Seeing the door to this other circular building was opened, Jonah and I went to check on it.
We observed the building from outside and found the interior was similar to the one where I appeared in, which had a grand magic circle carved on the floor.
Like the one where I was summoned, I was not familiar with the magic circle.
"Jonah, did you perhaps arrive from this building?"
"No. I came from the other one right there."
So we were the same.
I could not help but wonder whether this building had something to do with what the voice said to me. Regarding gaining strength through sacrifice.
[Ugh! Why won't they just do the synthesis?!]
A girl's voice suddenly reached my ears.
"Did you hear that?"
I asked Jonah.
"Yes. It sounded like a little—ah, there!"
Jonah pointed up.
A shining little fairy was hovering above us.
The little creature had the appearance of a black-haired human girl, accompanied with a pair of glowing wings. She spread sparkling dust every time she moves.
[They ignored it?! Why would they ignore the synthesis tutorial?!]
The fairy became outraged for some reason while staring into thin air.
It seemed she was observing something that my eyes could not perceive.
Jonah and I silently watched her.
[Argh! They are giving me new orders instead? Ugh, I hate backlogs. This master is really troublesome!]
There was the word I was looking for: master.
And it seemed that the master was communicating with this fairy, considering what she had been saying.
I approached the tiny creature and spoke to her.
"Excuse me, are you the warden of this place?"
The fairy stared at me with such despised look. As if I was a great bother to her.
[You sure catch on quick. Well, you're a 4-star. So it's a given, I guess.]
She replied to me.
4-star? Was that some sort of ranking?
Hearing what I just said to the fairy, Jonah responded.
"A warden? What do you mean, Serafina?"
[It means you better listen to what I say, you 1-star lowlife. What I say is master's will. Got it?]
"Master?"
Jonah was still confused by what was happening. I had not given him a proper explanation, after all.
"I'll tell you later. Just do as the fairy says for now."
I calmed Jonah.
[Ugh, so many things to do!]
The fairy said before vanishing into a twinkle of light.
The door to the other circular room closed by itself after the fairy was gone.
She soon reappeared in front of the square, overlooking the run-down buildings.
Jonah and I joined her in curiosity.
[You two, stand back! Don't make my job any harder than it is!]
The fairy stretched her fingers, snapping them along the way, and vanished again.
Suddenly the run-down buildings were engulfed in the familiar bluish-white light.
"Huh?"
"What in Dunia?"
When the light subsided, the lodging Jonah came out of when I first met him turned into this quaint one-storied building.
Another building turned into a blacksmith workshop, equipped with a forge.
The other building turned into a tannery. And another a carpentry workshop.
I immediately recognized the facilities since I often went to those places during subjugation quests.
The three places suddenly merged into one large building of interconnected workshops.
The abandoned courtyard beyond the lodging then flashed in the same bluish-white light.
Once the light vanished, the entire courtyard had turned into a small training ground, scattered with wooden weapons and scarecrows for weapon practice.
"Incredible sorcery!"
Jonah exclaimed as he witnessed the transformation.
I shook my head. Though I was about as amazed as he was.
"This is not magic. It is something else entirely."
I had never heard of magic that could transform buildings in this manner.
And similar with the light that brought me here, I did not sense any trace of mana usage.
Power founded by a different rule from magic was what making this all happened.
What the voice said about this forged land had rules of its own became truer by the minute.
Another building lit up with bluish-white light again. But this time it did not transform into anything else. Instead, the building was now filled with various weapons such as swords, spears, and bows and arrows.
It only then hit me that it was a storage.
[Geez, that was tiring!]
The fairy reappeared looking all exhausted. It seemed like she was causing the run-down buildings to transform.
Seeing how a training ground and equipment workshops had appeared, I began to understand what this forged land was supposed to be.
"Warden, can I ask you something?"
[What is it? Make it quick!]
"Are all of these facilities for us to use?"
[Duh, of course they are! Why else would master ordered me to—Argh, more orders?! I swear, they are turning me into a slave on my first day!]
Something unperceivable to me interrupted the fairy once more.
She vanished again and suddenly the circular building Jonah and I emerged from burst with great light.
Once the light subsided, the door opened and ten people walked outside the chamber.
Jonah immediately looked at me.
"Serafina, they are…"
"Indeed. More people to accompany us."
Ten men and women cladded in commoner clothes entered the square.
None was carrying weapon.
They were all looking confused and scared.
"Where am I?"
"What is this place?"
"I was at home just now."
The fairy suddenly appeared in front of them.
[Listen up, newcomers!]
"Huh? A fairy?"
"Why is a fairy here?"
"Hey, miss fairy, can you take me home?"
"…"
The ten people barraged the fairy with questions after questions.
Like Jonah, they did not seem to possess any knowledge about this place nor why they were brought here.
[I said 'listen up,' you idiots!]
The fairy clenched a fist and punched the ground, creating a huge shockwave that knocked all those people down.
"Kyaaa!!!"
"Arghhh, save me!"
Jonah looked at me with a worried look.
Since he was aware that I knew more about this place than he was, he expected me to do something to help them.
Considering the trials that awaited me, I would need comrades. I might as well do something to earn these people's trust if I wanted them to fight beside me.
"Stop asking questions and calm down!"
I stepped up and spoke to the new arrivals.
"Huh? A woman?"
"Wait, that dress. Is she a noble?"
"She's dressed like a mage to me. I've seen one of them before."
The crowd's attention shifted toward me. It gave me the opportunity to speak to them.
"I know all of you are confused. But for now, listen to what the fairy has to say. She's the one in charge here."
The fairy put on a sly smile upon my words.
[Haha! The witch is right! You guys better do as I say if you don't want any trouble.]
After the fairy's display of might and my attempt to calmed them down, the crowd silenced and awaited the fairy's words.
Though great confusion still lingered over their faces.