Junta & Wizarding World
#23 Overnight in the Forest
“We'll sleep here? Seriously?”
Kou muttered softly while showing an expression of disbelief.
“Do you see any cities or villages around here? Or maybe you saw a building? No right? So the answer is we have no other option”
Right after saying that, Zonya clapped her palms together like a person trying to get rid of dust.
“Oi! Look what I got!”
From afar, Junta came while carrying many fish he stabbed with a stick and he carried them on his shoulders.
“Good work Junta”
“Oh, you guys have finished setting up ya” tent
“Then I will go there to pick up some wood”
Junta and Kou nodded and Zonya immediately rushed away, not taking long, Zonya disappeared into the trees.
“Sister, did Brother agree we slept here tonight?”
Sticking the staff full of fish, Junta replied.
“There is no other choice Kou, we did not find a single building during the trip, staying in the open is also too conspicuous, the, the only option is to stay inside this forest and continue the journey tomorrow morning”
“Even though Big Brother said that.Overnight in the forest is also not a good thing, too many trees here and also the existing foliage closes the moonlight so that this forest is not too bright, so the forest is not too bright, we can be attacked from any angle and we are vulnerable to surprise” attacks
“I agree with you Kou, only we do not know all the things in this world, who knows overnight in the forest was safer than overnight in the open”
After sticking out the final stick, the Junta continued the conversation.
“Again if we spend the night in the open, we are also vulnerable to long-range attacks, when it happens we have no hiding place, all have advantages and disadvantages of each, and each of them has its own, trust Zonya, she's the one who suggested we sleep here so she must know why”
After the Junta said that, Zonya came from behind them while carrying a lot of firewood.
“Sorry if I leave you guys too long”
“Not at all Zonya, don't think too much”
After Junta said that, Zonya started to arrange the wood into a bonfire, after the arrangement so, Zonya took something inside the black robe she always wore.
“What is it?”
“This? You guys never saw it?”
“Hm... It looks like a bullet to me”
“Peluru? What is it?”
“Just mind Kou Zonya, we have similar items in our home country, but it seems like what you hold has a different function”
“Look how to use it”
His zone threw an object shaped like a small bullet towards the firewood he had stacked, after the small object hit the firewood, the arrangement of firewood was burned and a bonfire was formed.
“Oh.. Api” lighter
“Things like this are very commonly used to light a fire, you can buy them in stores in the city”
“Ohh.. I see, then why don't you just turn it on with Zonya's magic?”
“I can't do that Junta, my magic is plant” element
“Plants?”
After the Junta asked, Zonya put her right hand on the ground, then from between her hands grew small purple plants.
“Ohh, interesting, I've never seen anything like this before, how do you think Kou?”
“Hmm.. Very interesting”
Kou folded his hands on his chest and his gaze was fixed towards the plants that were on the sidelines of his Zonya finger, he was seen thinking of something.
“Things like this are very useful for those who can't light a fire with their magic, after all this stuff is very cheap, with only 1 silver coin then you will get 5 kernels”
“H.. Apparently the price is cheaper than our weapon Kakakir”
“Alright, because the fire is already burning, let's burn the fish that Junta got earlier”
“Oh yes, Brother, by the way where did you get these fish?”
“Not far from here is a small river, there I found these fish”
“Oh yes? Then how is Brother-Hm.. Forget it, I think I understand how Big Brother got these fish”
Kou sat down first, then Junta sat down next to Kou then Zonya sat down in front of the two of them, they took the fish that was stuck on the ground and started burning the fish they took, slowly the smell of burnt fish filled the air around, making anyone who smelled it would want to try it, Kou who could not wait to eat it finally pulled the fish from the fireplace and immediately bit it.
“Ah Kou, it's still hot.”
“Just calm Brother, food like this is even better if we eat it while hot”
“No no no, eating still hot food is not good, it can make your tongue numb a few days”
“Oh? If eating hot food is not good, then what about eating spicy food?”
“Hmm, if too spicy is not good, too hot is also not good, it would be better if we eat food that is warm or not too spicy”
“Huwah.. Brother, you already sound like grandfather-grandfather”
“Hey, I'm telling you this because I care about you you know?”
Junta and Kou continued their small argument, in the other corner, Zonya looked at them while eating her fish, she smiled slightly when she saw Kou and Junta arguing, a smile that seemed to contain no joy, no joy, except to contain sadness.
“Alright, I will sleep first, can I hand over the security of this camp to you guys?”
After Zonya said that, Junta and Kou stopped their small argument and looked at Zonya.
“You want to sleep first? We still have a lot of fish here you know?”
“Nothing Kou, you guys can spend the rest”
His zone went inside one of the two tents that existed, now, outside only Kou and Junta remained.
“I think he's too tired”
“Of course Kou, he keeps looking after us today, let him rest”
“Then now, who will spend all these fish?”
“If you want you can take it Kou”
“I don't want it, Brother alone ate”
“Oh? I don't remember you not liking fish”
“No, that's not the case, I just feel full, that's it”
Kou looked up after saying that, the night sky decorated by stars and moon looked very beautiful in that world, very different from the world where Kou and Junta lived, she said, after finishing looking at the sky, Kou looked at the bonfire that was in front of him and slowly leaned his head against the shoulders of the Junta.
“Are you sleepy?”
“No, I just want to enjoy these moments”
“If you're sleepy, you can sleep first”
“Hey Brother, tell me, what will you do if we can't go home?”
The junta swallowed the fish meat that was in its mouth first before saying.
“I'm sure we can go home Kou, I believe in you”
“What if I can't do it?”
“You can definitely, if that you can definitely”
Kou only gave a small smile after hearing Junta's reply.
“Do not imitate the words Father and Mother”
“What's wrong? Ever since we were kids, our families have always believed in you when it comes to information, and Dad and Mom have always believed in us, saying that we should trust each other, and that's what I'm doing now”
“If we get stuck here together with our parents, according to Big Brother what will they do?”
“I'm very sure the first thing they do is tell us to calm”
“Truly like them”
“Then, I will definitely order you to find information together with Ibu”
Kou chuckled after hearing the reply from Junta.
“I can't believe Big Brother can still imagine it's all”
Upon hearing that, the Junta stared at the night sky which was not very clear as it was covered by leaves, although not very clear, the beauty of the night sky could still be seen and felt, though not very clearly, because Kou felt that his sister was thinking about something, he asked.
“What does Brother think?”
Junta smiled before answering Kou's question, not a smile of pleasure he put on, but a smile that bore a sadness.
“Nothing, it's just that I imagine what punishment will look forward to me”
“Is that really what you think?”
“Sure, we've been in this world for more than 3 days right? I guess when we get back, I'll be scolded all out by Bu Layla”
“Teacher counseling? Brother don't need to hear their babble you know?”
“Of course, that's what every day I do”
The situation suddenly became silent after the Junta said that.
“Do you feel it Kou?”
“There is something moving around us, two-legged, two-person”
Kou got up from his brother's shoulder and stood up straight away.
“Should we?”
Kou said that while pointing towards the tent where Zonya slept in.
Kou who understood what his sister was thinking finally decided to sit back next to his Brother, something moving that Kou meant was apparently the sound of footsteps, and the sound of footsteps, the sound of footsteps was indeed irregular indicating that there were more than 2 people, there was no iron sound or anything, just pure footsteps, sounds, it is possible that the Junta and Kou opponents are unarmed.
“Who wants to come into the forest tonight-night like this?”
Kou asked his brother in a very subtle tone, he did that so that their position would not be discovered.
“Whoever it is, he must have a lantern, or maybe he has no problem seeing in the dark, the tempo of their normal footsteps signifies that they are brave and understand what is in front of them”
The junta answered Kou's question in a low tone.
“Rightly, if they have trouble seeing, their tempo must be slow, or at least we will hear several times the sound of objects colliding”
The sound of footsteps was getting louder, even though the footsteps were sounding faint, Junta could already predict which way the footsteps were pointing.
“I think they're heading to the river”
“What Brother is sure?”
“Yes.. They're right into the river, they're not too far from here, but I think we should stay alert”
“How about we follow them from behind?”
“For what? They don't intend to fight with us, we don't need to look for trouble with them”
“Didn't Brother feel weird? Around here there is no village or city, not even a single building that indicates there are people living around here”
“Hm... Then maybe they come from a tribe who live in this forest”
“I mean Big Brother is like a real person living inside this forest? If it is true, then we are definitely losing in terms of knowledge field”
The footsteps kept reverberating and the longer it got slower, as if they were moving away from the position of the Junta.
“I'm too suspicious of them Brother, I'll see what's going on”
Junta sighed before saying.
“Alright, let's see what exactly this” is
They immediately rushed towards the river, after arriving at the river, they hid behind the trees that were there, the area around the river that was there was quite open, it was quite open, there were no trees growing around the river, making Junta and Kou unable to go any closer towards that river.
After a bit of waiting, two figures emerged that came out from the forest trees, the two figures walked towards the river and stopped there.
“I can't see it clearly.. We're too far out Brother”
“In view of his posture, like his they are men”
“Then what do they do face to face like that?”
“Maybe they are talking?”
Not long after, one of the two figures pierced the other, making the pierced figure fall to the ground.
“Dia.. Kill her?”
“What he is doing now.”
The piercing figure raised the fallen figure, then he threw it into the river, after finishing disposing of the corpse, the figure walked back into the forest.
“What really happened?”
“I don't know Brother, want to try to see it?”
“The corpse must have been washed away by now”
“Not too far if we hurry”
Junta sighed before finally saying
“Alright, but we should try to run as slow as possible”
Junta and Kou started running down the river, they ran almost silently, their eyes focused towards the river to look for the figure that was thrown away earlier, the river current was not expected to be quite swift, and the river flow was not too fast, made Junta think that maybe the corpse had gone too far.
“Kakak!”
Kou pointed to something black floating above the swift flow of the river, it seemed like it was the figure that had been thrown away earlier, Junta nodding his head signaling he was allowing Kou to take him out of the river, kou quickly ran closer to the figure, who was swept away by the river, after being several meters in front of the corpse, Kou touched the surface of the river water with his palm and in an instant appeared an ice wall blocking the river current, the wall was indeed not large, indeed, but enough if only to prevent the river flow from carrying the corpse drifting further.
After the corpse hit the ice wall made by Kou, Kou quickly went into the river and pulled the corpse and carried it out of the river, after Kou came out of the river and put the corpse he was carrying on the riverbank, the ice wall he made was suddenly shattered into pieces and the ice fragments were lost to the river current.
The corpse was apparently a man who was about 32 years old, he was dressed like a village man who was all black, after Kou checked his pulse, Kou put on an expression of pity..
“This person is dead”
“The poor man, judging from the swift flow of this river water, he must have been repeatedly hit by some large stones that were in the river, he died with pain”
“Try you see this Brother”
Kou pointed towards the chest to the left of the corpse.
“This prick..”.
“Whatever this guy's killer is, he's not an amateur”
“The killer used a knife yes.. But this wound is very small.. Similar like... Stabbed by a small knife? Surgical knives?”
“My estimation is, this guy's killer is an assassin, considering we also don't hear the sound of heavy objects like armor or swords as they walk in the forest, and also, not to mention, the, the wound on the chest of this corpse is not like a wound from being pierced by a sword, I think only an assassin who has this style of killing”
Junta turned his head towards Kou and said.
“I know if an assassin can't bring much with him because he has to carry out his mission quickly, secretly and precisely”
The junta looked at the corpse once more before finally saying.
“But.. If the killer was an assassin, shouldn't the assassin be secretly killing his target without anyone's knowledge? But this guy just walked along with the killer.. Shouldn't it be that if this person was indeed the target of the assassin, at least the assassin would have taken him by force? Like making him faint first?”
“Maybe she's having something or something that makes her unable to run? There was no sign of him having violence on his body so far, only the wound on his left chest that hit his heart was what I found”
“It's weird, this guy walks along with the killer.. As if he was not afraid of what would happen... Or maybe he did not know?”
“I mean Big Brother he walked along with a murderer into a forest at night and he has no idea what will happen to him?”
“Maybe more precisely I thought that this man did not know that he was walking with a murderer, or perhaps.. He knows but he is not worried or not afraid of what will happen?”
Junta and Kou fell silent while looking at the corpse lying on the ground.
“This man's clothes, it looks like he's from the village, and also.. His clothes are black.. Have you ever seen a dress like this Kou?”
“No, if we bring her Zonya here, maybe she knows”
“No we can not involve Zonya, we should ignore this incident”
“...Brother is right, there is nothing that requires us to investigate this”
“And also, we will never know what will happen if we investigate this further”
“Then let me bury this man first”
“No, don't”
Kou looked at his brother with a look of confusion.
“We cannot bury this man because we never know what really happened, it could have been a message sent through this river, or other possibilities, he said, you understand what I mean, right?”
“I understand... If we bury this corpse and it turns out that it was a mistake, then this tragedy will continue to be another tragedy”
“To be exact, we never know what will happen if this corpse is washed away continue to be carried by the river, the river flow, and we will never know what will happen if we choose to bury this corpse instead of letting it drift in the river, those two choices could be bad or good for us, or it could be for someone else, for this situation, the best option is to still let how something should happen”
Kou looked at the corpse for a moment, he let out a short sigh then said.
“Right sister, I understand what Kakan” means
After saying that, Kou dragged the corpse and threw it back into the river.
“We must return soon, we do not know what will happen if we continue to be here”
“I hope we don't leave his Zonya too long”
And that way, Kou and Junta ran quickly back to their camp, after getting there, Junta saw Zonya put on a slightly displeased expression and now she was sitting close to the bonfire.
“Where have you been?”
“Uh.. I wanted to go to the toilet but I was too scared.. So I asked Big Brother to accompany me”
Zonya stood up after hearing Kou's response and walked closer towards them, her countenance illustrating that she was unhappy with Kou's response.
“Kou, do you understand what a team means?”
Junta walked up and stood right beside Kou, then said
.
“I'm in charge of this, I invite Kou to see something on the river”
“Something? What is it?”
“So there were 2 people who came to the river, then one of them killed the comrade who came with him and threw his dead comrade in the river, me and Kou have already checked it out, the person who was thrown into the river was really dead”
“Homicide? Body dumped?”
“To be exact, I don't know who the killer is because we don't want to interfere too deeply, but the one who was killed was a man who was about 32 years old, he said, the corpse looks like a countryman because he wears all-black clothes and his clothes look like rustic” clothes
Zonya was shocked after hearing the explanation from Junta, her face describing that she was panicking as well as worried.
“Serba black.. Countryman.”
“What's wrong?”
“Tell honestly Junta, what did you guys do to that corpse?”
“Nothing, we just checked it and returned to throw it into the river, the corpse was still with the same condition as the time of being killed, I guarantee it”
After hearing that, Zonya looked a little relieved, but she still looked a little worried.
“Good..the right choice..”.
“Is there something with the corpse?”
Just before Zonya wanted to answer Junta's question, Kou heard the sound of footsteps approaching towards them and said.
“It looks like we have guest”
