Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate!

After we finally reached a compromise on how to create the anti-teleportation magic device, we held a small celebration. Edwin looked especially happy—he was already mumbling to himself about the blueprint he wanted to draft next.

Later that evening, I returned to my room to rest. Tomorrow, the real work would begin on constructing the device.

I couldn't wait to see it completed. But despite the excitement, something still lingered in my mind—Edwin's story from earlier.

"Hey, Envi... do you think the special races still exist on the Celestian continent? It's been thousands of years since the world was divided into three continents. Maybe all this time, they've been isolated from the outside world," I asked Envi curiously.

Envi responded in my mind, "Yeah... I believe they're still out there. The special races are made up of powerful beings—elves, beastmen, dwarves, lizardfolk, and others. Compared to humans, they're far better equipped to survive harsh conditions."

Hearing that, I found myself agreeing with him. No matter how you looked at it, the special races each had unique abilities, and their lifespans far surpassed those of humans.

"You're right... and the origin of Edwin and Aisha is still a mystery that hasn't been solved," I muttered, deep in thought.

"What if they both ended up on the human continent because of a fracture in the dimensional seal at Mount Archanis? That could have happened during the demon invasion. Maybe the demons used that crack in the seal to cross over," Envi suggested, offering his own theory.

"That makes a lot of sense... and it's possible something like that could happen again in the future. If the dimensional seal at Mount Archanis were to completely collapse, then a pathway to the Celestian continent might open—and the Doomspire demons could launch a simultaneous attack on both the Eldaris continent and Celestian... That would be a complete nightmare," I replied, sharing my thoughts.

The conversation grew heavier. Then, unexpectedly, Runa's voice echoed from within the Grimoire of Darkness.

"Master... I think we need to inspect the dimensional seal at Mount Archanis. Last time, we were able to repair it thanks to the residual power left behind by the God of Darkness. But I'm not sure we'll be able to do that again," she said, sounding worried.

"You're right. This needs to be investigated. We'll go there next week—I think we might find some clues about the seal while we're at it. But before we act, I need to speak with King Aslan, Archmage Salvador, the Mercenary King Yunho, and the Mercenary Queen Mina. I might even consult Lilith as well, since she's the master of space-time magic."

Both Runa and Envi agreed with the plan. We would need to prepare thoroughly and gather as much information as possible before taking any action.

Runa then added that there might still be remnants of the heroes who originally created the dimensional seal—perhaps even artifacts or writings left behind in the mountain.

"I feel like we're getting closer to the truth... Piece by piece, the puzzle is beginning to take shape. The seal at Mount Archanis, the Celestian continent, the Demon Overlords who have returned, and the existence of Edwin and Aisha..." I whispered, clenching my fist with determination.

Envi agreed and said that once everything connects, we might finally understand the real reason why Edwin and Aisha ended up in this world—along with the truth about what happened to Celestian itself.

Perhaps their continent had also suffered from the same threat we faced—the Doomspire demons.

Or... maybe the Celestian continent had already perished, wiped from the world completely.

That thought hit me hard. Especially when I thought about Aisha—she was my little sister Milly's close friend. If anything ever happened to her, Milly would be devastated.

I made a silent promise to myself: when the time comes, I will protect her. And Edwin too. He is one of the people I trust the most. I can't afford to lose him either.

Lately, I feel like the weight on my shoulders has been growing heavier... but I've started to change the way I look at it.

At first, it felt suffocating—like the expectations, responsibilities, and silent pleas for protection from everyone I care about were all slowly pressing down on me. But something shifted.

I don't want to see protecting my family on Earth, and the people in this world, as a burden. No, they aren't a burden—they're my hope. My anchor. My reason to keep going forward even when everything feels like it's falling apart.

Without them, I wouldn't be able to survive. So I'm not carrying a burden—I'm carrying my dreams and the people I love. The weight I bear is not chains, but wings. Wings that allow me to fly toward something worth reaching.

Thinking like that helped me calm down. The tightness in my chest slowly loosened.

I found myself reminiscing about the ones I hold dear in this world... and my beloved family back on Earth.

"Mom... Nana... Naki... I miss you all so much."

I whispered those words softly, my voice barely audible beneath the rustling wind. Maybe this was what they called homesickness. That strange ache that tugged at the heart when you remembered warm dinners, laughter across the table, and the little moments that felt eternal.

"Pfft—are you crying, Nao? You are crying, aren't you?" Envi's voice broke the moment, teasing me with his usual insufferable tone.

"I am not—" I began to protest instinctively.

Before I could finish, Envi's voice softened, like the static had faded. It was rare—uncharacteristically sincere.

"It's okay to cry, Nao. There's nothing wrong with that... I won't make fun of you tonight."

This damned system... catching me off guard again. Saying something cool like that, like a real friend. I didn't know whether to smile or get annoyed.

"Haha... thanks," I said, and as I lowered my head, I felt it, tears welling up in my eyes, uninvited but welcome. I let them fall.

For a few seconds, the world went quiet. Just me, the stars above, and the people I longed for.

Then Envi, as always, broke the silence, but this time with something I didn't expect.

"Well, considering that your sister Nana was recently proposed to by Kai back on Earth... I think it's time we paid them a visit and fulfilled our promise, Nao," he said, voice filled with certainty and a touch of warmth.

My heart stirred.

"You're right, Envi... I've been thinking the same thing. Alright then, two days from now, we'll return to Earth. I need to prepare some souvenirs for my family," I replied, my voice regaining its energy and clarity.

Runa chimed in, her voice sweet and enthusiastic. "Yay~! I want to visit earth! From what I see in your memory, Master, there are a lot of delicious foods there! I wanat to eat those fluffy pancakes!"

Even Envi chuckled. "HAHAHA THAT'S RIGHT RUNA! We can do a short trip! and maybe I can see those beautiful japanese girls fufufu."

I smiled, looking up at the sky.

I was truly grateful to have them by my side. Even though they often gave me headaches—and heart palpitations—they were the best partners I could ever ask for. Partners who reminded me that I was never truly alone.

No matter the world, no matter the weight, I could carry it all, because I wasn't carrying it alone.

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