When all the nearby elves started staring at Judas, the other races soon took notice and looked in the same direction.
Not even five minutes had passed and he had already attracted so many eyeballs to himself.
'I want to smack myself in the head.'
'I've got to do something about this, or else these elves are never going to leave me alone.'
He shifted into mist form, disappearing from everyone's sight, which stunned the crowd.
"What? Where did he go?"
"He just vanished!"
But the elves had a different reaction.
"Who was he? Why do I feel so fond of that human?"
"Being around him felt like I had returned home to my forest, as if he was emitting a serene and peaceful atmosphere."
"That human gave off a feeling that makes me feel at ease. So strange."
Rumors about a human boy who disappeared into a cloud of mist spread through some areas of Orario.
Although such gossip would die down in a few days, it was a fact that Judas had already made his presence known.
"Looks like I'll have to be careful next time."
In a random dark alley, free from any spying eyes, Judas' body materialized.
He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the color of his eyes had changed from purple to gold.
His whole view of the world shifted drastically.
Everything was covered in colorful wisps of light, present on people's bodies and lingering in the air as well.
This was life force, the fundamental energy of all living beings.
Due to factors like age and race, the level of life energy varied between individuals.
His eyes scanned the people in the area, with the exception of gods, everyone in his vision had varying degrees of colored lights surrounding them.
'As expected, those with higher levels have more life energy compared to those with lower levels. Though races with long lifespans, like elves, naturally carry an abundant amount of it in their bodies.'
Judas looked at himself, and sure enough, what he saw was overwhelming.
His aura towered as tall as Babel, completely dwarfing the auras of those around him.
This was his own life energy, stacked with his aura of nature.
The aura manifested as a soft, shimmering glow, resembling dappled sunlight filtering through forest canopies.
When near elves, it subtly amplified their innate connection to nature, filling them with serenity and trust.
『Suppress』
The giant aura shrank rapidly.
What once rivaled the Tower of Babel was now reduced to the size of a small house.
He looked at himself and nodded in approval.
"Unless an elf looks at me up close, I should be no different from any human in their eyes from now on."
His eyes returned to normal, and he continued to wander the city.
He didn't head for the guild right away, instead finding an inn to rest.
"I still haven't had enough sleep."
There were visible bags under his eyes, and the sleep he had managed to snatch on the caravan hadn't been enough.
After taking a shower, Judas jumped onto the bed and fell asleep immediately.
That was how his first day in Orario ended.
Judas woke up at four in the morning.
The sun had yet to rise, so he went outside for a jog.
'The guild won't be open for a while. I guess I'll exercise to pass the time.'
As he jogged, he passed by numerous shops, noting them down in his mind and familiarizing himself with the city.
'My magical prowess is already outstanding, but my physical abilities are lagging far behind. Without reinforcing myself with mana or strengthen myself with spells, I can't even beat a level one in a pure physical confrontation.'
He was already aware of his weakness.
He was a human with no distinct advantage in physical aspects like the dwarves or beastmen.
Not as smart and crafty as the pallums, nor magically gifted like the elves.
If not for the memory of his past life as Estelon, the Spirit King, he would have been just an ordinary boy—one who would most likely have died in the hands of that red dragon.
'I'll aim to be perfect in all aspects, so that I will have no weakness to exploit.'
He wasn't just aiming to regain his former strength as Estelon, but to surpass it.
'This must be the guild.'
By the time the guild opened, Judas was already there, stepping inside and looking for a receptionist.
He chose the shorter line, and before long it was his turn.
"I would like to register as an adventurer."
He said this to the beautiful receptionist with long red hair, belonging to the werewolf race.
Rose Fannett looked Judas up and down, her eyes almost devoid of emotion.
She noticed how young he was and sighed, shaking her head.
"Another hot-blooded young man seeking death. Let me tell you, the dungeon is not a playground and should not be taken lightly. People die there all the time. Are you sure you want to proceed?"
Rose warned in a stern, tired voice. She was used to this.
There was never a shortage of newcomers flocking to Orario, hoping to chase dreams.
Unfortunately, very few came out alive.
After witnessing so many deaths, Rose said these words out of habit, trying to discourage the foolish.
Whether they listened or not had nothing to do with her. She did what she could.
In the end, the choice was theirs.
Judas looked into her eyes and already understood her story.
Despite her indifferent mask, she cared somewhat about others' lives, though she had long been desensitized.
"Yes, I am sure. I've dealt with monsters in my home village and I've been trained."
Judas didn't know why he felt the urge to reassure her. Maybe because he pitied her. Maybe because of something else. He didn't dwell on it.
Rose saw the unwavering determination in his eyes.
There was no naivety there, nor the innocent eagerness that most newcomers had.
'At least this one seems decent.'
She was slightly relieved, though her face betrayed nothing.
"Then, have you already joined a familia?"
Judas shook his head in response.
Rose was not surprised and handed out some official documents.
"Please write your information on this paper. I'll bring you a list of familias that are currently recruiting."
The procedure was quick, and Judas found himself impressed by Rose's professionalism.
"After you're accepted into a familia, I'll be your adviser—unless your familia assigns one for you."
When the paperwork was finished, Judas was about to leave, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the protagonist—Belle Cranel—speaking with another receptionist, a half-elf named Eina Tulle.
Belle felt a gaze on her back and turned, only to find no one there.
'I must be imagining things.'
She thought before resuming her conversation with Eina.
'I wasn't being stealthy but her senses were sharper than I thought.'
Judas mused as he glanced at the paper in his hand containing a list of familias.
'Most of these are either low to mid-level factions.'
'Other than Miach... I don't recognize any of these names.'
He lost interest, shrugged, crumpled the paper into a ball, and tossed it into the trash.
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Note: Extra Chapter! If by some miracle we are able to reach 50 power stones by tomorrow, there will be one.