Journey to Planar World

7:50 PM.

The atmosphere in the apartment unit was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of a knife meeting a cutting board coming from the kitchen.

The living room and kitchen shared a single open area, so from his position on the sofa, Charlie could clearly see Mahiru in action.

The girl had tied her blonde hair into a ponytail and donned a cooking apron, moving with remarkably deft motions.

Just by observing her posture and the way she handled the knife, anyone could conclude that Mahiru’s culinary skills were well above average—a sight that offered a domestic impression in stark contrast to the bloody events of a few hours ago.

”What?”

Mahiru’s movement as she sliced fish came to a halt. She looked up, staring back at Charlie with a sharp, questioning gaze.

”Ahem... Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, Shiina-san. Please continue, I won’t watch anymore.” Charlie said awkwardly, immediately averting his eyes.

”...”

Mahiru did not reply, but her eyes widened for a moment when she saw Charlie manifest a thick book out of thin air.

Her astonishment lasted only a second; she quickly regained her composure, realizing that such supernatural occurrences were daily life for the man who was now her protector.

While Mahiru was busy with spices and pans, Charlie decided to spend his free time reading a history book belonging to the Hera Familia.

Opening the cover of the book, which felt heavy and ancient, he began to scan the rows of words recounting the tragedies and glories of the past.

The One-Eyed Black Dragon—it was one of the Three Great Quests, an arch-enemy of humanity equal to the Land Overlord Behemoth and the Ocean Overlord Leviathan, all of which had to be subdued to save the world. Of the three, two had been successfully conquered, leaving it as the last.

However, this final entity was on a level completely different from the otherua. Its existence had even forced the gods, who had previously only observed from the heavens, to intervene.

Despite sacrificing renowned figures of that time, the Mercenary King Albert and the Great Spirit Aria, the maximum result that could be achieved was merely wounding one of its eyes and sealing it.

The time limit for that seal was a little over a thousand years. There was no time to simply stand still waiting for a hero to arrive whenever that might be. To increase the chances of victory even slightly, the gods quickly ended the warfare in Heaven and descended one by one to the lower world.

The Era of Heroic Mythology thus ended, replaced by a new dawn: the Era of the Descent of the Gods.

Approximately a thousand years had passed since that era began. In all the historical fragments of the Era of the Gods, nothing rivaled the golden age of the followers of Zeus and Hera. The people worshipped them as ”The Heroes,” ”Our Hope,” and ”The Golden Age.” Applause and praise were incessantly directed toward them.

Both Familias each possessed more than a hundred geniuses. It was not just about the large scale of their achievements, but every individual within them was a heroic figure. Even poets were left struggling: ”What words should be sung to describe the strength of that person?”

To write poetry about them, there would never be a shortage of impressive and astonishing achievements. If everything were told, a single day would not suffice for even one person—it was truly an ordeal for poets and writers of heroic tales because there were simply so many great people there. Such were the members of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia in that generation.

They stood at the highest peak, surpassing other Familias to the point that none could catch up. Other Familias could only look up with feelings of discouragement due to the endless distance.

The answer was clear; this was what was called ”The Strongest.”

However, if it had to be narrowed down, four great names emerged...

The first was a member of the Zeus Familia who preyed on monsters as his source of strength—[Gluttony] Zard.

The second was a member of the Hera Familia, the figure most beloved by talent in the entire Era of the Gods—[Silence] Alfia.

The third was the captain of the Hera Familia, who remained standing at the highest peak even if the entire Era of the Gods were gathered into one—[Empress] Regnant.

The fourth was the captain of the Zeus Familia who was praised as the strongest, even in the current era which is touted as the best era in history—[Hero] Maxim.

Speaking on the scale of the Familia, there were three main points.

First was the unshakable top position since the Era of the Gods began; the absolute king who had never lost even once. Their prestige illuminated the world, forcing the dark factions (Evilus) to submit and be silenced.

Compared to any previous era, their victories were not narrow ones, but landslide triumphs. Not a single person was capable of threatening that solid, indestructible golden throne.

Someone once called them the ”Eternal Kings.” Anyone living in this time would think that the golden throne was perfect, without the slightest flaw.

Moreover, they successfully proved the second point: the subjugation of the Land Overlord Behemoth.

They completed one of the Three Great Quests. This not only shook the City of Orario, but the entire world.

Everyone doubted their ears.

A monster that had existed since before the Era of Heroic Mythology, a creature with a colossal body surpassing mountains, which trampled humans like ants and turned the land into a poisonous swamp, was finally conquered by human hands.

The key to that victory was the Zeus Familia member, Zard.

Inexplicably, he ate the poisonous flesh of the Behemoth to make it his strength, and succeeded in delivering a lethal strike. Without regard for tomorrow or his own safety, he turned his great maw into a deadly blade that pierced the monster.

In the midst of the crowd bowed and paralyzed by fear, a glimmer of light and hope began to shine brightly. The people began to feel that the fantasy of ”maybe we can win” had now become a vivid reality.

Not long after that, the third piece of major news arrived in the City of Orario as joyful tidings: the subjugation of the Ocean Overlord Leviathan.

Leviathan ruled the vast seas, forcing humans to fight on unstable footing and in cramped spaces.

Although adventurers used the protection of Water Spirits to fight inside the sea, their enemy was a monster that had lived since before the Mythology Era. Mere preparations meant nothing. The ocean was the monster’s sacred domain, and anyone who stepped into it was merely bait to fill its stomach.

However, the monster that imposed impossible logic was finally defeated by the grand magic of the Mage most blessed with talent in the thousand years of the Era of the Gods, Alfia.

The heavens cried, the sea wailed—her Genos Angelus brought destruction to Leviathan.

The people of Orario feasted day and night. Hope for the ”Salvation of the World” soared so high it pierced the heavens. The foolish populace would never realize that their expectations were actually strangling the heroes’ necks.

That hope hindered thorough preparation; the arrogant thought that ”they alone are enough” began to dominate, and the glorious results of war blinded people’s eyes.

Consequently, the piles of countless corpses were simply ignored. Quite right; they would be considered to have never existed. Their sacrifices were destined never to be told and were erased from history forever.

A story is indeed cruel; when there are too many characters, they will be condensed.

Even though every individual is an important figure who should not be lost, only those who deliver the final blow or the most famous will be elevated as the ”Main Character” in the story.

Those who fall in war are considered only as additional numbers. Writing their names one by one would take a thousand years; therefore, they are condensed.

In the end, all that is written are categories: ”Main Character,” ”Supporting Cast,” ”The Masses,” and ”The People.”

Humans are creatures who bore easily and struggle to concentrate. In the long flow of time, everything will be eroded and only the Main Character will remain.

The most vivid example is the last hero of the Era of Heroic Mythology, the Mercenary King Albert.

It is a true irony. He must have had companions as well. If he had truly been alone when challenging that creature and succeeded in gouging out its eye, then the Era of the Gods would never have come and the Era of Heroic Mythology would surely still continue until now.

However, all that remains is one sentence: ”Drove back the Black Dragon.”

Only one line: ”At the cost of his life, he destroyed one eye of the Black Dragon and drove it away from the land of Orario.”

In the future, we too will be considered to have never existed. Unless we succeed in completing the greatest ambition of humanity. However, even if that is achieved, the name that will endure is only one person: the ”Main Character.”

”Truly an interesting perspective.”

Closing the book for a moment, Charlie absorbed the last sentence about how history only leaves behind one ”Main Character” name while thousands of others are erased.

He inwardly praised the writer of those records for giving him a different point of view; a reminder that behind every great victory, there is a silent pile of sacrifices.

”What kind of book are you reading so seriously?”

Charlie started slightly. He hadn’t realized at what point Mahiru had come to stand behind the sofa, watching him with a flat gaze.

The girl took off her apron and tidied a few strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail.

”Just... historical records from my place of origin.” Charlie answered calmly.

”...”

Mahiru fell silent for a moment before looking away toward the dining table.

”Dinner is ready. I accidentally cooked too much earlier, so... help me finish it. It would be such a waste if it were thrown away, and I hate wasting food.”

Charlie knew it was just an excuse—considering Mahiru was the type of person who was very organized, it was unlikely she had miscalculated the portions. However, he had no intention of exposing such an obvious lie.

”Certainly, thank you for the offer, Shiina-san.”

The two sat opposite each other at the clean wooden dining table.

Before them were served grilled fish, miso soup, and several beautifully arranged side dishes.

Charlie picked up his chopsticks, said a brief prayer, and began to taste the first mouthful.

His eyes widened slightly. ”This is... incredible. I didn’t expect home cooking could be this delicious. You truly have a talent, Shiina-san.”

Mahiru showed no excessive reaction to the praise. Her face remained calm, though there was a small spark of satisfaction hidden in her eyes as she began to eat her own rice.

”I’m glad it suits your palate.” She said flatly. ”By the way, while we are living together... is there anything you are allergic to? Or perhaps certain food ingredients that you really dislike? I need to know so I don’t cook the wrong thing tomorrow.”

Charlie shook his head slowly while chewing. ”I have no restrictions. To be honest, I’m not the type of person to be picky about food. I will eat anything as long as it’s edible and can provide energy.”

”Oh.” Mahiru only gave a brief nod without saying anything else.

”...”

The atmosphere became quiet again, but this time the silence was no longer as terrifying as it had been in the park toilet. There was only the sound of chopsticks and spoons clinking softly.

After their plates were clean, Charlie immediately stood up and took Mahiru’s dirty plate. ”Let me wash the dishes. This is the least I can do since you did the cooking.”

”There’s no need, you are a guest. I can do it myself.” Mahiru refused quickly.

”I shouldn’t let the host work alone.” Charlie countered with a thin smile that was hard to refuse.

Mahiru went silent for a moment, but in the end, she couldn’t do anything. Instead of letting Charlie work alone, she stood beside the man in front of the sink.

They ended up washing the dishes together in close proximity; Charlie soaped them, and Mahiru rinsed them under the running water.

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