Under the scorching midday sun, city pedestrians found themselves quickly exhausted by the heat. However, for a young man with striking silver hair, exceptional handsomeness, a robust build, and a height well above average, the situation was markedly different. This was Rayden Zephyrios.
Currently, he was working as a street sweeper in the urban landscape, laboring under the relentless sun in exchange for a modest meal and the rent for his humble abode. Since childhood, Rayden had resided in an orphanage, having never known his biological parents.
Wiping the sweat from his brow with a cool towel draped around his neck, Rayden exhaled a satisfied breath, having just completed his tasks.
"Finally, my work is done. Now it's time for lunch and to check if my salary has been deposited into my bank account," he murmured softly, filled with enthusiasm and anticipation. Rayden lifted his broom and dustpan, carefully placing them into a designated cart.
For over half an hour, he pushed his cart towards the local sanitation station. Along the way, women of various ages glanced at him with disbelief.
They found it puzzling to see a sanitation worker, a profession often seen as grimy and unkempt, with such an extraordinarily handsome face and a physique akin to that of a top-tier male supermodel.
Initially, they speculated whether this man might be involved in filming a movie or drama. But upon observing the absence of cameras and crew, they concluded that this was indeed a real-life encounter.
Realizing this fact left them both astonished and perplexed. Why would someone as striking and impressive as Rayden choose to work as a sanitation worker? In this digital age, there seemed to be countless opportunities to leverage his looks and physique for substantial income.
Seated under the shade of a sprawling tree, Rayden opened his lunch box, savoring the aroma of succulent fried beef. He had prepared it that morning as a birthday treat for himself.
"Happy 25th birthday to me. I've managed to endure so much without anyone's help," he smiled wryly, softly expressing his deep self-appreciation.
Without hesitation, he devoured the meal with immense gratitude, thankful for the opportunity to enjoy such a delicacy amidst financial hardships.
After finishing his meal and sipping water, Rayden sat quietly for half an hour before deciding to proceed with his next activity.
"Alright, it's time to visit the old master and continue my kenjutsu training," Rayden declared with enthusiasm as he headed to the changing room for a shower.
Dressed in clean casual attire, Rayden set off on foot, navigating a narrow alleyway—a shortcut to his destination.
"For ten years, I've trained in the art of kenjutsu, yet I still ponder how to apply it in my daily life," Rayden reflected nostalgically, recalling the early days of his training. "At least I've gained a fit and healthy body thanks to the grueling sessions with the old master," he continued softly, remembering the harsh beginning of his training. His ruby-red eyes flickered slightly as goosebumps rose on his skin, recalling the rigorous experiences of his past.
As Rayden walked through the quiet alleyway, an unexpected occurrence unfolded beneath him. A mysterious red magic circle appeared under his feet. Before he could react, he was whisked away to another world, vanishing from the face of the Earth forever.
In the blink of an eye, Rayden found himself in an opulent room of vast proportions. The grandeur of the space was accentuated by luxurious and antique ornaments adorning the walls. At the far right end of the hall stood a throne, elevated above the rest of the floor.
Seated upon the throne was a portly, short-statured man who gazed at Rayden and several other individuals nearby with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
Rayden, along with a few other strangers, stood upon an ancient magical altar situated at the center of the room.
Beside Rayden was a woman dressed in attire reminiscent of a sorceress from a fantasy anime. Her long brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders, and her bright black eyes were filled with astonishment. She clutched a staff, evidently surprised that her spell had been executed flawlessly.
"Welcome, heroes. I am King Lloyd von Eldoria, and I warmly welcome you to the great kingdom of Eldoria." Rising from his throne, the king extended a formal and elegant greeting, befitting a high noble.
Rayden remained silent, his suspicions aroused by the unexpected turn of events.
'Damn it, it seems I've been transported to another world, just like those trashy isekai novels,' he thought, struggling to comprehend the situation.
Suddenly, a slender and quite handsome young man stepped forward. He bowed deeply and responded warmly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Alex Dellinger. Please forgive our lack of knowledge regarding the customs of your kingdom. I hope you can understand." The blond-haired youth delivered his greeting with as much politeness and warmth as he could muster.
King Lloyd nodded with enthusiasm, appreciating the young man's courtesy while stroking his white beard. "Hohoho—you are a very polite young man."
A gaunt, cropped-haired elder with blond hair approached from the king's left and whispered softly:
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should save the pleasantries for later. Shall we commence the magical aptitude assessment sooner rather than later?"
With a slight nod of understanding, the king ordered someone to retrieve several Orb crystals for magical talent assessment.
Moments later, dozens of knights clad in shimmering silver full mail armor marched in unison toward the altar, carrying several large, clear crystal orbs. They placed them atop numerous short pedestals cushioned with soft padding.
The brown-haired witch stood beside Rayden as she addressed the assembled group, guiding them towards the testing crystals. "Alright, everyone, we'll save the introductions for later. First, let's assess your magical talents and arcane energy capacity." She gave a concise explanation, then directed everyone to line up neatly in front of their respective testing crystals.
A young woman with black hair, clad in a school uniform, stepped forward as the first to undergo the evaluation.
The brown-haired woman instructed her to place her palm on the crystal orb, channeling her intense intent into it.
Complying with the instructions, the black-haired woman was suddenly surrounded by a golden light that enveloped her for several moments. In the next instant, a blue rectangular holographic screen materialized before her.
The holographic display revealed only the type of magical talent and the arcane energy capacity of the individual being tested, presented in numerical form.
"Ohhh—you possess the Sword Spirit Magic talent, 'Shadowrend Scimitar', ranked SS!" the brown-haired woman exclaimed with enthusiasm, prompting cheers from the kingdom's dignitaries and even the king himself. "For a beginner, your arcane energy capacity is already quite impressive," she added, praising her with genuine expression.
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Innate Magical Talent: Sword Spirit Magic: 'Shadowrend Scimitar' Type.
Arcane Points (AP): 3200/3200
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"Alright, you're next," the brown-haired woman said, gesturing for Rayden to step forward.