'I have some idea of where Linn could be, but I need a proper map to fully visualize the information I got from the novel.' Vonn, standing at the house's door, peeked outside to observe the two guards assigned by his mother.
To find Linn successfully, he needed to reach the city. That was his only way to get a clear sense of where he could be.
The two of them shared the same situation—secluded from the main family. The main family was situated at the center of the city, which meant Linn's estate was to the west of the family's main estate.
'The second young master—me—died here in the original plot. This place is located east, outside the city, and Linn's estate is at the other end of it.'
Being separated by such a huge distance was frustrating. But if he was determined, he could make it.
'I hope this works.'
Vonn prepared a small explosion in the backyard. He aimed carefully, successfully hitting the ground and causing a minor tremor. He hid behind the door as it opened, and the two guards rushed toward the backyard.
Finally seizing the chance, he slipped through, stepping outside for the first time. The tall walls of his house felt suffocating—he knew well he was secluded.
Now, taking in the full view, a grim smirk appeared on his lips. The landscape was just a wide plain of green grass stretching for kilometers, with the city in the distance.
The walls surrounding the city appeared as mere dots to his eyes.
"Wow… just look at that. They made sure to keep me far from the city, huh."
Taking advantage of the moment, Vonn didn't look back and rushed to the side of the walls. He'd prepared a cloak for stealth, but the open area posed a problem.
"I don't have time… those guards will definitely search the premises."
Just when he finally had the chance to leave his house, another problem arose. He wasn't sure how to move quickly and evade the guards' pursuit.
Biting his lower lip, Vonn closed his eyes. "Screw it."
Raising his hands in the air, he conjured a massive coil of fire above him, then suddenly slammed it to the ground ahead. Another shockwave trembled through the ground, and a cloud of dust blanketed the entire estate. The walls shook, with sections collapsing in destruction. Vonn had attacked his own estate to trap the guards and cover his escape route.
Orienting himself in the direction of the city, he swiftly sprinted towards it, taking advantage of the cover he'd just created.
Even with the cover, he wasn't entirely safe from pursuit. He had bought himself a little time, but soon enough, the capable guards would catch up.
Meanwhile, the guards struggled to make sense of the situation. Upon entering the backyard, they assumed immediately that the second young master had been kidnapped.
"How…?" one guard murmured.
"The second young master is gone. What do we do?"
"Pursue the kidnapper."
Quickly responding as they had been trained, the guards rushed out of the estate. But before they could react, another explosion shook the grounds, causing the front walls and door to collapse. Caught off guard by the second attack, the guards were left unprepared and unprotected.
The two guards lost consciousness, allowing Vonn the time he needed to escape and reach the city before nightfall.
***
Vonn looked back at the estate as he finally arrived in the city. He wondered why he hadn't been chased down, but it worked to his advantage. He didn't bother to think about it further.
"Identification or toll."
The guard at the city gate raised his spear at Vonn, momentarily stopping him. Under the hood of his cloak, he hid his hair and face.
'Shit… I didn't think about this.'
"Ah…" Worried about what to do, Vonn's quick mind devised a plan. "I don't have any of those. But may I ask for help from your benevolent figure? I am traveling from the west and got lost. I also lost my valuables."
The guard scrutinized him closely. Vonn raised his hood slightly, revealing his tattered face, with a few dirt smudges on it. He appeared to be what he claimed.
"I will come back. Stay here."
As the guard turned around and entered a door behind the gate, Vonn swiftly passed through the security and rushed into the city. He successfully made it through, and when the guard returned, he held a pass slip in his hands—a piece of parchment.
The guard's bewildered expression appeared as he noticed no sign of Vonn.
"What the hell… He passed through." The guard scratched the back of his head. "That idiot. He doesn't know it's dangerous to be without a pass slip if he gets caught without any form of identification."
At every entrance, the guard would issue a pass slip. He was being lenient and considerate this time, but seeing that the young kid from earlier had disappeared, he sighed in frustration.
"Whatever. Not my problem."
The guard's role wasn't to protect the city, after all. Their task was to protect outsiders from the Silverfein's tight and brutal security, which began after the gate to the city, guarded by soldiers deployed from the Mitish Kingdom.
Vonn, on the other hand, succeeded in his entrance. He was immediately greeted by the scene of an old European city. It felt like he was inside an RPG video game.
'This was one of the reasons why the novel was loved so much. The visualization of the cities was a wonder.'
Vonn wandered around, checking each of the establishments. The people were jolly and free of worry, reflecting the proper governance of the Silverfein family. Despite being strict and brutal, they provided a comfortable life for the people from the loot they brought home after each monster subjugation.
In this world, particularly in the novel, there were fewer wars against humans. Well, there could be one every year due to conflicts of interest and other factors leading to war.
In ancient times, the way to grow territories and claim resources was through raiding and invading other lands. It was different in this world. The primary source of feats in this world was monster subjugation.
While roaming around, he had forgotten an important detail that had circulated in the novel about North Sword City. The roaming guards were personally deployed by the matriarch and were tasked with capturing any suspicious individuals.