Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer

-Ooooooong.

With a bright light, we opened our eyes to a new place.

This was a new city, different from the one we were in.

Opening my eyes to an open garden-like area where many people were appearing one after another, I looked around and saw Zoe and Rein standing by my side.

This one was a quick trip, and it didn't even take a minute inside that blue vortex of light.

This one was different from the [Gate] as when we passed through that one, neither of us even understood what happened after the white flash of light until we were in that forest.

But we can see the constantly moving blue vortex finely.

As I looked at them and nodded, they both nodded back with their unique smiles.

We looked around after checking everything was fine and as we saw the scenery around us, a surprised smile clouded my face.

"Beautiful right? This one is our south's one of the most beautiful cities, the city of greenery, Temani.

And this one is one of the biggest gardens in the empire, the garden of cyan oak trees."

She had a proud smile on her face as she said that, and I nodded in agreement.

"This really is fresh..."

My words were genuine, and she could feel it.

Though this garden was nothing like the one we had, this one was unique in itself.

The trees in this place were beautiful cyan and this wide open area of the garden was also fresh.

Unlike the busy air of the previous city, this one was cool, clean, and purer.

I liked this air more than the one we were in, and that wasn't all.

Unlike the busy summoning place of the previous city where all the people who entered warp gates were transported, this one was quiet and everyone that appeared here just went on their way with a smile.

They were happy, not everyone, but most had a radiant smile on their face as if something really good had happened.

Well, this was nice.

Nodding at her, I looked at Zoe, who had her usual starry-eyed face that scanned the area eagerly.

Patting her head, I looked at Rein and asked, "How should we get to the estate?"

"The same way we got to the city from the forest. The estate is closest to this city that's why we are here.

But I don't think we have time to explore this garden today.

It's evening and we have to go back as soon as possible.

I will have to make many preparations after curing grandma to welcome your family, Eon~."

She was excited and happy for some different reason.

Maybe she was closer to them than I think?

Whatever it was, I also liked the idea that we should go straight to her home.

It's better to finish the important matters first so, I just nodded and tapped Zoe's shoulder.

"Zoe? Looks like we will have to come back another time to play here."

On my words, she looked back at me with narrow eyes and asked if it was necessary but, she just nodded, after I shook my head in a no.

"Hmmm. Ok, Reinelle. So, what do we do with these people following us? You didn't say anything, so I thought they weren't some random people, but they are now doing too much."

I didn't know what these people were, but they were good with stealth and they even followed us here.

They started with the communication center, and now it was getting on my nerves.

They were good with strength, but there was only one (tier-4) mage and two [Rank-3] knights.

Or... assassins of high rank.

They had experience, and I knew they were better than the knights and mages at the warp gate.

It was already expensive to just come to this place but to even spend that much to just chase us all the way here... what were these people?

And their level of stealth was extraordinary.

If not for one of them having a large amount of Mana, I might have failed to notice them with just my passive detection.

They were no normal people and from the way Rein didn't say anything all this time and they didn't show even a sign of bloodlust; it was clear she knew them.

"These guys... well, let's say they are my guards. It was difficult to lose them in the forest and all, so they must have just waited in the city.

You must actually know their master, Eon."

She explained and raised her hand and they vanished from their place through shadows.

This was a skill like my shadow dive and from the looks of it, they understood her orders.

"I will introduce them after we finish the thing back home so, let's go for now." She said with a sigh and I just nodded.

Walking to a secluded place… I held her hand.

...I wasn't feeling anything weird. No, I wasn't.

Zoe did the same, and we vanished from the beautiful, unexplored garden.

***

After the three vanished in the shadows, six figures covered in dark clothing materialized in the place they were standing and stood there blankly.

From their build, it was clear that the woman with a blue bracelet on her hand was a mage and of the five males with her, one carried two short swords while one carried a fine sword around his west.

The other three carried daggers hidden under their clothes and after the three young ones vanished, the woman stood there, thinking deeply about something.

All of them were confused and more than that, they wanted to know the identity of the one that had just seen through them.

The man carrying two short swords looked at her and asked after she shook her head and sighed.

"Captain... who the hell is that boy?" He asked with a worried and somewhat fear-filled voice.

The woman with a tall and fit body had a perfect outline of the clothes she wore and from the worried look on her face, it was clear she was right.

"Whoever that is... is no ordinary child. He knew our presence ever since we found the young lady and he noticed us even before she did.

I don't know just how strong that boy is but I'm sure of one thing... he has far more experience than us.

Not only did he know about us, but it was also as if he was watching us all the time.

As if a ferocious beast was waiting for its prey to make a wrong move.

Not only was he stronger than all of us combined, but I also don't think we would even stand a chance against his mere instincts.

That boy... no, that person.

Whoever he is, is definitely no normal being."

Her voice was grave, serious, and confident to the core, and the way she just said it made all others in her squad shiver in fear.

The person with a single sword nodded in agreement with the same grave eyes.

"Not only that, the way young miss talked with him, with them… was also the first time for me.

And I think that person is of great status for her to escort them to the estate herself.

She even used her skill, and that would mean she trusts them enough to show her skills and talk with them in a private communication room-."

He was saying something, but the women flinched at that remark and cut him mid-sentence.

"And he is also a mage, I'm sure of it. The skills he used back at that place were something not even my (Green) ranked appraisal could understand.

And just like those skills, my appraisal didn't even activate on those two." She shook her head in fear.

And from her last sentence, the man with two swords and a bulky build's eyes lit up.

"Oh, yes! That little girl. I don't think she is someone strong or anything and from her low presence, I think she is just a normal little girl.

But, if your skill didn't even work on her, then... is she special too?" He asked her with a confused look, and she nodded her head.

p "Yes. Though I don't think she is strong or something like that, she definitely has some special skill or artifact with a mental barrier.

Or maybe the boy... the person with them used some kind of skill to protect her from the appraisal."

Her words sent shivers down their spines, and they shook in fear.

This was the most unexpected day for them, but now it had become the weirdest day of their life.

The men were starting to fall into despair and she sensed it and sighed loudly.

"Anyway, let's head back. They will be there too, so let's see what happens there. Let's go." She said and without waiting, her body melted into shadows.

The two men with swords sighed and followed her and the three others followed after them, leaving the secluded area in the garden silent.

-Shwwwww…

The cool breeze passed, the leaves danced in their melody, and the quiet of the afternoon in the garden witnessed yet another sunset.