The Weight of the World and the Call of the Peaks

Kyle and Tristan had barely walked through the door when the former's gaze was caught by an unknown figure seated at the same table where he had been before chasing Aoi.

A man with an impressive build, visibly muscular, wore an immaculate, carefully trimmed beard. He had the bearing of a soldier, his posture erect, his eyes piercing. A natural authority emanated from him, without him needing to say a word.

"Who's the new guy?" Kyle asked, intrigued.

Tristan rolled his eyes before reprimanding him in a low voice:

"You don't even recognize the guild master? Seriously, Kyle..."

"This is the first time I've seen him," the young man justified himself. "Is that him, Richard? So that's what he looks like..."

The two approached the table, where three members of the Pentagram were now seated. As soon as they were within range, the man with the trimmed beard looked up at Kyle.

"So it's you, Kyle?" 

"Yes..." he replied, his voice a little too tense to go unnoticed.

His discomfort was clearly audible, as if an invisible pressure had just fallen on his shoulders.

"In barely a month, you've already become a B-rank adventurer?" Richard asked, his tone hinting at skepticism.

"That's right," Kyle replied, without seeking to justify himself.

Tristan intervened, respectful but firm:

"Master, do you doubt Kyle's abilities?"

Before Richard could even respond, Astrid, arms crossed, blurted out:

"Just leave that young man alone, Richard. You're always trying to intimidate newbies; it's tiring."

The guild master abandoned his attempt at intimidation and turned to her, looking sharply stung.

"You!" You're not going to start that again..."

And the argument broke out. As often happened between them, it had neither logic nor clear foundation. A quarrel of habit, almost ritual.

Elias, who had been watching the scene in silence until then, sighed and raised his hand as if to cut it short.

"You're not going to fight again, are you? Astrid, stop provoking, and Richard, stop responding to her barbs."

Before either of them could reply, he added in a calm but firm tone,

"It's always the same when you're together. You're supposed to be role models for the new generation... Look at yourselves."

Caught out, the two elders lowered their eyes, knowing he was right.

The attention returned to Kyle. Tristan said confidently,

"If you need a testimony, I can personally vouch for Kyle's power." 

Richard shrugged.

"I have nothing to complain about, especially since Edward administered the test. I'm in no position to question his judgment."

Astrid took the opportunity to ask again:

"Then why the suspicious look? You're still nitpicking, as always."

Richard stared at her for a moment, then looked away without answering. He remained silent for a few seconds before saying,

"This kind of thing... adds to my workload."

Then he turned back to Kyle.

"Tell me, is it true you're one of the visitors?"

"Yes," Kyle replied, still with that restraint in his voice.

"That's the problem," Richard whispered.

Elias, surprised, arched an eyebrow.

"What do you mean by that?" 

"It's the leaders' paranoia again," Richard grumbled. "The city is close to the border with Asterion, you know. I've been asked to keep a close eye on the kingdom."

Astrid frowned.

"Yet the two kingdoms maintain friendly relations, right?"

"Officially, yes. But since the arrival of people from another world, all with extraordinary abilities, some fear that the balance between the kingdoms has been upset."

Elias inclined his head gently, his gaze clouded with thought.

"I understand more clearly now..."

Kyle, a little worried, asked,

"Does my presence here pose a problem?"

"No," Richard replied, a little too quickly, as if he wanted to end the subject.

 Elias spoke again, his tone calm:

"With the wyvern incident quickly resolved by a group that included several people from another world... And now you, Kyle, a young adventurer with the potential to reach our level... These are elements that confirm the fears of the leaders of Thoralis."

Kyle nodded slowly.

"I understand..."

But Richard, still visibly upset, added curtly,

"If that were all it was, it wouldn't really be a problem."

Astrid frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

Richard crossed his arms, his gaze darkening.

"The message I received also mentions monitoring possible military advances."

Elias spoke in a measured tone, his features grave:

"Indeed... The arrival of individuals from another world could well lead to the introduction of new technologies. And besides, I find it rather strange that, since your appearance, events have been proceeding with an almost suspicious ease."

"That's exactly it," Richard confirmed.

Kyle sighed slightly.

"I understand their concerns." In my world, humans spend their time waging war on each other. Militarily, we're very advanced. It only takes a few seconds to raze a city... or even an entire country."

Astrid looked at him, surprised.

"What about the other species? Elves? Dragons? Demons?"

Kyle shook his head.

"There aren't any. Humans are the sole masters of my world."

A heavy silence fell. Richard broke it, his jaw tense.

"What you're saying doesn't reassure me at all."

But Kyle raised his hand calmly.

"Don't worry. Even though our world is more advanced, most of those transported here are still teenagers. And none of us wants to repeat the mistakes of previous generations."

Richard narrowed his eyes.

"I hope you're telling the truth." 

Elias, who had remained silent until then, spoke again in a more serious tone.

"Knowing the mentality of the leaders... talking about military threats is just a pretext. What they really want is to keep an eye on their neighbor."

Richard stared at him, intrigued.

"What makes you say that?"

Elias turned his gaze to Kyle.

"As he said himself, his world is far more advanced than ours, even without magic. That fact alone is enough to arouse all kinds of envy."

"That's true," Kyle confirmed. "Despite the lack of magic, we've developed a lot... too much, even."

Elias nodded.

"And I'm sure other kingdoms have already drawn the same conclusions. It's not just Thoralis who's keeping an eye on Asterion." All kingdoms, even those ruled by other species, must be thinking the same thing. Because if these young people from another world introduce new knowledge or inventions... Asterion could become the new center of the world, both economically and strategically."

Kyle listened attentively, realizing the magnitude of the situation.

"I understand... And I must admit that with just a few ideas, I could turn the world's economy upside down."

He thought of all those isekai heroes who, thanks to their knowledge, became rich or influential almost effortlessly.

Richard grimaced.

"I deeply dislike all this..."

But Elias shrugged.

"It's none of our business. The higher-ups will have to deal with that. We're adventurers." 

Then, placing a reassuring hand on Kyle's shoulder, he added with a slight smile:

"You don't have to worry. As long as I'm here, you can stay in Asterion as long as you like."

Kyle smiled sincerely and inclined his head slightly.

"Thank you, Mr. Elias... Honestly, I've never worried about any of that. I'm going to continue living as I always have, making the most of the adventures this world has to offer."

Astrid crossed her arms, a wry smile.

"I like you more and more, Kyle. You have a free spirit, and I like that."

Richard nodded slowly, a little more serious, but clearly won over as well.

"I must admit... me too. You have a certain honesty in your way of being. And that's rare."

Elias concluded cheerfully:

"That being said... how about you tell us a little about your world?"

But Kyle shook his head gently, looking hesitant.

"No... I prefer not to. After the discussion we just had, I realize that talking about my world can be risky. Too much could be misinterpreted or misused."

Elias nodded, understanding.

"That's wisdom in itself. Sometimes saying nothing is the best decision."

"I completely agree," Richard added. "To speak is to expose. And in this climate, it's better to remain discreet."

While Kyle was still talking with the members of the Pentagram, Tristan and Iris had discreetly slipped away. Their goal: to find Elena and Anne, who had just returned from visiting Lys.

Tristan approached them with a small smile. 

"You're finally back."

Iris immediately worried:

"And Lys? How is she?"

Anne replied reassuringly:

"Much better. She's regained some strength and seems more serene."

"Good," Iris said with a sigh of relief.

"And Kyle?" Anne asked. "Hasn't he gotten into any trouble yet, I hope?"

Tristan smiled wryly.

"No, quite the opposite. He's chatting with the members of the Pentagram. And to be honest, they seem to like him."

"I think so too," Iris said. "He blends in well, despite himself."

But throughout the conversation, Elena had remained in the background, looking absent-minded.

Tristan finally realized this.

"Are you okay, Elena? You seem somewhere else." 

She replied in a neutral, almost distant tone:

"It's nothing..."

"What happened?" Tristan asked, worried.

Anne hesitated for a moment, then explained:

"Actually, we weren't planning on returning so soon. But..."

Elena spoke again:

"Members of the clergy came to visit Lys. From what they said, they're from Elyndra's Holy Empire."

Iris frowned.

"The Holy Empire? What could they possibly want with Lys?"

"No idea," Anne replied. "But from what I could see, it seemed... serious. Very serious."

Tristan turned to Elena, looking concerned.

"They didn't bother you, did they?" I know the Church doesn't look favorably on other races..."

Elena shrugged, resigned.

"It's okay. Even though you could clearly feel their contempt in their eyes. But I'm used to it. Over the years, I've learned that some things will never change."

Tristan gave a wry smile.

"Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you."

Then, changing his tone to lighten the mood, he continued:

"Anyway, we've enjoyed a quiet day... But work starts again tomorrow. From what Eris told me, quests outside the city are starting up again too. We'll have plenty to do."

"In that case, we'd better go to bed," Elena said, getting up, smoothing her cloak mechanically. "We need to be in good shape for tomorrow."

Iris turned to Anne curiously.

"Don't you want to go talk to Lady Astrid? Maybe this is a good time."

Anne shook her head gently.

"We've already had a good chat this morning. We've said everything, I think."

"Very well," Tristan concluded. He stood up in turn and looked at the girls with a knowing expression.

"So, girls, are you ready for tomorrow?" 

"Always," Iris replied with a wink.

"Of course," Anne added, crossing her arms.

Meanwhile, a few meters away, Kyle was still immersed in conversation with the members of the Pentagram. He listened, almost hanging on Elias's every word, as he recounted one of their greatest adventures: the conquest of an S-rank dungeon.

The story depicted a titanic place, where each floor formed a different biome—from lush jungles to icy mountains, from sweltering deserts to subterranean seas. More than two hundred floors, all guarded by monsters with terrifying abilities. And at the top, a spectacular-looking humanoid boss, capable of reshaping the environment at will.

"Beating him was really something," Astrid breathed, her eyes shining, as if she were still there. She clasped her hands behind her head, elbows pointed back.

"We were in danger of getting killed at any moment," Elias added, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze somber but proud. "This kind of fighting scars you for life."

Kyle, sitting upright, his fingers lightly tapping the table, nodded with a mixture of admiration and reflection. The night foliage cast dancing shadows across his face.

He glanced outside, then stood calmly.

"It's getting late... I think it's time for me to head home. I really enjoyed this chat. Thank you, again."

He bowed his head respectfully, one hand on his chest.

"The pleasure was ours," Elias said with a genuine smile.

"Come back anytime," Astrid added, this time with undisguised warmth.

 "Get some rest," Richard said, sounding a little more reserved, but polite.

Kyle gave them one last grateful glance, then stepped out into the cool night air. The cobblestones crunched beneath his feet as he made his way to Rose's Inn, a light breeze stirring the hem of his cloak.

The sun had well set when Kyle finally arrived at Rose's Inn. He hadn't accomplished anything particularly noteworthy today, yet he felt a kind of quiet satisfaction.

He pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by a familiar... but strangely silent atmosphere. The inn was much quieter than usual. No thunderous laughter, no music, not even loud chatter among the guests.

Kyle frowned slightly, intrigued.

But since he'd already eaten at the guild, he shrugged and wordlessly climbed the stairs to his room.

Once inside, he dropped to the floor cross-legged. Not yet tired, he channeled his magic into the palms of his hands. The strands of energy swirled gently around his fingers, intensifying with his concentration.

He continued like this for a long time, until fatigue took over and he collapsed on his bed, arms outstretched, mind empty.

The next morning, the first rays of light filtered through the curtains. Kyle stretched, then left his room with a yawn. As he descended the stairs, he encountered the usual hubbub of the inn: early morning customers, the smell of warm bread, the clatter of dishes.

Behind the counter, Rose was busy serving customers.

"Good morning, Rose," he said as he approached.

"Well, hello, Kyle," she replied with a smile. "I didn't see you come in last night." 

"I went straight up to bed," he said, shrugging.

"And Lys? Is she better?"

Rose shook her head reassuringly.

"Nothing to worry about. She's just still asleep."

"Hm... It's not like her to stay up so late," Kyle replied, a little concerned.

"True, but she went to bed very late last night."

"Why?"

"Some church members came by. They talked with her for a long time."

Kyle narrowed his eyes.

"Church? I hope it's nothing serious..."

Already turning towards the door, he was stopped in his tracks by Rose.

"Are you planning on leaving like that? You should at least eat something!"

"Okay, okay," he relented with a small smile.

He grabbed a piece of bread and a piece of fruit from the counter, nibbling quickly as he walked towards the exit.

"Incorrigible," Rose whispered, shaking her head. "Have a good day, huh!"

"Thanks," he said, raising his hand before disappearing outside.

A few minutes later, Kyle entered the guild at a run.

Inside, all the members of his old group were already there except for Lys, who was still at Rose's inn. Tristan greeted him:

"Hi, Kyle!"

"...Hi," he replied distantly, without even really looking at them.

 He walked straight to Eris, who was busy sorting through documents.

"Can I go on a mission today?"

Eris slowly looked up at him.

"You could at least say hello, you know?"

Kyle looked away briefly, looking embarrassed.

"Hello... then."

She crossed her arms.

"Yes, missions outside the city are allowed again now that the situation has calmed down. You can go."

Without waiting, Kyle headed to the bulletin board. He scanned the quests before picking one up:

C-Rank Quest — Serpent of the Abyss

A monstrous creature has been sighted in the Eloria Forest. Eliminate it before it becomes a threat to the city and surrounding villages.

He returned to Eris and presented her with the quest.

"Alone?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. "This kind of mission is normally done in teams..."

"My rank is sufficient. And I don't want to wait."

She sighed helplessly.

"Very well. I can't forbid you."

As he was about to leave, Tristan approached to stop him.

"Kyle, wait."

Kyle turned around, hands shoved in his pockets, eyes shifty.

"Besides... I shouldn't even be part of the group anymore. We agreed: once we got back to Helion, everything had to stop."

Tristan nodded resignedly.

"Yes, I know. I'm not going to keep you."

Kyle nodded goodbye, then left the guild.

As soon as he was outside, he activated his magic. The wind picked up around him as his feet left the ground. In a flash, he rose into the sky, heading for the Eloria Forest.

Thanks to his flight ability, Kyle quickly reached the edge of Eloria Forest. He landed gently on a carpet of damp leaves, the air thick with the acrid scent of moss and wet wood.

He felt a surge of excitement as he drifted deeper into the twisted trees. He knew this feeling well—the same as when he launched a new chapter in a long-awaited game. Since the dungeon mission, he had known only the calm of a slice-of-life routine. This forest, with its mystery and promise of danger, finally awakened something in him.

He took a deep breath, eyes half-closed, savoring this moment of calm before the action. Then, with a precise gesture, he activated his magic detection ability. An invisible wave spread, scanning the surroundings like a silent radar.

A few steps further, his breath caught for a moment. He had found it.

 He darted through the thickets, pushing aside branches and vines, until he emerged into a clearing bathed in thick shadows. There, lurking in a corner where the light no longer penetrated, the Serpent of the Abyss awaited him.

The creature was over ten meters long, its muscular body covered in black scales that shone like obsidian. Its yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness, and its cleft tongue clicked at regular intervals. Its imposing silhouette slowly rose, winding through the air to intimidate.

Kyle stopped dead in his tracks, arms at his sides. His gaze shone with a particular brilliance. He wanted to speak, to deliver a stylish retort like in his favorite manga... but he held back. He wanted this moment to be perfect. So he contented himself with a wry, almost childish smile.

 The snake was the first to attack, spitting out a viscous black mist. Kyle, confident, ignored it—after all, dark attacks didn't affect it.

Big mistake.

The mist was only a decoy.

The snake took advantage of this to whip its tail. The impact was brutal. Kyle flew several meters before stabilizing in mid-air, wobbling. He gritted his teeth, shook his head to clear the dizziness, then murmured,

"Okay... enough with the fancy poses. Now we have to get serious."

He raised his hand, channeled his magic, and materialized a solid light in the shape of crystalline blades, which he projected at the creature. The snake undulated with inhuman flexibility, dodging each attack with an almost unreal fluidity.

"Too bad," he said with a sigh.

 But this attempt wasn't in vain: he had just confirmed that the light was disrupting the beast. He prepared another salvo... but this time, the Serpent dove straight for him.

Kyle dodged just in time, twirling through the air like a dancer.

And so began a strange ballet: Kyle attacks, the serpent dodges. The serpent counterattacks, Kyle turns and dodges.

The rhythm quickened. But one thing changed everything: the serpent spat out a jet of thick, purple poison. It slightly burned Kyle's left arm, and he recoiled with a wince.

"Okay. We're stopping the experiments."

He clenched his fists, his aura suddenly electrified. Blue lightning, growing darker and darker, shot out around him, streaking across the space with its crackle.

"Time to spam the black lightning."

Like a player in the middle of a boss rush, he launched attack after attack, sweeping the serpent away every time an opening presented itself. He gave no respite, until, finally, the Abyss Serpent collapsed with a dull, spasming crash.

The forest fell silent again. Kyle landed slowly, looking panting but satisfied. He ran a hand across the back of his neck and said,

"Not as stylish as expected... but it'll do."

Although Kyle had successfully completed his mission, his gaze remained fixed somewhere between the foliage and the clouds.

He stood on a rocky outcrop, hands in his pockets, silently observing the vastness of the forest stretching to the horizon.

A light breeze rippled the treetops, and the distant chirping of birds added a note of tranquility to the scene.

 But within him, a tug remained. He had no desire to return to the guild.

His gaze wandered into space, then a subtle smile played on his lips.

"What if I finally tried this thing..."

In his old world, Kaito spent hours watching parkour videos.

These guys leaping from rooftop to rooftop, climbing over walls, and weaving between obstacles with almost inhuman ease fascinated him.

But what about him?

Between classes, his hours of online gaming, and his monotonous daily life, he had never dared to take the plunge.

Even with a decent physique, he had never been very athletic—and even less adventurous.

But here...

Here, everything was different.

Since arriving in this world, his physical abilities had exploded.

Strength, speed, agility... he discovered new limits every day. 

And just today, he had just slain a gigantic snake, a creature he couldn't have even dreamed of, back then.

He bent his knees slightly, closed his eyes, and... leaped.

His feet left the ground in a perfectly controlled burst.

He reached a branch, immediately bounced off another, and then another.

The trees flowed around him in a dizzying dance, the sun's rays pierced through the leaves.

Each impulse sent him higher, faster.

It was exhilarating.

He felt like he was in a 3D platform game... but with a built-in cheat code.

After all, Kyle could fly.

But he deliberately held back, wanting to enjoy the challenge.

He wanted to feel his muscles work, his reflexes tighten, his mind focus.

 After a few minutes, he activated the white lightning.

A discharge exploded beneath his feet, and his body was thrown like a bolt of lightning between the branches.

Leaves scattered in his wake, torn away by the speed.

His movements became blurred.

Too blurred.

He then activated the Veil of Nothingness.

Everything slowed down.

The world fell silent.

His perceptions heightened. He saw every vein on the leaves, every speck of dust suspended in the air.

His body glided through this frozen space with unreal precision.

Kyle continued to leap, spin, dive, climb, accelerate even more…

His heart pounded, his lungs burned, but he didn't stop.

It felt so good.

 Adrenaline, freedom, oblivion... everything blended into a perfect euphoria.

Time faded.

It wasn't until a lower, warmer ray of sunlight hit his face that he realized: it was well into the afternoon.

He had wandered deep into the forest without realizing it.

He finally stopped, hands on his hips, panting, a smile on his face.

There was no longer any doubt: this was one of the best times he'd experienced since arriving.

But now he had a choice to make.

Continue, explore further, push his limits even further...

Or return to the guild.

He sighed deeply, then shrugged with a resigned pout.

 > "Well... they deserve at least a word from me before they go too far."

He then launched himself into the air, this time without holding back.

His body split the clouds in a swirl of light.

The forest gradually receded beneath his feet, replaced by the golden plain, the stone roads, and the familiar outlines of the city appearing on the horizon.

Kyle flew like a comet, free, fast, and almost serene.