Woahhhh!! Amazing!!
The sharp whoosh sound that came from those jets flying in the sky brought back memories for sure.
I never thought I would see this again. The way all those flying ships fill in the sky, flying across the horizon in high speed really brings awe to me.
"There are flying plates in the sky, Master. On your command I will slice them all without mercy." Frienna said in her default expression as she raised her hand towards the flying ships in the sky.
"Wait! Don't slice them. They may look intimidating but they're harmless. Girl, put your hand down..." I gently grab her forearm and slowly lower it down beside her.
"As you wish, Master." Frienna agreed in her usual tone and expression.
She still sounds and acts like a robot, though, but with a small twist in her personality. I guess it's better than her rampaging around without thinking.
Forget about that, we continue our walk towards Technossia despite Frienna wanting to slice everything new in sight throughout the trip. It was easier handling her in a forest filled with monsters than in a wide field like this.
For your information, Technossia is one of the outermost cities in the G'ar Land and also the closest to the Death's Continent. That's why I chose it to be our first destination to do the investigation.
Even so, judging by its modern features alone this land must have the solutions to all of the problems in this world.
However...
"It's weird there are no monsters coming to ambush us yet." I look around with suspicion.
Frienna walks beside me as her head moves in a weird manner, and did I hear cracking sounds coming from your neck, girl??
Never mind that, how is she conjuring these whispers in an unknown language around us without moving her lips??
Oh-
She stopped, looking at me with her black obsidian eyes.
"As expected, there's not even a single murderous intention around us." Now her head is in the correct position. Fuhh, thought I might have to live with a copy of Sadako or something.
You almost made me pissed myself just now, young lady.
"By murderous intents you mean monsters?"
"Indeed. In this part of the world, I cannot sense any strong murderous intentions, regardless of how focused I attempt to be."
"You know what, maybe the G'ar Land is only filled with good people. Let's try to relax, because we are not in the Death's Continent anymore, hm?" I patted her head for reassurance.
"As you wish, Master." She nodded in response.
I look in front of us and "Let's continue our walk!"
——— ——— ———
After an unexpected long walk from the barrier, we arrived in front of the entrance to the City of Technossia. It took 2 days, by the way!
This is soooo grand! It's like I'm in the Robots movie.
From what I can see, there are two black alloy pillars flanked the entrance, where an advance sci-fi thing is going around the walls across the whole perimeters.
"State your reason for entering." Crap that scared me! A robotic voice suddenly came from the...gate?
"Uhm, we are travelers and we're here for a visit!" I don't know why I shouted at the gate, but I did it anyway.
"Please step over to the front area of the entrance." The robotic voice ordered us to get on a steel platform near the gate, which I'm feeling anxious all of a sudden.
Together with Frienna, we approach the steel platform carefully.
Before I could say anything, a wide red ray of light scanned me and Frienna up and down, front and back, for security purposes, I believe.
Wait! Will they count Frienna as a weapon, though?
The red light stopped scanning us, then a huge lens shot a flashlight on us. "Show your IDs. Please."
Honestly, what's up with that tone? Hmm??
Jokes aside what am I suppose to say about us having no IDs? This is bad. We might not make it into any cities if we can't get past this one. I was planning on registering myself once we entered Technossia.
Crap, I messed up.
"Uhm, we don't have our IDs."
"No IDs. No entries." With that multiple red lasers aim at me and Frienna's chest.
"Woah woah calm down!! We don't have any ill will!" I raised both of my arms in surrender, but Frienna thought otherwise.
She conjure her aura and drown our surrounding in it. The atmosphere feels heavy as the lasers begins to glitch.
If this keeps up, we might start a war with this land! "Hey, Frienna-"
*@&%$!*
*Ding*
"Welcome to the Advanced City of Technossia!" I guess not...
And why is it excited all of a sudden??
"Frienna, what did you d- Woahh! Holy cow~"
The majestic gate opens up and reveal the other side of the entrance like two different worlds, separated by a sci-fi portal from the future.
The sound of those people on the other side of the gate, talking and having decent conversation with each other really bring out the envy-nostalgic feelings in me.
"Master, are you alright?" Frienna pulls my shirt slightly as she looks at me with her version of a concerned expression.
Oops, got a lil emotional there.
"I'm fine. Let's go inside, shall we?" I hold her hand as we're entering the city.
I guide Frienna as we walk a good distance through the modern city.
As expected, it is packed here! Many humans and robots are living in harmony, engaging in conversations, sharing lunch, and shopping together.
If only the Hero's Kingdom could do the same. PFFT! Betcha they can't even hold a single conversation with travelers across the globe! Such simpletons for a country ruled by a Hero.
"Where are we heading to, Master?"
Frienna's question is valid. As amazing as this city looks, it's best if we complete our mission as soon as possible.
"I think we should go for their shops, don't you think so?" My eyes are darting around, trying to find any shop that meets the eye.
But it seems impossible when you're in a city with no visitor's brochure or google maps. It's as if they wants us to communicate with the people around here.
Frienna nodded in response. "Would you like me to locate any shop according to your description, Master?"
"Niiice!! That'd be great, thanks!"
With that, she closes her eyes, and those whispers from earlier return.
Brrr! Chills...Every time.
The air feels cold and sharp, as if it could cut you with a slight movement.
"So did you find anything?" I looked around while trying to hide Frienna's unusual posture from being seen.
She stops, and points at the road ahead of us with her other hand. "There's a shop that I think will be useful to us just a few blocks away, Master."
"Good job, Lil Frienna!" I pat her on the head.
"Now let's go before the sun sets, shall we?"
Frienna responds with a nod, as we are running to the path that she pointed to just now with our hands locked together.
The people around us are smiling while looking at us running across the shops like a brother entertaining his sick and pale-looking lil sis.
We run into the secluded part of the city filled with murals and abandoned looking streets.
Anyways, we arrived in front of a small building which is quite excluded from the other tall buildings in the city with a sign that says "Noodle House"..?
"Are you sure this is the place, Frienna?" Not to doubt, but it literally screams for it.
Frienna take a look at the sign and shrug it off with a gesture saying 'I was just following my instinct'.
"I was looking for a place to get some information, but I guess you're feeling hungry, huh? I didn't know that you could, though."
"I'm not, but this is the place my vision brought us, Master." Frienna lift her hand in front of her, feeling the air with her palm.
Well, let's not doubt her when we are so desperate!
"Never mind, let's just go in and see for ourselves, hm?" I turn to look at Frienna, as she nods in respond.
I begin to open the door of this old looking building that is secluded from the main city. Even the sound that came from the door sounded eerie...
"Hello? Anybody in here?" I asked but not a voice answered back.
There are no lights neither from inside nor from outside, so it's kind of hard to see where I'm looking at.
"Guess they all went for a little break, I think." I walk towards the table nearby, pull a chair and sit on it.
Frienna on the other hand is walking around, touching a tall small table at the back behind a cabinet full of booze.
"They have drinks in here too. Can you bring me one, Frienna?"
As she reaching out for a bottle on the high cabinet, I felt multiple presence in the air behind me, making its move.
Haa, not so decreet.
I grab a hand that's reaching out over my shoulder and twist it around making a loud cracking sound. "Ackk!!"
I hold their hand with both of my hands and slam them on the ground with a piece of cake. Hah, so light.
"Who are you?" I crouch to look at their covered face.
*BAM*
I look over my shoulder, seeing two more people with covered faces are now restrained against the wall near the entrance by Frienna's shadows.
"Good job, Frienna. You can interrogate them."
"Yes, Master." Frienna walk over the two masked people and snatch away their masks.
"Hik!" Both of the men grunt in response.
"Tell me who you are or I will rip your heart right off your chest."
Uhh, that girl's attitude doesn't match up with her cute appearance.
"We are the owner of this shop, you damn thieves!" One of the men on the right said in a deep voice.
"Thieves? We are only customers." Frienna addresses them with a void but stern tone.
"C-customers? Oh, y-you need in-information, is it?" The man on the left stutter in fear.
Before Frienna could reply, the masked guy below me said, "Release us, we can talk like professionals."
I mean, sure why not? You were the one who attacked me.
I let Frienna release the two guys and we all sit on a long table in the shop with the lights on. Frienna is sitting right next to me, while the other two guys are sitting across us together.
"Sorry for being so hard on you guys." I apologized to them.
"Oh, it's not your fault, customer. We all thought you were thieves in this area." The masked guy from my held went for a change at the back, and now walking from behind me.
I turn around to apologize properly and to my surprise, he's a she!!
"You're a g-girl??" I jumped from my seat and bow for forgiveness.
I look over and see her hand is wrapped in a bandage. "I'm so sorry, lady."
She look at me, amused. "Haha! No worries, customer. This is like my regular evening training!" She flexed her arms, showing us her average biceps.
I continue sitting down on my chair as Frienna gently pull my sleeves down.
Now, we are all sitting on the same table with booze and snacks.
"Let us introduce ourselves! We are the owner of this family business. My name is Clarissa Rowan, the eldest of us three." She looked so proud of her introduction, so naturally I started to clap my hands after her. Frienna looks at me and copy my action.
"M-my name is D-Dorian Rowan. N-nice to me you..." The stuttering guy looks so young, maybe 16 years old? I don't want to be rude so I clap my hands for him as well, and Frienna too.
"Silas Rowan." Wow so short and rude. He must be the second child out of the three.
To be frank, if they didn't tell me they were siblings, there's no way in the world I would have guessed it. They look sooo different!
Clarissa has brownish-orange long thick hair with bright brown eyes, while Silas on the other hand has a black messy short hair with dark blue eyes. And lastly, the youngest Dorian has a bright yellowish-blonde classic side part hair with a pair of bright blueish eyes. The only thing that they all have in common is face-card.
"You guys don't look alike." Frienna dropped the bomb on them. This girl really be saying the honest truth every time.
In response, Clarissa just laughed it off. "Of course we don't. The three of us have different dads. You see, our mom was a street prostitute."
"Rissa!" Silas snapped.
Clarissa looks at him and shrugs it off. "Why do we need to hide? Everyone in this damn city knows already, and besides, she's dead-"
"That's enough!" Snapped Silas once again as he slammed his hands on the table.
Dorian just slouched his body in silence, hoping that he would just shrink in the middle of this conversation.
Uhm, this is getting awkward. Frienna and I exchange looks.
I warmed my throat as I say, "Well, let me introduce ourselves."
"My name is Kevin, and this cute little girl is Frienna. Once again, I apologize for my inconvenience." I bow slightly after. Frienna looks at me and copy my action.
Clarissa switch his gaze from Silas to us and laugh it off. "No no don't worry about it! It's a pleasure to meet you too. So what's your story? Based on your fighting power, even babies could tell you guys aren't normal travelers."
Me and Frienna exchange looks again. "Basically we had a rough journey before reaching here." I chuckled at my own words to avoid suspicions.
"Well, if you say so! Since you came here, what kind of information are you looking for?" Clarissa just cut to the chase without a slight of suspicion, but Silas says otherwise.
"How will you be paying?" Silas gave a stern look at me and Frienna, while Clarissa shared an annoyed look with Dorian.
"Oh, right. Frienna." I command Lil Frienna to conjure a sack of gold coins from Dumb-Dumb.
"Woahh!!" Both Clarissa and Dorian shot a wide eyed expression by looking at the gold coins on the table. Silas was left speechless with his arms crossed. Haha serve you right, rude boy!
"Will this be enough?" I asked.
"Absolutely!!" Clarissa reached out for the gold coins, but Frienna warped the sack out of view in a blink of an eye, letting the shopkeeper's chin grazed on the wooden table.
"Information first." She said.
"Yes yes of course. Excuse my bluntness that was sooo unprofessional." Clarissa corrected herself as she went back to her seat from the table-dive just now.
"Alright, let's take it from the top. What do you wanna know?" Clarissa asked, pushing a large mug of booze towards me.
I grab the booze and take a sip. "I'm looking for any items or spells that is powerful enough for break an unbreakable barrier."
The three Rowan siblings look at each other for awhile. When they do that, me and Frienna also do the same thing.
"We can try to find you the item, but as for spells..." Clarissa hesitated.
"You can only get items and gadgets in this city. Spells and such are very rare here, especially when the G'ar Land has very low populations of Arts Users." Silas intercepts with a serious look on his pretty face.
"But Smolliena here can use Arts, right?" Asked Clarissa, excited.
"Smolliena?" I'm confused.
"My name is Frienna." Looks like the expressionless owner really cares for her identity.
"Oh, Smolliena is the short form of Small-Frienna! You're a cute small kid, aren't you?" Clarissa is treating Frienna like a real kid, when the real deal is a continent level Legendary class weapon.
"No, it's Frienna." She corrected the brownish-orange hair girl.
"Aww, you still look like a cute lil girl to me despite your tone being very machine-like~" Clarissa jumped out of her seat and start hugging and nuzzling Frienna tightly.
"Big Sis!" "Rissa!" Both of the younger brothers are concerned about their older sister's behavior towards their customers.
The victim sit still while her body is being squeezed by the average muscled lady. "{She reminds me of Big Sis Nadia, can I kill her, Master?}" Frienna telepathically asked for my permission.
"{No, of course you cannot! Wait, since when did you start addressing Nadia as Big Sis?}" I reckon this must be Dumb-Dumb's doing...
"{Not long after we parted ways from the barrier last time.}" Frienna is still maintaining her composure from the commotion that's happening right now.
"{And you're okay with that?}" I look at her expressionless face.
"{Oddly, yes. She also asked for Nito and you to start simply calling me Frey, Master.}"
"{Haa, what kind of fetish does she have now...? Also, I can start calling you Frey if you want.}"
"{I'm fine with anything you want, Master. Besides, she said that it will bring us closer as a family by calling each other nicknames.}"
"{I see...}" That sounds...nice.
"B-Big Sis, let her gooo!!" Shout Dorian as he's pulling her older sister away from Frienna.
Silas is only looking at the commotion from his seat and sigh. "We will do our best to find what you're looking for, but first, you have to pay half of the price."
Professional are we~? "Great, I will be looking forward to it!"
With that, Frienna teleported herself from Clarissa's grip and to my side, holding my hand. She conjure half of the gold coins on the table, which brings Clarissa back to her senses.
She scratched the back of her brownish-orange head. "Haha I'm sooo sorry for my bluntness again! Anyways, we just need a week at most to find the information, is that alright?"
Today's the first quarter, so it will done by the full moons, I see. Well, I could wait for a while.
I nod in response.
Me and Frienna walks out of the shop and Clarissa wave us goodbye.
"Bye bye, Mister Kevin! Bye bye, Smolliena!" Shout Clarissa as I wave at her back.
"Fuhh, that was a lot to handle don't you think?" I look down at Frienna who's still holding my hand from overstimulation.
"You can tell me about it, Master." Her grip on my hand tighten.
I laugh it off as we're walking back to the main city.
——— ——— ———
Me and Frienna did a looot of activities to waste our time like window shopping, dessert tasting, eating popular meals, went for shopping, and now we are checking into the inn.
Fun fact, they don't call it inn in this land. Instead, they call it Hotel. Isn't that cool?? So nostalgic.
Anyway, I walk up to one of the hotel receptionists and try to check in for the week, but they told me I need to have an ID for the protocol.
It's in the middle of the night, what guild is still open right now??
Arghh!!
Frienna looks at me, "{Allow me, Master.}"
Huh?
Oh, the whispers are back.
"Alright, Mister. Your room will be 1701. Enjoy your stay~" The receptionist hands me the card.
"Uhm, sure thanks." I walk over to the elevator with Frienna.
"What just happened?" I asked her.
"The same thing that I did to the gate this afternoon, Master." Frienna said as she's looking around the wide and majestic hotel lobby.
We get into the elevator and head over to our room. I swipe the cards, open the door in awe. It's the same as I remember!
I throw away my things on the ground and dive onto the bed. "Haaa, so glad that we're able to sleep on a bed after so long."
Frienna picks up my stuffs and put it properly on the table for me. Oops, my bad.
"By the way, got any plans for tomorrow?" I ask her while I lay on the bed.
The girl in white close the curtains and say, "You have to get registered as an adventurer tomorrow, Master."
"Oh yeah I forgot. I should do that. Other places after that?"
She looks at me with her default expression. "Anywhere you like is sufficient for me, Master."
"I want you to decide now. We're in this together, aren't we? So you should also have some fun while we're in this foreign land." I lay on my back looking up the beautiful carved ceiling.
"In that case, I will give it a proper thought, Master."
"Great! Good night, Lil Frey. Let's have some fun tomorrow." I roll over to my side and sleep.
"As you wish, Master." Redness flash over the pale skin of the little girl. With that, she turn over into her original form; a huge black-white scythe, and rest on the same bed with her Master.