212 Underwater City (1/2)

-Jungle, Near Drowned Trident City-

It's almost morning already and the sun is starting to shine. Before I can reach their city, I need to pass through the jungle. This is really the first time I traveled this far. I have a map but it's not detailed enough to show the safest path to reach the Drowned Trident City.

Thankfully, it's not dark anymore and I feel at ease knowing that I can easily tell if someone is following me.

So far, I haven't met adventurers after reaching Dragoons City. The area around it is not a good spot to train because the monsters are quite strong so it's not really safe.

I entered the jungle heading straight towards the city. I can sense nearby monsters and I can tell that they're high-level ones. Surviving in this kind of place is really hard. If a group of players with not so good equipment managed to find this place, I'm pretty sure they'll get slaughtered like vegetables.

I'm sensing movements ahead. Judging by the pace of their movement, I can tell that they are walking. Some kind of patrols or something. There's no way that raiders would mess with this kind of high-level ground.

So yeah, I was right. There are guards patrolling and they are wearing spell caster's robes. I hate spellcasters. Some spells are quite hard to evade, like water users. I have to reveal myself to them or they might get the wrong idea if they saw someone like me hiding.

”Halt! Who's there?!” One of the patrols asked.

”Hello there! I'm Chara and I'm a traveler. I would like to have a proper rest and good food so would you please help me?” I asked politely as usual and smiled.

”You're not from around here. It's not safe to travel alone. We are ordered to help anyone around here regardless of their status but you don't like someone who will do something bad.” After that, she waved her hand signaling something.

Then one of them showed me the way. I was told that their guild isn't that friendly but yeah... all of them are women... Being a woman has its perks sometimes I guess.

We didn't travel that far but we stopped for a bit. It's the end of the jungle and upon leaving the jungle, there's a huge beautiful city covered in water!

”Uhmmm... Will I get drowned if I enter this beautiful place?” I asked. I really wonder.

”Don't worry. This is just protection from monsters and other kinds of hostile creatures like men.” Oh, wait... Men? Seriously?

”Oh, men are the worst, right? Haha.” I think it's better to get on with the flow.

”Someone like you is always welcome to our guild. Let me just open a passage for you.” Then she waved her hand using some kind of spell and then a passage appears.

So I decided to get moving. She told me not to touch the water or my hand will be sliced. She left me after opening the passage. It looks like it's not moving but I guess I should not really touch it.

Upon entering... there's no city at all? The city you can see from the outside is just an illusion. I don't know what's going on here... All I can see is the beach. Oh, she told me that someone will be waiting for me but there's no one here...

*SWOOOOOOOSH!* Out of nowhere, someone emerged from the sea.

”Hello, I heard that someone will be arriving. I guess it's you. As you can see, we don't get visited that much but it's good to see a new face. Welcome. Just hold my hand.” She grabbed my hand. So I did.

And yeah, we are walking and going to the water.

”Uhmmm... I don't know how to swim.” I worriedly said.

”Don't worry. It won't take that long.” So yeah I trusted her.

And then...

”KYAAAAAAAH!”

-Drowned Trident's Underwater City-

Ugh... I opened my eyes and yeah... I'm lying on a bed. The last thing I remember was I've felt like I was falling or something and after that, I lost consciousness.

”Oh, you're finally awake. You sleep like a lazy sea lion. Haha.” I heard a girls voice nearby. I got up holding my head as it kind of hurt.

”Where am I? And, it's nice to meet you but who are you again?” I asked. Yup, there's water inside my ears... Also, she's the girl who's with me earlier.

”I'm Osia. I'm famous around here because my sister is the guild leader, Shella. And you're in our city. The Drowned Trident. How are you feeling?” She replied.