He sighed quietly and got up off the bed. First it was worth learning more about this world, and especially about the distorted ones. If someone was using them for shady dealings, he could not turn a blind eye to it. He would not let what had happened to his world happen again.
Turning to Hakama, he asked, "When people here need to know something, what do they usually do?"
"They ask someone, or they read books," she answered. Raising a finger, she added, "Only books are expensive here. In our village we shared whatever we had. And in the capital there's a library. You could go there."
"A library?" Convenient, he thought. I'll take advantage of that. Maybe I'll find some clues, or even traces of the laboratories Kagura left behind.
After some time the group approached the library building. The clerk, smiling politely, shook her head. She apologized, but they could not have access to the books. They were considered a national treasure, not something for just anyone to touch. Only academy students and nobles living in the capital were allowed inside.
Cedo sighed quietly. "I see."
"Besides," Hakama added awkwardly, "Cedo can't read yet."
He silently agreed. Exactly. Hakama had taught him the letters, but he was still a long way from fluent reading. What should he do now?
At that moment several mercenaries were warming up nearby and chatting quietly. One of them nodded towards the group. "It's them, right? A group of lesser beings with a child. Definitely them."
After that they called out loudly to the travellers. One mercenary swung his arm sharply and jumped to attack, aiming his fist at Cedo. But Cedo easily intercepted his hand and said calmly, "Strange way to introduce yourselves."
Something is wrong here, he thought.
The man standing a little to the side said hastily, "He's got it all wrong."
In response Cedo squeezed his wrist a little harder, and a stream of energy shot off into the sky. The mercenary shook his head and chuckled. "Excellent reaction, old man."
He glanced sideways at the children. I didn't expect that, he thought. Are they really going to use sacred power right in the middle of the street?
Cedo looked at him coldly. "So. What do you want from me?"
The mercenaries shrugged. "Our client considers you a nuisance."
So they hired mercenaries, Cedo noted silently. Well. That would even save me time.
The second man chuckled. "If you simply disappeared, the capital would be calmer. There'd be no danger lurking around every corner. You especially should think about what happens next."
He swung again, but Cedo instantly grabbed his arm, flipped him over with a sharp movement and threw him to the ground.
The second mercenary threw up his hands, concentrated his energy and shouted, "You asked for it."
A stream of flame erupted from his palms and rushed towards Cedo, but he merely extended his palm casually, and the fire dissipated as if it had struck an invisible wall. The mercenary bared his teeth and retreated into the clouds of smoke.
The next moment Cedo's hand shot out of the smoke. He grabbed his opponent by the chest and jerked him up into the air.
"If you want to become a threat, first become stronger. If, of course, you have the courage to try that again."
With those words he swung slightly, as if about to strike. The mercenary thought in horror: isn't he a lesser being?
And then a sharp, commanding voice rang out. "Enough. Nobody move."
Karina stood a few steps away, hands on her hips. She scratched the back of her head and drawled petulantly, "Seriously. They start a fight in the middle of the city when I'm trying to enjoy a little of my day off. I'll throw you all behind bars, so get ready."
Cedo immediately let go of the mercenary and then suddenly smiled broadly. Excellent. He had deliberately made a fuss.
Karina pointed her finger sharply at him. "It's him. That same lesser one." She smirked, levelling her weapon at him, and added coldly, "It was very brave of you to cause a ruckus the moment you reached the capital. After all, inferior beings remain inferior. You don't even know what is and isn't allowed here."
At that moment an unfamiliar girl came over and said calmly that she had been passing by and had seen everything. These people were attacked. Honestly, she thought it was pure self-defence.
Karina glanced at her in confusion, then crouched down next to the fallen mercenaries and muttered, "I seem to recognize them. They were students from the Harness Academy, weren't they?"
She clutched her head and sighed heavily. She knew it. She only hoped that the lady wasn't involved.
Cedo frowned. "The lady?"
Karina waved her hand, as if brushing away unnecessary questions, and ordered her subordinates, "Take them away." Then, thinking out loud, "Forget it."
"So the paladins patrol the streets as well," Cedo said calmly. He had thought the guild did that.
"The capital is big," Karina answered briefly. "We just help maintain order."
She thought to herself: I was only strolling around here trying the street food. And yet he really is incredibly strong.
Waving her hand again, she muttered, "In short, try not to cause any more trouble."
But Cedo suddenly raised his hand. "Wait. If you don't mind, tell me where a certain place is."
Karina turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. "What place?"
A while later Cedo was sitting on a couch in the Wilton estate. He folded his hands in front of him and said firmly, "I need you to hire them. You told me to come to you if I needed help. Remember?"
Argus raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was it his imagination, or were there more of them than before?
Cedo tilted his head slightly. "It just happened that way. We ran into the very bandits you warned us about. They were holding these children captive. We freed them."
Argus frowned. "And the bandits?"
"I dealt with them," he replied. The guild was already working on the rest.
The paladin looked at him thoughtfully. Did he handle them all alone? Out loud, he asked, "Why did you bring them here?"
Cedo glanced at Poval and Nino. "They're without family. What you call lesser beings here. I thought I could at least help them find work."
Argus said that he was not obliged to take responsibility for other people's children.
"This is simply how I live," Cedo replied. "I saved them, and I don't want to abandon them halfway. If I start something, I see it through."
The children froze, looking at him hopefully. Argus closed his eyes, was silent for a couple of seconds, and then exhaled. "Good. They can stay and work in the estate."
Poval could not help exclaiming joyfully, "Really?"
"But on one condition," Argus added sternly.
Everyone tensed involuntarily.
"You will become an instructor."
Cedo frowned slightly. "Instructor."
A little later Nino and Poval had changed into work clothes. Cedo crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. It looked good on them.
Poval bowed low, almost touching her nose to the floor. "Sir Argus. Thank you very much."
Argus waved his hand. "Don't thank me." He looked at his household staff and added firmly, "And I expect you to teach them everything, without discriminating against them simply because they are lesser beings."
They bowed their heads in unison. "As you command."
The group moved on down the corridors of the estate. Cedo slowed his pace slightly and asked quietly, "So what's the reason? Why should I be the instructor?"
Argus stopped, turned to him and replied calmly, "You grasp everything incredibly quickly. I don't know who you are, but I want to believe you're a worthy man. That's why I'm asking for your help."
He paused, as if choosing his words, and added, "I need you to infiltrate the Harness Academy."
Cedo froze.