My destination was the city of Atris.
According to Quincy, it was 3,200 kilometers away.
And surprisingly... that was the nearest city to the Valentine estate.
Seriously, that distance was insane.
I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as I stared at the map hovering in front of me, and asked aloud:
"If that's the closest city… just how massive is this world?"
A warm breeze whispered through the treetops, but I couldn't enjoy it.
I wasn't here to sightsee.
I planned to register at the good old Adventurers' Guild.
The one fantasy trope you can't escape—especially in a damn video game.
Though, based on Quincy's calculations, carriage travel to Atris would take about a month.
That'd be great... if I were stuck in a character's role.
But I'm just a random kid now—one who really doesn't want to be a slave anymore.
So I had neither the patience nor the luxury to soak in the scenery.
My pace quickened.
Branches snapped beneath my feet. Sweat traced a slow path down my neck.
I was laser-focused. My breathing steady.
By my math, I had about 7 days left until the global launch... maybe less.
That meant I had less than a month in-game to earn my freedom.
Time Skip was still a gamble.
I didn't know if I'd get to live those years, or just be yanked forward in time when the story began.
Either way, I could reach Atris whenever I wanted—right now, even.
But I wasn't in a rush... because there was a massive problem I needed to fix first.
And that problem... was me.
From what that twisted old lady said—and based on the System Window—
the requirement to join the Adventurers' Guild was to be at least level 10.
And that... was a giant, glowing wall in front of me.
As an NPC, I couldn't level up.
Ever.
So I had to be clever. There was no other way.
I sighed and kept walking.
Maybe moving would trigger an idea.
I had left the Valentine estate around noon.
Using the System Map, I took a shortcut—deep through an overgrown forest.
Thick foliage blocked out the sky in patches.
Shadows danced between the roots and underbrush.
The atmosphere was immersive... but I found it boring.
So I ordered Quincy to increase my Speed stat to 7%—roughly equivalent to level 700.
The world blurred around me as I ran.
The humidity was stifling. My clothes clung to my skin.
It felt like the forest itself was sweating alongside me.
The temperature climbed.
My breathing grew heavy.
My once-light steps became sluggish.
I'd forgotten to boost my Stamina.
Idiot.
I hadn't slept well.
Hadn't eaten enough earlier.
The heat, the fatigue—it all started to melt together inside me.
And then...
Through the trees, in a small natural clearing—I saw it.
A crystal-clear river split the forest into two.
And just beyond it... a majestic waterfall, crashing from the heights as if the sky itself were collapsing into drops.
The roar of the water hitting the rocks filled the air with a deep, echoing rhythm.
And at that moment, for some reason...
I remembered.
***
Six Months Ago:
Liliana:"Baby... BABY!... Hey... WAKE UUUUUP!"
—WAAH...sigh "W-what's wrong?"
I practically leapt out of bed. My heart racing.
There she was—
Standing beside the bed, lit only by the soft light filtering through the curtains.
Her skin glowed, her expression radiant, and that smile...
That smile outshined everything.
Liliana:"Nothing. I just wanted to wake you up and talk for a bit."
She looked stunning, but I didn't love the way she woke me up, so I muttered:
—*"Oh, COME ON… I just spent one of the best nights of my life with you, in a dream hotel in the most romantic city ever... I deserve some damn rest!"
She tilted her head slightly, raising one eyebrow like, "Seriously?", though her gaze remained soft.
Still... something was off.
A hint of unease masked by sweetness.
Liliana:"I know… but I didn't want to stay here too long. You might get into even more trouble than you already are."
I looked at her face.
Didn't want her to worry.
I took her hands, gently but firmly. My voice softened.
—"Lilia, you know everything I've done—everything I do—when it's for you, I'll never regret it. Never back down."
She lowered her eyes. Her cheeks turned a soft shade of red.
She pressed her lips together, trembling slightly with emotion.
And then...
Liliana:"But understand the situation... We left the city without warning. You even 'borrowed' your dad's private jet without permission… This isn't something you can just walk away from."
I held my ground. My voice calm but resolved.
—"Lilia… yesterday was our anniversary—of the day we met on that stream. I brought you to the best suite, in the best hotel in Venice... Even if I did it a hundred more times, it still wouldn't be enough for what you deserve."
She bit her lower lip gently. Her fingers trembled as they wrapped around my neck.
I pulled her close.
Our bodies met. Our breaths mingled.
Liliana:"Brian… you are my joy, my light... the kind of love I always hoped for. You've shattered all my expectations. I love you, Brian."
I had no words.
Her voice pierced my chest.
Warmth spread through my arms.
I closed my eyes and asked:
—"How do you manage to look even more beautiful in just seconds?"
She didn't answer.
Instead...
She kissed me.
Soft at first. Then deep.
A kiss that dissolved my fears...
And reminded me of something I thought I'd lost—hope.
Liliana:"How do you feel?"
—"Like I could fly. If I ever died… your kisses could bring me back."
She smiled.
Liliana:"The secret is drawing from your emotions. They become songs, poems, whatever... Every time I'm with you, you inspire me, Brian. So use that... and sing for me, okay?"
Panic. I swallowed hard. I wasn't ready.
I planned to do that when we got married.
But deep down... I wanted it too.
—"F-fine... but I only sing in the shower, and that's non-negotiable."
She touched her chin, pretending to think, and with a mischievous grin:
Liliana:"Okay… but we're showering together—and that's non-negotiable."
—"Wow. You're more into this than I am..."
She glanced sideways at me—no hostility, just a silent "Shut up, idiot."
We got in.
Washed together.
I sang badly on purpose. She didn't notice.
And after that romantic moment…
Yeah. We did it.
In the shower.
And in the rest of the suite.
Back to the Present
I stood frozen, watching the sunlight dance on the water's surface.
The waterfall's roar brought me back to the now.
I didn't know why that memory surfaced...
But I whispered to myself, feeling a knot form in my throat:
"That was… a really precious memory."
Liliana...
She was my last chance.
My final shot at romance.
Everyone already knew me as Dreifus now.
I couldn't trust just any girl who showed interest.
Because it's not about who stands beside you when you have everything—
It's about who was there before you had it all.
The eight before her...
I truly adored each in their own way.
There was a time I thought one of them might be the one.
But...
"I'm such a damn fool."
Even though I did the right thing...
Some part of me still regretted not taking the chances life threw at me.
I clenched my fists.
Closed my eyes for a second.
I didn't regret it...
But it still hurt.
That pain made me who I am now.
It redefined me.
I stopped dwelling on my epic, failed love life when I noticed something else—
The heat was unbearable.
"Why the hell did they program the weather to be this realistic?"
But that wasn't the main issue anymore.
The vegetation around me had grown even more lush.
The humidity was like a heavy invisible blanket.
And right in front of me...
That beautiful river.
That gorgeous waterfall...
It made me a silent offer.
—"Screw it… I haven't bathed since I got to this world."
(Hygiene is essential.)
And with that final thought...
I stepped toward the water.