Child Of Time

Grey's journey had taken him far from the opulence of Ravenwood Manor. Now, as the sun dipped below the horizon, he found himself in a small, unremarkable village nestled at the edge of a vast forest. The village was quiet, with only the occasional flicker of lanterns illuminating the cobblestone streets. He had traveled all day, and the fatigue of the journey was beginning to weigh on him.

The memories from the body's previous owner had fully merged with his own, and as he walked through the village, Grey's mind was awash with new information. This world was vastly different from the one he had known.

Seven powerful guilds, known as the Seven Houses, ruled the lands. These Houses were massive, each a behemoth in its own right, and they were ranked much like the individuals who served them, from F-rank to the rare and powerful SS-rank. Grey's father, the Guild Master of the number one guild in the human domain, was one of the most powerful figures in this world.

The World Academy, where the most talented individuals were nurtured and trained, stood as an equal to the Seven Houses. While not stronger than any of the Houses individually, the academy wielded a unique authority. It was a place where even the children of the guild leaders were sent to learn and grow, and its influence was such that even the mighty Seven Houses respected its power and significance.

Grey's destination was also the World Academy. Despite the fallout from the 'incident' that had led to his disownment, his admission to the academy remained intact. It was the one place where he could still carve out a future, one that wasn't tainted by the Raven family's disdain.

The very thought of attending an academy intrigued Grey. In his previous life, such institutions were non-existent; his life had been forged through war and conquest, not in classrooms and lecture halls. The idea of a place dedicated to learning, where power and knowledge were the ultimate goals, appealed to him more than he cared to admit.

As he mulled over these thoughts, Grey pushed open the door of a local tavern. The moment he stepped inside, every eye in the room turned toward him. His attire—luxurious, tailored, and clearly of noble origin—was out of place in this humble setting. The velvet coat of deep midnight blue, embroidered with intricate gold patterns, caught the light of the lanterns, making him stand out even more. His cold demeanor, however, discouraged anyone from approaching.

He chose a seat in a dimly lit corner, away from prying eyes, and ordered a simple meal. As the food arrived, Grey began to tackle the more pressing problem at hand: money.

To reach the World Academy, Grey needed to travel to the nearest major city and use a teleportation gate. But the cost of using such a gate was steep, and he had no money to his name. Grey sighed as he considered his options.

"No matter which world one goes to, money is always both the problem and the solution," he muttered to himself.

There were a few ways to earn money quickly. He could take on mercenary work, hunting monsters or gathering rare herbs, but these were time-consuming tasks that he couldn't afford to take on. Another option was to sell the luxurious outfit he was currently wearing. It would fetch a good price, enough to cover the cost of the teleportation gate.

The thought of parting with his outfit made Grey frown. He had grown attached to it, but practicality overruled sentiment. Even so, selling the outfit would only solve part of the problem. The money it would bring in would likely cover the teleportation gate, but it would leave him unarmed and vulnerable in a world where danger lurked at every corner. He needed a weapon, something that would allow him to defend himself if necessary.

Grey's mind raced as he considered his next move. He needed money, and he needed it fast. Selling the outfit might be a temporary solution, but it wasn't enough. He needed to find a way to secure both the funds for the teleportation gate and a weapon to ensure his safety during the journey.

As he ate, Grey kept his ears open, listening to the conversations around him. This village was small, but perhaps it held an opportunity he hadn't considered yet. He had to think strategically, using every resource at his disposal to reach his goal.

Finishing his meal, Grey leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Countless ways of making money came to mind. One was gambling, but there was no gambling den in this quiet village. With every other option exhausted, there was only one way to make money that was both easy and fast.

Stealing.

A bitter smile crept onto Grey's face.

"The once mighty king, the ruler of seven lands, now reduced to a thief. How far have I fallen?"

The irony wasn't lost on him. In his previous life, Grey had commanded vast armies, crushed kingdoms, and bent entire nations to his will. Now, he was contemplating theft just to survive. But pragmatism won over pride. He had no qualms about stealing.

But he wasn't going to steal from ordinary people. Not because he was concerned with his moral standing, but because such actions would only cause trouble in the long run. Maintaining an image in society was crucial, and petty theft would only attract unwanted attention.

So, Grey devised a more strategic plan. He decided to find some thieves, beat them, and take their ill-gotten gains.

Grey's plan was straightforward, a strategy he had employed many times before. By targeting the thieves themselves, he not only stood to gain the money he needed but would also endear himself to the villagers. After all, removing the thieves from their midst would likely earn him their gratitude and a debt of favor.

It was a calculated move: eliminate the source of trouble and, in the process, secure both funds and goodwill. The villagers, relieved of the threat and possibly even seeing Grey as a benefactor, would be inclined to support him in any way they could.

This approach allowed Grey to maintain his image while solving his immediate problem. The simplicity of the plan belied its effectiveness. By dealing with the thieves, he would not only gain the necessary resources to proceed but also position himself favorably with those who might otherwise have been wary of him.

To do that, Grey had already made the necessary arrangements to lure out the thugs. After all, he wasn't foolish enough to wander around in luxurious clothing, painting himself as a target.

With every detail meticulously planned, his current appearance was nothing more than bait—a carefully crafted trap to draw out the greedy and desperate. Now, all that remained was for the thugs to take the bait.

With this thought in mind, Grey left the tavern and walked along a quiet road. After walking for some time, he turned into a small alleyway, but no one attacked him. He moved from alley to alley, exploring every dark corner, but still, no one showed themselves. Disappointment began to creep in.

'Guess no luck today,' he thought, about to head back. But at that moment, three figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding him.

Instead of panicking, Grey smiled inwardly. 'Finally,' he thought. The game was on.