Chapter 166 Volume IV - Chapter 11: A Disheartening Trip
Unexpectedly, I slept soundly. Even though I hadn't set an alarm in the morning, my body was used to waking up early for classes, so I woke up at exactly the time I thought I would. And as I ate my breakfast, I thought.
Since the day I came to this world, I have indeed always seen the bright side of it. No, rather, I have forced myself to see the bright side. I have always avoided the other scary side because I thought that if I saw it, it would diminish my enjoyment of this world.
I already know the place I'm going to show the prince today because of the game, but seeing it with my own eyes... I'm not sure how it will affect me. I'd rather not go there at all, but it's time.
I can't keep running away like I used to.
As soon as I finished my breakfast, I changed my clothes and surfed social media until it was time. Sith and I laughed and spent time looking at things we found weird.
I was actually preparing myself... because I couldn't be hesitant around the prince.
So, after a while, the time finally came when I was told that I was going to meet him. And with that, I went out.
It was a normal day, except that there were fewer students outside than usual.
Well, after all, there are classes going on now. So, it's normal. Most of the people outside are upperclassmen who have already finished the first grade, which is a preparation. Their classes run differently from ours.
Ah... I forgot to ask permission.
I quickly picked up my watch and dialed a number. The response came quickly.
"Aiden?"
"Good morning, Melany. I have something important for today. I need to leave the academy for just one day. Can you arrange a pass so I don't run into security when I go through the gate?"
Melany sighed, sounding very busy.
"I thought it was something important when you called me directly... Okay, but text me for stuff like this, I'm a busy person."
"Okay."
The call ended as she sighed, then I turned away with a slight smile on my face.
It feels really good to have connections, I can get permission to go out of school at the touch of a button.
As I continued to move forward with these thoughts, I mentally paused.
Hmm... Thinking about it, I suddenly feel like a snobby kid from a rich family. I have money, I have good connections... I can do most of the things I want with just one phone call... and so on.
Oh... I guess instead of feeling like that, I'm actually slowly turning into that kind of a person... Shit, I didn't realize that.
"Aiden?"
When I turned in the direction of the voice that had pulled me out of my thoughts, I saw the blond-haired boy with a strange, slightly uneasy expression on his face.
Ah... I didn't even realize I was at the east door.
"Yeah."
Lucas slightly averted his eyes when I approached him. Or rather, he couldn't look at me. He had rings under his eyes that were hard to see.
"I'm sorry, Aiden, I can be a little distracted. I just... slept a little."
"You're nervous, or rather scared... right?"
"Yes."
All I could do was sigh at Lucas's honesty.
It's strange to think that someone like that could behave like that with someone four years his junior, someone he'd met for the first time... someone who not only belonged to the noblest family in the kingdom but was also the crown prince.
"I'm not going to tell you to lift your spirits. You wanted to see the state of your people, and I'm going to show you what you really need to see. So, no promises. Just follow me."
I turned slowly toward the east door, but Lucas spoke again.
"By the way... Don't you have classes? And can you just walk out of the academy like that?"
"I have permission, no problem."
So, there was nothing more Lucas could say. Melany must have done it quickly because the gate guards let me through as soon as they checked my ID. As for Lucas, he already had a permit. Since he was leaving tonight anyway, he already had it.
Once we were through the gate without any problems and I was heading toward the magnetic train station, Lucas must not have liked the silence because he spoke once again.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to Wiathen. It's the best place to see what I want to show you."
"I still don't understand what you want to show me..."
"You'll understand when we arrive."
Lucas became even more uneasy, but I didn't really care at this point. We boarded one of the magnetic trains to Wiathen, finished the journey almost without speaking, and arrived in the city.
The city was more crowded than usual. People were everywhere, busy, on their way to work or just hanging out.
The city was alive, as it always is, and as it is reflected on the screens.
"Follow me."
Lucas obediently walked behind me. We passed through streets and avenues. We saw luxury houses, buildings, cars, and much more. These were the symbols of the Cevilian Kingdom. Technological sophistication and prosperity...
We changed neighborhoods, and the height of the buildings gradually decreased as we kept walking for a long time. In the same way, cars were slowly replaced by older and older models. Likewise, the height of the ground slowly began to decrease. It was as if we were going down slowly but steadily.
People were no longer wearing the latest fashions.
We had walked almost to the other end of the city. No... we were already past it, representatively. However, Lucas started to slow down a little. It wasn't that he was tired or anything, he just started to look around more carefully.
"This is the poorer part of the city... Is this where you wanted to bring me?"
"Sort of, but no."
Lucas's eyebrows raised curiously. With a sigh, I pointed further down the path we were walking.
"We keep walking."
Lucas nodded nervously, his eyes still scanning his surroundings.
So, we walked for so long that we forgot how long we had been walking. At the same time, yes, the buildings were getting older and older; they were getting worse and worse.
And not only that but also other things...
"Cough!"
A woman who was walking past us coughed, then suddenly collapsed on the ground.
"Ma'am!"
Lucas quickly bent down to help her, reaching out his hand, but the response he got was very different from what he had expected.
"Get away from me!"
The woman screamed in anger, in hatred, pushing his hand away. Her eyes suddenly turned to Lucas. They were literally burning with fire, with hatred.
Without saying anything, the woman stood up and continued walking, ignoring us.
"Fucking nobles..."
As she was leaving, she didn't forget to hum something we could hear. And that made Lucas's eyes widen.
"That's..."
"This is just the beginning, Lucas. This is nothing compared to what you'll see today."
Lucas opened his mouth, but just then a passing boy bumped into him.
"Ah! H- hey, watch ou-"
Without letting him finish, I grabbed the boy by the arm, lifted him into the air, and looked coldly into his eyes, not caring if he was in pain or not.
Lucas went crazy with that.
"Aiden! What the hell are you doing!"
"Give it back."
The boy clicked his tongue, and the hand he'd been holding behind his back until now came out. He held it out to Lucas.
In his palm was something shiny, a ring.
All of Lucas's anger suddenly turned to surprise. He raised his right hand and looked at the dimensional inventory ring that was no longer on his finger. He didn't know what to say, he just stiffened and I sighed. As soon as I put the boy down, I snatched the ring from his hand and gave him a gentle push to make him go away.
The boy ran away without even looking back. From a distance, he looked no more than nine years old.
"Ah..."
Lucas stood where he was, pensive and wide-eyed.
I turned around, started walking along the road again, and spoke.
"Come on, let's keep going. You didn't see anything… yet."
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