Did I take it too far? Colt wondered as he flew back.
At level 337, he could kill someone at level 250 just by snapping his fingers.
But death hadn't been enough. He'd wanted them to feel fear first.
He wasn't the most cheerful person, but he wasn't exactly dark either. Not unless it was about Seila.
Even so, maybe he'd overdone it. There had probably been no need to show off that much.
Whatever, he thought. They're already dead.
He continued flying toward the city. He had already used another strand of hair to seal his level, though he felt like a pervert for carrying hair with him.
The round trip had taken about four hours, so by the time he returned, the sun was starting to sink low in the sky.
Lofpus City stretched in front of him, one of the largest in all of Ostines, almost rivaling the capital itself.
High walls surrounded it, with guards stationed along the top.
A dome-shaped barrier shimmered faintly overhead, the holy shield powered by five level-150 priests working in shifts around the clock.
None of that meant anything to Colt. If he wanted to, he could bypass it all without being seen.
But there was no need. Unlike in his past life, Colt was now a legitimate citizen of both Ostines and Arte.
So he entered through the front gate, just like anyone else.
The massive double doors were flanked by four guards, and a small barracks stood nearby, housing more than ten high-level personnel, each one at least level 150.
One of the four guards stepped forward and checked his ID.
The first time he entered the city, no one had checked him. That was because he'd come through the north gate, riding in a noble's carriage.
The north entrance was reserved for nobles, and they passed through far more easily than others.
So, the carriage exited the northern district only to drop Colt when he came for the first time. The others had no reason to do that.
Merchants, on the other hand, had to use the east gate, while the west and south gates were left for individuals traveling alone or in small groups.
That was why only four guards stood watch at the south entrance Colt now approached.
By contrast, the east gate, where the merchants flowed in and out, was always manned by at least a dozen guards.
There was also no entrance fee this time.
Entrance fees were a complicated matter, decided by the local lords who ruled over each city or town. Harsher lords often imposed fees not just for entry, but even to leave.
But the lord of Lofpus didn't charge for either.
Still, no one could enter the city without proper identification. That kind of leniency was only found in the more remote parts of the country.
In the inner cities, anyone caught without an ID could be taken into custody on the spot.
That was why Colt had gone out of his way to manipulate the clerks at the ID office. By making his records confidential, he'd avoided any problems down the line.
He stepped through the south gate and into the city.
From the outside, Lofpus was hard to read. The tall walls blocked any view beyond them, and only a few pointed structures peeked above the skyline.
But the moment he stepped inside, his eyes were drawn toward the massive building at the city's center.
The city was too big. Normally, one had no way to see the city's center from a corner.
But there were two reasons he could.
First, even though the city was on a level ground, as one advanced toward the middle, the height increased, creating a hill at the center.
And the second was a huge, castle-like building, ringed by twelve towering spires sat on that hill.
The academy...
Those sharp points he'd seen from afar had just been the tips.
Still, there was no need to visit that place yet.
There were other things he needed to take care of first.
First of all, Colt found an inn to stay at.
He didn't need sleep, not really, but since his training had been on hold for a while due to reasons, he'd fallen into the habit of resting at night.
Still, he didn't bother buying a house—even though he easily could. Once the academy started, he'd be moving into the dorms anyway.
The inn he chose was on the south side of the city.
The city's gates weren't placed randomly.
Each one opened into its respective district. For example, merchants used the east gate since the city's main trading center, the merchant district, was located there.
At the center of the city lay the academy district, while the north was reserved for nobles.
Commoners weren't allowed in the northern district without special permission or an invitation.
The west side was mostly residential, housing the city's commoners, though it still had a few general-purpose shops.
As for the south—well, the south was everything. Shops, rental carriages, homes, and even the black market. It was chaos stitched into the city's order.
People from all around the city, including the nobles from the northern district, went there to shop, to eat, to have fun, etc, while the merchants who couldn't compete in the eastern district came to sell their goods.
Originally, that mix hadn't been intentional. But the city's management had eventually leaned into it and turned it into a strength.
Not that it mattered to Colt. He'd only be staying on the south side temporarily.
The inn he chose was in better shape than any he'd stayed at in this life.
It had four floors, and the ground level doubled as a restaurant.
Even the dining area alone could seat over a hundred people, making it surprisingly spacious.
At the reception stood a red-haired, middle-aged beastwoman.
Her long hair was neatly braided, and it reached all the way down her back—a trait of sparrow beastkin, Colt figured.
Is the red hair original? he wondered, since sparrows didn't have red hair normally. But he decided that it didn't concern him.
When he approached the reception, she greeted him with a warm smile. "How can I help you?"
At last, someone didn't sigh the moment they saw me...
"Hi," Colt said. "I need a room. Just for one."
"Ah, are you here for the academy? You're in luck—we've only got one room left. It's always like this around exam season."
"Really? I thought the nobles would stay in the northern district."
"Huh? Oh, they do. It's the commoners that fill up the inns down here."
"What? Really?"
"Is this your first time in Lofpus?" she asked. "Getting into the academy pretty much guarantees a better life. So every year, hundreds of commoners come to take the exam."
"Ah, I see. I didn't know that. The exam must take forever, then."
"Hehe, not at all. But I don't want to ruin the surprise. You'll see for yourself soon enough. Anyway, how long are you staying?
Rooms are three copper a night, five with meals. If you're staying a while, I can give you a discount."
"It's fine," Colt said, placing two silver coins on the counter. "I'll stay until the academy starts."
Two silver coins equaled two hundred copper—enough for forty days, meals included.
The academy was scheduled to start in twenty-five days, one week after the entrance exams.
It was more than necessary, but Colt handed over the extra as thanks for the information.
He didn't really need the tip, of course, but it was just good practice. That was how business worked.
Though from the way the beastwoman chatted, it was clear she wasn't really thinking about business, she just liked to talk.
Is it because of her race? Colt wondered. Do sparrows just like to talk?
"Ah, sir, this is a bit much. And are you sure you'll pass the exam? If not, you'll have thrown away a week's worth of coin."
"It's fine," he said. "Thanks for the heads-up about the exams. I'll come down for food later."
He took the key she offered and climbed the stairs behind the reception.