Border Checkpoint

The Magic Kingdom Luen Nore, border checkpoint.

This is the inevitable end point for people passing through the World Gate to enter the Kingdom, and also the Qidian for every traveler's journey into the Kingdom. Therefore, the Kingdom has set up this institution here as the final check on those who come.

Of course, after being screened by the Kingdom Express and the World Gate guards, very few criminals actually make it here. Therefore, another function of the border checkpoint is to provide guidance to travelers entering the Kingdom for the first time, so that they do not get lost here.

Standing there, Lin Xiaolu felt completely at a loss.

A grand and magnificent portico, a splendid hall, luxurious and elegant decorations, and a resplendent golden curtain wall.

The overly ornate interior furnishings made her afraid to even take a step, lest she stray from the right path and break some rule. So she could only stand motionless at the entrance to the World Gate.

Moreover, judging from the time they arrived, the Larkspur should be coming out of the World Gate soon.

"This is so slow." She glanced at the time on her phone screen and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "It's been almost ten minutes. Did it take us this long to get here? Could something have happened to us?"

"I don't think so. According to Xiao Xuan, didn't the guards already approve it for the junior?"

Xia Liang, standing to the side, also looked puzzled. "Could there be a problem in the middle passage?"

However, no one could give them an answer.

"I... I'll go check the other side of the gate." After a while, seeing that no one had come out of the World Gate, Bai Jingxuan suggested this.

After saying this, she took a step forward, but was quickly stopped by Xia Liang beside her.

"Wait, wait, this isn't your room door. You can't just come and go as you please."

With a forced laugh, Xia Liang waved her hand, strongly advising, "It's too dangerous, it's better not to do anything reckless."

"But, Teacher, she..." Bai Jingxuan turned around and opened her mouth, but changed her words halfway through. "Maybe it's because of my problem..."

Even so, we can't just run into the World Gate like that.

Xia Liang sighed, "Let's wait a little longer. If it really doesn't work, we can ask someone else."

The group waited there for another five minutes.

Fortunately, the unexpected situation did not continue, because soon, the World Gate in front of them suddenly flickered, and then a figure appeared at the entrance.

After confirming that the person who emerged from the door was indeed Larkspur, the younger generation finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Teacher!" Bai Jingxuan, who had been keeping a close eye on the door, was the first to rush forward.

"Are you alright?" Lin Xiaolu's reaction was a beat slow, but she followed suit.

"It took longer than expected to get here. Did you run into any problems?" Xia Liang didn't react as obviously as the other two, but she still asked with some concern, "Xiao Xuan said she was stopped by the guards at the gate. Was it because of those guards?"

"... It's nothing, it has nothing to do with the World Gate, I just encountered a problem when I passed the World Bridge, but it's been resolved."

Larkspur offered a half-joking explanation, then stepped forward. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Now that everyone is here, let's go through the immigration procedures."

"Are you sure everything's okay?"

But Lin Xiaolu still looked worried. "Your complexion looks a bit off..."

"Because it consumed a lot of magic power."

Larkspur feigned exhaustion and sighed, "I encountered Spatial Connection Fluctuation on the World Bridge. Although I could have stayed put and waited a while, I wanted to get over quickly, so I resolved it with my magic."

The "Spatial Connection Fluctuation" she mentioned is an accident that occurs only in very rare cases on the World Bridge. Specifically, it means that the connection between the other end of the World Bridge and the Kingdom is lost, and the door leading to the Kingdom cannot be opened. However, because the Kingdom has a solution for dealing with such accidents, there have been no casualties so far.

Undoubtedly, this wasn't the real reason she lingered on the World Bridge for an extra ten minutes, but it was the perfect excuse.

"Spatial Connection Fluctuation?" Lin Xiaolu blinked, looking puzzled.

As expected, the novel concept proposed by the Larkspur quickly attracted the attention of several younger colleagues.

As she explained the phenomenon corresponding to the term and gave a seemingly plausible description of her own experience, the others no longer doubted her and quickly believed Larkspur's story.

However, with this question resolved, another issue that had been lingering in everyone's minds was raised by Xia Liang:

"Hmm... It's good that it has nothing to do with the guards at the World Gate, but what was with all those things you said to us on the way here, young senior?"

"What you said on the way?" Larkspur asked, puzzled.

"I was referring to those two guards. They kept telling me not to ask too many questions or look too much, describing it like a ghost story."

After relaxing, Lin Xiaolu had the leisure to ask Xia Liang all sorts of questions, "And, although I only glanced at them, those two guards seemed to have something like wings on their backs... and antennae on their heads? What were those? Who were they?"

This time, the Larkspur actually stopped in its tracks.

Unlike her experience on the World Bridge, where she could easily find some excuse to gloss over the situation, this question, although she also didn't want to tell the truth, seemed to leave her with no choice but to answer honestly.

So, is it necessary to tell them now?

After a moment's thought and weighing the pros and cons, the Larkspur spoke again, replying with extremely concise language, "That's Fairy."

After saying this, she raised her hand as if she had a premonition, put her index finger up, and made a shushing gesture in front of her mouth.

--"Hey!"

"Ha?"

"Real?"

A moment later, as she had expected, gasps of surprise rose and fell from the younger generation.

Fortunately, the Larkspur gave the signal early, so the girls quickly realized they were in a public place. After a brief gasp, they fell silent, attracting little attention from passersby. But keeping quiet didn't mean their curiosity was satisfied.

Larkspur knew this too, so she continued to selectively provide only a portion of the information:

"As you can see, there are indeed Fairy in the Kingdom whose forms are similar to humans. However, such Fairy are extremely rare and their whereabouts are mysterious. Under normal circumstances, even within the Kingdom, you will not see Fairy in human form."

Lin Xiaolu was even more puzzled upon hearing this. "Can't see them? Then what about the guards at the World Gate...?"

"The World Gate is an exception, a very rare exception, because it is important enough that it needs such Fairy to act as guards."

The Larkspur lowered her voice as much as possible. "Aside from the World Gate, these humanoid Fairy are generally only found in the Royal Court, so there's no need to worry too much. Just be aware of their existence."

"Fairy that look like humans... are they very powerful?" Bai Jingxuan recalled the scene when she was stopped by the guards and asked a question that perhaps only she would want to know.

"This problem..."

After a moment's thought, the Larkspur said, "If I had to give an evaluation, I'd say it's very impressive."

The girls fell silent, needing to process this conclusion first. After all, Fairy they had encountered before, apart from Semi from Claw Mark, were practically non-combatant. Words like "cute" and "likable" were more fitting for ordinary Fairy than "powerful."

During this process, they had already passed through a long corridor and arrived at the checkpoint responsible for the final immigration inspection.

Compared to the checks at the train entrance and World Gate, the atmosphere here is much more relaxed. Passengers simply need to hand over their documents, chat briefly with the inspector, and briefly explain their situation. Once verified, they can be allowed to pass. If passengers are unsure about their next steps, the inspector will also provide some assistance.

"Name?"

"Code name: Gentian".

"Magical girl?"

"Yes."

What are you going Kingdom for this time?

"Certification"

Do you have any violation records?

"No."

"..."

The examiner and Larkspur chatted casually. While Larkspur answered, the examiner, who looked quite old, also scribbled on the form in front of him. After a short while, he stopped asking questions, tossed the completed form aside, and returned Larkspur's documents.

"Alright, approved. Welcome back to the Magic Kingdom, Miss Gentian. And please allow me to remind you that if you are going to enter the Mana-Free District next, please wear this bracelet."

As the examiner spoke, he slightly moved the document he was holding away, revealing a silver bracelet behind it.

Larkspur nodded, expressionlessly accepting the bracelet and identification. He stared at the bracelet for a moment, then held it up again and asked the inspector:

What is the purpose of this?

The question was merely a way of playing the role of "Gentian," though she actually already knew, because it was something that had existed for twenty years— Mana Indicator Bracelet.

According to Luen Nore's rules, magical girls and mages must wear this bracelet when entering Mana-Free District in the city. The bracelet helps the wearer suppress their own magical energy flow to a certain extent and blocks the Mana Release. If it detects someone using Spell Formula, or if the wearer is not wearing the bracelet in Mana-Free District, the bracelet will sound an alarm and call the city's guards.

Of course, if someone feels that such a bracelet infringes on their personal privacy, they can choose not to go to the Mana-Free District. As long as they stay outside the Mana-Free District, they do not need to wear this bracelet.

As for the concept of "Mana-Free District," to put it simply, it is an administrative division of Luen Nore.

As one of the core cities of the Magic Kingdom and the location of the Research Institute among the five major authorities, Luen Nore is a place where a large number of people gather year-round.

Here you'll find schools built upon the faculty of research Research Institute; scholars conducting research within the local academic environment; magical girls and Mage who come here for further studies; ordinary people who live and work on this vast chain of industries; and a constant stream of tourists from all over the Kingdom and even the Material Realm... All sorts of people gather here, making Luen Nore a massive city with millions of permanent residents and tens of millions of transient residents.

To accommodate its population of tens of millions, Luen Nore's urban structure is divided into four major districts: the Mana-Free District, the Academy District, the Emerald Zone, and the Emerald Book Gallery.

The first district, which is also the largest part of the entire city, Mana-Free District. As the name suggests, most Spell Formula are prohibited here, and the release of magic power by those who enter and leave is strictly limited. Whether the visitor is a magical girl or a mage, they are required to abide by the laws of ordinary people and cannot use force without authorization.

The reason for these restrictions is that this area is also the living and commercial district of many ordinary people. Residents' homes, markets, large shops, inns, taverns... the vast majority of Luen Nore people live, eat, sleep, and travel here. Restricting magic power is the best way to protect the safety of these ordinary people.

The second district is a separate Academy District, home to many schools that provide basic magical education, offering a platform for talented individuals aspiring to become mages to receive formal training. According to data from some unnamed statistical organizations, Mage have received formal education in Luen Nore are, on average, more than twice as efficient in using Spell Formula compared to those Mages are self-taught.

Of course, these basic education institutions are certainly not the reason why Luen Nore was able to establish a separate Academy District. The main reason it can occupy a separate district in a city is because it is home to two world-renowned schools:

Firstly, there is Tigarol, the largest research institution in the entire Magic Kingdom. This school sends the most outstanding Spell Formula and magical engineers to the Kingdom and even the Material Realm every year. The best among them may even enter the Research Institute as non-magical girls and become formal members of the Research Institute.

Secondly, there is the Magical Girl Training School – Silver Gallery. Its main teaching objective is children born in the Kingdom who have been detected as having magical girl potential before the age of 10. These children are sent here before officially becoming magical Blossoming and undergo three years of teaching and training to ensure that they can adapt to the identity and abilities of a magical girl.

These two schools are the true core of the Academy District and the foundation upon which it stands as an independent district.

The third district, the Emerald Zone, is named after Gem Scepter, which speaks volumes about its purpose. The entire district is built on a floating island and is a true residential area exclusively for magical girls, Fairy, and mages. Although its overall area is not very large compared to the Mana-Free District, it boasts exceptional scenery, outstanding natural landscapes, and a tranquil atmosphere, making it perfect for leisure and vacation.

The fourth district, the Emerald Book Gallery. This area has almost no publicly available information; the public only knows that it's the location of the Kingdom Research Institute Research Institute, and that's all they need to know. All those who attempted to infiltrate and "uncover Kingdom secrets" have not returned, or perhaps they returned unnoticed—those who went five years ago are now five years old.

Even magical girls, unless their Certification Card level is above Flower Card or they are directly affiliated with the Kingdom Research Institute, do not have the right to enter or leave the Research Institute on their own. Ordinary magical girls are advised to turn back when they approach the Research Institute, and those who attempt to force their way in will be arrested and sent to the Investigation Institute for interrogation. If they are found to have any signs of collusion with external forces, they may face serious criminal penalties. Therefore, apart from a few troublemakers, very few people would take this risk.

Thus, these four major regions form the core of the city of Luen Nore, while education, scientific research, shopping, and vacation are the key elements that define the city's lifestyle.

"I see. So, we should find a place to stay in the Emerald Zone first?"

"Shouldn't you first go to the Academy District to register and prepare for the assessment?"

"I'm hungry..."

As dusk fell in the Mana-Free District, near the border checkpoint, Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and several others were engaged in a heated discussion in front of a map drawn on a wooden board.

After spending several minutes deciphering the map and several more minutes figuring out their destination, the three still disagreed on their next steps.

With the discussion proving fruitless, the next step was inevitably to seek an authority figure, so Lin Xiaolu quickly approached Larkspur, who was standing nearby. "Cui... um, Gentian! Where should we go next?"

These words immediately brought the previously absent-minded Larkspur back to reality.

Blinking and shaking her head to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts, Larkspur said calmly, "Let's go to our lodgings first. It's getting late, and it's inconvenient to move around with so much luggage. You can go check in a few days later."

"Yeah!"

Having received the answer, Lin Xiaolu jumped up on the spot, turning back to look at Xia Liang with a smug expression. "What are you looking at? Aren't we going to set off? Don't you want to see what this Kingdom you've been longing for is like? Is it a fairy tale with castles, or steam and towers, or perhaps a cake carpet and a river of chocolate... Ah, the Magic Kingdom, my homeland that I've never seen before..."

Lin Xiaolu was engrossed in her own world, but Xia Liang completely ignored her, still fiddling with something in front of the wooden map.

Feeling ignored, Lin Xiaolu was immediately deflated, but with Larkspur beside her, she couldn't be unreasonable. She could only sullenly move closer to the two of them and look at the map together. "Is there anything else on this map?"

Scan the QR code to view the full map.

Xia Liang didn't look at her, but simply pointed to a small icon on the edge of the wooden board.

"Sweep... Huh? What is that?"

Lin Xiaolu was taken aback, then looked at him with disbelief. "Are you kidding me? You think there's any internet connection here?"

"... I just tried it, and it's connected."

Xia Liang chuckled dryly and turned around, simultaneously waving her phone screen. "Full signal."

Lin Xiaolu remained silent.

She took out her phone, unlocked the screen, and saw the flashing signal bars at the top of the screen reflected in her eyes.

After a long while, she blankly raised her head and looked back at the Larkspur once more.

"There will definitely be a signal."

The Larkspur was utterly bewildered by the two's overreaction. "This is Magic Kingdom, not Wasteland."

"But, but isn't this a 'magical' Kingdom... Logically, everyone should use more fantastical things to communicate, like messenger owls, talking snail telephones, and the like..."

Lin Xiaolu spoke with slight hesitation, gesturing weakly with her hand. "Besides, I remember magical girls can communicate with each other using Magic Mirror, right?"

"Using the Magic Mirror requires magic, but a cell phone does not."

Larkspur pointed to the phone in Lin Xiaolu's hand. "Besides, the communication network in the Material Realm is built by relying on the technology provided by the Kingdom. No matter how you look at it, the Kingdom has no reason not to use it."

"Ah, it really is."

Xia Liang, who was standing nearby, had already quickly accepted reality and readily opened the map app on her phone. "Wow, that's amazing! You can open it directly using an app from the Material Realm? And not only can you zoom in and out on the map, you can also find transportation routes..."

Lin Xiaolu silently covered her ears.

However, Xia Liang didn't stop, but continued to browse her phone with great interest, "Oh? This map can zoom to the entire Magic Kingdom? Not just Luen Nore, but even Domlia, which is a bit further away, can be found..."

"Stop talking! Stop shattering my imagination of the Magic Kingdom!"

Lin Xiaolu squatted down. "This is completely different from what's shown on TV! The Magic Kingdom I imagined isn't like this at all!"

"Don't be so old-fashioned. Look, there's an advertisement here. It's for the Fairy Ancient Woods, which we were discussing visiting a few days ago. They're offering a 10% discount on tickets for online group purchases..." Seeing Lin Xiaolu's resistance, Xia Liang's face immediately lit up with a sly look. He took his phone and moved two steps closer to Lin Xiaolu.

"Take it away, take it away now, don't put the phone in my face!" Lin Xiaolu backed away repeatedly.

"And this too, the internet- Fairy handmade pure fruit tea, their flagship store is opening soon, take a photo and upload it to get the second cup half price, it's only 300 meters away from us..."

"I won't listen! Shut up!"

The two went back and forth like this, one persuading and the other refusing, until finally Xia Liang was chasing after Lin Xiaolu. Fortunately, Larkspur spoke up in time and called the two back when they were about to disappear.

"Alright, let's set off now that everything's confirmed to be okay."

With one arm around Bai Jingxuan, who was looking gloomy from hunger, Larkspur greeted them, "The car we booked online has arrived. The driver is waiting for us outside. He said there will be extra charges if we're late... Hmm, what's wrong with White Rose?"

"Nothing."

Xia Liang helped Lin Xiaolu had collapsed to the ground upon hearing "the pre-arranged car" and "extra charge for late arrivals," and said, "You're probably just too excited and exhausted, aren't you?"

"That's how it is?"

Larkspur tilted her head slightly, but didn't think much of it, "Then let's help her into the car. But White Rose, you should also be careful. It's fine to be excited when you're traveling, but you need to manage your energy properly."

"... yes."

Lin Xiaolu's response was as stiff as a frozen fish dug out of an ancient iceberg.