New Era — 21 years before.
Northern Countries - Yurul Region.
...On the cliff, looking at the lake city Oisast that appeared before him, Gut's tired eyes finally showed a hint of relief.
Real-life journeys are not as easy as watching a show; a few simple panel transitions in a manga often translate to several days of travel in reality.
Especially in a Western fantasy magic world setting like this, a journey spanning several cities means facing not only the immense power of nature but also constantly guarding against monsters and beasts that attack travelers in the wild.
Even though Gut chose the relatively safer method of traveling with a caravan, the journey so far had been fraught with danger, requiring him to maintain a constant state of tension.
But thankfully, these days of apprehension could temporarily come to an end.
Oisast, outside the city.
The caravan, as usual, stopped its wagons for inspection by the guards. However, after confirming that the caravan's goods were fine, the guards did not directly let the caravan members into the city as before. Instead, they stopped each member one by one, checking their identity documents individually.
"This is troublesome."
Gut frowned slightly. Since he had transmigrated in the flesh and had been living a reclusive life after arriving in this world, hiding in an abandoned Monastery, cultivating in secret, and keeping a low profile.
Gut had never gotten around to dealing with identity documents, or rather, he hadn't even thought about solving the problem.
After all, on this continent, various countries and forces stood side by side. Except for the Empire, most villages and cities never had the custom of verifying the identities of those passing through.
If Gut hadn't calculated, based on the time the Hero and his party successfully defeated the Demon King, that this year would be when Serie would make a public appearance, establish the Continental Magician's Association, and recruit disciples, Gut would not have chosen to leave the Monastery and enter the world, but would have continued to lay low until he was fully developed.
After all, in Frieren's world, powerful, monstrous Demon Beasts were not uncommon, and a very few strong ones even possessed the ability to predict the future.
Having transmigrated to another world and gained a powerful golden finger, Gut didn't want to be targeted by Demon Generals or the Seven Sages of Destruction too early and be casually wiped out before he had a chance to grow.
"Sir, please disarm and present your identity documents!"
Beside him, the guard's words called Gut's mind back.
Watching the city guard approach step by step, Gut had no choice but to put down the holy scripture in his hand, obediently raise his hands to cooperate, and state that his identity documents were accidentally lost during a struggle with a monster on the road.
The guard raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Gut from head to toe. Although his expression showed some surprise, it wasn't overly astonished.
After all, losing identity documents, while far from common, still happened to some unlucky person every now and then.
The guard took a few careful glances at the holy scripture Gut had put down, thought for a moment, then turned to ask his superior for instructions.
"What is it now?"
The guard captain had a sour look on his face, grumbling impatiently as he watched the guard jog over.
This year, it seemed there was going to be some major activity in the city, and even the lord himself had personally ordered him to strengthen the city defenses.
Therefore, the city gate entrance, which had always been managed rather loosely, began to verify the identities of all entrants one by one.
Not only did the workload suddenly increase severalfold, but he also had to bear more responsibility than usual. It was understandable that anyone in his position wouldn't look pleased.
"Lord Origi, a gentleman wishing to enter the city has lost his identity documents. I specifically ask for your instructions on whether to grant him passage."
"Lost his identity documents? How troublesome..."
"Why not just throw him in jail? Those people are much more efficient at interrogating than I am."
The guard captain grumbled all the way forward. Upon reaching Gut, his sharp gaze suddenly fixed on him.
The sudden burst of killing intent made Gut instinctively swallow, and his body unconsciously took two steps back.
"Heh, just a greenhorn..."
The guard captain's vigilance largely dropped, and he glanced at the holy scripture in Gut's hand, then completely relaxed.
"A young monk, huh..."
"Alright, just release a Goddess Magic to prove yourself. As long as you can cast it, you may enter the city."
"Okay."
Seeing that the guard captain wasn't making things difficult for him regarding the identity documents, Gut let out a long sigh of relief.
He skillfully opened the "Chapter of Divine Judgment Fire" in the holy scripture he held. With a slight injection of magic, three pure white lights shot out from the book, tracing three elegant arcs across the sky before slowly dissipating.
"Goddess's Three Spears, huh..."
The guard captain murmured slowly, "Such a youthful temperament, to start with an offensive Goddess Magic."
"I was hoping to get a free 'Healing Spell' or 'Disease Identification Spell'..."
Ignoring the guard captain's mumbling, Gut bowed slightly to him, then strode past the city gate and entered the city of Oisast.
Shortly after Gut entered the city, all members of the caravan had also completed their identity verification one by one and gathered not far from inside the city.
Gut stepped forward, greeted the caravan leader, and received the payment he was due for escorting the caravan on this journey.
However, given that all logistics and supplies along the way were provided by the caravan, and Gut's main purpose was to hitch a ride, the pre-agreed remuneration was not much, only five silver coins.
But when Gut glanced at the pattern on the silver coins in his hand and realized they were Shtral silver coins, he couldn't help but be stunned.
He glanced at the caravan leader; this employer was quite generous.
After all, Shtral silver coins were among the highest silver content coins circulating in the Central Countries.
These five Shtral silver coins, if one haggled a bit with the shopkeeper when buying things, could essentially be used as six silver coins.
"Mr. Chaoke, our caravan still needs to resupply within Oisast and is expected to stay for some time. Are you sure you don't want to consider accompanying us on your subsequent journey?"
"As for the remuneration, I will settle the portion of the subsequent journey with you at the normal guard price."
The caravan leader spoke, trying to persuade him to stay. After all, the position of a Monk had always been relatively scarce and sought after, and any leader would try to recruit one into their team if possible.
After all, if there was a reliable logistician in the team, the warriors on the front lines would have a few more points of confidence when facing enemies.
"No, thank you for your kind offer, but I still have unfinished business in this city."
Gut politely refused the caravan leader's invitation. Before becoming Serie's disciple, he didn't want to form too many connections with other people, to avoid accumulating too much karma and being captured by the Demon's prophecy magic.
Therefore, even when interacting with the caravan members during the journey, Gut had always referred to himself by the fake name "Chaoke" that he had come up with casually.
In fact, even the holy scripture Gut held was merely a cover for his identity as a Magician.
Seeing Gut's firm refusal, the caravan leader could only bid him farewell with regret.
After saying goodbye to the caravan, Gut put away the silver coins, pulled down the brim of his hat a bit further, and walked along the path, taking advantage of the midday sun to enjoy the scenery of the lake city Oisast, and along the way, looked for a suitable inn to stay.
Walking along the path, as Gut strolled to a quiet park, suddenly, a refreshing breeze blew from the lake, stirring up a pleasant scent of grass and a faint floral fragrance from the surroundings.
However, this breeze did not slowly subside with time; instead, the wind force gradually increased.
"Hmm?"
Gut reached up to press down his hat, but inadvertently caught sight of a delicate lady's hat being blown towards him by the breeze.
Without hesitation, Gut reached out and caught the lady's hat that had been blown away by the wind, then turned it over to carefully examine its style and the pattern drawn on it.
"Good material and craftsmanship. It seems the owner is most likely a wealthy woman."
After a brief analysis, Gut picked up the hat and walked in the direction the wind had blown it, intending to return the hat to its owner.
"Da-da-da-"
As a Series of hurried footsteps gradually approached, Gut looked in the direction of the sound. It seemed that this task of finding the owner would not be complicated.
However, upon seeing the approaching person, Gut's expression couldn't help but become momentarily dazed.
"Hello, sir, this is my wife's hat. Thank you for picking it up for us."
"I see. It's your wife's hat, no wonder it's a lady's style. Please keep it safe."
Gut feigned a sigh of relief, smiling as he handed the hat to the formally dressed gentleman wearing a monocle.
"Ding!"
"Daily Quest: Lakukan satu perbuatan baik setiap hari completed."
After receiving the system's prompt, Gut pulled down his hat brim again, nodded slightly to the man in front of him, and then turned and left alone.
However, even after Gut's figure had walked far away, the gentleman still held his wife's hat, his gaze fixed intently on the direction where Gut had disappeared.
"Denken!"
"Hoo-hoo-hoo-"
Suddenly, a pleasant female voice sounded behind the gentleman. Upon hearing the voice of his wife, Lekti Lei, Denken's furrowed brows naturally relaxed, and when he turned to look at his wife, his face was already smiling.
"Eh~ My hat has been found."
Lekti Lei looked at Denken's hand in surprise, took the hat, her eyes curving into a smile, and leaned against her husband.
"Yes, my dear. But the person who found the hat wasn't me, but a passing gentleman."
Denken said, handing the lady's hat in his hand to his wife.
"Is that so? Then I wish that kind gentleman also has a wonderful day."
Lekti Lei said as she put the hat back on her head.
To prevent it from being blown away again, she specifically asked her husband Denken to pat the top of the hat a few times for her.
"But Denken, do you have something on your mind? You seem distracted."
After adjusting her hat, Lekti Lei observed her husband's expression, tilting her head and asking curiously.
"Am I that obvious?" Denken chuckled helplessly, took his wife's hand, and explained.
"Indeed, I am a bit bothered by what just happened."
"I always feel that kind gentleman... seemed to know me, but... I have absolutely no impression of him."
"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it anymore!"
Lekti Lei looked at Denken holding her hand, pouted at her husband, then, taking advantage of Denken's momentary daze, suddenly exerted force with her hand, pulling Denken and running in one direction.
"Lekti Lei?"
"Hm~ hm~"
"Denken, I heard there's a particularly delicious restaurant in this city, Oisast. Don't think about anything else, come with me to find some good food."
"..."
"Yes, if you wish."