The Outcast of the Kingdom
"Urgh... What just happened?" I groaned sluggishly after I woken up from the dream.
As I gently rubbed my eyes, the dream still lingered in my consciousness, like a foggy and fractured blur of images that refused to fade away completely. It had felt so real, so intense, that I was thrown back into reality, overwhelmed and disoriented.
I then carefully assessed my surroundings and found myself on a bed in a small room with coarse stone walls and old-fashioned wooden floor boards. Furthermore, I noticed a familiar face who has been staring at me on the corner of the room for quite some time.
"Ah, she's awake," she murmurs, and I realize it was Eren who was surprised to find me awake. She then sprang from her seat, rushed to the door, and exclaimed, "Guys, Klee is awake!" informing the others about my awakening.
A few minutes later, Kaval and Gido entered the room.
"Hey there, Klee, how are you doing?" Kaval inquired worriedly, concerned about my current state.
I assured him that I was alright, and he nodded understandingly. Then he asked Gido to contact the guild master, which he readily did before hurrying out of the room.
While we wait for Gido, I decided to ask Eren a question. "Um, where am I? And how long was I out?" I inquired the two individuals in the room.
"You're in the infirmary, Klee. You've been asleep for two days," Kaval responded, answering my queries accurately.
"Yeah, we're worried about you because you wouldn't wake up" Eren added.
"Oh, I see," I said quietly. I suppose something like this is expected to happen after having a long dream about a kingdom of fluffy rabbits and a blonde elf queen.
*creak*
After some time of thought, someone entered into the room. When I turned to face the doorway, I could see Gido coming back and the guild leader, who was very unhappy, approaches me, he raises his fist and then...
*Bonk*
"Ouchie!"
The guild master whacked my head, which hurt a lot, and said, "You really are an idiot, Klee. It's a good thing you didn't die back there," reprimanding me for being dumb.
"I'm sorry, mister Fuze. It won't happen again," I apologize to the guild master, promising not to make the same mistake next time.
The guild master gives me a brief glance before nodding understandingly and accepting my apology. He then proceeds to inform me everything that has happened while I was unconscious.
Essentially, ever since I defeated the demon in my previous test, many who watched the battle were frightened of me since the new skill I used belonged to an infamous witch apparently. Because of this, several residents had intentions to chase me out of the kingdom.
"What!?" I exclaimed, completely taken aback by what the guild master had said to me. "Why would they do such a thing!?" I inquired frantically, desperate to find out why this was happening.
"I think I know why," Kaval replied to my concern. "When I went outside the infirmary earlier, I heard someone spreading bad rumors about Klee planning to use her skill to cause destruction to the kingdom," he explains, which profoundly upset me.
I was both shocked and dismayed after hearing Kaval's response. I didn't expect it to turn out this way, and I somewhat regret taking the last test that time.
"Screw that crap, Kaval!" exclaimed Gido, denying the rumor. "There's no way Klee would do something like that! Right, Eren?" he argued, simultaneously encouraging Eren to concur with him.
"Gido is right, just because she acquired the skill of a witch, doesn't mean she'll use it for evil," Eren agreed as she nodded, completely against the rumor.
Waiting for Kavel to agree as well, Eren and Gido exchanged angry looks with him. The man, who was now feeling uneasy, remarked, "Hey guys, what are you glaring at me for! Of course, I'm also against the rumor too, you know!"
As the three adventurers continues to argue each other, I noticed the guild master approaches them, raised his fist and then....
*Bonk* *Bonk* *Bonk*
"Cut it out, you three idiots," the guild master reprimanded the three adventurers after whacking them in the head. "Instead of yapping loudly, try helping Klee in her problem before any residence could chase her out of the kingdom," he continues, demanding the three to lend me a hand.
"""Yes sir"" Kavel, Gido, and Eren grudgingly obeyed the guild master's instruction, to which the old man nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to investigate this rumor immediately," Fuze said as he walked towards the doorway and exited the room.
-------------------------------------------------
After the guild master left, the three adventurers and I discussed how to handle the situation I was in. We all brainstorm together to find a solution, which is not an easy process.
"All right, everyone, what should we do to help Klee?" Kaval asked, turning to his two members of the party for suggestions.
Everyone was surprised at first, but Gido raised his hand and suggested, "How about we send Klee to the Sorcerer's Dynasty Sarion. Maybe she can live there," implying that I will be sent somewhere I don't know.
However, out of curiosity, I inquired, "What is the Sorcerer's Dynasty Sarion?" questioning what to expect in that location.
"It is a nation created by elves, with many kingdoms all swearing absolute fealty to Emperor Elmesia," Eren responded, precisely identifying the region in question.
I was intrigued by the material offered to me, yet something troubled me. As a result, I asked, "Will you three help me get there?" which perplexed the three adventurers. When I noticed they were distressed, I inquired, "Is there something wrong?"
"W-well, we didn't think this one through," Kaval answered uncomfortably.
I was perplexed after hearing his response, so I asked, "How come?"
"We're not sure if we can take you there," Eren remarked anxiously.
I tilted my head in confusion, asking, "I'm not sure what you mean. Could you please explain?"
"First and foremost, we couldn't escort you there because we are leaving on a mission soon, and second, we don't know who will take our place because no one else is willing to help you other than us," Gido responded, explaining the flaw in the plan.
Then why did you propose that plan in the first place?! Now I know why the guild master branded these three as idiots.
"Sigh, if that's the case, I'm unlikely to accept that plan," I remarked, shocking the three adventurers. After that, we went back to square one in terms of devising a solution, which was somewhat inconvenient.
*creak*
As we had been trying to contemplate, someone entered the room we were in. When we turned to face the doorway, we weren't expecting to be confronted by a familiar masked woman.
"Miss Shizu? What are you doing here?" I asked, wondering what was her business in this room.
In response, the masked woman comes up to me and then pats me on the head before saying, "I just wanted to see you."
I couldn't resist blushing as I heard Shizu's remark. It's exceptionally kind of her to visit me despite the fact I'm in a difficult situation.
After Shizu finished indulging me, and we informed her about our predicament and that we needed to create a plan to resolve this matter.
"I see..." Shizu answered, pausing to contemplate. After a few moments, she turned her gaze to us and remarked, "How about you send her to Dwargon?"
When Kaval heard Shizu's statement, he screamed, "Of course! Why didn't we think of that!?" Not only that, but the other two adventurers were overjoyed with Shizu's suggestion.
"Yeah, it's also quite convenient timing too. We can take her there after we finish our mission," Gido explained, showing how convenient the plan was for their objective.
"Which means Klee is joining us on our journey! This is so fun!" Eren said as she hugs me tightly, which is suffocating.
"Miss Eren, please stop... I can't breathe," I begged as I attempted to break free from her embrace.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Klee," Eren apologizes sincerely after releasing me.
Phew—that was close. I might as well pass away from suffocation if anyone tries to hug me like that once more.
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After resolving to follow Shizu's suggestion, we all leave the room and head towards the adventurer guild to meet with the guild master.
However, I saw several individuals glaring at me with contempt as we walked to our destination, which made me uncomfortable.
Shizu, thankfully, reached out and grabbed my hand as soon as she noticed how nervous I was. I felt comfortable and at ease after taking hold of her warm fingers, as if I were grabbing the hand of an affectionate big sister.
"It's okay, Klee, you don't have to worry about them," Shizu says as she takes off her mask, exposing an affectionate smile. As a result, I was consumed with thoughts of how lovely the way she looked. She has a lovely demeanor that helps me overcome my anxiety.
After I had calmed down from my worry, we continued walking down the street until we arrived at the adventurer guild, which was full of people that seemed unfriendly to me. Everyone within the building glared at me with such disdain that I hid behind Shizu for protection.
As we walked toward the guild master's office, an obese man blocked our path. He appears disgruntled and has a grudge against us, primarily towards me.
"Oi, big guy! What the hell are you blocking our way for!?" Kaval complained, wondering what he had to do with us.
The man did not respond at first, but then he pointed to me and said, "Make her leave. We don't want a witch like her in this place."
When I overheard the man refer to me as a witch, I became distressed. This reminded me of my high school years, when I was still a human being. Because of my messy hair and slender appearance that time, the bullies would call me the same thing. I couldn't help but cry because it was so cruel and uncalled for.
"How dare you call our friend a witch!" Eren shouted. She disagrees with the man's opinion and feels offended by it.
"She's right, you have no right to call Klee like that"
"Who do you think you are, fatass!?"
Not only that, both Kaval and Gido were furious at the man. Even Shizu, who was grasping my hand tightly, was angry because the man had disturbed me.
When I sensed Shizu's grip tightening, I asked, "Miss Shizu, are you mad?" worrying that the man's statements had offended her as well.
Shizu turned to glance at me when she heard my question. Then she patted my head and sweetly muttered, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine" which reassured me a bit.
Meanwhile, the huge man scoffed at us and said, "Hmph, if you guys don't make her leave, then I will." He then walked towards my direction and extended his arm to grab me.
Fortunately, Shizu grabbed the man's hand before it could touch me and she said fiercely, "Don't you dare touch her."
"Hey, let me go!" shouted the man as he struggled to release himself from Shizu's clutches.
Shizu refused to cooperate, and as a result, the man became enraged and attempted to punch her. However, Shizu avoids the man's blow and counters by punching him in the stomach, knocking the man out.
-------------------------------------------------------
Everyone in the room was taken aback by what had happened and frightened of Shizu after the man passed out on the floor.
"Woohoo! Nice one, Shizu!" Kaval, on the other hand, excitedly cheered Shizu, who was joined in his applause by Eren and Gido.
*BAM*
The guild master's office door suddenly opened, and the guild master himself appeared with a frown on his face.
The guild master shouted furiously, "What the hell is this commotion about!?" He then studies the surroundings and, after glancing at the unconscious man and Shizu's clenched fist, he deduces the entire scenario.
"I see how it is," the guild master mumbled as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He then reopens it and turns to face the spectators, exclaiming, "All of you, drag this fat guy to the infirmary!"
""Y-yes!"" the bystanders reluctantly agreed, and they carried the man outside the adventurer guild.
The guild master then turned to face us and commanded, "You five, in my office, now!" prompting us to follow him to the room.
We followed his instructions and went towards the direction of his office. He instructed us to sit on the sofa once we were inside the room.
The guild master sits across from us on the sofa and asks, "What the hell did you idiots do!? You might get arrested for your action!"
"It was fat man who started the fight!" exclaimed Kaval, blaming the man for the event. Eren and Gido also objected, agreeing with Kaval's remark.
"Shut up!" exclaimed the guild master, startling the three adventurers. Then he looked at Shizu and me and then asked, "How about you two, could you explain what happened?"
We both agreed and began recounting what had occurred earlier. We began narrating the events from the time we decided to go to Dwargon until the moment where the man intervened on the main lobby, which Shizu was forced to resolved the matter.
"I see, that explains a lot," the guild master said, agreeing with our story. "Are you sure you want to go to Dwargon, Klee?" he asked while caressing his beard.
When I heard his question, I nodded and said, "Yes, that is the reasonable solution they might offer for me."
"Well, if that's your decision, I'll allow it," the guild master said, concurring with my choice. Then he turned to face the three adventurers and stated, "As for you three, I want you to escort Klee to her destination after you finish your initial task."
"""Yes sir!""" the adventurers simultaneously complied to the guild master's instruction.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Good_Doggo2001
Good_Doggo2001 Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Weekly Power Status
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