"The city of Bandin. It looks a lot like Armillian. Especially the wall and the name aren't perfect." I said this while walking through the city gates, with Kayda beside me.
The city walls loomed high above us, constructed from the same pale stone I'd seen dozens of times before. From a distance, they looked impressive enough, all clean lines and disciplined masonry, but up close it was… predictable. Too predictable.
"I guess it's a bad name, and why would the city look different from Armillian?" Kayda asked, tilting her head up toward me with a confused expression, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly against the sunlight. She brushed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, as if the matter was genuinely perplexing her.
"Because it's a different city, and I presume a different noble is running it," I said, rolling my shoulders as we passed beneath the iron-wrought gates. The guards gave us cursory glances, their attention flicking away quickly when I met their eyes. "So why do they want to do the same as the others when it comes to the architecture?" I gestured to the street beyond, where block after block of neatly aligned stone houses stretched out.
'It's like these buildings were copied and pasted exactly the same distance from each other. It's fucking boring.' I thought with a sigh, my ears twitching with mild irritation.
"Hmm, I never thought about that," Kayda said, her gaze now following mine, sweeping over the identical houses, the perfectly rectangular windows, and the dull uniformity of shop signs.
"Never? On Earth, we had dozens, no, thousands of cities, and over ninety percent of them were different in a lot of ways. That is the reason why tourism was such a big thing there." I explained, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips as nostalgia crept in. My voice softened without me even realizing.
"But we do have tourism here," Kayda commented, quirking a brow at me, clearly not seeing my point.
"Yes, but it is more nature-oriented than anything else. It wasn't like that on Earth. There, it was about landmarks, food, culture, and architecture. Here, it's more focused on nature and dungeons. Let's take Tokyo, for example. I waved my hand in the air, painting the memory before me. "It was a city where you go to have fun, to see the city itself—lights, crowds, festivals. Here you'll go to the Dead Forest to see what it's all about, maybe even try and level up there if you can."
I felt a bit of energy creep into my tone as I spoke, the image of Shinjuku's bright neon signs and endless bustling crowds flashing in my mind.
"Ooh, but the Dead Forest is restricted for the public," Kayda reminded me flatly, turning her neutral gaze on me.
"I know that. I just used it as an example. There is no way the Draig family would allow someone to take resources from that place."
"It's a deadly forest that's used as a border, and that Draig family needs to look after it. Therefore, I don't believe that is the reason," she said, tilting her head slightly as if she were challenging me to provide a better explanation.
"True, but that's a surface reason. If that was the only reason, then why couldn't Hugo level up there without any interruptions?" I asked, watching her face carefully.
"Because he was a furry dipshit," Kayda said innocently, her delivery so casual I had to blink.
"While that is true, it is not the main reason," I said, my shoulders slumping a little with a deflated expression.
"If you put it like that, then it makes sense," she admitted, nodding slowly.
"I thought you would know this. Especially being in the black ops yourself."
"I don't go to the Dead Forest outside of missions. So, I don't know all the procedures when it comes to that," Kayda said with a little shrug, as if dismissing the matter entirely.
"What a waste. No wonder you're still so far from my mother's level," I muttered, glancing sidelong at her.
"I might be, but we are basically on the same level strength-wise," Kayda said defensively, puffing out her cheeks slightly.
"That might be so, but you are a sage, while she is a close-range fighter."
"And what does that have to do with anything?" she asked sharply, eyes narrowing as though daring me to elaborate.
"Hmm, not much; it's just more about where you guys will be more useful. For example, who would be more useful in an open field surrounded by dozens of enemies?"
"Me, because I can make an area-effect spell."
"Yes, but then who would be more useful if you were in a cave trapped by enemies?"
"Stacy would be more useful in a fight," she said without hesitation.
"See? That's why I said it was a waste for you not using the Dead Forest."
"But my research?" Kayda whined suddenly, her shoulders slouching.
"Ah, you do have my research, don't you?" I said, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of my neck.
"Poo, how mean of you. "It's mean of you to forget about one of the most important things in my life," Kayda said, looking away with an exaggerated pout.
"Ha-ha, sorry, sorry. Here is some demon rock you can research," I said, pulling a small demon rock out of my storage and holding it out toward her.
"...You have tons of this. Can't you give me something rarer?" Kayda asked, eyeing the demon rock with suspicion and a greedy little sparkle in her eyes.
"Kayda, don't be greedy now, or else I will take everything back. Including my money," I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
"You're no fun, you know that? I was only joking, and it doesn't matter when we get—" Kayda said, but before she could finish, she snatched the demon rock out of my hand with practiced speed.
"You sound like an obsessed girl again. It's a total turn-off," I commented dryly.
"Aah, was I always like that?" she asked, blinking in mild surprise at her behavior.
"Don't know. I've only known you for a month," I said with a sigh, giving her a look that made her shift awkwardly.
"Hmm," Kayda hummed softly to herself, falling into thought again, staring down at the stone as though it held all the answers.
'It is weird that she is like that… Not that I mind it. I was told by Sensei that I am slow when it comes to a lot of things, I thought, glancing around at the people passing by us.
"Did you hear the church in Bandin was destroyed?"
My ears flicked at the sound of the gossip, catching the hushed, hurried tones of locals nearby.
"What, another one? Tsk, that's the fifth one this month."
"They weren't even built that long ago."
"Hmm, there was a church in Bandin?" I muttered, tilting my head.
Looking toward the source, I spotted two men sitting outside a small restaurant, speaking to a waiter as they ate.
'I guess there might be a pillar there,' I thought, changing course and dragging Kayda along with me.
"Good afternoon, I'm sorry to bother you, but I overheard you mention that a church in Bandin has been destroyed," I said, stepping closer and drawing their attention.
"...Y-Yes," the one sitting to my right stammered, paling as his fork froze halfway to his mouth.
"Can you please give me directions?" I asked with a polite smile, trying not to bare fangs.
"Aha, it's... in... in the... far south..." the other man managed, his voice cracking like dry wood.
"Hmm, why are you guys so stuttery?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hehe, it's probably because of how you are carrying your friend there," the waiter said, trying to suppress a snicker.
"Hmm?" I glanced back, realizing belatedly that I had Kayda by the back of her neck like one might hold a troublesome kitten. The baffling part was that she was still lost in thought, entirely unaware.
"That's not it, Linda. Do you not know who this is?" The first man spoke suddenly, pointing at me.
"Do we know each other?" I asked, tilting my head.
"We haven't met personally, but I have heard about you. You're the demon fox that turns guys into girls for fun."
"HUH!? What the fuck!? Where did you hear something like that?" I shouted, my voice cracking the calm of the street. The suddenness of it finally shook Kayda out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Nova, why are you holding me like this, and why did you shout like that?" Kayda asked, blinking up at me as she pulled my hand off her neck.
"We heard what you did to Hugo Boei and the Duke."
"Oh, so you are the demon fox that saved Sarayo?" The waiter chimed in, tilting his head with mild curiosity.
"Huh, how do you guys know about things like that?" Kayda asked, her gaze darting between the waiter and me.
"Sarayo told us about it."
"And who is Sarayo?" I asked, confused.
"She was a slave under the one furry."
"Huh, I see. Anyways, what are the directions to the church?" I asked, turning back—only to find the two men had vanished.
"Huh, they ran away," Kayda and the waiter said in unison.
"I guess I would as well if I were them," I muttered, making both of them give me baffled looks.
"Would you have?" the waiter asked, incredulous.
"Only if they deserved it," I said with a shrug. "Well, the explanation sits on you now, Miss Waiter," I added, fixing him with a smile.
"OH, that's easy..."
.
"Hey Kayda, how are we supposed to meet up with Miss Grandie?"
"Don't know."
"Do we need to go to the black market again?"
"No, definitely not. We will see tonight if they make contact."
"Okay, anyway, we are close to the pillar."
"So, there is one. And how do you know that?"
"Hmm, the killing intent in the air gives it away," I said, my gaze narrowing in the direction it was emanating from. The air itself seemed heavier there, the faint oppressive pressure lingering in the lungs.
"Oh, makes sense," Kayda said, raising her hands lightly in front of her chest as though preparing herself.
"You didn't notice it until I told you, did you?" I said, giving her a flat, deadpan look.
"Nooo... Maybe. Fine, yes, I was so in thought about why I always bring up us being together the entire time, okay," Kayda admitted, her cheeks puffing out as she looked away, pouting once again.
"Sigh, don't overthink it. I don't really mind it too much. Well, if you do that every five minutes, then I might get annoyed," I said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. She stiffened for a moment before leaning into it slightly, the pout softening.