Aiton: What’s going on?

Aiton strode over to the Divine Officer and me. His gaze locked instantly on her hand shielding my chest.

His eyes narrowed slightly, turning dangerous. His right hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his waist-sword.

Aiton: Seventh Ju—step forward!!

Seventh Ju: Uh… ah…

Head bowed like a scolded child, I shuffled out of line, utterly humiliated.

The entire Pioneer Team halted. Every eye turned to me.

I hadn’t even done anything—yet shame burned hotter than fire.

Aiton: Divine Officer, what crime has he committed?

???: Ah… no, that’s not it at all.

Aiton: A crime too shameful to name?

???: Nothing of the sort. I merely spotted intriguing medicine.

Aiton: Selling poison?

???: Not poison. For his own use.

Aiton: Hallucinogenic drugs?

???: No… likely medicinal.

???: I’ve never seen such medicine before. Personal research curiosity got the better of me.

Aiton: So no criminal memories involved?

???: Certain anomalies puzzle me, but I judge him innocent of crime.

Aiton: …………

Aiton: Divine Officer, please don’t frighten me over personal whims.

???: My apologies. Once, something precious slipped through my fingers. I’ve grown… sensitive.

Aiton: His details are registered. You may summon him through us anytime.

Aiton: By Xiv’s name, his followers uphold his faith eternally.

???: Very well… Resume marching.

Aiton: Yes! Seventh Ju—back in line!

Seventh Ju: …???

Seventh Ju: Y-yes…

The sudden commotion left every laborer baffled. Whispers erupted through the once-silent ranks.

Aiton’s patience snapped. He swept a glare across the crowd and drew a deep breath.

Aiton: Fools—!! Silence!!

Aiton: This is Priestess Hilcaly—a Divine Temple inner-circle officer! A presence most of you will never encounter in your lifetimes!

Aiton: She knows your True Names. She sees memories tied to weapons, blood, and medicine.

Aiton: No sin escapes the Divine’s sight!

Aiton: Any fugitives—surrender now! If you still worship the Divine, show respect before Priestess Hilcaly!

Aiton: March! Did I order a halt!?

Murmurs choked off. Boots scraped forward again.

I stumbled back into formation, shaking almost as violently as the man ahead of me.

How to describe this feeling?

Like guarding a small, harmless secret—yet terrified of exposure.

The mere hint of suspicion makes you freeze, helpless… exactly like this.

Ink River: …Ju?

Seventh Ju: …………

Moments later, my pulse finally slowed.

If I heard right, Aiton said Hilcaly sees memories linked to weapons, blood, and medicine.

She’d noticed the medicine.

As a modern human, I’d handled countless medicines: cold pills, deworming medicine, hepatitis B vaccines… even cavity-prevention foam and throat lozenges might count here.

She’d seen them. Seen my memories from the other world.

In a way, I was already exposed. The only mercy? She likely didn’t realize it was *another* world’s memory.

Why… why would a god grant such a terrifying ability to their officers?

Seventh Ju: Ink River… do神官s usually screen pioneers like this?

Ink River: Ridiculous. I’m a Xiv believer too—I’ve never heard of any nation summoning inner-circle神官s for labor checks.

Ah. So神官s wouldn’t accompany Pioneer Teams either? Relief washed over me.

Seventh Ju: Hah… maybe she was just passing through and offered help?

Ink River: …………

Ink River: I wish I could deny it. But that seems the only explanation.

Seventh Ju: Ink River, do Seasonal Wolves worship Divine Sivi too?

Ink River: Of course. I have Wish Points too, you know.

Ink River: Speaking of which—what exactly did you swallow to act like this?

Seventh Ju: Don’t insult me under the guise of concern…

Anyway, another disaster dodged.

Lately, every day brings a fresh scare… if this keeps up, I’ll need to wish for a stronger heart.

After final checks, soldiers led us through the city wall’s breach.

I, Seventh Ju, had finally secured my first job in this new world.

Admittedly… as a laborer.

…………

…………

Beyond the wall, flatlands gave way to jagged jungle.

The vanguard had already reached the scouts’ farthest explored point, erecting a camp.

Footprints carved a faint path through the undergrowth. Today’s laborers would widen and flatten it—completing at least half the route.

Full personnel. Ample supplies. Impeccable discipline. For a nation seasoned in pioneering, this was routine.

Bao City’s construction a decade ago existed for this very expedition.

Nothing seemed amiss—except the unknown ahead.

Unknown creatures. Unknown divine signs. Even most place names remained unrecorded.

Every step forward now brimmed with hidden threats.

Yet Preman, seated in the forward command post, worried not about these.

His furrowed brow twisted his delicate features—a sight to stir any heart.

Then Lieutenant Aiton entered, snapping a crisp salute.

Aiton: Sir. Priestess Hilcaly has departed.

Preman: …Oh.

Preman: She joined the Temple investigation team?

Aiton: Yes. Other神官s escorted her away.

Preman: Direction?

Aiton: South. Toward the most remote pioneer village—opposite our route.

Preman: South…

Preman: I heard that boy Seventh Ju also entered the city through the South Gate?

Aiton: …I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t aware any laborers used gates other than West or North.

Preman: I overheard South Gate guards mention it during morning rounds.

Impossible. This couldn’t be coincidence.

Doubts swirled in Preman’s mind—though he had no luxury for such thoughts now.

Preman: How far to the Fall of the Stars—the site where that squad perished ten years ago?

Aiton: Roughly 100 kilometers. Wish Power has a 20% margin of error.

Preman: 100 kilometers… 20% error…

Manpower. Resources. Mobility. Morale… Data flashed through Preman’s mind. An answer crystallized.

A strategy formed around it.

Preman: Focus on securing known territory. Advance methodically. Reach the Fall of the Stars’ edge within fifteen days.

Preman: Restrict scouts with strong Wish Power. None may stray more than five kilometers from others.

Preman: Our minimum objective: recover that lost squad’s pioneer records.

Preman: …………

Preman: And… minimize casualties as much as possible.

Aiton: Yes, sir!

Preman hadn’t planned to add that last line. But given current intelligence, he had no choice.

…Even knowing it was a near-impossible hope.