On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

By the time we know it, three hours have passed. The sky is as dark as when we got out of the forest, but our surrounding is significantly quieter since it is the time for the entire part of the world that is engulfed by darkness to rest.

We have been running at our full speed for the past three hours, so the Varadomes are starting to show signs of fatigue. I am honestly quite tired myself too; after all, maintaining my current speed takes up my stamina and strains my muscles.

"I think we need to take a rest for a few minutes to recuperate. What do you think?" I turn to Haletha.

Haletha nods her head simply, then raises her hand. Following the group, I gradually slow down until I completely stop.

We are currently in the middle of an open terrain. I look around the area to find a spot that can hide us, but I, unfortunately, find none.

The plain, although covered in grass, barely has trees. Even the trees that we can see are barely twice taller than me, which is saying something considering how tall this world's trees in general are.

In short, the place we have stopped at is the most unsuitable place to rest. Anyone can see us if we rest here, and that is the same as begging to be killed.

Rumble.

Fortunately, this world is a Magic world. The moment I feel the ground shaking, I immediately turn around, and find Haletha creating a hole in the ground with Earth Magic.

I approach her so I can take a look inside the hole, and I am immediately impressed the moment I do. She has just created an underground camp and two unique looking huts even faster than I could in Minecraft's Creative Mode.

"That is impressive," I remark.

"Thank you, but this is hardly impressive for me," she replies. "I should just be a laughingstock, if I couldn't do this simple task. I am a Queen for a reason."

"Ah, you got me wrong. I wasn't praising your skills in Earth Magic; I was praising your architectural taste. I like how simple yet unconventional it is."

"O-Oh, thank you."

Ceasing our conversation, Haletha instructs the Guardians to leave their Varadomes and jump into the hole. They do it quickly, so it merely takes 10 seconds for all of them to be inside.

After casting a Concealing Spell on the Varadomes, Haletha jumps down with Arieda. Following them, I jump down with Winerva, who has been waiting for me.

Rumble.

The hole is immediately closed by the time my feet touch the ground. Looking around our place to rest, I am fascinated by the fact that I can still breathe easily despite the lack of ventilations.

Ignoring that soon after, I take a keen look at the two unique huts that I could only see from above before. I like how the roofs lead me to believe the huts are uneven despite it not being the case.

These huts must be reserved for Haletha and Arieda; so after admiring it, I look around to find an empty spot for me to occupy. I find all of the Guardians sitting close to the wall, leaving the center of the space empty.

They chose to sit there because they want to surveil the situation on the surface by listening to the vibration of the wall. Haletha has given them a clear order to rest, but they don't drop their guard down regardless; it just shows how serious they are taking their job.

"Layland, here!"

Calean is waving his hand as a gesture of invitation. Winerva is somehow already on his side, leaving the other side unoccupied, which I believe is reserved for me.

My rest will be full of his chattering if I accept his invitation, but I don't have any choice. I can't just sit in the middle of the camp—the only unoccupied spot other than the one beside Calean—otherwise I will attract the people's attention.

Everyone, after all, is on the lookout. I can't be the only who is not; it will not look good on me.

I am about to walk toward Calean when I suddenly question myself, 'Why the hell should I care what people think of me? Hmph!' I shrug Calean's invitation off, and walk to the centermost of the camp.

"Layland, do you mind to join us?" Haletha asks just before I sit down.

Turning to the direction of the two huts, which is where Haletha is, I nod my head simply. "It will be a pleasure." I immediately walk toward her, and join the mother and daughter duo.

The moment I sit down beside Arieda, Haletha immediately takes out a basketful of fruits. The scene reminds me of Vibiane, and I can't help smiling softly at that.

"I wish I could give you meat, but fruits are the only food I have with me right now. I can assure you, however, they are just as nutritious."

"No, it is fine," I wave my hand lightly. "Vibiane is a fruit maniac, in case you have forgot it, so I have eaten many fruits because of her."

"Do fruits give you nightmare because of her?" Haletha asks hesitantly.

"No, but I know a good fruit when I look at it." Picking up the green apple in the basket, I take my mask off, and bite it. "This is a good apple—unbelievably so. It also has Nature Energy in it, so it's even better."

At the lack of noise, I lightly frown and look at the two Dark Elves in front of me. Both of them are looking at me dumbfounded—it is as if they are looking at something that shouldn't exist.

Thinking that they are just impressed by my discerning eyes when it comes to fruits, I finish my apple, and put my mask back on. My body feels warm; I think I have regained some of my vigour by just eating the apple.

"Alright, do you want to say something?" I look at the mother and daughter duo as I can't bear their gaze any longer. "You have been staring for 30 seconds."

"Kuhum!" Haletha clears her throat, then looks at me seriously. "Do you have any intention to be the King?"

My heart skips a beat at that question. 'How could she know that I am going to be a Demon King?!' I keep my calm though, so I act as if I don't get what she is talking about, and nod my head innocently.

"As long as the chance is presented to me, I will take it."

"W-What about being the Prince?!" Arieda asks passionately.

I can hardly imagine Ilschevar adopting me, so me being a Prince is a highly unlikely situation. This proves that Arieda doesn't understand what Haletha has been about, so I merely answer her with the only scenario where I can be a Prince.

"That... As long as someone is willing to accept me into their royal family, I have no problem to be one." Of course, if this ever happens, I will vehemently say no. I will rather be a King than a Prince.

For some reason, the mother and daughter duo look at each other in conflict. I am sure they can't reach to a conclusion whether I am a Demon King Candidate or not; so when they nod their head, that must mean they have decided to forget the matter entirely.

I am still curious how Haletha knows that Ilschevar is going to pass the throne soon, but I immediately ignore that thought. This world is, after all, a Magic world; information is obtained differently here.

"We are going to rest for a while." When the fruits in the basket are all eaten, Haletha and Arieda stand up. "We initially planned to rest separately, but Arieda told me she liked to spend a time with me ... If you want, you can use the unoccupied hut, Layland."

"Thank you for your consideration." I bow my head politely. "I will definitely use the hut when I feel sleepy. For the time being, I will wait here like the others."

Haletha looks slightly disappointed; maybe, because she thinks that I am rejecting her generous offer. I am about to explain myself, but she immediately smiles, and walks into the hut together with Arieda.

"Have a great rest!" I wave my hand lightly at the two.

Turning my head away as soon as they entered the hut, I sit cross-legged. I even my breath, and immediately meditate to accelerate my recuperation.

...

I open my eyes when I exhale for the 360th time. My tense muscles have been relaxed, and my stamina has been recovered.

Roughly an hour must have passed since we began our rest. It is now time to resume our journey, otherwise we will let our chasers catch up to us.

Standing up, I walk to the hut where Haletha and Arieda resting in.

Knock. Knock.

"Haletha, it is time."

"Hold on a second," comes the muffled answer roughly three seconds after.

I walk away from the hut afterwards, and stand right below the exit of the camp. Stretching my Mana Sense to the surface, I sigh in relief when I find no one there.

Rumble.

The exit is opened the moment Haletha comes out of the hut. Being the last person to jump into the hole before, I became the first person to jump out of the hole this time.

Swish!

I still take Rexorem out, and swing it the moment I reached the surface due to my paranoia. Fortunately, no one is hit since there is no one there.

Haletha and the others come out of the hole a few seconds after. She immediately cancels the Concealing Spell on the Varadomes, and the journey resumes the moment everyone rides on the Varadomes.