"If I could have a chance to go back to reality, I would still want to go back, but I want to go back with her." - If I can't be with her, then I won't go back.

We didn't stay long in the kingdom, everyone left in batches, and in the end, only Sasa, Wolfrang, Leya and I were left.

"Are you coming back with us?"

"Well... we still have some things to take care of, we'll be back in a few days."

"Then we'll wait for you in town."

"Okay."

Leya sat on Wolfrang's shoulder as we headed south. I kicked the sandy ground beneath my feet and glanced back at the busy third-level territory farmers and the city gate that was being rebuilt, taking out a half-smoked cigar from my pocket.

"Honey, do you have any matches?"

"Um... I don't think so."

Yeah, she doesn't usually carry matches. There should be a box of matches in our luggage, but I'm too lazy to look for them now.

"Guess if I can still conjure flames?"

I had the empty lighter that I always kept in my pocket in my hand, and I asked Sasa.

"Didn't you say that the green stuff ran out?"

"Yeah, but life always has surprises."

"Huh?"

"Do you still remember how to use it?"

"Of course I do."

"Help me light it."

The transparent green gas reservoir in the lighter was empty, there was no oil left. Sasa took the lighter with a skeptical look, carefully pressed the electronic ignition switch with both hands, very cute. It turns out that using a lighter also distinguishes between beginners and experienced users.

"Ah!"

A small flame emerged from the circular hole, and Sasa was surprised. Actually, there was nothing to be surprised about; after all the liquid fuel ran out in the gas lighter, there would still be some gas left in the reservoir.

"See, there's always surprises."

"Then why didn't you use this to start a fire before?"

"Because... because it wasn't urgent at that time."

"Is there something urgent now?"

"Well, I really want to smoke now, so it's urgent!"

"Heh, you're always so talkative."

Sasa tossed the lighter to me, returning to her usual expression after the surprise just now. Speaking of surprises, the fact that the two of us exist is already a surprise in itself.

"Husband, where are we going if not back to town?"

"Just walking around, who knows when we'll be able to come back here again."

"Yeah, I understand."

Since we had already decided to leave, today was a day for us to go to the places we wanted to see, as a memento. Featherhead was being put on a carriage for the first time and didn't seem too happy about it, but if we were to walk, it would probably take us two weeks to get there.

The first stop was the holy land of the kingdom, the mysterious Red Bull Scent Spring is no longer under the control of the mages, anyone can drink from it. We happened to meet a few children playing in the forest. To this day, I still haven't figured out why the purple water flows against gravity, just like how I still don't know if the black dragon still resides in Mountain Dotch. But that's what makes it a different world, if everything could be explained with my common sense, life would be boring.

In the sacred forest, it reminded me of the night we battled against Forging Roses. We suffered our first devastating defeat, even though Wolfrang and Leya arrived in the end, for Sasa and me, it was a complete defeat in every aspect. Now, I won't be reminiscing about the kingdom's strongest adventurer team, I can only be grateful to the friends who helped me.

I filled a jug with spring water and sprinkled it on the battlefield where we had fought before. Melissa, I'm sorry, but it seems that either your team or our couple is doomed to be wiped out.

The second stop is Nephila's nest, where the initially terrifying spider witch now chooses to live with humans. I don't know what changed her, our love or the delicious grilled meat, but on the ground at the entrance, I saw the stick figure drawing she carved with her claws.

"Her drawing is really terrible..."

"Yeah, my tail should have been thicker."

"But I really didn't expect her to choose to live in Night Fall Town. What does she plan to do in the future?"

"Leya said she seems to want to be a tailor."

"Well, that suits her."

Nephila is indeed suited to be a tailor because the technique of making clothes without needles and thread is beyond human reach. And her spider silk clothing has properties like waterproofness or water absorption. The one we are wearing is waterproof. As for the people who want to buy clothes, they probably have to offer a cow as food in exchange.

Although there have been rumors recently that Nephila and Park have become closer, I think it's just technical communication. Because Park used to ask Nephila to use the tip of her feet on her back to cut iron pipes, which is less effortful than using pliers and the cut is neat, almost no polishing is needed.

The third stop is where we encountered the thunderbird. I vaguely remember how determined I was to electrocute the thunderbird with a wet rope, and my wife telling me it felt like the bird's intelligence went offline when it stepped on the rope.

Now the thunderbird has lost its ability to discharge electricity but lives much more comfortably than before. Rather than being perceived as a terrifying monster, it prefers to live on as an ordinary large bird.

Oh, by the way, the children really like this big bird and happily feed it various things. The adults find its calls annoying, but it is still kept at the westernmost part of Night Fall Town. One reason is to keep the pack of hyenas at bay, and the other reason is that the naturally molting feathers of the thunderbird are perfect for making high-capacity dip pens.

Of course, except for me, there is no one else brave enough to ride the thunderbird and fly around recklessly.

The last stop is our home, a small cave that is about to become a memory.

This 20-plus-square-meter cave records so many of our little moments, but precisely because of that, we have to leave. If we live here our whole lives, the future we can see will be as small as the blue sky peeking out of the cave entrance.

There is one more thing I want to do, something that may be meaningless.

Holding Sasa's hand, I enter the dark interior of the cave where everything began. With my eyes changed, Sasa no longer has night vision capability, but with the snake's perception and her familiarity with the cave, my wife still guides me to the stone pillar that used to support me.

Pinching my nose, I slowly kneel down and speak complicated Chinese into the darkness.

"Mom, Dad, your son may not be able to return to your side and fulfill his filial duty anymore."

"I may never see Mom and Dad again..."

"Your son cannot repay the kindness of raising him for twenty-four years, all I can do is bow and apologize, hoping that my parents can see."

"But here, I am doing well, doing many things that I couldn't do before."

"Oh, by the way, this is Sasa, your daughter-in-law, and we've been together for almost two years."

"She is gentle, she loves me, and I love her too. I don't ask for my parents' blessing, I just want to say to you..."

"Although my son hasn't achieved success and fame, he is happy and fulfilled every day, being with the person he loves the most. He is no longer limited by poverty and is no longer a lonely bachelor."

"My son has left, may the parents in the real world have a healthy and long life, no longer worrying about me."

After saying that, tears streamed down my face. One eye can produce just as many tears as two eyes. My wife silently listened to me, knowing that I was bidding farewell to my past.

I will live on with the name Raul Chen, as the husband of a Medusa, and Sasa will be my wife, accompanying me through a long or short life.

Returning to New Night Fall Town, I greeted familiar people. Everyone knew that Sasa and I would be leaving, but no one tried to stop us. Some believed that we would come back, while others believed that wherever we traveled, hope would remain.

In the bar, we saw Wolfrang and Leya who had been waiting for a long time. Park was there too, and Gray skillfully operated the tap on the beer barrel.

"Hey, Wolfrang, we're both leaving. Don't you want to give us your blessings?"

"What's there to bless, Leya and I are leaving too~"

"If you leave, what will happen to the werewolves?"

"My younger brother will take over."

"And if Leya leaves with you, what will happen to the succubi?"

"The sisters don't need me to lead them anymore, they are capable on their own."

"Oh, where are you guys planning to go?"

"We're heading south."

"Perfect, Sasa and I are planning to go south too. Do you want to travel together?"

"Don't, I'm afraid we'll disturb the sweet life of you newlyweds."

"Oh, you're being harsh with your words~"

"Yeah, it's like you guys aren't newlyweds anymore~"

"Well, you two have always been the best at teasing us..."

Wolfrang and Leya have never won an argument against me and Sasa, and it's the same now.

"Park, do you want to come with us?"

"Don't, you two are leaving and I'll be all alone."

Gray complained first, as he couldn't leave. He had to take care of the black market, the bar, and the kingdom, among other things.

"I won't leave because Simmon is still here."

Park drank a glass of alcohol and talked about his childhood friend, Simmon, whom he had played with since he was young. Their bond was truly deep, and they had experienced much more together than us.

"Well then, let's toast to Simmon, and to all the humans and monsters who have sacrificed their lives for our present."

When leaving, everything becomes bittersweet, even the cheapest and most ordinary Nardoulum wine. We raised our glasses and drank, allowing the liquid in our mouths to flow into our stomachs, bringing up countless unforgettable memories.

We stayed in Night Fall Town for another week, purchasing all the essential items on our checklist and drinking lots of alcohol every night. We also changed our plan of using a goat-drawn cart to a feather-drawn cart, tying the goats behind the cart, as my wife couldn't figure out how to drive goats and honestly, neither could I.

Park seemed to want to give us all his possessions. Many small tools like flint and steel were packed into my luggage, while Wolfrang and Leya only had a few clothes and food. On the day of departure, everyone came. Even the mother of the newborn baby held her child to bid us farewell. The orc lord and Ururm still remained the same, showing off their teeth as they happily waved us off. Nephila was quiet, mechanically waving the arm growing from her shoulder. Gray cried, perhaps reminiscing about the days when we called each other brothers in the kingdom. Thunderbird kept trying to fly onto the cart and I repeatedly pushed it down, until it finally scratched the ground and screeched. Auntie had a lot to say, and so did my sister-in-law, but in the end, the Medusas chose to say goodbye with a smile.

Can the four of us, different species, find the ocean after all?

It doesn't matter anymore, we have a heart wider than the sea.

Feathers lifted hooves, the carriage started moving forward, Wolfrang and Leya maintained the beauty and the beast pose, while Sasa and I snuggled together. The warmth she transmitted through her shirt didn't even resemble Medusa.

From now on, the sound that will forever echo in our ears is no longer the sound of gunfire, but that familiar and yet unfamiliar language of another world.

"Sanni-Harila!"