Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

"Twenty days ago?" William asked, his brow furrowing slightly. He knew Kier had arrived at the forbidden zone a while back, so the timeline wasn't surprising. What caught him off guard was the fact that Kier had stopped in this village to gather information. It seemed out of character for someone as driven and secretive as Kier.

"Yes, correct," the warrior replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "At least, I believe it was the same man. If not, they're twins." He shrugged, as if the distinction didn't matter much. "Anyway, he wanted to know more about the region, but there wasn't much I could tell him. Despite living close to it, it's not like we go there every day. It's called the forbidden zone for a reason."

William nodded, his expression thoughtful. "And what can you tell me about it?" he pressed. He wanted as much information as possible before venturing into the dangerous area. Every detail could mean the difference between life and death.

The warrior crossed his arms, his gaze distant as he recalled what he knew. "The usual dangers," he began. "Plenty of beasts, some stranger than others. There are plants that'll poison you if you so much as touch them. A random fog rolls in from time to time, thick enough to make you lose your way. And then there are the stories…" He paused, his voice lowering slightly. "Some people say there are skeletons that walk around at night, and even a lich lurking somewhere in the depths."

William's eyes widened slightly. That was a lot to take in. He had expected the forbidden zone to be dangerous, but the sheer variety of threats was staggering. Beasts, poison, fog, undead, and a lich? It sounded like a nightmare.

"And what about the people who go there?" William asked, his tone cautious. "Does anyone ever return?"

The warrior hesitated, his expression grim. "Some do," he admitted. "But most don't. The ones who come back are either incredibly powerful or didn't venture too far into the zone. The deeper you go, the less likely you are to make it out alive."

William absorbed the information, his mind racing. The forbidden zone's reputation was clearly well-earned, but he also knew how stories could be exaggerated. People often made things sound worse than they were, especially when it came to places shrouded in mystery and fear. Still, he couldn't afford to underestimate the dangers.

"Thank you," William said, his voice sincere. "This is helpful."

The warrior nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Just be careful," he said. "That place doesn't forgive mistakes."

William turned to Victoria, who had been listening quietly.

"So, what do you think?" William asked Victoria, his tone serious but curious. He wanted to gauge her thoughts before they made any decisions.

Victoria didn't hesitate. "I think this place is really dangerous, and we're stupid for even considering going there," she said bluntly. Then, with a small smirk, she added, "But only by being stupid can we become more powerful. Let's go explore this place."

Her determination was clear. She wanted power, and she was willing to take risks to get it. William couldn't help but admire her resolve, even if it bordered on recklessness.

The warrior who had been explaining the dangers of the forbidden zone overheard their conversation and chimed in. "If you're serious about going, I'd suggest resting for a day first. There's a small bar in the village with a couple of rooms for travelers. And, interestingly enough, there's another person staying there who's also planning to explore the forbidden zone. Maybe you can team up. It'll increase your chances of coming back alive."

William thanked the man again for the information, though he wasn't entirely sold on the idea of teaming up with a stranger. The last time he had brought someone into his plans—Kier—it had ended in betrayal. That memory lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of the risks of trusting others.

Still, the idea of resting and gathering more information was appealing. The journey had been long, and they could use a break before facing the dangers ahead. Plus, meeting this other adventurer might provide some useful insights, even if they didn't end up working together.

"Let's check it out," William said to Victoria. "We could use a drink and a place to rest, at least."

Victoria nodded, and the two of them made their way to the small tavern the warrior had mentioned. It was a modest building, its wooden walls weathered by time, but it had a warm, inviting atmosphere. The smell of roasted meat and ale wafted through the air as they stepped inside.

William scanned the room, his eyes quickly landing on a familiar figure sitting at a corner table. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

It was Sarah.

Sarah, one of the students from his class who had been summoned to this world as a hero. She was supposed to be on another continent, training with Master Elric and the other summoned heroes. What was she doing here, of all places?

Before he could process the situation, Sarah turned around, her eyes locking onto his. Her expression shifted from curiosity to shock as she recognized him.

"William?" she said, her voice a mix of disbelief and confusion. "What are you doing here?"

William stood frozen, his mind racing. This was the last thing he had expected. Seeing Sarah here, in this remote village on the edge of the forbidden zone, was beyond surprising. It was downright surreal.

Victoria glanced between them, her brow furrowing. "You know her?" she asked, her tone cautious.

William finally found his voice. "Yeah," he said, "she's… an old friend."

Sarah stood up, her chair scraping against the wooden floor. "William, what's going on? Why are you here?" she asked, her voice rising slightly.

William took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. This was going to be a long conversation.

"Can we speak alone for a second, Victoria?" William asked, his voice low but firm.

Victoria blinked, caught off guard by the request. She hadn't expected this, but she didn't want to cause any tension between them. After all, they were partners in this mission, and she trusted William—at least, as much as she could trust someone she barely knew.

"Sure," she said, her tone casual. "I'll go grab a drink."

She walked away, leaving William and Sarah alone at the table. William felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach. This was the first time he had seen Sarah since being expelled and humiliated by Master Elric. Back on Earth, they had been classmates, and Sarah had always been kind to him. But a lot had changed since then. He had changed. And he wasn't sure if Sarah had, too.

Sarah studied him for a moment, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What are you doing here, exactly?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing. "You know this is another continent, right?"

William nodded, his gaze steady. "Yes, I know. But I have my reasons for being here. What about you? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be training with Master Elric and the others?"

Sarah sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Master Elric sent me here on a mission," she explained. "It's… a bit strange, honestly. He wants me to find out more about the demons that once lived in this area. He thinks it might help us understand the Demon Lord better."

William's heart skipped a beat. Of course she was here for the demons. Why else would anyone venture into the forbidden zone? But this complicated things. Could he trust her with the truth about his demonic bloodline? Sarah had always been kind, but that didn't mean she would react well to discovering he was part demon. And if she told Master Elric… well, that would be disastrous.

"And why are you here?" Sarah asked, her tone shifting slightly. "Don't tell me you're also looking into the demons."

William's mind raced. He needed a convincing answer, and fast. "Sort of," he said, choosing his words carefully. "There's a guy who betrayed me. He has knowledge about the demons, and he came here to this continent. I'm tracking him down."

It wasn't a lie—he was looking for Kier—but it wasn't the whole truth, either. Still, it was enough to satisfy Sarah for now.

She tilted her head, considering his words. "Maybe we can work together, then," she suggested. "I want to learn more about the demons, and you want to catch this guy. There's no reason for us to be enemies here. Besides," she added with a small smile, "I promise I won't tell Master Elric or the other heroes that I saw you here."

William hesitated, his mind weighing the pros and cons. On one hand, teaming up with Sarah could be risky. She was still loyal to Master Elric, and if she discovered his secret, it could put him in danger. On the other hand, having an ally with her skills and knowledge could be invaluable in the forbidden zone. And her promise to keep his presence a secret was reassuring.

"Alright," he said finally, his tone cautious but open. "We'll work together. But we need to be clear about one thing: this mission is dangerous. The forbidden zone isn't a place for hesitation or mistakes. If we're going to do this, we need to trust each other."

Sarah nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. And for what it's worth, I do trust you, William. I always have."