― Selene ― Thank goodness, Hunt! ― she said, hugging me tightly, nearly crushing my ribs.
● ― You really are a bastard. ― she said before collapsing.
■ ― Hey, Neo! ― I exclaimed. Neo fell backward, hitting a flowerpot. ― Is he okay? ― I asked, my voice still weak as I looked at Neo passed out on the ground.
― Astrid ― Yes, don't worry. He just fell asleep. ― she replied, kneeling beside him.
■ ― Asleep...? ― I murmured, still not quite believing it.
― Astrid ― Mana has its rules, Hunt, and they're not always obvious. ― she said while calmly checking Neo's vital signs. ― When two people sleep together, they share mana unconsciously. Each gives what they have to help the other replenish their reserves. ―
■ ― That happens unconsciously? ― I asked, frowning.
― Astrid ― Exactly. Also, during that exchange, body heat is generated. That's why, in winter, couples usually sleep very close to each other. ― she explained, standing up. ― In summer, they sleep a bit farther apart, each on their side of the bed. Although... ― she paused, looking out the door toward the city. ― Here in Anita, summer nights are cold, so many of us still sleep close anyway. ―
I nodded, though I felt like I was still missing pieces of the puzzle. I placed a hand on my chest, where the wound no longer hurt, but the cold was still seeping into my bones.
■ ― And that...? Why did Neo freeze up? ― I tried to stand.
― Astrid ― That's because of the direct mana transfer. ― she said, pointing to the mana battery from our house, which was already empty. ― When a lot is transferred from a Magiston crystal, the human body cools down. It's a normal reaction, though unpleasant. ―
I looked at Neo, peacefully sleeping, unaware of everything. I leaned against Durman, who helped me stay on my feet. Closing my eyes for a moment, I sighed from the pain.
■ ― Thank you, Solomon. ― I took a deep breath, feeling my lungs fully. I started walking toward the house, but they had to help me sit on the couch. The pain still throbbed in my side, but at least I no longer felt like I was suffocating.
― Durman ― Better now? ― he asked, adjusting the pillows around me to make me more comfortable.
■ ― More or less. ― I replied, looking at my side, where I felt a strange pressure.
Meanwhile, Solomon and Heny carried Neo to his bed. He seemed calmer, but he still wasn't moving. The subdimension house wasn't very big, and there weren't many chairs.
Inside, we were all there: Selene, Astrid, Durman, Dalia, Solomon, Peter, Heny, Joan, and Eliza. We all crowded into the small living room, waiting for something more than just explanations.
Before I could say anything, Solomon approached. His serious face didn't give me much comfort, but at least his voice was calm.
― Solomon ― Hunt, I was only able to heal the damaged internal tissue. ― he said directly, no sugarcoating. ― The cut on your side will heal over time, but it's still going to hurt. I stitched it as best I could with Tarasmus thread. ―
■ ― Tarasmus thread? ― I asked, frowning. I didn't know much about it, but the name sounded important.
― Solomon ― It's strong and able to bind tissue without leaving noticeable scars. ― he explained with a slight smile, as if it were no big deal. ― You just need to take good care of it. No sudden movements, understood? ―
■ ― Understood. ― I replied, though I couldn't help but feel a bit worried. I didn't want to waste time healing, but I also knew that if I didn't do it right, the consequences could be worse.
Selene looked at me, concerned, but said nothing. Instead, Dalia walked over with the blanket from the other couch.
― Dalia ― Do you mind if I take this blanket to Neo? ― she said while heading to his room without waiting for an answer. ― And you, get some rest. Now's not the time to worry about this any further.
I nodded, grateful, as I leaned back a bit more on the couch. The pain was more bearable, but my mind was still full of questions.
― Durman ― Before anything else, I think you owe us an explanation. ― he said, looking at me seriously.
Selene began recounting everything that had happened that day—from the ambush to how I ended up so badly wounded. Durman, for his part, explained about the marquis's son's sword and our own swords.
― Durman ― Tonight's going to be a long one, I know. ― he added with a deeper tone, as if each word was meant to soothe the tension.
I had no choice, so I began to explain once more from the beginning: where we came from, Earth, and how Tolmas had brought us to this world as his chosen ones. Dalia, Solomon, and the house staff—Peter, Heny, Joan, and Eliza—looked at us with a mix of disbelief and confusion. All of them, especially Dalia, seemed to be absorbing what we were saying like they couldn't fully process it.
― Dalia ― Seriously... you're Tolmas's chosen? ― she asked, her face full of disbelief, as if she still couldn't quite believe what we were saying.
■ ― Yes, but we're not gods or anything like that. ― I replied, a bit exasperated. ― In fact, it bothers us when people see us that way. We're not anything special. We're just two regular guys that, for some reason, Tolmas chose to come here.
Peter and Heny exchanged a nervous glance.
― Peter ― So that's why... why we...? ― he asked, unable to finish the sentence, as if he still couldn't accept the implications of what we were saying.
― Heny ― So all this time we were wrong to treat you as if you were normal? ― visibly ashamed, he rubbed his forehead.
― Joan ― We... I'm sorry, we didn't know how to... ― she murmured, avoiding eye contact, and Eliza nodded, praying softly.
Dalia looked upset, more at not having been told everything than at the idea of us being divine or not. I wondered if Neo had told her anything about us.
― Dalia ― Neo never told me anything... Why didn't you ever say anything? ― The look she gave Neo was full of confusion and frustration. Neo was still sleeping, weak in his bed.
Solomon, who until now had remained silent, finally broke the quiet and approached cautiously.
― Solomon ― Forgive me... for touching your body, Hunt. My hands... were not worthy. ― he said, looking at the floor. ― I shouldn't have done it. ― He seemed genuinely ashamed.
■ ― Don't worry, Solomon. ― I replied, raising a hand in a calming gesture. ― It's not a big deal. Without you, I'd probably be dead. ― I grabbed a pillow and pressed it to my chest, looking for some comfort. ― But please, don't treat me like I'm something divine, okay? ―
Hearing my words, Solomon lifted his head slightly. Though he said nothing, I could see his eyes shimmer with a mix of relief and gratitude. A slight blush appeared on his cheeks, and his hands, which had been tense, immediately relaxed. His posture, previously hunched in discomfort, straightened slightly, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Though he spoke no words, his gentle smile and the glint in his eyes were more than enough to understand how he felt.
Durman stepped forward, his expression growing serious.
― Durman ― What happened to Neo is something I was already afraid of, ― he said, his voice calm as always while he glanced around at everyone. ― Working at the workshop, flying through the city, the mana drain he suffered today—not to mention the whole sword ordeal. It was too much. If we keep ignoring his limits, he'll eventually collapse completely. ― He wasn't speaking to me, but more to Astrid.
The room fell silent again as we all tried to absorb what Durman had just said. Dalia kept her gaze fixed on Neo, her face a mix of worry and confusion. I couldn't stop thinking about what the servants had said earlier—how none of this was really their fault—and yet they still looked at us with a kind of reverence we never asked for.
Once things had calmed down and everyone had a better grasp of the situation—especially the staff—I managed to bring a bit of ease back into the atmosphere. We made it clear that any respect toward us shouldn't come from a title that was forced upon us, but from who we actually were.
But then Joan, the oldest of the servants, said something that stuck with me.
― Joan ― I'm not worthy to be in your presence, Envoy of Tolmas Hunt. I don't mean any disrespect, but I shouldn't even be standing before you. ― Her head bowed low, her voice trembling with awe and deep reverence.
■― Joan, what are you saying? ― I replied, frowning, clearly annoyed. ― I don't want to be treated like a god. I hate it when people look at me that way. Just treat me how you always have! There's no need for all this formality—I don't like it at all. ― My voice came out firmer than I intended, but I couldn't stand the idea of being looked at like some divine being.
■― I've never met the other seven envoys of Tolmas, and I don't know anything about your religion, but... there's one thing I need to ask of you. ― I locked eyes with her, hoping she'd understand how much this meant to me. ― Treat us the same as always. And please... don't tell anyone what you know, what you're about to see, or what you've seen today. ― The words came out stronger than I'd planned, but they were all I could offer at that moment.
Joan nodded slowly, clearly understanding the weight of my request. She seemed willing to honor it, even though part of her still couldn't shake the deep respect she felt for us.
After clearing up that mess about titles and how we should interact with each other, I had no choice but to show them the whole subdimension. The tension lingered, but I knew they needed a fuller picture of what we were dealing with.
I started by showing them the inside of the cabin. As we passed by Neo's room, Dalia stepped ahead and gently stopped me.
― Dalia ― Do you mind if I stay with Neo? I mean… I can come here with him whenever I want, right? ― Her voice carried real concern.
■― Of course. If Neo doesn't wake up and you decide to sleep here, just tell me what temperature you want the room to be. ― I tried to sound as calm as possible.
Dalia gave a faint smile and headed into Neo's room. She glanced back for just a second before disappearing inside.
Then came the inevitable. Before I could explain anything else, questions started flying at me from all sides, like they'd been waiting forever to finally understand what this place really was. So, I started walking them through it all—how the control panel worked, how we could change the time, the temperature, even the seasons or the color of the walls. I adjusted the subdimension to noon lighting, just to make it more comfortable for everyone.
But when we reached the bathroom... yeah, that's when the real reactions hit.
They were stunned. All of them. But what really blew their minds wasn't the running water or the lights—it was the toilet. Solid stone. They stared at it like it was some ancient artifact. Even Astrid, who's usually curious about everything, couldn't hide the face she made. Total disbelief.
― Durman ― So that's… where you do your business? he asked, pointing at the toilet, the astonishment in his voice completely unfiltered.
■― Don't worry, Durman. ― I replied, showing him how it worked. ― It's a system that moves water down and keeps everything clean. It's way more efficient than it looks. ―
I watched as their surprise slowly turned into admiration. Durman and Astrid exchanged glances, clearly impressed, though they still seemed a little skeptical that something so… gross could be so clever.
When I explained how the shower worked, Durman brought up a carved crystal Neo had used earlier that night—he was probably referring to the first prototype we'd made. The moment they saw the mechanism, everyone looked genuinely fascinated.
Next, we moved to the kitchen. I explained the fridge in simple terms, skipping over the technicalities of the absorption refrigeration cycle—I didn't want to overwhelm them.
― Astrid ― How… how can the water stay cold all the time? ― she asked, clearly intrigued.
So I gave a quick explanation about how the refrigerator maintained its temperature, then moved on to how the stove worked. Astrid immediately called Dalia over, and I saw on her face that same spark I used to see in Neo during power electronics class. That raw curiosity—undeniable.
Then we got to the sink. I told them it worked just like the one in the bathroom, just with a different design. That's when the servants started getting excited.
They told me they wanted one for Durman's house—it just seemed so practical to them.
■― A sink like this one? ― I asked, raising an eyebrow, a bit surprised at how quickly they got interested.
I smiled and told them I had something even better. I opened the dishwasher—empty, just for show—and their faces were priceless.
― Joan ― What… what is this? ― she asked, eyes wide.
■― It's called a dishwasher. It washes the dishes and kitchen tools automatically—no one has to do the work. ― I said, honestly enjoying their shock.
Astrid and Dalia weren't the only ones amazed—Joan and Peter came closer too, eyeing the machine as if sizing it up for purchase.
― Peter ― I'd give you all my savings for that. ― he said, barely hiding his amazement.
Even Solomon stepped forward, quietly asking if he could have one too. Before I could respond, Selene stepped in front of everyone with a confident smile.
― Selene ― Don't worry, I'll take care of the expenses. ― she said, her tone firm.
But I cut her off before she could go any further.
■― Hold on. ― I said, raising my hand. ― Family doesn't pay. ― I looked at all of them, dead serious, hoping they'd understand that this was coming from the heart.
Solomon, who'd been silent for a while, approached and stared at the machine with longing in his eyes.
― Solomon ― I want one of these too… ― he said, sounding a bit hesitant, like he didn't want to ask, but couldn't help himself.
I smiled and offered him a fair price—but then Selene interrupted again, insisting she could pay far more.
■― That's not the point. ― I explained, turning to all of them. ― I don't want people to pay more. What I want is for everyone—one day—to have access to things like this. For these devices to be everyday tools, no matter who you are or where you come from. ―
― Astrid ― Electrodoméstico?― she asked, curious.
■― An appliance is a device that uses electricity to make our daily tasks easier—things like cooking, cleaning, or lighting a room,― I explained, watching her eyes light up as the idea clicked.
Finally, I showed them the washing machine, and like clockwork, another storm of requests started pouring in. They were amazed by how it worked—questions flew at me nonstop, like each new thing was some kind of miracle. I also explained the light bulb and how we used switches to control the lights.
The wonder and curiosity didn't let up. As they followed me, their fascination with these ―devices― only deepened. And slowly, I could tell—they were beginning to understand that my real goal was for everyone to have access to this kind of technology. That these marvels weren't just luxuries… they were possibilities.
Once we'd covered everything indoors, we stepped outside to continue the tour. As we walked, I noticed them pausing to admire Neo's gardening. There was something in the way they looked at the plants that made me smile. Neo had put so much care into every flower, every stone in the path.
― Astrid ―It's beautiful... I've never seen a layout like this. It's like everything's growing exactly where it's meant to.―
― Durman ― It feels balanced... like someone knows the soul of the plants.―
■― That's all Neo. He has a special sensitivity for this kind of thing,― I said with a smile, remembering how I'd catch him just sitting for hours, staring thoughtfully at a single flowerpot.
I opened the door to the small cabin housing the supercomputer. The structure looked more industrial than the rest—a mix of cables, screens, and control panels that, while not totally out of place, were clearly centuries ahead of their current tech.
■― Alright, so this here is… let's say, the digital brain of the place, ― I began, doing my best to explain. ― It lets us create images, documents, review plans, make designs...― I paused, pointing to the system. ―Our eyes work like cameras, our ears like microphones, and our mouths like speakers—when we use certain programs.―
Durman stared at the screens as if they were magical portals.
― Durman ― And this box... does all that? It really feels like something from the gods...―
■― No gods involved!― I cut in, firmly. ―Just technology. Though yeah... very advanced compared to what you're used to.
I had to go into detail explaining what cameras, microphones, and speakers were. (Explaining what a supercomputer is to people who've never seen a regular computer is... not easy.)
We moved on to the workshop. The change in atmosphere was immediate: the scent of metal and oil filled the air. The machines stood neatly arranged, silent, waiting to be used. Durman, and to my surprise, Dalia too, walked in with eyes full of curiosity. (Thought you were staying with Neo, kid...)
■― Here we've got analysis boards, a lathe, a milling machine, sander, power tools, pneumatics... and a whole bunch of stuff that probably doesn't even have a name here.―
The questions didn't stop.
― Durman ― And this? What does this spinning needle do? How does it sharpen like that without snapping?
― Dalia ― And that metal arm? Can it move by itself? What's that really bright light?
I answered the best I could, all while catching glimpses of Selene and Eliza in the corner of the workshop—nodding off, clearly struggling to stay awake.
■― Alright, alright... last stop,― I said with a quiet laugh as I led the group toward the small weaving room.
■― Neo built this loom. We use it to make fabric using threads from giant spiders. It's not super advanced, but it's enough to replace the kind of looms you use here. ―
― Astrid ― Giant spiders? And isn't it dangerous to work with those threads?―
■― Not if you know how to handle them. Neo has his own method. Though… I'm not exactly great at this, to be honest.―
I crouched down and tried a few passes on the loom, following the pattern Neo had left behind.
I tangled up some of the threads, and one slipped from the beater. I rushed to put it back in place like nothing had happened, hoping no one had noticed the mess.
■― He's going to kill me...― The maids started giggling under their breath, but stopped instantly, like laughing at me might be some sort of sacrilege.
But judging by their fascinated faces, I could tell that even with my clumsy attempt, they were seeing things they'd never imagined.
― Astrid ― Hunt… this… this is a huge breakthrough,― she said, stepping closer, eyes wide, barely blinking. ―I've never seen a device like this. Not even in the guild workshops back in the Kingdom. It works with pedals and moving frames...? Who came up with this? ―
■― Neo designed it a few years ago, based on ideas from our world. There, this kind of loom is called a 'floor loom.'― I straightened up a bit and smiled. ― It's more comfortable, faster, and it lets you create more complex patterns with less effort. ―
― Astrid ― It's like… a revolution in weaving. ― she murmured, gently touching one of the frames. ― If this were shared with artisans... it could change the entire textile industry. ―
I watched her in silence for a moment. I couldn't tell if it was excitement or fear in her eyes... maybe both.
Then we moved on to the workshop bathrooms. By now, they weren't quite as surprised as before, though they still gave the stone toilet and the taps the occasional curious glance—especially the toilet that had left such an impression on Durman. Astrid kept asking technical questions, as if her mind was already spinning with ideas on how to replicate everything back home.
Lastly, I took them to the control room. I paused for a second before opening the door. I didn't want them to see our deeper analysis systems or sensitive data.
■― This room... well, it's where we control all the inventory. ― I said, gently pushing the door open. ― And some other things... but that's not important right now. ―
They walked in silently, staring at the blinking panels, the screens, the keyboards. It was clear they didn't understand a thing, but they still looked at everything with the reverence you'd give sacred objects.
Durman walked up to one of the monitors and stared at it like he expected it to speak.
― Durman ― So from here, you can see everything in the subdimension? Even how many plates are in the kitchen? ―
■― Exactly,― I replied, crossing my arms with a grin. ―Even how many clean towels are left in the bathrooms. ―
Selene leaned against the doorframe, smiling too.
― Selene ― I don't understand a single thing I'm looking at… but it all seems amazing. ―
And then… I made the mistake of taking them to the storage room.
The moment they saw the mountain of materials—leathers, crystals, a massive stack of iron sorted by type and weight—everything went to hell. They rushed in like kids in a candy shop, messing up everything I had so carefully organized.
■― Hey! That was sorted by density! ― I protested, watching Peter yank a block of hardened leather from its place and stack it on top of the soft fibers.
I didn't have time to say another word. Durman grabbed me by the collar from behind and dragged me straight toward the iron pile without saying a thing.
― Durman ― Are the 'twin' swords made from this? ― he asked, pointing at the pile of ingots with a furrowed brow.
■― Naturally. It's the only iron we've got, ― I replied, crossing my arms.
His frown deepened when he spotted a dark red, rough-looking block tossed carelessly to the side.
― Durman ― You've got Feroxignis thrown around like scrap?! Are you insane?! ―
■― Well… it's iron, ― I said, shrugging. ―That it catches fire if heated the wrong way doesn't make it that special. Just… complicated. ―
Durman looked at me like I'd just insulted his mother. After a good amount of calming him down—with more emotional than technical explanations, if I'm being honest—the questions just kept coming. But one kept repeating, in slightly different forms:
― Astrid ― How is it possible that you've done so much in just six years? ―
― Selene ― These artifacts of yours... they're too advanced. How did you even design them? ―
― Dalia ― All of this looks like the work of an entire civilization, not just two people... ―
Their eyes held a mix of awe, disbelief, and just a hint of fear. I had no choice.
With a gesture, I opened the floating system panel and expanded hundreds of screens in front of them. Diagrams, equations, 3D models, technical texts, failed experiments, spreadsheets, mental notes, lines of code… Millions of documents that Neo and I had written over the years. We used lateral thinking constantly. (This skill is like simulating our consciousnesses in the supercomputer—but only for a few hours.)
We had rewritten—completely from scratch—almost every book we studied at university. They weren't literal copies, of course, but in our own words, with our own explanations, examples, and loads of practical demonstrations.
― Selene ― Can I... read them? All of them? ― she asked with a mix of excitement and reverence that completely disarmed me.
― Astrid ― Me too... Could you teach me more? ―
■― Of course. They're all here, although... they're written in our native language. ―
That didn't stop them.
― Selene ― Then teach me that language. I'm not letting a few words stop me. ―
Astrid nodded firmly beside her. Behind them, Durman had already opened a massive file on materials engineering. His eyes lit up like he'd just found buried treasure.
― Durman ― This… this is that iron and carbon diagram, right?! But... there's more. There are more divisions here! And these formulas? Oh, right, this is… the atomic shapes Neo told me about earlier. And this drawing! It's the same one, but with more detail—more layers! Hunt, Hunt… what is this? Explain it to me, please! ―
― Dalia ― I don't even know where to begin… but I want to learn it all. ―
And then, Solomon—who had only been glancing around until now—stopped in front of one of the screens. It showed a compendium of anatomy, clinical medicine, basic surgery, and 3D models of the human body. He stood still, not blinking, like he had just discovered an entire universe.
― Solomon ― This… this is medicine? You use all of this to heal? There are things here… not even the senior healers know about. ―
■― Well, we're not doctors, but we did the best we could with what we learned. ―
He stood still, eyes wide open as he studied every drawing.
■― Are you interested in the drawings? ―
― Solomon ― I'd like my children to see all of this. ―
Behind them, Joan, Peter, Heny, and Eliza looked at me with a mix of excitement and longing.
― Joan ― Hunt… we want to learn too. We've never seen so many books… nor did we think there were so many written ideas. Would you teach us that language? ―
I fell silent for a moment. Everything was wonderful—Neo and I never imagined this. Our world, our ideas, our passions… were beginning to take root in other hearts.
■― Of course. If you want to learn… we'll teach you. All of you. ―
A sharp sting made me fall to the floor.
― Solomon ― The mana is already depleted, Hunt. You should rest too. ―
We all left the subdimension and, naturally, everyone except Dalia went to their rooms or houses. I, of course, went with Selene, but not before answering Solomon's question about the crystals in our necks.
■―The crystals… are for flying. ―
Astrid, who had been listening, made a face.
― Astrid ― You don't know anything about that. That's just doing things the rough way! ―
■― I don't need your help with that. ― I replied quickly, brushing off the comment. ―I have to get some gold and recover the papers from Orlan's company. ―
― Astrid ― Orlan? But he always said he would be the first and last owner of the company… ― she said, crossing her arms.
It was at that exact moment, when I mentioned the gold, that Selene gave me a sharp tap on the head that echoed loudly, followed by her scolding.
― Selene ― Don't be foolish, Hunt! Don't mess with that now. ―
Before we left, I handed Dalia a key.
■― Here. This key is for Neo's door. That way you can come and go whenever you want, as long as the door is locked. ―