After the meal, the trio boarded a carriage to continue toward Central City.

Admittedly, noble carriages were splendid—far more elegant than the wooden ones Yan Yi had seen before. He wasn’t just admiring it from outside; Yan Yi was even invited inside. Knowing full well that nobles in this world rarely looked down on commoners, he accepted without hesitation.

Thus, Yan Yi and Luris chatted inside the carriage while the elderly butler drove.

Luris trusted the butler implicitly, aware of his capabilities. Even Yan Yi felt certain that any trouble they might encounter would be effortlessly resolved by him. After all, they were nearing Central City—no magical beasts or bandits dared linger here. Even if any appeared, they’d never leave alive…

In Yan Yi’s mind, butlers were among the strongest combat professions in this otherworld, rivaled only by maids. Dragon slayers? Sword Saints? War Gods? None would last more than a few rounds against these mysterious beings as formidable as humanoid Goliaths.

"Yan Yi, you must be the strongest youth in your village. But why can’t I sense your mana?"

It was true that Yan Yi had earned a recommendation spot to the academy as his village’s top talent. Yet Luris’s inability to detect his mana surprised her. Initially, she’d assumed he was concealing it and hadn’t probed deeply. Now, focusing intently, she sensed only her own mana and the butler’s. Yan Yi seemed utterly devoid of it—as if detection spells targeting mana would overlook him entirely.

Yan Yi was deeply troubled. *If I say I’m a zero-mana trash, you won’t believe me. If I claim I have superb concealment magic, the butler won’t buy it. And if I boast that I’m beyond your perception? You’d toss me out immediately!*

*What can I even say? That some powerhouse sealed my powers? I’m not some edgy protagonist waiting for an unsealing scene! Besides, why would a random village kid get sealed? Damn it all…*

Grief-stricken, Yan Yi gazed out the window, his expression revealing sorrow, loneliness, and confusion.

For some reason, Luris’s heart ached at the sight. She felt she’d asked something she shouldn’t have, stirring painful memories. *He must have a tragic past…*

Meanwhile, Yan Yi was screaming internally: *Damn it! Think of an excuse! Brain, power up NOW!*

"If it’s something painful… you don’t have to talk about it. Everyone has secrets."

*Huh?*

Hearing Luris’s gentle words, Yan Yi froze. *What’s happening? And why does the young lady look so sad? Wait—is that concern? No… it’s sympathy. Definitely sympathy!*

Realizing he couldn’t keep up with her shifting emotions, Yan Yi chose silence. He turned from the window and gave a slight nod. Though his momentary surprise vanished quickly, Luris caught it. Combined with his now unreadable face, she was certain: *Yan Yi is a young man with a story.*

Seeing Luris’s eyes light up with renewed curiosity, Yan Yi sensed things were veering oddly. *If I don’t change the subject, something bad will happen.* He smiled softly.

"Young lady… you truly are kind."

Instantly, Luris’s face flushed crimson. "N-no! Anyone would say that seeing your expression! K-kindness has nothing to do with it…"

Yan Yi kept smiling, deepening her blush. Inside, he pumped his fist: *Nice!*

True to his plan, Luris soon turned to the window, quiet except for the lingering pink on her cheeks.

Soon, the carriage reached Central City—a bustling metropolis of Western-style buildings and scattered castles. Even on the outskirts, crowds thronged the streets.

"Young lady, we’ve arrived at Central City. Shall we rest awhile?" the butler called from outside.

Luris considered it briefly. "No need. The academy is still far. Let’s hurry—I don’t want to arrive at dusk."

Central City dwarfed any city Yan Yi had ever seen. Thankfully, Central Magic Academy lay near the outskirts on their side; otherwise, they’d never make it today.

As the crowds thinned, they neared their destination. Yan Yi stared dumbfounded at the academy walls stretching endlessly in both directions. *How do students even navigate this place?*

Near the ornate gates, a loose gathering of people caught his attention. He instinctively sharpened his hearing.

"Twenty silver coins isn’t steep! I’ll carry all your luggage."

"Fifteen’s my lowest. Take it or leave it."

"Do noble young masters really haggle over pocket change?"

"Look—a new noble! Prep yourselves. This one’s a big catch."

…

Yan Yi had wondered how nobles handled luggage. *If it were me, I’d profit from this.* Now he saw it firsthand—and the prices were outrageous! Yet watching seniors "set up stalls" at the gates, he sighed inwardly: *This damn academy was beyond saving.*

After arriving, Yan Yi hopped down, ready to offer his hand like a proper attendant. But when he turned, Luris had already leapt down herself. *How utterly unaccustomed she is to noble formalities.*

"Fellow student! I’ll give you a discount—ten silver coins for all your luggage!"

"No, beautiful underclassman! Just one silver coin—tell me your name!"

"Let me carry your bags for free! Order me around, trample me underfoot…"

…

Yan Yi nearly gaped. He forced down the urge to flee. *What was that last guy saying?! Is this pervert allowed in public?!*

Proposals for dates followed. Yan Yi now deeply respected Luris’s foresight in securing a "porter"—even if it was him.

Luris winced. *This chaos…* She itched to blast them with a spell. Only the butler’s imposing aura kept the crowd at bay.

"Silence. My young lady already has an attendant."

The butler sighed. He, too, was exasperated with Central.

The crowd quieted, eyes locking onto Yan Yi beside Luris. His plain clothes marked him as no noble—so he must be…

"Tch. That scrawny frame? What can he even lift?"

"Exactly. His mana’s barely a flicker. How’s he carrying anything?"

"I challenge him! The winner carries the young lady’s luggage!"

…

Chaos erupted again. No academy staff intervened.

Yan Yi was ready to bolt and surrender to the seniors—until the butler’s voice cut through.

"Mid-tier Augmentation: Strength - Power Boost!"

A white light enveloped Yan Yi, coating him in a faint, shimmering film.

Power Boost was a mid-tier spell, amplifying strength by 1,000 to 2,000 jin based on one’s physique—a staple for "humanoid Goliaths."

The seniors might not know the spell’s name, but they recognized mid-tier magic wasn’t for show. Yan Yi’s strength now surpassed theirs.

"This suffices. His strength now matches any of yours. Step aside and let my young lady pass."

*Perfect.* The butler had eliminated their reason to argue.

Amidst disgruntled "Tch!" and "Hmph!" sounds, the crowd dispersed. The butler headed to the carriage’s rear compartment. Though long, only half held passengers—the other half stored luggage. *Luris’s luggage…*

As the crowd cleared, Luris walked toward the back and tugged Yan Yi’s sleeve. He didn’t move.

He stared at the white glow on his hands, bewildered.

*I’ve got a buff… but why do I feel nothing?*

"Yan Yi? Let’s go."

Luris’s voice snapped him back. He nodded and turned—then nearly twisted his neck.

The butler was unloading over ten large and small trunks. Yan Yi’s lips twitched. *These won’t trouble me… but still.*

"*This* is too much. They actually expect one person to carry it all?"

He didn’t mind—but if it weren’t him? He glanced at the butler’s kindly smile and Luris’s utterly unsurprised expression.

*These two… they’re no pushovers.*