The Author's POV

"Huuuuamm..."

Yawning, a white mist escaped from my mouth. Although it was mid-winter, only now that I was awake early in the morning did I fully realize that winter was upon me.

Perhaps it was because I was less sensitive to the cold, it never truly hit me until now that it was already that time of the year.

6:30 A.M.

Checking my watch, I rubbed my hands together as I sat on a bench. Currently, I was at the train station, patiently waiting for the air train to arrive.

Moreover, apart from waiting for the air train, I was also waiting for someone to come...

Kevin.

I had already texted him beforehand that I was waiting for him today at the train station. Although the events with Gilbert had happened not so long ago, he should've already made a full recovery. Therefore he should be able to make it without a problem.

The only thing that I wanted to know was whether he received my message or not...

-tssss

"...It's snowing"

Snapping me out of my thoughts, extending my hand forward, I watched as an ice crystal gently landed on my jacket and melted straight after.

Glancing at the falling snow in the sky, I couldn't help but softly mumble to myself

"...five months huh?"

I've been in this world for five months...

Watching the ice crystals continuously fall from the sky and land on my jacket, I couldn't help but look back at what had happened these past few months.

"Time sure flies..."

Going from a reclused introvert to exploring dungeons, creating companies, finding comrades, meeting a new family...

"...Really, fate is truly strange in many ways."

Who could've ever guessed that my life would change so much in a matter of five months...I really couldn't explain how I felt at this moment.

Everything sort of felt like a blur...

-Voooooooom!

Snapping me out of my thoughts, the sound of an air train gently landing on the platform of the station resounded across the area I was in.

Frowning slightly, I glanced around me. However, noticing that I was the only person in the station, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed.

"Mhhh...did I perhaps miscalculate?"

...I really thought that Kevin would've without a doubt shown up considering what had happened with Gilbert, but did I perhaps misjudge something?

Shaking my head, I discarded such a notion

could I have judged

was holding him up. Like for example, an old grandma had fallen down the stairs and he was helping her

6:34 A.M.

only a minute left before the air train left, my brows knit

in the

"Am I late?"

I was about to give up and leave the train station and go back to the Lock, I heard

behind me to see who the voice belonged to, I smiled

"Just barely"

...

[Lock station - Departing]

-Clank!

the air, it soon smoothly picked up its speed and

opposite ends to each other in the air train, Kevin and I quietly looked at the ever-changing scenery outside of the

of us spoke

white as the snow coated the rooftops of every building and

...It looked truly beautiful.

away from the window, I couldn't help but notice how empty the train was as apart from me and Kevin, no one was present. Perhaps

a while, breaking the silence, Kevin looked at

where are we

at Kevin, without answering him immediatly, I responded with a question of

can I take your presence as

immediately. Staring at his feet for a couple of seconds,

"...yes"

"Great"

head, a big smile appeared on my face. Resting my cheek on my hand, I

to the

brows couldn't help but shoot

"The Clayton Ridge?"

"Yeah..."

where I got the

going on

huge, I mean huge. We're talking like

took the [Seed of Limit] and [Keiki style], I

three hours journey from the Lock, approximately 1800 km in terms

confusion, Kevin couldn't help but frown

that where the sword

nodded my

as you can as you're

looking at me in confusion,

"Challenge?"

head, as I leaned on the window and stared at the world

give you a five-star sword art

bringing him to the

wouldn't have asked for him to meet me this early

opening his mouth, Kevin tried to find words to say, but after a while, he shook his

"No..I get it"

crestfallen expression, patting