Sirius had a solution — the crest of the Virelys family — but he didn't want to use it, especially not on the very first day he entered Sephoria City.
Yet, he saw no other option. He had to pass through this door, but the two guards refused to let him through.
Trying to kill them was absolutely out of the question. Not only would he be judged as a criminal, but city guards were, at the very least, in the late stage of the Self Vision realm, and at most, in the early stage of the Completion realm. Beyond that, they weren't even considered simple guards anymore.
Sirius was absolutely not capable of beating two guards at that level. And even if he did, hundreds more stood on the ramparts, ready.
Both guards were slowly advancing toward him, trying to intimidate him.
"Listen, please! I did nothing! Just let me pass!"
"Such a brat. Still trying to enter Sephoria when we already said no! You're courting death, aren't you?"
Think... I need to think of a solution, quickly.
But one of the guards was already very close. People stood behind me. I couldn't retreat. The bastard sword of the guard was already less than a meter away from my neck.
Sirius shouted loudly:
"No one will help me? This is injustice!"
But no one answered. Some looked at him with pity, others with indifference, and some with disdain—probably because of his hair color.
"Goodbye, brat."
The guard raised his sword, ready to strike.
I had no choice but to use it...
I then picked up the crest of the Virelys family and showed it to the guards.
The crest was so bright and clear that everyone, be it guard or persons in the queue saw it, and an absolute silence settled. The two blades engraved on the chest shone brighter than ever. Even the birds stopped singing, as if speaking was now forbidden.
After twenty long seconds, the guards realized that the young man before them wasn't just some red-haired brat, but an honored guest of the Virelys family—the third family of the Ash Realm, with absolute authority.
They immediately bowed before the child, sweat pouring from their faces. They didn't even dare to meet his gaze.
Every guard knew that when someone carried a noble crest, their authority stood far above mundane people, far above guards or even captains.
In fact, the lowest crest granted authority equivalent to the Echo of Resolve realm... and the Virelys family? At least Crimson Step level!
Only ten crests existed per family. Even the Imperial Family wasn't allowed to create more. The man in front of them was one of the ten chosen by the Virelys family! If he ordered it, they would die instantly. No one would question it. The authority of Crimson Step was absolute.
"W-We are truly sorry, my lord! We didn't know you were an Esteemed of the Virelys family! If we had known, we would never have dared to even block your path!"
"We can sever one arm if that may appease your annoyance, my lord!"
Sirius looked at the guards with nothing but pity. They had nearly killed him, and yet with just a token from his friend's family, they had become nothing more than insects.
Sirius's eyes were filled with annoyance too. The way people reacted every time they saw his hair was truly exhausting.
But he would never hide his hair. He would not change just because others foolishly believed in fate. He had no reason to change for that.
Sirius looked behind him. A heavy silence had settled ever since he revealed the Virelys crest. And when he turned back, all the others bowed respectfully toward him. They had already sinned by not helping the young man — they didn't want to further anger him.
And Sirius simply walked past the guards, silent, as if they weren't even worthy of acknowledgment. Then, he said:
"Just stop being guards. You don't deserve that honor."
If it hadn't been him, someone else might have died or never entered Sephoria City. How shameful, that guards — protectors of humanity and bearers of peace — acted like that, all because of his hair.
"At your order, my lord."
Sirius kept walking silently. He hoped no one else would recognize him. He didn't want to be known as a guest of the Virelys family, but as a mercenary — and both didn't go together.
But just as he passed through the door, someone appeared in front of him. He wore a guard's uniform, but with several badges and stars. A middle-aged man with dark hair and blue eyes.
"Salutations, honored guest of the Virelys family. I'm a Grand Officer of Sephoria City, charged with its protection. May I be of service?"
Sirius replied:
"Nothing, thank you. I just want to enjoy my time in Sephoria City on my own, without any comments or injustice because of my hair."
The Grand Officer nodded.
"Then what do you think of a officier-authority crest? You can attach it to your hanfu. All will recognize the badge, and none will dare to comment on your hair."
"I would be truly grateful to have such a badge. Thank you."
The Grand Officer handed him the badge.
"And what of the guards who showed you disrespect? Do you want them dead?"
"No thank you, I've already told them to stop being guards."
"Is that so? Then I'll strip them of their badges and positions."
"Thank you, Grand Officer."
The Grand Officer nodded and disappeared. Sirius attached the crest to his hanfu and continued walking toward the Mercenary Guild. He passed through the gate and finally entered Sephoria City.
The city was beautiful and full of life. Inns were everywhere, and the road was paved with large sculpted stones rather than dirt. Shops weren't in sight though — it seemed they were deeper within the city.
I've finally reached Sephoria City.
Sirius glanced at the Virelys family crest and thought about how powerful it was. He would have to thank Caelan and Aurelia when he saw them again.
Elsewhere.
Behind the gate, which had closed after Sirius passed through, the Grand Officer reappeared in front of the two guards.
They bowed to him.
"Grand Officer, do you have orders for us? Something to do?"
The Grand Officer smiled — a terrifying smile.
"Yes. You have to die."
The two peak-stage guards looked at the Grand Officer in horror — and then their heads were instantly severed.
The Grand Officer then turned to the mundane people who had stood behind the guards.
"You, who disrespected an honored guest of the Virelys family... How dare you still stand, alive, as if nothing happened?"
They ran.
A Grand Officer was at the Echo of Resolve realm. If he caught up to them, they would die instantly.
Unlucky, so unlucky! They had only come to the city to find a job or return to their families. And now they faced the wrath of both a Virelys family guest and a Grand Officer.
They thought they might survive by running, but... as the Grand Officer swung his sword, they all died instantly — cut in two.
Forty people died just like that.
The Grand Officer had cleaved everything in a two-kilometer radius in front of Sephoria City's south gate.