GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 17.1 - Class::Quarter

"This is what we call the Labor Quarter," Mora explained, gesturing toward the mass of people. "Most who work the docks, factories, and service positions live in this layer."

Vel pressed closer to the window, taking in the sights. Children darted between adults, street vendors called out their wares, and workers in various uniforms moved with purpose through the throngs. Despite the cramped conditions, everyone seemed to have established an unspoken choreography—nobody collided, everyone found their path.

"It's so crowded," Hileya remarked, her voice barely audible above the street noise filtering into their carriage.

Vel nodded. He'd known about the kingdom's overpopulation problems from his memories and studies, but witnessing it firsthand was entirely different. The theoretical knowledge didn't capture the energy, the sounds, or the organized chaos of thousands of lives intersecting in such confined spaces.

Yet despite the crowding, the streets themselves were immaculately maintained—paved with stone tiles arranged in decorative patterns that created swirling designs beneath the wheels of their carriage. Lamp posts rose at regular intervals, but instead of flames, they emitted a steady glow from mana-infused crystals housed in glass casings.

"Those lights..." Vel murmured, pointing to one particularly bright example.

Mora followed his gaze. "Mana lamps. They last for months between charges and don't risk fires like oil lamps do."

Vel studied them with fascination. A perfect marriage of magic and practical technology—something that wouldn't have seemed out of place in the most advanced cities of Aeonalus.

Their carriage moved steadily past bustling taverns, welcoming inns, and shops offering everything from spices to weaponry. They also passed a coal workshop, its chimneys releasing dark smoke that drifted over the crowded streets, where dark matter spilled onto the surface.

Gradually, the density of people began to thin, the buildings grew more spacious, and the omnipresent noise receded. Ahead, another wall appeared—smaller than the outer wall but still imposing, with guards posted at regular intervals.

"Second layer," Mora announced, straightening her uniform. "The noble quarter, high merchants, and major businesses. Also where we'll find the Academy."

The carriage turned onto a broader avenue, and Vel instantly noticed the shift in atmosphere. The street maintained the same width as those in the outer layer, but without the pressing crowds, it felt vastly more spacious. Even the air seemed different here—cleaner, carries faint notes of perfume rather than the mingled odors of bodies and coal smoke.

The residents' attire changed dramatically. Gone were the simple clothes of laborers; here, men and women wore finely tailored outfits with subtle embroidery and glints of jewelry. Their movements were more measured, their postures straighter, as if aware of being observed.

They arrived at a spacious square where several avenues met at a central fountain. The carriage slowed, making a quarter turn around the plaza before continuing down one of the radiating streets.

"You'll have time to get to know the place," Mora commented, noticing Vel's attentive gaze. "Your lodging is this way, near the merchants' district."

Merchants conjured images of Nema and Khaz—Lady Halen's associates who arranged their lodging. Vel pondered the nature of the accommodations and any potential strings beyond his expectations.

Both Celia and Hileya had abandoned any pretense of decorum, their faces practically pressed against the windows as they absorbed the sights. They pointed excitedly at various buildings and displays that caught their attention.