How much further is it, Ai?

<Not far>

<At your current speed, you should reach it in less than a minute>

I see, good.

I was propelling myself through the air with jets of Negative Energy from my soles. I’d passed over a large number of Knights along the way, and none of them noticed me.

We can’t move forward with our goal of getting home until we find Jaden, so-...

<You’re almost there, it’s-...hm?>

<Wait, why are you veering away?>

What?

I came to a halt in midair as I realized she was right, I’d begun veering away from the direction I was heading in. What is this?

<Hm...>

<Oh, I see now>

<There’s some kind of effect here that makes people subconsciously avoid this area>

<Fascinating>

<It should be less effective if you focus on resisting it, though>

Yes, I’m already on it. Let me know if I change direction again.

<Will do>

As I flew into the area, focusing on resisting the repelling force, I came to a stop as I reached the middle of the spot and looked around.

Hm, this is a rather rundown part of the city, it looks abandoned. I swooped down towards a nearby building, landing on the rooftop before summoning Avaritia.

"<How may I serve you, Master>?"

"There’s a possibility that Jaden’s in this area. Let’s search it and see if you can pick up his scent-...," I began.

"<No need, I already have. Over there, I-...hm? Strange...>," She frowned, as she began to point at a blank spot, between two decrepit old buildings.

"There’s nothing there...nothing we can see, anyway. Let’s check it out," I replied, before hopping across the rooftops towards that spot.

"<No doubt about it, I can smell several scents coming from there. There’s definitely something there, hidden from sight>," She responded, as we came to a halt on top of one of the buildings next to that spot.

I took aim and fired out a small Negative Energy ball towards that spot, the ball shooting through the air...before abruptly disappearing.

"I see, it’s some kind of invisibility barrier. Let’s take a closer look," I remarked, launching myself up into the air before swooping down feet-first.

Avaritia sprinted across the rooftop and leapt over, the two of us plummeting down, before my feet suddenly collided against something, which broke apart upon impact.

In the blink of an eye, I suddenly found myself inside a building, a couple of loud thuds ringing out as Avaritia and I landed on the floor below.

A commotion rang out as several people who were milling about scrambled into action, surrounding us, one of them rushing over towards a rope and pulling on it, a loud clatter echoing out throughout the entire building.

"<We’re definitely in the right place, I’m picking up strong traces of his scent>," Avaritia informed me.

"Who are you?!"

"How did you find us?!"

"<Command: Don’t Move>," I chanted, all of them freezing in place.

It seems the people of this world have no resistance to status effects, how convenient for me.

"D-Damn it, I-I can’t move...!"

"Wh-What is this...?"

"Hm, you don’t look like Knights. Well, I suppose it makes no difference. Answer my questions or die one by one, I won’t say it again-...," I began, drawing out Desecrator.

"Wait, wait, WAIT!!! Dude, stop, don’t kill anyone, they’re the good guys here!"

"Huh? Oh, there you are. Finally found you," I responded, sheathing my blade as Jaden rushed into view with an alarmed look on his face.

"Yeah, hey, man. Glad to see you’re okay. That glow, are you using Spirit Fusion? Cool! Seriously, though, ease off with the aggro, maybe start with switching off Enrage," He replied with a wry smile.

"Fine."

I let out a slow exhale as I deactivated Enrage and withdrew Avaritia, my usual state of mind returning. That was close, I should reign it in.

"Are the others with you, by the way?" He asked me, as he walked over.

"Yeah, they’re all in my Pocket Dimension," I nodded, before adding as I glanced around at the people around us, "So, what’s the deal with this place?"

"We’re a resistance group, known as Revolt. And you must be one of the other summoned Heroes. I’m the leader here, my name is Mira, it’s nice to meet you," A young woman spoke up, walking over with an amicable smile.

"Yeah, likewise," I nodded politely.

Hm, let’s take a look, Appraisal:

Personal Details:

Name: Zelmira Lynocyes

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Height: 5’5"

Weight: 68 KG

Ability Details:

Elemental Magic: Ice Magic

Spirits: Blizzard Bird: Blib, Frost Lizard: Friz, Mermaid: Merd

Spirit Fusion: Yes

Stats:

HP: 650

MP: 795

Strength: 648

Agility: 986

Vitality: 652

Perception: 899

Power Level: 771,700

Hm? First off, her naming sense with her Spirits is so...lazy. But, more importantly...

"Uh, dude, what’re you doing?" Frowned Jaden in alarm, as I drew out my blade and pointed it at the woman, the others surrounding us promptly drawing out their own weapons.

"Question for you...are you related to that piece of shit King who summoned us here, Zelmira Lynocyes?" I inquired, her eyes widening in shock.

"I-I, well-...how do you...?" She stuttered shakily, her gaze darting about.

"Mira? What’s wrong?"

"There’s no way that’s true...is it?"

"That name, it rings a bell..."

"Yeah, it does sound familiar...what’s going on here?"

"Let me guess, you’re a spy who infiltrated this resistance group to crush it from the inside," I surmised, narrowing my eyes at her.

If that’s the case, she’ll be worth interrogating, I-...

"No, you’re wrong! It’s true, I am a Royal. I am-...or rather, was...-the fifth Princess. But I’m not a spy, I’m one of the three people who founded this group in the first place!"

Huh?

"Well, that’s a surprise, you’re not lying," I responded, sheathing my blade as her words didn’t trigger my passive lie detection.

"This is exactly why I kept my past to myself, everyone here hates the Royal family, I thought I’d never be able to gain their trust if I revealed that I’m one of the Royals," She sighed wistfully.

The others were looking at her with conflicted looks on their faces, uncertain as to how to respond to this revelation.

Hm...maybe I should’ve gone about it a bit differently.