As the white light around him slowly faded, Kaito felt his surroundings take form once again. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing on another mini teleportation array inside a hall that looked quite similar to the one he had just left. The familiar pulse of energy still lingered in the air, but the atmosphere here felt different. The officer operating this teleportation array wasn't the same one from before. Kaito immediately understood he had arrived at the Teleportation Hall of the Western Region.
Around him, the NPCs who had teleported together began regaining their balance. They looked slightly tense, some even nervous. As soon as their feet steadied, they quickly dispersed in different directions. None of them dared linger for even a second longer than necessary.
Kaito could easily guess why. His noble status carried a weight that made ordinary NPCs feel pressured. The title of Viscount wasn't one to take lightly, and though Kaito never displayed arrogance, his presence alone demanded respect. For these common NPCs, it was safest to leave quickly before accidentally doing something that could be interpreted as disrespect.
Once the others had hurried off, the officer in charge stepped forward promptly. His movements were quick and disciplined, his head slightly bowed.
"Welcome to the Western Region, Lord Viscount," the officer greeted respectfully.
Kaito gave a small nod, acknowledging him. "Good work," he said simply, before turning toward the exit.
As he walked through the hall, he noticed that this teleportation hall was just as busy as the one in the central region. NPCs came and went in steady streams, some dressed in fine robes, others in uniforms representing different organizations. The soft hum of teleportation magic never stopped, and flashes of white light appeared across the hall in regular intervals.
When Kaito stepped outside, the sunlight greeted him once more, and he immediately noticed the difference in atmosphere. The Western Region of Astralis City had a distinctly different air from the central square. The streets were broader, the buildings grander, and nearly every carriage parked outside the hall looked luxurious.
Elegant horse-drawn carriages, even more luxurious mechanical carriages, lined the streets, each one more ornate than the last. Many bore family crests or the emblems of well-known organizations. Even the carriages of the transport runners those who ferried passengers for a fee were far more luxurious than those in the central region. It was clear that this district catered to the wealthy and the powerful.
Kaito's eyes wandered as he took in the surroundings. He wasn't surprised. The western region was known for being home to the various mansions and estates of Astralis City's high-ranking residents. Many powerful individuals from different organizations had residences here, and even several nobles had chosen to build their private estates in this area.
After the central region where the Duke himself resided, the western region was considered the safest and most prestigious place in the city. Security here was top-tier, and the guards patrolling the streets were clearly of higher rank than those elsewhere.
His gaze shifted again, and in the near distance, he saw a tall, elegant structure rising above the rooftops. It was an eight-story Mage Tower, one of the most prominent landmarks in the western region. The tower belonged to one of Duke Reynard's own disciples a Tier 5 mage.
The faint shimmer of mana around the structure was visible even from afar, creating a subtle haze in the air. The closer one stood to the tower, the denser the mana would be. It was no wonder this area had such vitality. With so many powerful figures living here, even the ambient energy of the region was richer than elsewhere.
As Kaito walked down the paved road, a thought crossed his mind. He finally had cleared some of his doubts.
When he had first met the cloaked woman back in South Glade Town, she had seemed completely ordinary, even shabby. Their meeting had taken place in a hidden alley, in a torn down house, and the room she used had been small, dimly lit, and poorly furnished. She had given off no impression of importance or power at that time. Yet she was the one who had granted him the Magic Swordsman class a class far beyond ordinary standards.
Back then, Kaito had been puzzled. Even though he hadn't yet fully grasped the strength of the class, he could already tell it was extraordinary. A class like Magic Swordsman couldn't possibly be tied to an obscure, nameless NPC living in the backstreets of a town.
Even Kaito had tried to recall, in his previous life, any mention of a high-ranking NPC possessing the Magic Swordsman class, but none came to mind. There had been countless posts and discussions on the forums about powerful NPCs, mages, knights, assassins, and priests etc. Yet, there was never a single mention of a woman with this class. It was as if she didn't exist in the game's records at all. The only known individual recognized for wielding the Magic Swordsman class was a player the one who had got this class.
This mystery had always stayed with him. He had often wondered about her true identity, but the woman herself had never revealed much. Even when he accepted the class, she had kept her hood drawn low, her tone calm and distant. Kaito had sensed that she was hiding something, but he hadn't pressed further.
Now, standing here in the western region, surrounded by luxury and influence, everything suddenly made sense.
If the cloaked woman truly was a high-level Magic Swordsman, then it was only natural that she would possess a residence here. After all, someone of her status would easily qualify for property in this area perhaps even in the central region if she wished.
A faint smile crossed Kaito's lips as he recalled the shabby room in South Glade Town. Back then, he had even assumed it might be the woman's place of seclusion, but now his speculation was confirmed.
The cloaked woman clearly preferred to remain low-key. She had deliberately hidden her identity, choosing to live in a modest place away from attention. That choice alone spoke volumes about her personality.
Realizing this, Kaito's curiosity eased, though not entirely. He still had questions about her true identity, but he was certain that once he reached a higher level, the answers would naturally come perhaps the woman herself would reveal them then.
Clearing his thoughts, Kaito took out the letter she had left him earlier and checked the address once again to confirm it. After making sure, he carefully folded the letter and placed it back into his inventory. Straightening his posture, he turned toward the carriage ferry parked nearby and began walking in its direction.
When Kaito reached the place where the carriages were parked, he saw several carriage drivers standing quietly beside their vehicles. Unlike the carriage drivers in other regions of the city, who shouted and called out to attract customers like street vendors, the drivers here behaved with calm discipline.
As this was the Western Region, home to nobles and wealthy citizens. The drivers here understood the kind of people they served. They stood respectfully, their postures straight, maintaining proper etiquette. It wasn't just about offering a ride it was about presenting themselves with enough composure to earn the trust of a noble passenger.
Kaito's eyes swept over the rows of carriages. Some were luxuriously decorated with gold-trimmed wheels or fine velvet interiors, while others were simpler in design. After a moment of thought, he decided to choose one of the more ordinary-looking carriages clean, well-maintained, but without unnecessary extravagance.
As he approached, the driver standing beside it immediately noticed him. His expression shifted from calm to respectful recognition as he quickly bowed.
"Greetings, my lord Viscount," the man said earnestly. "How may I be of service to you?"
Kaito nodded slightly, his tone even. "I'd like to go to this address." He handed the driver a small parchment that he had copied the destination address on.