Chapter 36: The Barrier
Chapter 36: The Barrier
Ran:
"Ah... Ran... hehe." She smiled a gentle, innocent smile, as if admitting her mistake and trick.
I clasped my hands, looking at her angrily.
"Come on, get up, we’ll be late for the expedition."
"Yes... quickly, I’m so excited today. Today we’ll go out and explore outside the barrier... ah..."
She moved from her bed only to fall on the floor and hit her chin on the wooden ground.
She stopped for a moment in silence until tears started gathering in her eyes as she felt the pain.
"Arrgghh... it hurts." Her tears fell.
I sighed, puzzled by her carelessness. I approached her, held her by the shoulders, and laid her back on the bed.
I drowned her in my arms, patting her head.
"Calm down... calm down..." With my comfort, she stopped crying.
I released her from my embrace and looked at her face, red from crying. I wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You idiot, have a little strength. How do you want to join the village’s protection forces when a little pain like this makes you cry?" I smiled at her face.
"I want to be like my brother. I want to stand by his side." she said firmly.
"First, you have to stop this crying." I sighed, realizing she was truly her mother’s daughter.
"Come on, let me help you change your clothes."
"Yes." She nodded in agreement.
I changed her clothes while combing her long silky green hair.
She wore almost the same as me: a green shirt with a short skirt.
"Finished..." Rin looked at herself in the mirror — she looked like a princess.
"Let’s go downstairs." I walked toward the door and opened it, waiting for Rin.
She grabbed her long crooked staff that seemed to be made from a tree branch.
The staff was nearly her height, with a green gem on top.
We walked through the hallway toward the stairs and went down to the lower floor together — only to be stopped by her mother.
"Neither of you is leaving without breakfast." she said firmly, standing before the exit with her arms crossed.
"But auntie..." I pouted.
"No excuses, to the table now."
With no choice, we headed to the table that was set for breakfast.
We sat and ate. I ate very quickly and kept glancing at Rin from time to time, hoping she’d hurry up.
That idiot looked at me in confusion, not understanding.
This idiot... how can she have such a genius brother? I don’t understand.
Anyway, I finished my food quickly.
"Come on, Rin... thank you so much, auntie..." I grabbed Rin’s wrist and pulled her away from the table while she was still trying to eat.
"Wait, I’m still eating..." I dragged her with all my strength toward the door.
"Goodbye, auntie, take care of yourself..." I pushed Rin outside with my hand.
"Girls, be careful, don’t take risks, and listen carefully to the teacher." Aunt smiled, placing her hands on her cheeks.
"We will..." I closed the door.
I looked at Rin, who puffed her cheeks as if she had something to say.
"What? Come on, move."
I started walking, letting her follow behind me with her eyes.
"Nothing..." she walked behind me with short steps.
I quickened my pace.
After 13 minutes or more of walking through the village, we reached a gathering of young men and women, about fifteen years old or older, standing and waiting for something.
In front of them stood a young man wearing a green robe, with one visible eye.
He was tapping the ground with his foot, looking annoyed and worried about something.
As soon as he saw us, he said angrily,
"Ran and Rin... do you know how long you’ve made everyone wait? I don’t understand why you’re always late. This time I swear it won’t go unpunished."
"After this expedition, I’ll file a complaint to your family."
Rin and I tilted our heads, feeling guilty, and said at the same time,
"We’re sorry, teacher, and sorry to our friends, we won’t do it again."
"Hmm... how many times have you girls said those same words? I’ve forgiven you many times, but this time I won’t."
He said calmly after adjusting his glasses.
Phew... looks like he calmed down. He’s a kind-hearted teacher, he’ll forgive us like always.
I know him well. I felt joy in my heart.
I looked at Rin and saw her pale, her color turning bluish as if her energy was drained.
Good, let me leave her like that.
"Looks like everyone’s here, let’s go then."
The expedition, consisting of the teacher and students, moved until we reached the edge of the village.
The teacher stopped in front of nothing... just a forest.
"As you can see, the barrier doesn’t appear — it’s completely transparent. But once you touch it, ripples appear."
He moved his finger forward, touching something invisible. White ripples spread from the point of contact, expanding in circles.
"This barrier was created by the founder of this tribe. He possessed the ability [Barrier] from the first generation, of rank A.
To protect his village, which he built in the middle of a forest full of dangers, he placed this barrier."
He raised his hand fully and began to move it along the barrier.
"The barrier allows you to go out easily, but entering requires a special method known only to the guards and high-ranking figures in the village — like me."
His hand passed through the barrier effortlessly.
"Let’s cross. From here on, none of you is allowed to move freely. Each of you will follow me. Understood?"
We all nodded in agreement.
We passed through the barrier... but there was nothing exciting — the inside looked the same as the outside.
I continued walking straight behind the teacher.
"Can anyone tell me why there are no strong monsters attacking the village or its surroundings?
We only see weaklings not worth looking at, in my opinion." asked the teacher.
"Because the barrier emits the aura of a real Lord-ranked monster. It’s as if this entire area is considered that monster’s territory.
That’s why no powerful monsters near that rank come close — to avoid the presence of a real Lord.
And monsters with Lord-level strength prefer staying within their own territories." I raised my hand and answered.
"Well done, Ran." His anger eased slightly toward me.
Teacher, you’ve said this a thousand times already. This isn’t our first trip outside the barrier.
How much do you love bragging about this barrier?
The expedition continued deeper into the forest for nearly two hours.
—
Rin:
"Help me... please, someone help me."
I stopped in my place, pressing my hands against my chest.
Who’s asking for help? Who’s talking? I heard a sad voice inside my head.
"Help me... I’m in pain."
The mysterious voice echoed again. I looked toward my right.
"Wait, I’m coming to help you... wait." I began moving toward the right, step by step.
"Rin? What are you doing? Follow the expedition." Ran looked surprised.
"I have to help her, she sounds so sad."
I started running, my face filled with worry.
"Ryyyyn..." Ran shouted softly toward me, but I ignored her and kept running toward the voice.
—
Ran:
"Ryyyn..." I looked at that idiot — she suddenly started running away from the expedition.
I looked ahead; we were at the back of the group.
I saw the teacher still talking, continuing forward as if he hadn’t noticed Rin’s disappearance.
Tch... if we do anything that affects the expedition, he’ll definitely not let us join again.
I stopped following the group and started running after Rin.
I ran after her, dodging trees, until I reached a slightly open area — and saw trees with terrifying faces.
"Damn it, moving trees." I frowned.
"Ran... I was tricked."
Rin was caught by one of the trees’ branches by her leg, hanging upside down.
She held her skirt with her hand, trying to cover her white underwear.
"Hold on, I’ll save you, Rin."
I grabbed my bow and pulled an arrow from my quiver.
I placed the arrow, drew the string, and focused on the root that was holding her.