'Stubborn old man.'
I looked at myself, thinking inwardly. As I explored the [Shadowscale Armor], I noticed a peculiar property of the suit.
'I can change its shape.'
In the past, whenever I used this armor, I found many aspects that were not very practical. First, I had to wear it under my clothes, and second, its enchantment functions were too limited.
'But now it's different.'
'Now, everything is ready.'
After checking everything, I walked out of the room.
As I headed to the meeting place, adjusting the [Shadowscale Armor] into a casual form, I encountered Sylvie in the hallway. She looked up from the book she was reading, revealing a gentle smile.
“Good morning,” she greeted me, her eyes meeting mine.
'Looks like she was waiting for me.'
“Good morning,” I replied, looking at her. She was dressed neatly and seemed to be in a good mood, appearing to be looking forward to the trip.
“Looking forward to the trip?”
Sylvie nodded. “Mhm, I've never participated in a trip like this before.”
“Do you like traveling?”
“I do.”
“Then why don’t you join the travel club?”
Although the club's name is 'Adventure Club,' there's no need to be so particular about the details.
“Hmm... I like traveling, but I don't like traveling too frequently. It’s too tiring.”
“Hmm... but we don't go out that often, do we?”
“We? You joined the travel club?”
“Yes.”
“How often do you go out?”
“We’ve only been out once, and haven’t gone out since.”
“Once? Isn’t that a bit little?”
“It is a bit little indeed.”
Now that Sylvie mentioned it, I suddenly remembered the incidents that were supposed to happen in the travel club. There was supposed to be another trip, but it didn't happen.
There could be many reasons, but if I had to point out one, it would be the monsters that appeared during the trip to Nesser City.
In the game, I didn't know such a thing had happened, and it was also a derivative from the start. This might be the reason why another trip didn't happen. The academy may have decided to cancel it for the safety of the students.
'However, now that they're allowing Maya this time, the club should become active again.'
“Do you know where we’re going today?”
Sylvie’s eyes lit up as she took out a folded piece of paper from her bag. “Mhm, Senior Maya gave us this map. We’re going to Sioux, which is famous for its magic and ancient ruins.”
“Sioux...” I repeated, the name sounding somewhat familiar.
It was a special place with many ancient ruins and also where many researchers gathered.
Sylvie smiled, seeming pleased by my recognition. “Yes, that’s right. It’s known for its rich history and magical anomalies. Senior Maya mentioned that there are some secrets hidden there waiting to be discovered.”
As we continued to talk, we arrived at the meeting place where the other members had gathered. Senior Maya was already there, filled with enthusiasm for the upcoming journey.
“Junior, you’re here.”
She immediately greeted me, with the vice president of the club standing beside her.
“Good morning, Senior.”
A playful glint sparkled in her eyes. “Junior, are you looking forward to this trip?”
I nodded, maintaining a calm expression. “I am.”
She chuckled. “Always so composed, well, be prepared for whatever Sioux has in store for us.”
We waited for a while, and soon the last few members arrived.
Mason and his friends joined the group, adding a different atmosphere to the team. Mason wore his 'charming' smile as usual.
“Sorry, I’m late,” he said, glancing over the group.
'He's quite skilled at controlling his expressions.'
If it weren't for my [Insightful Perception] and sensitivity to demonic energy, I might have been fooled by him too.
But I could clearly sense that his equipment had been upgraded, and the fluctuations of demonic energy had changed. Clearly, he had prepared quite a bit for this, and it seemed no one had noticed.
'Except for Sylvie.'
Her expression turned serious, her eyes slightly narrowed, while tightly gripping the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Knowing her habits, I knew this was how she expressed frustration or anger towards something.
I also noticed that as Mason scanned the group, he briefly looked at Sylvie and me, with an unusual glint in his eyes.
Clap!
Just then, a clap pulled me back to reality.
“Now that everyone is here, we can set off.”
Maya smiled, her enthusiasm undiminished. “Let’s make this trip memorable, everyone! We will learn, explore, and maybe even uncover some historical mysteries. Now, let's go!”
With that, Maya led the way. First, a small bus took us to the teleportation gate in Arcadia City.
As we arrived at the teleportation gate to Sioux, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation.
“We have a reservation for gate B128.”
“Gate B128, please wait… Are you Ms. Maya?”
“Yes.”
“Your reservation is confirmed. Please follow me, my colleague will guide you to the gate.”
The Federation's processes were practically the same as the black market. There were countless different gates around, the scene reminiscent of those gates that took you to dungeon entrances.
“Wow…” I had used this gate before when going to Nesser City, but it was clearly Sylvie’s first time, and she kept looking around.
“This is amazing, I’ve never seen so many gates.”
I nodded in agreement. “Indeed, the advancements in magical transportation have made long-distance travel much more convenient. No more needing to traverse rough terrain… though only for the wealthy.”
“...Yeah.”
As we approached the designated gate, the guide led us forward, and one by one we stepped into the gate.
Surrounded by that vortex of pulsating energy, the scenery around us instantly changed.
“Hello.”
Before us, another guide appeared.
“Are you the team from Arcadia Hunter Academy?”
It seemed he had been waiting for us.
“Yes, that’s right.”
The guide smiled. “Welcome to Sioux Bridge. I will assist you and take you to the research location where Mr. Jones works. He was the one who informed me.”
“I’ll pay him a visit later, thank you.”
“No problem.”
After the guide and Senior Maya exchanged greetings and a few words, we began to move forward.
Compared to other cities, the teleportation hall was quite small, mainly because Sioux wasn't a highly developed city. The only reason the teleportation gate existed was because researchers wanted to share their experiences with the Magic Tower and the Federation.
As we stepped out of the hall, the city unfolded before us, revealing an atmosphere different from the bustling capital. Sioux had an old and reserved ambiance. Cobblestone streets wound through the heart of the city, flanked by buildings that seemed to whisper tales of a distant past.
Sylvie looked around in amazement, her eyes appreciating the ancient architecture and the faded beauty surrounding us. A sense of tranquility permeated the air, a stark contrast to the environment of Arcadia City.
“Welcome to Sioux, a city frozen in time,” the guide announced, gesturing towards the ancient buildings and the intricate carvings that adorned them.
“Many unsolved secrets are hidden here, and today, you will have the opportunity to witness some of its mysteries.”
His description was not an exaggeration.
The city did have an air of being frozen in time. Although time hadn't stopped flowing, the ancient ruins and preserved traditions made the city seem as if it were in the past.
“This place is completely different from where we live,” Sylvie remarked, her tone filled with admiration.
I nodded in agreement. “It’s like stepping into a living history book. Sioux has its own unique charm, a different kind of beauty.”
It reminded me of my time on Earth, making me quite nostalgic. Most cities had modernized, but some still retained their unique character.
“Then, please follow me.”
Senior Maya and the guide led us through the winding streets, and as we delved deeper into the city, the magical atmosphere in the air became more noticeable.
