Chapter 234: Journey to the South

I walked off the gate that was behind me and used up the key to exit the place. I have never been so happy seeing the sky.

Everything is just... according to plan. Everything seems to be going well so I don't have to worry about anything.

I just noticed that when I got out of the first floor, the time here has been turned into night. So that means I've been away for a pretty much long time and has been fighting that damned dog for several hours.

Now, time to test out the rewards. "Fireball, Ice Spear, Wind Enchantment." Three basic spells of three different elements. They all combined into one creating a flaming ice spear enchanted with a wind element.

I threw it lightly and it just blasted off due to the Wind Enchantment and the fire isn't going out even with it. As soon as it hit the trees in the distance, it was covered in ice and was burning down due to the fire.

Triple, perfect, synergy. I have now perfect control on the three elements. So my magic right now probably is stronger than Yurid or Zeta.

Now that my control over magic is gone... I guess its time to practice... swordplay.

Me getting used to the sword is practically because of my nerdiness. I have a collection of swords pretty much in my previous life and I was just roleplaying trying to mimic their moves. But its just all mimicry.

My swordsmanship is basically just about power. I have no technique. Its just pure power. And the things that I've gathered from that swordsman is still not enough. Its just skills, not techniques.

So I have to improve myself in that aspect.

I began to think on who I should turn to. Afal might be a good choice but... I don't know about him. He'll just let me do whatever I want and call it amazing or something. So he's out of the question. Precia and the others are busy. Yurid might be knowledgeable but not proficient in that area. ...Zerap-. Nope. No way. I don't want to get included with that nutjob.

"So I don't have anyone to turn to..." I then remembered someone. The way their blade slices through bodies like it was butter, that graceful swordsmanship that prioritizes speed over power and the fluidity of their movements... I remember her... "Hidetaka Mizuki."

She might be able to help me. And I remember her from being in south. Well, since I told Lam that I'll be gone, I better use up the time that I still have.

So I start heading south looking for people who knows where that place is. The first kingdom I went, I acted like I'm from there so I spoke in a broken language to help them guide me.

The first one was a bust so I just continued on heading south. "Minimap, Open." I opened up a minimap to take track of where I'm going and it seems to be revealing places I've been to so that's good. This really feels like a game.

I began to fly to the other kingdom to the south and began to ask where that place is and it seems that I'm just hundreds of kilometers away from that place. So I must be near.

So I flew and flew until I saw something pink in my minimap. "No way... is that... Sakura Trees..?" I flew faster and as soon as I can see the place, I was just amazed on how beautiful it was.

It was a forest of Sakura Trees. It was something out of this world since its so damn beautiful. I can't believe it.

I landed on the ground and began to walk slowly to take in all of this beauty. Its so large and from here I can see the houses on the trees and on the ground. And as soon as I went close to their base, ten people just surrounded me.

In that time, I could've killed them all but I didn't since I'm pretty sure they're just guards. And it seems that they're covering their whole face and body with cloth while pointing their weapons at me. Ninjas?

The man walked closer to me and sheathed his weapon. "This place doesn't allow outsiders to just come here. Leave, before we have to take action."

Since Mizuki is the one who got chosen to participate in the trials... people must know her here. "I'm here for someone."

The man looked at his comrades and they all sheathed their weapons. "Who?"

"Mizuki. Hidetaka Mizuki."

"...Hmm... If you're really here to meet Lady Mizuki, we would let you in. But we heard that line a hundred times wanting to meet with her. Leave, before we really have to kill you."

Since Mizuki is known here... then they must know of his old man's sickness. And that's why she entered the trials. "Inventory."

"What are you doing!? Everyone, ready your weapons!" Every unsheathed their weapons and pointed them at me.

"I'm here to help." I then pulled out a petal of the Flower of Zeratria and its blinding light emerged and soon calmed down.

They took a good look at the petal I was holding and had a revelation. "We apologize! We didn't took anyone seriously since they just wanted to meet Lady Mizuki so we were on guard most of the time!"

"No worries. Just lead me to where Mizuki is." I brought the petal back in my inventory.

I followed the man in their territory and some people were still on guard with me but the man quickly reassured them about me. Far deep in the forest, there's a large flat land where a giant kingdom resides. They have no walls, but its just in the middle of the forest, like they just cut the trees and built there.

Its such a beautiful place and I just couldn't believe it.

After walking for a while, I arrived at the castle of where Mizuki is in. The guards in front opened the gates for me and a maid was waiting to deliver me to Mizuki.

I followed her and saw Mizuki sitting in what seems to be a tatami mat, on her knees underneath in front of a low tea table. She looked at me and I saw her shake for a second and put the tea on the table.

In that kimono of hers, she was incredibly beautiful. Before in the arena, she was hiding her feminine charms since female warriors are discriminated here. But this time, she's just... herself.

The maid beside me bowed and immediately left the room.

I didn't know what to do in this situation so Mizuki just pointed at the pillow in front of her asking me sit with her.

The maid came back with tea on her and put it in front of me and refilled Mizuki's. She bowed again and left the room.

The unwavering silence was making me uncomfortable. It felt like we were sitting there for ours. Mizuki let out a sigh and then asked, "What did you come here for? And how did you get in?"

"Well, I came bearing a gift." I responded.

"I've said it before with other people, I'm not interested in marriage."

"What?"

"What."

"PFFT-" I covered my mouth as it was disrespectful to do that and tried to compose myself. I looked over to her and she just had a confused look. "Inventory." I opened up my inventory and brought out the Flower of Zeratria. Well, a petal of it. "I came to give you this." Its bright light managed to alert all the guards nearby and in an instant, almost a hundred of them are here with us. But I wasn't worried since none of them poses a threat. They all unsheathed their weapons when they realized what I was holding. "I heard you were having some trouble and wanted to desperately get this so I came here to give you this. The rewards of the trials in the sky island is a flower of this. But a single petal is enough to heal anyone. And I've tried it with my ally so there's nothing to worry about."

"That's... the Flower of Zeratria?" She breathed in and out for a second to regain her composure. With a lot of people here, I'm pretty sure she's being treasured. "Very well then. I shall accept this gift. Everyone, leave us be. The ninjas that went to our side bowed down and instantly disappeared. "Thank you. For this. I will put it to good use. You will be sent to a room by my maid. I'll go ahead and try if this really works on my father."

"Alright, I'll be going now. I still have some things to discuss with you, but you do what you must." Its time to gather some knowledge on swordsmanship. I will finally learn how to do this.