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In front of me was a bustling crowd; perhaps it was a Saturday or Sunday as countless people roamed about the streets, laughing and going about their day.

Glancing at their clothes―modern and unlike anything I saw people wearing in the Otherworld―the steaming lattes in their hands, as well as the smartphones they seemed to use so casually, it almost gave me whiplash at how disparate the scene was to what I had grown accustomed to over the recent weeks.

I could hear the sound of honking traffic in the distance, the snap of a camera, and the background buzz of conversation.

My eyes were naturally drawn to the buildings, tall and concrete. The endless rows of technologised shops, clinics, and more, most of which were far taller than the buildings in River or the Imperial Capital.

There was no Guild building, no battle-scarred adventurers walking around with draped cloaks and sheathed swords.

I looked up and saw a blue sky that was far too bright.

Quietly taking in the scent of sweet street food and savoury snacks as all kinds of things I had forgotten the existence of permeated each of my senses, I slowly began to feel it.

This sight before me, and not just the sight but the sounds, the smells, and the feeling of polluted air washing over me, brushing through my hair.

Taking it in all at once, I really felt it.

I... was finally back.

"..."

[Are you glad?]

The voice of the World Tree flowed through my head, and for some reason, the world around me seemed to slow down at the same time.

"What do you want now?"

To be honest, I was astounded that it could follow me all the way here and talk to me even now, but chalked it up to keeping a portion of the tree\'s natural energy within me.

[I simply wish to ask a question of curiosity, Cipher. Are you glad now that you have returned?]

"..."

I thought about it for a moment, and although logically speaking I should say yes, I wasn\'t yet sure if that was entirely true.

After all, unlike in the Otherworld where I could pretty much do as I liked with no consequence, there were far too many thorns in my side that existed on Earth.

I still hadn\'t made up my mind on how to deal with them, so I was stuck in a bit of a dilemma in that regard.

[That\'s right. You know that nothing has ended even after returning here, you know?]

Of course, I know that nothing is over yet. Saying that to me of all people. Do you even understand who you\'re talking to?

[Hoho. Nevertheless, I would like you to keep it in mind; that includes the matter of the world you call \'Otherworld\'.]

"What\'s that supposed to mean?"

Why bring up the Otherworld now? There was no reason I would ever end up there again, so it should have no relevance to me.

[Just remember: Nothing is over until the end has come and gone.]

[And for you in particular, the end will only become more and more hungry.]

[Evading the end is only applicable when the end permits it, and fleeing the end is not possible forever.]

What nonsense.

"I\'ve already gone over what will happen, and it will happen because I will make it so."

"Whatever you say will not change anything, and whatever the end wants doesn\'t matter either."

"If all you\'re going to do is sit in the backseat and lecture me, then just get out."

After that, a few moments of silence passed with neither me nor the World Tree saying a word.

[...Well then. It is extremely regrettable, but I can only pray you bear in mind my words. I truly only wish for the best ending. For everyone.]

[Now, you have chosen your path, and there is little time remaining.]

[My body will become visible to the residents of this world, the end will follow, and chaos will ensue.]

[I can only ask you to prioritise what your heart is most concerned about above all else.]

[Then.]

[Farewell, Cipher, and my apologies.]

[I hope you can find what was taken from you back then, even if you have forgotten.]

[Good luck, my forever lost child.]

At that moment, all of the World Tree\'s Transcendent and natural energy disappeared from my body.

Feeling as if I had lost a whole bunch of vitality in one go, I knew it was nothing more than an aftereffect and immediately recovered myself with Reality.

At the same time, the world resumed flowing at a normal speed.

Now, I stood still, feeling isolated and alone despite standing in the middle of a teeming city square.

About the World Tree\'s final words, there was too much stuff I didn\'t understand to pick it apart, and I also got the feeling that it would only leave me with more questions if I thought about it too deeply.

It was too suspicious and I didn\'t know enough to read between the lines, so I quickly dismissed it and focused on what was more important.

Or at least, I tried to, but as soon as I did, I heard an uproar around me along with collective gasps.

"??"

Suddenly, it seemed that everyone was staring in my direction and hurriedly talking about something.

Not able to figure out what was wrong as everyone started pulling out their phones to take a picture or video, I turned to look behind me.

"...Oh."

I don\'t know when it happened but in the very centre of Weinstell Square, the World Tree had sprouted.

Was this the method it used to connect to countless worlds? I never expected something like this...

It was still rather shocking for me, but I couldn\'t imagine what it would be like for these people on their day out to witness an unfathomably large tree abruptly appear out of thin air in the middle of the city.

Understanding what all the ruckus was about, I made the decision to quickly flee the scene, relieved that I was not the source of the commotion.

Fortunately, I am still wearing Leander Herington\'s business suit from way back, so I should not have appeared suspicious.

But, now that I\'m back on Earth, what do I do?

I can\'t just show up back at the old house since those guys\' betrayal was the whole reason I got imprisoned in the Otherworld to begin with... But, I also don\'t have any money on me, and I\'ll get instantly found out by Minami the moment I try to access my bank account.

Well, let\'s think about it.

I don\'t need to worry about food or water thanks to Reality.

I also don\'t need to care about the weather.

I don\'t need to worry about being able to protect myself, and I don\'t need sleep either.

As it turns out, everything is covered neatly because of Reality. So, do I even need a place to stay? Not really.

Still, the question remains as to what to do now.

I could get everything over with right away and summon the Nightmare King, but that wouldn\'t be right.

I can already tell that doing that would leave me far too unsatisfied.

My burning curiosity.

Until now, I was trying to suppress it, but it\'s getting too much now that I\'ve finally returned.

Just why...

After everything I had done for them, the lengths I had gone to cultivate their loyal piety and devotion.

The time we had spent together, the vacant hole in their hearts I filled with my affection.

After all of that...

Why would they betray me?

I need to know.

I know it couldn\'t have all been a lie.

I still remember the looks on their faces at that time, guilt-ridden and abashed.

Someone else might\'ve not noticed any difference from their usual blankness, but not me.

None of it was a simple facade.

But then, why...?

For what reason could they have betrayed me so cold-heartedly and without mercy?

Exiling me to another world from which escape should have been impossible.

From which death would have been nothing less than a certainty if I didn\'t awaken Reality.

And then, why...

Why would they say something like that...?

"..."

\'That video\' flashed in my mind for a moment and I immediately came back to my senses.

Without hesitation, I started walking in a certain direction.

I was being stupid.

There was no need to think about where to go, or what to do.

I already knew what I wanted to do for a long time.

Ever since that day... No, far before even then.

I no longer had Truth, but that didn\'t mean I was alone.

Reality was all I needed, and she was more than enough.

I would get my answers.

After all, I knew exactly where to find them.

I said just a minute ago that I wouldn\'t return to the house.

That was a lie.

❖─────❖─────❖

I used to go out a lot for the purpose of collecting the right kinds of materials and ingredients before I met Minami and could just purchase them without a worry, so I knew the layout of Weinstell like the back of my hand, including all the back alleys and secret shortcuts.

Of course, I also knew the surrounding area in which I lived.

Walking down Tree Jewel Boulevard, I silently gazed at the lush environment that accompanied these affluent houses.

I questioned for a moment if they had any kind of idea what went down at our place, or who the sort of people were that lived there, but none of it mattered in the end.

As I passed a woman in glasses who I recognised as one of the neighbours, I turned and entered the drive of a certain house.

Tree Jewel Boulevard.

House Number 7.

How long has it been since I last stepped through this door?

A month? Two months, maybe?

I had no idea if there was any sort of time dilation effect between Earth and the Otherworld, so it was something impossible for me to judge at this moment.

Well, I knew it couldn\'t have been that much of a difference thanks to the appearance of the twins in that video, but anyway.

No matter.

Now was not the time to reminisce about the old days.

Now was the time for answers.

I wonder who is home at this time?

I hope they are the sort who aren\'t weak to surprises because otherwise, we might have a bit of a problem on our hands.

Placing my hand on the door handle, I used Reality to open the door as if it had never been locked in the first place before stepping foot inside.

The interior was just as I remembered, but dismissed the observation as something obvious.

Closing the door behind me, I found the house to be unusually quiet.

Typically, you would hear the sounds of playing, casual conversation, or cleaning up from any of the maids, but currently, there was none of that.

Hm.

Many coats and jackets were missing from the rack by the front door, so I assumed most of the house had to be out for the day.

Nonetheless, there was one white, fluffy coat that remained, so I knew the house wasn\'t completely empty.

Walking into the living room, I found the T.V. was on, but paused.

Ah.

So, someone was here, but they briefly left.

Flush~!

Just as I thought this, I heard the sound of someone finishing up in the bathroom.

I see now.

Deciding to take a seat in one of the armchairs, I thought it would be best to wait for whoever was home to return so we could talk.

It seemed like it was only one person, and judging by what was on the television as well as the coat on the coat rack, I could make a solid guess as to who it might be.

Thump, thump, thump.

Hearing the person\'s light footsteps as they walked through the house hallway, I glanced at the paused show they were busy watching―something to do with a group of women; and going by their hostile looks towards each other, probably some kind of drama if I had to guess.

There was only one person who lived in this house who watched those kinds of shows.

However, that person didn\'t own a white, fluffy coat according to my memory.

Now, of course, they could have purchased one while I was gone, but I find the much more likely answer to be something else.

This person is someone else, but with matching interests.

Who could that be?

Well, it wasn\'t a coat I have seen often, so they weren\'t someone who lived here.

Taking all of this information into consideration, only one person came to mind.

"Hm hmm~~"

At that moment, a humming girl with long, golden blonde hair and radiating amethyst eyes entered the room.

"Hm--..."

She froze immediately upon realising my appearance, and her shock was so profound that I could feel her heart stop vicariously.

Looking at this girl in the eyes, who seemed to have made herself comfortable in someone else\'s home while they were gone, I raised a smile.

"It\'s been a while, hasn\'t it?"

"...Ah..."

"Araceli Arévalo."