Realm of Sincerity, Bao City on the border.

I stayed in a single room at the Pioneer Team’s East District barracks, posing as a wounded soldier.

Nearly ten days had passed since the “Fall of the Stars” lost all biological signals, since Commander Preman evacuated me via Wilderness Eagle to the retreating troops, and since we returned to Bao City.

I hadn’t stepped outside. Meals arrived punctually from soldiers, and I remained utterly unaware of the world beyond these walls.

Had Preman not personally told me, “This was the only way to handle it,” I’d surely have believed myself imprisoned.

I lay on the bed. The window beside me faced straight toward Bao City’s central square.

Lately, crowds had gathered there daily, marching like protests with unified chants. Occasionally, Pioneer merchants rushed past with massive caravans fleeing the city—or dumped goods on the spot.

Unable to grasp what was happening, I could only trust Preman’s words: “Leave everything to me.”

Today, dark masses again filled the square’s distant intersection.

But this time, utter silence reigned—as if they were decorative mannequins.

This gathering felt different from all the others.

Soon, soldiers marched out from near our barracks.

They carried leaflets, methodically pasting them in strategic spots or handing them directly to passersby.

The distant crowd: …………

The distant crowd: …—!!

Murmurs swelled into orderly chants.

*Ah… starting again?*

But…

Why did today’s cries carry such unmistakable emotion?

An emotion called “joy.”

*Creak—* The door opened.

I scrambled off the bed as Commander Preman and his aide Aiton entered, both in sharp formal wear.

Preman: “Clear out. Evacuate everyone near this room—including you.”

Aiton: “Yes, sir.”

Seventh Ju: *……*

*No outsiders linger near this room except patrolling Pioneer soldiers…*

Preman: “Going stir-crazy after days indoors?”

Seventh Ju: “Not really… What’s happening outside?”

Preman: “Ah. We just released the official statement.”

He recited it like a rehearsed report—the content from those leaflets.

Preman: “…Encountered two colossal unidentified creatures locked in combat. One deceased. One missing. Rigorous surveys confirm no further disasters will follow.”

Preman: “People spotted you in Bao City days ago, Seventh Ju. Without clarification, some would’ve dragged ‘doomsday theories’ straight to the Divine Temple.”

Seventh Ju: “Ahaha…………”

Seventh Ju: “Was I… really that terrifying?”

Preman: “From afar? Hard to say. Up close? Probably weaker than me.”

Preman: “So far, only you and I know the truth.”

With effortless grace, he sat on my bed, pulled me down beside him, and slung an arm over my shoulders like a street thug.

Preman: “So—how did you discover I’m a woman?”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

From our first meeting, I’d seen Preman as a breathtakingly handsome man.

Now that I knew she was female, her closeness felt like a dashing tomboy’s.

Like a candy wrapped twice over—you’d never guess its flavor without tasting it.

And before tasting, it gave off pure “mischief.”

Seventh Ju: “Well… I sensed your femininity a few times. So I guessed you might be…”

Preman: “Why force lies when you’re bad at them?”

A faint, wicked smirk played on her lips. A scoff, mocking yet ambiguous—impossible to tell if flirtation or genuine ridicule.

*…Probably the latter.*

Preman: “I already know. It’s the scent, isn’t it?”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

Preman: “No matter how I dress as a man, train my mannerisms, or even wish to the gods for ‘disguise’…”

Preman: “Aiton, closest to me, never questioned my gender. I know exactly why I was exposed: my scent.”

Preman: “I can’t alter my hormones to smell male. A woman’s essence never lies.”

Preman: “You confirmed it when you saved my life, didn’t you, Seventh Ju?”

Seventh Ju: “…Yeah.”

Seventh Ju: “But why did you—”

Preman: “—Political necessity.”

She cut me off before I finished.

Preman: “Though the Realm of Sincerity is an absolute monarchy under our great king, some regions can’t immediately lose their ‘nobility.’”

Preman: “The military—shaping the nation’s fate—is one such place.”

Preman: “I had an elder brother. He inherited the Pioneer Team through bloodline and cunning… until events ten years ago destroyed him.”

Preman: “The king asked if any other ‘bloodline’ could take his place. Only ‘Sincere blood’ could stabilize the troops.”

Preman: “I was the only option… at eight years old.”

Preman: “To please the king, my family disguised my gender. I studied military management abroad in Technica, near the Divine Temple.”

Preman: “I returned at fifteen, learning our nation’s tech and personnel systems before taking command.”

Preman: “All political maneuvering. You wouldn’t understand.”

Preman: “If the nation demands it, this secret dies with me.”

Seventh Ju: “But… haven’t you thought of marriage? A family?”

Preman: “No obstacle. A strategic political marriage. A convenient bride. An adopted child.”

Preman: “If the nation needs me, nothing is impossible.”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

Seventh Ju: “Is that the life you want?”

Preman: “Of course—”

Preman: “—No.”

Seventh Ju: “Then what *do* you want?”

Preman: “….”

Preman: “…………”

Preman: “If someday I could shed the soldier and the man… and live as *myself*, even briefly—that would be enough.”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

Preman: “—Prying into others’ secrets without revealing your own? Unfair, don’t you think?”

She withdrew her arm, shifting the spotlight to me.

Preman: “Share an equal secret, or I’ll make your life difficult.”

Seventh Ju: “Hah… tricky.”

Seventh Ju: “But my secret can’t compare to yours.”

Preman: “?”

Seventh Ju: “I just want to live.”

Seventh Ju: “I, Seventh Ju… am merely surviving. That’s all.”

Preman: *…………*

Preman: “‘Otherwise, just an ordinary, harmless mortal’?”

Seventh Ju: “If you choose to see it that way… best.”

Preman: *…………*

Preman: “—Fine. For your service to our nation, I’ll honor your request.”

Seventh Ju: “Service?”

Preman: “You have no idea how busy I’ve been.”

Preman: “The Pioneer Team mapped the entire ‘Fall of the Stars’ site. No Wish Points will be lost.”

Preman: “The spot you punched? Groundwater flooded it, forming a lake—perfect for our next phase.”

Seventh Ju: “What’s the plan?”

Preman: “After consulting the king, we’ve halted this year’s expeditions.”

Seventh Ju: “…!?”

Seventh Ju: “Huh?”

Preman: “From today, our focus shifts to resource surveys, mining near the ‘Fall of the Stars,’ and building infrastructure along the Lightdark Corridor.”

Preman: “Geologically, it’s ideal for a major industrial city.”

Preman: “Exploration takes a backseat. I’ll delegate to my second-in-command and finally rest.”

Preman: “Mysteries remain, but humanity’s reach expands again. We’ll wash away past shame.”

Seventh Ju: “Oh…………”

Preman: “Hm? Why so downcast?”

I offered a faint, wry smile.

Seventh Ju: “Doesn’t that mean I’m effectively unemployed?”

Preman: “True. The Treasury will hire civilian laborers. The scouts have no new frontiers to explore.”

Preman: “Dissatisfied with military welfare? It pays better than most citizens earn.”

Preman: “Or… did you miss out on something you wanted?”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

*Poppy.*

I thought of Miss Poppy. Of everything between us.

Seventh Ju: “I want to know about the Divine Temple…”

Seventh Ju: “I need to see it.”

Preman: “…Ah. You need pilgrimage funds.”

Seventh Ju: “Uh… call it that.”

Preman lowered her head, thinking briefly.

Preman: “I see…”

Preman: “If I fulfill your wish… perhaps it’ll count as divine merit.”

Seventh Ju: “…Huh? You mean—”

Preman: “—Our meeting time’s up. Details tomorrow.”

She deftly avoided my gaze and headed for the door.

*Cutting off right at the crucial part… This one’s got serial author potential.*

Preman: “—One last thing.”

Seventh Ju: “…?”

Preman: “My real name is ‘Preya.’ ‘Preman’ is the identity the nation requires.”

*Thud—* The door closed.

Seventh Ju: *…………*

*Preya…*

*Sounds like “Player.”*

*I did feel a little… played.*

…………

…………

Next day.

Inside Bao City’s Pioneer barracks, a hundred elite scouts assembled—those who first stepped onto lands no human had ever touched.

Among them, I spotted Ink River, Day High, Li Weishe, and Half Moon Outflow.

*Thank goodness they survived the chaos days ago.*

Commander Preman—no, *Preya*—summoned me. We stood side by side before the explorers.

Preman: “Today, your exploration duty officially ends.”

Preman: “I thank you all for your contributions, elite heroes.”

Preman: “But this small commendation ceremony? It’s for him alone.”

Seventh Ju: *…………*

Preman: “Most won’t recognize his face. This is Seventh Ju—a laborer promoted to scout this expedition.”

Preman: “None of that matters. His strength protected me. Protected your supreme commander.”

Preman: ...This isn’t just about my life. It concerns vital national interests.

Every gaze fixed on me carried a trace of confusion and doubt.

Preman noticed it too.

Preman: Most of you here aren’t natives of the Realm of Sincerity.

Preman: When you first set foot on our soil, what did you think?

Preman: *"This place doesn’t dig into my past. I can use my skills freely. Recognition and rewards come with contributions."*

Preman: *"No matter where I’m from, this nation accepts me."*

Preman: —Wasn’t that your hope?

Preman: Human nature... has one constant across all eras, civilizations, and crowds...

Preman: ...We *gravitate toward excellence*.

Preman: "Sincerity" alone—just one human virtue—has gathered such immense power. It shows our unique cohesion.

Preman: So trust the true feelings of someone who carries the "Bloodline of Sincerity."

Preman: *"Seventh Ju is exceptional. His contributions are unmatched."*

Preman: When chaos struck, didn’t you think that too—seeing him return with me while others fled?

Silence fell. The stares lifted from me, refocusing on Preman with hardened resolve.

*Acceptance... I’d earned it.*

*This acceptance came from Preman.*

Preman: For these reasons, I’ll personally grant him a tangible reward.

Seventh Ju: ...?

I’d half-expected a medal. This wasn’t that.

Preman: Tomorrow, Seventh Ju departs for the Divine Temple’s border nation—the Lightdusk Corridor—to begin his pilgrimage.

Preman: I’ll sponsor his entry into the Temple’s inner circle for prayers, securing him extra Wish Points.

Preman: All expenses will be covered by me.

Seventh Ju: ...???

Ink River: !!

Day High: Holy shit!?

Li Weishe: —Huh!?

Half Moon Outflow: ............

My mind reeled. The dropped jaws around me confirmed this "reward" was extraordinary.

Preman: Aiton, isn’t Lightdusk Corridor your homeland? Your family runs an inn there, right?

Aiton: Yes, sir.

Preman: After the Fall of the Stars incident, your brother Aibin was injured. Did he return home to recover as planned?

Aiton: Yes. He left that same day.

Preman: Good. By the time Seventh Ju arrives, he should be nearly healed.

Aiton: ...I understand. I’ll send word for Aibin to host him properly.

Preman: Hm? Why bother with letters?

Aiton: ...?

Preman: I’ll explain in person.

Seventh Ju: —What?

Aiton: You mean...?

Preman: I’m traveling to Lightdusk Corridor with Seventh Ju.

Preman: Neighboring Technica is hosting a fascinating large-scale event lately. Perfect for securing sponsorships.

Preman: Future exploration of the Fall of the Stars will need substantial funding.

Preman chatted casually about these bombshells, patting my shoulder with a smile.

Preman: Worried about missing your friends, Seventh Ju?

Seventh Ju: Uh............

Preman: No matter. A wish this small? Easily granted.

Preman: A brief parting won’t break trust.

I glanced between Preman and my friends in the crowd—Ink River, Day High, Li Weishe, Half Moon Outflow. They smiled faintly, silently affirming his words.

*So it’s just me... the sentimental one.*

When the stars fell, I’d feared being all alone in this strange world.

But it wasn’t like that at all.

Immortality? Endless wishes? These unexpected gifts taught me one truth:

*—When priceless treasure stands before you, cherish its beauty.*

Having them is my greatest fortune...

...Yet I haven’t forgotten the other treasure I’ll always long for, far away in an unknown world.

*—Miss Poppy.*

*Where are you now?*

...............

...............

Massive white walls loomed—nothing like Bao City’s hastily built, shabby fortifications.

Crisp patrol teams marched wide, orderly streets. Merchants and citizens jostled shoulder-to-shoulder, bustling with activity.

But the figure atop the wall knew this wasn’t even the commercial heart.

Here, near the Divine Temple—the "Cultural and Economic Core" of human civilization—such prosperity was merely ordinary.

??: Haa............

??: So... Technica at last?

A warm breeze swept over the ramparts, gentler than usual.

Summer was coming to this world.

A restless, thrilling season. What desires would it stir in these people?

The cloaked figure loosened their tightly wrapped cloak. Wind whooshed it open.

The falling hood released a cascade of chestnut-red hair.

*Such a comfortable wind...*

*But this isn’t the end.*

*Forward. Just a little further...*

*Toward the ideal place I seek.*

??: Hah—

Alone and exiled, I’d never have chosen this path...

But this gentle wind, this warmth, these tumultuous feelings in my heart...

*—They won’t let me stop.*

(End of Volume 1)