Chapter 43 - Leaving Marith

I let out a frustrated growl, tossing my head back in exasperation.

"Ugh, fucking hell!"

The words echoed off the walls of my small inn room, a testament to my growing unease.

An interdimensional war? Seriously? It sounded like the plot of some crazy sci-fi movie, not something I'd have to deal with in this already messed-up world.

I sat up on the bed, my mind racing with questions. Where did this even come from?

I'd been so focused on taking down the Djinn, and now I had to worry about freaks from another dimension?

It was like the universe was just piling on the problems, seeing how much I could handle.

And then there was that man... Ugh, just thinking about him sent shivers down my spine.

How could he see me when that was supposed to be a memory? It defied all logic, like he was somehow aware of my presence outside of his own timeline.

Haaa, my head was spinning just thinking about it.

Just as I was about to get lost in my thoughts again, a notification from Ella popped up, interrupting my mental meltdown.

[+100 exp].

Oh yeah, I guess I gained some experience points.

I stood up from the bed, rubbing the fatigue from my eyes. Time to leave Marith City behind and get back to the task at hand.

I headed to the bathroom, the sound of running water a welcome distraction from the chaos swirling in my mind.

***************

Inside the study, a man sat poised, his pen dancing across the stacks of papers on his desk.

As the ruler of humanity, his days were filled with the weight of responsibility, his every decision holding the fate of the world in the balance.

The soft scratch of his pen and the occasional thud of his stamp were the only sounds breaking the silence.

But then, without warning, his shadow began to tremble, like the surface of a pond disturbed by a thrown stone.

The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the spot where his shadow seemed to be coalescing into something solid.

And then, in an instant, a man in black emerged from the darkness, his presence as sudden as a ghost.

The man in black approached the desk, his movements fluid and silent, and handed the emperor a scroll-like document.

The man took it, his eyes scanning the contents with a practiced intensity.

A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he read, his expression a mask of calculated interest.

"Ah, I see," he murmured, his voice low and measured. "So, he's managed to defeat one of them, has he?" He paused, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement.

"But with his identity revealed to the association, and Elizabeth's information network sniffing around, it won't take long before she tracks him down."

The man in black stood silently, awaiting the emperor's decision. "Shall we assist him?" he asked, his voice neutral.

The ruler's smile grew, his eyes glinting with a hint of cold calculation. "No," he said, his voice firm.

"If he can't figure out that he needs to escape the city on his own, then he's not worth our assistance."

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the man in black. "Just as usual, observe but do not interfere."

The man in black bowed his head, his movements economical and precise. "Yes, Your Majesty," he said, before disappearing back into the shadows, leaving the emperor to his thoughts.

*****************

As I walked through the bustling streets of Marith, the scent of exotic spices and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, enticing my senses.

I made my way to the caravan station, but first, I had a pit stop to make. My trusty old sword had bitten the dust, courtesy of El's mysterious monster-slaying skills.

I pushed open the door to a local weapon's store, and the familiar tang of metal and leather enveloped me.

Rows of gleaming swords and shimmering armor lined the walls, each one vying for my attention.

I wandered the aisles, my fingers trailing over the hilts of various swords, searching for the perfect replacement.

And then, I saw it – a sleek, silver-hilted sword that seemed to call my name. I wrapped my hand around the grip, feeling the weight and balance of the blade.

It was a beauty, and I couldn't help but admire it for a moment.

As I stood there, the reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd been coasting on instinct and luck so far, but that wasn't going to cut it in the long run.

Not with the looming threat of an interdimensional war – a twist that was definitely not in the game – and the already-scheduled human-Djinn war.

I needed a plan, a strategy to survive in this unforgiving world.

But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the immediate goal: getting to Cardak, the farthest city in the Explorer's Region.

I sheathed my new sword and set off towards the caravan station, the sun-drenched streets of Marith fading into the background as my mind began to whirl with plans and strategies.

Cardak, here I come. The rest...well, I'd worry about that when I got there.