Chapter 6: Let Me Be Wrong

Why would he be leading an adventure party when he isn't even an adventurer?

I don't really want to call him out yet either because I don't want to expose that someone here has Appraising Eye. Especially when that someone is me. I can't even imagine how that would sway their actions.

"What exactly is this forest?" I asked as we all followed behind the adventurers.

This should be a good question to get some answers out of them without exposing too much information.

"This forest is the Shilk Forest. A starter dungeon for new adventurers to get some practice and make a small amount of money." The lead Knight responded.

"And by dungeon you mean places usually separated from our natural space. Where monsters spawn more naturally than other places." I said regurgitating my RPG knowledge.

"Yeah, that's a perfect academy level definition of what a dungeon is. I mean you lot do look like a class. You wouldn't happen to be in a class from one of the nearby academy's that got lost up here." The archer of the group responded.

Up here? Aren't dungeons in games usually underground or like instances away from the natural spatial plane?

*DO YOU BASE ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION OFF OF GAMES?*

The system screen forced itself open with that dialogue, catching me by surprise.

Great so this thing can force itself open on me without my input or user permission. This entity is morphing from annoying to slightly unbearable.

"No, we're actually from another world and fell out of the sky to get here." A classmate said, catching everyone’s attention.

*DUMBASS*

Dumbass.

The bubble of just pure innocence that surrounds Ichino is insane. I've never seen a guy just blurt out that high level of information before. I mean he was the type of guy to spend the first week of class talking with everyone so they could all be friends.

I mean with his scrawny build and bowl cut hair it’s no wonder he is this way. Ichino is just aggressively outside of his environment. I better keep an eye on him for his sake.

"Hm. Now isn't that an interesting story." Said the non-adventurer in their party.

This was the first time he spoke to us since he found us. And did this guy give me the creeps, shooting glances back at us as we walked. As if he was dissecting us with his eyes.Also don't “hm”, me. That's suspicious for several reasons and gives me a new bad feeling.

"Would I be right to assume that you'll be taking us to the ruling family of your country?" I asked in an attempt to get a read on this man’s intentions.

"I wonder what made you jump to that conclusion." The non-adventurer responded.

"I mean being told that you have visitors from another world that fell from your sky. It's probably some information that they would want to know, making us high value individuals for you. Maybe even reaching a good payday after some negotiations." I said, causing members of both parties to look at each other with confused and anxious expressions.

Not a single word was said after that accusation. Now if that isn't a perfect sign for me to take that as an admission of guilt then I don't know what is.

"Rin I find it quite peculiar as to why you would accuse our saviors of having such devious plans." Shiro said, adjusting his glasses as he spoke.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking things." I said laughing.

There's a good chance that I am overthinking things and that everything is fine. Or I could be absolutely right that something is wrong. Me being who I am I’m fully convinced that I am right.

"Hey, can we talk?" Whispered Charlotte.

"About what?" I responded.

"I-I mean about us."

"Ms. Gold, there's nothing to talk about." I said dropping the conversation.

"Ms. Gold..." She said to herself, hurt by having her teacher title used.

It only seemed to take us what felt like two hours before we reached a clearing of trees. In front of us was a circular platform made from stone that was being taken over by grass. With intricate engravings on the platform that all lead to a circular formation in the center of the platform.

"What's with the stone thingy?" Shin asked as he walked around and past it.

"I wouldn't step too far forward there." Said the non-adventurer unbothered.

Before Shin could fall off of what looked like to be a cliff I grabbed onto his arm. Yanking him back onto safe ground.

"Holy shit we're in the air!" Shin screamed.

"I guess it must have been difficult to notice from the aerial view. However, this is one of our world's floating islands in which this one doubles as a dungeon." The archer explained.

He was right. The island that we had landed on was perpetuating in the air with only massive chains holding it in place. Which seemed to have been there for ages since there was moss, grass, and even wildlife living on those chains.

"How'd you chain this island in place?" I asked in absolute wonder.

"If you could believe this story, it was from a high level spell from one of our kingdom's very own mages. However he has long since past having lived and served the kingdom for over five hundred years." The non-adventurer said.

An elf!?

"Were they human?" I asked in anticipation.

"Yes, only the finest to have come from Fladive Kingdom."

This guy is starting to sound a little preachy. In a way that makes me think he's some sort of recon for the kingdom which is why he isn't an adventurer. Or he could just be annoying beyond belief.

"Now if you would just step onto this platform. I'll be able to send us all back down safely to the kingdom where we can get you settled." The non-adventurer said motioning to the platform.

I was skeptical but followed along behind everyone else onto the platform.

"Shouldn't you also be joining us?" Charlotte asked, noticing the adventurers not joining us on the platform.

"Oh, we'll see you very soon. We just have some unfinished business to attend to so I will be sending you to someone that can better cater to your needs."

Before anyone could get off a response we were sent away in a flash of green light. Reappearing in a massive hall lined in blue, red, and gold décor. Surrounding us were lines of men in armor standing guard.

FOR ONCE, for once could I be wrong.

*YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN IF YOU WERE MORE TRUSTING*

Fuck off. It doesn't help that you randomly gained a personality on me.

"Ho, ho, ho, I see we have some visitors."

On the farthest end of the room sat a large old man on a throne. Sat beside him on both sides were two very beautiful women with crimson red hair. One of which looked like could be his wife and the other his daughter. Even though the old man looked like he had forty years on her.

Having panicked I copied Charlotte’s stats and hurled a fireball at the three sat on thrones. Where the daughter got up from her seat placing a hand in front of her. Which enveloped the space in front of them with a translucent field. When my fireball made contact with it did nothing and disappeared from the impact.

The daughter scoffed, lowering the field. Then spun her finger above her head causing a blue ring to appear above her. Which I didn’t realize was water until she hurled it at me.

I brought up both my arms into an X shape over my chest to brace for the impact. However, since I was still unconsciously using magic two spikes of stone appeared in front of me blocking the impact. Noticing the X shape spikes I stepped forward clapping my hands in front of me. Which threw flames at her through the top opening of the X.

With no movement from her the flames began to spiral around her. She flashed a smile as the flames spiraled over her head and danced across the ceiling until finally dissipating.

“Well that was fun.” She said before sitting back down.

"Enough. I do apologize for my husband's lax behavior and my daughter’s rash behavior. Could you please tell us as to why you've appeared before us." The older woman who sat on a throne said.

"I'm sorry, this is all really strange for us as well. We were being led out of a dungeon in the sky by some people who looked like adventurers. And one of them said that they would teleport us to someone that could help with our situation." Charlotte stated our case to these people who looked like to be the King and Queen.

I stood between the two of them absolutely stunned by this weird situation.

*YOU’RE SO LUCKY THEY DIDN’T KILL YOU*

"And what sort of situation would you be in where they would send you to the King and Queen directly from a teleporter?" The Queen asked.

"You wouldn’t have happened to have encountered other people who fell from the sky into this world would you?" I asked with a shrug.