Volume 1. Chapter 23: The Road to the Western Temple. Part 4

Ken and Lily continued along the peaceful morning road, their conversation flowing naturally from one topic to another. Ken, still processing the upcoming visit to the neighbors and the laws of this world, suddenly stopped, as if something important had struck him.“Lily, I just realized - I don’t have any kind of identification in this world,” he said, frowning. “What’s my legal status here? What if they… I don’t know, arrest me, declare me a criminal or…” He rolled his eyes dramatically, clutching his chest in theatrical agony, “or maybe even sell me into slavery?”Hearing this, Lily couldn’t hold back a laugh, especially at how convincingly he portrayed the horror of such a fate. She smiled and gave him a playful nudge on the shoulder.“Ken, don’t be so dramatic. It’s not that bad. Things are simple here - in our world, when you turn sixteen, you’re considered an adult. That means you can take care of yourself, and no one can just take you away,” she explained, still smiling at his exaggerated concerns.“So I’m protected?” he asked, pretending to doubt her, putting on a serious face again. “But I don’t have… a status, like you said. What if I can’t do anything without one?”Lily chuckled and shook her head.“You’ve got me. I’m a registered adventurer. Lily Bennett, daughter of the renowned adventurer Gilbert Bennett,” she said proudly, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her father’s name. “I can vouch for you, so you have nothing to worry about.”Ken noticed the confidence in her voice and added with a grin:“Lily Bennett, adventurer,” he repeated, savoring the words, then smirked. “Who would’ve thought someone so important would be watching over me?”Lily’s face turned red, and she looked away, a bit flustered.“Don’t say it like that, Ken. I’m just doing what I should.”Ken looked at her with a gentle smile.“Thanks, Lily. Without your help, I wouldn’t have lasted a single day in this world.”Lily smiled warmly in return, happy to know that her support truly meant something to him.