The next morning.
"Tsk tsk, a Larsi gold coin, huh."
"That's a gold coin more commonly circulated in the Northern Lands. Its gold content is quite a bit higher than our Strahl silver coins."
In front of a currency exchange shop somewhere in Äußerst, the shop owner rubbed his hands while eyeing Gut, a gleam flashing beneath his glasses.
"But you see, young man…"
"Äußerst isn't exactly part of the Northern Lands, right? So if you want to exchange it for Strahl silver coins, there's going to be a bit of... well, you understand?"
"Exchange loss, huh? That's not a problem."
"But shopkeeper, this street has more than one exchange shop. I'd say it's best if the fee is... a little more reasonable."
"Haha, of course, young man."
Adjusting his glasses, the shopkeeper chuckled, "Not gonna lie, you looked friendly to me at first glance. We must be kindred spirits — I'd never rip you off."
"Heh."
Gut let out a short laugh. Half his face was hidden behind the high collar of his coat, and his hat brim was pulled low. He had no idea how the shopkeeper could see anything "friendly" or "handsome."
But he couldn't be bothered to visit another exchange shop, so he simply slid the Larsi gold coin across the counter.
After all, bargaining here would barely earn or save a few extra copper coins.
The shopkeeper carefully took the coin, stashed it securely, then deftly counted out several Strahl silver coins from the till. After filling a small pouch and tossing in a few copper coins for change, he handed the pouch over with both hands.
"Young man, here's your exchange. Would you like to count it?"
"No need."
Gut picked up the pouch and walked straight out.
Feeling the heavy weight in his hand as he strolled through the streets, he couldn't help but reflect a little.
It seemed that in any world, gold was always a precious metal.
After all, he had gorged himself last night at a decent restaurant, yet the bill came to only two silver coins.
And now, just one gold coin was enough to trade for a whole pouch of silver.
It made sense. Even among this world's nobility, having two or three dozen gold coins in hand was already a big deal.
Suddenly, Gut stopped in his tracks. His gaze turned toward a corner of the street.
There, an elderly woman knelt silently on the ground, eyes vacant. In front of her sat a cracked clay bowl for begging. She neither spoke to passersby nor tried to look pitiful — she just sat there like a meditating ascetic in the middle of the bustling street.
Gut reached into his coin pouch and pulled out a few copper coins, intending to give them to her.
But as he dropped the coins into the bowl, his body froze slightly.
The old woman, who had been bowing her head, suddenly lifted it. Her murky eyes locked onto Gut.
A few seconds later, in a hoarse voice, she said, "Thank you."
Gut nodded slightly, pretending nothing had happened as he calmly walked out of the neighborhood.
Not long after he left, a wiry man dressed like a mercenary approached the old woman, standing in the shadow of a nearby awning.
"Commander, should I follow him?" he asked in a low voice.
"...No need," the woman answered after a moment of silence, shaking her head.
"Keep watching. That boy was probably just a coincidence."
"Pity, though. For someone who could detect my magical presence in a mere instant… such talent, and yet he's not serving our Empire..."
"He must have come to Äußerst because he caught wind of Serie's movements…"
She muttered to herself. Meanwhile, the mercenary had already disappeared without a trace.
Near the inn, in a quiet park.
"An imperial magic intelligence unit? Or maybe... a shadow operative? Or some special force raised by another faction?"
Leaning against a large, leafy tree, Gut released wide-range magic detection as he mentally reviewed his encounter with the old woman.
There was no mistake — his intuition and magical sense were dead on.
That woman was without a doubt an extremely experienced magic user.
And not just that — someone capable of suppressing their magical presence to an extreme degree.
Her suppression technique might not be as refined as Frieren's or Fern's, but it was undeniably skilled.
Relying on both his magic-user detection and his warrior instincts, Gut had confirmed it instantly and caught the faint pulse of magic around her.
Still, he didn't make a scene — just as that suspected imperial operative hadn't sent anyone to follow him.
They had silently reached a sort of mutual understanding.
Gut remained seated in the park a while longer. Only after confirming he was no longer being watched did he rise to his feet.
Out of caution, he didn't return to the inn right away but instead picked a random path and began aimlessly wandering through the city.
Along the way, he reviewed his recent encounters.
First, there was the unusually strict identity check at Äußerst's gates.
Then today, he ran into a disguised beggar who turned out to be a powerful mage.
There had to be a reason.
And the only plausible explanation Gut could think of was the reappearance of that "ancient fossil" of a mage — Serie.
Founding the Continental Magic Association couldn't happen overnight. A lot of preparation had to be done in advance.
Even someone like Serie, a Great Mage who had survived since the Mythic Era, would need to coordinate with worldly powers when it came to things like construction, recruitment, and promotion.
Given that Äußerst's lord and the Empire had already begun taking action, Serie's plans must be well underway.
Which meant Gut wouldn't have to wait too long in this city.
That thought lifted his spirits a little.
So much so that, when he noticed a cute little girl staring longingly at candy through a shop window, he generously bought a small bag of fruit-flavored candies and gave them to her.
As the girl stared at him in disbelief, Gut gently patted her head and walked away, leaving only his fading silhouette behind.
[Ding!]
Daily Quest: Do One Good Deed – Completed
It wasn't until the system notification rang in his head that Gut suddenly realized:
So the donation to the old woman this morning hadn't counted as a good deed, huh…
Makes sense. She wasn't really a beggar. A few copper coins couldn't help her or earn any genuine gratitude.
Which just goes to show — children are indeed more adorable.
Letting out a small sigh, Gut found himself, after wandering all over, back in the same quiet park.
Oh well.
Since he was already here, he might as well head back to the inn for a short rest. It was about meal time anyway — might as well try the inn's cooking.
But just as he hurried through the park, he caught a faint trace of magical presence.
He turned instinctively — and was stunned.
That magical fluctuation...
It was the Magic of Blooming Flowers.