Ben stepped forward, the flames around him slowly fading.

  “Help has arrived.”

  Tarent looked up, relief flooding his face.

  “Master!”

  Zaraf glanced at Ben and smiled. In Ben’s eyes, he saw quiet pride.

  Soon, other adventurers arrived behind Ben. They carefully lifted the injured members of the missing party and began carrying them out of the dungeon.

  Ben led everyone toward the exit.

  On the way out—

  Zaraf walked beside him.

  “When did you arrive?” he asked. “I thought you were out of town.”

  Ben replied calmly,

  “When the MC or FMC of a world is in danger, the creator of that world knows first.”

  Zaraf blinked.

  “Does that mean… Tarent is the MC of your world?”

  Ben nodded.

  “Yes.”

  Zaraf frowned slightly.

  “Then… did you create this world only a few years ago? He's still young.”

  Ben smiled faintly.

  “He is the third-generation MC of my world.”

  Zaraf stopped walking.

  “Third… generation?”

  Ben continued.

  “When you create a world, it needs pillars — an MC, an FMC, and a villain. They are the foundation of the story.”

  “When they grow old… or can no longer carry their role… the title passes to someone else.”

  “A child. A student. Or someone chosen.”

  Zaraf slowly nodded.

  “So Tarent inherited the title.”

  “Yes,” Ben said.

  “And today… you saved my world.”

  Zaraf looked at him.

  “If both the MC and FMC die,” Ben continued, “the world loses its pillars. Until I choose new ones… I cannot leave that world.”

  “And without pillars…”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “…the world collapses.”

  Zaraf fell silent.

  After a while, Ben stopped walking.

  “We’re outside,” he said. “I have work to do.”

  “You and Makima go home. Tell her I’ll be late.”

  “…Alright.”

  Ben turned and left.

  Zaraf searched for Makima.

  He spotted her speaking with the rescued adventurers. They were thanking her, relief clear on their faces.

  Zaraf didn’t interrupt.

  Instead, he walked to the bridge where they had agreed to meet earlier.

  He waited quietly.

  As he slipped his hand into his pocket, his fingers touched the small gem he had bought earlier.

  He took it out and looked at it.

  Should I give it to her…?

  Footsteps approached.

  Makima stopped beside him.

  Zaraf quickly slipped the gem back into his pocket.

  But Makima noticed.

  “Why did you leave?” she asked. “They were looking for you to thank you.”

  “…I don't like crowds,” Zaraf replied.

  “And I didn’t do it alone. It happened because you faced your past.”

  Makima looked at him in surprise.

  “You're not going to ask?”

  “…No,” Zaraf said quietly.

  “If you're not comfortable… leave it at that.”

  “I trust you.”

  She stayed silent for a moment.

  Then she began speaking.

  “In my earliest memories… I lived alone with my mother.”

  “I don’t remember my real father.”

  “One day… he came back.”

  “And we moved in with him.”

  She looked down at the flowing river.

  “Over time, I began admiring him as an adventurer.”

  “I wanted to become strong and respected like him.”

  “So I asked to become an adventurer.”

  “He said yes.”

  “I joined the same party we saved today.”

  “I gained honor… respect.”

  Her voice weakened.

  “But everything changed during an Imperial Dungeon mission.”

  “We split up.”

  “I was with Archer Reches.”

  “We were ambushed.”

  “She was badly injured.”

  “Dying.”

  Makima’s hands trembled.

  “I had a choice…”

  “Heal her… and die.”

  “Or fight… and survive.”

  “I panicked.”

  “I didn’t heal.”

  “I didn’t fight properly.”

  Her voice almost broke.

  “Tarent arrived and saved me…”

  “…but Reches lost her arm.”

  “She left adventuring after that.”

  Makima closed her eyes.

  “And I left the party.”

  She looked at Zaraf.

  “When I heard you didn’t hesitate to enter the dungeon…”

  “I followed.”

  “Because of you…”

  “I found courage again.”

  “…Thank you.”

  Zaraf didn’t know what to say.

  She smiled gently.

  “I don’t need words.”

  Zaraf thought quietly.

  She thinks it was her fault.

  That she wasn’t worthy to stand beside them.

  He spoke softly.

  “Today… I saw someone lift rubble, freeze time, and save everyone without hesitation.”

  “You were the MVP.”

  Makima blinked.

  “…It was because of you.”

  Silence filled the air.

  Zaraf finally took the gem from his pocket.

  “This is for you.”

  Makima’s eyes widened.

  “A magic stone? Why?”

  “…For always healing me.”

  She froze.

  “How do you know…? Did father tell you?”

  “No,” Zaraf replied.

  “I have my own ways.”

  Makima looked away.

  “…It’s nothing.”

  But Zaraf continued.

  “You cook every day.”

  “You clean the house.”

  “You help Auntie.”

  “And you stay up late healing me after training.”

  “Why?”

  Makima slowly exhaled.

  “There was another student before you.”

  “He ignored father’s teachings… and did terrible things.”

  “After that…”

  “…father stopped smiling.”

  “But when you arrived…”

  “He changed.”

  “You endure his training.”

  “You never run away.”

  “You gave him something I never could.”

  “So I heal you…”

  “…not as a burden.”

  “But because I’m happy.”

  Zaraf clenched his fist.

  “Then I’ll become strong enough…”

  “…so you won’t need to heal me.”

  Makima smiled softly.

  “That will take time.”

  “…I’ll get there.”

  She carefully held the gem.

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll treasure it.”

  Far away, in another world—

  The man who had been watching the dungeon knelt.

  “Our plan to kill the MC and FMC… and trap Ben…”

  “…has failed.”

  A man sitting on a throne asked calmly,

  “How?”

  “It was Ben’s student.”

  “A new creator.”

  The seated man laughed.

  “So Ben is training another creator?”

  “Master… how cruel of you.”

  Another figure entered the room.

  “Visitors Leader. We received news about Abeth.”

  “What happened?”

  “Shin has begun training her copy ability.”

  The Visitors Leader slowly stood.

  “Call all reincarnated Visitors.”

  His eyes gleamed.

  “It’s time to begin.”

  “A war…”

  “…between Creators and Visitors.”