I'm pretty sure there's something weird here. But unfortunately I can not prove it.
It's already noon. I returned to mingle with the people here lazily. Meat-scented smoke tickled the senses. The long table was again filled with food and drink. The sound of water and the smell of fresh fruit greeted.
From behind this big tree, I saw Shiloh helping to carry a fruit basket with an incomparably happy expression. As usual, always accompanied by beautiful girls. Indeed, the man was blinded by visuals. I chuckled angrily. He's so good at dumping me like this. Human base is not self-conscious.
I was still paying attention to the activities of the people near the table, until finally I saw Amyas looking at me not far from the table. I looked at him disapprovingly. His intention to tell me at that time I didn't listen. Maybe I'm being impolite. But I felt really lazy to listen to anything at that time. What an annoyance.
"May I ask your favor, Miss?"
A woman in her thirties with her hair in a bun smiled faintly at me. She carried two large fruit baskets. I quickly took the fruit basket and held it in front of my chest.
The woman smiled. "Put it on the table, please."
I just nodded awkwardly. Then without waiting any longer I immediately took myself to the long table there. Little children seemed to be running out to attack the hot honey pie that had just been brought out. They chattered merrily, without realizing that one of them nudged me. The basket I was holding almost fell, but the handle on my waist caught me. I saw Amyas propping me up. He looked panicked and tried to hold me as best he could. Before I could get up and stand up, the group of naughty children had returned to their actions so that I couldn't hold it anymore, we both fell down with my body pressing on Amyas. Fresh fruit in a basket scattered on the grass. All pairs of eyes stared at us in surprise, while the children had already run off somewhere. All I know is the honey pie is gone.
"Oh my gosh! I've washed it clean and-" The woman who asked me for help came and looked at me disappointed. She picked up the fruit without saying anything else. I thought I would be cursed by her.
"Abby, can you wake up?"
Amyas's weak voice made me suddenly stand up. I didn't realize I had pinned the boy down for quite a while. Considering my body weight which is practically not slim, it makes me chuckle secretly. It's not bad to have more than fifty kilograms of weight.
Amyas helped the woman pick fruit, and so did I. I repeatedly apologized, because the woman with the bun looked like she wanted to cry. Don't know why the reason. I also wondered in my heart, why is that woman as cool as that? Come on. Not that I can't appreciate it, but I didn't commit any act of killing his family or just hurting him, right? Even the fruit fell against my will. You have to underline it.
When finished, the woman left embracing her basket. I hope she doesn't develop a grudge when she washes his fruit for the second time. Amyas was now looking at me strangely, for some reason the ambition to beat his face with Shiloh's furry shoes that had never been washed was running wild.
"What do you see?!" I asked curtly. Things are back to normal as before. If only the two of us were out of work looking around, I'm sure we're the only two who aren't normal.
Amyas chuckled dryly. He then leaned forward, then his hand toward my face. I managed to fend off his hand, but unfortunately, Amyas was too stubborn.
"You have dirt on your cheek. What do you think I saw?"
I stared at Amyas in disbelief. Land you say? Huh! What the hell! It can't be that. I'm sure he's just kidding. Bastard.
Amyas suddenly waved a hand. I saw what object the boy was looking at. I saw Shiloh carrying bottles of wine to the table. He looked at Amyas in a friendly manner, while when his eyeballs turned to me, his gaze turned stiff.
"Let's go there, Abby."
Amyas walked over to Shiloh, while I was still busy making eye contact with the brown-haired man.
Just watch, Shiloh. You're the one who's waving the flag of war, not me.
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For over two hours, I just wiped the neatly packed beer bottles into the wooden crates. Likewise with Shiloh. He helped lift the boxes filled with empty bottles with Amyas. There was no conversation between us. I just focused on my work while glancing here and there regardless of Shiloh's whereabouts-in case I found anything suspicious. Yesterday after heading to that strange big tree with Aqua, I went straight to my room without saying much. Finding out that Amyas was the chief of the tribe here was something strange. I mean, yes maybe that fact is true, but I never thought that a human who is not too far from me could lead.
"In two days the big event in the Kingdom will take place. I sincerely hope that all of you will be willing to put your energy into the work."
Everyone in this musty wooden room was screaming with joy as if this job was worth hundreds of dollars. I didn't answer anything, because if I said the wrong thing my head would roll on the ground. But wait... something feels off. What was that... kingdom?
The fat man with his head is overgrown with wispy hair shouted again. He carried a box of cribs without complaining of weight. "I am very happy to hear your answers. This time, we also have to impress the King."
I heard their every word with ears perched wide. I didn't know there was a kingdom here too. And what's even weirder, during the time I went back and forth to basecamp with Shiloh, there was never once a story about a kingdom standing under the abyss. Behind the base camp is a vast forest, I've seen a ravine once, but who would have thought there was a kingdom? This is really crazy. I guess I've lost my sanity.
The bottle I was holding fell, making my concentration return. Everyone looked at me in panic, they immediately pulled me away. They looked sad while picking up the splash bottles sticking out everywhere. The two people who grabbed my hand glanced at me sarcastically, then closed the door in front of me tightly. Before leaving, I caught sight of Shiloh whose eyes followed where I was going. If I knew he was going to be watching me like that, I should have just grabbed a bit of the splash from his bottle and thrown it at him. Huh.
I'm joking.
I looked at my shabby self. On this cloudy afternoon, I can see a stretch of thatched houses, some even made of walls but without a roof lined up in a row in my view. On the porch of the house, I'm walking now. Several people passed by carrying fruits and food. Some ride on sheep to go nowhere. I sat down on a pillar that was now the size of my calves with a sigh. I didn't expect to live such a primitive life.
"What are you thinking about?"
Amyas suddenly came, somehow already beside me. I don't want her to be here but what can I do? "I didn't think about anything."
"Is it true?" Amyas smiled faintly. I looked away, tired of seeing that smile. He watched my reaction silently, perhaps offended. "You met Aqua yesterday?"
"No."
"Where did she take you?"
I chuckled when he detected my lie. "Looks like you already know the answer. Aqua must have already told it. I don't want to waste time rebroadcasting."
"Is that so?" he said quietly, his hands behind his back with a nodding face. He acts like a wise-cracking gentleman at a political party event. "Then, any questions for me?"
I glanced at him briefly, then looked at the cloudy sky. "Today I haven't got anything interesting to ask. Tomorrow you come to me again."
"Tomorrow you will come to me, not me."
"Then I won't ask anything until you come to me first."
Amyas sighed, and he smiled. "Tomorrow, I have to head to the Kingdom for a few days and might not come back again."
"Why are you talking as if you are going to die?" I sneered. "How scary is that kingdom?"
"I dunno, you can join our group if you want to know." Amyas offered graciously, her face hopeful. I haven't found out what benefits I get if I join besides answering my curiosity. "Is there anything that might be of use to me if I come along?"
"I told you, you'll find out if you come along. But I can guarantee it will be a fun ride."
Amyas said seriously. I tapped my finger thoughtfully. I don't know how to get home, even if I could, I would have been finished off by the monster that was chasing me with Shiloh. I've only been here a few days too, it would be a stupid decision for me to come too. But what else can I do, if I don't try I'll be curious forever.
"Okay, I'm coming with you."
Amyas chuckled at this. He looks pleased. "I'll have Tinti make clothes for you tomorrow."
"Eh? Clothes?"
"You don't think we're going on a normal trip, do you?"
"Not really, really."
Amyas went back into the house. I sighed, rubbing my hands wrinkled from the cold. Rain fell on the grassy ground. I've been stupid, now I'm even more stupid for agreeing to Amyas' invitation to come to the Kingdom of the middle of nowhere. []