Moty suddenly brightens as if she realizes what has happened. But in reality, she already knows.

  "Oh, you made eye contact with that coachman?" Moty says with a smile.

  "Oh... you know what happened?" Saze asks.

  Right now, Saze is already much better. He sits on the grass and takes a deep breath to relax his tight muscles and nerves. However, the fear in his heart and the blood in his veins are still surging.

  "That's just an arcane spell. He was checking for danger, even though he was Finty's bodyguard," Moty says lightly.

  "Eh? Finty seems strong. Wait, what stage is she at right now?" Saze asks.

  "...Fifth stage, low level." Moty thinks for a moment before answering.

  "Fifth stage, low level?!" Saze gasps.

  Saze knew Finty was strong, but he didn't expect her to be that powerful. He is surprised, scared, and a little... proud. After all, he survived Finty's hands.

  "No wonder Finty pinched my leg, and my bone broke..." Saze murmurs.

  "But why does she need a bodyguard if she's already at the fifth stage?" Saze asks again.

  "Hmm... I don't know. I don't actually have much contact with the human world. Finty sometimes teaches me about human culture."

  "But I have a guess... maybe she needs a bodyguard because she needs someone to sacrifice themselves if necessary," Moty says thoughtfully.

  "Finty needs someone to... sacrifice? Let them die?" Saze's eyes widen at her words.

  "Yes, just in case. If Finty uses some arcane spell that requires a sacrifice..." Moty says without any emotion.

  This sounds evil and completely dehumanizing. Saze is sure he could never order someone to die for him. This kind of thinking goes against his values, making him feel cold and uncomfortable.

  "This world is weird..." Saze murmurs.

  At that moment, Moty stretches out a hand to help Saze stand up. With Moty's support, Saze rises effortlessly, though he wobbles for a moment before steadying himself.

  "Alright, since Finty left, I will take care of you in her place. The spiders will do the same," Moty says with a warm smile.

  "Gruu!" The spiders let out a high-pitched call, including Mon.

  Observing the spiders' enthusiastic response near his feet, Saze feels odd but can't quite explain why. However, their presence also reassures him, as if they are his protective shield.

  "Alright, so what are we going to do while Finty is gone?" Saze asks.

  "I don't know. What do you want to do? We can plan around that," Moty replies, letting Saze decide.

  Saze thinks deeply, contemplating his next move. After a few minutes, he decides—he wants to improve his power and grow stronger. Even though he is safe in this forest, becoming stronger is never a bad option.

  In this forest, exuding green vitality, one human, one aberrant, and a group of spiders gather to discuss their plans for the next few days. Their discussion stretches on, and as time passes, the sky darkens.

  By dusk, they return to the white ruined palace and prepare dinner. A bunch of campfires burn brightly, surrounded by spiders. Over the fire, skewers of barbecued meat roast—the prey some spiders caught earlier in the day.

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  The aroma of barbecue fills the air. However, the palace is well-ventilated due to its dilapidation, allowing the smoke to disperse. Saze is no longer shocked as he watches the anthropomorphic movements of the spiders. After four years here, he is used to it.

  Although the scent of food might attract night predators, this is the spiders' base camp. They have already laid numerous webs around the area and would be delighted if prey wandered in.

  After all, who would turn down a free meal, unless it's poisonous?

  In the bright palace, some spiders play together, steal meat from one another, and even fight. They resemble a group of elementary school children—no, even elementary school children are more well-behaved than these spiders.

  "Gruu!!!" A spider lets out a shrill scream.

  The sound sends a jolt through Saze's body. He immediately gets up and looks toward the source of the noise, only to find that one of the spiders has been pushed into the fire during their fight.

  "....." Saze's lips twitch slightly.

  "...Aw, come on. You guys, stop fighting," a girl's voice calls out.

  It's Moty. She grabs the leg of the spider that fell into the fire and conjures a water arcane spell to form a water sphere, dousing the flames on its body. Once released, the spider immediately points at the smaller spiders and lets out an agitated "Gruu Gruu" sound, as if complaining about their misdeeds.

  "Gruu! Gruu!" the spider cries.

  "Ah... I see... Okay... Alright, alright... calm down first..." Moty crouches down and comforts the spider.

  After a while, the spider forgets its grievances and starts playing again. The farce is over.

  "Hey, Moty, this kind of drama happens every night. Don't you get tired?" Saze asks, passing her a skewer of meat.

  "Welp, I'm used to it," Moty sighs.

  After dinner, Saze sits atop the palace ruins, gazing at the enormous white eye rune in the night sky. A gentle breeze rustles his hair, and his eyes seem to hide something deep within.

  As footsteps approach from behind, his ears twitch slightly. He neither looks back nor stands, continuing to stare at the eye rune.

  "Moty... doesn't this world have stars?" Saze's voice is slightly hoarse.

  "Stars...?" Moty's voice comes from behind him.

  "Saze... you know what? From the stories you've told me, I feel more and more like you stepped out of a legend," Moty adds.

  "Huh? Why?" Saze turns back, surprised.

  "Did Finty ever tell you about the legend?" Moty asks.

  "What legend?" Saze asks, confused.

  "Ugh... there's a world described in an ancient legend that has the sun, the moon, and... stars. And the most shocking thing is... that world was also called 'Earth.'"

  "W-What?! Is this real? Do you know more about the legend?!" Saze's eyes widen as he stands up anxiously.

  Moty explains that, in ancient times, this world was different—it had the sun, the moon, and a boundless dark sky filled with countless stars. However, that world lacked arcane magic and mana.

  As she speaks, Saze's breathing grows heavier, his heart pounding faster. His body trembles as he listens to the details of the legend.

  "The last part of the legend describes how 'Earth' was destroyed... but maybe because the story is too old, those details are lost," Moty finishes.

  Hearing this, Saze's eyes suddenly dim. Tears well up in his eyes. Moty feels a pang of sadness watching him.

  "It means... I didn't transmigrate to another world. I traveled... to the future or past?" Saze's voice trembles.

  "This... is just an old story. It should be... just a coincidence. You don't need to dwell on it..." Even Moty doesn't fully believe her own words.

  "Fine..." Saze sighs, sitting down again.

  He hugs his knees, his tear-filled eyes mirroring the dark night sky. This is his first real clue about Earth in this world. He has countless questions but doesn't know how to express them. Instead, he keeps them locked in his heart.

  "At least... thanks for telling me about that." Saze thinks for a moment and thanks Moty.

  Saze knows he couldn't sleep tonight because of this incident.

  .....

  In a luxury noble mansion, two guards with whole black uniforms are standing and both holding a Musket long gun and guarding the gate.

  The guards heard the rapid sound of horse hooves, a black carriage with gold engraving coming.

  The carriage stops before the guards, as they see the coachman, the guards change their gaze and says.

  "Good evening Mr. Lloyd, how was the trip?" A guard smiles warmly and asks the coachman.

  "I have nothing to talk with you, now open the gate and get out of my sight, weakling." The coachman or Lloyd says coldly.

  "Hehehehe.... hahaha... alright, Mr. Lloyd, you've said the code. You may enter now." As Lloyd said the code, both guards' faces twist into an exaggerated smile, and their mouths are open unusually wide.

  They open the gate with stiff movements, but the expressions on their faces do not change, which looks very strange or just like somebody using strings to control them.

  "Hmpf!" Lloyd snorts.

  As the door slowly opens, Lloyd also controls the carriage and enters. This noble palace is very luxurious, large, and beautiful. But in Lloyd's eyes, it is just a prison. Many servants are here to welcome them back on this bizarre night.

  "Hehehe... Hahaha!!! Have fun, Mr. Lloyd!" Those guards close the gate and let out a shriek of laughter.

  After that, the guards take their guns aim at each other's heads, and slowly pull the trigger.

  Bang! Bang!