In the world of Talom, diverse races live side by side—humans, elves, dwarves, and many others. The Prime Spirits blessed them with eternal gifts: undying fire, healing waters, winds that whisper of the future. Thanks to these blessings, kingdoms flourished, brimming with wonders and the abundant riches of nature. ​But more than a hundred years ago, war erupted in the Zeron Kingdom. Five merciless years of slaughter ravaged four entire provinces, unleashed by a group that hungered for absolute dominion. ​Over a hundred million lives—roughly 60% of the kingdom's population at the time—were lost in that devastating conflict. The war only ended when the king of Zeron was finally slain and replaced—but the scars it left never truly healed. Rivers turned foul, fields withered into dust, and the wisest leaders, the very architects of progress, perished along with their knowledge. ​The nation never recovered, even after new rulers took the throne and the kingdom was renamed the Irysh Ki

After a few minutes, Ora sent me toward the mountains to begin my training. She told me that if I couldn't find food in town, I should just scavenge for fruit in the woods. ​From what I remembered of history, there were plenty of edible fruits there, but the problem was the sheer number of monsters. In my time, no one dared to forage that deep. ​As expected, we encountered monsters at every turn. However, I found them easy enough to handle thanks to the Time Sword. As long as I held it, I could freeze anyone mid-attack and simply walk up to them. Once I was in position, I would strike the moment time resumed. ​To be honest, the sword wasn't hard to use, but the physical toll was immense. A heavy, hollow weakness washed over me every time the power deactivated. ​"The duration of the freeze or the length of the rewind depends entirely on your internal energy," Ora explained, her voice echoing in my head. "But you're still far too weak. Five seconds of frozen time is your current limi

​The next morning, the air in the cabin was still cool and damp. I brought a simple meal to Lavender's room and checked in on her. ​"Here, eat something. How are you feeling today?" ​She didn't answer, but she moved closer to take the meal from the small table. Her movements were guarded, hesitant. I reminded her that I might not be home until late because of my training in the forest, so I was leaving extra food for her. ​A moment later, I heard a sharp shout from outside. It was one of the hunters coming to deliver the proceeds from our previous haul. I met him in the living room, where he handed over two bags of money totaling one hundred thousand. ​I was stunned. The weight of the pouches in my hand felt surreal; I had never seen that much money in my life. Remembering the Goblin King's loot, I pulled out the crown and showed it to him. ​"Wait... is this really from a Goblin King?" he gasped. "This is pure gold and diamonds. It's worth a fortune!" ​I told him to sell it and,

​ ​As the giant tiger sank its teeth into my head and tore it from my body, my life came to an end. The world didn't fade; it snapped to nothingness. In an instant, I was dead, and there was no way to stop it. ​All physical sensation vanished, yet my mind remained, drifting in a strange, hollow void. I couldn't explain how, but I could still hear my own voice echoing in my thoughts. I appeared to be in a vast, cold expanse, surrounded by endless, uncaring stars. It was like floating in the deepest reaches of space. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, but I was mesmerized by the silent, swirling beauty of the distant constellations. ​"What's happening? Why is the pain gone? Where am I?" ​Ahead of me, a light flickered. To my shock, the Time Sword Ora had given me was suspended in the center of that glow, humming with a faint, steady light. I had no idea what was going on; I couldn't feel my body, as if I were merely a lingering consciousness watching from nowhere. ​Only secon

​ ​We headed to the plaza, where musicians were performing and people were celebrating. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and laughter. With the money I'd earned from selling monster loot, I was able to buy gifts for Lavender—necklaces and various foods that even I was tasting for the first time. Many of these delicacies no longer existed in my original timeline, as the town had long since been destroyed and impoverished. ​It was heartwarming to watch the children playing in the streets and enjoying the plaza. While I watched them, I noticed Lavender standing still with her eyes closed, soaking in the breeze as if she were savoring every second of her newfound peace. It made sense; she had been imprisoned beneath a mansion as a slave for ten years. Seeing her like this confirmed my belief that she was a good soul who deserved freedom and a happy life. ​A few minutes later, we bought ice cream from a street vendor. Lavender was absolutely delighted, her tails waggi