While guiding Quân along the path, Ron led him to open the gate and step inside. Quân held a lighter in his hand to illuminate their way, one that looked rather expensive.
'Perhaps every world has its own share of chain-smokers?'
"This is the mansion of a family in the journalism industry. Well, they used to be quite famous."
Before them lay a dilapidated mansion lobby, looking exactly like a horror movie set. Ron didn't even glance at it, simply pulling Quân along by his hand.
After all, curiosity killed the cat.
Quân remained silent. Originally, he had intended to shout out loud just to test the echo, but knowing that magic existed in this world made him hesitate.
'Maybe everything will return to being peaceful?'
Quân thought as he walked, his eyes scanning the layout of the place. Since this was a mansion after all, it wouldn't be surprising if there were a few secret rooms or hidden fortunes lying around.
"The master of this place was an Underworld Overlord. Or rather, he used to be. But after being overthrown, he lost his title and died."
Ron spoke to Quân with an oddly indifferent look on his face, which only made Quân feel a bit anxious.
'According to the script, shouldn't this place be a haunted hotspot?'
Quân wasn't a horror movie fanatic, but he knew the tropes all too well. After all, for various reasons in the past, he had watched movies almost every single day.
Sweat poured down Quân's face. Even though the atmosphere was quite cold and gloomy, his heart was working at full capacity, nearly leaping out of his chest.
"Don't worry about that. Ghosts and demons aren't as rampant as you think anyway. And hypothetically, if the ghost of the former owner really were here, this place would have become a pretty popular tourist attraction by now."
Ron chuckled, continuing forward by relying on the scarce amount of light.
"..."
Quân swallowed hard. He felt as if his heart were being toyed with by this guy, though whatever the truth was didn't really matter.
"An Underworld Overlord... What the hell is that?"
Quân asked.
"Well, since you don't have any identification documents and need some intervention from rather shady places, I'll tell you so you know to be careful."
Ron said, seemingly implying that the title of Underworld Overlord carried massive weight.
"An Underworld Overlord is a title given to the person who commands the underworld of a region, like a province or a city.
Meaning later on, if you—a transmigrator—need to do anything regarding your identity or making a living, you'll have to rely on the top gangs of the city, to some extent."
"So it means I need to avoid these Underworld Overlords? Got it."
With his movie-bingeing experience, he understood exactly what Ron meant. Asking for favors meant a transaction, and once a transaction was made, you shouldn't casually dig too deep into other people's business.
"Right. By the way, do you want to learn about magic?"
Ron asked Quân. Of course, this was Quân's choice; he deserved to know about it before throwing himself into this world.
After all, Ron had a feeling that with a personality like Quân's, he could pick a fight with just about anyone.
Hearing Ron's words, Quân nodded immediately. After all, what if he were a hidden genius, a chosen one meant for transmigration?
But Ron's next words brutally shattered that illusion.
"In theory, anyone can use magic because a magic core has always existed inside everyone's body since birth. But you don't stand a single chance of using magic.
Because you fundamentally do not belong to this world. Not even a tiny bit. I can't sense even a single breath of magic from you."
"...Huh?!"
"Exactly what you heard."
Ron continued, completely unfazed by Quân.
"Actually... there's still a slight possibility.
First, let's start with the basics. Everyone is born with a level-one magic core."
"Uh-huh? And I don't have one?? I thought it was linked to the soul or something??"
Quân replied, trying to connect what he knew from movies to reality.
"True, but you are very strange. Haven't you noticed?"
Ron put his hand to his chin, then pointed out a few things.
"Take your immune system, for example."
Quân blinked, asking in confusion, "My immune system??"
"Right. You and I are both from the year 2025, aren't we? Then surely you remember the news about the bacteria from ancient eras, right?"
"Yeah... I used to see that topic on TV."
Ron snapped his fingers, implying 'bingo.'
"The reason those bacteria caught so much attention was because they were pathogens from ancient times. And humans possess no protection to avoid those diseases."
"...I get it. Meaning, if I am truly an outsider who doesn't belong to this world, even if we are the same human species, I should have fallen sick long ago because my immune system couldn't protect me from the diseases here, right?
Just like how Europeans going to parts of Africa can catch diseases native to that place, and the symptoms will be way more severe than for the locals."
Ron nodded. That was indeed the case. Quân exhibited the traits of a regular person, except for the lack of magic and the lack of an immune system suited for this world.
"Yet you lived in the dark alley for two weeks. I bet life wasn't easy, but you didn't get sick at all. Either your immune system has been forged through all kinds of toxins and illnesses, or something strange is going on. Any local would have been vomiting their guts out after staying in that dark alley for just three days."
Ron went silent, then smiled at Quân.
"Still, that only proves there's a chance you can still use magic, and that your body is very, very special.
But even if you don't have magic, it doesn't mean you can't become a powerhouse."
Ron placed his hand on Quân's shoulder, then gently added:
"You don't have magic, but you do have a brain, don't you?"