The carriage glided along, its automated motions taking them closer to the heart of the Holy Light Church Kingdom's capital, the city known as the "Holy City."

  Farkonia and Misako found themselves powerless to oppose Aris' insistence, so they were forced to follow her lead.

  "The real issue now is how we’re going to get in," Misako muttered as they approached the gates of the city.

  Outside the Holy City’s gates, a long line of merchants and civilians was waiting, all under the scrutiny of the knights stationed at the entrance, who meticulously checked every individual.

  At present, the group consisted of a fox demon with a slightly humanoid appearance, an unidentified creature, and two dragons. These would likely pass as inconsequential; after all, they were all capable of disguising themselves as humans. Misako's ears, for instance, could easily be mistaken for a part of her hair, and Pupu, could be easily expined away as a rare species of animal. If worse came to worst, Pupu could simply be hidden away, or even pass as some kind of peculiar hat, given how it often perched on Veridith' head.

  The real problem, however, y with Aris. Despite the changes to her appearance, notably her golden hair now streaked with bck, she was unmistakable. Anyone who had ever seen her before, whether a commoner or a member of the clergy, would recognise her immediately. Her golden hair and eyes were symbols of the Light Goddess herself—an undeniable mark of divinity in the Holy Light Church Kingdom. Those bearing such traits were revered, as they were considered chosen by the goddess.

  Aris' golden locks, now tainted with bck, still held that same celestial gleam. Had they been any closer to the gates, it was certain she would have been recognised by the onlookers, civilians, or knights nearby.

  “Are we going to sneak in?” Veridith asked, her voice calm, almost distracted.

  Her innate ability now allowed her to distort light, even rendering herself and others invisible. She could create illusions to mask their presence from prying eyes.

  “…No,” Aris replied. “The Holy City requires a permit to enter. Those without one are hunted down.”

  Having once been a saint, Aris was well-versed in the ws of the Holy City. Upon entering the city, every person received an entry permit. It was a strict w that required everyone to carry this permit with them at all times. Anyone without one would be pursued by the authorities, and anyone resisting arrest could even be executed on the spot.

  "So, what’s the pn?" Misako inquired. "I could use illusions to confuse the guards, but your appearance hasn’t changed. It wouldn’t be a permanent solution. The Holy Light Church has survived for so long because of its vigince. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to rely solely on my illusions."

  The core issue remained Aris’ unmistakable appearance. Even if they were to fool the guards, her identity would still be exposed once they entered the city.

  At that moment, Aris retrieved a small box from her cloak. The intricate engravings and the faint magical aura it exuded marked it as a magical device.

  “…This is from Tia,” Aris said quietly. “It can obstruct others' perception.”

  "Wait, what?!" Misako gasped in disbelief.

  Perception-altering magic was notoriously difficult to master. While Misako’s illusions had a simir effect, the two magics were fundamentally different. Illusions were transient—if someone had strong enough mental fortitude or insight, they could eventually see through them. But perception-altering magic was far more potent. It didn’t just create illusions; it could alter how others perceived reality itself.

  To put it simply, a sufficiently powerful perception block could allow a person to perform actions right in front of others without being noticed—punching, kicking, or anything else—without the other person ever realising.

  Such magic required a minimum of tenth-tier magical prowess, along with significant talent and years of dedicated study.

  The very fact that Tia had been able to fashion this magic into a device spoke volumes of her remarkable abilities.

  ...

  “Alright, you can go now,” an older knight said, handing over the entry permit.

  “Thanks,” the merchant replied with a casual grin.

  He was an unremarkable figure, cd in a hood, with a thick beard partially visible beneath the hood’s edge. He took the permit and drove his carriage forward into the city.

  “…Is this how merchants act?” the young knight asked, offering a stiff smile and waving goodbye to the merchant.

  “Merchants come in all sorts. It’s not uncommon for some to be particurly outgoing. Besides, who’s to say his inner self matches his outward appearance?”

  Most merchants were skilled in the art of manipution and deception, able to mask their true nature behind a friendly fa?ade.

  “Forget about that. Let’s focus on the job.”

  The older knight gave the younger one a light pat on the back, urging him to focus. Together, they turned towards the next batch of travellers waiting to enter.

  “Please present your identification, kid,” the older knight said, looking down at the small pink-haired girl standing before him, her head barely reaching his chest.

  “Did you just call me-” Misako began, her face contorting into an expression of indignation.

  “Sorry, is this fine?” Farkonia interrupted, covering Misako’s mouth and swiftly producing four golden cards from her cloak.

  “Oh! No problem at all!” the knight responded enthusiastically.

  The Adventurers’ Guild was a pan-national organisation, trusted across borders and races. It was recognised by both the Mage and Warrior Associations, which were under the auspices of the Tower of Sages and the Council of Elders—bodies comprised of the most powerful human figures. As such, the guild was well-regarded by the Holy Light Church Kingdom, provided that one was human.

  “…No problem…” the older knight muttered, inspecting the cards with a special machine to check for any criminal records. Once he confirmed their legitimacy, he shifted his gaze to the two figures standing behind Farkonia and Misako.

  “…Green hair… consistent. Then, this one…”

  The knight examined a girl with a modest, almost ordinary appearance. However, there was no mistaking the ethereal beauty of her features.

  “Mm, no issues. Pass.”

  The knight handed over several entry permits to the four travellers.

  “Welcome to the Holy City.”

  “Thanks,” Farkonia said, taking the permits and ushering the others forward into the city.

  “…Adventurers, huh? I used to dream of becoming one myself before I got an arrow in my knee,” the young knight mused wistfully, watching the group disappear into the city. “Now, I’m stuck here as a gatekeeper. Hmm, did I forgot something important? Someone?”

  “Huh? What’s wrong, sir?” The younger knight turned to see the older knight staring after the group with a pensive look.

  “…It’s nothing. Just a feeling. I think I’ve missed a chance to meet someone important,” the older knight muttered.

  “Really? But you’ve hardly ever left the city. I doubt those people know you.”

  “…Perhaps. I guess it’s just my imagination.”

  The older knight thought back to a time over a decade ago—when a young, golden-haired girl had gone to great lengths to save him and his comrades after they were wounded defending the city walls.

  ‘…I hope that girl is still living happily somewhere, even if I never see her again.’