"What do you think we should name our child?"
Shizuku lay in Gelman's arms and asked softly, resting a hand on her lower belly and stroking it, though she still wasn't showing.
Gelman thought for a moment. "If it's a boy, don't name him Ludwig. If it's a girl, don't name her Maria. Any other name is fine."
"Huh? Why? Aren't those lovely names?"
Gelman just smiled and didn't explain further. In truth, Shizuku hadn't expected to understand what he meant anyway.
She merely tilted her head as she always did and chatted calmly with Gelman, savoring their tenderness before they had to part.
Now, Gelman's dream was over.
In the dream, it was still November 2000. When he woke, it was January 2001.
Gelman opened his eyes and got out of bed. He realized he was neither on the New Continent nor on Transfer Base Island, and not on the Gate of Limit archipelago, either.
Yes, there were many small islands near the Gate of Limit, so it was fair to call this place an "archipelago."
Gelman was aboard the Ferry Ghost Ship.
The V6 joint exploration team they had formed had left 800 people behind on Transfer Base Island. They would completely renovate the island into a hub for trips to and from the Dark Continent.
Afterward, the remaining members of the V6 joint exploration team had entered the Gate of Limit and passed the Gatekeeper's trial.
However, the Gatekeeper hadn't personally intervened in the final test this time. Gelman and Biscuit, who had passed before, didn't need to undergo the trial a second time, either.
This time, Ging and Morel took the test, and they didn't disappoint anyone.
The 200-strong team had boarded the Ferry Ghost Ship without a hitch and was heading toward the shore of