Encore 5 — Right on Time (I)

Due to a teleportation gate, we were able to reach Kyoto within a minute.

I've been to Kyoto many times with my Dad, so this isn't anything new to me. But, apparently, for Isla, it was.

"Oh, my god, so this is what Kyoto looks like?! Look at those pagodas! They're so large and heavenly!"

Isla was admiring the Japanese cultured buildings.

"Oh, right, you're from the countryside, aren't you, Isla?"

Yuichi said.

"Yup!"

She gave a short answer.

Well, that's something new I learnt about Isla. I never knew she was from the countryside. From how she always acts, you would've never guessed.

We walked through Kyoto for a good ten minutes before arriving at the dungeon portal.

It was surrounded by police personnel and civilians were casually passing by while taking pictures of the dungeon portal.

"Yuichi, you do the honours."

Ms Kin said.

He nodded.

Yuichi got his ID out and walked toward the officer guarding the portal. Yuichi and the officer had a staring contest.

"What'd you want, kid?"

He asked, rather irritated.

"I want to get in."

"You, mad? Scram, kid, before you get hurt."

"You sure?"

Yuichi got his ID out.

The officer read it carefully and, as soon as he finished, his expression changed. He looked terrified.

The three of us began snickering.

He straightened himself.

"S-sorry, sir! I did not know you had already made it!"

We couldn't maintain our laughter for much longer.

I mean, seeing their behaviour change once they learn of our status is just too great! It's priceless!

"Let me tell you one thing, officer..."

"Yes, sir!"

"Be sure to never make sure this never happens again."

Yuichi muttered to him.

"Yes, sir! This will not occur again!"

Then, we began bursting out in laughter.

---

"Okay, so, from the information the cops gave me, it seems to be of the Ice element. The Imperi could be random. The boss of the dungeon seems to be unknown."

Dungeons usually have a main affinity. It could be fire, water, earth, etc. Only dungeons of the rank B+ and above can have two different elements. Any dungeons under B+ can only have one element.

This mission is C+ and so is the dungeon, so there's only one fixated element.

"We'll be going in now since we're prepared."

Ms Kin said.

We all nodded.

As we were approaching the portal...

"Huh?! We're letting kids take care of this portal?! Are you mad?! Do you think I want Imperi leaking into Kyoto tomorrow?!"

We all looked back.

A man was shouting and complaining to an officer. About us, it seems.

"Sir, please calm down. These are Streia trained for this exact purpose. They wouldn't be allowed to take this mission if they weren't capable."

The same officer from before told him.

Rich words coming from him.

"Well, I'm against it! In the end, it's the Streia who are the slaves for us normal people!"

Oh, he's one of them. There's a movement for either the removal of Streia from the face of the Earth or Streia becoming slaves to normal people. They're called Anti-Streia activists.

I don't see why normal people should hate Streia. I mean, if it weren't for Streia pushing off the Imperi, we wouldn't even be here at the current day.

The only two explanations that I can think of are, one, envy. They're jealous of the capabilities that Streia have and the capabilities that they don't have.

The second explanation is... fear.

People may fear that Streia may also turn against humanity and try to destroy it. So they want to get rid of that possibility by getting rid of us.

"Slaves? Kids?"

Yuichi uttered next to me.

He silently clenched his fist. When I looked over at him, my heart skipped a beat.

My friend looked like he was ready to murder someone.

As he began to march over to the man, Ms Kin stopped him.

"Yuichi. Don't. If I'm correct, he's an Anti-Streia activist. If you do anything to him, then he'll use it as a point to get rid of all Streia. You'll be seriously reprimanded."

She said.

I guess she came up with the same conclusion as me.

"But--"

"I know how you feel, Yuichi. But, you have to leave it."

This idiot. He's too kind-hearted to protect the names of others. He's not even thinking of himself.

I sighed.

"Huh? Kazuya? Where're you going?"

Isla asked me as I walked off.

"Tch! A brat has come! What, did you want to shout at me? Hit me? Or perhaps, kill me?"

He had a rotten smile on his face that I didn't even feel like looking at him.

"Listen, old man. We're here because we want to protect the people. So, I'll make a bet with you."

"A bet?"

He furrowed his brow as he listened to me.

I took out my pocket watch and looked at the time.

"It's currently 9:58 am. Perfect. If we don't come out by 11:30 am, then you can use it as an excuse to sue the JSO."

"Sue? Why would I?"

"Don't play dumb, old man, you're an Anti-Streia activist."

He stared at me before looking away.

"Kids, these days, thinking they know it all... Alright, I'll accept your bet. So, if you don't come out by 11:30 am, I can start suing the JSO. What's in it for you if your bet comes through?"

He asked.

"I'm glad you asked. I swear on my career as a Magi that I will adhere to the bet. If I win, you'll stop your hate for the JSO and If you win, I'll stop trying to be a Magi and drop out from Interblade. You happy?"

The old man scratched his beard as he listened to my words.

"How do I know you'll keep your part of the bet?"

He asked, sceptical.

"That should be my line. But, I swore on my future career. As an old man, you should know how important that is to me, right?"

The old man glared at me before turning his back to me.

"Kids sure are gaining some backbone. Kids these days."

I guess he agreed.

"Alright, guys, let's get going!"

"Wait, Kazuya, what did you say to him?"

Yuichi asked.

"That's not important."

"It's... not?"

"Onward into the dungeon!"