---

Emerging from the woodland path, I entered the slum dweller hamlet. Like yesterday, I could feel stares from every corner.

It was unsurprising they had their eyes all over me. To the slum dwellers, I was still a stranger. Naturally, I'd treat them the same.

That's the way it should be right..? I'm not in the wrong for keeping my distance...

My inner turmoil was interrupted by the yells of a loud man. As I approached the headland, I saw the Ashen Thief wave and call out to me with a jolly laugh.

Seeing that dumb smile on his chiseled gorilla face managed to assuage some of the pain I felt, even if just for a bit.

「You're late! Where've you been? Didn't I have Melyn ask you to meet me here pronto? It's already been ten minutes!」

「Yeah... well... a few things happened...」

I nervously chuckled, Melyn's breakdown still fresh in my mind.

「Never mind that! Hold out your hands!」

Without a second thought, I did as he said.

「Here you go! To commemorate your official induction into the Sentinels and the Lakua district!」

Rysef held up a clean set of clothes and plopped them into my hands. It had been a while since I felt a decent pair of linen trousers.

And this tunic is actually soft!

「T-thanks...」

「Don't mention it! And don't suck up to me too much! You'll end up like Lia, haha!」

When Rysef called me up to the promontory, I didn't know what to expect. His providing fresh new clothes came to me as a complete surprise.

Especially after I'd only met the guy yesterday.

Aren't these hard to come by when you're poor?!

「What's with the out-of-character charity..? It's scary how much you've done for me in two days...」

「Th' hell's that supposed t' mean ya, whippersnapper?! Can't a district master do some good fer his apprentice?!」

I immediately suspected him of bribing me for something. He did seem like the type to possess an ulterior motive...

Melyn's one thing, but Rysef is definitely someone I can't trust...

「Since yesterday you've been going out of your way to please me. Setting a trainer up with me, providing me with new clothes, and after this, you're even gonna introduce me to your study. I just don't get it. If you're looking to buy favors from me, then hate to break it to you but I—」

The Ashen Thief suddenly flicked my forehead.

「OW! W-what'd you do that for?!」

He sat down on the grassy floor and crossed his arms much like he did yesterday.

「That was for making Mel cry. I told you right? Seeing her smile means the world to me. If you take that smile away, you should be ready to face the consequences...」

So he knew...

「S-sorry... I'll admit, I didn't use the prettiest language when speaking to her...」

Rysef sighed deeply.

「Lorenzo, I get it. You're the cautious type. You've lived your whole life seeking optimal gain for minimal risk. Such a mindset isn't bad to have. It can be helpful when the situation calls for it.」

「And..? What's your point.」

The Ashen Thief leaned in and looked me deep in the eyes.

「I want you to trust us. Your circumspect demeanor is getting out of hand.」

「Haven't we gone through this exchange before?」

「We have. But you haven't cooperated. Your heart's still locked up tighter than a Clagarion vault.」

「I'm not privy to your obscure metaphors...」

Rysef jumped up and gazed off into the starless horizon, just past the ocean of clouds. It was as if he was waiting for something.

「Whenever you're around us, your breathing speeds up and your airways constrict. You're always on guard in our presence.」

「So..? Isn't that normal..? I'm not gonna trust you that easily you know?」

He groaned and turned to me.

「My aptitude lies in all four types of ani magic. Restoration means I can heal wounds, fortification means I can boost defense and speed, illusion means I can confuse enemies and conjuration allows me to summon familiars. However, I refuse to summon familiars because of my past with them. Don't pry, that's as much as I'm telling.」

「W-wha—?」

The mention of his aptitude in all four types lined up with what Lia said—he was telling the truth.

Rysef just gave away valuable combat info to a new recruit, including his weakness. Either he was careless or...

「Since yesterday you've seen me as an enemy. Your impression of me is overtly less than favorable. I'll admit, my initial introduction came off as hostile and aggressive. I don't blame you for harboring distrust for me...」

He slowly shifted his gaze back to the Nimbus Sea.

「I said it once, and I'll say it as many times as I have to: let's learn to trust one another. Not only for Mel's sake but also your own. Building up walls around you will inevitably hamper your pursuit of knowledge. It's fine to be cautious, but you have to draw the line somewhere, right? Besides, we're on the same team now! So, what do you say, partner?」

The Ashen Thief outstretched his arm and pat my head. Though I had my doubts, I could feel the warmth from his touch.

「I still can't fully trust you... but... I suppose treating my caretakers with disdain isn't the wisest move. I'll try to get along with you slum dwellers...」

「Hahaha! This is supposed to be the part where you wholly concede, you dense brat!」

「As if I'd be swayed by your honeyed words!」

「Hey, I thought it was a pretty damn good speech!」

「The novelty in using overused platitudes wore off after the first few sentences you silverback!」

The two of us laughed at one another. Though his intentions were unclear, Rysef was definitely a fun person to hang around.

I came to remember the banter I had with Melyn the day before, and by extension, the banter I had with my comrades in Battleshift.

How strangely nostalgic...

「By the way... what have you been looking at this past few minutes? Playing "I Spy" by yourself?」

「You sometimes say the most unusual of statements, my dear apprentice... But no, I'm actually waiting on something—it's the reason I wanted to drag you here as soon as possible.」

「Waiting on something?」

I shifted my attention on the same spot the Ashen Thief kept his eye on. Then, it appeared.

A crack had formed in the otherwise seamless mass of white. Brilliant specks of light began to spew out, like fireworks on independence day.

My eyes quite literally lit up, as my jaw dropped.

「W-what is that..?」

「Stars. Beneath the Nimbus Sea are remnants of jewels that adorned the night sky. On particularly windy days like this, the gusts are strong enough to blow parts of the ocean asunder. When that happens, sparkling particles of stardust bleed out. It doesn't happen often, so you're real lucky, haha!」

We weren't alone in witnessing this breathtaking spectacle.

Fringing the edge of the floating continent were slum dwellers. They stood inches away from the precipice.

Men, women, kids of all ages, the elderly, even Sentinel members wearing the signature sleeveless dark leather garbs.

Individuals—all down on their luck—gathered in unison. Every one of them was transfixed on a twinkling geyser that lasted nary a few minutes.

I couldn't help but be fixated on the fact.

Complete strangers who bonded merely over the powerless positions they found themselves in. It was a concept more miraculous than the sight before me.

So these are the slum dwellers, eh..?

---

「Zozo... about my endgame...」

「Hm?」

Fast-forward back to Apla 26th.

After compiling the last of my research, I called it a day. I pushed myself away from the desk and stretched in satisfaction.

「Endgame?」

「You know—what you asked me back at Rysef's room?」

I flipped my whole body to face the thief girl who sat in the corner of the study. She'd cheered up considerably after the whole photograph incident.

I was slightly relieved.

「A-ah, right... Finally decided on something?」

「Yep!」

Melyn got up from her seat and walked up to me. Her crimson eyes were brimming with joy.

「I don't care about the specifics, as long as I get to stay with you and Rysef forever!」

She triumphantly posed with arms akimbo, as if she'd cracked an impossible code.

「That's not really an endgame though... it's more of a pipe dream...」

「And? What about you? Have you thought of your desired endgame? Hopes for the future? Three days from now marks a month since you first came here right? Hehe, you've softened up considerably since then!」

I was caught off guard by her words.

I'd kept count of the days that had gone by since my reincarnation, but I'd never expected time to fly by so quickly.

Just goes to show how much I've gotten used to the slum dweller life. My past life was nothing like this and yet...

I'd never felt more alive.

「Desired endgame... I haven't really thought that through...」

「What? You forced a super difficult question onto me and you didn't even have an answer? You're really unfair, Zozo!」

「I didn't even force you to answer...」

But that got me thinking. If Melyn could choose such an unrealistic dream, then what was holding me back from my original goal?

Becoming the richest man in the world...

It was a straightforward objective. Not too hard to understand.

Sure, it was easier said than done, but that's also how it was for me in Battleshift. I aimed for the top, even when the odds were against me.

Throughout these twenty-eight days, I learned a lot. About magic, combat, the world, and even myself.

The way I saw it, letting my pragmatic nature dictate my every decision, would undeniably slow things to a grinding halt.

And so, I made my choice.

「Melyn... you know what..?」

「You finally found your answer?」

I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve.

「I'm gonna be the richest guy in the world!」

---