A floor as big as our library, some elevator-like artifacts in one corner that led to different floors, reception desks, and waiting areas with people of different statuses.
Though there were long lines, there was barely anyone in some special reception rooms for nobles and higher-paying customers.
A standard setting, if I said so myself.
This was a good place and this look, those countless rooms on each floor and outer offices with countless files and paperwork were something I liked to witness for the first time.
We two were following Rein and there were different lines for commoners, merchants, adventurers, official folks with argent work, and some special desks for high-ranking nobles and their workers.
Without wasting any time and passing by all other lines, we stood before the higher noble counter and the receptionist looked at her with a serious expression.
Her eyes were enough to tell she was annoyed to see some children playing around in a busy place like this and that the guards behind her were just waiting for her orders to take care of us.
But, as soon as Rein took out a purple metallic card, decorated with fine gold, she flinched visibly.
The sudden change of emotions on her face was so dramatic that even the guards behind her fell confused and one of them tried to move forward.
But she just raised her hand and stopped him from moving.
Taking Rein's card with shaking hands, she put it on a scanning artifact that could check the authenticity of the document.
I had seen these devices, and we even had some in the artifact room, thrown like trash.
And, when the information on the card was displayed before her on a screen like a holographic screen, cold sweat ran down her back.
"F-forgive me for my rudeness earlier. P-please tell us what you need and we will prepare it right away." She said and gave the card back with both hands still shaking.
I had to say, this was an extraordinary scene.
I knew the gap between nobles and commoners was quite huge but, to react like this just in the presence of one was my first time.
I didn't want anyone to behave like this with me, and if it was only my status, then I had no problem giving up on it.
Humans are easier to understand when you can freely work, talk and live with them.
And I had enough experience to understand these worst beings.
Rein just sighed and took back the card from her hand and stored it in her storage device.
"A special room without any mage. And make it as quick as possible." Rein said in a somewhat authoritative tone and the receptionist nodded with a still shaking body.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtPicking up an ancient telephone like an artifact, she covered the other end and her mouth with her hand and quietly conversed with the one on the other side.
Her eyes were wide, her heartbeat faster, and the tension in her throat, body, and forehead was easy to understand.
As if a common subject facing a king, she was terrified of making another mistake that might most probably take her life.
Being a noble, and a high-ranking one was an even bigger thing than I had thought.
And just what kind of identification card did she use to make this receptionist so terrified like this?
Well, who cares?
"P-please, this way. I w-will guide you to your room." Saying that, she hurriedly stood up and walked out of the wooden counter and stood before us.
Rein didn't like this one too, and I could feel that she was just going on with whatever was happening right now.
She looked back at us and shook her head with a sigh, and I just nodded.
Looks like she forgot what had happened some time ago. Actually, what happened? I was still clueless.
"Let's go," Rein ordered, and the female receptionist with gray hair and black eyes started walking forward.
I just grabbed Zoe's hand as we walked behind them.
Standing on the round elevator, the receptionist clicked on some of the buttons in a set order and the lift... started going down?
Was there an underground structure too?
'My passive detection didn't pick anything. Looks like they did good work with making this place.'
I was confident in my passive detection and if something can deflect Mana was protecting this undergrad structure then...
(: Scan)
I used my Solnova detection magic and... there actually was another floor, bigger than the one underground in this building.
'Wow... I should check every place before entering. Mana might be too old to have counters even in places like this.'
I haven't lived with humans in this world much but, it will take me a while to understand this world as it was.
Being in a forbidden zone, the great forest at that, for that long, would have been an unbelievable thing for any normal human, and maybe they would have just reacted like a forest man after coming back.
Thanks to grandma, and having lived among my race for a long, I knew the things and behavior of a 'normal' human.
And Zoe had all the knowledge, so she learned at a speed that no mortal would understand.
She understood everything happening at the moment, so she was doing well on her own, so I had no need to worry about her.
Rein was in her character too, so I was just observing the new floor we had just entered.
This place was the same as any floor we could see on the outside, but there were magic lights making this place as bright as the outside.
We walked through the straight corridor and stopped at one of the doors identical to any other wooden road on this floor.
"H-have a safe talk~." The receptionist bowed and walked back to the elevator in hurried steps and just stood there.
"Well, sorry for earlier, Eon. Let's first talk to master Zahavi and resolve this matter," she said as soon as we entered the room and I closed the door behind me.
What was she sorry about again?
"Well, ok. But, don't apologize. You did nothing wrong... not that I know why you're sorry in the first place.
You're an awesome person I want to know more about, so, let's have a long talk after this one, ok~?"
I smiled at her with those words that just flowed out of my mouth and she also nodded.
"We shall." She said and just sighed with a relieved smile.
I felt relieved... why am I feeling relieved?
When's this weird day going to end...?
The room was dark, and there was only one communication crystal set in the middle of this empty room that connected with different arrays of magic and magic circles.
The crystal ball was big, but not as big as the one we had in the garden.
But it was still bigger than my head.
(Air silence), (Vision block), (Earth anti-vibration), (Low-visibility), (Anti interruption).
She cast five (tier-3) spells like they were nothing on the spot and just stood before the crystal ball.
I didn't know what kind of place this communication center was, but she was being careful in this matter for some reason.
Maybe the communication line, numbers, and codes were confidential things?
If so, these weren't enough.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMy detection was picking up some concerning 'things' in this place, too.
[Mana Shield], (: Total restriction barrier)
"This is enough," I said and relaxed around the communication crystal.
"Did you just use some skills? That shield of Mana is ok but... you just cut off the whole connection with something else, Eon- no, we can only use the connection line of this crystal now.
...amazing.
Is that a skill, too?"
Her eyes were sparkling, and I knew she tried to use her eye of truth on the barrier and the skill was on the spot.
Even though the skill couldn't understand this Solnova spell, it was able to figure out the working of the spell.
And I knew few could do something like that to a spell they can't even sense, much less see.
"Something like that," I answered this amazing person that was back to her normal self with a smile and she nodded.
"Then, let's call your family. It should have been a while since you talked, right? It has been two months since I saw master Zahavi.
But I know they all are doing well~."
She was full of respect whenever she called grandpa's name, as if someone who has worked under him.
Was she also in some war or something to have witnessed the greatness of a [King] ranked knight?
How amazing would it be if she actually did!
I wanted to fight with him, I really wanted to, but I will have to wait for a while for that certain thing.
"Ok, then. I'm starting, you two. It will be a direct call to master Zahavi at your home so, get ready." She smiled, and we nodded.
I also had some small things to tell in this process.
'Well, first time outside the great forest. First time in with a simple communication device and first time without my master.'
Today has been long, special, and 'red' for some reason, but... it was about to end 'soon'.
And I had to go to her home first... weird, but fine.
If only my beloved family could be humble and react normally to this.
Their lovely child had finally come out of a place they could only hope to fathom.
'But, at least we are alright...'