City of Kalren

(Outskirts of the City of Kalren, 229km Southeast from Team 6's commune)

After 19 hours had passed, Marcel, Delirious, and the group of knights had finally arrived at Kalren.

Kalren was a city in the Southeastern part of the Kingdom of Goldrose. It neighbored the Forest of Death both at the east and the north and near the border of the Republic of Aetlrus to the south. Due to its closeness to the Forest of Death, the City of Kalren's surroundings were filled with monsters. Most of these monsters were the descendants of monsters that managed to escape from the Forest of Death, which was a prison filled with monsters by a powerful Demigod and few Archmages sealing them in the forest. 

The Forest of Death was huge, about the size equivalent to the Amazon Rainforests. 76% of the forest occupies 16% of the Kingdom of Goldrose, while the other 24% of the forest occupies 17% of the Vedarun Empire to the north and 4% of the Aetlrus Republic in the south.

Reproduced through the years, it now becomes a threat to the people of the city.

Several kingdoms tried more than once to eliminate the monsters, but killing the monsters were quickly replaced by new monsters that emigrated from the Forest of Death.

In the end, the kingdoms could do nothing about the source of the monsters, the Forest of Death. So, after various expeditions, the kingdom stopped trying to kill all the monsters.

Thus, the monster population grew. Weak and strong monsters of different sizes and different shapes reproduced and thrived in this land. The surroundings of Kalren soon became a paradise for monsters, furthermore the monsters in the surroundings never attack other nearby villages and cities for some reason, but they let that mystery slide which it took nearly 120 years to solve.

And where there is a supply, there is a demand.

With the increasing number of monsters, people that gained a living through the killing of said monsters started to arrive in the city.

Some of them were experienced Monster Hunters and Adventurers, others were naive youngsters with the fantasy of killing a mystical beast and becoming rich overnight. Many of them died under the fangs and claws of the monsters, but others survived and managed to achieve their dreams.

It created a delicate balance with humans and monsters killing each other. Occasionally, some strong monsters would attack the city and kill many people, and other times, a courageous adventurer would kill a powerful monster and show his spoils of war to gain the praise of the entire city.

After some decades, Kalren started to be called by another name.

The City of Dreams and Nightmares.

"A rather fitting name." Marcel nodded when he and Delirious finished hearing the story of the city.

James, the Knight commander, smiled.

"Kalren, can be considered as one of the economic centers of the kingdom. The yearly earnings the kingdom gets due to the killing of monsters is equivalent to a seventh of the kingdom's total income." The Knight Commander said pleasantly.

"Mr. Knight, you are pretty knowledgeable about this, huh." Delirious looked at the knight commander in curiosity.

"Yeah, and oh, Kalren city isn't the only city that has the same situation as this. The Forest of Death was massive, one of the major superpowers, the Veldarun Empire has the same situation as us. They also have a city similar to Kalren's. A fortress city up north of the Forest of Death.

(Author: Anyone who finish reading 'Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age', then you'll know what kind of Fortress City he was talking about)

Currently, the two alongside four Knights were lining up to enter the city, at the western gate.

[IMAGES]

The city has four gates, the North, east, west, and south.

The Western entrance is where they headed, both of the north and south entrance headed towards a normal forest but 20km up on the north entrance is still the Forest of Death in there.

Lastly, the Eastern entrance, that heads towards the Forest of Death itself, was mostly used by Hunters, explorers, and adventurers that left the city to hunt monsters.

"Well, I guess this is our final destination. I say farewell to you guys."

Waving to the two, James called out his knights and his Land Dragon to go to another direction, but Basically realized something.

"Hey wait! Are you gonna help us from the long line!"

But it was already too late as the Knights were already out of their sight.

"Damn it!"

No choice, they have to wait.

The line to enter the city was pretty long. It took them almost two hours before it was finally their turn. Then, they had to pay to enter the city.

Thanks to James, they get money from him because they told him they've lost theirs from their travel but he seems to believe it.

As they had paid for it, they could finally enter.

However, the guard did not immediately let them enter after Basically paying.

Instead, he pointed to Xavier, the Iron Golem that completely massacred the Bandits back at the Village almost a day ago.

"Is this magic Golem yours?" The Guard asked.

""Yes."" Both nodded. 

"His name is Xavier." Marcel told him.

"It's Xavier Number 2!" Delirious complained.

"It doesn't matter, Delirious!" Marcel yelled back.

While the two argued about the Iron Golem's name, the guard observed the intimidating Golem carefully and furrowed his brows.

"I have never seen Golems like this before. Is it perhaps a new develop one? Mmm, I can't feel magic from it, so it's probably not very powerful."

Even if the golem looks very intimidating, the guard knew well about golems which powered my magic, the more mana in them, the more powerful they are, but the Iron Golem doesn't have one which means it was powered with mechanics, not that strong in combat.

"The Golem is allowed in the city, but you will have to pay extra for it." The guard explained. He then put on a grave expression and looked at the two seriously. "Besides, you will be made responsible if your Golem causes any problem, so you better keep them under control."

Marcel nodded politely. 

"Were understand."

The guard was slightly surprised by the black man's politeness. Basically and Delirious clothes seemed pretty strange, or very strange, very very strange. And look kinda new, unusual, and rare.

When the guard first saw them, he thought they were children or descendants of some nobles.

It was not weird for nobles to come visiting this city seeking the adventure and glory this city offered, of course, not many were as polite as Marcel.

Hence, the guard could not help but get a slightly good impression of him.

"Boy, I will give you a piece of advice, it includes your other friend over there. I don't know both of your backgrounds, but you all don't seem like someone simple. However, this city is not as beautiful as the rumors said it was. The chaos and danger in this city is not something you can imagine. And someone like you two, who looks very peculiar and very curious is definitively a good target. Believe me, many will not care if you are a noble or not and will attack you due to their greed."

For a moment, Basically did not know how to answer the guard. Although the guard had good intentions, Marcel was not the one in danger. Instead, if someone dared to plot against him and his friend, or any of them or whatever, they would have to be ready for a beating.

Of course, Marcel did not bother to explain it to the guard. Instead, he nodded in thanks and entered the city.

The interior of the city was very crowded, with carriages pulled by Land Dragons and people walking through the narrow streets. The two members of the Dupe Group had not taken more than a few streets and they were already frowning. The smell of their surroundings was not the most pleasant.

They were surrounded by sweaty men, fat merchants, animals in cages, and moldy buildings. It seemed as though the guard's words about the city not being as beautiful as the rumors were not exaggerated.

"This place definitely smells like Tyler's foot." Delirious said as he pinch his nose, not liking the smell.

"How do you know what his foot smells like?" Marcel asked, raising a brow.

"It's quite obvious when you visit him in his house, you can easily smell the shit coming from his foot."

"Oh? o_o "

Well, after that strange talk, the two decided firstly to get an inn, one in a better part of the city. They needed a place to spend the night during the days they would be here.

However, before their first ten minutes in the city, they were stopped by an elegant middle-aged man.

"Greetings newcomers, my young master has asked for your presence."

'I got a bad feeling about this 😑 ' Marcel thought.

'Oh ho! I smell arrogant characters incoming! I can't wait to beat the shit out of em soon! Hehehe.' Delirious also thought, but in a different vibe.