"Costate, you and I speak without the need to lie."

"Sir, please speak."

"I'm having some regrets. Why did I come to Entrode?"

"..."

It was still night at the inn, with Ronald and Costate sitting in front of the inn's stove, toasting bread to eat.

In fact, just moments before.

The two of them had just sent off the rarely-seen R'lyeh.

Having heard of Ronald's doubts from his subordinates, R'lyeh had hurried over from the Torrential Court to Ronald's residence at the inn the very next afternoon—the Torrential Court was the former royal palace of Entrode.

After the successful coup, the new rulers found the original name unsuitable, so they coined a new one themselves, and it was also common for the people to call it the Regency Court.

According to R'lyeh's explanation...

Entrode, or rather most countries in this world, if seen through Ronald's eyes, had a level of efficiency that was quite unreliable.

The performance efficiency displayed by the young spy.

That was the solid legal system written into Entrode's constitution.

—They had very good reasons.

—Other than military issues, which were concerns of the army itself, they did not wish to harm the common populace in the area of civil administration. Therefore, making decisions too quickly posed a high risk of irreversible mistakes.

Conversely—a sufficient amount of time ensured that these kinds of incidents were avoided as much as possible.

"Listen to that, such high-sounding excuses."

Ronald couldn't help but start griping again:

"It's clear that they're lazy, with lousy work efficiency, yet they want to put it under such a guise. In the end, our trip might turn into a stay of over a month!"

Costate calmly broke off a piece of the toasted bread, bit into it to taste, and then offered it to Ronald:

"Sir, this is the current situation."

"If you really can't stand it, we can leave Waterfall City directly; they won't make any tangible moves against us."

Ronald tasted the bread—crispy, with the right texture of softness and hardness.

The flour and process used for Entrode's bread were different than Grid's, evidently better for storage and more suitable for toasting.

"Mm, thank you."

After thanking the maid in front of him, Ronald continued with a tone of regret:

"Let's forget about leaving."

"After all, we've come all this way, and we've already made firm promises. Even if we really want to leave, it's better to fulfill those commitments—when you think about it, it's just a month."

Costate timely offered a different perspective:

"But sir, according to the stories in your memory—this kind of unexpected stay often serves as the prelude to greater events."

Ronald leaned back:

"I'm not as weak as when I first came to this world, wary of everything. Let me be arrogant for a bit; I haven't yet seen anyone who poses a threat to me."

"..."

The maid silently nodded, then began tending to the bread on the stove.

However, just a few minutes later, Costate looked up again to ask:

"Sir, do you have any plans to decipher that original tome?"

"If our assumptions are correct, it should have a direct connection to your cross-world journey, and there might be unexpected gains."

As soon as Costate spoke, Ronald's eyes immediately grew complex.

He slowly straightened his body, his expression becoming grave and serious—as if he had just arrived in this world.

"The tome of origin..."

Costate gazed at Ronald with a flicker of curiosity in his eyes,

"Sir, are you hesitating?"

Ronald answered seriously,

"It's not hesitation, it's fear."

"Fear?" The maid's surprised eyes also held inquiry, "Could you explain in detail?"

Ronald clearly perceived the emotion in Costate's eyes, and without hesitation, he confessed,

"If it had been right after I crossed over, I probably would have had the courage to try."

"But now it's different."

"This tome of origin is related to the fact that I've traveled through time—if I were to decipher it, there might be unpredictable consequences. In the worst case, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of everything going black before my eyes, and then finding myself back on Earth, buried within the ruins."

"I don't want to see that happen."

"After all, in this year's time, I've formed countless connections, and there are things on this land that I genuinely care about."

"Costate, do you understand?"

"..."

The maid pondered carefully before asking,

"So you weighed the possibility of returning to Earth against severing your connections with this world, and that's why you dare not decipher the tome? To be honest... I'm a bit puzzled."

Ronald furrowed his brow and scratched his head.

Costate's words were a bit off in terms of wording and logic, but he still understood what the other was confused about.

After a few seconds of thoughtful consideration, Ronald continued,

"Costate, the key to this matter isn't about weighing options, but rather it comes from what one hopes to see deep in one's heart... How should I put it, if you plan to cultivate your own complete personality, then you must also experience this kind of confusion."

Costate said, "Sir, you've put it that way, and I think I've got a bit of understanding."

"..."

In his first week in Waterfall City.

Ronald spent his time decrying the administrative speeds of Entrod and also experiencing the unique charm of this place.

The common people of Waterfall City were quite friendly towards outsiders.

Ronald had been strolling the streets for several days and hadn't encountered anyone with a distinctly hostile attitude.

But there was one point of interest.

That was the issue of religion.

Although Entrod had the same type of churches as Grid, because of the inherent history and responsibilities of the church in this world, they were rather conservative with their proselytizing.

This attitude, in a country like Entrod,

Resulted in several 'folk religions' taking root and sprouting up on this land, and older beliefs also seemed to be reviving.

Speaking from Ronald's own life experience.

The religions in Waterfall City must have already exceeded double digits!

If not for the unique nature of the military government, as well as the special agency led by Laleiye, considering the mysterious forces starting to emerge and mix in, who knows whether this city might become a 'battlefield of the gods' of sorts.

Thus, on his second Friday in Waterfall City.

While Ronald was wandering the streets, a very openly dressed young lady caught his eye, and he immediately had an idea.

The girl approached and wrapped her arm around Ronald's,

"Sir, would you like to come to our morning terrace gathering?"

"You're certain to gain something."

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