Kanya led them into a valley where the jungle and rocky terrain intertwined.
The surroundings were blocked by cliffs, leaving only the sky visible. As Shirone walked through the bottom of the V-shaped valley, he could guess just how long this world had existed.
As they walked, they exchanged introductions with Kanya.
Kanya still couldn’t fully trust them, but she seemed to accept that they at least had no intention of fighting.
Kanya explained, "This is the Valley of the Whirlwind Serpent. The laws here are different, so there shouldn’t be any danger."
Rian joked, "The most dangerous thing would be Shirone getting hit by that strange weapon again."
Kanya’s eyes narrowed at Rian’s comment. She seemed to be bothered by what had happened in the forest, but if anyone was more frustrated, it was probably herself.
Realizing that Shirone was the leader, she pointed at him and asked, "What’s your real identity? Does it even make sense that you’re from another world?"
Shirone replied, "But it’s the truth. Whether you believe it or not, that’s all we can say. This time, you explain. What kind of world is this? Like that giant we just defeated."
Kanya asked, "Giant? Did you just say giant?"
Shirone nodded, "Yeah, a giant."
Kanya exclaimed, "So you’re saying you killed a giant?!"
Shirone clarified, "No, we didn’t kill it. What happened was..."
Before Shirone could finish, Kanya grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "What do you think you’re doing, you idiot! Giants are the guardians of the law! So, it was you guys. You killed the giant, and that’s why the Venom Fang Demons went wild!"
Amy pushed Kanya’s hand away. She had been holding back her temper to gather information, but she couldn’t tolerate her friend being treated roughly. "We said we didn’t kill it! And the giant attacked us first!"
Kanya retorted, "Of course it did! We’re the ones who broke the law! The Forest of the Fallen is a place humans aren’t allowed to enter!"
Shirone stepped between the two growling women. "Even if you say that, we don’t understand what you’re talking about. Got it? We’re really from another place."
Kanya was stunned. Nothing Shirone said convinced her, but she realized that it had to be true precisely because it made no sense.
Kanya asked, "Are you... really from another place?"
Shirone replied, "We’ve been saying that all along. Yes, we are."
Kanya hesitated, "No, that’s not what I meant, um..."
Kanya’s expression turned serious.
It was just a story she had heard as a child, but it was definitely there—the tale of humans from the land ruled by the heavens.
They were descendants of the divine, but they were pitiful beings who couldn’t feel the presence of the gods. That’s why they couldn’t enjoy eternal life and struggled in the pain of mortality until their time ran out.