_ WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE THINKS ELVES AND THERIANS ARE ALIENS? _

Ken shrugs his shoulders at Saiko’s question before responding while the king continues his speech behind them.

~ I mean what I said and what he just said. They think the cataclysm 3000 years ago was an alien invasion and the invaders were the Elves and the Therians. ~

_but Elves and Therians existed on earth for thousands of years before the cataclysm though _

~ hey, I did tell you their version of history goes against all the historical knowledge we have and that It’s the dumbest one there is. they simply ignore all the records we have of elves and therians before the cataclysm. ~

_ why though? _

Ken shrugs his shoulders again.

~ if I had to guess I would say it’s just war propaganda ~

Daxia interrupts while looking at the passionate king and the fanatic public listening to him with their utmost focus and respect.

- I don’t know about that. It looks to me like the king himself believes it and judging by the people’s reactions they also believe it wholeheartedly and without any hint of doubt –

- THOSE VILE INVADERS WHO STOLE OUR LAND AND CAUSED AEONS OF BLOODSHED AND SUFFERING FOR OUR PEOPLE-

The king continues his speech with undying passion and unyielding spirit.

Ken looks at the king and then nods at Daxia’s comment.

~ I mean it’s thousands of years worth of propaganda, so it’s possible the king also believes it. It’s possible they lied so much they themselves believe the lie, but it does not matter how much they believe it, we have evidence that says otherwise. In fact, we have evidence that suggests the ancestor to elvenoids evolved first before the ancestor to humanoids. ~

Saiko looks at the fanatic people all around her.

_ I can not believe all these people believe this. Did none of them question it or like did a simple search on it _

~haaaa~

Ken lets out a short sigh at his naïve partner.

~ well you know this is probably the only version of knowledge they have access to and ever came across. It’s not like they can travel outside of Kim Sungtae.

The rest of the world is enemy territory to them. They don’t even have access to the aethernet; they only have access to a limited makeshift copy that only exists in Kim Sungtae and that only connects to other people here and all information on it is also from people here so it only confirms their wrong information. It’s a massive echo chamber~

Noai raises an eyebrow at Ken and his lips curl up from amusement as he watches his insolent student continue to criticize the people of Kim Sungtae, unaware of the fact that everything he is saying can and does apply to him.

For he also only ever got the version of events that was approved by the world government that he mistook for the truth because it’s what the rest of the world thinks.

but the fact that the rest of the world believes it only proves that his echo chamber is larger and more effective not that it’s more correct.

‘and to think that he started this journey because he found anomalies in history. Once again, my great Thoth, your lesson on the difference between knowledge and comprehension rings true in front of me’

Naoi decides to Say nothing on the matter and simply observe his students on their path toward knowledge.

Naoi glances toward an old man who is walking toward the trio.

The old man had noticed the trio arguing with each other and not listening to the king’s speech which caught his attention.

- hello youngins, are you new here? –

The old man asks with a smile.

The trio looks at the old man.

He wore a long Dark grey hanbok, a traditional koyan dress. He had long grey hair and a matching grey beard that reached down to his chest.

Ken smiles at the old man and answers quickly before Saiko can answer, because of how bad she is at acting.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

~that’s right Grandpa. We are on sort of vacation traveling around the kingdom how did you know? ~

The old man smiles.

-oh, I see I just made a guess since I have never seen you in the village before, but why did you visit this village there is nothing worth seeing here –

~ I am sure that’s not true Grandpa, but to answer your question this village wasn’t our destination but we stopped here to buy some clothes for my friend here ~

Ken chuckles quietly at the old man’s comment then points at Saiko.

-oh, in that case, let me help you. Since you are tourists, you will probably be scammed but if am with you that won’t happen. I know a good shop that is run by the daughter of a friend of mine, I might even be able to make her give you a discount –

Saiko smiles at the old man.

_ you are very kind. We would appreciate that. _

The old man chuckles and then smiles.

-it’s nothing, my child. Now follow me-

The old man leads the trio through the village until they reach a small clothes shop.

The old man enters followed by two bounty hunters and the silver cat.

They wait for the shopkeeper to greet them but no one comes to do so.

They wander inside following behind the old man.

- I promise you, my dear citizens, that humanity will prevail no matter how long it takes because life is on our side –

They hear the king’s speech coming from deeper inside the shop, then they a girl sitting on a chair watching the king’s speech on a holographic screen with the same zeal and reverence the rest of the people had.

- you can pick whatever you want from the shop and I will take the money after the speech is over –

The girl mouths off without taking her eyes off of the king for even a second.

Ken looks at the girl with confusion.

~is she not scared we would steal from her or leave without paying? ~

The old man laughs at the absurd suggestion.

- this is a small town everyone knows everyone; we are a big family. Besides humans don’t steal. That sort of savagery is only done by aliens we are above that. we are people of God. –

~raaaight, my bad I forgot ~

Ken rubs the back of his head still puzzled by the situation.

Although he already Kim Sungtae has a very low crime rate, due to their severe punishments and strong social unity, it still boggles his mind how trusting of other humans those people are.

- All alright young lady, pick what you want –

_thank you again grandpa _

The old man says with a smile then the silver cat thanks him and begins to sift through the clothes in the shop.

- don’t mention it, my child. I will go to the bathroom for a little bit while you pick your clothes-

Saiko picks a long thin black hoodie with a hem that reaches slightly past her waist looking like a miniskirt.

From the waist up the hoodie is stripped with thin red and white stripes.

She picks long leather boots that go up to slightly below her knees and leather gloves fingerless gloves that match her collar.

She finishes the look with dark gray jeans and a long white trench coat.

_ how do I look? _

She asks after exiting the changing room.

- stunning my child –

The old man says with a smile.

WHISTLE.

- if I was a guy, I would be all over you-

Daxia whistles while eyeing Saiko up and down before turning to face Ken.

-don’t you agree? –

Ken looks at Saiko in a daze and doesn’t respond.

-pffft –

Daxia laughs and elbows the dazed Ken snapping him out of his daze and back to reality.

~oh, right. Ahm y,you look great ~

Saiko blushes slightly Ken’s reaction and Daxia’s comment then smiles at them.

- it’s missing something hmmm –

The fiery entity looks at Saiko with interest.

- I got it –

Naoi raises his hand then a large full moon drawing starts to form at the back of the coat surrounded by a brilliant blue aura then two more crescent moons begin to form one at each side of the full moon surrounded by a similar blue aura.

_Naoi! _

Saiko looks with shock at the old man and shopkeeper then at Noai wondering what they would think of what just happened in front of them.

-worry not my child I altered their memories they will think it was always part of the coat –

The fiery entity reassures her.

Ken looks at the newly formed symbol on Saiko’s back.

~what is that? ~

- it’s the symbol of a friend of my master –

- I have no idea it must be some old symbol of some sort-

The fiery entity answers then the old man responds to Ken’s question thinking the question was meant for him since he is unable to see or hear naoi.

Saiko walks to a mirror and checks the symbol on her back.

_ I think I like it _

She Says with a smile before turning to face the two bounty hunters.

_ We are ready to leave now _

-YEAAAAAAAAAH-

WHISTLES

She then hears the shopkeeper cheering followed by more cheering and whistles coming from outside.

-OUR VICTORY IS WITHIN REACH. AND WE WILL NOT GIVE UP UNTIL WE RECLAIM EVERY SINGLE INCH OF OUR PLANET. –

The voice of the king gets louder.

_ looks like the speech is coming to an end as well. Good, so we can pay for the clothes now_

-AND WE WILL ERADICATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE ALIEN INVADERS-

Saiko comments then cringes after hearing the king’s next line.

‘ the guy who wrote World War 2 wasn’t an author, he was a prophet. To think I would see nazis in real life like that’

Saiko decides to keep her thoughts to herself, thinking that voicing them out would only bring trouble.

-why are you in a rush young one? Stay a bit more the festival is just starting. –

_ I am really grateful, grandpa. But we are in a bit of a rush _

The old man asks. To which Saiko responds with a smile.

- I am afraid I have to insist. –

The old man adds then moves in front of the door to block their path.

Ken raises an eyebrow at the old man.

Both at his odd behavior and at the absurd notion that he will try to use his body to block them.

~ grandpa, I don’t know what’s gotten into you but I am pretty sure you are too old for whatever you are trying to do ~

The shopkeeper also looks at the old man with a confused look.

- yeah, Grandpa Lee what are you doing? –

The old man shakes his head at the shopkeeper's question.

-that’s the problem with young people. They can’t comprehend what it means to be in a constant war. These people are spies little John. I brought them here to buy time till the police arrives –

-WHAT? -

The shopkeeper exclaims in shock.

Saiko looks at the old man confused and blinks repeatedly from the absurd assumption.

_ Grandpa, we are not spies _

SHATTER

Before the silver cat can add another word, the windows to the shop shatter and multiple armed men storm the shop then point their spell rifles at the trio.

-you are under arrest don’t move-

~haaaaa~ Ken let’s out a short sighs ~ and there goes our relatively short peace ~