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Here we go:

Despite the ups and downs, Asterios and I did not stop our steps.

We kept moving forward, chuckling softly at Asterios, who was struggling in the swamp after descending rough mountain ranges and passing through thick jungles.

For Asterios, who had been trapped in a dark maze, everything felt like a wonder, and the smile on his face hardly faded.

“I never realized the world was this vast.”

“Don’t you think it was a good idea to leave the maze?”

“Yeah. Really, thank you, Tia.”

Asterios had a simple smile that contrasted his large frame. His eyes shone like starlight.

Our children were so kind once too… I kind of miss that.

Hmm. Well, enough reminiscing. For now, we need to keep moving.

“I never thought the sky would look this close.”

“Well, the clouds are right beneath us. It’s lower than Sagarmatha, though.”

Where we were located was the center of the world… or rather, it didn’t seem right to call it just the world now that another continent had appeared.

We were on the highest peak of a large mountain situated a bit further east from the center of this continent.

We had crossed several mountains to get here, but this one was quite tall too.

Lower than Sagarmatha, but still impressive!

“It feels like the stars are right above my head. They look incredibly clear.”

“Yeah. The starlight is dazzling.”

Without the bright moon of the new moon present, the night sky was lit up by countless stars.

The view of the sea of stars was even brighter than the night sky I remembered.

Though the constellations were different from the night sky in that other world, the starlight here was still beautiful.

Hmm… But is this world completely different from that one? Or does it feel more like a different planet? Or is it like an altered version of Earth due to some other factor at play?

Well, it doesn’t really matter, though I do find it occasionally curious.

“What makes those stars shine like that?”

“The stars, you mean?”

“Yep. I’m curious what’s beyond that light.”

Hmm. I don’t feel like pulling out astronomical knowledge… but I can give a brief explanation.

“Each of those star lights is the light from another world.”

“The light from another world?”

“Yep. Like this world. Like this planet. It’s the light from another world. Some worlds shine by generating their light, while others reflect the light of different suns.”

“The light from another world…”

Among those dazzling star lights… is there any light from Earth?

I don’t know. It would be nice if there is.

If there is… Hmm. Maybe I’d like to visit it at least once.

I’ve been somewhat easing my longing by peeking at their internet, but it still pales in comparison to actually going there.

It seems that time flows quite differently between here and there, too. Hmm.

“Does another world… exist?”

“Yep. It does, indeed.”

Since I was once a human in that different world, I can’t deny that fact.

Hmm. But if Earth is somewhere out there in the universe… can I reach it?

I have a body that doesn’t need to breathe, so I could probably withstand space… Hmm, hmm.

Somehow, I feel like I could manage it. Though I haven’t tried.

“Another world…? Just looking back at the same world makes my heart race. How incredible would a different world be?”

“It must look completely different from this world.”

I chuckled softly as I looked at Asterios, whose eyes were sparkling.

It would be great to show him, but it’s a bit disappointing that I can’t.

If Asterios is already so delighted by the sights of this world, then he’d surely be thrilled to see another world.

Hmm. Should I try to create a way to view or travel to another dimension?

Maybe someone else will create it even if I don’t. If it’s another world, it seems like it should be managed thoroughly.

With that thought in mind, Asterios and I continued onward, chatting as we went.

Now, I wonder if there’s a decent tiger around?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

There’s an old saying.

Back in the day, children feared tigers and wars as the worst disasters… Hmm, was it even an old saying?

Anyway, since the term “tiger” exists, it must be because many suffered from countless tigers in ancient Korea.

That means there were indeed many tigers in Korea back then.

In this world, there were also terrains similar to those in China or Korea, and the eastern tip of the world was just that place.

Having met Yama before, I thought there could be decent tigers in the city-states located in the east of this world, which led me to come here.

Oh, by the way, there were no islands like the Japanese archipelago. I have no idea why. Will they sprout up someday? Or will other islands wash ashore?

Well, anyway, while on my way to the eastern tip of this world.

Kwaaaang!!!

A loud noise caught my attention as I saw a massive tree falling from a distance.

Hmm. What’s going on? Is a powerful monster causing a ruckus?

I glanced at Asterios, who was trailing behind me, and he nodded slightly.

Since I’m curious about what’s happening… let’s fly over there.

I waved my hand lightly, and Asterios and I soared into the sky.

When we arrived, we found.

“Huahap!”

“Kraang!”

Two beastmen were flailing their hands and feet at each other, attacking wildly.

Hmm. One seemed to be a bear beastman with round ears sticking out of its head and a robust form, while the other felt like a sneaky, bipedal tiger-like beastman that looked more like a tiger than a human.

“Just fall already!!”

“Kyaaaah!”

With their massive strength, the bear beastman was wreaking havoc while the agile tiger beastman darted around, clawing at it wildly.

It seemed their skills were nearly equal, and the fierce fight showed no sign of ending.

Thanks to that, the surrounding terrain was being completely destroyed.

“That’s….”

“Hmm. They seem to enjoy fighting, but… let’s put a stop to it for now.”

“Okay.”

I lightly landed between the two and effortlessly absorbed the attacks they aimed at each other.

With my left hand, I grasped the bear beastman’s fist and locked hands with the tiger beastman on my right to halt the strikes.

“Now, stop fighting.”

Then, with a gentle flick of my hand, I sent their bodies crashing to the ground. Hmm. This level of attack is easy enough.

“Khuk!”

“Krurr…”

Hmm. Good. Seems like I subdued them quickly.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s stop fighting and talk.”

“Hiiek!”

“Kweeek…!”

The fairly strong beastmen swallowed nervously at my sudden appearance.

“They’re bears and tigers. Why are you fighting here instead of being in a cave eating mugwort and garlic?”

“Huh? Mugwort? Garlic?”

“Things like that exist.”

After Asterios came down looking dazed, he replied, but I brushed it off.

“Krurrurrr. How cowardly to prepare an ambush!”

“Ambush? Do you think I’m that cowardly?! Aren’t those your tribe’s people prepping for this?”

“That’s not true!”

The concerned parties left out of the conversation were now bickering among the bear and tiger beastmen.

Hmm. Hmmm. Hm.

Fine then.

“I don’t really know what’s going on, but for now, let’s just stop fighting and sit down.”

I pointed to the ground with my index finger, and both the bear and tiger beastmen collapsed to the ground as if weighed down by some invisible force.

“Ugh…”

“Monster…!”

“Who are you calling a monster? Tch.”

Who would speak such nonsense when the tiger beastman looks suspicious too.

“I’m just a passing traveler. I heard a commotion and came to see what was happening, and boy, was it loud.”

I calmly addressed the two seated on the ground.

“Now, let’s hear what’s going on.”

Noticing I held no ill will towards them, a hint of fear faded from the expressions of both the bear and tiger beastmen.

Alright then, shall we see what sort of story led to their fierce fighting…?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The tale of the bear and the tiger was quite simple.

The bear tribe coming down from the northwest snowfield and the tiger tribe residing in this area since ancient times.

Naturally, friction arose between the two tribes, and during the course of many minor and major fights, the emotional rift grew deeper.

Thinking that this might lead to war and that one side would perish, the chieftains of the two tribes decided to join hands.

That was fine, great even.

But…

“Our bear tribe has more numbers, so we should integrate around us!”

“No! Our tiger tribe has lived here from the start, and every individual is stronger! We should be the center!”

And then they started arguing over which tribe would be the core of the integration.

Still, it was a relief they hadn’t resorted to war like before… but the conflict remained.

They decided to bring forth representatives from both tribes to challenge each other, and the tribe of the victor would form the basis of the integration.

“So, you two were chosen as representatives and ended up fighting?”

“Yes.”

The female bear beastman with bear ears replied politely, while the tiger beastman silently nodded.

“But you two are evenly matched, aren’t you?”

It was so evenly matched, it felt like the outcome could be anyone’s guess—at this rate, they could battle for decades without a victor in sight.

“Yes. Even while our tribes were at odds, we’ve been sparring frequently, so we know each other’s capabilities and habits inside out.”

The female tiger beastman only nodded without a comment.

Hmm. If they know each other that well… it seems unlikely either could determine a winner.

“So… how long will this fighting go on?”

“In fact, we’ve been fighting for months now. But neither of us is stronger than the other. Plus, we can only fight each other.”

“I’m getting a bit tired of it…”

Hmm. Hmmmm. So this is what leads to a deadlock, huh?

In that case… It might be okay for an outsider to intervene in a situation like this.

“How about we settle this in a slightly different way?”

Should I casually butt in?

 

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