1329 Sweetbriar Town
The jet was more luxurious than Arthur had anticipated. It had soft leather chairs that could turn into beds, along with a mini bar, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Furthermore, Rhys told Arthur that he could call the jet anytime to come pick him up using a phone they had given him. They could see Oren and the others waving them goodbye from the windows, and the jet soon took off toward the sky. Arthur could feel it rising in the air before it bolted forward toward their destination: Sweetbriar Town. According to Selena, it was located in the Tanera Kingdom, which was between the Yalveran Union and Halin. Sweetbriar was her mother's hometown, allowing Selena to visit it several times. In addition to its rich history of world-renowned chefs, Sweetbriar also had many sightseeing spots they could explore.
"Selena said that the town itself is considered the most peaceful place in the world," said Diana while combing her hair. "I've never heard about a place without mana. It seems that the townspeople are proud of that fact." "I can't understand why," said Arthur while resting his chin in his hand. "How can someone be proud of being powerless?"
"I don't think they're proud of being powerless, but rather of thriving without it," said Diana while braiding her hair together. "According to Selena, their chefs are renowned throughout the world, and many visit just for a chance to try their food."
"It looks like it's going to be a great vacation," said Arthur with a smile as he stared at the clouds. "I wonder when I'll lose my sight again. It seems the eruption of wrath has disrupted my connection to the Level Up Legacy, and thus the price I had to pay for it disappeared as well."
"I honestly wish that you never created that legacy to begin with," said Diana as she slowly stopped braiding. "It seems too much." "It's only fair," said Arthur with a smile as he placed his hand on her neck and leaned toward her. "I feel like I made a very fair bargain."
Diana smiled as their lips touched, and it took a few moments for them to resist the temptation. The two of them had to take a shower and change into a new set of clothes before the jet landed, which would be in a few hours. Their new clothes looked neither too fancy nor too shabby. Arthur wore a casual brown suit with a white shirt underneath, while Diana wore a long navy-blue dress that Selena had gifted her. The captain announced their arrival at their destination, and the two prepared to disembark. Kody had also gifted them a spatial ring for their travels, into which they threw the giant luggage. It gave them the freedom to walk around before settling in their new hotel. The jet landed outside the town to avoid suspicion from the townspeople, and Arthur was happy to take a walk with Diana through the empty forest. "Oh, do we have any money?" asked Diana with a little bit of worry. "The hotel and meals should have astronomical prices."
"We don't have a penny," laughed Arthur. "But I've already contacted Julia to make arrangements. Ascent has been making money from guilds and artifacts for the past few months, and according to Julia, we're as rich as the strongest guilds in the world."
"Then, we just go to the hotel?"
"Indeed. We'll find everything there."
The two of them reached the town after five minutes of walking. At the gates, the guards stopped them from entering since neither of them had any IDs. However, a young woman came running, wearing formal attire. "Please wait! These two are guests at our hotel," said the woman, trying to catch her breath. Arthur noticed her short, boyish hair, which reminded him of the Knight of Courage. "These are their IDs."
The guards inspected their IDs and allowed them through the gates. Although this was a peaceful town where even the strongest would have a hard time replenishing their mana, thugs and thieves were always a nuisance to deal with. "A pleasure to meet you, esteemed guests," said the woman as she bowed once they passed through the gates. "I welcome you to our Sweetbriar town and hotel. My name is Laryn, your personal attendant throughout your visit to our town. These items, along with the IDs, have been sent in your name."
Arthur took the items and found that they were a spatial ring, a golden card, and two IDs with alias names. Although Arthur was famous throughout the world, new attire and a change of hairstyle were enough to deceive most. Furthermore, Sweetbriar had minimal connection with the outside world. Laryn led them through the town and introduced them to its various structures, starting with the main street. It had a Bakery Lane, Maple Grove Park, and a Confectioner's Corner where every type of candy could be found. Diana looked at the myriad of candies with a hungry stare and a watery mouth. "We are now going to enter the Town Square, where you can find the Sweetbriar Fountain, our hotel where you will be staying, and the famous restaurant, the Pinnacle of Taste. West is the Blossom Trail, and east is the Riverwalk, while to the north is the Starry Paradise."
"What is that?"
"The Starry Paradise? It's a spiritual forest," said Laryn with a proud smile. "Although our town is lacking in mana, this forest is the most mystical place in the universe. Those who enter the forest live their most desired dreams, making it a famous spot."
"Can it utilize spiritual energy?" muttered Diana as she stared at Arthur, who nodded in agreement. A place without mana must be rich in spiritual energy. Even walking through the brick-layered path of the main street, he could feel the abundance of spiritual energy. On each side of the street that they passed through were countless cafes, bakeries, candy shops, and more. There were even some clothing shops that intrigued Diana, but Arthur found them the least interesting. Another difference between men and women. Arthur was a special case even among men. Their poor financial state while growing up made him choose the sturdiest clothes rather than what looked cool, and every choice he made about clothes required three days of thinking. After all, he couldn't buy anything only for it to become unusable later. The Sweetbriar Hotel was right in front of the fountain, which was almost a thousand meters in area and over thirty meters in height. It shot toward the sky in beautiful arcs that gathered in the middle and danced around in the water. Around the fountain were countless benches, gardens, vendors, and musicians. The lively atmosphere was almost contagious as people danced and sat on the benches. Arthur saw countless people from different countries, even priests enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. "We're here," said Laryn with a grin as she opened the doors. The interior was glistening with luxury, as even the chandelier was lined with diamonds and gemstones. She led the way to the reception, where she spoke to the manager behind the counter. "This should pay for our stay here," said Arthur as he pushed the golden card forward. The manager stared at the card for a few seconds before a broad smile appeared on his face. "Welcome, sir!" the manager bowed with respect. "Welcome to our Sweetbriar Hotel. We will do our best to accommodate your stay in our humble town. First things first, what kind of room would you like?"
"Give me the coziest room, nothing too fancy, but also make sure it's romantic enough," said Arthur with a smile as he turned toward Diana. "This is our first vacation together."
"In that case!" exclaimed the manager as he pulled the golden card, swiping it over a runic device, and almost the entire screen lit with gold lights. The manager was trembling as he made the transaction and pushed the card back to Arthur. "Laryn will lead you to your room. Lead our guests to the Victorian Suite!"
"My pleasure," said Laryn before leading the way. Arthur was confused by the manager's behavior, so he asked Laryn what the Golden Card signified. It had no runes that specified its function, but only a serial number layered with numerous encryptions. "You have no idea what it is, sir?" asked Laryn with confusion. "The Golden Card is issued to the wealthiest in the world by the Central Bank of Golden Lion. It signifies the highest riches and status, and its owner can purchase anything the mind could think of. Not even kings can obtain the card without sufficient wealth."
Diana and Arthur exchanged a glance as a helpless smile appeared on their faces. Arthur had asked Julia to arrange the vacation for them and leave them with some cash, but she went overboard and brought out the big guns. In either case, it would only make their stay in this town easier. They took the elevator to the highest floor, which overlooked the entire town. After passing through another set of double wooden doors, they arrived at their accommodations for this trip.