This city, encircled by towering walls, is known as Orario.
It is not just in name but in truth the center of the world, the largest city in existence, and home to a vast underground labyrinth. For this reason, it is often called "Labyrinth City Orario."
After passing through the eastern gate, Ryoji made his way along the eastern main street.
Orario is divided into eight main streets, or "radials," which stretch from the city's heart toward the massive walls in eight distinct directions.
From above, the city resembles a colossal round cake, neatly sliced into eight equal parts by these streets.
As Andra had explained, each street is identified by its direction. Since Ryoji had entered from the east gate, the path before him was naturally the eastern street.
The first thing to catch his eye as he stepped onto the street was a grand, ancient Roman-style coliseum.
The arena stood directly opposite the eastern street, its southern gate facing the main thoroughfare. Armored warriors streamed in and out, their movements accompanied by the distant roar of the crowd within.
Flanking the street were numerous shops and residences, most constructed of stone. Every few buildings, narrow alleys branched off, leading to the labyrinthine network of backstreets, giving the area an open yet intricate feel.
The pedestrians were a diverse mix: humans, Beastmen, Dwarves, Spirits, Elves, and other Demi-Humans. Some appeared to be ordinary citizens, while others were clad in dazzling armor and weapons.
Among the crowd, a few figures stood out, exuding an aura of undeniable authority.
Those were the gods.
The moment Ryoji saw them, he recognized their identities.
Each carried a unique presence, a subtle yet unmistakable sense of power—likely the Divine Power Andra had mentioned.
Despite their divine nature, they blended seamlessly with the crowd, their Divine Power sealed to appear almost human.
As Ryoji walked, both humans and Demi-Humans alike cast admiring glances his way, respectfully stepping aside to let him pass.
His striking appearance left little doubt in their minds: he could only be a god.
A few passing deities glanced at him with puzzled expressions, as if trying to recall if they had ever encountered him in the divine realm.
Some even attempted to approach him, but Ryoji ignored them entirely, striding purposefully down the main street toward the city's center.
The onlookers could only watch in disappointment as he moved on.
At the very heart of Orario, where the eight main streets converged, lay a vast central square.
The square was paved with stone bricks, adorned with meticulously maintained gardens and grand fountains. At its center stood an immense tower, its peak lost in the clouds.
This tower rose from the very core of Orario, a towering monument visible from the moment one entered the city. It was a sight both sacred and awe-inspiring.
Constructed of pure white stone, the tower's base spanned at least three hundred meters in diameter. Its height was impossible to gauge, and the number of floors it contained remained a mystery.
"This is the Tower of Babel," Ryoji murmured. "And directly beneath it lies the underground labyrinth... but this isn't what I'm here for."
His gaze lingered on the tower, impressed by its scale but unshaken. Coming from a modern world, he was no stranger to grand architecture, and the sight, while breathtaking, did not overwhelm him.
Having determined the cardinal directions, Ryoji's gaze settled on the northwest street, and he began to walk down it.
After advancing just three hundred meters, a grand building came into view.
Situated along the northwest street, adjacent to the towering white Tower of Babel, the structure faced the main thoroughfare with an air of spaciousness and importance. At that moment, numerous well-dressed adventurers were coming and going, all treating the place with deep reverence.
"This is the Guild headquarters," Ryoji confirmed, stepping through the entrance.
—〈Guild〉.
In essence, it was the administrative body responsible for overseeing the operations of Labyrinth City Orario. Its authority extended across various domains, allowing it to intervene in nearly any matter within the city.
The grand building before him was the Guild's central headquarters in Orario.
Passing through the main entrance, Ryoji found himself in the front courtyard of the Guild headquarters, surrounded by imposing statues. Crossing the courtyard, he entered the main hall, constructed entirely of pure white marble.
The floor was a blend of white and blue, adorned with intricate circular engravings. The polished marble gave the surface a smooth, almost reflective quality. The walls were lined with numerous bulletin boards, each covered in parchment notices, while people bustled beneath them, reading and discussing.
The hall was vast, easily capable of accommodating a thousand people without feeling cramped.
Though the architecture bore a sense of timelessness, it subtly incorporated modern elements, blending styles to create a unique, otherworldly atmosphere befitting the city.
Ryoji scanned the area, ignoring the curious glances from the crowd, and made his way to the service counter for Guild staff, approaching the window.
"Hello, excuse me. I'd like to apply for... huh? Are you a god?"
The staff member at the window was a human girl with shoulder-length pink hair, tied into a neat bun at the back of her head.
She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with a doll-like face. Dressed in the Guild staff uniform— a white shirt paired with a sleeveless suit jacket and long pants— she looked both adorable and professional.
The girl had been reciting her usual lines with practiced ease, but when she looked up, her eyes widened as if the world had suddenly brightened.
"I'm human, and I wish to join a Familia. Could you tell me the process?"
'Relying on looks alone, he'd be fine.' Misha almost blurted out the thought but caught herself, realizing how impolite it would sound.
But could he really not be a god?
Misha studied the boy before her carefully. Even someone like her, who had interacted with gods for years, could confidently say that 99% of male deities didn't possess such striking features. He could easily make countless girls fall for him just by walking down the street.
He didn't seem to be a naturally beautiful Spirit or half-Elf, as he lacked the pointed ears characteristic of their kind... Could such an extraordinary mutation occur among humans?
"Hello, are you listening?"
"Oh, um, yes... you want to join a Familia, right?"
Misha snapped back to reality and quickly straightened her posture.
"I'm not sure what kind of Familia you're interested in. Commercial, artisan, agricultural? Or perhaps exploration?"
The conversation had begun, and the quiet weekend atmosphere seemed to settle in. Perhaps this was how it should be every weekend or holiday.
(End of Chapter)
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