Yesterday, after returning from Sara’s mansion, I spent a relaxing evening with my mom, who came home early for a change. She was surprised to see I had bought cakes, explaining it was thanks to a small windfall from helping someone out. While that was technically true, I couldn’t shake the guilt of keeping so many secrets from her recently.

Today, I pretended to head out early, but in reality, I teleported straight back to my room before using the otherworldly gate to cross over.

Today’s plan? Leave Luxeria and explore new horizons. My options were either heading north to the mountains to hunt dragons or venturing south to visit a seaside town. Both sounded enticing, but I couldn’t decide.

“Alright, when in doubt, let the Staff of Fate decide!”

I retrieved the Staff of Fate from my storage magic. The last time I used it, it led me to Sara and her companions. Let’s hope for another stroke of good fortune!

Plop.

“Alright, the Staff of Fate has spoken—north it is!”

The staff pointed resolutely toward the northern road, guiding me toward the mountains.

For the past three hours, I’ve been sprinting north at speeds faster than most vehicles. Still, the mountains were nowhere in sight.

Currently, running is my primary mode of transportation. While I could theoretically bring over a car or motorcycle from Japan, I’d honestly still be faster on foot. Planes or helicopters might beat me, but there’s no way a high schooler like me could get ahold of those.

Based on the map Sara had shown me, there should be a decent-sized town up ahead where I can rest briefly before continuing to the village near the mountains by evening. Of course, I can’t vouch for the map’s accuracy or my exact travel speed, so these are just rough estimates.

“Oh, I see it at last!”

At around 1 PM, the town finally came into view. I slowed to a walk as I approached. Sprinting at full speed had drawn enough curious looks already, with passersby wondering what on earth I was. Even in this fantastical world, moving that fast seems to be out of the ordinary.

Most of the traffic on the road consisted of horse-drawn wagons—some loaded with goods, others carrying passengers like a shared taxi service. Traveling leisurely in a wagon while enjoying the scenery might not be so bad, though I don’t have the luxury of time right now.

“Show your identification. Entry to this town requires 3,000G.”

Hmm, 3,000G? That’s roughly 1,500 yen. Merchants likely have to pay much more.

“Here, will this pass suffice?”

“…Ah! My deepest apologies! Please, come right in!”

The guard’s demeanor shifted instantly when I presented the pass Sara had given me last time.

“Excuse me, but is this pass particularly rare?”

“Yes, absolutely! This is a First-Class Pass, reserved for royalty or nobles of the highest rank. In fact, the only people I’ve seen carrying it have been accompanied by numerous retainers and traveling in grand carriages. My behavior was unforgivable—please forgive me!”

The guard bowed deeply. Fair enough; it’s understandable he wouldn’t expect someone dressed like me, traveling alone, to possess such a pass. It seems this pass is an extraordinary item.

Back in Luxeria, they let me through without fuss—likely because Sara had informed them in advance. I owe her big time.

“Not at all. I’m neither royalty nor a noble, so please don’t worry about it. Thank you for explaining. I’ll head in now.”

“Thank you for your kindness! Please enjoy your time in Egarton!”

Egarton is a town located to the north of Luxeria, about half the size of the royal capital. The city walls are lower, and the streets are less bustling, with only about half the number of people.

After seeing a city as grand as Luxeria, Egarton feels a bit modest by comparison. Still, its different layout and architecture make exploring it interesting.

“Though, traveling alone does feel a bit lonely.”

In Luxeria, I was always with Sara and her friends. Even with the powers of a Great Mage, walking alone in an unfamiliar town in another world can feel a bit intimidating. Some things never change, no matter how much power I gain.

It’s like being a high schooler traveling solo in a foreign country—except my black hair seems to attract even more attention here.

As I ventured toward the center of the town, I arrived at a large plaza filled with street vendors and stalls. It was just past noon, so it seemed like the perfect spot to grab some lunch.