"So where are we going?" Princess Sally asked me. She had dragged me on a few dates where we visited around the capital. However today I had just been preparing to follow the distance marker on the quest when she joined in. Then a few others joined in. Namely. My elder sister, Moxia, Moxia's friend who happened to be Hayanor and Hayanor's elder brother, Haiden who had a crush on my elder sister.
"No idea. Why did all you guys follow me?" I asked as we left the academy grounds.
"Because any situation where you're still hanging around more than a minute after class means somethings gonna happen." Moxia answered.
"Ridiculous." I answered.
"Ignore my brother, he doesn't even realise how much his behaviour is affected by his laziness. Or perhaps it's just a strong will to sleep." My sister answered on my behalf.
"Exactly. So Dirk. where are you going?" Sally responded.
"If you must know, I have no idea where I'm going." I said, choosing directions until I found the one that made the distance counter go down.
"Then what are you looking for?" Hayanor asked.
"Dunno yet." I answered.
"So how will you know if you found what you're looking for?" Aiden made an attempt to join in the conversation.
"I'll know when we're close." I answered. I also couldn't help but feel we looked like a high class gang, all wearing black and gold uniforms and all holding black umbrellas to avoid the rain as we walked in a tightly knit group.
…
Due to being with this annoying group, we ended taking several detours to places they liked or found interesting. Soon enough, we entered the redlight district in the capital's outer ring, which housed most of the capital and a majority of its citizens in the middle class.
"Wow. This is my first time seeing the capital's red light district." Hayanor asked, clinging to her brother while the princess kept close to me. Moxia and my sister were as strong willed as ever though and didn't let a hint of nervousness show.
"It's getting dark. Are we close to what you're looking for?" The princess asked.
"About 2 kilometres away. We already would have been there if you guys hadn't gotten distracted." I said, adding. "You're free to head back whenever you want."
"Hmpf! Trying to get rid of us? You're going out by your own will for the first time. It's an achievement worth celebrating." Moxia called out.
"Indeed." The princess said before suddenly calling out. "Tell the palace I'll be out late!" she yelled and a fully black adorned person just appeared beside our group out of nowhere.
"Understood your highness." The black clothed person said before once again disappearing.
"So those were the guys I occasionally sensed." I mused.
"If you even just barely managed to sense them then I guess you're a rank-3 in full." The princess complimented.
About another 20 minutes of navigating the increasingly narrower streets, the princess's necklace began glowing and a moment later three figures landed in front of us. Due to the instincts and reflexes carved into me by the system to accompany the skills, I was in a defensive stance and had my hand on my sword so fast I couldn't even register it before the princess spoke first.
"Evening, Vergo." The princess greeted.
"You too princess. Your elder sister insisted that it's dangerous to be out late at night and that we should accompany you." Virgo responded, the rain seeming to avoid him like the plague.
"Whos this?" I asked, seeing I seemed to be the only one fazed by their arrival.
Everyone looked at me blankly.
"What?" I asked.
"Haizz… You seem so knowledgeable most of the time. But you seem to miss the most basic things." The princess responded.
"He's been like that since we were kids. According to our little sister's letters. He knew practically everything about magic runes and formations despite never having seen him touch a non-fiction book. Meanwhile he had to ask our father about a bunch of random things that everyone should have known." My sister shared, to my displeasure.
"Well. If you must know. This is Virgo, a court magician at rank-5 and his two disciples at rank-4 and 3." The princess introduced me.
"Ah. I see. Alright then. Let's continue." I said, walking past Virgo who joined in the back of the group as we continued.
Another 2 hours later after walking through alleys barely able to accommodate a single person and their umbrella we arrived in front of a massive mansion. There was a large crowd of people seemingly materialing from the small alleyways all around the large manor and its surrounding garden as they approached the entrance gate wearing fancy clothes and masks.
"Careful." Virgo spoke as we approached. "We didn't see this place from the sky. I can feel a powerful illusion formation around it and at least two other rank-5's. Probably both archknights."
"How did you know about this place?" The princess asked me.
"Didn't. I just followed my senses and here we are." I answered.
"We should turn back." My sister said, clearly feeling uncomfortable.
"I'm too lazy to come back. The thing I need is about 250 m in front and below me so you guys can go back without me." I said, exchanging 50 points for a mask and cloak with an identity hiding effect and putting them on as I walked forward.
I managed to walk forward and use blink to pass the, who I estimated to be rank-2, guard without their notice.
Soon enough, I had entered the mansion. I could feel several powerful people and my core seemed to tremble in front of the pressure.
Meanwhile I got closer and closer until I was only 30 metres away.
'It seems to be below me.' I mused as I stood in a hallway.
"Excuse me? Are there more levels below us?" I asked one of the servers holding a tray.
"Ah! If you feel something with your senses then you'll have to wait for the auction to begin." The server said enthusiastically. I really hoped it was cheap. I thought in my head.