After Johan successfully evacuated Prince Philip from the royal palace, they headed south to the place of Duke Arganus, a loyal supporter and close confidant of the prince. Their journey was swift, leaving behind a trail of chaos and confusion in the capital.
The news of the chaos at the palace had not been officially announced yet, but it had become a hot topic among the civilians. They talked about the loud noises that resembled high-level magic spells coming from within the palace, and those sounds weren't heard just once or twice. Panic spread throughout the city, creating a wave of uncertainty among the people.
In the markets and taverns, people whispered to each other, fearing what might have happened. "What exactly happened at the palace?" a merchant asked his friend. "I heard explosions like magic. Is this a sign of rebellion?"
"I heard the same thing," his friend replied in a low voice. "And there's a rumor about a strange vehicle speeding as fast as a horse last night."
That strange vehicle, which turned out to be a military car, sped past the gate guards so quickly that they didn't have time to close the gates. Many were astonished to see a box-shaped object moving as fast as the wind on land. The chaos intensified as the soldiers on duty couldn't stop the vehicle.
However, the reality was more complicated than it seemed. Many people loyal to Prince Philip helped in this escape, all done quietly and carefully. These people stayed in the capital as spies, observing and reporting any suspicious movements.
On the other hand, the heroes from another world, caught in this chaos, felt panicked and confused. They didn't understand why their teacher, Nakamura-sensei, had fled with Johan and Prince Philip.
"Sensei, why did you leave us?" Aoi asked with a confused face.
But Nakamura-sensei didn't see her students as they were in Japan. Their changed behavior and the pressure from this new environment troubled his mind. When she accidentally overheard Johan's conversation in the room, she realized the situation was far more serious than she had imagined. With a difficult decision, she chose to participate in this escape, ignoring his responsibilities as a teacher.
"Rather than staying in the lion's den, it's better to escape and think of the best solution afterward," he thought. With this in mind, Nakamura-sensei decided to leave her students for a while and join Johan's group.
This decision had a significant impact on everyone involved. On one hand, Prince Philip and his supporters now had a stronger ally. On the other hand, Nakamura-sensei's students had to learn to be independent in a situation full of danger and uncertainty. But amid all this chaos, one thing was certain: the struggle for truth and justice had just begun.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the capital, Sasaki Touya locked himself in his room. His comrades repeatedly tried to persuade him to come out, but their efforts were in vain. They understood why Touya was so devastated. Johan, whom they had always considered useless, had come with a surprise that changed everything. Johan seemed to show a harsh reality in the midst of their fantasy dream, shattering their illusions about this new world.
"He really shot him...," Aoi murmured with teary eyes, still unable to believe what had happened.
"It's not just about the bullet," Jun said, clenching his fists. "Johan showed us that something big is happening, something we've ignored because we were too focused on our new powers and abilities."
Elsewhere, the explosions caused by Johan did not claim any lives but caused incredible panic. People ran for cover while the palace guards struggled to control the situation. The damage was more psychological than physical, but enough to create widespread chaos.
Behind the palace walls, Princess Rosaria sat calmly, her fists clenched on the table. "Johan...," she muttered in a low voice, filled with anger and hatred. "I won't let you ruin everything I've planned."
...
The fresh wind blew against my face as the vehicle sped across the vast grassy plains. This beautiful scenery was in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere we had experienced earlier. Although I was quite skeptical about this medieval fantasy world, the beauty of nature was truly calming, offering a rare moment of peace.
"Hey, Johan-kun. If you stand by the window too long, you might fall out," Nakamura-sensei warned from the driver's seat.
"Heh, I know!" I hissed, sitting back in the front seat and turning my gaze from the window.
"Just enjoy the view, Johan. We don't know when we'll get to feel this kind of calm again," Takeshi said with a grin on his face.
"It's not that, but I do enjoy this refreshing feeling. In our home world, we can't enjoy this kind of scenery all the time," I replied with a thin smile, recalling how busy and crowded life was on Earth.
Yumi, who was sitting in the back, joined the conversation. "That's true, the atmosphere here is much more peaceful. Even though we're on the run, at least we can appreciate this moment."
Meanwhile, Hiroshi, sitting in the corner, rested his head with a pale face, clearly not enjoying the journey.
Seeing this, I glanced at Takeshi with a questioning look. "What's wrong with Hiroshi?"
Takeshi shrugged, half-laughing. "I don't know, maybe he's car sick."
"Hah, seriously?" I asked, slightly incredulous.
"That's right," Yumi added, "When we rode the wagon, he was like a dying person. It seems moving vehicles don't suit him."
I chuckled, trying to imagine Hiroshi, who usually looked cheerful and energetic, becoming weak due to motion sickness. "Well, hopefully, he'll get used to it. We still have a long journey ahead."
Hiroshi tried to smile, though his face remained pale. "I'll try to endure it. Don't worry about me."
We all laughed casually, enjoying the rare moment of togetherness during our journey to Duke Arganus' territory. The dirt road stretching out before us seemed inviting, adorned with vast grassy plains occasionally interrupted by shady trees.