With hesitation, the guard slowly unlocks both the cuffs at my arms as I realize how great it is to freely move my arms by stretching. He gives me my sword back, the real one this time as I hold the beautiful ornamental bladeless sword and open it to make sure. I nod saying:
"Thank you."
"Here and Get moving."
He hands me an ID before backing away. When he opens the steel gate, Yoo-Ah jumps out of nowhere to hug me shouting:
"Congrats on being free! Wait! That makes it sound like you're a convict! Anyways! Congrats!"
"Thanks, I guess?"
Yoo-Ah lets me go and the captain walks to us saying:
"Alright you two, follow me out of the barricade."
"Okay."
I nod while Yoo-Ah runs ahead saying:
"C'mon! Let's move already!"
"Sigh..."
The captain sighs and moves behind her while I follow suit. As we move along the bright sunlight enters the empty halls and I look outside the building. I could see soldiers patrolling the open fields and training in groups while some vehicles carrying resources are driving around dropping stuff down.
(It sure is a busy morning out there).
"Um, excuse me, lady."
The captain speaks softly beside me and I turn around to look at him saying:
"Huh me?"
"Yes, I just wish to say, thank you. For helping me yesterday with that incident."
"Oh! No, you don't need to. I mean if someone should say thanks it's me since if you didn't tell us to check our bags, we would've our items stolen."
"I still wish to say thanks none the less. My name is Samnite Bone Gija Geumbung-Eo. May I know yours?"
"Oh, it's Sova Anmao. Please to meet you."
He nods and continues to bow his head down saying:
"Thank you, Sova. I'll repay you someday. And since you're a foreigner, I suggest you don't refuse for it is very rude."
"What's with that way of convincing? Fine, I'll ask you for help when I need one."
He lifts his head with a smile saying:
"Thank you."
"Hey! Hurry it up you two!"
Yoo-Ah shouts as she exits the building through the double door as I got confused if this is the same building.
"Sigh... Slow down, Yoo-Ah."
Gija walks faster and I follow along until we exit. Damp sunlight basks my skin yet all I feel is the chilling cold as my lungs can't help but breathe in the cold air. I look around as I realize the huge barricade near the wall is to my right as we are now on an open street with stores and tall building lined up.
"Brrgh! It suddenly got cold."
"Of course! We're near winter here! I'm surprised it hasn't snow yet."
Yoo-Ah looks at the dark blue sky with doubts when she brightens up with a huge smile saying:
"Anyways! Come! Let's go to the guild immediately! Wait, hold on, have you taken a bath yet? I could smell your sweat from here."
I shake my head replying:
"No. I only got to wash my face after getting taken in yesterday."
"No wonder! This would be the perfect chance to check your new room! But wait! We need to do physical activities during your registration tests so I suppose let's finish the tests first! It'll make the journey home even better!"
"I'll let you lead then. I'm quite curious about our room as well."
"Alright! Let's go then!"
"Hold it you two."
"What now?"
Yoo-Ah answers back dejected when Gija shakes his head saying:
"As for Sova, you will have someone to accompany you. To keep watch on your activities basically."
"What!? Where's her privacy then!?"
Realizing that it's probably the Colonel's Orders I nod along saying:
"Okay, I guess that's understandable."
"You can't be serious! You don't need to accept everything they tell you, you know! They'll be following us to sleep in the room!?"
Gija shakes his head saying:
"Don't worry, she'll know her distance. And she'll be her companion of sorts so you can also ask her for help."
"Oh?"
(Companion? I suppose that's pretty nice).
Yoo-Ah stomps her foot to the ground replying:
"I'm still not agreeing to this..."
"Please know it's not my order and that he's doing this just to be safe. Mhm! Anyways, we'll send her to the adventurers guild to meet you, I hope you have a safe trip."
"Okay... You stay safe as well, Gija-Ssi! And you gotta rest as well after yesterday!"
Yoo-Ah runs away waving her hand at the captain and he bods replying:
"Advice taken. You be careful as well, Sova."
"You too."
I wave at him as well before following Yoo-Ah. Her steps echo loudly on the cold streets while the sunlight is blocked by the tall buildings. Wondering why all the shops here are closed, she soon stops and at a turning point before I arrive saying:
"Hurry!"
"Okay, okay."
I nod and when the sun starts to shine, I was greeted by a sprawling city expanding as far as the eye can see. Calling this a city is an understatement, it's more of... A megacity, yea! Even though it pales to the view I see back at just a part of Rucina when falling from Central. Still, this is a sight to see, suburbs, mega tall buildings, dozens of flying boxes, and I could see a huge hangar docking a gigantic ship I see yesterday and a much more majestic sight to see. That's when I also realize we're standing on the edge of a very tall cliff that I reach out to hold Yoo-Ah saying:
"C-Can I hold you for a while? I'm kinda scared of heights."
"Hehe! Sure! Still..."
Yoo-Ah uses her remaining arm to present the view to me shouting:
"It's a bit late but, welcome to Meondosi! The city of Flight! And the second-largest city beside the capital! Boasting a population of 8 million people, this place holds the title for the biggest airport in the Peninsula!"
"Woah!"
(Still, 800 million and 8 million? Isn't that a very big difference?)
"Though I heard with the refugees coming in for the past decade now I heard that number doubled up to 15 million."
"I can't wrap my head around those numbers."
"Neither do I but just know it's crazy. Anyways! We're gonna take one of those floating cars to the northeast of the city where the adventure guild is."
"Floating cars? Do you mean those flying boxes?"
"Yup! They are one of the identities of this city!"
"Um, I did say I'm afraid of heights, can we take something else? Is there no trains here or something?"
Yoo-Ah scratches her head replying:
"That bad huh? I guess we do have that but it would be slower... Ah, fine I guess. If you're so afraid of heights we can take the train."
"T-Thank you..."
*************************************
Passing the empty streets, the train station that I thought would be filled somewhat is completely barren. With only a few staff opening the desk, I follow behind Yoo-Ah who's approaching the only reception. The lady immediately bows her head down saying:
"Welcome to Tae-Ho's trains and service may I have your ID?"
(ID? Oh, yea).
I hand over my temporary ID to Yoo-Ah and she gives her ID as well when the reception bows her head down replying:
"Very well, here's your ticket. Be safe on your trip."
She hands over two tickets and Yoo-Ah grabs it saying:
"No problem, let's go, Sova."
"Huh? We don't need to pay or anything?"
She hands me my ID replying:
"Nah, one good thing about the Martial Law is that all transportation are now all free to important staffs. And since you're accompanying me, you count as well! Lucky us!"
"I see... But where is everyone? This place is so desolate."
I take my card back as I replied when we pass through a mechanical steel fence when she looks around replying:
"With Martial Law in place people don't go anywhere but for essentials. Especially when most of the transport is confiscated by the army!"
"Confiscated? I know a single monster is dangerous but isn't doing this a bit too much? Is this what Martial Law is?"
I can't help but ask something that's bugging me since there's no way a single monster could cause this much trouble even if they can call swarms. I mean with all those soldiers outside, I'm surprised they haven't done anything. Like that new Governor, I dare say he's much stronger than me and most people I meet and there's also the Colonel as well who can easily wipe the floor with me. Either one of them could kill the monster easily and with that numerous army, they could also easily find it so why?
"I guess you manage to catch on to something right? But I suggest you drop the thoughts, Sova. I learn it too after talking to my friends yesterday, I suggest we better stay neutral through all this and deal with our own problems."
Yoo-Ah stops and looks back at me replying softly.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I ask baffled as I wonder what I stumble upon Yoo-Ah looks around before replying:
"Let's just get to the adventurers guild quickly!"
Yoo-Ah grabs my hand and drags me to a small single room train and continue shouting:
"Alright! Get in!"
She pushes me to sit down on the empty small train when I could hear someone saying,
"Please stay away from the door."
Multiple times before it closed and the entire place shakes.
*Pssh*
The view outside the window starts to move when Yoo-Ah takes a seat beside me and look outside saying:
"I guess I can show you around this way."
"Huh?"
Bright light enters from the long windows as the great city view spread through my eyes. As my hands grip the steel bars before I could react, unlike the top view I could see the different section of the huge city from a variety of angles. I could see the streets from up close as I finally found people walking on the open roads and bridges over the river.
"Woah..."
"Ah! That's the busiest and popular place in the city! The floating Bazar!"
"Wait what?"
As I ask the train changes angle and going lower, the streets I see has multiple layers. The thing that catches my eyes the most is the shops, stalls, and all the people selling there are using boats to fly and sell to buildings while their customers walk up ladders that provide a bridge before jumping to one of the boats flying over the streets. And they could even walk to another boat with a bridge the ships provide before they move.
"The fudge! How is that even possible!"
"Fudge? Anyways! That's also where we gonna sell our items!"
(I'm starting to regret I chose to go left).
Even when my heart beats faster, my eyes seem to not want to peel away by the fantastical place. But the train passes by a tall building that blocks the view and change to a large board that shows a portrait of a girl with a calm smile, wearing the most gorgeous opulent dress and accessories alongside another girl wearing cute clothing set with the brightest smile that pulls my eyes.
"Eh? Miso-Ssi manages to meet the princess!?"
"Huh? Do you know them? And the princess?"
"That's right, the girl on the left with the royal dress is the 3rd princess! Oh! Now that I look close she could be an idol! More like why isn't there a princess Idol already!? Oh and the one on left is the sensational idol that took the industry by storm! Miso-Il!"
"Idol? So like Rana huh?"
"Eh!? You know Rana!? I didn't think you're the type to be interested with idols!"
"I-I guess?"
Yoo-Ah clench my hand and grips it tightly as she shouts:
"Awesome! We might get along more than I thought! Hehe!"
Yoo-Ah laughs gleefully as she then sticks to the window to stare at the board again saying:
"They say she's the girl who's gonna fill the gap left by Rana. Ooh! I can't wait for her new magazine to come out!"
"Eh? M-Magazine?"
"Of course! One of the things I'm waiting for is that she shows her clothing choices and other items she recommends! Unlike Rana with her unique and alien choices, she comes from humble beginnings. So she also has a sense of items that everyone like us use!"
"I... I guess that's good?"
"It's more than good! It's amazing!"
Yoo-Ah lets her hands reach the stars as she shouts and I can't help but wonder...
(Is it me or am I meeting a lot of Idol fans these days? That huge guy in the hidden district, Moriz, and now her... Wait that's just 3 people! But maybe it's because of their passion that I feel like there's so many).
Realizing that I can look at the view outside unlike back then. Remembering what Soo-Li said about the female royal family, my eyes go down to look.
(Her breast is much smaller than Sis Rubeca or Sis Yuwei. Probably smaller than Sis Fei as well... I wonder what they consider big and small? More mysteries to uncover it seems).
I decided to enjoy the view of the megacity when the train enters a tunnel.
"More like, Sova! Don't you wanna be an Idol!?"
"Huh?"
"You could make a fortune with- uh..."
She slows down midway when I realize she's looking at the scar on my face and soon at my right shoulder. She nods and takes a seat with her shoulder down saying:
"Right, I'm sorry..."
"Oh, you don't need to."
"Ugh... It's such a loss for people to not see your cuteness!"
Seeing her grieve for me, I can't help but feel sorry and just hoping she would not feel guilty.
"Say, just asking. But you can't be idols with scars huh?"
"Well, I can't say since there hasn't been an idol with visible scars."
"Then can guys be an idol too?"
"Of course! Like V and Order! Well... I guess... Gisa too... Urgh!
She perks back up but shows disgust with her last words.
(Gisa? I feel like I heard that name before. Still, V? Order? Who names a person like that?)
Seeing her lack of energy, I proceed to ask,
"Do you not like male idols?"
"I do! It's just I can't help but associate them with my big bro as well."
"Eh? What?"
Her face turns grumpy and she slouches even further before folding her hands replying:
"Sigh... I suppose you deserve to know a bit since he's gonna be our rival!"
"R-Rival?"
"That's right! That big bro I told you about back then, the one that sucks after becoming a hunter! His name is Yoo-Gisa, my useless big brother! I guess he's super good looking... I suppose he's also nice... And he's good at singing but that's not important! What is important, is that he's also good at fighting! Both Monsters and Humans, he's even called the strongest Idol in history for fuck sakes! And I recently heard he became a Special Rank Hunter recently too! Not only making him the 1st Special Rank Hunter in the Northern Peninsula after almost a millennia without one! But now also an international icon in Heaven thanks to his popularity and victory against a Master Martial Artist from Heaven and even being invited to the World Hunter's Glorious 5!"
(Wait, an international icon? Ah right! I remember! Back when I try to visit the school I ended up in the hunter guild with Saya and her friend. They told me a High Rank is an already local Hero. Yeah! I heard his name being said as he defeated a Monster King Vessel on his own. But to think a Special rank would mean International...
Wait he's invited? Rana back then said World Hunters have many groups but only the main 5 counts and he is invited there? He must be amazing! And Master Martial Artist... I can't help but wonder if she's referring to the true martial artist or the normal ones? Cause I fought the True Martial Artists and they are monsters. Like That Rat Ogre and the Dragon guy back at the Reliquary. There's also Ors back at the academy who played both me and Sis Fei like a fool even though we're only 2 years different).
Yoo-Ah looks at me before clicking her tongue and continues saying:
"Tch! From your face, you're curious huh? I suppose you haven't seen him but I guess you can look at him yourself. If I'm right, after this station the next place would have his board since it's the biggest one in the city."
As she said that, the train goes down and exits the tunnel as I see another huge landscape board displaying a pretty cool looking guy. Handsome, long legs, a small face like Yoo-Ah, a good bright smile, wearing a powerful-looking armour that adores the head of a three-horned monster, while he carries a beautiful sword twice longer than him that makes me wonder if the reason why the board is long is because of his sword. And on the lower side of the board is the word saying:
[To our new Hero of the North!]
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
And even more paintings of people cheering for him and praising him while hoping for his future to be bright which is pretty sweet to look at.
(Plus, he looks like he's making a cover for a movie).
When the portrait of the board change to him now striking a cool pose as he removes his glasses, I could hear her shouting:
"Tch! Stupid big bro!"
Yoo-Ah seems to refuse to look at the board outside and seeps down even further until her back reach where we suppose to sit. Trying to cheer her up, I go slouch down as well asking:
"Talking about other stuff, mind telling me more about that idol? Miso was it?"
(Now that I think about it, isn't Miso a name of that noodle Uncle Soba makes back then?)
Yoo-Ah perks back up and sit properly replying:
"Of course! What do you wanna know!? Her debut? Her first time on stage!? Oh, she was soooo CUTE! And so courageous!"
"Oh? Tell me more."
"Hehe! You see, what makes her so popular was that she appears when people are still missing Rana. Weeks after she disappears from her concert, she uses this chance to gather the attention of everyone. People thought they won't get the same feeling they have with Rana but she showed them that there are more than meets the eye. Bringing in a new sensation different than Rana but also as bright as her maybe even brighter! Showing everyone that Rana's not the only star that shines. I wish I could show you for full effect! Aaaah!"
She explains loudly while I scratch my ears getting injured from her yelling. She then leans close to me asking:
"What about you? Where did you get to know Rana!?"
"Me? Well, I saw a friend of my sister owning her figurine. And he gladly told me about her."
"Eh!? You saw her figurine before!? More like he has it!? I'm so jealous!!! Then again, since you're from Heaven, he's from Heaven to no? I guess it's normal they got whatever they want..."
Yoo-Ah folds her arms furrowing her brows. Wondering why is it so hard to cheer her up or how fast her mood swings, I try once again saying:
"What if I tell you I know someone who can make those figurines?"
"Really!? They still make those!? Wait! It's in Heaven isn't it?"
"Yeah... And it's a hidden place too... Sorry..."
Yoo-Ah looks at me for a while before she smiles replying:
"What for!? You're trying to cheer me upright? Don't worry! I won't let my brother or that news bring me down! More like I'm hopeful for a chance to get those limited edition figurines! No matter the chances! And... Thanks!"
Seeing her cheered up I nod to mission accomplished. As we keep passing through one place and another, it seems the floating market is not only in one district but multiple while she could even fly over multiple roads. Time seems to pass as the sun above seems to reach the top when,
*Psssh!*
"Ayee!"
Yoo-Ah got thrown down when the train stops moving but I manage to save her in time before she hits. I quickly pull her back up. She lands in my arms and looks up at me from below with a smile saying:
"Woah! Thanks! Still, you're pretty quick! Which is good!"
I let her go and she gets up and walks near the door when someone says:
"Please mind the gap."
Multiple times before the door finally opens. I follow suit as she exits and I could finally see people at last. Multiple trains stop and go while we park in a separate place. But just like before, they seem to give me the cold shoulder as they distance themselves from us. Some look at Yoo-Ah with worry while gazing at me with scorn when we finally exit the station.
"Don't bother with them. Just follow me."
I nod replying:
"I know."
*************************************
Thanks to their gazes and grouping together, I couldn't get to see the place. And even worse I could see soldiers everywhere who tried to approach me but stops whenever they see Yoo-Ah beside me...
(I wonder if this is the Colonel's reason for asking me to go home... But I shouldn't be down by just this! I still have something to do! Wait... Now that I think of it, why did the colonel quickly agree to accept my proposal of killing the monster and accepting help? Unless they're not even planning to kill it themselves? Then again, the adventurers were dispatch if what Yoo-Ah said is true then they're probably doing it again today or something. But... She said the difficulty went up so I doubt they'll send the same ones. Then again, the Colonel back then is strong, I dare say he is much stronger than me and is probably the same as those Special Rank Hunters I fought before, so why isn't he being dispatched?)
We walked together side by side while I try to enjoy the sight of magnificent wood, steel and stone architecture. Like monuments, statues of people and animals with human heads, large roads with barely any vehicle and the shadow of those floating cars hovering above us. Unlike back at home where all is steel and concrete this place is filled with the smell of wood and cold winds.
(Even outside the city, everything is massive and magnificent).
Yoo-Ah grabs my arm and stops me shouting:
"There it is! Welcome to the Branch Adventurers Guild in this country!"
Pointing across the streets, in the opposite direction we're going. I look to where Yoo-Ah's finger directs and what I see is a huge palace with opened gates as huge crowds of people are gathering around it. I could see the magnificent whales on the rooftops and across the main road to the huge stairs that leads to another huge open gate.
(This is a branch? Even the Hunter's guild at the Turtle Sector I visit wasn't this grand. Then again, maybe that's because I haven't visited all the places? I mean I didn't get to see the second floor).
Soldiers guard the giant gate and form a barrier of sort, only letting select few peoples inside who's either wearing uniform like Yoo-Ah, adventurers wearing long coats, nobles with their expensive robes that I realize now have paintings on their back...
(Huh? I wonder if the difference between the robes in Rucina and here is that one decorates around while the other just put paintings on their back? Or sleeves...)
Then there are Hunters but without any monster armours. Unlike Hunters, they wear normal armour or more like they barely wear any as they either use clothes that's easy to move and protect their vital parts.
(Are they adventurers?)
"C'mon! Let's get inside! Seeing how you move back there I'm sure you'll surprise everyone! We're gonna get a new star!"
"Huh? H-Hold on!"
(I never really told her I'm going to leave after I got enough money huh? I wonder when I'll tell her about it? And it kinda feels bad as I'm becoming an Adventurer instead of a Hunter when my Sis do so much to teach me).
Yoo-Ah forcefully drags me as she runs ahead and I follow suit. Seeing the palace growing bigger as I got closer, I brush aside my doubts for now as I know that in the end of the day I'm here to take my own decisions.