In a room that looked comfortable yet elegant, Zelvina, a woman dressed in blue and one of the heroes, stared sharply at the two people in front of her. Her long hair moved slowly as she straightened her posture.
"So, Hero Ryon was killed by someone, and you two don't know who killed him?" she asked in an investigative tone.
[STATUS]
◆ Name: Zelvina
◈ Health: [100/100]
◈ Stamina: [100/100]
◈ Level: 10,000
✧ Abilities:
⤷ Healing, Fire Manipulation, Creating Doppelgangers, Powerful Strikes
Dax, a sturdy young man with brownish hair, exchanged glances with Lina, a black-haired girl standing beside him, before answering.
"Yes, we found him lying not far from the destroyed fire papers," Dax explained. "He was already dead, but strangely, his body had no wounds at all."
Zelvina frowned. "Died without a wound? Isn't that very strange?!"
"We thought so too," Lina nodded quickly, her black hair swaying. "It doesn't make sense."
Dax suddenly remembered something. "Ah, I forgot to mention. One day ago, two people arrived in Zevon City. They said they wanted to join their other friends."
"More people came?" Zelvina asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Didn't *he* only summon 30 people?"
"Somehow, I feel like those two are the ones who did it," Dax continued, his voice lowering. "They're very suspicious. When they arrived in Zevon City, they didn't have a single wound. They must have incredibly strong powers. If a hero as strong as Ryon could be killed, isn't it dangerous to let them roam freely?"
Zelvina walked to the window, looking outside for a moment before turning back. "Hero Ryon was assigned to kill the red dragon, right? Did you see the dragon there?"
"Ah," Lina spoke up, "we only saw something like a monster with a body that had been burned black. We don't know if it was the dragon or not, but I think it must have been the red dragon."
"Hmm..." Zelvina seemed to be thinking deeply. "Then, do you know the names of those two people?"
Dax shook his head slowly. "I don't know. I forgot to ask for their names."
"Alright," Zelvina sighed. "You two may leave. I'll ask *him* later about the hero's death."
"Okay," they both replied in unison, then left Zelvina's room.
After they left, Zelvina whispered to herself while tapping the table with her fingers.
"Killing someone without leaving a wound on their body..." She shook her head slowly. "I've never heard of anyone on Earth having such a power—the ability to kill without leaving a trace of a wound."
---
Zen and Yumi left the wreckage of the destroyed train. Pieces of metal and wood were scattered on the ground, and now they stepped away from the site.
Before starting their journey…
Zen knelt beside the stiff body of the fallen hero. With quick and efficient movements, his nimble fingers searched through the pockets of the hero's luxurious attire. Gold and silver coins changed hands, along with some jewelry and a small pouch of gems hidden beneath the robe. Zen even found a neatly folded map, which he then tucked into his own bag.
"This will be useful," he murmured softly, gripping a handful of shiny coins under the twilight.
After walking about ten kilometers westward, following a trail that cut through a vast grassland with small hills in the distance, Yumi stopped to stretch her body, while Zen continued to observe their surroundings warily, trying to spot any signs of danger.
The sky began to turn a mix of purple and orange as the silhouettes of tall buildings appeared on the horizon. Quellis City greeted them with an unexpected sight—far different from their imagination of a city in a fantasy world.
Unlike Zevon City with its high stone walls and guard towers, Quellis appeared open and free. There were no defensive walls, no moats, no grand gates with armed guards. The city simply sprawled across the land, with streets extending in all directions like a giant spiderweb.
"This is strange," Zen commented, observing the city's unclear boundaries. "They don't seem worried about attacks from outside."
"Maybe they have a defense system we can't see," Yumi replied, sweeping her gaze around. "Or maybe they're strong enough not to need walls."
Entering the outskirts of the city, the first thing that caught their attention was the neatly paved streets. Unlike the dirt or stone roads they encountered in Zevon, the streets in Quellis were made of smooth black asphalt. White lines divided the roads, marking lanes for various vehicles passing by—modern horse-drawn carriages with iron-rimmed wheels, motorized carts emitting a soft hum, and even some hovering objects resembling cars without wheels.
The buildings on either side of the street were made of concrete and steel, with designs reminiscent of buildings in Tokyo, yet adorned with unique classical ornaments. The glass windows sparkled, reflecting the sunlight, while shop signs glowed with light that seemed to come from glowing crystals rather than electric lights.
"This is like a mix of a modern city and magic," Yumi whispered, her eyes widening as she watched a shopkeeper wave his hand, causing items in the display to move on their own, arranging themselves in an attractive formation.
The streets were filled with people whose clothing reflected a blend of styles: some wore long robes and pointed hats typical of wizards, while others donned neat suits resembling modern business attire, complete with ties and work bags. The colorful outfits created a vibrant scene, contrasting with the mostly gray or white buildings.
"Let's find a hotel in this city," Zen suggested after they spent some time absorbing Quellis' atmosphere. "We should look for a place in the city center. Maybe there we can gather more information."
They walked along the main street, which grew busier as they went. Shops along the way sold various items, from sparkling jewelry to potions in colorful glass bottles. The aroma of freshly baked bread mixed with exotic perfumes and the smoke from workshops producing metal tools with a blend of technology and magic.
A few minutes later, their steps halted in front of a towering building that overshadowed all the surrounding structures. The building looked like a giant crystal tower piercing through the clouds, its surface shimmering in the twilight.
"Wow, this is huge!" Yumi exclaimed, her head tilting almost fully backward. "It's bigger than any hotel I've ever seen!"
The building was indeed spectacular. From the street level, they couldn't even see its peak, which seemed to disappear into the thin clouds. The exterior wasn't entirely smooth; there were grooves and protrusions creating complex geometric patterns, making the building not only majestic but also artistic. The material used appeared to be concrete reinforced with shiny metal and crystals that reflected light in small rainbow hues.
Around the building, small gardens with exotic plants created green oases amidst the city's density. Small fountains with bluish water—perhaps imbued with some kind of magic—sprayed water into the air in changing patterns, creating a mesmerizing sight.
"This must be the tallest building in the city," Zen murmured, still in awe. "Maybe it's also the administrative center or something."
The entrance to the building was a massive revolving door made of thick glass with golden frames. The two of them pushed the door, feeling the cool touch of high-quality glass on their palms.
The lobby that greeted them was no less stunning than the exterior. The spacious room had a high ceiling adorned with moving paintings—clouds and birds that actually flew above the visitors' heads. The white marble floor was polished to perfection, creating a shine that was almost blinding. Large pillars made of jade-like green stone supported the structure, with intricate carvings depicting the history or mythology of this world.
In the center of the lobby, a small fountain shaped like a statue of a woman holding a jug became the focal point. The water flowing from the jug was golden and seemed to shimmer, adding to the luxurious and magical ambiance of the entire room.
A group of luxurious sofas and chairs were scattered around, providing seating for waiting guests. A long, curved reception desk was located across the entrance, with several neatly uniformed staff serving guests with professional smiles.
The entire lobby was filled with well-dressed people—men in expensive-looking formal suits, while women wore beautiful dresses adorned with sparkling jewelry. Some of them were even accompanied by small floating creatures—perhaps familiars or some kind of servant fairies.
Yumi looked around with narrowed eyes, her face slightly red. "It's beautiful, but why does this feel like... a love hotel?" she whispered to Zen. "Look, there are so many couples coming and going, and they seem too... intimate."
Zen followed Yumi's gaze and realized that indeed, many couples walked too close, with arms around each other's waists or even whispering and laughing softly. Some even exchanged small kisses without caring who was watching.
"Why are you saying that?" Zen sighed, trying to stay calm even though he also felt a bit awkward. "There's nothing we can do even if you complain. This might just be a regular hotel with... expressive customers."
"Hmm... I know that," Yumi replied, still a bit pouty. Her eyes couldn't look away from a couple hugging tightly not far from them.
While they were still standing awkwardly in the middle of the lobby, a young man with neatly combed black hair and sharp eyes approached them. He wore an outfit that looked like a mix between a Japanese school uniform and a wizard's robe—an odd combination but somehow fitting.
"Ah! You're Tachibana, right?" the young man greeted in fluent Japanese, his voice full of enthusiasm and a hint of nostalgia.
Yumi was startled,
"I didn't expect you to be summoned to this world too!" the young man continued, his eyes shining with excitement. "I got separated from the others,
Yumi stared at the young man with a flat expression, as if she didn't care about his words.