Back inside the tree house, I looked at Veeru and said, "So, what do you want to pack? I've already created a special slot for you in my item box. Just tell me one by one, and I'll take care of the rest."
Without a word, Veeru darted up the small wooden staircase and returned with a stack of old books. The covers were worn; their pages faded into a soft brown—aged with time. Something about them felt deeply personal. I had a strong feeling these belonged to either his mother or father. I didn't ask. He passed them to me gently, and I stored them with quiet respect.
Next, he handed me his kitchen utensils. I made a separate sub-slot just for those. Then came his cupboard, bed, and even his table and chair.
He looked a bit hesitant when asking to pack the furniture, but I smiled and nodded. "You worked hard to build all of this—why leave it behind?" I said, and stored it all.
Item by item, we packed everything he had ever owned. The tree house gradually emptied until only its windows and the handmade wooden ladder remained. With one final look around, we stepped outside. Packing had taken far longer than expected.
By now, the sky had begun to turn a dusky orange-purple. The sun was hanging low but there's still a gentle, golden light lingering in the air.
Standing in front of the tree house, I looked it over and said, "If we just leave it like this, some animal or monster might move in and make it their territory."
So, I activated my plant magic. With a swirl of wooden energy, thick vines and bark sealed off the entrance completely. The magic reshaped the bark until the entire tree looked untouched—as if no house had ever existed inside it. No windows, no stairs. Just a tall, quiet tree standing alone.
I returned to my regular human size and let Veeru climb up onto my shoulder. Pulling out the map, I labeled the spot with "Veeru's Home" so we'd never lose it. I showed him the glowing marker and said, "If we ever want to come back, we won't need to search. Just follow the map."
Veeru nodded silently, I looked at him and noticed he was standing still, looking up at his home—his eyes fixed, his tiny hands quietly fidgeting. His expression was hard to read, but his silence said it all. I could feel it—he didn't want to leave.
I gently patted his back and said softly, "It's okay, Veeru. When you feel like coming back, we will. This place will always be here."
He didn't reply right away, but then he pulled out his notebook, scribbled something quickly, and held it up for me to read:
"Yeah, let's go. It'll be night soon anyway, and my parents always said it's harder to enter towns or villages after dark."
I smiled and nodded.
With that, I activated my flight magic and began to rise into the air, hovering above the ground.
Veeru's eyes widened in surprise. He gasped and quickly clutched the back of my jacket, his small body tensing up.
I paused mid-air and turned my head. "What happened?"
He hurriedly wrote in his notebook and handed it to me:
"You can fly?! I thought we'd walk through the forest. I've never flown before... it feels strange."
"Ah! I didn't think of that." I rubbed the back of my head. "No worries—I'll make it easy for you."
I activated support magic and formed a gentle barrier around us. "This will keep you protected from the wind and pressure. Even if you slip, you'll stay safe inside the barrier."
As the soft, shimmering sphere of magic formed around him, Veeru blinked and slowly relaxed. He settled back onto my shoulder, still holding on, but now more at ease.
At first, he looked around cautiously. But once he realized the barrier worked—that he wasn't being pulled or swayed—he grew calm and curious.
Veeru who hasn't flown before was excitingly looking at the forest that was stretched out beneath us like a living sea of green and brown. The trees rustled softly in the evening breeze, their tops glowing faintly in the last rays of sunlight.
With the sun lowering behind the distant hills, I picked up speed, flying swiftly toward the nearest town. The air was cool but pleasant, and the world below began to blur with motion.
We had barely been flying for ten minutes when I spotted it—our destination ahead, nestled near the forest's edge.
I landed softly on the branch of a tall tree that offered a perfect view of the landscape ahead. From this height, Veeru and I could see the entire town stretching out in the distance. The sight was breathtaking.
The town looked just like something out of a medieval storybook. Just one glance was enough to confirm that this world truly was in its medieval era, just like the game settings I had selected. The town's architecture, its layout, even its distant hustle all echoed that ancient, charming period.
I turned to Veeru - his eyes were wide, glowing with excitement. I could practically see stars in them. He stared at the town below with an expression of pure amazement, mirroring my own wonder. Every corner of the place seemed to capture his attention.
From up here, the town revealed itself to be roughly square-shaped, probably spanning about 2 to 3 km per side, a sizeable settlement. It was surrounded by a magnificent stone wall that clearly served as a strong defense against any kind of attack. At each of the four corners stood tall watchtowers, keeping vigil over the surrounding lands.
There were four gates, each positioned in the center of a wall. They were large, robust, and reinforced, and even from here, I could spot soldiers stationed on the walls, patrolling diligently.
The gate closest to us was on the southern side. It lay about 2 km away from the forest's edge. I could see a long line of people waiting to enter, with soldiers carefully inspecting each individual before letting them through.
When I looked closer, something fascinating caught my attention. The people in the line weren't just humans. Just like in the game, this world was home to various species. I spotted beastmen, elves, dwarves, and other non-human races. It was the first time I had ever seen such diversity with my own eyes.
At first, I was surprised, but not overwhelmingly so. Meeting Veeru had already made me more accepting of this world's possibilities. Still, watching these different races together like this was undeniably stunning. The mix of their appearances, clothing styles, and energy gave the place an exotic, almost magical charm.
Looking out toward the east and west gates, I saw wide stretches of farmland reaching far beyond the town walls. From here, I could identify various crops growing in neat rows. But one thing stood out: potatoes. Almost 70% of the farms seemed to be growing potatoes. I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Huh… I guess potatoes are really popular here, well I love potatoes too." I murmured.
Each gate had a road that led into the countryside, paved with stone for a short distance before turning into rough dirt paths. Unlike the bustling south gate, the roads near the east and west gates were much calmer. Only a few carriages passed by, drawn by sturdy animals and travelers coming and going. I also saw children helping in the fields, guarded by soldiers who were likely patrolling the area.
I couldn't get a clear look at the north gate from where I stood, but I did notice farmlands there as well. A road stretched out from the north gate, winding its way toward the horizon and disappearing into a distant mountain range.
And then I saw it.
Floating high above those mountains was a shape I never thought I'd see in real life. A floating island. It shimmered faintly in the soft evening light, partially hidden by mist but clearly hovering in the sky.
"Veeru! Look!" I called; my voice filled with wonder. "Look over there, toward the mountains. There's a floating island. Can you see it? Isn't that amazing?"
Veeru, who had still been mesmerized by the town, blinked and turned his head and squinted in the direction I pointed. For a moment, I thought maybe he couldn't see it. But then, his eyes focused. A moment later, his mouth fell open slightly in awe, and he began bouncing excitedly on my shoulder.
He pulled out his notebook and scribbled something quickly before holding it up for me to read.
"My mother once told me that far beyond here, there's a floating island where people live. I never believed I'd see it with my own eyes. It's even more beautiful than I imagined."
I chuckled, still staring at the magical sight. "Yeah… it's really something. Makes me want to fly there right now. But I think we should check out the town first, don't you think?"
Veeru looked at me and nodded enthusiastically.
I turned my attention back to the town. Within the walls, there were countless buildings, many of them modest in size, built with stone and wood. They looked like the homes of everyday townspeople, neatly aligned along straight, evenly spaced roads. The roads themselves were wide and well-planned, giving the whole place a sense of thoughtful structure. This wasn't just a scattered village—this was a well-organized, thriving medieval town.
But among them were a few that stood out—two or three-story big structures, some built from white stone that gave off a clean and elegant aura. Their unique appearance added an extra layer of charm to the town's design. They seemed like the homes or businesses of wealthier citizens.
In the center of it all stood a grand five-story mansion surrounded by a beautifully maintained garden. The moment the evening sunlight touched its white walls and polished roof tiles, the entire structure seemed to glow. The golden hue of the sunset made the mansion look even more majestic and the sheer elegance of the place radiated nobility. It clearly belonged to someone of great importance, perhaps a noble or even the town's ruling lord.
The buildings surrounding the mansion were also finely built, suggesting this central area might be a district for the elite. And off to one side within the town, I noticed a small farm with a building in the middle. It was unusual to see a farm inside a town's walls, but perhaps it served a special purpose.
After observing the layout and getting a good understanding of the situation, I turned to Veeru.
"Veeru, judging by the crowd at the south gate, I think it'd be better if we try entering through a different gate. How about the east gate?"
Veeru nodded and made a little gesture that said 'Let's go.'
As I flew above the forest, heading from the south gate toward the east gate, I started to notice something. The density of the forest was gradually thinning out. Trees weren't as tightly packed now, and the sunlight streamed more easily through the canopy. The air felt less tense. I could sense that the monsters in this part of the forest were weaker. Most of them were low-ranked, barely E-rank, with only a few scattered D-rank monsters lurking around. Nothing here kept me on alert.
After a short while, I approached the area near the south gate. I wasn't too close—probably still 2 or 3 km away—but I began looking for a good clearing where I could land without anyone seeing me.
Just then, I sensed something.
There was movement not far from me. The sounds of clashing steel and shouting voices echoed faintly through the trees. A fight was happening nearby. I quickly alerted Veeru, and together we flew closer to check it out.
We emerged from the forest to find a small open ground. At the center were two large carriages, parked close to one another. Around them stood a few people, clearly trying to protect the wagons. They were surrounded by a group of armed attackers—many of them on horseback—rushing forward with weapons drawn. Just from a glance, I could tell who was who. The attackers looked rough and chaotic, dressed like bandits. The defenders, though fewer, looked desperate but determined.
I instantly activated Appraisal.
The defenders' job titles appeared before me—farmer, blacksmith, warrior, merchant. A mixed group, clearly not all fighters, just regular travelers. On the other hand, the attackers showed clear titles like bandit and thief. No doubt about it. This was a bandit raid.
Near the back of the attacking group, I spotted a man standing tall on horseback. He wasn't joining the fight but was barking out commands like kill everyone don't let anyone escape. He radiated a dangerous aura, and the others clearly followed his lead. He had to be their leader.
I focused my Appraisal on him.
Level 111. His skill was Strong Body, upgraded to Mithril Body level 2. Aside from that, he had no additional skills, but all his stat points were heavily invested in Prana Energy. A simple but terrifying combination.
His title stood out immediately. It said "Daaku."
Daaku? That's just another word for bandit, I thought. Why list it differently here?
Curious, I clicked on the title.
That's when I learned something chilling. The "Daaku" title was actually an evolved form of "Bandit." It was only granted to individuals who already held the bandit title and had killed over a thousand civilians. Reading that sent a shiver down my spine. This man wasn't just dangerous—he was a mass murderer.
Now I stood at a crossroads.
Should I help these people? Or should I keep my powers hidden and stay lowkey like I originally planned?
But then I looked again.
People were dying. I could hear their screams. A mother was holding her child, shielding him with her body, one could see fear in her eyes. When a female bandit charged at them with her weapon raised. I hadn't even fully decided what to do yet, but my body reacted before my mind could catch up.
I was already moving.
A split second later, my foot connected hard with that female bandit's face. She was flung backward with a sickening thud. I hadn't held back. I couldn't. My instincts had kicked in, and the moment I saw innocent lives about to be taken, my body refused to stand still.
The forest had gone completely silent.
There were no more screams now, no clashing of swords, no shouting or thundering hooves. Only stillness. A strange kind of peace had fallen over the place.
But my eyes were fixed on the blood-soaked rocks in front of me.
That woman… the one who had tried to kill the child and his mother… her body had been flung against the stones as she crashed through the trees. Her limbs were twisted unnaturally, bent in ways that no living body should be. Her head—severed from her neck—lay a little distance away. It had cracked open, and the ground around it was slick with blood.
There was blood everywhere now. Thick, dark, and warm. It soaked the earth, glistened on the rocks, and painted the grass in shades of red.
She wasn't moving anymore. And she never would.
She was dead.
And I was the one who had killed her.
I was still frozen in the posture of that kick, my leg suspended midair. Slowly, I let it fall back to the ground. The weight of what I had just done settled over me like a cold wind through the trees.
This… this was the first time I had taken someone's life.
And I had done it in the heat of the moment, without a plan, without thinking—just pure instinct. My body had moved before my mind caught up. I had acted to protect, yes, but I had still killed. For the first time, I had crossed that line.
Was it the right thing to do?
She had been a bandit. Who knows how many lives she had already taken before this? And just seconds ago, she had been about to murder a mother and her child in cold blood. If I hadn't stepped in, they would have died right there.
Still… with the strength I have, I could have stopped her without killing her. I could have done something else. Found another way.
But my body hadn't waited.
It reacted on its own. As if, in that moment, it didn't see a person. It saw a threat. Like it would with a corrupted monster infected by abyssal energy. Something dangerous. Something that had to be eliminated.
And maybe…
Maybe that's what she was.
These bandits… they're even worse than monsters. At least monsters kill because of their nature or because they're corrupted. These people… they make a choice. They choose to harm, to destroy, to kill. And in this world where power is everything, these men and women—most of them are strong enough to live decent lives without committing such vile acts.
Yet they chose this path. They chose evil.
And that means they deserve what they get.
I realized now… I wasn't truly regretting what I did.
I wasn't confused anymore. I wasn't sorry for her. Not even a little. Because people like her… they bring this upon themselves.
This is their karma. And one way or another, it always comes back.