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

was still on his way and something was holding him up. Like for example, an old grandma had fallen

6:34 A.M.

watch, and seeing that there was only a minute left before the air train left,

where in the

"Am I late?"

station and go back to the Lock, I heard a voice coming from behind

looking behind me to see who the voice belonged to,

"Just barely"

...

[Lock station - Departing]

-Clank!

of the air train closed, lifting up in the air, it soon smoothly picked up its speed and disappeared into the

train, Kevin and

one of us spoke

now dyed in white as the snow coated the rooftops of every building and house in

...It looked truly beautiful.

help but notice how empty the train was as apart from me and Kevin, no one was present. Perhaps because it was

the silence, Kevin looked at me for

where are

him immediatly, I responded with a question of my

that, can I take your presence as you

didn't reply immediately. Staring at his feet for a couple of seconds, clenching his

"...yes"

"Great"

my face. Resting my

going to the Clayton

couldn't help but shoot

"The Clayton Ridge?"

"Yeah..."

where I got the [Seed of Limit]

time, I was going on further

huge, I mean huge. We're talking like thousands

where I took the [Seed of Limit] and [Keiki style], I was actually headed

the Lock, approximately 1800

couldn't

where the

my head in

much as you can as you're going to need to

looking at me in confusion,

"Challenge?"

world outside that was dyed in white, a light chuckle escaped from

give you a five-star sword art

place, I was only bringing him

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

words to say, but after a while, he shook his

"No..I get it"

and noticing Kevin's crestfallen expression, patting him on the shoulder I