Lennok was struck by the woman's beauty, even as her face was shaded by the setting sun.
Noticing Lennok's gaze, the woman quickly regretted her previous words.
"Huh… I apologize. What am I blabbering about with a stranger?"
She gestured while elegantly brushing her blonde hair.
"It's already past closing time. I kindly request that you leave so that I can organize the books."
Just as the woman was about to turn away, Lennok found himself speaking up. "Is that from your experience?" he asked, his words laced with genuine curiosity.
The woman remained silent for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words.
"If you're a student, it's too early to give up," Lennok continued. "Why not start with what you can do and work from there?"
The woman looked at him, dumbfounded, as if she hadn't expected to receive advice from him. But that was all Lennok could offer her.
Despite his own natural talent for magic, Lennok knew that hard work and perseverance were just as important.
He wasn't sure why he felt compelled to give this particular woman advice, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to hear it.
Lennok didn't know what kind of uncertainties the woman faced at university, but he wished her a bright future nonetheless. As he began to descend the stairs, she suddenly called out to him.
"Hey!"
As Lennok turned around, the woman surprised him by pulling something out of her blouse pocket and throwing it his way.
It landed in his hand with a crisp sound – a luxurious business card with the name written in gold.
Stunned, the woman stared at him for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "You seem to have mistaken me for a student, but you are completely wrong," she said, her tone tinged with frustration.
Lennok replied with a hesitant "yes?"
"Based on your behavior and words, you seem like a fool. I doubt you'd take my advice to heart," she continued, holding her head in apparent pain before eventually shaking it off.
"But that's okay. If you come back later, I'll show you a little magic. For now, it's best to part ways," she concluded.
“…..”
Lennok stared at the woman, wondering if she was insane as she talked and answered herself. It wasn't until he left the library and examined the business card that he finally understood the meaning behind her words.
[Aris Richellen.]
[ Chair Professor, Department of Elemental Magic, Rabatenon University.]
"…She's a professor?" he thought to himself.
Despite her youthful appearance and the way she spoke, she held a high position at the university. Lennok couldn't understand why someone of her status would be organizing books in the library.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought. If everything went according to his plan, he would never have to see her again. He didn't need to keep dwelling on someone he had only met by chance.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Lennok had just turned onto the street leading to his hotel when he was stopped by a young man in a police uniform.
"Excuse me, sir," the officer said with a friendly smile, holding up a small device. "Could you spare a moment to assist with an inspection?"
“…Inspection?” Lennok's mind raced at the mention of police.
Had they discovered that he was a factory worker with no identity? He appeared calm on the outside, but he feared that he had been exposed.
However, he quickly realized that the situation was different. If the police had known about his lack of identity, they would not have approached him alone.
In a split second, Lennok weighed his options and decided to comply. Running away would only make him look guilty.
"I'm happy to help. What kind of inspection is it?"
"It's nothing too serious," the officer replied. "There was a recent robbery in the area, and we're investigating with the help of magic patterns found at the scene."
Lennok breathed a small sigh of relief. The case had nothing to do with him, and he made sure to keep his expression neutral as he followed the officer's instructions.
The difference between this world and Earth was apparent to Lennok.
No matter what thoughts raced through his mind, his face remained placid as he extended his hand towards the device, channeling mana towards its base.
He carefully altered the pattern by manipulating the flow of mana. Teardrop shapes scattered around and was sucked into the device, appearing on the display.
The policeman smiled and nodded, comparing the magic pattern on the screen to the one he held.
“The pattern is definitely different. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Lennok asked, pointing to the device, “Is this meter also detecting mana?”
Despite not having a large absolute amount of mana, Lennok has perfect control over all the mana within his body thanks to his exceptional talent.
However, there was still a small amount of mana that flowed outward, and it was highly likely that the police would have detected it if they had noticed.
Answering Lennok's question, the cop nodded awkwardly.
“Yes yes. They say they used materials that are sensitive to mana, but wouldn't Mr. Wizard know better than me?"
"Well, to be honest, I haven't been to this city in quite some time. This seems to be the way criminal investigations are conducted these days."
“It has been a long time since we stopped favoring physical evidence in the investigation process. Contrary to your appearance, you seem to be quite old-fashioned.”
It was revealed that traditional methods like CCTV, surveillance cameras, and eyewitness testimony have long been ineffective in violent crime investigations as the perpetrators can easily conceal their identities and escape.
Grateful for Lennok's cooperation in the investigation, the police officer was forthcoming with information and showed goodwill towards him.
To solve crimes, shamans and necromancers summon the spirits of the victims, blood mages track bloodstains, and druids roam the streets searching for faint echoes.
While it was possible to incorporate magical countermeasures into surveillance equipment, the high cost has made it impossible for areas outside of the core facilities to afford such equipment. As a result, investigators in those areas have to rely on their feet to gather evidence.
As the policeman grumbled, Lennok nodded in agreement. However, the officer soon left after receiving a message in his pager.
Watching him go, Lennok felt relieved. The sound wasn't from the factory, so his efforts to avoid detection had paid off.
From their perspective, he was just a dying factory worker, so it made sense that they wouldn't pursue him aggressively.
Lennok had taken one of the supervisor's cars, but there was no issue with that since he had shot the supervisor himself. It was still early to let his guard down, but he didn't need to be overly cautious either.
He found it fortunate that the Vulcan police relied on magic and magical items for investigations. Powerful wizards like himself had some resistance to magic that targeted them.
Even if someone tracked him with a certain scent, it wouldn't work if he had the ability to resist targeting magic.
Lennok had recorded all of those trivial abilities until the end when he set up the talents in this body.
If the stats he had directly applied were embodied here, Lennok's body would have an absolute resistance ability, making it difficult to track or curse him.
While it would be challenging to resist a wizard with a higher level than him, it would still be helpful for hiding or escaping.
With caution in mind, Lennok checked out of the hotel and moved to another one far away from the area. He didn't want to leave any trace behind, and being careful was always better than being sorry.
‘The lodging fee was also too expensive.'
Lennok quickly grasped the cost of living in Vulcan.
He found the 100,000 cells per night hotel he stayed at unsatisfactory and opted for a smaller room with a smaller bathroom in a new hotel that cost almost half the price.
This would help him conserve his savings. Once he settled in, Lennok grabbed a notepad and pen and started organizing his goals and tasks.
‘The most important goal is to survive.'
He had been in this unknown world for a week already, and he needed to secure his time and space before moving on to the next task of figuring out why he was brought here.
But before he could do that, he had to strengthen his weak body.
‘The method needed to restore the body… What immediately comes to mind is the unique magic related to time. Otherwise, it's just an elixir or medicine.'
He had previously researched time series magic in the library, but he now leaned more towards seeking out an elixir or medicine.
In the world of wizards, unique magic was the most prized possession, kept secret and coveted by those who possessed it. Unless one was a priest, it was rare even to get a chance to encounter it.
But when it came to elixirs and medicines that restored physical strength, things were different. While panacea-like potions were extremely rare and expensive, those with lesser efficacy were more easily obtainable.
For Lennok, it was enough to find an elixir that could at least alleviate the penalties of his weak body and increase his lifespan.
He knew that such elixirs must exist in this world, just as they did in the game.
"I need to find a way to make money," Lennok concluded.
He needed a lot of money, and he needed it fast. As the realization set in, he felt a tingle in his head and impulsively reached for the cigarette.
After lighting the fire and inhaling the smoke, he felt a rush of energy and vitality course through his body. It was then that he accepted the reality that he would have to depend on these things in the long run to make money.
To heal his body, he would have to work it, but to work it, he needed to earn money.
It was an unavoidable contradiction, but for Lennok, who had nothing, it was a natural path that he had to take, even if it meant creating opportunities for himself.
Thankfully, Lennok had a very special talent that set him apart from most people. It was no surprise, really, as it was the only thing he had to believe in from the beginning.
As he pondered about the future, he knew that the long-term goal had been set, but the process of reaching it was entirely up to him.
Deciding to make money was just the first step, but he also needed to carefully plan and prepare for the journey ahead, using every means available to him, including magic.
For Lennok, it was not just an option but a necessity.
It was much later, long after the cigarette smoke had dissipated, that the lights in the room finally went out.
