Half a day has passed since the incident with the bandits. Anna and Ulbert steadily made their way through the land, following a straight road that only improved with the condition the closer they came towards the city. Mud and dirt turned into stones and fences, while signs began appearing throughout, guiding new travellers on where to go.

With the day getting closer to the evening by the second, with the winds losing their warmth of summer as night comes closer, the majestic city of E-Rantel came into Ulbert's sight.

So this is E-Rantel huh? He observed the large city in the distance, Anna walking beside him, closer than usual.

Even when you look at it from a great distance. High as the sky walls, thick and tough no doubt, surround the great city in layers that separate high and low point, creating circles within circles.

I admit I underestimated its size, a city like this surely holds a lot of information. A mischievous smile appeared on Ulbert's face. That woman should be here, no, she WILL be here.

"Anna, are there any places offering protection in that city?"

"Protection?" With a confused glance at Ulbert then to the side, Anna thought for a second before coming up with an answer. "I heard you can pay mercenaries and even hire Adventurers from Adventurer's guild if you have enough coin."

"Adventurer's guild?"

"It is a place where people can arrange requests for adventurers to complete, I believe if you pay someone enough they can even escort you as if you are royalty."

"As royalty you say?"

I am sure if you have the coin you can get almost anything, protection as well. Adventurer's guild should be the first place to look at, unless she is trying to hire someone from the underworld, which will make this much more difficult.

Ulbert lifted his hand and looked at it, palm wide open.

This appearance will do no longer, if that woman sees Andras's face she will definitely try to flee, however luckily for me, she doesn't know about Anna.

Ulbert looked around, making sure his surroundings are clear of anyone who might witness him perform magic.

"Perfect Illusion." The spell was cast and dark energy wrapped itself around him, disappearing a moment later and leaving Ulbert with a new body and face.

Perfect Illusion and Steal Character are both spells that can stack on each other, meaning that there are two layers of protection that are hiding my real body.

Ulbert lifted his hand and brushed his fingers against his chin, squeezing his nose and cheeks and pushing into his forehead.

A young man should do it. He thought. Although I am quite concerned with Steal Character. I have noticed a change of my emotions, emotions that my mind conveys are disregarded while I am in human form, must be the debuff.

"Yes, this body should be fine," Ulbert said with his now new voice that is much lighter compared to his other ones, as he looked at Anna who was startled by the sudden change.

"How do I look?"

"I-Um, I don't know."

Anna looked at Ulbert's new body in detail, from his cleanly shaved chin to his longs legs and small body. This new appearance does not make him look dangerous but rather innocent, an average person who does not want to be involved in a conflict.

"Do I look normal?"

"Y-Yes,"

"Good, the last thing I want to be is attractive, no matter how weird that sounds." As Ulbert said that with a small chuckle, Anna opened her lips to speak but swiftly closed together a short second later, one of her hand pinching her trousers.

"Something on your mind?"

"N-no no its, its nothing." She said as she squeezed her trousers even harder, while her mind sank into the thoughts.

Why does Lord Ulbert have to dress like this? Why does he have to hide away from all those...those...humans. They are not worth it, all they do is wish harm upon those around them, Lord Ulbert is not like that. He is kind and thoughtful, he will not kill just for the sake of killing.

Ulbert turned towards the city. The valley, mountains and forests are far behind him, and empty fields of green are all that stand between them and E-Rantel.

With the summer rays shinning on his plain clothes, the walk to the city continues as Ulbert once again steps onto the main path, holding onto the two straps of his backpack, acting a simple traveller.

"Let's pick up the speed." He spoke with a voice that dragged Anna away from her thoughts, and swiftly, she once again began walking beside him.

"Have you ever been to E-Rantel?"

"I did not get the chance, I have only heard tales from others."

"And what did they say?"

"They said it is the most beautiful city they have ever seen," Anna said as she looked at her fidgeting hands, an innocent and small smile appearing on her face.

"The most beautiful city you say? If it's as good as they tell then let's not waste time, I am now quite intrigued myself."

Anna lifted her head and looked at Ulbert, enthusiasm burning in her eyes as she heard his words, with a simple nod and a wide smile that wasn't there a moment ago, she puffed out her chest forward, eager to see the stories she heard with her own two eyes.

Ulbert returned the smile and looked towards the city once again, losing himself in thought as seconds passed.

Adventurer's guild is the first place we will need to visit, and once I kill that woman I will...Ulbert paused. Wait, what will I do afterwards? I have never even thought about it, what is...my plan.

And for the first time, Ulbert began thinking deeper about his objective in this world. All the past days have begun to wash over him, all of the emotions he experienced that he thought vanished away, slowly crawled back into his head, although not as powerful as before.

I forgot that this is no longer a game, this is real and I am...real. Oh god, what should I do? What if there are other YGDRASSIL players? Will they attack me? What if...What if I die?

Mild panic, lapping itself in and around him, slowly began consuming with that single thought of death, manifesting into the fear that he has not felt since he was summoned to this world.

What do I do?

But before he could think of another thought, something inside his head, something he cannot describe, clicked and all of the fear and worry faded away as rational thoughts came in.

World Domination. A voice, his voice but strange and unusual, spoke to him. You have the power to change this wretched and cursed place, be the poison to rats and cleanse it all, do you not want it?

No, I do...I wanted it ever since I lost my parents. Ulbert replied to himself.

Did it not feel good when you killed those vermins in the summoning hall?

It felt good...so good...But it was an accident.

Nothing is an accident, you were chosen by a power beyond our understanding, do what you must.

Yes, I must, I will.

Ulbert closed his eyes and nodded to himself in silence, a deep breath followed up before he looked at Anna, who now leads him down the path to the city, facing the sun and glowing with its light.

All those who know of my existence are dead or soon will be, I think I can trust this human girl. I hope you do not fail me, Anna, you remind me of them too much, I do not want to hurt you.

.

.

.

.

.

"Welcome to E-Rantel traveller and merchants, for only a few silver I, Mr Kayd, can show you around, about and throughout! Visit the exotic taverns and immaculate brothels, explore the hardworking factories and busy stores, know more about this city with me! Mr Kayd!"

With his hands waving high in the air, a man called to all those before the gates of E-Rantel, including Ulbert and Anna who stand among numerous merchants and travellers, waiting to be examined and questioned by border guards.

"Who is that man?" Ulbert asked as he stared.

"That is one of the guides, they often stand outside and sell their guiding services to all those that do not know the city very well, maybe we should take it?"

"No, there is no need."

"Oh-Okay,"

"..."

"..."

"If we find that woman today, I will consider it," Ulbert added as he looked at Anna whose face turned from disappointment to happiness as he finished his sentence.

With a single sidestep she stood closer to him, and quietly with a soft voice that could only be heard by him, she replied with her eyes looking at the ground, "Thank you Lord Ulbert."

He could not see her face, but he could tell she was smiling from cheek to cheek, making him chuckle as if a parent buying a toy for their child.

"Reason of entry?" A guard, with light plate armour over the thick brown leather, spoke to Ulbert and Anna as he halted them in front of the massive gates, multiple soldiers dressed identically did the same to others near them.

"Travelling."

"How many people?"

"Just me and my wife," Ulbert said with a smile as he suddenly grabbed Anna by her hip and pulled her closer to him, her face soon bright red from the unexpected motion.

"How long is your stay?"

"Oh just for a few days, it's our honeymoon you see, what better city than E-Rantel, isn't that right honey?" He continued with a smirk.

"Y-Yes..." Embarrassed and slightly flustered, Anna replied while only glimpsing at guard occasionally, her eyes glued to the stone ground.

The guard looked at them for a long second, his eyes were first focused on Ulbert and his innocent face, then on his clothes, shoes and even hands.

Clean hands and no scars, a single weapon for self-defence, seems clear. The guard thought before looking over Ulbert's shoulder and seeing a massive line behind them.

Ugh, what is it with so many people.

"Enjoy your stay at E-Rantel," He said as he moved aside, granting entry into the city, swiftly switching his attention to the other people who were behind Ulbert, asking the same questions.

And so, the pair entered the grand city of Re-Ezstize Kingdom. Instantly the mood, the whole atmosphere changed around them as they laid their eyes upon the Central Plaza. Amidst crowds of people, the stall owners energetically yell their offers to the people walking by, trying their best to over shout one another and sell their wares. Swiftly, fragrant scents of meat, bread and fresh fruits and vegetables rushed towards the two, lingering inside and around their noses while warm air, slowly but steadily swallowed their whole bodies.

The rowdy, dynamic atmosphere of this place should have lasted until the sun went down on the horizon, however, it suddenly went silent as a pair of figures emerged from a five-story building nearby, facing away from Anna and Ulbert as they began making their way somewhere down the path deep into the plaza.

Anna and Ulbert laid their eyes on the two, and so did everyone else, freezing in place as they stared.

One of these two people is a girl who looks to be in her late teens, with immense beauty and snow-white skin that shines like pearls in the gleaming sun, while her thick and lustrous black hair that is tied tightly into a ponytail, flaps against her plain, brown robe.

The other person, however, is no way near as similar as the beautiful girl standing beside him. That person is enclosed in an engraved suit of full plate armour that is edged in gold over matt black, with a helmet that covers all of their face and head with narrow slits at the eye level. A pair of greatsword sit on that person's back while red cape flaps in the wind, an impressive show of force.

Ulbert looked at the mysterious figures, but mainly his eyes were focused on the large body of the warrior that nearby townsfolk called "Dark Warrior" as if trying to pierce the mysterious person with his gaze and look through the helmet.

That warrior is powerful, I can feel it from here. Ulbert thought as he furrowed his brow and shifted his eyes to the girl, who is now quite distant from him, not letting him have a good look.

That girl...Why does she seem so familiar? I could not see her face so I am not sure, but why does it feel like I know her.

"Anna, did you see that girl's face?"

"I-I am sorry I couldn't."

What a familiar presence...Especially from that warrior...

"Do you know them Ulbert?" Anna asked as she looked at her master's focused expression, although the face Ulbert wears doesn't show it, she could tell there was worry on his monstrous face that is hidden deep inside.

"No Anna...I don't."