The entrance to the so-called <span class="mu-s">Marmorton Undercity</span> sits nestled in the shadow of the cliff that overlooks the chain of wetland islands that fill the mouth of the Sorx River. Dense swarms of phytoplankton drink up the light of an emerald sun and lend the waters of the river a blood red hue that slowly diffuses into a sea of turquoise, overgrown with the thousand-and-one colors of tropical forest of coral. These colors blend with the flowers that litter each island, points of gold and white and blue and purple and pink amidst a sea of deep green shrubbery and grass.
The red sands of the beach speak to the rich iron content of rock and stone, and the birth of the Marmorton Undercity. Veins of blood red iron oxide streak through the unpolished marble of the cliffs. The old quarries gave the city its name for the pure marble they produced, and the mines brought it the tremendous wealth it enjoys to this very day. The Undercity is the corpse of these industries, repurposed and reclaimed by the residents over the course of a century to serve as sewer and septic system.
At least, so says the lore document produced by your [Sagely Wisdom] skill upon seeing the iron gates that bar your passage.
A pair of guards stand vigilant by them. They each carry <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-g">[Uncommon]</span></span> arms and armor as befitting of their level and station, a fair sight above the [Common] equipment afforded to a freshly minted Level 1. Even the so-called <span class="mu-i">veteran</span> Kunoichi gear granted by [New Game+] is only rare due to its appearance. Its attributes remain what one would expect from starter equipment.
Though it will take far more than a set of green-tier armor and a crossed pair of spears to impress you. The respect in the guard's voice for... well, you suppose as daring as your dress is, it <span class="mu-i">does</span> belong more to a noblewoman than a whore in this corner of the verse. But it still knocks a few points off your opinion of the man.
"Sorry Ma'am," he says, using an entirely unnecessary honorific. "Undercity's closed to everyone below Level 10. There are dangerous monsters down there right now, and the captain would have my head if I knowingly allowed a lady of such obvious means to pass through these gates and come to harm."
"Uh, Dastan?" the other guard says.
The first man, Dastan, side-eyes him and says, "Not now, Rostam. I'm trying to explain to this young lady that she must not venture into the Undercity."
"Yeah, but..." Rostam raises a gauntleted hand and points to where you stood not a moment ago. "I, uh, think that's just one of those afterimage thingamajigs that you were talking to."
"<span class="mu-i">What!?</span>" he says, snapping his head back.
Obviously, you shunted yourself through the gate using a combination of low level Kunoichi skills boosted by your over-inflated attributes. A simple [Body Flicker] seamlessly woven with a use of [Clone] shot you straight through the iron bars of the gate and saw you on your way. Just as planned.
