"Hm..." Zac's voice lacked conviction.

  We were talking in secret in my workshop hut. I told him I was going on a short trip, without giving him the details, but warned him to prepare for the worst if I didn't return.

  "I know that if I refused, you'd go anyway," Zac sighed, deeply frustrated. "You've done so much for the family that trying to stop you would be like clipping your wings..."

  "That's why I'm telling you," I said, leaning against the hut wall. "If I told Lilith, she'd tie me to her so I wouldn't leave."

  "I understand what you're getting at, but it's still... hard to swallow, Liang," Zac said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "What made you think of doing this?"

  I can't tell him the truth, so I'll just lie.

  "I want to help Dad, partly," I said, looking at him. "These lands aren't his, even though he's married to Elizabeth. That pact was made through an oath: all Naerun children born to him and Mom will be considered Elizabeth's. I want to see if I can find some treasure so he can buy more of his lands."

  "But that idea is too suicidal..." He gripped my shoulder tightly. "We just need to pool our money... Dad, the workers, and I are working the land hard for the next harvest. If we add Lilith's work with crafts, we should be able to..."

  I raised my hand, shaking my head.

  "You know Lilith wants to dedicate herself to medicine and go to the academy in the capital. And don't lie to me, Zac."

  He pulled back slightly, surprised.

  "Did Mom tell you?"

  I shrugged, smiling.

  "Lilith is 17 and you're 19. You're still young, I think. Just trust your little brother. I promise I'll come back, believe me."

  I raised my fist with a smile, and Zac bumped it with his hand, letting out a sigh and a faint smile.

  "If I die, at least you'll know the medicine for Mom's illness. And look after Yamato, okay?"

  The black cat yawned, stretched out on the small bed I'd made for him.

  "Don't talk like that, just come back alive, you idiot." He rummaged through his pockets and seemed to find something. "At least I still have this. Take it."

  He handed me a kind of... ring?

  "Hmm? What's this?"

  "This is the ring my fiancée gave me."

  "W-what? Then this is really important, Zac! Why are you giving it to me?" I was surprised and took it carefully. "Even more important... like, a fiancée?"

  "To make sure you come back alive from your little idiotic crusade," he said, putting his finger to his lips and shushing me. "I'll tell you the story when you return. It'll be a good anecdote, won't it?"

  Zac finally relented a little and smiled, turning his back to me as he left the hut.

  "Idiot..." I murmured, smiling without realizing it as I gazed up at the night sky.

  I stood still for a few more seconds, listening to his footsteps fade into the distance until the sound completely disappeared.

  Silence returned to the place, broken only by the faint creak of the wood and the quiet breathing of Yamato, who slept curled up on his small, makeshift bed.

  I stroked the cat's head.

  "Take care of them, okay?" I whispered. "I'll be back... I promise."

  I wasn't sure if I was saying it for him... or for myself.

  I took a deep breath and gently slapped my cheeks with both hands.

  "Alright...!"

  I left the hut and climbed aboard the barge.

  My barge.

  That pile of metal, crudely carved runes, and recycled parts that, somehow, had become my only escape.

  I checked the supplies one last time: flasks, tools, spare runestones, handwritten notes, small inventions I wasn't sure would even work...

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The wind roared, the sky split open before me, and for some reason... I smiled.

  But I smiled.

  "Alright, world..." I murmured as the clouds enveloped me. "Throw your best at me!"

  The wind gradually ceased its roar.

  The clouds dissipated one by one, as if the sky were spitting me back into the world.

  I carefully slowed the barge, adjusting the runes as my hands trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from the height.

  "Whoa..." I sighed, braking just a few meters from the blue sea.

  Why did I emphasize the blue? Because if you look closely, this ocean is far too deep, as if a tremendous abyss is swallowing you whole. And there's a reason for that.

  Down here, within this ocean, lie the Leviathans. How ironic, isn't it? This is literally the stage for a final war where the empire will face these creatures. Creatures that, by the way, were erased from the annals of the empire's history, as the ancient emperors wanted no one to know that their prisoners are what keep them afloat.

  The Red Empire

  The Great Red Dragon Empire—its name remains a mystery even to me, who played the video game. This "First Emperor" established the social hierarchy of his realm and was also responsible for imprisoning the Leviathans after their victory over the Titans. He and his most trusted wizards carved runes powerful enough to transfer the dormant power of the immense Leviathans to the islands, which would keep his people safe from the remaining dangers of the war.

  The Leviathans were not the only creation of the Titans. They were responsible for creating everything, and for good reason—they are the Titans of Creation. Hundreds and thousands of life forms now swarm this beautiful planet.

  The Great Emperor chose humanity to be the representative race of his Empire, and, of course, his favorite. Favored by this dragon, they were gifted this celestial empire and granted the technology to traverse the skies in these flying fortresses they call "Galleons," a reference to European ships.

  "Hmm..." I sighed heavily, gliding over the ocean without touching it. "Even here the air feels heavy... I'm afraid to even touch the water."

  Despite moving at great speed with the barge, the deep ocean simply wouldn't disappear. This symbolized the danger and the sheer scale of these monstrosities...

  I have to prevent the true ending at all costs. These things can't be exposed... I don't know if my mind could even handle it...

  "I'm still a human from another world..." I gasped, overwhelmed, but shook my head.

  I continued accelerating until the darkness of the ocean gradually disappeared, and the water returned to its crystalline clarity. Finally, I was breathing normally again, thinking I was safe, but...

  "Idiot... I'm on a suicide mission..." I laughed at the irony and sighed.

  I won't die, damn it! I need to stay calm.

  I continued sailing for several hours, gazing at the crystal-clear ocean surrounding me. Marine life leaped from the water to greet me or simply frolicked among themselves. The beautiful scent of sea salt filled my nostrils, and birds soared overhead or raced past me at incredible speeds. It was a truly beautiful scene...

  Until finally, I slowly applied the brakes, seeing the white sand and a forest beyond it—a tropical one, with palm trees and vines.

  "Hm... I can't quite place my location by the area, but..." I glanced at the compass and sighed nervously again. "Th-this should be the place..."

  I clenched my fists in fear, but I encouraged myself, sighing as I recalled my exploits as Akechi and my work as a detective.

  You've seen worse, Akechi... you can do this.

  I nodded and took a step forward, disembarking from the ship. Before doing so, I removed the runes.

  In the worst-case scenario, I'll shatter the carving and immolate myself with this... I'm not playing games. If I can prevent Kaelion's kidnapping with my life, I will.

  "If I sacrifice myself, I won't be able to live peacefully..." I shook my head.

  I was so nervous that my list of priorities was completely out of whack.

  "Ugh... if things get too difficult, I'll just run away." I finally nodded.

  But a strong shove hit my back, and surprised, I turned to see...

  There was nothing there...

  "W-what the hell..." I slipped my hands into my pockets and happened to glance at Zac's ring.

  It was warm...

  "Hm?" I shook my head. "Tch... let's just go!"

  I took the final step and entered the forest, pulling on my leather gloves and letting out a heavy sigh. Finally, I focused on my destination!

  Everything I had fit into that space.

  My entire future, too.

  I placed my hand on the runic control.

  The inscriptions began to glow with a faint, bluish light, tracing the circuits etched into the structure as if the ship were awakening.

  The soft hum of the arcane engine filled the air.

  I swallowed hard.

  I took one last look at the island. The faint lights of the houses in the distance were already dimming, for a new day would soon begin, and I had to set sail.

  "Don't screw it up..." I whispered. "Just... don't mess this up."

  With a slight movement, the barge lifted.

  At first, it was slow, almost delicate, as if it hesitated as much as I did. But then I turned the helm.

  And everything changed.

  The barge suddenly accelerated, rising with a force I hadn't expected. The wind slammed into my face, forcing me to grip the edge as the ground receded at an absurd speed.

  "W-Woah...!"

  The island began to shrink.

  Too small.

  The houses shrank to dots, the trees to green splotches, and the island gradually diminished until it was just a speck. I was sailing away from the territory of the red empire.

  A tightness formed in my chest. It was too late to turn back, even if I wanted to. I had already set sail and taken the first, most difficult step.

  For the first time since waking up in this world, I truly understood: I wasn't planning an adventure; I was "testing my luck."