To be honest, Michael wondered why people’s first impression of him was always that he was a noble.
He wasn’t a narcissist, but he knew he was quite good-looking, with sharp facial features enhanced by his striking green eyes.
Advancing to Rank 1 seemed to have further refined his overall appearance.
Of course, that didn’t mean all powerful individuals were naturally attractive.
Some were simply lucky enough to get the better end of the deal.
But did people assume he was a noble just because of his looks?
Michael doubted it.
If that were the case, this world would be ridiculously superficial.
Among everyone he had encountered, Mage Lian was perhaps the only one whose misunderstanding Michael could fully understand.
It was his power that had not only drawn Mage Lian to him but also kept them in contact.
Michael still didn’t know much about this world, but he was observant enough to recognize that a power like his wasn’t something ordinary people possessed.
It was the kind of strength that usually belonged to those with status, background, and proper foundations.
In a way, it was no different from cultivation back on Earth.
From this perspective, he could see why others might mistake him for nobility.
But what about everyone else?
Was he really so good-looking that it was impossible to believe he was a commoner?
Michael would love to think that was the case—that he was just that attractive—but he was far too self-aware to entertain such a delusion.
His looks could only take him so far, and certainly not to the level where his entire identity would be so greatly mistaken.
Still, regardless of the real reason, Michael had more important things to focus on right now.”The location marked here seems to be a village not far from the capital.”
“Seems to be?”
“Sorry, my lord. It is a village.”
“So, do you know how to get there?”
“With the map, I can try, but to be sure, we can also take a carriage, my lord.”
“A carriage?”
This time, Lia—who had been silent throughout—finally spoke as the three of them wandered the streets of the outer city together.
Keeping Michael’s supposed status in mind, they made sure to walk a step behind him at all times.
“It would be better to also hire a few adventurers if possible, my lord,” Lia suddenly spoke, drawing Michael’s attention.
The youth had been silent for a while, so his sudden words were quite attention-grabbing—especially considering what he had just suggested.
Adventurers.
Adventurers were individuals registered with the Adventurer’s Guild.
Michael had already planned to join the guild after gaining more experience as a hunter, but hiring adventurers? That was new knowledge.
He didn’t respond immediately and instead let Lia continue.
“I’m not sure, but I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors that the roads leading to the capital are no longer as safe as they used to be. I’ve even seen a few merchants enter the Adventurer’s Guild to post escort tasks—hiring adventurers to protect their goods from being stolen or to avoid getting killed themselves.”
The atmosphere between them grew tense at the topic.
Michael fell into deep thought.
His current task from the Hunter’s Guild was to subjugate a bandit group that had been raiding trade routes near several villages.
His job was simple: take them down, bring back evidence, and the guild would verify his completion before rewarding him.
Speaking of rewards, now that Michael had a clearer understanding of the local currency, he realized just how significant it was—200 silvers.
Two gold coins.
Not only would he gain valuable experience points from dealing with the bandits, but the money itself was good.
“Do merchants usually use adventurers?” Michael asked, shifting his gaze to Lia.
Though the youth still seemed to hold some resentment toward him, perhaps realizing that resisting further would only make things worse, he remained obedient.
Between the two, Michael still preferred Ace—who, at the very least, seemed to have better intentions.
Well… robbing him wasn’t exactly a good intention.
“Yes, my lord,” Lia answered. “Some wealthy merchants have their own private guards—people they’ve trained and employed personally. But for those who can’t afford that, adventurers are their best option. Even merchants with guards still suffer from bandits, and with how things have been lately, more of them have been turning to adventurers for protection.”
Michael frowned slightly.
Why did it sound like adventurers were just open hires?
From the way Lia made it sound, they were practically mercenaries anyone could pay for the right price.
Well, I’ll understand more once I join.
As for hiring adventurers?
Michael dismissed the idea almost immediately.
Would they be more capable than his undead?
Highly doubtful.
And even if they were, he wouldn’t be able to afford those of that level.
Besides, hiring adventurers would be like using a nuke just to cut a piece of bread.
A complete waste.
Michael figured Lia had only brought up adventurers because he knew they would be leaving the capital soon and was worried about the safety of himself and Ace—not about Michael, who held power over them.
The three of them didn’t speak any further and instead made their way to the area where they could hire a carriage.
The carriage business in the capital was well-organized, catering to both commoners and nobles.
At the heart of the transportation network were the public carriages, which operated on fixed routes within the city and to nearby villages.
These were the most affordable option, shared by multiple passengers, but they were also slow and often overcrowded. Drivers followed a schedule, departing only when enough people had boarded to make the trip profitable.
For those with a bit more coin, rental carriages were available. These could be hired for specific routes, allowing for a more private and direct journey.
Prices varied depending on the distance and the quality of the carriage, with sturdier ones being more expensive. Some rental services even offered armed escorts for an additional fee, especially for long-distance travel.
Then there were the noble carriages, an entirely different class of transportation. Luxurious, well-maintained, and often bearing family crests, these were owned by aristocrats or rented by those wealthy enough to afford the prestige.
They came with personal drivers, comfortable seating, and sometimes even magical enhancements to smooth out the ride. These were the carriages that always had the right of way on the streets, and few dared to block their path.
Michael and his group arrived at a bustling square where various carriages and wagons were lined up, each with a driver calling out destinations.
A wooden board displayed pricing for different destinations outside the capital, along with optional services like “fast travel” routes that cost more but guaranteed quicker and safer passage.
Some carriages were clearly reinforced, designed for longer, riskier journeys, while others were simple wooden wagons meant for farmers and traders.
Michael scanned the options. Now, he just had to decide which one suited their needs.
Michael’s gaze swept across the square, evaluating the available carriages. The cheapest options were basic wooden wagons, shared rides with strangers.
The more expensive ones were reinforced with iron plating, built for long distances and dangerous routes.
He approached a sturdier-looking carriage, its wheels thick and reinforced.
The driver, an older man with graying hair, eyed him cautiously before dipping his head in a respectful nod.
“My lord, do you need a carriage?” The man’s tone was careful, as if unsure whether Michael was truly a noble or simply dressed like one.
Michael handed over the map and tapped a spot. “How long to get here and back?”
The driver studied the map for a moment before humming thoughtfully. ” Woodring town. A round trip will take about eighteen hours, my lord—assuming no delays.” His expression grew serious. “But the roads aren’t as safe as they used to be. Bandits have been active, and without escorts, I can’t guarantee we’ll make it through unscathed.”
Michael met the driver’s gaze. “You’re saying I need to hire guards?”
The driver hesitated before nodding. “Yes, my lord. Either that, or you’ll have to be capable of protecting yourself.” His eyes flickered to Lia and Ace. “Even armed travelers have been getting ambushed lately. A noble like yourself would be a high-value target.”
Michael smirked slightly at the assumption but didn’t correct him. “How much for the trip?”
“3 silver coins for the carriage alone, my lord. If you want me to arrange escorts, that’ll cost extra.”
Michael considered it. He could afford the carriage, but paying for escorts was unnecessary. He had no intention of relying on mercenaries when his undead could handle the job.
Still, the driver’s caution made sense. If attacks were common, then merchants and travelers alike had reason to be wary.
Michael nodded. “I’ll handle the protection myself.”
The eyes of the old man flickered and a look of hesitation appeared in his face.
Behind him Michael also noticed Ace and Lia had weird expressions on their faces.