The Author's POV

"Huuuuamm..."

Yawning, a white mist escaped from my mouth. Although it was mid-winter, only now that I was awake early in the morning did I fully realize that winter was upon me.

Perhaps it was because I was less sensitive to the cold, it never truly hit me until now that it was already that time of the year.

6:30 A.M.

Checking my watch, I rubbed my hands together as I sat on a bench. Currently, I was at the train station, patiently waiting for the air train to arrive.

Moreover, apart from waiting for the air train, I was also waiting for someone to come...

Kevin.

I had already texted him beforehand that I was waiting for him today at the train station. Although the events with Gilbert had happened not so long ago, he should've already made a full recovery. Therefore he should be able to make it without a problem.

The only thing that I wanted to know was whether he received my message or not...

-tssss

"...It's snowing"

Snapping me out of my thoughts, extending my hand forward, I watched as an ice crystal gently landed on my jacket and melted straight after.

Glancing at the falling snow in the sky, I couldn't help but softly mumble to myself

"...five months huh?"

I've been in this world for five months...

Watching the ice crystals continuously fall from the sky and land on my jacket, I couldn't help but look back at what had happened these past few months.

"Time sure flies..."

Going from a reclused introvert to exploring dungeons, creating companies, finding comrades, meeting a new family...

"...Really, fate is truly strange in many ways."

Who could've ever guessed that my life would change so much in a matter of five months...I really couldn't explain how I felt at this moment.

Everything sort of felt like a blur...

-Voooooooom!

Snapping me out of my thoughts, the sound of an air train gently landing on the platform of the station resounded across the area I was in.

Frowning slightly, I glanced around me. However, noticing that I was the only person in the station, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed.

"Mhhh...did I perhaps miscalculate?"

...I really thought that Kevin would've without a doubt shown up considering what had happened with Gilbert, but did I perhaps misjudge something?

Shaking my head, I discarded such a notion

'No...I created Kevin, how could I have judged wrongly?'

Perhaps he was still on his way and something was holding him up. Like for example, an old grandma had fallen down the stairs and he was helping her stand up.

6:34 A.M.

Glancing at my watch, and seeing that there was only a minute left before the air train left, my brows knit tightly.

"Just where in the wo-"

"Am I late?"

Just as I was about to give up and leave the train station and go back to the Lock, I heard a voice coming from behind me.

Without looking behind me to see who the voice belonged to, I smiled and said

"Just barely"

...

[Lock station - Departing]

-Clank!

As the doors of the air train closed, lifting up in the air, it soon smoothly picked up its speed and disappeared into the distance.

Sitting on the opposite ends to each other in the air train, Kevin and I quietly looked at the ever-changing scenery outside of the train.

Neither one of us spoke a word.

Currently, the world outside was now dyed in white as the snow coated the rooftops of every building and house in the distance.

...It looked truly beautiful.

Glancing away from the window, I couldn't help but notice how empty the train was as apart from me and Kevin, no one was present. Perhaps because it was early in the morning or because the destination was far, the train was completely empty.

After a while, breaking the silence, Kevin looked at me for a couple of seconds before saying

"So, where are we going?"

Looking back at Kevin, without answering him immediatly, I responded with a question of my own

"Before that, can I take your presence as you agreeing to my deal?"

Hearing my question, Kevin didn't reply immediately. Staring at his feet for a couple of seconds, clenching his fists tightly, he eventually nodded.

"...yes"

"Great"

Seeing Kevin nod his head, a big smile appeared on my face. Resting my cheek on my hand, I calmly said

"We're going to the Clayton Ridge"

Surprised, Kevin's brows couldn't help but shoot upwards.

"The Clayton Ridge?"

"Yeah..."

The same place where I got the [Seed of Limit] and the [Keiki style].

However contrary to last time, I was going on further upwards of the Clayton Ridge.

The Clayton ridge was huge...and when I mean huge, I mean huge. We're talking like thousands of kilometers long.

Compared to the place where I took the [Seed of Limit] and [Keiki style], I was actually headed a lot further than that.

About a three hours journey from the Lock, approximately 1800 km in terms of distance.

Glancing at me in confusion, Kevin couldn't help but frown as he asked

"...Is that where the sword art is?"

Smiling, I nodded my head in confirmation

"Yup..and we're going to the middle part so you better rest as much as you can as you're going to need to save up all your energy for when the real challenge comes"

Once again looking at me in confusion, Kevin asked

"Challenge?"

Shaking my head, as I leaned on the window and stared at the world outside that was dyed in white, a light chuckle escaped from my mouth

"What? you're telling me that you expected me to just give you a five-star sword art without putting in any effort?"

In the first place, I was only bringing him to the place where the five-star manual was located.

If I had the five-star manual with me, I wouldn't have asked for him to meet me this early in the morning to go the Clayton ridge.

Understanding this, opening his mouth, Kevin tried to find words to say, but after a while, he shook his head and said

"No..I get it"

Raising my brow and noticing Kevin's crestfallen expression, patting him on the shoulder I reassured him

"Don't worry...I've got it all planned out, so you will definitely get your sword art, after all, if you don't get it, I won't go to Immorra."

Looking up at me for a couple of seconds, Kevin nodded his head and softly said

"...Okay"

"Just relax for now and let me handle the rest"

Staring at Kevin in front of me, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

I could tell that what had happened with Gilbert had taken a toll on his mental state.

As we spoke, I couldn't help but notice the impatience in Kevin's voice. Although he was trying to hide it, his subtle gestures such as the way he clenched his fists or nervously looked outside the window from time to time were enough of an indication for me to understand his mental state at the moment.

He was definitely desperate to increase his strength so that never again would he feel so weak and desperate at the hands of someone else.

...I too shared the same sentiment as him as I understood how being powerless felt. It wasn't that great of a feeling if I had to be honest...

Fortunately for him, I wasn't lying when I said that I had everything planned out.

...If things will go according to my plans, perhaps this could be one of the easiest dungeon raids in history.

Touching the insides of my jacket, I felt a thick rectangular object resting in between my body and jacket. Clenching it tightly, I couldn't help but think to myself

'...This will be the key to completing the dungeon without any problems'

...

[Desitation - Clayton ridge, Rowa]

"Huaaaaam..."

Lazily stretching my body, I glanced at Kevin and with my hand nudged him to stand up.

"We're here"

"Alright"

Nodding his head, Kevin stood up and followed me out of the air train. After three hours of sitting on a train, Kevin finally calmed down and returned to his regular serious self.

"haaaa..."

Instantly, as soon as I stepped foot outside of the train, a wave of fresh air brushed against my body causing me to slightly relax. Compared to the polluted air of the city, the air here was much cleaner and fresher.

It truly felt great.

Disrupting my moment of peace, Kevin spoke

"So where are we going?"

Glancing at Kevin, I pointed towards the town below us and suggested

"Let's first grab something to eat in the town below before going to our destination...trust me, the walk is going to be very long"

Thinking for a bit, Kevin eventually nodded his head.

Although he wasn't sure about where they were currently going, if the road was as harsh as Ren made it out to be, then it wouldn't hurt to fill their stomachs before leaving.

"If you say so...."