A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Outskirts]

Robert discovered something about himself that he had not expected.

He hated teleportation.

Mikoto’s teleportation magic was unlike any method of travel Robert had experienced before. There was no gradual shift or preparation before the world changed around him. One moment he was standing on solid ground, and the next his entire existence felt as though it had been violently pulled somewhere else.

The transition was immediate.

Robert was fairly certain that, somewhere between one location and the next, his stomach had remained behind.

He stood silently for a moment after they arrived, one hand resting near his abdomen as he attempted to convince himself that his organs had, in fact, followed him.

"I truly despise that."

The comment was quiet enough that only those nearby could hear.

Nobody responded, perhaps because nobody was surprised.

Once his senses finally caught up with him, Robert began to take in their new surroundings.

The change in scenery was impossible to miss.

They now stood atop a low hill covered in faded green grass. The landscape stretched outward before them, though the land carried the same tired appearance that seemed to define much of the world. The grass was alive, but barely vibrant. The wind moved through it, creating small waves across the hillside.

Yet beyond the hill was something far more imposing.

A city.

Rising in the distance were enormous black walls, their surface smooth and reinforced, surrounding the settlement. Even from where they stood, the scale of the place was obvious. It was not merely a collection of buildings.

It was a Heart Kingdom city.

At the front entrance was a large black steel gateway embedded directly into the walls. Its design was sleek, built less for decoration and more for security. A wide stone road stretched from the entrance outward, connecting the city to the surrounding lands.

And upon that road was life.

A long line of travellers waited outside.

Merchants, carriages and common citizens. People carrying supplies and goods, all patiently waiting for their turn to enter.

For the first time in a while, the group was approaching somewhere that felt populated.

Gretel stared ahead.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then, quietly:

"Yes..." Her voice carried a strange mixture of relief and nervousness. "That’s it." She stepped slightly forward, her eyes fixed on the city walls. "Pulchritudo."

Robert looked towards the city, recognition slowly appearing on his face.

"Ah..." He studied the entrance thoughtfully. "I have heard of this city before." His gaze remained focused ahead. "It is the city that primarily handles trade with the Dominion of Oz through teleportation devices."

A small pause followed as memories surfaced.

"Gerard and I used to keep watch over this place." His expression became slightly more serious. "Destroying or weakening this city would have dealt a considerable blow to Heart Kingdom’s relations with Oz."

He glanced towards the walls.

"It was one of the more strategically important locations."

Mikoto, who had already begun walking down the hill, responded without looking back.

"Then you can finally be useful once we get inside."

The comment was blunt, as usual.

Robert raised an eyebrow.

"I would say there are many things I can be useful with." He increased his pace slightly, moving a short distance behind Mikoto. "But are you seriously planning on entering through that?" He gestured towards the long line waiting at the city gates. "You’re telling me someone like you intends to stand in line?"

Mikoto continued walking.

"There are warding spells placed around the city." He lifted his chin slightly towards the walls.

Robert followed his gaze.

The average person would have seen nothing.

But someone familiar with magic would recognise the signs.

"There is something there detecting intense fluctuations of mana." Mikoto’s expression remained indifferent. "Probably designed to catch anyone trying to force their way in using magic."

He looked towards the entrance.

"If I teleport directly inside, it’ll immediately draw attention." A brief pause followed. "That’s more trouble than it’s worth."

He glanced ahead.

"Keeping my mana completely concealed is already annoying enough. Doing it while teleporting an entire group would just make things worse." His tone suggested the conclusion was obvious. "So this is the easiest way."

Robert considered that answer.

Despite Mikoto’s overwhelming power, there was something strangely practical about the way he approached problems. He was not avoiding the line because he could not bypass it. He was avoiding it because bypassing it created unnecessary complications.

"I assume this is the work of one of the Queen’s Royal Guards." Robert looked towards the magical defences. "One of the four is particularly skilled with magic. Barriers, detection spells, enchantments, that sort of thing."

Mikoto glanced towards him.

"What else do you know about this city?"

Robert straightened slightly, seemingly appreciating the opportunity to provide information.

"It is the third largest city in the Heart Kingdom." His eyes moved towards the approaching entrance. "As we get closer, you will probably notice that the city is not merely a place of commerce." He continued. "This entire region is overseen by Duke Bluebeard."

Mikoto listened silently.

"Quite wealthy and influential." Robert’s expression became more reserved. "Though that is true of most Dukes. But this particular city..." He looked ahead. "It has a reputation."

Mikoto glanced at him.

"In what way?"

Robert was quiet for a moment, and then he asked:

"Do you know what the Heart Kingdom believes in?"

Mikoto raised an eyebrow; he did not answer; he simply waited.

Robert understood and continued.

"Purity," Robert said after a moment. "The Heart Kingdom places great importance on the concept."

The group continued moving forward, slowly approaching the end of the line.

"And let us just say..." Robert’s expression darkened slightly. "They believe that only humans possess that purity."

Mikoto understood immediately; he did not need Robert to explain further.

"I see." That was all he said.

As they reached the back of the line, Mikoto looked over the people waiting ahead.

Most wore simple clothing.

Tattered tunics, heavy coats and old garments that had clearly seen better days. Some looked like merchants, others looked like ordinary workers simply trying to enter the city. The person directly in front of them did not even turn around.

An elderly man stood besides a wooden cart filled with cargo, the vehicle pulled by two tired-looking horses. Nothing about him seemed threatening and nothing about him seemed important.

Just another person waiting.

Robert looked towards Mikoto.

"So..." He lowered his voice. "How exactly do you plan on getting us inside?"

Mikoto stared ahead.

"That’s the easy part."

Robert waited.

The answer was not particularly reassuring.

"Just wait until we’re in front," Mikoto said, his voice carrying the same tone it usually does. He glanced ahead toward the direction of the distant city before shifting his attention toward Shuten-dōji.

Out of everyone in their group, she was the one who stood out the most.

Not because of her attitude, or because of her strength, but because she made no attempt to conceal what she was.

"You’re the only one here who looks non-human," Mikoto continued. "So you’re probably going to attract a lot of annoying attention once we get inside."

His tone suggested he already expected it to become a problem. Of course not a dangerous one, just an irritating one.

Shuten-dōji looked down at herself briefly, then back toward Mikoto. Her hand lightly moved toward one of her horns as she gave a small, almost amused smile.

"Well, I imagine that will be the case." She casually gestured toward the horns that marked her nature. "But I shall not hide them." Her expression became slightly more serious. "To conceal these would be to deny a part of myself. To hide them from the world would be to wound my own pride."

There seemed to be no arrogance in the statement. It was simply a belief she carried.

"We non humans do have our pride, I suppose." Echidna smirked.

Mikoto stared at Shuten-dōji for a moment, and then he looked away.

"Just try to be discreet if you’re going to kill someone for being an idiot." The words came so casually that it almost sounded like he was giving advice about something completely ordinary.

Without waiting for a response, Mikoto moved away from Shuten-dōji and walked toward the back of the group, stepping besides Gretel.

The blonde girl noticed his approach almost immediately.

She turned slightly, giving him a brief glance.

Then a small smile appeared.

"Come to check up on me?"

Mikoto immediately looked away.

"Don’t get a big head." His arms folded across his chest, the heavy armor shifting slightly with the movement. "But..." He paused briefly. "Just checking something."

Gretel watched him carefully.

The hesitation itself was enough to make her curious; she tilted her head slightly.

"What is it?"

Mikoto remained quiet for a moment before he spoke.

"You sure you want to waste time with my errand?" The question was simple, but the meaning behind it was clearer than he probably intended.

Gretel’s expression changed slightly.

"I don’t follow." She spoke softly, confusion appearing in her voice.

Mikoto glanced toward her. "You still had something you wanted to do, right?" His gaze shifted forward again. "Something you were trying to accomplish before all of this. What I’m doing, honestly, I wouldn’t even call it a goal."

There was a strange honesty in the way he said it.

"But you’re following along with me now." His eyes returned to her. "That means you’re spending your time on this instead of whatever you originally wanted." He let the statement sit between them. "So I’m asking if you’re sure."

Gretel blinked.

For a moment, she seemed caught off guard.

Then the meaning finally reached her; her expression softened. The small smile she had faded slightly, replaced by a more complicated emotion.

A small frown formed on her lips.

"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it." Her voice lowered; the memory behind her words was obvious, even without her explaining. "But like I’ve said before, that is something I have no right to pursue."

There was only acceptance in her voice.

Or perhaps an attempt at convincing herself that she had accepted it.

Mikoto watched her quietly, and then he spoke.

"Lucky for you..." His soothing voice was quieter. "I still owe you one." Gretel looked toward him. "So maybe you’ll get that revenge anyway."

The words were simple, but they carried more importance than Mikoto probably intended.

Gretel’s eyes widened slightly, only for a moment. A brief flicker of surprise crossed her face before she could hide it.

Then, slowly, a smile returned.

"Heh..." She looked at him with a little more amusement. "You really are soft sometimes."

"Shut it."