Chapter 238 – Transcending World

Chapter 238

Transcending World

Date : Day 25 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren, Elise, and Ina walked for several hours.

Endless white stretched across the field, and every step through the deep snow made their journey slower. The three continued following the frozen Akela River, putting one foot in front of the other.

Fortunately, they didn't encounter or even hear a single monster along the way. It seemed that even the monsters preferred to hibernate during winter.

By the time Silver Luna began to descend, the sound of flowing water finally reached their ears. They finally arrived at the section of the river that was unfrozen.

The snow had also become less thick. In some places, patches of grass were visible beneath the remaining snow. They weren't green, having turned brown under the cold, but at least they weren't completely buried anymore.

Hyoren breathed a relieved sigh.

“Finally. We arrived.”

Ina stopped walking beside him and looked up at the sky.

“But we're behind schedule… The sun is almost set…”

Elise nodded as she caught her breath.

“Walking through the snow was truly hard. It slowed us down a lot.”

Hyoren looked around their surroundings.

“Well, we had a contingency plan to camp in the wild.”

He turned toward Elise.

“We brought our portable heating magic tools, right?”

Elise nodded, her silver hair swaying slightly.

“Yes, Hyoren. They're secured in my storage bag.”

Hyoren smiled.

“Good.”

He was glad they had prepared for this possibility.

Hyoren and Elise had originally planned to go camping during winter, hoping to enjoy the scenery inside Whispering Forest. Unfortunately, the emergency quest in Riverville Town had forced them to cancel those plans.

They had already bought the portable heating magic tools, however, and had kept them ever since. Although their original outing had fallen through, the equipment would finally come in handy today.

With that settled, Hyoren approached the riverbank.

The water flowed slowly beneath the winter sky. There were hardly any fish to be seen.

During the warmer seasons, the river was filled with glowing fish, their bodies illuminating the water. Now, they seemed to have disappeared into their hiding places for the winter.

Only occasionally could they spot a Red Pike Fish swimming through the river. Every so often, one would leap out of the water before splashing back into the cold current, seemingly unconcerned by the freezing air and water.

Hyoren watched one jump.

“Red Pike Fish don't hibernate, huh?”

Elise approached the riverbank beside him.

“Yeah. People even cut holes in the ice to catch them. They're one of the easier sources of meat during winter.”

Hyoren nodded in understanding.

“I see. Seeing them again brings back memories. We once relied on them too. Haha…”

He smiled as another Red Pike Fish leaped out of the water.

Back when he and Elise were surviving in the forest, fish like these had been one of their sources of food. It felt a little nostalgic to see them again.

Ina watched the two of them, her gaze shifting between Hyoren and Elise.

“Now you two are making me want to experience that, too… How about we catch one for our dinner? Nyahaha.”

Hyoren and Elise looked at each other.

Then Elise clapped her hands.

“That's a good idea!”

Hyoren glanced at the sky before looking back at the river.

“I guess setting up camp and catching dinner will be the first things we do. The thing I wanted to do here can wait until night.”

He smiled faintly.

“And actually… it's better at night.”

Ina tilted her head, while Elise gave him a curious look. Neither pressed him for an explanation.

Instead, they nodded.

“I see… Then let's make ourselves comfortable first. Fufu.”

Ina's cat ears twitched.

“Yay! A winter outing!”

She laughed, already sounding excited about their unexpected camping trip.

“It might sound crazy to go camping in winter. But with all the camping equipment we have, it'll actually be cozy! Nyahaha.”

Hyoren and Elise laughed along with her.

Their long walk through the snow had left them tired, and they had arrived later than planned. Still, with the river nearby, a warm camp to look forward to, and fresh fish for dinner, the evening didn't sound so bad.

The three had finally reached their destination. Now, they could take their time and enjoy the winter outing together.

***

The three began setting up camp while the last light of the day faded from the snowy grassland.

Hyoren searched for a suitable spot first. After a short walk around the clearing, he found a relatively flat patch of ground with less snow than the surrounding area. A few bushes and small trees stood nearby, offering some shelter from the winter wind. Meanwhile, Akela River was also close enough that they wouldn't have to walk far to get water.

“Let's set up our camp here.”

Elise and Ina followed him to the spot.

Once they had settled on the location, Hyoren took their barrier magic tool—The Sanctuary—from his storage bag. He placed it in the middle of the clearing and activated it.

A flickering barrier rose around their chosen campsite, protecting them from any monsters that might approach.

With that taken care of, Elise retrieved their cylindrical heating magic tool from her storage bag. Its dark metal body was engraved with runes, and a crystal embedded at its center emitted a gentle crimson glow.

She crouched beside it and poured Aethell into the tool.

Warm air soon radiated from the device, gradually driving away the winter chill. The difference was immediate. Within the protected campsite, the temperature became comfortable enough to make the surroundings feel like spring. Even the snow covering the ground slowly began to melt.

Hyoren loosened his coat while Ina opened her jacket to let some of the warmth reach her body.

“Magic tools really are convenient. Camping in winter feels like camping in spring now.”

Hyoren glanced at the heating tool.

“Indeed. Though there's a price for that convenience.”

Elise smiled as she finished supplying it with Aethell.

“This thing consumes a lot of magic stones, after all.”

Hyoren shrugged.

“We have plenty of magic stones. We can afford to use it.”

Elise dusted snow from her mantle.

“Fufufu. That's certainly true.”

With the barrier and heating taken care of, the three continued preparing their campsite.

Hyoren took out their tent and began setting it up by himself. He spread the tarp over the ground, positioned the tent, and secured its corners with stakes. Once the foundation was in place, he raised the tent and adjusted the fabric until it stood properly.

The tent had enough room for all three of them.

Meanwhile, Elise began arranging the equipment they would need for dinner. She brought out the cooking utensils, pots, a knife, and their portable magic stove. She also gathered the firewood they had brought along and started preparing a fire.

As she worked, she glanced toward Hyoren, who was still securing the tent.

“What would you two like for dinner? Something warm sounds nice in this weather.”

Hyoren glanced toward the silver-haired elf.

“Anything is fine with me.”

He continued adjusting one of the tent's corners. 

“As long as it's edible.”

Elise looked at him with mild amusement.

“That isn't very helpful, Hyoren.”

Hyoren drove one of the stakes deeper as it was a bit loose.

“Then I'll leave the menu to you. You're the cook tonight.”

Elise sighed, then smiled.

“Very well. I'll prepare something delicious, then. Fufufu.”

She turned toward Ina, who was standing nearby with her hands on her hips.

“Ina, could you catch three Red Pike Fish for dinner?”

Ina's cat ears perked up.

“Three fish? Easy! Leave it to me!”

She flashed Elise a confident grin before heading toward the river.

Hyoren watched her go for a moment before returning to the tent. He finished securing the remaining corners and checked that the structure was stable. With the tent standing properly, their sleeping arrangements were ready.

By then, Elise had started preparing the soup. She placed a pot on the portable magic stove and began arranging the ingredients, occasionally stirring its contents as the warmth from the fire spread through the campsite.

Outside the barrier, the winter wind continued to blow across the grassland. Inside, the cold was no longer much of a concern.

Hyoren finished his work and turned his attention toward the river.

Ina had already reached its bank. Her brown hair swayed in the breeze as she crouched near the water, watching for movement beneath the flowing surface.

She drew her dagger and tied a small string to it, holding the other end in her free hand. Her cat ears twitched as she studied the river, while her tail remained still behind her.

The Red Pike Fish occasionally leaped out of the water despite the winter weather. Their sudden movements made them difficult to predict, but Ina watched patiently, waiting for the right moment.

Back at the campsite, Elise continued stirring the soup.

“Hyoren, could you check whether we brought enough seasoning?”

Hyoren nodded.

“Sure.”

He checked their supplies and brought the necessary items over to her.

“Here.”

Elise took the supplies from Hyoren.

“Thank you. The fish should go nicely with the soup.”

He glanced toward the river again.

“Assuming Ina catches them.”

Elise smiled without looking up from the pot.

“She sounded quite confident.”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

“I’m not worried though, she is good at using her dagger.”

Elise giggled as she continued chopping ingredients.

“Fufu. That's true.”

A moment later, a Red Pike Fish suddenly leaped from the river.

Ina's eyes sharpened.

“Now!”

She activated her skill.

“Precision Throw.”

She released the dagger. It flew straight toward the spot where the fish would return to the water.

SQUELCH!

The dagger struck its target. The fish thrashed briefly before going still, and Ina pulled the string to retrieve her catch.

She examined the fish with satisfaction before setting it aside.

“Two more.”

Ina returned her attention to the river and repeated the process. She caught the remaining fish in quick succession, then returned to the campsite carrying all three fish, already gutted.

“Three fish! We're going to feast! Nyahaha.”

Hyoren looked at her, his dark eyes softening with approval.

“Nice one, Ina.”

Ina raised the three fish in her hand.

“Of course! Did you expect anything less?”

She raised her chin proudly, her tail swaying behind her.

Elise, who was still busy with the soup, glanced at the fish.

“Please grill them, Ina. I'm still busy with the soup.”

The Cat-clan Beastkin nodded.

“Roger that.”

Ina set the fish down beside the cooking area and got to work. She seasoned them, then skewered them with branches before placing them over the fire.

The fish began to cook as the flames flickered beneath them. Before long, the pleasant aroma of grilled fish spread through the campsite, mixing with the smell of the warm soup Elise was preparing.

Hyoren settled down on the nearby tarp and watched the two women work.

Elise stood beside the pot, stirring the soup and checking its taste. Ina sat near the fire, tending to the fish and turning them when necessary. Every so often, they exchanged a few words about the meal, while Hyoren listened from where he sat.

Outside The Sanctuary barrier, snow continued to fall over the winter grassland. The campsite remained warm, sheltered from the cold by their magic tools.

Hyoren looked at Elise and Ina as they prepared dinner together.

This is what I'm fighting for. This is what makes all the struggle worth it.

The warmth he felt wasn't merely from the fire or the heating tool. It came from the simple comfort of spending time together, sharing a meal after a long journey, and enjoying an ordinary evening with the people important to him.

For now, that was more than enough.

***

Night had fully descended by the time Elise and Ina finished cooking.

Akela River flowed nearby, its gentle sound carrying through the quiet grassland. The snowfall had finally stopped, revealing the three moons of Kresneger in the night sky. Azure, Crimson, and Ebony shone together, casting their mixed glow over the camp.

Ina and Elise distributed the food, handing everyone a bowl of soup and a skewer of grilled Red Pike Fish.

“Here, Hyoren.”

Ina handed him his meal with a cheerful smile.

“Thank you, Ina.”

Hyoren took a sip of the soup. The warm broth carried a pleasant, spicy kick, and the tender vegetables and potatoes made it all the more satisfying.

He took another spoonful before looking at Elise.

“This is delicious, Elise. I swear, I could eat your soup every day and never get tired of it.”

Elise giggled, clearly pleased with the compliment.

“Fufu. I'm glad you like it.”

Ina's cat ears perked up at once. She pointed at the fish in Hyoren's other hand.

“Hey, hey! Don't forget the fish! I grilled that, you know!”

Hyoren chuckled and took a bite.

Juice filled his mouth, bringing out the rich flavor of the meat. The fish had been seasoned with only salt and pepper, but that was enough to bring out its natural taste.

His eyes widened a little.

“Whoa. Why is this so much juicier than the Red Pike Fish I ate before?”

Ina's tail swished proudly behind her.

“Nyahaha! Because it's cooked with love! Love is the best spice!”

Hyoren blinked, still chewing.

Elise shook her head, her silver hair swaying as she gave Ina an amused look.

“Honestly, Ina. Must you take credit for everything?”

She glanced at Hyoren, who had stopped mid-chew.

“It's the season, Hyoren.”

Ina stuck out her tongue.

“Pfft! Elise, you're no fun!”

Hyoren laughed softly before turning to Elise.

“Wait, what does the season have to do with it, Elise?”

Elise picked up her own skewer and gestured toward the fish.

“Red Pike Fish tend to be fattier during winter. They eat a lot during fall to prepare for the cold, so their meat becomes juicier. That's why this one tastes so good.”

Hyoren looked down at the fish in his hand. Now that she mentioned it, the meat did seem noticeably juicier than the Red Pike Fish he remembered eating.

“Huh. So that's why.”

He took another bite, then glanced at Ina.

“Though I guess the way you prepared it matters, too, Ina. It's fresh, you gutted it properly, and you didn't overdo the seasoning.”

Ina's proud grin softened into a bashful smile. Her ears twitched as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

“Thanks, Hyoren. It's nice to hear that from you.”

Elise glanced between them with a knowing smile.

“You spoil her too much.”

Ina immediately turned toward the elf, her bashfulness disappearing as quickly as it had come.

“Then I want to be spoiled even more! Nyahaha!”

Hyoren laughed, and Elise could only shake her head at Ina's shamelessness.

Their laughter mingled with the gentle sound of the river as they continued eating beneath the three moons.

***

After they finished eating, Elise distributed cups of herbal tea.

The three moons continued their slow arc overhead as the three settled around the camp with their tea.

For a while, they simply enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

Ina occasionally blew on her tea before taking another sip. Her cat ears twitched at the sound of the river, but her attention soon returned to the man sitting beside her.

She lowered her cup.

“So, Hyoren. Could you tell us more about… your father?”

Hyoren looked at her, a little surprised by the question.

Elise nodded beside them, her hands wrapped around her cup.

“We know this excursion was for paying respect to your father. But…”

She let the words trail off, giving Hyoren room to answer in his own time.

Hyoren smiled faintly.

“I see… I never truly told you two the details about my past, huh?”

He took a sip of tea, gazing into the cup as he considered where to begin.

“You two already know my father raised me alone, right?”

Ina and Elise exchanged a glance before nodding.

Elise leaned forward slightly.

“Yes. Your mother died of sickness before you could even remember her?”

Hyoren nodded.

“That's right.”

His gaze drifted toward the three moons overhead. Their light reminded him that he was now living in a world far removed from the one in which he had grown up.

“My father, huh… Where to start…”

He tried to find the correct words.

“First of all, his name was Kaen Enjo.”

A chuckle escaped him.

Ina tilted her head. Elise blinked, exchanging a puzzled look with the Cat-clan Beastkin. Neither seemed to understand what was funny about the name.

Hyoren noticed their expressions and grinned.

“His name literally means Blazing Blazing Flame. Haha.”

He leaned forward, picked up a small branch, and wrote the kanji in the dirt.

“Kaen 火焔 means ‘flame’ or ‘blaze.’ Enjō 炎上 literally means everything igniting or blazing up.”

Ina leaned over to look at the characters. Her eyes moved between the writing and Hyoren's amused expression.

“So his name basically means fire twice?”

Hyoren laughed.

“Pretty much.”

He shook his head, still unable to understand what his grandparents had been thinking when they chose the name.

“I don't get why my grandparents named him like that, but…”

His smile softened as he looked at the characters in the dirt.

“It suited him so much.”

Elise's expression grew gentler. She glanced at the name Hyoren had written, then back at him.

“Was he really that energetic?”

Hyoren nodded, his eyes returning to the moons.

“He was always full of energy, like an undying flame. Even at the end of his life, when he was battling cancer and tied to a sickbed, his eyes never lost their spark.”

His voice remained calm, but his smile carried a hint of nostalgia.

Ina stopped fidgeting with her cup. She listened quietly, her ears angled toward Hyoren.

Elise lowered her gaze for a moment. She knew what it meant to watch someone struggle against something they could not simply defeat with strength. Still, she let Hyoren continue without interrupting him.

“He was a member of the JSDF...”

He paused, understanding that those words would need context for the two women beside him.

“Err… it was the standing army of my original world.”

Hyoren glanced at the two women. Their expressions showed that the explanation hadn't helped much.

“Sorry. I keep forgetting that you two don't know much about my world.”

Elise gave him a small, reassuring smile.

“It's all right. We can learn as you tell us.”

Hyoren nodded, grateful for her patience.

“He always tried to make time for me. And as you already know, he was obsessed with survival. He acted as if the world was going to end next year. Haha.”

Ina raised her eyebrows.

“Next year? Did he really think that?”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

“Not exactly. He just prepared as if it might happen.”

He scratched his cheek, remembering the countless lessons and warnings that had filled his childhood and adolescence.

“He was always thinking about what to do if something terrible happened. A disaster, a war, a nuclear attack… Anything that could threaten humanity.”

Ina glanced toward the dark grassland beyond their camp.

“Like if the Demon Army managed to wipe out humanity?”

Hyoren looked at her and snapped his fingers.

“Exactly. Imagine if the Demon Army succeeded. No cities, no shops, no one to help you. You'd have to figure out how to survive with whatever you could find.”

Ina considered that for a moment before nodding.

“Then I suppose learning how to survive without those things would be useful.”

Hyoren nodded once.

“That's what he thought, too.”

He smiled and took another sip of tea.

“He taught me how to survive without modern tools. How to hunt, skin animals, make primitive tools… Anything I might need if I ever found myself with nothing.”

Elise glanced at his hands. Those hands had handled weapons, prepared meals in the wilderness, and treated injuries during their journey. She had seen him put his knowledge to use many times, but she hadn't known how much of it had come from his father.

“He taught you all of that when you were young?”

Hyoren nodded.

“Yeah. He also trained me in spear combat.”

He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers briefly.

“The reason I was already proficient with a spear before I was transported to this world, and the reason I could survive alone for more than a month in the Forest of No Return, was because of my father.”

Elise's eyes widened slightly.

She knew how dangerous the Forest of No Return was. Even experienced adventurers had to be careful there. Hyoren had been transported into the middle of it alone, without knowing anything about Kresneger, and somehow managed to stay alive.

Now she understood a little more about how he had done it.

“So those survival skills weren't something you learned after coming here…”

Hyoren shook his head.

“No. I'd learned most of them long before that.”

Ina leaned back, looking at him with renewed curiosity.

“I knew you were good at surviving, but I didn't realize your father had trained you so thoroughly.”

Hyoren chuckled.

“He was strict. Weird, too. And completely obsessed with survival.”

He paused, and his expression grew warm.

“But I knew it was his way of expressing love. He was kind, but awkward. He was a loving father who didn't really know how to express his feelings properly.”

The river flowed steadily beside them. Hyoren's eyes wandered back to the little characters he had written in the dirt.

“He worked hard to raise his only son. And, actually… I'm so thankful for all those survival lessons.”

He fell quiet for a moment before turning toward the two women.

“Because without them, I would've died within a few days in that dangerous forest.”

Elise's fingers tightened slightly around her cup.

She could imagine how different things might have been if Hyoren had entered that forest without knowing how to hunt, find shelter, or defend himself. Their first meeting might never have happened.

Hyoren looked at her, then at Ina.

“I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you, Elise. Or meet you, Ina.”

Ina's ears lifted as he said her name. She looked back at him, her usual playful smile giving way to something softer.

“And I wouldn't have met our family, either. Jackey, Arianna, Lena, Vina…”

Hyoren smiled as he thought of the people who had become part of his life.

“I'm grateful for all of it.”

For a while, neither woman spoke.

Elise watched him quietly. She had known Hyoren for a long time, yet there were still parts of his life that remained unfamiliar to her. 

He had already told her briefly about his experience in the Forest of No Return and attributed everything to his father. But she had never known the details until now.

Hearing him speak about his father helped her understand the roots of his determination, his practical nature, and the way he continued moving forward even when circumstances seemed hopeless.

She reached over and gently rested her hand on his arm.

“Your father must have been very proud of you.”

Hyoren looked at her hand, then met her emerald eyes.

His smile was small but sincere.

“I hope so.”

Ina lowered her cup to her lap. Her tail curled loosely beside her as she thought about the man Hyoren had described.

“He sounds like a strange person.”

Hyoren let out a short laugh.

“He definitely was.”

Ina looked at him again.

“But he worked hard for you, didn't he?”

Hyoren nodded.

“Yeah. He did.”

Ina's expression softened.

“Then I'm glad he was your father.”

Hyoren fell silent for a moment. The words seemed simple, but he appreciated them all the same.

Elise gave his arm a gentle squeeze before letting go.

“Thank you for telling us about him, Hyoren.”

He smiled at her.

“Thanks for listening.”

Ina shifted a little closer to him, resting her shoulder against his.

“I wish I could've met him.”

Hyoren turned toward her.

“I'm sure he would've liked you.”

Ina's ears perked up.

“Really?”

Hyoren's smile turned mischievous.

“Though he might've worried about you stealing food from the kitchen.”

Ina immediately pulled away, puffing out her cheeks.

“HEY! I wouldn't steal food! I'd just taste-test it!”

Elise covered her mouth as she giggled.

“Of course. I'm sure every missing snack would have been part of your very important testing.”

Ina pointed at Elise, her cat ears standing straight up.

“Exactly! See? Elise gets it!”

Hyoren laughed at their exchange, while Elise's shoulders shook with quiet amusement.

The brief burst of laughter eased the mood, returning their evening to its usual warmth.

Ina settled beside Hyoren again, looking rather pleased with herself. Elise picked up her tea and took another sip, still smiling.

Above them, the three moons continued shining over the grassland. The Akela River flowed quietly nearby, and the camp remained peaceful beneath the night sky.

Hyoren had shared only a part of his past, but it was enough for the two women to see another side of him—not the adventurer who fought monsters or the man who always seemed to have a practical answer, but the son who remembered his father with affection and gratitude.

And as they sat beside him, Elise and Ina felt that they had come to understand him a little better.

***

After a while, Hyoren finished his tea and slowly stood up.

“I think it's about time I do it…”

Elise set her cup aside and rose to her feet. Ina followed, brushing the snow from her clothes before looking at Hyoren with a curious smile.

Elise leaned forward slightly, her silver hair slipping over her shoulder.

“Finally… Now you tell us why we need to go camp in the middle of nowhere surrounded by snow. Fufu.”

Ina nodded enthusiastically, her cat ears twitching.

“And why did you order those strange magic tools from the Gilded Scale?”

Hyoren smiled at their curiosity.

“I will explain soon.”

He walked toward the riverbank. Elise and Ina followed, their footsteps crunching softly over the snow.

The Akela River flowed beneath the night sky. Although much of the surrounding land remained covered in snow, the current here was still moving, carrying the reflection of the three moons across its dark surface.

Hyoren stopped at the water's edge.

For a moment, he simply watched the river.

“In my homeland, we have two ways of honoring the dead.”

He turned toward the two women standing behind him.

“First, we visit their gravestones.”

Hyoren reached into his storage bag and took out a white Purity Lily, which he had bought from Madam Dursila. He then brought out a bottle of distilled spirit—the closest thing he could find to sake in this world.

Elise looked at the flower, then at the bottle.

She had known this outing was important to Hyoren, but seeing the things he had prepared made the purpose of their journey feel more tangible.

Hyoren placed both items carefully on a nearby stone.

“We clean the stone, leave fresh flowers, and pour a drink over it—sharing one last drink with them as a sign of respect.”

He paused, looking at the white flower resting against the dark stone.

“Since there's no way for me to visit my father's grave here, I couldn't do that. His grave is in my old world in the end.”

Ina's ears lowered slightly.

She knew Hyoren came from another world, of course. Still, the distance between him and his father felt especially cruel at that moment. It wasn't simply a matter of traveling far to visit a grave. No journey she or Elise could imagine would take him there.

Elise remained quiet, giving him time.

Hyoren reached into his storage bag once more and brought out a box he had bought from the twin dwarves.

He opened it.

Both women leaned forward to take a look inside.

Resting within was a miniature ship, sleek in design and about a meter long. A magic propulsion system had been built into it, giving the small vessel the means to move along the water.

Ina blinked at it, then looked toward the river.

“So that's what you ordered from Balin and Gror…”

Hyoren nodded, but he didn't launch into an explanation just yet. Instead, he carefully lifted the ship from its box and held it in both hands.

“Secondly, we have a custom called floating lanterns, or we usually call it Tōrō nagashi.”

He turned the ship slightly so the two women could see it more clearly.

“We place a small light such as a lantern or candle on the river and let the current carry it away. The flame acts as a light to guide the deceased spirits in the dark, and the water carries our prayers out into the spirit world.”

Elise listened closely, her gaze following the contours of the little vessel.

Hyoren looked back at the flowing water.

“We believe flowing water connects all things… the living, the dead, and every place in between. The current carries the offering to wherever their spirit rests.”

He spoke calmly, explaining a tradition from the world he had left behind. For him, the river was more than a convenient way to send something downstream. It was a possible connection between places that could never be reached by ordinary means.

He glanced at the snowy banks.

“But, as the Akela River is mostly frozen, I couldn't do that either. The downstream is frozen, so the lantern would just get stuck in the ice.”

Elise looked toward the river, imagining the little light stranded among the ice instead of being carried away.

“I see. The two are quite beautiful traditions.”

Ina nodded slowly.

She looked from the white Purity Lily to the bottle of distilled spirit, then at the ship in Hyoren's hands.

“But you couldn't do either. So what are you going to do?”

Hyoren's expression brightened with a small smile.

“I have to be creative.”

He pointed toward the miniature ship.

“I would send the prayer, the flower, the alcohol, and the flame via the river. But not downstream.”

He gestured toward the opposite direction, where the river continued its course into the darkness.

“Upstream.”

Elise followed his gesture. Her expression shifted as she began to understand what he intended.

Hyoren smiled.

“This Akela River climbs toward the upstream. Toward the Forest of No Return. And toward the place where I was surviving when I first transported to this world.”

His gaze settled on the water again.

The river led toward the forest where his journey in Kresneger had begun. He remembered the cave beside a waterfall that he had discovered on his second day in this world. Deep inside that dangerous forest, it had become his base—a place where he could rest, craft tools, and gather his strength before venturing out again.

Those early days had been harsh. Every meal had to be earned, and every night spent safely was a small victory.

Yet it was also where he had begun building a life in this unfamiliar world.

“This river will reach the place where I spent most of my time during my first months here. And the place where I actually got transported into this world.”

Ina looked at him, then back toward the dark river.

The place he was talking about wasn't just another location in the forest. It was where his life in Kresneger had begun, where he had struggled to survive before meeting anyone who could help him.

Hyoren's smile grew faint but sincere.

“It's the place where I think my old world and new world are connected.”

Elise's emerald eyes softened. She didn't ask him to explain how such a connection might work. She understood that he couldn't know for certain, either.

Instead, she watched the ship in his hands.

Hyoren lowered his gaze to the miniature vessel.

“I know this ship might not reach the place where everything started for me. The journey is far, and the ship is small. It might be destroyed by goblins or other monsters.”

He paused, running his thumb along the edge of the hull.

“But I hope this ship will bring my prayer and offering there. I hope this river will be the bridge that could transcend the world.”

The words lingered between them.

Elise stepped closer and gently touched his arm.

“I believe it will reach, Hyoren.”

Hyoren turned toward her. Her expression was calm and sincere, without any attempt to promise something she couldn't guarantee. She simply believed in the meaning behind what he was doing.

Ina nodded beside them.

“The monsters mostly hibernate, so your ship will be safe.”

She gave him a reassuring smile, her usual playfulness subdued by the quiet of the moment.

“And I think what's important is the thought and the prayer, right?”

Hyoren looked at both women.

For a moment, he didn't know what else to say. Their words couldn't guarantee that the little ship would reach its destination, but they didn't need to. They had come here with him, listened to his memories, and understood why this mattered.

“Thank you, you two.”

He looked down at the ship again.

“These sensors and gimbals I ordered from Balin and Gror will help the ship navigate the river. They can determine where the river is flowing, so it can travel upstream without any control from me.”

He scratched his cheek, a trace of disbelief returning to his expression.

“Those two dwarf brothers were surprised by the requirements. But to think they actually delivered.”

Ina's ears perked up.

“Balin and Gror are famous runic inscriptionists, after all. Nyahaha.”

Hyoren nodded.

“They are.”

He carefully arranged the white Purity Lily and the bottle of distilled spirit on the deck of the miniature ship. Then he secured the small lantern in place and lit it.

The little flame flickered against the night, its light reflecting faintly on the ship's surface.

Hyoren crouched beside the river and lowered the vessel onto the water.

For a moment, it rocked gently with the current.

He poured Aethell into the magic tool.

A faint glow spread across the ship before the propulsion system flared to life. The vessel began to move, gliding away from the bank and turning toward the upstream.

Hyoren rose to his feet.

He clasped his hands together in prayer, watching as the little ship carried his offering away from him. Its lantern was small against the vast darkness, but its light remained visible as it slowly made its way upstream.

Elise stood beside him and clasped her hands together as well.

Ina followed, her expression unusually quiet.

Neither woman spoke. They simply accompanied Hyoren as he watched the vessel move farther along the river.

Hyoren closed his eyes for a moment.

Hey, Dad. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for me. You taught me how to be strong, how to be kind, and what it really means to be a good man.

He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts.

Thanks to you, I could survive when I got thrown into an impossible situation. I could meet my lover, meet a new family, and build a second life in another world. I hope you're resting easy up there, knowing that you did a great job. I'm going to keep working hard and do my best to make you proud. Rest well, Dad. You'll always be with me. Even if I'm not on Earth anymore.

His hands remained clasped as the prayer came to an end.

The miniature ship continued its journey upstream, carrying the flower, the distilled spirit, and the little flame into the darkness.

Hyoren watched it for as long as he could see its light.

Elise stayed close beside him. She didn't try to comfort him with words or interrupt his prayer. She simply remained there, sharing the quiet moment with the man she loved.

Ina stood on his other side, her tail hanging still behind her. Her gaze followed the distant light, and her ears tilted forward as though she, too, wished to see the vessel reach its destination.

They couldn't follow the ship all the way to the forest. They couldn't know whether it would reach the place Hyoren hoped for, or whether the river would carry it somewhere else.

But that wasn't something they needed to know. They remained together by the Akela River, watching the offering travel toward the place where Hyoren's life in this world had begun.

The river flowed beneath the three moons of Kresneger—Azure, Crimson, and Ebony—its current carrying a small light into the distance.

And for Hyoren, it became a bridge between two worlds—a way to send his gratitude to the father he could no longer visit, and to honor the man whose lessons had helped him find a new life far from home.