The boundless green fields rose and fell gently across the plain. A breeze carrying the fresh scents of earth and grass drifted by with a soothing strength. Norris stood amid this world that was still far from "finished," feeling a lightness and comfort throughout his body that he had not known in decades. He could not help but draw in a deep, intoxicated breath.
"This truly is a wonderful place, Your Majesty," he said, turning back to Gawain with a smile. "I only hope that young people who enter the network for entertainment do not become too immersed in it someday."
Gawain smiled. "We will establish corresponding management measures and safeguards—after all, entertainment is part of Human Civilization, but any form of entertainment can become addictive."
"You are always thoroughly prepared in everything you do," Norris said with feeling. "The Immortal... that truly is a bold idea..."
"Since ancient times, Supernatural Beings have always possessed all sorts of methods to prolong their lives or even attain something close to immortality, from spirit-channeling spells to elemental ascension, or even 'resurrection' by chance, like mine..." Gawain said slowly, shaking his head. "A long lifespan became another privilege of Supernatural Beings besides power itself, and that privilege was tied solely to 'power.' As long as one possessed sufficiently powerful Supernatural Power, one had a chance to become long-lived. If one abandoned one's humanity and chose unscrupulous paths, the chances of obtaining a long life increased greatly—the Dark Cult was full of 'ancients' who had lived for several centuries. The Life-Exchange Forbidden Technique Beltira showed you was merely one of the traditional methods Supernatural Beings used to extend their lives, and it was not even the most vile one...
"If the success rates of these 'traditional methods' were not so low, and if so