The One Branch of The Tree

The corridor was quiet, only Mira and I were there, the light from the crystal walls cast our long shadows on the stone floor, I leaned back against the wall, or at least looked relaxed. 

Inside? I was much calmer than I expected, which was strange. I'd imagined this moment countless times in the Forbidden Forest—revenge, anger, emotional outbursts—but now, facing it head-on, I felt cold and clear. 

Maybe seven days in the forest is enough to change or destroy a person. Mira gripped her staff tightly, looking like she was having trouble finding her words. I gave her a few seconds and then said,

“If you want to apologize, you better make it more interesting.”

With a little relief from the pressure, Mira took a deep breath.

"Not that."

Interesting, I raised an eyebrow.

“Very much.”

He looked at me directly, his gaze serious, a mixture of guilt and something else, fear.

“That time…” his voice was soft.

“It was not a spontaneous decision.”

I stopped knocking on the wall. Oh? Now we get to the interesting part.

"Continue."

Mira nodded slightly.

“After we received the class, everyone was called one by one by the government chaplain.”

I'm listening.

“After your class appears…”

He swallowed hard.

“The pastor changed.”

I squinted.

“Changed how?”

“Afraid.”  

That answer left me speechless.

Pastor? Afraid of my class?

Mira continued.

“He spoke with the knights and some of the royal people.”

“I didn't hear everything.”

“But I heard one sentence.”

He looked at me.

“'That class should not exist.'”

…

I was silent. 

Well the situation is getting worse, I crossed my arms.

"So?"

"After that we were called together," said Mira.

“Knight explained that your class is dangerous.”

“Unstable and potentially disastrous.”

I chuckled.

“Sounds like a good reputation.”

It was natural that Mira didn't join in the laughter.

"Bima was the one who pushed the hardest for that decision," he said.

“Not surprised.”

“He said if we let you live, we could all be in danger.”

Making sense with very flexible moral standards, I looked at Mira.

“And you agree?”

The question made him freeze, for a few seconds he didn't answer.

So:

“…of.”

Honestly unexpected, I appreciate that a bit.

“Why?” I asked.

Mira lowered her head.

“Because I'm scared.”

Simple, human, cowardly, but human. He clenched his fists.

"We have all just arrived in a foreign world."

“Everything is messed up.”

“Then suddenly there were adults, knights, priests, all saying your class was dangerous.” Her voice grew softer.

"I choose to go with the majority."

I nodded slowly. 

It makes sense, not justification but it makes sense and that's what makes it even more annoying, because the most realistic betrayals rarely come from cartoonish villains, usually from ordinary people who are afraid, they are the ones who choose their own safety, I pushed my body from the wall to stand upright.

“So that's the point,” I said calmly.

“When the situation was difficult, you chose to sacrifice me.”

Mira looked shocked but didn't argue, well at least there was no false defense that was insulting, I took a step closer she reflexively tensed up in fear, I could feel it clearly through Predator Sense. 

It's interesting that I was the one who was afraid before, but now the position is reversed, how efficient is this development?

“I have one last question,” I said.

Mira looked at me.

“If I really die in the forest…”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Will you regret it?”

Silence, the question hung for a long time. Mira looked at the floor then answered slowly.

“Yes.”

I stared at him for a few seconds searching for lies Predator Sense didn't detect any manipulative intent meaning he was being honest, I let out a small sigh.

“At least you're honest enough to admit that.”

Mira raised her head, a hint of hope on her face. Mistake, I saw that change and immediately crushed it.

“But that doesn't change anything.”

Her expression fell, I continued,

“I didn't die because you changed your minds.”

“Not because you guys helped.”

“Not out of pity.”

My tone remained calm, but colder.

“I live because I am stubborn enough to refuse to die.”

The corridor felt quieter, I stared at him.

“So don't misunderstand.”

“This conversation is not a reconciliation.”

Mira bit her lower lip, she looked like she wanted to say something but in the end she just lowered her head, I walked past her and then stopped for a moment without looking back.

“Oh yeah,” I said casually.

“If Bima or the others think everything can return to normal…”

I smiled faintly.

“They are adorable.”

Then I left Mira alone in the corridor, my steps echoed on the stone floor, somehow I felt lighter, not because I had forgiven, not because I had closed my eyes, but at least I had reopened one part of the past and the result was as expected. 

They are afraid, they are weak and they choose the easiest path nothing new, I went out towards the main area of ​​the city night had fallen, crystal lights were shining on the streets. 

For the first time since coming to this world, I truly saw a fantasy city: white stone buildings, tall towers, a night market, and adventurers carrying weapons and carriages. The large guild hall in the distance wasn't bad, it was truly impressive.

A notification appears.

New arc quest available.

Grow Stronger

Objective:

Reach level 25

Register with the Adventurer Guild

Uncover the secrets of your class

Reward:

Unknown

I read the new quest and smiled. 

Yes, revenge can wait a bit because before destroying others I need to become much stronger and this city is most likely the right place to start. 

I saw the large guild hall at the end of the street still lit up, my smile widened.

"Okay."

“New arc.”

Let's see what kind of trouble awaits me now.

[END CHAPTER 20]