It was a long ride, though it might've been shorter if they'd taken that Kaiju Cassowary instead.
The Greatest Glider descended in a gust of wind, its wings sending up waves of dust before lifting away once Ispulgasa detached the cabin from its back. He lowered it to the ground with surprising gentleness despite its massive weight. Randy could only assume Ispulgasa had used magic to enhance his strength.
Randy turned to X-Haria as they both stepped out of the cabin-sized carriage and sat down on the soft grass. X-Haria hovered just above the blades of grass, crossing her legs in a floating "sitting" pose.
"Can all people use magic to enhance their strength like that?"
Randy asked, curiosity lacing his tone.
"Depends on what you want to use your magic for."
X-Haria replied.
"There's freedom in magic... but, the more you focus on one skill, the more your mana adapts to it. It's like devoting your life to a single craft; you become a master, but good luck doing anything else after that."
Randy nodded thoughtfully and looked ahead. Ispulgasa and Harinezumi were waving goodbye to the departing glider, which vanished into the horizon. The two then approached Randy and X-Haria.
Harinezumi gave a quiet, unimpressed scoff before stepping through the towering gates, massive things that seemed to have no guards at all. Ispulgasa, meanwhile, smiled and clasped his hands together.
"Welcome to Vasity Chunk, Kind souls."
He offered his hands to help the pair up, then gestured toward the gate. The archway stretched high enough for a sauropod to walk through. Its bronze hinges were welded in place, almost as if the gates were meant to stay open forever. an invitation.
The trio stepped inside. Vasity Chunk was enormous. Sunlight spilled through wide glass domes embedded into the city's architecture, illuminating cobblestone paths that curved into multiple districts. The air carried the mingled scents of roasted fruits, metallic oil, and incense.
To their left stood the Bhelogowary Stables, where handlers brushed the thick, shimmering feathers of the great birds. The creatures stood two stories tall, their claws trimmed with gold caps. Nearby, a few regular horses grazed lazily, tiny in comparison.A merchant shouted something about "fresh carrots, imported from Terra Magna!" and the scent of hay mixed with faint ozone as a stablehand demonstrated how to channel mana through reins.
To their right stretched the marketfront, alive with chatter. Merchants sold everything from fruits encased in honeyed amber to polished mana stones that glowed faintly in the light. The streets were paved with smooth tiles that reflected the sky like glass, and each stall seemed to have its own miniature weather bubble raining lightly over one, sunny over another.
Randy tried to take it all in. The colors, the smells, the sheer absurdity of the place. But Ispulgasa's polite throat-clearing snapped him back.
"Kind souls, forgive me for setting a limit on your stay."
he said, his usual kindness stiffened by duty.
"You have business with Lady Harinezumi. Two hours should suffice. When your time is up, report to the castle, they'll let you in by name alone. Oh, and you can't do much without gold. Two hundred each."
He handed each of them a small pouch before stepping away. His smile remained, but the tone in his voice carried a rare seriousness.
Randy and X-Haria exchanged a look, shrugged, and began walking down the shopping street, in the opposite direction from Ispulgasa.
"So these coins just kinda... sink into your body?"
Randy asked, rubbing his thumb and pinky together with a soft snap. A small pouch appeared in front of him, filled with gold coins.
"And you can pull them out again by doing that?"
"Pretty much."
X-Haria said, Arms crossed
"And I thought I told you to save questions for later. I'm trying to enjoy this place."
"Eh? You're a Helper, though. Haven't you seen all this before?"
"Nope."
X-Haria sighed, floating along beside him.
"On paper, you're actually the first human I've ever been assigned to."
Randy blinked.
"Could've sworn you said something that contradicted that before, but whatever."
"I expected that answer. You're predictable."
"I'm not that predictable."
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
Randy rubbed his nose and scanned the area. The road curved into a quieter section where old-fashioned stalls replaced the tidy storefronts. Inns lined the corners, and groups of people haggled over odds and ends. A few kids gathered around a street stand, coating fruits and nuts in honey.
"You see that?"
Randy said, pointing toward them.
"What about it?"
X-Haria asked.
"They're making Egyptian candy straight from around 2500 BCE."
X-Haria turned her head toward the stall. A small red gear spun in her iris and disappeared.
"Huh. Guess you're right."
"You got some kind of search-engine power or something?"
Randy asked.
"Yep. Helper Exclusive"
One of the kids noticed them staring and ran over, holding a book.
"Mister! You look just like the guy in this story!"
Randy squinted, taking the book
"That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Sludge? ...How the hell is this here?"
X-Haria peered over his shoulder.
"Probably someone who reincarnated here decided to make a profit by rewriting it."
"That's... actually smart."
Randy grinned.
"X-Haria, mind giving me a mirror so I can see this resemblance myself?"
"You may not."
"Thanks—wait, what?"
"Not when it's something you can find yourself."
Before Randy could complain further, the kid tugged his sleeve.
"I can make you a mirror, mister!"
The boy drew a glowing circle in the air, pressed his palms together, and blew, like a glassblower shaping molten sand. Mana solidified into a shimmering mirror.
"Cool. Thanks."
Randy took it and smiled at his reflection.
"Woah! I do look like that Rumuri's guy! Maybe I'll be a lord like him!"
"Doubt it."
X-Haria muttered.
"Maybe I'll have my own kingdom before leaving this world."
"Never happening."
"The only thing I hope."
Randy continued, ignoring her
"is not to end up as overpowered as him. That'd just make everyone want to fight me. And if bad people tried copying me... they'd probably ruin everything. I want to leave this world someday, but not as the guy who broke it."
The kid cleared his throat.
"Uh, mister? Can I have my book back?"
"Oh, right."
Randy handed it back, then smiled.
"Hey, could you teach me how to do that mirror thing?"
"You mean making items from thin air?"
the kid asked, eyes glinting.
"Yeah! That was awesome."
"Well, it'll cost you."
the boy said.
"You'll have to buy something from my friend's stand first. Come on, I'll show you."
He dragged Randy toward the candy stall, where another kid with purple hair stood behind the counter.
"Reclusé, I brought a customer!"
The girl nodded.
"I Appreciate it, Nova."
She smiled politely at Randy and X-Haria.
"Welcome to my ancient candy stand, where I sell ancient candies... that are, well, ancient."
Randy leaned forward.
"Ah, yes. What a fine selection you have here, young lady. One gold piece each, I assume?"
"Why are you talking like that?"
X-Haria said flatly.
"You're not royalty."
"Oh please, X-Haria."
Randy said, puffing his chest out.
"When have you not seen me speak with class? I may not be a king, but I've got the gold of one."
He rubbed his thumb and pinky together, a golden pouch appeared in his hand.
"Two hundred coins, to be exact."
The kids exchanged a glance.
"Now then."
Randy continued proudly.
"how much for the honey nut? Surely just one gold?"
"Fifty."
Reclusé said.
"Ah yes, fifty, amateur money."
...
... ...
... ... ...
"...What?"
Randy froze.
"You just said it was one gold!"
Reclusé leaned on the counter, a cheeky smile on her face.
"Whatever do you mean, mister? It's always been fifty. Or was it a hundred?"
Nova nodded, casually flipping the sign from 50 To 100.
"YOU'RE CHANGING IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!"
Randy shouted.
"How can you tell? Your eyes are closed!"
Reclusé said smugly.
...
"They are?"
He turned to X-Haria, who was now a floating orb, pretending not to watch, and sighed.
"Nova, think you could make that mirror again?"
"It'll cost you."
Nova replied with a grin.
"I've come to accept you're both scam artists."
Randy said.
He took the mirror, looked at his reflection, and frowned.
"Huh. My eyes really are closed. Weird that I can still see fine."
The mirror dissolved in his hands.
"Okay. 100 it is."
"Two hundred."
Reclusé said cheerfully.
...
... ...
... ... ...
Randy's soul left his body for a brief second. He dropped the entire sack on the counter.
"…Do your parents know you're robbing travelers blind?"
"I don't have any parents."
Reclusé said, still smiling.
"So no one to tell."
...
... ...
... ... ...
"... Sorry."
"Don't be!"
Nova snickered while counting the coins. Then he tossed a wooden board to Randy.
"There. The mirror lesson. Thanks for the money, chump."
Randy sighed, picking up the orb that was X-Haria. She pulsed softly, sleeping.
"Thanks... I guess."
He walked deeper into the alleys, reading the board.
"'Hypen Style: Mirror'... So there are levels to this magic stuff."
Distracted, he bumped into someone. A towering figure in full metal armor loomed over him, cold air seeping from the gaps in the plates.
"Sorry."
Randy said quickly.
"Wasn't looking."
"Its quite alright."
The voice was mechanical, emotionless. Randy couldn't tell if the person inside was even alive.
"Did you see a girl running a sweet stand nearby?"
"Yeah. Down that way."
The knight nodded and marched off, murmuring something about "the ruler."
Randy blinked, then looked at X-Haria, who had reformed beside him.
"What's his deal?"
"A knight of the kingdom."
she said.
"He's looking for the ruler… apparently."
"Hmph." Randy exhaled, stepping past the corner. Ahead, a dim sign swung in the breeze
Molten Mug Tavern.