"The ship cuts through the starlit waves as it slowly advances."

“Oh, since no monsters have appeared, I guess the aggro’s completely off now?”

“Baekho, what’s aggro?”

“Ah, how many times do I have to explain it before you remember?”

“......”

The shipboard was peaceful as if no danger had ever existed.

“Glad you’re safe, Baron.”

“Yeah, glad you’re safe too.”

The GM, having finished recharging MP, greeted belatedly and was about to make conversation when Lek Aures suddenly laughed loudly and interrupted.

“Ha ha ha! I always believed you’d get up just fine! There’s no way an immortal giant like you would die here!”

“Immortal giant... what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ah! That’s a nickname I just came up with! Cool, isn’t it? Fits you perfectly!”

“That guy’s babbling nonsense again. Why are you taking him seriously? Just ignore him.”

After Ibaekho advised the GM, he awkwardly nodded, and Lek Aures hung his head deeply as if wounded.

Ah, but that moment didn’t last long.

“Oh dear! Why did I join a team like this? There’s nowhere else that treats warriors so poorly as here!”

Like bowing to gain momentum, Aures noisily resumed his loud talk.

Apparently used to this, the archer quietly keeping watch by the railing changed the subject.

“By the way, this time there are two.”

There was no need to ask who the “two” referred to.

Priestess Jaina and Grandpa Destruction.

Both asleep due to the field effect.

“Baekho, are we continuing the search as is?”

“Well... I’m not sure. Ask the Baron. He’s our new leader, full of personality and freedom.”

“Leaders... what does that mean?”

“Ah, never mind, just ask the Baron.”

“...If you look closely, Baekho seems to babble nonsense more often than Aures.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“...Nothing.”

The archer, grumbling about Baekho’s nonsense, quickly changed stance and approached my side.

“So, Baron, what do you plan to do? Will you continue the search of Dreamlike Lake as scheduled?”

Hmm, well...

It’s been a question I kept pondering...

Alright, I’ve decided.

“Let’s postpone Dreamlike Lake for now and first search Yonggol Mountain.”

“Yonggol Mountain, huh...”

The archer seemed to think for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded.

“Not a bad choice. Somehow the ship’s already near Yonggol Mountain.”

“Besides, with Dryzen already appearing near the waterfall, a proper search there would be difficult. It’s more reasonable to search Yonggol Mountain first, then come back here once things calm down.”

I shot Ibaekho a glance that said if he had objections, say them now; he just shrugged as if saying ‘do whatever.’

‘So cool on the surface.’

If he had other ideas, he’d have opposed first.

Anyway, once the destination was set, things went smoothly.

We steered the ship steadily toward Yonggol Mountain.

Because the speed wasn’t fast, no monsters appeared.

But...

“...Hmm?”

There was a moment of unease.

“Everyone but you is asleep.”

Everyone except Grandpa Destruction and me had fallen asleep due to the field effect...

‘What’s the probability of that?’

The chance of over half the crew falling asleep at Dreamlike Waterfall was very low, so I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Could this be a sign of misfortune?

With such thoughts, I carefully steered the ship while scanning around.

“...”

Man, this silence is awkward as hell.

“...”

I almost wished a monster would just jump out to break the uncomfortable silence.

Eventually, I broke the silence first.

“Hey.”

I called out bluntly; Grandpa Destruction, standing by the railing, turned to me.

If he heard me, wouldn’t it be polite to answer rather than just stare?

But if he were that kind of grandpa, none of this would be happening.

So I decided to ask what I’d been curious about.

“What exactly is fate?”

“A truly broad question.”

“You said before that after me, Erwen was born with the next highest amount of fate. I’m curious what that means.”

“Though now, staying by your side, she’s nearly lost her light.”

“No, I mean, what exactly is that fate?”

I asked again. Grandpa Destruction shifted his gaze to the starlit waves flowing beneath the railing.

“There are many types of power in this world. Magic power, divine power, mana. Not only those commonly known, but emotions like anger and love also become sources of power, and so can be considered ‘resources.’”

“...So?”

“Fate is difficult to define precisely, but I consider it one such power. Especially because it wears down the more it’s used.”

“Wears down the more it’s used?”

Hearing my question, Grandpa Destruction nodded.

“Fate isn’t infinite. Most people only have three or four, and even those can decrease depending on choices.”

Hmm... I listened quietly but felt like I was at some cult seminar.

“Wait, this seems to be drifting off-topic.”

“But you’re the one who asked what fate is.”

“I was just curious about what you meant to Erwen.”

Refocusing the conversation on what I was really asking, Grandpa Destruction finally gave an answer.

“Erwen Fornaci di Tersia, is it...”

“Yeah, what did you mean by what you said to her?”

“Exactly as I said. That day, she carried the next largest amount of fate after you, so I tried to eliminate her if possible.”

“But you failed.”

“Yes. And that fairy I couldn’t kill that day has now grown strong and is called the Blood Duchess.”

“Is all that power of fate?”

“Yes. Ordinary people aren’t given such fate. Whether to be a chef or a scholar—that’s the fate of normal people. They cannot become absolute kings or leave their names in history.”

Grandpa Destruction looked away from the flowing water beneath and met my gaze.

“Unlike you.”

“...?”

“With the amount of fate you carry, you can do or become anything. Even becoming the king of this city isn’t impossible for you.”

“...”

“Assuming, of course, that you can coexist with the fate that strongly pulls at you.”

“That fate?”

I tilted my head questioning, and Grandpa Destruction chuckled.

“Ha ha, don’t you know? You are destined to open the Abyssal Gate someday. No matter how great your fate is, you cannot change ‘the record.’ Well, you’d know better since you’ve experienced it firsthand.”

Experienced firsthand...

Seems like Grandpa Destruction knows about my visit to the era 20 years ago.

‘Well, he’s been practically inseparable from Ibaekho these past few years.’

A pause in the conversation emerged.

Taking advantage, I glanced around.

Everyone except Ibaekho was deeply asleep with no sign of waking soon.

So...

“Belvev Ruinjeness.”

“It’s been a long time since I heard the full name.”

“What scheme are you cooking up with Ibaekho?”

Honestly, while asking, I didn’t expect a real answer.

But...

“There’s no particular scheme.”

“Don’t you think I wouldn’t notice you’re trying to use me behind my back?”

“Hmm... I don’t know Ibaekho’s thoughts, but I have no intention of using you. Traveling with Ibaekho is because our goals align in other ways.”

“Then... what goal did you align on?”

Even though I asked in a probing tone, Grandpa Destruction answered coolly as if it wasn’t a secret.

“To return to the original world without opening the Abyssal Gate. Ibaekho calls that Plan B.”

“Ah...”

Ibaekho mentioned Plan B before.

But from what I heard, Grandpa Destruction seems uninterested in me and only focused on Plan B...

“Is returning without the Abyssal Gate really possible?”

I cautiously asked; Grandpa Destruction answered without hesitation.

“Possible. Theoretically.”

“Theoretically?”

“I haven’t tried because much preparation is needed. And that’s why I travel with Ibaekho.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, whether you believe me or not, I’m truly not interested in any dark schemes targeting you. Unless my method fails.”

“Still, since you travel with Ibaekho, don’t you know something?”

“Well. Ibaekho must have some thoughts, but I haven’t asked. That’s not my business. Even if asked for help, I wouldn’t have anything to do.”

“As long as it doesn’t benefit your goal?”

“Exactly.”

Though he could have denied it, Grandpa Destruction agreed immediately, which oddly made me trust him.

He really seems to have no interest in me.

“...”

Like in love, sometimes playing hard to get is important.

Watching him lost in thought ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ gazing beneath the railing, my curiosity only grew.

‘Come to think of it... this grandpa was an ‘evil spirit’ too.’

Specifically, from the previous generation of evil spirits.

They came from another world, not Earth, summoned here not by a game but some other method.

Since the generations differ, I’ve barely interacted with them directly.

“Ruinjeness, what kind of world did you live in?”

“The world I lived in...”

Grandpa Destruction looked far away, pondering, then gave a totally unexpected answer.

“I don’t remember. I was brought here when very young.”

“...What?”

“I found a book under a dark cave and read it every day. Now, the only clear memories I have are those scenes.”

Could that be why, when I saw him in the community 20 years ago, he looked like a child?

I don’t know, but he continued.

“One day I woke up in an adult body and began survival based on the knowledge from that book. And now here I am.”

An unfamiliar form of possession.

Usually, whether old or young, the soul enters a 20-year-old body, making the person younger, but this was completely the opposite.

While his story was fascinating, a question arose.

“Then why are you so obsessed with returning?”

If memories of the previous world are vague, the longing for it should be weak.

So why does he want to return?

Smiling slightly at my pure curiosity, Grandpa Destruction asked back.

“On the contrary, why don’t you want to go back?”

Uh, well...

“...Because I like this world better?”

Though many reasons were left unsaid, that was the essence.

I no longer regarded this brutal world as brutal.

In fact, after living in a dream world with a modern background, I repeatedly thought...

How can such an unreal world exist—

“I’m the opposite.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t like this world. That’s why I want to return.”

His voice and eyes showed no emotion.

What kind of story did this grandpa have?

It was a very intriguing moment, but unfortunately the conversation ended there today.

“Ugh...”

“Looks like some are starting to wake up.”

Damn, if I pushed a little more, I might have heard more.

“I’m going to check on Briot, you watch Ibaekho.”

What timing...