"Are you sure?" asked Shella enthusiastically.
"Very sure," I answered confidently. "You probably can't. But my eyes could see that many people are walking on the branches and doing activities there."
"They made the city on a tree?" now it was Dimas' turn to look very excited.
"You could see for yourself later."
Hearing of a city being built on a tree made them both furious. It was a normal reaction for people from another world like us. Even when I first arrived in Ruvia City, I was just as enthusiastic as them. Looked around with sparkling eyes like a peasant. Looking back, my reaction was even worse.
"Let's go down immediately!" exclaimed Dimas, who immediately left me, followed by Shella behind him.
Geez! They were like little kids impatiently waiting for a birthday present. I also followed the two behind, adjusting the two people's fast-moving footsteps.
This small team descended the mountainside quite quickly. We arrived at the middle of the mountain slope in less than an hour, where the terrain was now sloping. After I warned them not to be too enthusiastic and always be vigilant, Dimas and Shella slowed their pace.
"I know you guys are having so much fun, wanting to get there as soon as possible. But don't forget that we don't come to Arnest City for a holiday. They definitely won't allow humans into their territory," I explained to them.
"You're right," replied Dimas, then he was silent for a few moments. "We'd better take a look from afar first and find a way to get into the city."
"Agree."
The three of us continued our journey warily, afraid that we might run into Elvian, who might be in the vicinity of the mountain. This was their territory. Elvian might occasionally go out to look for fruit or do other things around town. Like I used to do when training with Almira in the forest near the city. Therefore, the possibility of meeting another Elvian on this mountain was quite high.
We arrived at the edge of a giant bonsai forest an hour later. I didn't know the real name of this tree. I would just say it like that, so it was easier to say.
The Arnest City was still a few kilometers away ahead. Now it was my turn to go first. While activating my Super Sense to watch out for anyone who comes here.
We were moving pretty slowly. Passing through the ground with many giant roots was not an easy matter. These roots are fairly tall, maybe as tall as an adult height. We had to climb over it as if we were going into a neighbor's yard by jumping over a fence to get past just one root. That was just one.
While here, there were hundreds of giant roots that crossed irregularly and formed like a maze. Sometimes I chose a low root to go through, even if I had to take a further detour. But if the root whose ends didn't know where we couldn't help but have to jump over this giant root. Plus, with our large carry-on bags. It was as tiring as climbing the mountain yesterday.
It has been an hour, and we haven't made any major progress. Currently, we are taking a short break to unwind and eat Glafelden crusty bread to fill our stomachs. Of course, we didn't cook for lunch because we were afraid it could invite Elvian with its strong scent.
"This dry bread is the last stock. After this, we have to find our own food," explained the girl with the back-length hair. Her tone was heavy, and she looked worried.
"Relax. You also saw it when we passed this place, right? When it comes to the game, there are many in this forest. We just have to choose what we want to eat," I replied, trying to calm Shella down.
The girl was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. Maybe I was too worried."
There are indeed some wild animals around here. I saw a few moments when I entered this giant bonsai forest. For example, a deer was eating the leaves that grew near the giant roots. Then there was a squirrel nesting in a tree branch. Despite its large size, this tree was quite short and easy to climb. So if we need food, we just have to go upstairs to get some.
After finishing the dry bread and recharging, we continued our journey. Going through this giant bonsai forest was indeed hard. We didn't want to push ourselves like we did the day before. If one of the members was tired, we would rest.
We also had time to stop our movement because of the rain. It would be foolish to continue the journey when it rained, making the soil and tree roots slippery. Finally, we arrived at the edge of Arnest City as evening approached.
The three of us hid behind the roots of a giant tree and peered out at the city. This place was quite far from the city, but you could still clearly see the life from there.
Looking deep into the city, I could see the structure of the buildings there. Just like Ruvia City, they built buildings inside giant tree trunks. The difference was that here they also built several wooden buildings on tree branches. There were also no buildings built on the ground in Arnest City.
Both Dimas and Shella looked amazed to see it. Their eyes lit up, and they stared at each other for almost ten minutes.
For a moment, I left them like that. I also understood because I'd experienced it. Seeing such an amazing sight would amaze anyone from the modern era. Because a city built on trees might only exist in fiction or fairy tales. This time they were able to witness it by themselves.
In contrast to me, who was used to this scene, I activated the Super Sense ability. Trying to observe the surroundings in case someone approached.
"Isn't it amazing?" I asked quietly.
Dimas, who woke up from his own world, immediately gasped and turned to me. "Oh, sorry! It's my first time seeing a scene like that. So I-."
"I know. Now we'd better find a way into the city without getting caught. Any idea?"
Dimas thought for a moment, his hand supporting his chin. He seemed to be thinking about something, his gaze cast over the city and around again and again.
"We'd better go around the outskirts of town to check for gaps we could use to get in," he suggested.
"I agree. The entrance to the city in front of us is too many people. We have to find a quiet place to enter the city without getting caught."
"Rather than that, I'm more worried about how we find information about Spirit Crystals within the city. I'm sure the people there wouldn't be kind enough to escort us to where the Spirit Crystals are."
I gasped. "That's right. Moreover, information about Spirit Crystals was only known to certain people. Prince Keylan only told me that the Spirit Crystal is located in the underground of Arnest City but didn't tell me exactly where." I scratched the back of my head even though I didn't feel itchy. "Shit, I should have asked more then. How stupid I am don't think this far!"
We both fell silent and pensive again, trying to think of a way to get information into the city.
A few things came to my mind, mostly crazy and stupid ideas like forcing Elder Elvian to tell me where the Spirit Crystals were. However, I eliminated that method because I didn't know how to threaten and which would definitely cause a ruckus in the city.
But there was one way I think was quite reasonable. Since my figure looked a lot like Elvian, I might be able to sneak in there and look for information. Of course, I had to dye my hair golden to make it look like a real Elvian. Since my real hair was dark brown, they would suspect me if I entered the city without a disguise. Then, I could wear a cloak to cover my body. My fair skin color resembled humans in general. So they could tell that I was not Elvian even though my long ears were similar to theirs.
With a disguise like that, I could definitely succeed. Besides, I could also speak Elvian, making it easier for me to mingle with the townspeople.
As I was about to share my idea with Dimas, my Super Sense suddenly felt something coming with a threatening aura. Instantly I was taken aback and took a stand.
"Watch out! Someone's coming!" I shouted loudly. Dimas and Shella immediately became alert and checked to the side.
I was trying to sharpen my Super Sense even more. I immediately looked up when I knew where the threat was coming from.
"From above!!" I shouted loudly, trying to warn my two friends.
The three of us suddenly jumped backward to avoid the figure that fell down quickly. If we were even a second late, the spear that that person was carrying would have thrust into the body of one of us.
I was surprised. For a moment, I watched the person. He was a young Elvian, probably younger than me if you calculated with human age. The young Elvian was wearing dark patterned clothes like an army uniform. His face had an unfriendly expression as he looked at us.
I immediately grabbed an arrow from the quiver with quick reflexes and prepared to draw my bow. But my reflexes were less fast than that of that Elvian. He immediately took his spear that was stuck in the ground. Then he drew the blunt butt of his spear at my stomach.
The attack was so strong that it sent me flying a few meters back. My stomach immediately felt numb and in excruciating pain. My back hit the roots of a giant tree and instantly went numb.
"Anggi...!!" Shella shouted shrilly when she saw me fall to the ground.
Even though it hurt a lot, I could still endure it. Holding my stomach, I tried to get up. In the next second, I found the teen Elvian was fighting with Dimas. The two of them pitted each other's abilities with killing intent.
The tip of the enemy's spear and the blade of Dimas' sword create flashes of light every time they collide. Luckily it was still not completely dark at this time, so Dimas could still keep up with Elvian. The complete darkness would have brought my friend to his knees if it had been night.
I was transfixed as if watching an action scene in a movie. Dimas slashed his sword forward, but the teenager Elvian managed to avoid it by jumping backward while rolling back his body in the air. When Elvian landed, he used his feet to lunge at Dimas as a pedestal. He was ready to stab Dimas' body.
Not wanting my friend to die easily, I released an arrow in front of Elvian. Instantly he stopped his steps to lunge at Dimas. Without missing an opportunity, Dimas turned his body and threw a powerful slash. But once again, young Elvian managed to avoid it.
My hands, stretching out a bow, immediately released arrows when the enemy had not yet had time to land on the ground. Unexpectedly, he did the impossible action. The Elvian parried the arrows that shot at him with his spear.
"What the hell!?" I screamed in disbelief.
I immediately took another arrow from the quiver and pulled it with the bow. But I didn't release it right away. I was on standby to observe Dimas and the enemy fighting, trying to release arrows at the right time.
His extraordinary experience in fighting instincts made Elvian always close the open gaps. He skillfully always positioned himself behind Dimas. I couldn't just shoot the arrow with this position because it would most likely hit my friend.
No matter how long I waited, the teenager Elvian always closed the gap, so I couldn't release my arrow. Even if I change places, he could position himself safely. Dimas, who was fighting, didn't pay attention to his surroundings. He didn't see me preparing to shoot an arrow. If he saw me, even if only one second, he would definitely try to make an opening for me.
Annoyed that I didn't get the chance, I decided to make it myself. I immediately released my arrow straight at Elvian, even though Dimas' body was in the way.
"Move!!" I shouted loudly.
Dimas immediately reacted by throwing his body to the side exactly one second before the arrow thrust into his body. Elvian, who didn't see the arrow coming, was too late to dodge and had to accept my arrow stuck right in his chest.
The teenage Elvian immediately fell backward. He couldn't get up again but was still breathing. He panted as he looked up at the dusky sky getting darker. Dimas and I approached the enemy's body while alertly aiming our weapons. As a precaution, if he was still desperate to make a move.
It was only when I was close to the teenage Elvian that I could see clearly. My arrow pierced his right chest. Fresh red blood gushed out from the wound and soaked the ground. The wound I made to him was quite deep, maybe to the lungs. His eyes were droopy and almost empty like a dead fish. His breath began to falter.
That was when I got goosebumps. My legs drooped instantly, and I sat limply on the ground. It was obvious. Right now, I was witnessing a person who was dying. Someone who was dying because of my action.
Am I... going to be a killer?