The road home lay shrouded in the warm glow of dusk, while lamp posts simulating natural light gradually lit up along both sides of the street.
As Benjamin continued the sluggish, snail-like task of mobilizing Spiritual Power in his mind, he habitually observed this "familiar" yet unfamiliar world.
While waiting for the signal at an intersection, his gaze happened to sweep over a figure across the street buying a drink from a vending machine. He froze abruptly.
That person—he knew him!
Strictly speaking, though, they were not acquainted.
They had merely crossed paths once during the assembly for this planar expedition.
He remembered that slightly arrogant young face. The man was a Level 4 Wizard, but Benjamin knew nothing else about him. He had only glimpsed his appearance while passing through the portal.
Benjamin was highly sensitive to energy fluctuations. Though it had only been a fleeting glance, he retained some impression of the other man's soul aura and appearance.
"What is it?" Victor keenly noticed Benjamin's momentary pause. Following his line of sight, he immediately showed a look of understanding. "Oh, it's him. I never thought I'd run into this guy again after high school ended."
Benjamin blinked and swiftly searched through the false memories.
Sure enough, a related piece of information surfaced. The young man across the street was named Kevin. He had been Benjamin's classmate in high school, and their relationship had been—quite hostile. The reason was simple: in Benjamin's final year of high school, he had likewise seized ownership of that iron rod from Kevin through some kind of "academic duel," becoming the former school tyrant.
"Mm, quite a coincidence," Benjamin replied vaguely, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
After parting with Victor at the fork in the road, he headed toward "home" alone, his mood