Chapter 4: Greenvale

Chapter 4: Greenvale

Standing in the front row at the main gate, Rael finally stood directly before the town guards. Above the heavy archway, a polished wooden plaque read ‘Greenvale’. Rael immediately locked his gaze onto the gate, his mind instinctively memorizing the exact spatial coordinates and topography of the surroundings.

A crisp, blue system notification popped up in his vision:

[Greenvale Discovered]

[Spatial Coordinate Registered to Mental Library]

A wide, satisfied grin spread across Rael's face. 'Perfect. Now I can teleport back here whenever I want.'

Finally, after the front row was cleared, it was his and Vhal'Zar’s turn. The guard looked at the two of them; he saw Rael with a friendly face, but on the other hand, Vhal'Zar’s expression was openly hostile. Noticing Vhal'Zar's low, threatening growl, Rael quickly punched him in the belly. To his surprise, Vhal'Zar actually winced in pain, even though Rael had hit him with normal human strength.

Maintaining his kind, smiling expression, Rael quickly apologized, “Hehe, sorry about him. His manners are a bit... lacking.”

Vhal'Zar clutched his stomach, trying to endure the pain, while Rael whispered through a forced, gritted-teeth smile, “Smiiiile.”

Vhal'Zar forced himself to smile, but the resulting expression was even scarier than his hostile one. Since he had been a skeleton before taking human form, he couldn't easily manipulate his facial muscles; he could only smile sincerely when the emotion came genuinely from his heart.

The guard looked at him with a hint of suspicion but ignored it. “Okay, give me your IDs and I will check them.”

Both of them were completely confused. “ID? What?”

Rael was utterly baffled. An ID system in a medieval era? And they already have security clearance like that? Who thought of putting this kind of security system here?

Rael then told the guard, “We don’t have our IDs, we... lost them. We're so sorry. What should we do instead?”

The guard’s gaze turned deeply suspicious, but having no real evidence of wrongdoing, he knew that making a new ID would automatically check whether they were good or bad citizens. The guard pulled out a magic crystal ball from a drawer and explained the procedure, “Place your hand on the magic ball. If the ball turns blue, you are granted a new ID. If it turns red, I'm sorry, but we must detain both of you.”

Curious, Rael asked, “What does it mean if it turns blue or red?”

“Blue means you have a clean slate—no bounties, no dark magic corruption, and no criminal records," the guard explained. "Red means you're flagged as a threat. Understood?”

Rael nodded. “Okay, here we go.” Since Rael had just arrived in this world, he basically had a completely clean record. He placed his hand on the ball, and the crystal began reacting to his mana. He felt his mana connect with the ball, sending a ticklish sensation that tried to reach his heart.

He immediately understood how it worked; it was probing his core, checking what kind of person he was through his heart. Suddenly, the ball's mana couldn't reach it, as if a solid wall blocked its path. Rael started to panic as the magic ball began to glow erratically, flashing dim and bright repeatedly.

The guard frowned, sensing something weird. “What...? Is the magic ball broken?”

Thinking quickly, Rael used his mana to create a decoy heart, imitating its rhythm through his other internal organs. The mana from the magic ball began to recognize the fake core, and finally, the crystal settled into a solid blue light. He let out a breath of relief. Next up was Vhal'Zar.

Rael immediately used his specialized mana transmission skill.

(“Vhal, can you hear me?”)

Vhal'Zar perked up, recognizing his master's voice in his head, and looked at him.

(“When the ball's mana tries to reach your heart and gets blocked, you must create a decoy so the crystal doesn't break.”)

Vhal'Zar’s face instantly turned nervous. (“Master, I don’t know how to make a heart decoy when I've never felt what it's like to have a heart. I’m a skeleton, remember?”)

Rael realized he had forgotten that crucial detail and scratched his head in frustration. (“My bad! Then you must learn it, fast, right now, or we're going to get caught! Okay?”)

The guard called out to Vhal'Zar next. “Okay, you're next. Hurry up, there’s a long line behind you.”

As Vhal'Zar stepped forward and placed his hand on the magic ball, Rael panicked internally but forced himself to stay calm, sending rapid instructions through the transmission. (“Okay, listen! Remember when I summoned you for the first time? What did you feel?”)

Vhal'Zar answered mentally, (“Happy, glad, excited, and deeply grateful... all of those emotions mixed together.”)

The magic ball began to wildly flash bright and dim, just as it had with Rael.

Rael continued desperately, (“Shape your mana around that emotion! Let the ball recognize that warmth as your heart! Hopefully, it will accept that mana as a proper core!”)

Gritting his teeth, Vhal'Zar poured the raw, pure warmth of his absolute loyalty into the crystal. The chaotic flashing gradually slowed down. The light shifted from dim white, to bright blue, back to white, before finally stabilizing into a brilliant, steady blue glow.

Rael wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, exhaling a massive breath of relief. 'Good job, Vhal.'

The guard remained incredibly suspicious of them, but the evidence spoke otherwise. “Okay, fill out these forms with your details, and we’ll issue your IDs to let you pass into this low-entry town.”

Rael caught onto the wording. “Wait, there are different levels of entry for each town?”

The guard sighed. “Are you from another Empire?” Rael quickly nodded.

The guard explained, “Yeah, we have mid-tier and high-tier entry zones. Not just anyone can enter certain cities easily; you need a clean record, a recommendation from a noble, or a solid contribution to the city through a guild. Mid-tier usually applies to large cities, while high-tier is reserved for the royal capital and the grand holy city. But keep in mind, this ID only works within this Empire. If you cross the border, it’s useless.”

Rael couldn't help but wonder whose revolutionary idea it was to implement this modern ID system.

After spending a few minutes filling out the paperwork, they finally received their copper IDs. The guard handed them over and said, “You know, with this ID, you can access many government-provided facilities. This system is practically a revolution in this Empire.”

Rael asked, “And what is the name of this Empire?”

The guard sighed heavily. “Oh boy, you really are a gentleman who knows nothing, huh? It’s the Valerius Empire.”

Rael and Vhal'Zar suddenly locked eyes, stunned, before looking back at the guard. “Valerius?”

“Just find the Adventurers' Guild," the guard said, waving them through. "There's a lot of information gathered around there, and they have their own library. This line is getting crowded, so help yourself.”

Rael didn't want to bother the guard any further. “Okay, thanks again, sir.”

As they officially entered Greenvale, Vhal'Zar leaned closer to Rael. “Master, that name sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

Rael nodded grimly. “Yeah. I don’t know if it's a coincidence or not, but we need to gather more information. The guard said the Guild has a library, so our destination is definitely the Guild.” Rael felt a surge of excitement, eager to see what real-life guilds and adventurers actually looked like.

As they walked deeper into the town, Greenvale proved to be a spectacular sight. The streets weren't just standard cobblestones; they were paved with smooth, slightly luminescent river stones that caught the bright sunlight. The architecture was a beautiful harmony of polished dark wood and pristine white stone, with colorful, mana-infused flowers hanging from windowsills, gently purifying the air. The atmosphere felt incredibly clean—a stark contrast to the smog-choked concrete jungles of Earth.

Vibrant market stalls lined the main avenue, selling everything from glowing sun-berries to minor alchemical potions. What fascinated Rael the most was the sheer diversity of the crowd. He spotted elegant Elves in embroidered robes inspecting magical herbs, burly Beastfolk pulling heavy cargo carts with effortless strength, and humans interacting seamlessly with them.

Enticed by the rich aromas drifting through the air, Rael decided to stop by a food stall. He wanted to buy a couple of spiced monster-meat skewers. “Hey mister, how much for the food?”

The vendor smiled kindly. “It’s only 10 copper zelts.”

Rael realized he had no idea how the local currency worked, but he reached into his inventory, pulled out a single gold coin, and offered it to the vendor. “Can I pay you with this?”

The vendor stared at the gold piece. He didn't recognize the specific engravings stamped onto the coin. “Hmm, I don’t know if this gold is from around here, but wait...” The vendor pulled out a small balancing scale and weighed Rael's coin. It was a perfect match. “Mister, this gold coin has the exact same weight as a standard gold zelt. But still, I can’t give you change for this unless you're willing to trade the whole gold coin for just these two skewers. How about that?”

Rael, having no concept of the currency's actual value, instantly agreed. “Okay, as you wish.”

The shopkeeper was privately ecstatic, though he tried his best to hide it. “Okay, here you go, mister!”

Rael thought to himself that food here was incredibly cheap—only one gold coin for two skewers. Because in the game, the lowest denomination of currency in his pockets was a gold coin; there were no silver or copper coins in his high-level inventory.

He handed one of the skewers to Vhal'Zar. Surprisingly, Vhal'Zar didn't just accept it out of duty—he genuinely seemed to enjoy the culinary experience. Spending this peaceful, casual time walking alongside his master brought a profound sense of contentment to the ancient undead. As Vhal'Zar chewed, his usually cold, expressionless face naturally softened, and a small, genuinely happy smile appeared on his lips.

Rael blinked in shock, pointing at him. "Hey! Look at that! That is exactly how you're supposed to smile, Vhal!"

Vhal'Zar flinched, confused by the sudden praise. Wanting to please his master, he tried to force the smile wider. Instantly, his facial muscles locked up into a terrifying, unnatural grin that looked more like a demon plotting a massacre than a happy traveler.

Rael let out a defeated sigh, covering his face with his palm. "Haaah... never mind. We definitely need to practice that more. You're still getting used to having actual human flesh and muscles."

Vhal'Zar quickly dropped the expression, bowing his head slightly. "Yes, Master. I shall train my vessel diligently."

After enjoying the sights of the street, they finally made their way to the grand center of the Adventurers' Guild. The Guild building was much larger than Rael had anticipated, featuring a massive stone statue out front depicting their official symbol: a shield crossed by two swords.

The plaza outside was buzzing with activity. Parked directly near the entrance was the familiar, hovering white carriage from earlier—the Saint's convoy.

"I wonder what a high-ranking religious figure is doing inside a mercenary guild," Rael muttered, resting his knuckles against his chin.

Standing beside him, Vhal'Zar let out a faint, irritated hiss. "Ugh... that holy power is incredibly suffocating. While this level of mortal aura cannot cause me any physical harm, it is still deeply disturbing to my nature."

Rael glanced at him. "Well, holy energy is the direct opposite element to your primordial core, so it's only natural you'd feel repelled by it. But you can suppress your reaction and hold it together, right?"

Vhal'Zar stood taller, his chest puffed out with absolute pride. "Of course, Master. The sacred arts of these fragile mortals cannot compare to my resolve. I am unfazed."

Rael offered an awkward, sweat-dropped smile. "Haha... good. Just remember our deal—don't cause a scene or vaporize anyone, okay?"

They stepped into the main hall of the Guild. The interior was a sprawling, multi-leveled tavern and command center. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat, ale, and the sharp metallic tang of polished weapons.

Suddenly, a fierce blush crept up Rael’s cheeks. A female adventurer clad in highly revealing bikini armor with a stunning physique completely caught his eye. He quickly averted his gaze, coughing into his hand to clear his throat. 'Damn,' he thought to himself, his modern mind reeling. 'I always wondered about this back in the game, but seeing it in real life... how the hell does that tiny scrap of metal even protect her vital organs?'

Spotting the sudden shift in his master's posture, Vhal'Zar immediately leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room for threats. "Master, what is wrong? Is that mortal woman bothering you? Shall I remove her?"

Rael instantly panicked, waving his hands frantically to hush the giant knight. "Ah! No, no! Nothing! Everything is completely fine! Come on, hurry, let's head straight to the counter and gather some information."

Rael forcefully changed the subject, dragging Vhal'Zar forward. Vhal'Zar, having spent his entire existence as a genderless skeleton, couldn't comprehend the situation; he was entirely unfamiliar with the dynamics of romance or human relationships.

To Rael's relief, they found an open reception counter with no line. Behind it stood a young woman dressed in a neat, professional Guild uniform.

"Hello! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. How can I assist you today?" she greeted them with a practiced, bright smile.

Rael stepped up to the desk. "Hello. Can I gain access to the archives or the library here? The city guards mentioned that the Guild keeps a record room."

The receptionist opened her mouth to reply, but as her gaze naturally drifted past Rael and locked onto Vhal’Zar’s incredibly chiseled, breathtakingly handsome face, her professional facade completely shattered. A deep crimson blush rushed to her cheeks, and she entirely lost her composure, staring at the towering knight with wide, starstruck eyes.

"O-Of... of course!" she stammered, twisting her hands nervously under the desk. "M-May I see your Guild ID, please?"

Rael blinked, completely confused. "Guild ID?"

"Yes, your adventurer identification plate," she confirmed, her voice still trembling slightly as she stole another quick glance at Vhal'Zar.

Pulling out his newly acquired copper plate, Rael asked, "Here?"

The girl snapped out of her daze for a second, glancing at the copper plate before offering a sympathetic, albeit flustered smile. "Ah, I am afraid this is just a standard town entry permit. To access the Guild's private library, you need an official Adventurer ID. Do you... do you not possess a Guild ID?"

"Yeah, sorry. We don't," Rael admitted.

Beside him, Vhal'Zar let out a low, irritated snort from behind his helmet. "Hmph. How incredibly tedious. Why must these mortals overcomplicate everything?"

Overhearing his deep, commanding baritone, the receptionist's heart practically skipped a beat. Fearing she might displease the handsome knight, she quickly explained with extra gentleness, "I apologize for the inconvenience, sir! However, the Adventurers' Guild operates independently from the local government of Greenvale. Our headquarters is located in the Capital Center, and all our support is distributed from the center to every town branch to ensure complete neutrality. Thus, we require our own credentials."

Rael nodded, thoroughly understanding the political setup. "Then how do we go about getting a Guild ID?"

"The process is simple: you must register to become official adventurers. The registration fee is one gold coin."

'One gold coin?'Rael thought. Coincidentally, he had an absolute mountain of gold, but he knew that using his unknown game coins constantly would eventually attract unwanted attention. He needed a smart alternative. Reaching into his cloak pocket, he secretly accessed his system inventory and pulled out his lowest-tier potion—a basic Stamina Potion.

Placing the small glass vial filled with a vibrant green liquid onto the counter, Rael spoke calmly, "Actually, I'd also like to sell this."

The receptionist picked up the vial to inspect it, but the moment her eyes locked onto the flawless clarity of the liquid, her remaining composure completely evaporated. She looked up at Rael, her hands trembling with a mixture of intense nerves and profound shock.

"W-Wow... I had no idea you were quite this rich, sir! Please hang on for just a second while I process this properly." She hurried into the back room and returned shortly after, carefully placing five gleaming gold coins on the counter. "The Guild will gladly purchase this high-purity elixir for five gold coins, sir. Here is your payment."

Rael maintained a perfectly calm exterior, but internally, he was stunned. He hadn't realized that a basic, trash-tier stamina potion from his game inventory would be considered an incredibly rare, high-purity elixir in this world.

Swallowing his shock, he casually pushed two of the fresh gold coins back toward her. "Okay, neat. Then let's use two of those gold coins for our registration fees."

Seeing how casually he handled such legendary elixirs, and noting that he was accompanied by a man of mythic handsomeness, the receptionist became profoundly polite. She bowed deeply, her face still flushed a soft pink, and gestured toward the back hallway.

"Understood, sir. Please, follow me this way."

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