Betrayal

I was on the journey back to kingdom of the dragonoids alongside our newly found companion "Amina". She was insanely strong for someone who was part of royalty. For me, I thought royalty are not really allowed to learn savage things like archery. She was a straight up menace when it came to using bow.

She was a better addition to team than any of the previous members I had. She was simply better than my girlfriends and Barbara and Sunri. Kristine might be the best out of NIGHTFALL but apart from her, others were quickly becoming obsolete.

She might be of more value overall. I have a decent idea of what was going on between these two worlds but I wanted to make sure that the issue was solved without much bloodshed. I hope I can talk to the royalty and try to deviate the issue towards the gods themselves. Instead of people dying, I would much rather have those four die. I would much rather have people live in peace and harmony. I don't come from a world that has achieved it... my own world is still divided on multiple levels. At least I can help this world since I'm in a position of power and authority.

…

"So, Kenji. Now that you have the origin as your maid and you're pretty decent for an outlander too. You come from a world without magic so being able to reach the level you did is impressive. Almost level 40 is completely unheard of but for an outsider to achieve it in a few months alone is... no... it is impossible. I can't think of a single being able to achieve it in a few months. Even our heroes needed years if not decades to reach such level. I can only be in awe."

"I received a book that helps me a lot with monsters. It tells me the weakness and such so I don't think it's as impressive." I responded with an awkward chuckle.

"No! Still being able to use magic alone is insane but well I prefer if you're not as modest. You need to command authority granted to you. You need to act like a confident leader." Amina said.

"He is impressive with other things too. Especially cooking." Layla added in.

"Hm? Really?" She seemed interested but maybe didn't want to impose on me by asking me to cook something for her. I guess... well I don't want to cook anyways so it's good.

"I haven't asked you much about your world. May I ask more?" Layla asked.

"What you want to know?"

"About your classmates that came here... is there anyone we should be wary of?"

"Liam comes to mind..." Right... I completely forgot about my classmates. James might've become stronger. They might get influenced by the other world.

"Any reason?" Layla continued.

"He is an extremist. He will go to any point to defend gods and he is definitely not a person you can have logical conversation with. He is someone I would prefer getting rid of. He can become a big issue for everyone... literally anyone who goes against him."

"Should I go and eliminate him?" Layla asked but I shook my head.

"I would much rather you go spy on my classmates and mark those who can become problem."

Layla bowed slightly before disappearing into thin air.

"You have any reason to trust her?" Amina asked.

"Absolutely not. I do not trust you either but I can't really do anything about it. I was betrayed by everyone in my previous life and now I was betrayed by the gods. I'm used to it." I sighed. I was almost at my own breaking point too so I ended up saying more than necessary. I can't help it anymore.

"Betrayal is part of life. We were betrayed too and we lived with it ever since. I don't have the answer except to live with it. It is a part of you."

"You're right. It did make me who I am. Am I happy with it or not doesn't matter. I have friends yet I have countless people who betrayed me. It is impossible to figure out who is going to stay and who won't. So at the end, we can only hope. A hope that the person would be good but then again... people change over time. Someone once good can not always be good. Someone once bad can not always be bad. So, what is really important? It is to not seek revenge. It is to grow so much... to reach a place far beyond those who wronged us. A place where they can never reach us. A place so high above that we can't even see them even if we tried to." I firmly believed it but I think this could influence Arima too so she might reconsider war.

"What is your idea of 'high above'?" She asked.

"Success and growth. Like... getting a great job, doing self-care and getting healthier. Society at large might try to improve infrastructure, economy and technology... things like that."

"Interesting... how can you not seek revenge?"

"I was once betrayed by a dear friend of mine but at that time I was weak. I had some health issues so I had to accept it despite my anger... second time it happened, I was unemployed student. I couldn't seek revenge because it put my family at risk. I went through some extreme problems where I couldn't seek revenge so I had to learn a different way. Well by the time I gained enough power, I had already moved on so it became all meaningless."

"I won't go in details about your life but I will keep it in mind. Our world is thirsty for revenge but... I wonder if it's time to let it all go." She sighed. "I've thought about it too but no... no... we had everything taken away from us. How could we not want it all back? It is cowardly."

It might take some time to influence her or anyone who has lived in pure anger. I can see why she would seek revenge... I want to... I too want to get back at those people. But... I'm too tired to do that but when you live in a country that entirely functions on the hope of revenge is a different story.

…

We had reached the capital and then went straight to the castle and came face-to-face with the king and the queen who was standing right behind him. On either side of the aisle were bunch of aristocrats. Dragonoids, dwarves, elves, dark elves, lizard people... Beast-folks like rabbits, dogs, cats and such. It was interesting to say the least.

"Amina? What made you ask all...? Wait! You finally wants to get married?!" He said in an excited tone but Amina was quick to shut him down.

Amina was not happy with the notion but whatever.

"I'm Kenji... I'm here to talk about the drug issue. It is not only an issues... it is a threat to society as a whole." I took out a bag of those drugs. "They work by draining life of the user. I would prefer if you didn't check it since I don't want someone to die." I handed the bag to a guard.

I looked around to see if anyone was acting weird but well whatever.

"An issue we are aware of but this is a new fact." He said before sighing. "Draining life itself... this is pure evil."

"We have issued an emergency because this is definitely too big to let other guards and knights deal with it." Queen added in.

"So, outlander, where do you come from?" The king asked.

"From the other side." Amina answered in my stead and instantly everyone started talking and whispering.

"I would much rather put him as the main suspect." A man came forth. He was towering over the rest with a menacing lion head.

"Why would I actively put myself in problem? I won't be trusted no matter what so why would I dig my own grave?"

"Interesting... But even then it could become an endless argument." Another man came forth. He was a dwarf.

"But then again it could be a good way to drive us against each other." A female dark elf came forth. She looked like a battle veteran.

"Your paranoia has nothing to do with me." I answered "I come the other side but I'm not from that place. I'm an outsider who was summoned from my own world. I do care a bit about this world but I haven't yet picked a side." I answered.

"An outsider you say? Prove it." Dark elf said.

I showed my status window to them which was obviously manipulated and it showed clearly that I'm an outsider.

"He is indeed telling the truth but..." The lion guy could not accept it but had to.

"Since you haven't decided on the side, how about you join us?" The king asked but I shook my head.

"I'm not picking sides where either side wants to slaughter innocents. The people have nothing to do with history. It was their ancestors and hence, they are not responsible to pay for actions of those who committed those horrific acts. They weren't even alive back then. Yes, they are not innocent beings as a whole but in this specific case, they are. Instead, talks need to happen. Resorting to violence should always be the last option."

"So you've decided to side with neither of us? But... someone who is not a friend is surely an enemy. You have said enough to show that you oppose our views and you're a threat to us given your level and that you survived attacks from our strongest warrior. Guards! Apprehend him! Kill him if need be." The king announced and about a dozen knights surrounded me. Amina was silent throughout and even now showed no intention to interfere.

"Well... you're going to regret this!" I raised my hand up and created a vortex I had learned from seeing Amina's attacks and tossed it at the king making everyone get sucked in. A few managed to keep standing, three of them being the same who questioned me earlier.

"He is a threat!" The dark elf took out a bow and started shooting arrows. Somehow her single arrows were getting split into five. I used my shield to keep them from killing me. I noticed cracks forming on my shield. it would not hold for longer.

The lion-headed man charged towards me but couldn't break my shield. I wondered if I could heal my shield instead of reusing it. Reusing makes me vulnerable for a few seconds and I can't afford that currently. I used healing magic and somehow it worked. I think it is because my shield works on HP... so maybe because healing restores HP... ? It doesn't matter. I kept using healing on my shield making me immune to any attack.

Amina charged an attack and shot it at me making me play back from the impact. The shield saved me from getting hurt but they were all definitely now against me. I had expected that much. I used water magic and then thunder magic to electrocute them which gave me enough time to leave the place. I started running as far as I could to leave the castle and hide somewhere.

…

I was currently in an alleyway waiting for Layla to come back. I can't exactly go back on my own when she appeared in front of me.

"Sir, Liam hasn't yet betrayed anyone but there are talks about your betrayal. Your classmates are not happy with you exactly."