Every city had its corresponding guild. These cities served as the primary source of income for their respective guilds, generating revenue through various markets and activities.
The guilds, in turn, provided security and acted as personal guards for their cities.
The bigger and more prosperous the city, the greater the guild, therefore the more reputation it had altogether and vice versa.
The Arcane City was not always the bustling hub it had become in my previous life. Before I arrived, Arcane City was nothing but a commoner village.
The people, there were stubborn, and at first, they resisted the idea of anyone new taking charge. They were wary, believing that I was just another spoiled noble who had been exiled to their small community as a form of punishment.
There was no real reason for me to be there in their eyes, and that only fueled their skepticism.
But when they first saw me, their skepticism quickly turned to shock.
I had appeared before them in shabby clothes, my arms wrapped in bandages, and my face and body covered in scars.
But it wasn't just the sight of scars that stunned them; it was how fully they covered me, like a harsh second skin. They ran across my arms, chest, and face, stitched so closely together that only a few small patches of untouched skin remained, like scattered fragments of what I once was. Those rare, smooth spots felt almost accidental, like places that pain had simply overlooked.
My eyes—cold and empty—seemed to have no emotion in them. I'm sure to them, it looked as though one's soul could get lost if they stared into them for too long.
It was eerie, even to me.
Yet, the villagers remained hesitant. That was until I demonstrated just how serious I was by knocking down a man who dared to disobey me, all while wearing that same blank expression.
I didn't exactly knock him down, I just pushed him slightly because he was in front of me and he just flew away.
Well, the matter of fact was that after that incident no one revolted against me.
Over time, as I guided them, the once-small village transformed. The people started working under my leadership, learning martial arts if they showed an aptitude for ki, while others who were attuned to mana received magic texts to further their craft.
Under my guidance, the once-remote commoner village, which had never had a guild, grew into one of the world's largest trading hubs. It became a city with a guild that could rival even the largest guilds in existence.
That's why I was taken aback when Haruka told me that Arcane City was no more. She explained, "The city had fallen into disrepair due to the war, and with the departure of most traders, it had experienced a steep decline."
She went on, "Even many of the villagers, who had witnessed the city's transformation, had relocated to support their families elsewhere. Only a few loyal residents, those who had sworn allegiance to the legendary Draconic Swordsman, still called it home."
I was at a loss for words. I had expected the city to be different, but not to this extent. The weight of it hit me harder than I anticipated.
Sensing my distress, Shinra slapped me on the back with his usual carefree attitude. "Alright, that's enough dwelling on the past. We came here to relax, not for a history lesson."
Haruka quickly changed the subject, assuring me that she knew exactly where to take me first. She grabbed my hand and pulled me along, leaving me struggling to keep up, as Shinra and Kenjuro, equally confused, followed behind.
Before I knew it, I was seated in a chair, still no idea what I was doing here. Haruka cleared my confusion, "I'm sorry, Ryojin, but your hair looks horrendous and far too long. You're in desperate need of a haircut."
I guess she was right, I don't even know why I reincarnated with long hair. I was alright getting a haircut until I heard a loud thud. It was the sounds of heavy footsteps. with each step, it got more terrifying.
Before I knew it, a hulking, bald, muscular man with an imposing mustache. The man held a pair of enormous scissors—scissors so large they seemed more suited for a giant's hands than a barber's.
On second thought, I would rather have long hair than get cut by that brute. As I was about to get up, the brute pressed a button and straps appeared from the chair locking me in there.
The barber, grinning with a slightly creepy air, added, "Don't worry, madam. I'll take care of this baby boy....."
His grin only grew wider, taking on an unsettling quality that sent a shiver down my spine. Desperate, I turned to Shinra and Kenjuro for help, my voice trembling, "Help me!"
Kenjuro, however, pretended not to hear me and whistled casually, avoiding eye contact. Shinra, though clearly struggling to hold back his laughter, hid his face to keep the situation from getting worse.
With no escape in sight, I found myself caught in the barber's grasp. The man yanked me into the chair, and before I could protest, he closed the drapes around me, preparing to start. As my heart raced, I couldn't help but let out a yell of despair. "You fuckers!"
"I swear if this brute ruins my hair, I am going to kill you bastards!! " I yelled helplessly.
...