Poul had become one of humanity’s symbols of hope.
His name was everywhere. Jay could barely go out to play with other children anymore without being surrounded by people and journalists.

No one ever discovered what happened to the soldiers who invaded Luis’s house.
Even though Luis was the main suspect, he was released due to lack of evidence.

Currently, Jay and Poul were living with Luis, Mary, and Kyrai—not because of money, but because they wanted to.

Another day dawned.
The sun rose from the darkness, illuminating the land once more.

Jay slowly woke up, staring at the dark room with his messy hair. He got up and tried to wake his friend.

"Come on, sleepyhead, wake up. It’s morning already," Jay said, shaking Kyrai’s body.

"Hmm… don’t bother me, Mom. Let me sleep a little more," Kyrai muttered.
"Just five more minutes."

"I’m not your mom, Kyrai. Wake up," Jay said, shaking her again.
She didn’t move.

"You’re leaving me no choice."

Jay lifted part of the blanket, grabbed Kyrai’s foot, and started tickling her toes while making a silly face.

Kyrai rolled from side to side but still didn’t wake up.
Jay increased the intensity—only to receive a strong kick straight to his chin.

He fell to the floor, gritting his teeth.

"WHAT THE HELL, KYRAI?! WAKE UP ALREADY! ARE YOU A ROCK OR WHAT, DAMN IT?!"

The shout finally woke her up.

"Geez, Jay! You know I hate that," Kyrai complained.

"Yeah, but I like it," Jay replied.

Kyrai looked at him and thought he was an idiot.

"Come on, go get ready for breakfast," Jay said.

Jay went downstairs to eat breakfast while Kyrai got ready.

In the kitchen, Jay found Luis, his father, and Mary. As usual, he ate calmly while reading his book.

"Jay, you really love reading," Luis said, surprised to see him doing that every single day.

"Yeah, I really like reading."

'I’m pretty sure this has turned into an addiction.'

"Jay, you don’t like books—you’re addicted to them!" Poul said.

Jay just made a face at him.

"And am I wrong, you little brat?"

"No," Jay replied, turning his head away.

"Eat before it gets cold," Mary said with a smile.

To Jay, Mary was like a second mother.
He loved her deeply and wanted to make her proud.

After all, his mother in this world had died right in front of him—horribly.

Jay had made some friends, but one stood out the most: a boy named Noa.

Kyrai came downstairs with an annoyed expression.
Jay glanced at her and left the table since he had already finished eating.

As he passed by her, he let out a small laugh.

Kyrai noticed and got slightly irritated, but since her parents were present, she let it go and sat down for breakfast.

Jay sat on the couch and went back to reading.

While he read, his father left for work.
Even though Poul was considered a hero—recognized even by the great human king, Valerius Adelio—he was still just a soldier, scheduled to be promoted to captain in two days.

Before leaving, Poul said goodbye to his friend, his friend’s wife, and their daughter.

And of course, he hugged his precious son.

A warm embrace between father and son.

After some time, Jay went to his room to change.
He was still wearing pajamas and planned to go to the park to play with his friends.

But something still bothered him.

What haunted him was his action on that fateful day.

The day he killed someone.

'I destroyed a family because of that decision… That scares me. What if I become the same kind of person as—'

Jay stopped walking and laughed at himself.

'No. I’m still the same person as before. I wouldn’t change overnight.'
'I can only change through the experiences this world gives me.'
'How could I be so stupid to forget that?'
'I’m a young adult. I shouldn’t forget something like that.'

He laughed again and continued to his room.

After getting dressed, he grabbed his book and went to the park to play with the other kids.

At the same time, Poul arrived at the military headquarters.

As always, he was warmly welcomed and followed his usual routine—except for one detail.

Now, the soldiers trained with him.

He no longer trained alone, but alongside the strongest and most skilled soldiers.

When the training ended, the soldiers looked at him.

"Our next captain is really tough," one of them said, completely exhausted.

"It won’t take long before you’re promoted to Royal Knight," another added, full of expectations.

Poul laughed lightly.
"I won’t reach that level anytime soon."

"Nah! For the guy who killed an elemental giant, that should be easy," another soldier said.

'All this just because I killed one elemental giant… “giant slayer” is a bit much.'
'I only killed one. What an exaggeration.'

Meanwhile, Jay was at the park with the other children.

He sat on a bench reading next to his friend Noa.

Jay found an interesting part in the book and tried to show it to him—
but Noa was staring dreamily at Kyrai.

Jay noticed and made a face before laughing quietly.

'I’m going to become a love cupid.'
'I’ll make Kyrai fall for him.'

"Noooa!"

Noa’s lovestruck expression immediately turned serious.

"W-what is it— I mean, what’s wrong, my friend?"

"Hey, you were calling me something just now, weren’t you?"

"No," Noa said, glancing in Kyrai’s direction.

"Don’t try to hide it. I know you’re in love with my adorable sister."

Noa’s eyes widened in shock.

"S-sister?!"

"She’s my sister by heart, not by blood, you idiot."

"Oh… now I get it."

"Anyway, my friend, let’s get to the important part."

Jay leaned closer and whispered his plan into Noa’s ear.

He suggested they go to Noa’s house to discuss ways to win Kyrai over.

And so they did.

They talked about countless plans—so many that they didn’t even notice the night had fallen.