had surpassed the limits of a Campione, it was as effortless as snapping his fingers.
With the crowd no longer gawking, Roy finally had the leisure to take in his surroundings.
The architecture of this city leaned towards a European style, yet lacked any particularly distinctive features, making it impossible to pinpoint a specific era. The buildings here were a mixed assortment, and from Roy's knowledge, he could deduce that they didn't belong exclusively to any one period.
"Looks like this isn't Earth's history—I must have arrived in another world."
Just from the architectural style, Roy could sense the incongruity with Earth's human history. Of course, the most definitive proof that he had arrived in another world was the people on the streets.
Among the pedestrians and street vendors, alongside humans, were non-human races. The beast ears atop their heads marked them as beastfolk, and the creatures pulling carts weren't the horses one might expect, but rather dinosaur-like species that definitely didn't exist on Earth.
Roy scanned his surroundings, his gaze drifting toward the distant center of the city, where a sprawling complex of buildings stood—likely a royal palace or the residence of the city's lord. The streets were relatively clean, though Roy could still detect grime in the alleyways.
Most of the humans here wore linen clothing, while some beastfolk were clad in animal hides, indicating that material resources weren't particularly advanced. Occasionally, armored soldiers patrolled the streets.
"Hmm, very much the flavor of another world. And judging by the subtle hostility between humans and non-humans, racial tensions here are quite sharp."
Roy took a step forward, continuing to observe this unfamiliar world as he walked down the street.
Passersby instinctively avoided him, and occasionally, members of other races shot him hateful glances. Roy wasn't using any magic—their avoidance stemmed from his attire.
He wore an ornate cardinal's robe, exquisitely crafted from fabric that, at a mere glance, was worlds apart from the coarse linen of the common folk. Adorned with decorative trimmings and intricate gold-and-silver embroidery, Roy unmistakably appeared as nobility—a wealthy and influential aristocrat at that.
Class distinctions existed everywhere, and upon seeing such a nobleman walking the streets, ordinary people naturally kept their distance to avoid any conflict.
"Can you determine where we are, Roy?"
Behind Roy, Aiwass floated ten centimeters above the ground, following him. The holy guardian angel was also curiously surveying this new world as he posed the question.
"I have a rough idea, but I'll need to confirm it."
Roy replied. To everyone else, Aiwass was invisible.
His ears twitched slightly as he listened to the conversations around him.
"An unfamiliar language, but the intonation and grammar feel familiar."
Focusing intently, Roy immersed himself in the surrounding chatter. Before long, he had grasped the local language.
"The intonation and grammar are nearly identical to Japanese, just with different vocabulary. Hmm, the written script is also unique to this place."
Even the most ordinary Campione could master an unfamiliar language in just three days. For someone like Roy, who possessed vast knowledge and mysteries as a Campione, his learning speed was even faster. Moreover, the language here was so similar to Japanese that it barely required any study—he fully grasped it in less than a minute.
"If a Japanese person came here, they'd probably learn the local language quickly and live normally... A parallel world starting from zero, huh?"
Roy roughly confirmed the world he had arrived in, though it differed slightly from the anime's depiction. He remembered the anime portraying this parallel world as also speaking Japanese, but Roy could now be certain that the people here definitely weren't speaking Japanese—just a language nearly identical in tone and grammar.
"As expected, you can't completely trust what's written in books. First, I need to gather some general information about this world and era."
Roy's footsteps halted before what appeared to be a luxurious restaurant.
For gathering information, the best places were the dingy taverns frequented by the lower classes. But to understand the world's broader trends, the ideal location was naturally this kind of high-end establishment, accessible only to the wealthy.
Those filthy lower-class taverns didn't suit Roy's status—this was where he belonged.
With that thought, Roy stepped into the opulent restaurant.
The moment the waiter caught sight of Roy's attire, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over to greet him. Even in modern society, there were cases of judging people by appearances—let alone in this parallel world with its underdeveloped economy and medieval European aesthetic.
"Please have a seat, my lord!"
The waiter wore an ingratiating smile. Roy, long accustomed to high status and authority, carried the commanding presence of someone used to giving orders—an aura impossible for ordinary people to casually imitate.
Roy swept his gaze across the restaurant. Lavishly decorated, each table was arranged in small private booths, making it far quieter than the lower-class taverns. Judging by the diners' attire, most were wealthy merchants or minor nobles. Someone like Roy, who exuded the noble bearing of a high aristocrat, stood out conspicuously.
But then again, true high nobles rarely ventured out casually.
Merchants were adept at reading situations. Those dining cast friendly, slightly deferential smiles Roy's way. Though no one recognized him, showing humility toward someone who so clearly resembled a high noble was never wrong—and with luck, they might even forge a connection with a powerful figure.
Roy ignored their gazes—such indifference was the arrogance befitting a high noble. Following the waiter's guidance, he took a quiet seat near the edge, offering a view of the streets and distant palace complex—a prime vantage point.
No one questioned why Roy was alone without attendants, as though they'd forgotten to consider it.
Before long, a slightly plump man in his forties dressed in shimmering attire approached. With hands clasped before him and a slight bow, he wore the trademark "harmony brings wealth" smile of a merchant as he said, "...Honored sir, this humble one is the proprietor here. Might I inquire as to your needs?"
"Sit. I have some questions for you."
Roy pointed to the chair opposite him while activating [Face of God].
This authority normally operated passively, making people spontaneously feel goodwill and trust toward Roy. But when actively invoked, it became the most terrifying mind-warping magic, capable of instantly turning someone into his devout follower.
Without hesitation, the proprietor obediently took the seat before Roy.
"Tell me, what is this country called?"
Someone who could operate such a luxurious restaurant was clearly well-connected, likely backed by some powerful noble.
"Your lordship, this is the Lionheart Kingdom of Lugunica!"
"The Lionheart Kingdom of Lugunica..."
Roy glanced out the window where flags bearing a lion-like creature flew above the central palace complex.
"I thought it might be the Dragonfriend Kingdom of Lugunica."
Roy chuckled. It seemed he'd arrived slightly earlier than expected.