I tried again and it was the same. I wasn't able to use teleportation.

(Airi, it's not working.)

(Master, it seems to be the work of anti-warp barriers that are put up all over the city. I would suggest you to teleport them near the city or get inside the city alone first. I'll analyse the barrier and modify our teleportation so that you can teleport inside the barrier.)

(Alright, sounds good. Let's do that.)

I explained the situation to them and fortunately they didn't seem too bothered.

"It's alright. I'll take a look around this place and see if I can salvage anything. You can come back after getting to the city," Revati said.

"We have waited a long time. A few more hours is nothing," Otien said.

"Thank you."

As I was about to leave, I remembered that I was teleported inside by Otien.

"Wait, Otien. How did you bring me to the passageway?"

"Should I just teleport outside?"

"Oh, there's a mechanism near the door leading up. Put the dagger inside the slot for the key card and you should be teleported back to the place you were before."

"Thank you. I'll be back soon."

I quickly made my way back. As I walked past the facilities that were once full of people, I saw that they had all deteriorated and there wasn't even a semblance of the bustling shelter left. The earth had reclaimed everything. The doctor laboratory seemed to be the only place that looked half decent. The living quarters were all overgrown with roots and the roof and the white walls had fallen off and were buried under soil. I thought back at the state of the shelter when it was new and how it was now. Time erodes everything.

Soon, I reached a metal door that seemed to be the one that housed the stairs leading up. There was a slot in the door. I took out the dagger and slid it into the slot and I felt the same powerlessness but this time I didn't lose consciousness. I was teleported back to the room where the broken orb sat on the pedestal.

"Rayce!!"

I heard someone shout and as I turned back I saw Herbert, Ashryn, Rina and Ian sitting around a fire looking at me.

As soon as they saw me, they came running up to me. I quickly hid the dagger in my item box.

"W-what happened. I saw you break into tiny particles of light and disappear," Ashryn asked, almost breathing down my face.

"Ahaha, I seem to have mistakenly activated something near the orb and I was teleported inside a dungeon."

"What?" Ian and Rina shouted together.

"What kind of dungeon was it?" Herbert asked, interested.

"You know.....the usual."

"Sigh, I'm glad you're alright. You never know where you might end up with these things," Herbert said.

"True. By the way, how long has it been?"

"It has been a day since you disappeared," Rina said.

"A day?!!" I asked incredulously.

"I see. I got lost in the dungeon and wasn't able to teleport back immediately but I didn't think it would take a day."

It seems the memories and the interaction with Otien took longer than I expected.

"What matters most is that you're alright," Ian said, patting my back.

"Thank you. I'm hungry. Shall we eat something?"

Though the mood wasn't entirely back to normal, they agreed to have something. I took out the same fried chicken legs and cola and gave it to each of them. I'll consider it a bribe.

Ashryn's eyes seemed to sparkle when she looked at the food and she was the first to reach out and grab the food.

After we were done eating, Herbert informed us that our work here was done and we can return to the city. A more detailed investigation team will be dispatched from the magic tower later.

We agreed and got ready to leave. I offered to teleport them and we arrived near the watchtower where the guards were previously waiting with the car.

"We could've teleported to the city if not for the car," Rina said, looking sad.

"Let's not burden Rayce. He must already be tired due to his ordeal in the dungeon and his energy reserves must be low," Ian softly scolded her.

"Ahaha, it's alright." I said, smiling.

We can't teleport inside the city anyways, well, until Airi does something. We got into the car and made our way back towards the city. It was already evening and the moons of Thieca were beginning to become visible in the sky.

We quickly made it to the city before dark. There were still crowds of people waiting near the gate and looked like they were waiting for entry. Our entry was fast-forwarded when our guards showed them a pass. I figured it was probably from the magic tower. It had a strange symbol on it. Once we were inside, we got down from the car. Herbert gave us signed slips to give to the adventurer guild for completion of the request. Then, we bid him farewell and slowly made our way to the guild.

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Lakisha was sitting in the reception desk talking to adventurers. She smiled at us when she noticed us. We made our way to the reception.

"Already done with the request?"

"Yes," I said.

"I hope you were able to work together," she said, smiling.

We all took out the slips and provided it to Lakisha. She took them and entered something in the tablet fixed to the desk.

"Thank you. It has been confirmed. Here's your pay."

She gave each of us small bags. There were 30 gold coins inside. We thanked her and got ready to leave.

Ian and Rina said they are going back home as they helped their parents with their businesses and were the first to leave. They left with the promise to team up again. Ashryn waited.

"So, where are you staying?" She asked, as we walked out of the adventurer guild.

"Oh, I have a house here."

"A house? You must be doing quite well, huh."

"Ahaha, I just bought it recently. What about you?"

"I have to go search for an inn," she said, looking expectantly at me.

"Haha, you can come stay the night if you wish. It's a pretty big house."

"Really?!! Thank you!" She said jumping up with joy.

I flagged a car waiting near the adventurer guild and after talking to the driver, we got into the car and made our way towards the mansion.

(Airi, please start analysing the barrier. I don't want to leave them there for too long.)

(Already started, Master. Though, it looks like you're having fun and would prefer that I take longer!)

(W-what nonsense is that?)

(........)

As we passed countless bazaars filled with people shopping, we soon reached the northern part of the city.

"Wait, isn't this like the place where nobles live?" Ashryn asked looking at the grand mansions looming over the street.

"Ahaha, yeah, I guess so."

"Are you a noble?"

"No, I'm not. I just sold some potions and was able to save some money."

"You sold a few potions and brought a house here?" She asked, shocked.

She looked at me incredulously.

"Haha, that's how it is."

I guided the driver and we soon reached the estate.

"Wow. Is that your house?"

"Y-yeah."

"It's enormous. Are you sure you're not going to hold me for ransom later?"

"Haha, I'm sure."

I paid the driver and after a bow he left us. I opened the gate and we walked inside.

"I just recently bought this property so there aren't a lot of furniture."

"Is that an invitation to sleep with you?" She said smirking.

"What? Ah-ahaha, of course not."

"I hope you'll be comfortable. I still have some work to do."

I showed her a room on the third floor. There was already a bed there but didn't contain any other furnitures. She looked excited so I left her and came back down.

(Airi, are you done?)

(Yes, master.)

(Alright, let's try. Shall we?)

I thought of moving to the doctor's laboratory and this time I was able to successfully arrive there. The doctor and Otien were waiting for me with a few boxes.

"Haha, so you found something useful?"

"Yes, although most of the items were useless. But I can make it again so there's no issues."

It seems the doctor salvaged everything she could from the laboratory. There was even a recently dug out ground which I figured was her burying her remains. The chamber containing her bones was empty. I didn't pry any further.

"Haha. Alright. Wait, I'll put the items inside my item box."

I opened the dimensional storage below the boxes and they were transported inside.

"Wh-what is that?" Revati asked shocked, looked at the boxes disappearing.

"It's a dimensional storage."

"A dimensional storage?!!"

The doctor seemed quite interested.

"Haha, yes. Let's talk about that later. Shall we teleport then?"

"Yes. I can't wait to see this teleportation magic." Revati said, her eyes shining.

"Haha."

"We're ready," Otien said.

I told them to move closer to me and when they were within reasonable distance, I closed my eyes and thought about moving to the mansion. We were immediately teleported to the mansion.

"W-Wow, so that's teleportation without a teleportation device. It felt much smoother."

"Haha."

"But, what is this place? Don't tell me this is your house?" She said, looking up at the gigantic house.

"This is the house you'll both be living in and I'll make a laboratory for you later." I said, looking at Revati.

"This looks too grand. Are you perhaps rich?"

"Ahaha, you could say that."

"At least, you will take care of the funds for my experiments, right?" Revati said, looking at me with moist eyes.

"Y-yeah, of course."

Revati and Otien seem to look at each other and smirk. At least that's what I felt Otien do though I couldn't read his face. They looked back at the towering buildings on the horizon.

"The world has changed so much," Revati said and looked like she was reminiscing about the past.

"Yes, doctor. It's been a few millennia since I've been outside but I didn't know it has changed so much," Otien added.

I quickly led them inside. Revati was constantly looking around as if she found everything fascinating.

"Wow, this house is certainly enormous. Do you live alone?"

"Yeah, I just brought this house a few days back. I haven't even brought any furnitures yet. I'm playing to take care of it tomorrow."

"That's alright," Revati assured me.

As we went inside, Ashryn came down the flight of stairs. She must have heard voices and came to investigate.

"I didn't know you had guests."

"Ahaha, she's a relative. She will be staying here with me."

"Oh, your ear. Is that real?" The doctor was quickly by Ashryn's side trying to touch her ear before she even finished coming down the stairs.

"Y-yeah." Ashryn seemed mortified.

"I have never seen someone like you. What are you called?"

"I'm Ashryn. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Revati and this is Otien," she said gesturing at Otien floating beside her.

Ashryn seemed interested when she saw Otien.

"Are you one of the refugees who came from another planet?"

"Refugees? Planet? I don't know what you're talking about."

"I see. I'm sorry. Forget what I said."

I signaled Revati to be silent and led the way to the dining hall for dinner. It seems Otien had filled in the doctor's about a few details, at least.

As we sat down, I let them talk amongst themselves. Ashryn was fascinated with Otien but she quieted down after the doctor explained that it was a magical entity and had feelings. Though she still looked at Otien fascinatingly.

I wanted to eat something different so I bought ready made fried noodles from the shop and served them on a plate.

"W-what is this?" Ashryn asked, her eyes shining looking at her plate.

"It's called noodles. You can eat it with this fork."

I gave a fork to each of them. Revati apprehensively took a bite and was lost in thought. Ashryn was gulping down her portion. I smiled looking at the contrast between their natures.

"This is amazing. You keep bringing out extraordinary foods I have never seen before."

"Ahaha."

By now, I began to suspect that Ashryn was accompanying me primarily for the food, as her eyes would light up every time she laid eyes on a meal provided by me.

"Tomorrow, I'll be receiving a few people from the Employers guild. I had placed a request for a few servants to come work here due to the size of the mansion. They should start arriving from tomorrow onwards. I'd be happy if you helped me choose them. Otherwise, I'll have too much work on my hands," I told them.

Revati agreed to lend a hand. Even Ashryn said she'll be happy to help.

After finishing the dinner, I bid them goodnight and went to bed. It seemed, Revati still had to sleep. Though it was an artificial body, it obeyed the laws of a normal body and she still needed food and sleep though in significantly smaller quantities. Otien just roamed around the house.

It was going to be a busy day tomorrow. I sighed and soon fell asleep.