"Your name was Kaito Nakamura, correct?" Orin asks, his voice calm but carrying an edge of intent. He walks steadily beside me, the crunch of leaves beneath our boots blending with the quiet sounds of the forest. His gaze remains forward, yet there's a weight to his tone that suggests his mind is elsewhere.

"Yes… why?" I reply, glancing over at him.

"Before we set out on this quest, I encountered a man." Orin's tone shifts slightly, lower, as if the memory itself is enough to unsettle him. "He carried an air of authority, one that's been impossible for me to shake. I didn't catch his name, but his presence was… striking. He had long, blond hair, meticulously tied back, and his face bore this unmistakable weight, like he carried the burdens of the world with him. It's burned into my mind, and I can't seem to forget it no matter how I try."

He pauses for a moment, his brow furrowing as though the memory is playing vividly before his eyes. Then he continues, his tone steady but firm. "This man approached me before I left, told me to find someone—you, Kaito Nakamura—and make sure you joined our party. I'm not one to ignore such a command, not from someone like him. And, truthfully, we wouldn't mind another member. So, if you're willing, consider this an invitation to join us." He glances at me briefly, his expression serious. "But first, I need to know—who was he? Do you know him?"

A man with blond hair? I don't think I've seen anyone like that... Then again, I haven't encountered many people at all since I arrived in this world. The only one I've met who carries any real authority is… no, Julian's presence is calm and composed. This sounds like someone completely different.

I've never been to this village before—heck, I've never even been to this region. The only place I know is Luminara. Its borders are impenetrable; no monsters have crossed them in centuries. I know for certain I'm far from the kingdom now, so how? How does anyone here know who I am? Could Julian have sent him? No… Julian thinks I'm dead.

"I see," I reply, keeping my thoughts to myself. "I've never heard of anyone like that before. Actually, I've never even been to this area—I come from the Luminara kingdom. And I'm guessing Luminara is pretty far from here, right?" I pause, glancing at Orin to gauge his reaction. "I don't know anyone outside the kingdom, so this is… strange."

Shaking off my unease, I manage a small smile. "That said, I'll gladly accept your invitation. If it benefits your party, it benefits me too. Honestly, I don't think I'd survive out here on my own anyway."

"Strange…" Orin mutters, his brow furrowing as he speaks. "He said something like, 'if you join, it would save both our party and you.' I wonder what he meant by that." He shakes his head, dismissing the thought. "Anyhow, you're free to join. Welcome aboard, Kaito."

"Huh? Save us? That's… odd." I frown briefly but decide not to dwell on it. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious. And thank you for having me, Orin," I reply, offering a faint smile—one I haven't felt in what feels like ages.

"Of course," Orin says with a nod, his serious expression softening for a moment. Then, curiosity flickers across his face as he asks, "By the way, where is this Luminara kingdom? I've never heard of a place by that name before. Where is it?"

"You don't know?" I blink, a little surprised. "It's a big kingdom to the southwest, not too far from Forsadana. It's ruled under Forsadana as well," I explain, trying to make it sound obvious.

"Forsadana?" Orin tilts his head slightly, confusion deepening in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I've never heard of Forsadana either. And right now, we're in the northeast."

"You don't know Forsadana? What?" My voice rises slightly in disbelief. "It's the biggest and richest kingdom in the world."

"Biggest? Richest?" Orin repeats, narrowing his eyes as if trying to recall something. "I think I'd know if there were a kingdom like that. I'm no expert on the world's politics, but I'm pretty sure I've never heard of Forsadana before."

Huh...?

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Wait—how the hell did I end up in the northeast!? Have I been transported here after death? My thoughts race as a chill creeps up my spine. Why doesn't he know about Forsadana? Could it be that information here is outdated? Or maybe they're so isolated they don't know much about the rest of the world…

A laugh escapes my lips, unsteady and forced. "Haha… Heh, anyway, let's not dwell on it," I say quickly, brushing off the conversation before it spirals into something I can't handle right now. "We should head back. It's starting to get late, right?" I try my best to sound casual, shifting the topic with a faint smile.

Orin narrows his eyes slightly, his brow arching in quiet confusion, but he doesn't press me further. "Uh, yeah," he replies, his tone steady. "It shouldn't take too long now before we arrive."

"I see."

Quick thuds approach us, and before I even have time to react, Ronan swings an arm around Orin's neck, his usual mischievous grin plastered across his face. "Yo, so what you two talkin' about?"

"Nothing," Orin answers flatly, his tone clearly unimpressed.

"Yeah suuure, nothing? Yeah sure." Ronan narrows his eyes suspiciously, then smirks as if he's just cracked a conspiracy. "You two were talkin' about girls, weren't ya? Soooo, Kaito, tell me—who d'you think is cuter? Sela or Althea?"

I blink in surprise, unsure of how to respond, but before I can even attempt an answer, Ronan launches into an animated tirade, gesturing wildly with his free hand as he speaks.

"If I had to choose, I'd say Sela… No, wait, maybe Althea." He pauses, his brows furrowing like he's seriously pondering a life-altering decision. "She's got those, uh… big personalities." He snickers, then quickly corrects himself. "I mean, uh, good personality. But then again… maybe Sela. You know, she's got those softer curves."

To emphasize, he starts tracing an exaggerated hourglass shape in the air with both hands, his expression strangely serious, like he's analyzing battle tactics instead of comparing two women.

"Right? Right?" He glances at me, his grin widening as he leans in conspiratorially. "She's more energetic, ya know? Like… bouncier, if you catch my drift. But then there's Althea. Sure, she only hits me—" He mimics an exaggerated thwack against his head and winces dramatically, "—but she's sexier, yeah? Like, cold and mysterious sexy. You know what I mean, right?"

He pauses again, tapping his chin and narrowing his eyes in exaggerated thought. "But Sela, man… she's adorable. Cute and hot at the same time. Hmmm."

Finally, Ronan looks at me with a comically intense expression, pointing at me like I'm about to give the verdict on a court case. "So, Kaito—what do you think? Sela or Althea?"

What is this guy even on about? I mean, sure, I see where he's coming from, but all those hand movements… shaping their silhouettes in the air… The way he's staring, like he's hyper-focused on getting th e "right size"—it's kinda ridiculous. Well, I guess I can see his point, but still…

"I mean…" I start hesitantly, scratching the back of my head. "To be fair, I do think Sela's pretty cute—her white hair tied up in that twin ponytail, her energetic expression, her overall adorable look… And, uh, her skirt draping just slightly above her thighs, leaving some skin showing on her legs… You know what I mean?"

Wait—why the hell did I just sound so serious about that? I could've kept at least half of those thoughts to myself…

"Oh yeah, I get you," Ronan replies casually, nodding in agreement with a smirk. "You're right; that's cute. Definitely cute. But you know what I think? I'm more into those bigger curves, you know?" He makes another gesture, hands widening in the air to emphasize his point. "Like, take Althea, for example. Now there is someone who's got them shaped just right…"

He pauses, his smirk fading slightly, and a nervous chuckle escapes him. "Though, uh… I kinda wish she'd be a little nicer to me. I mean, she hits me for no reason most of the time. Seriously, man, she's terrifying."

With that, Orin sidesteps away from Ronan, avoiding the man's overly familiar behavior. Bowing his head slightly, he moves toward Farren, who walks a few paces behind. Farren seems to be enjoying the scenery ahead, his gaze fixed on the peaceful forest as though the battle earlier never happened.

"Anyway, I heard a word or two that you'll be joining us, huh? Am I right?" Ronan says, changing the topic as he claps me on the back, a warm smile lighting up his face. "I hope you'll have a good time with us, man!"

"Thank you, Ronan," I reply, managing a small smile of my own. "I also hope I won't be too much of a dead weight. To be honest, I'm not that strong. I only know a little magic, a bit of swordsmanship… just the basics, really. And I've got zero real fighting experience—unless you count training."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Ronan assures me with an easy grin. "You won't be dead weight. At first, you can just observe, you know? No pressure. And if you want to train, I can help you out." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "Actually, you should talk to Farren. That guy's a top-tier swordsman—way better with a blade than I am."

"And for magic?" he continues, gesturing offhandedly toward Althea, who is standing a little farther ahead. "You can see if Althea's willing to teach you. She's incredible. She's already training Sela, but I bet you could join in."

"Thank you, Ronan, I appreciate it, really. I think we will get along, for sure…"

"Don't mention it, man."