"Thank you, Miss Sophia." Kazuki gave a slight bow and a gentle smile.
Sophia only nodded faintly before turning away, striding out of the office without looking back.
Kazuki glanced down at the new temporary ID plate in his hand, running his thumb over the engraved letters. Slowly, he made his way toward the door, but before stepping out, he looked back at Cassie.
He offered her a polite smile and a small bow. "Thank you."
Cassie tilted her head, not understanding a word, but her lips curled into a playful smile as she waved him off.
Once Kazuki stepped outside, he took a slow look around.
The street stretched wide, paved with clean, even cobblestones that glistened faintly under the afternoon sun.
People moved briskly on both sides, merchants shouting their offers, wagons rumbling past, the air filled with a mix of baked bread, leather, and faint whiffs of horse.
Man… I'm really in another world, huh?
His gaze swept across the busy road again.
Alright… first thing's first—money.
He reached into his pocket, fingers brushing over the small, cheap gold ring—the same one he'd once planned to use to propose to his girlfriend, before finding out she'd been cheating with another man.
Good thing I put this in my wallet.
Now… I need to figure out how the currency works here. Hopefully it's simple… and they don't try to rip me off.
His eyes followed the foreign signs and shop banners, most of them completely unreadable to him.
Yep… learning this language is going to be my top priority.
Kazuki strolled down the street at an easy pace, letting his eyes drink in the scene.
Bright stalls lined both sides, overflowing with fruits he'd never seen before.
Some shaped like twisted spirals, others glowing faintly as if they had their own inner light. The air carried the mouthwatering scent of roast meat sizzling over open flames, skewers dripping with fat as vendors flipped them with quick, practiced hands.
The people here looked healthy.
Strong builds, tanned skin, clear eyes. Not a single overweight person in sight. Children darted between the stalls, laughing and shouting, weaving through the legs of adults who barely paid them any mind.
Man… I should've asked Miss Sophia where the pawn shop was.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his smartphone. The screen lit up in contrast to the medieval backdrop, and he started recording the bustle around him.
Capturing the colors, the movement, the sound of a world centuries apart from his own.
Yep… I'm gonna keep recording this.
He adjusted his grip on the phone, muttering to himself in his head.
Since there's no data, internet, or GPS here… better switch to power-saving mode. Turn off Wi-Fi, data, and GPS… lower the brightness… yeah, that should do it. I need this phone to last, it's my only way to record everything.
Then he froze mid-step.
Whoa… elf!
Long, silvery hair, pointed ears, smooth pale skin.
The kind of beauty you only saw in games or fantasy art. She was dressed in light leather armor, moving with an effortless grace.
Judging by the sword on her hip and the group around her, several women in different gear and one tall, broad-shouldered man, she was clearly an adventurer.
Oh… a harem, huh? Kazuki smirked internally. That big guy's lucky.
He shifted the phone toward the stalls, still recording.
Nobody even gave him a second glance.
If they noticed at all, they just assumed he was some eccentric holding up a strange little brick while looking around.
Alright… done recording. Gotta turn off the phone now.
Yeah… this is good. Got some videos and pictures, especially that beautiful elf. Lucky.
Now, before I starve, better ask around if anyone knows my language… they call it Kuman, right?
Kazuki smiled and started speaking to the people nearby.
"Anyone can understand me? Hello? I need help?"
A pair of young women glanced at each other.
"Hey… he's talking to us?"
"I think so… but I have no idea what he's saying."
Another woman passing by leaned in.
"Look at him—handsome foreigner."
"Mhm… tall too. Those shoulders…"
"Shame I can't understand a word. Maybe he's lost?"
"Or maybe he's looking for a girl."
Meanwhile, Kazuki kept smiling politely, completely oblivious that half the women in earshot were openly staring at him.
What Kazuki didn't know was that, while he kept glancing around for someone who understood him, almost every pair of female eyes in the area was locked on him.
Whispers passed between them like a breeze.
"He's a noble, right? Look at that outfit, tailored, neat, and clearly expensive. Only a noble family would dress someone like that."
"Maybe he's a cast-out noble," another guessed.
"He's wandering alone, no guards, no servants… definitely has that 'fallen noble' vibe."
"And that face…" one woman's eyes softened. "It's so rare to see someone that handsome in this part of town."
A few younger girls giggled, covering their mouths. "He's cute… but also… handsome. Is that even fair?"
One of them subtly pointed toward another man walking past, tall, well-groomed, considered attractive by local standards.
"See? That guy's good-looking, but…"
The rest shook their heads in agreement.
"Still not as handsome as this black-haired human. His face… his height… even the way he walks, there's something different."
Several women found themselves watching him longer than they intended, following his movements until he disappeared further down the street. To them, Kazuki wasn't just a foreigner, he was a rare sight worth talking about for days.
( End Of Chapter )