Kaito's surprise deepened. This discovery further confirmed what he had already begun to suspect the cloaked woman he had met before was definitely not an ordinary NPC.
Her living space alone carried the mark of someone powerful and knowledgeable. The stronger the evidence became, the more Kaito's curiosity about her true identity grew.
Still, as he walked further in, another contrast struck him. Despite the incredible mana density and the subtle but overwhelming aura of strength that filled the mansion, the interior was not lavishly decorated either.
The rooms were wide, the hallways tall, and the architecture intricate but just like the outside, the decorations were few. Yet those few that existed were extraordinary.
A single vase placed on a side table shimmered faintly with embedded mana stones; a wall tapestry displayed a handwoven depiction of a battle between humans and the abyss beasts, each thread carrying faint traces of enchantment. Even the floor tiles beneath his boots seemed to be carved from high-grade obsidian stone polished to perfection.
Each item, though placed sparsely, radiated quiet value. None of these were things a normal noble could afford.
Kaito realized then that the lack of decoration wasn't due to lack of wealth it was restraint. Whoever lived here valued purpose and strength over appearance.
As he took in his surroundings, the maid led him down a corridor branching off near the entrance. Her pace was steady, her movements graceful but precise clearly, she was used to following a strict standard.
Finally, she stopped before a side room and turned toward Kaito. Opening the door, she stepped slightly aside and gestured for him to enter.
"Please, young master," she said respectfully. "This is the guest chamber. My mistress will meet you here shortly."
Kaito gave a small nod. "Alright."
He stepped into the room, and the maid quietly went out closing the door behind her.
The guest chamber was modest in size but carried the same quiet refinement as the rest of the mansion. A low table stood at the center, with a few comfortable seats arranged around it. A teapot sat waiting, faint wisps of steam rising from it, filling the room with the aroma of magic herbs.
Kaito chose one of the seats made of polished darkwood and padded with monster hide and lowered himself into it. As soon as he sat down, he noticed how soft and smooth the surface felt. Curious, he brushed his hand over the seat's cover, his fingers tracing the texture.
The hide was warm to the touch and carried faint traces of mana. Kaito instantly recognized it wasn't ordinary material.
"This texture… it's from a wolf-type monster," he thought, examining it more carefully. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face. "And judging by the mana traces, this isn't from a low-ranked one. This might be from a Tier 5, maybe even a Tier 6 wolf."
He ran his hand over it again, feeling the faint energy still pulsing through the fur. The craftsmanship was excellent, the hide perfectly preserved without losing its natural strength or mana.
Even among nobles, items made from high-tier monster materials were rare most couldn't afford them.
For this mansion to have seats made from such materials confirmed once again that its owner was no ordinary figure.
Although such details might seem like small decorations to an ordinary person, in Kaito's previous life, these subtle things were often used as a way to judge one's true power and hidden strength.
As Kaito quietly observed the details of the guest chamber the subtle arrangement of furniture, the flow of mana in the room, and the faint hum from the mana circle beneath the floor the sound of the door opening drew his attention.
He turned his head, and the person he had been waiting for finally appeared.
It was the woman.
However, unlike before, she was no longer wearing the dark cloak that had concealed her identity back in South Glade Town. Instead, she was dressed in simple but elegant medieval clothing light fabric, comfortable in design, yet still carrying a quiet grace. Her long hair fell naturally over her shoulders, and her expression was calm, composed, and slightly distant.
The woman before him was striking in every sense. Her hair was a soft shade of blue that shimmered faintly under the light, and her eyes, the same calm blue, carried a depth like still water, serene, yet impossible to read. Her features were perfectly sculpted, refined to the point where, if she were to appear outside, she could easily be mistaken for a top-tier celebrity.
Even so, there was something about her that unsettled Kaito. When he saw her face, a faint sense of familiarity stirred in his mind, but he couldn't grasp what it was. Her gaze was calm, but no one would dare to look into her eyes for long, the quiet power radiating from her was completely unrestrained. Even with all the experience from his previous life, Kaito couldn't judge just how strong this woman truly was.
Following behind her was the same maid who had escorted Kaito inside earlier. She carried a tray in her hands and moved with practiced precision.
The woman took a seat across from Kaito, sitting on the low cushioned chair at the other side of the table. The maid followed silently, pouring steaming tea into two finely carved cups placed in front of them. The faint scent of magic herbs spread through the air, mixing with the natural mana around them.
The woman's gaze settled on Kaito. For a brief moment, she studied him, her eyes showing a faint glimmer of approval. Then, she gave a small nod.
"I didn't expect you to arrive here so soon," she said softly. Her voice carried a faint, natural authority neither too cold nor too warm.
She took a sip of her tea before continuing, "Now that you're here, I assume you've come for your class advancement quest, haven't you?"
Kaito nodded slightly. "Yes," he replied in a calm tone. "I've reached a bottleneck in my strength and would like to proceed with my advancement."
The woman smiled faintly, as if satisfied with his straightforward answer.
Hearing her speak so naturally still amazed him slightly, but he wasn't surprised. Glory was different from other games. Once players left the novice zones small towns and villages and reached the city stage, the NPCs they met were unlike the simple quest givers they were used to.
Every conversation felt alive. The NPCs responded with fluidity, their tone and behavior indistinguishable from real people. Even an ordinary city guard or street merchant could hold a realistic conversation, sometimes even showing emotions and opinions.
That was what made Glory so immersive and what made it dangerous too.
So, to Kaito, this conversation wasn't unexpected. He simply focused on the woman's words.
The woman placed her cup down and leaned back slightly, her expression growing serious.
"Before you begin your advancement," she said, "there are a few things you must understand."
Her eyes seemed to shine faintly under the room's light.
"Our lineage, the path of the Magic Swordsman, is not like other professions. It's a rare and special power one that doesn't follow the normal rules of growth. Because of that, the power it grants is also different. To truly advance and unlock the full potential of this class, you'll need to make a choice."
Her tone was calm but carried a hidden weight.
As soon as she finished speaking, a faint sound rang out in Kaito's ears like the chime of a system bell. A ripple of light appeared before him, and a semi-transparent panel slowly unfolded in midair.