From Palace to Peasantry A Royal Adventurer's Quest

I was flabbergasted by the news. As an A-rank royal adventurer, I, Alfred, had been commissioned on a mission to locate a mysterious black-haired girl rumored to possess noble-level mana. This assignment not only required me to abandon the opulence of the palace, but also to venture to far-flung villages.

As I prepared for my journey, I couldn't help but lament the injustice of it all. My attire would surely suffer irreparable damage, and who knows what kind of commoners I would have to endure.

However, my grievances fell upon deaf ears. The directive had come from the king himself, along with a trinket that functioned like a compass, directing me towards high levels of mana. I had no choice but to undertake the mission.

I set off on my journey with a heavy heart and a sense of resignation. As I traveled from village to village, I found myself constantly bemoaning the various discomforts and inconveniences that came with the journey. The rough roads, the boorish peasants, the squalid inns - it was all more than I could bear.

Despite my disdain for the rural communities and their way of life, I knew that I had to present a friendly facade if I wanted to earn their trust and gain any useful information. I was well aware that the villagers were loath to betray their own, and that they held a particular animus towards nobles. I would have to be cunning if I hoped to locate the fabled black-haired girl.

As I journeyed from village to village, I found myself constantly awed by the diverse landscapes and cultures that I encountered. Each community was distinct and unique, offering a never-ending array of new experiences.

But as I walked through one particular village, something struck me as strange. The children were playing and laughing, despite the presence of giant ants that roamed the area, plundering their food and causing havoc. How could they find joy in such a perilous place?

I also noticed that all of the villagers had dark hair, which was a rarity for me. As a citizen of Antochitoria, I was accustomed to seeing hair of a lighter hue, which was a sign of a high level of mana. White hair, the rarest and strongest bloodline, was found only within the royal family.

Despite the inherent dangers and differences, the common folk seemed to be living their lives to the fullest. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and I was eager to see what other revelations this mission might bring.

I spent countless days searching, querying the villagers and attempting to gather any scraps of information that might lead me to the girl. But it seemed as though no one had seen or heard of her. To make matters worse, every time I entered a village, the parents would hide their children and the residents would close their doors in fear at the sight of a noble. I had to knock on doors and speak with the elders in order to gather any information at all. Exasperated and exhausted, I was on the verge of giving up and turning back.

Just as I was about to abandon my search and return to the palace, a young child from a nearby hamlet rushed towards me, expressing gratitude for my kindness towards the peasantry and informing me of a black-haired girl who may reside in a village called Miden, nestled beyond the mountains. It seemed that my feigned benevolence towards these "swine" had finally borne fruit. I turned to depart, but the child grasped hold of my garments.

"You must understand that the elders of the village did not want me to divulge any information to you, but I trust you. You are the first noble to treat our village with consideration. And the display of your ice magic further inspires confidence in me. Will you promise not to harm the girl, uncle?" the child inquired, a worried expression creasing their visage.

"Haha... of course," I replied, averting my gaze and forcing a chuckle.

"Wonderful, I believe you. Oh, I must return before I am discovered," the child exclaimed before darting off.

I sighed inwardly, pondering why I had felt compelled to deceive this "piglin." However, such a transgression was preferable to jeopardizing my mission. I continued on my way, circumnavigating the mountains and dispatching a group of adeaperatos – giant, shield-wielding ant-eaters – along the way. As I traversed the lush fields, the compass in my possession began to whir, leading me towards my destination. Finally, I laid eyes upon a sign reading "Miden."