The door to Commander Puleman’s temporary office creaked open that afternoon.

Knowing it was time for the routine daily report, Puleman set aside his work. He sank deep into his chair, closed his eyes, and drifted into a light doze.

Aiton: "Two matters to report today."

Puleman: "…………"

For the past few days, Aiton’s afternoon visits had only covered frontline progress—the one thing Puleman truly cared about. A second matter wouldn’t be raised at this hour unless it was equally critical.

Aiton: "First: The perimeter of the *Fall of the Stars* has been fully marked. All primary scouts are now stationed along the boundary."

Aiton: "Every temporary relay point, shelter, and medical station in the plan will be completed by tonight."

Aiton: "Reconnaissance balloons are prepped and ready. We can launch the first aerial survey of the *Fall of the Stars* immediately."

Puleman gave a silent nod. These were merely expected steps—nothing worthy of praise.

In truth, they’d already far exceeded his expectations. He felt no urge to commend anyone.

The original plan had been to locate the *Fall of the Stars*—the site where a pioneer squad vanished a decade ago—within fifteen days. Yet scouts had reported "an anomaly" on the very first day.

Soon after, scouts with *Wish Power* had pinpointed the location of the "target item" within the zone.

It made no sense. Though they’d reached the *Fall of the Stars*, the coordinates were wildly off.

As if… the place had shifted overnight. Toward *Bao City*.

Still, the next steps in the plan had to proceed.

Aiton: "Second: A labor transport convoy was ambushed by adventurers at noon."

*Again?* Yesterday and the day before had seen similar incidents. Why waste crucial time on this?

No doubt the patrol had already arrested and expelled them.

Aiton: "The adventurers hid beneath the bridge over the Great Gorge. As the horse caravan passed, they attacked the laborers with weapons coated in *Poppy* toxin to seize military supplies."

Aiton: "During the struggle, one adventurer and two laborers fell into the gorge."

Puleman: "……"

Aiton: "When our men arrived, everyone was unconscious."

Aiton: "The laborers were knocked out after being poisoned. The adventurers were beaten into unconsciousness."

Aiton: "We don’t yet know who rescued the laborers and subdued the adventurers. All suspects are in custody, and the laborers are in the infirmary."

Puleman: "…………"

Aiton: "The two laborers who fell into the gorge were… *Ink River* and *Seventh Ju*."

Puleman: "………………"

Aiton: "—That concludes my report. Your orders for next steps, sir?"

Only after finishing did Aiton finally look up at his commander.

He felt a flicker of shock.

Puleman’s expression could only be described in four words: *murderous fury*.

Aiton’s mind flashed back to the last time he’d seen that look.

Yes… when the golden-haired man’s head hit the ground, Puleman had worn that exact same face.

Puleman was angry.

Truly, deeply enraged.

Furiously, uncontrollably so.

Yet Aiton knew Puleman wasn’t ruled by rage. Otherwise, he’d never have held this position.

Puleman: "Proceed with the *Fall of the Stars* operation as planned."

Aiton: "Understood."

Aiton: "……"

Aiton: "…………"

After a long pause with no further orders, Aiton ventured:

Aiton: "…And the second matter?"

Puleman: "……"

Puleman: "…………"

Puleman: "I leave it… entirely… to you."

Aiton: "…Yes, sir."

Aiton withdrew silently. Though he hadn’t served under Puleman long, he understood his commander’s temperament well.

He also grasped the unspoken meaning behind those deliberate, measured words.

Some actions couldn’t be ordered by a commander-in-chief. That was when a deputy’s role began.

The moment he understood his superior’s true intent, he became a flawless machine.

Aiton moved immediately, summoning his executor.

Executor: "Orders, sir?"

Aiton: "Prepare execution tools. Send all captured adventurers to *Bao City* for public execution."

Executor: "Yes, sir."

Aiton: "Also, assemble a ten-man search team. Recruit trackers skilled in wilderness survival and handling unknown creatures."

Aiton: "You’ll lead—no. *I’ll* lead it. Find the missing laborers."

Executor: "Understood. Anything else?"

Aiton: "…Two body bags."

Executor: "At once, sir."

Aiton: "…………"

Aiton: "—Bring a medic too. Pack emergency medical supplies and equipment."

Executor: "…………"

Executor: "Clear, sir."

…………

…………

Seventh Ju: "…………"

Seventh Ju: "Hey————!"

Seventh Ju: "Help————!"

Seventh Ju: "Hel————p!"

Seventh Ju: "Tasukete————!"

Seventh Ju: "…………"

The green jungle swallowed my cries like a sponge.

No reply came. My voice probably never pierced the canopy.

Staring at the strange scrape marks on the opposite tree, I had to agree with *Ink River*: we couldn’t stay here.

Seventh Ju: "Let’s check the cliff face. There might be a way up."

Ink River: "…Alright."

First, we marked our landing spot with stones, pointing toward our intended path.

*Ink River* couldn’t walk yet, so I stuffed him into a sleeping bag. I tore strips from our tent fabric, lashed the bag to my back, and carried him.

His massive frame forced me to crawl almost flat on the ground. For him, it must’ve felt like lying on a moving stretcher.

Ink River: "This must be hard on you…"

Seventh Ju: "I’m fine. My stamina’s good."

Ink River: "Are you truly unharmed?"

Seventh Ju: "Seriously! Do you want me to strip naked to prove it?"

Ink River: "…………"

Ink River: "Ju… your *Wish Power* is luck, isn’t it?"

Seventh Ju: "…Huh?"

Ink River: "Think back—from the trials until today. Only *Seasonal Wolf*’s legendary luck could pull this off."

Ink River: "I’d guess you were born lucky… then amplified it with wishes… right?"

Seventh Ju: "Ahaha…"

Seventh Ju: "…Two weeks ago, I thought I was one of the unluckiest people alive."

Ink River: "Hmm?"

Seventh Ju: "Ah—never mind. We’re here."

The gorge was only a few hundred meters wide. I soon pushed through the dense foliage to stand before the bare cliff face.

I set *Ink River* down gently and studied the colossal barrier.

Sheer rock rose vertically, its peak lost in the sky.

Deep grooves scored the stone—not natural sediment layers, but almost… carved.

No one would carve a wall here. Just nature’s artistry.

But there was no path upward.

I’d aced both science and humanities in high school, yet this rock defied textbook classification.

Even if I could claw my way up, what if the stone crumbled? A fall might spare me, but *Ink River* wouldn’t survive.

And if my wish-granted strength slipped out… I feared his reaction.

Losing his friendship over this wouldn’t surprise me.

*Think of another way.*

Ink River: "This place… can be climbed."

Seventh Ju: "Huh? You can *rock climb* this?"

Ink River: "If my strength fully returns, I could manage it. But…"

Ink River: "…I’m not certain I could carry you safely to the top."

Seventh Ju: "I see."

He was considering the same thing—even like this, he was looking out for me.

Seventh Ju: "Let’s walk along the cliff. Maybe we’ll find a gentler slope."

Ink River: "……"

Ink River: "…Ju."

Seventh Ju: "Yeah? What is it?"

Ink River: "I believe I should make a wish to the gods now."

Seventh Ju: "Uh… why?"

Ink River: "With no natural escape, this is life or death. Dragging me—a burden—only lowers our survival odds."

Ink River: "Spending one or two *Wish Points* to restore my strength would greatly improve our chances."

Seventh Ju: "…………"

It was a sound plan. The only cost was *Ink River*’s precious *Wish Points*.

Seventh Ju: "How many points do you have left?"

Ink River: "Don’t worry. Even without them, a *Seasonal Wolf* is stronger than any human."

Seventh Ju: "…………"

Thinking it through—if I *did* get *Ink River* out without using his points, it would be perilous.

As a *Seasonal Wolf*, his jungle instincts and navigation skills far surpassed mine.

Him moving freely was our best hope.

Seventh Ju: "Alright. No better options."

I watched silently as *Ink River* closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and began to pray. I stood guard.

His face relaxed mid-prayer—a silly, lopsided grin spreading across his lips.

*Pfft. He makes that face when wishing?*

*…Do I look like that too?*

*Note to self: Always wish alone from now on.*

A minute passed. *Ink River* opened his eyes slowly.

Seventh Ju: "Ah—you’re healed?"

*Ink River* slid his hands free from the sleeping bag, shrugged it off like shedding skin, and stood tall.

The strong, familiar *Ink River* stood before me. Fully restored. Relief washed over me.

Ink River: "……"

Ink River: "…………"

Ink River: "Seventh Ju."

Seventh Ju: "……"

Hearing my full name startled me.

He faced me, eyes sharp with earnest confusion and urgent wariness.

Ink River: "Who… are you?"

The words sounded like an accusation, yet held no real force.

He seemed only to seek an answer—desperate to know, yet almost afraid to hear it.

Seventh Ju: "Uh… what’s wrong?"

Ink River: "I wish I knew… what’s wrong."

Seventh Ju: "Did something happen during your wish…?"

Ink River: "…………"

He studied my reaction carefully before speaking again.

Ink River: "The stars… multiplied."

Seventh Ju: "…?"

Ink River: "…I’ve never seen such a starry sea. Never."

Ink River: "The darkness felt too bright… painfully bright…"

Ink River: "There must have been thousands… maybe tens of thousands…"

Ink River: "My *Wish Points*… became that."

Seventh Ju: "……"

Seventh Ju: "…………"

Ink River: "Ju. What happened between my fall and waking up?"

Ink River: "Did you… do something to me?"

Ink River: "Who are you… *really*?"

Seventh Ju: "…………"

*I don’t know either.*

When I saved *Ink River*’s life… did I give too many *Wish Points*?

Did that excess become part of him…?

*How do I explain this?*

To be honest, how could I possibly explain casually spending 10,000 Wish Points?

I haven’t even told Miss Poppy about my Wish Points…

Could I confess this to Ink River, who sees me as a friend?

If he knew… would it ruin what we have now?

What would happen after I told him?

Would he despise me? Or cling to me?

Either way… it wouldn’t stay as pure as before.

I was scared. Scared to speak up.

Scared of that unknown change.

Seventh Ju: Could it be… the miracle inside this giant ravine?

*Crack—*

Ink River: …………

My attempt to dodge the question was futile.

The Molehog incident had taught me this: I could only spin carefully crafted lies. I was terrible at lying when caught off guard.

*Crack… Snap…*

Ink River… he wouldn’t believe me, would he?

I looked up—only to find Ink River wasn’t watching me.

His gaze was locked on the dense forest ahead.

*Crack-Snap-Rustle—*

One large hand gripped my shoulder.

The other poised to pull me close.

His eyes never left the trees.

Seventh Ju: …Huh?

*Scritch.*

Seventh Ju: What… is that?

Ink River: That thing… it’s coming.