Gray Wind remained silent for a long time.
Only then did she realize that Eric had never truly moved on from that part of his past.
Zandar had been trapped in an endless time loop by the "Time-Worm," losing contact with the outside world. Those who knew had concealed it, considering Eric's age and his relationship with Zandar.
In the end, teacher and student had been forced onto opposing sides.
Having completely lost the will to live, his mind long since broken, Zandar still tried to comfort his student before his death:
"If it's you, I'm willing to die by your hand."
Eric had done as he asked.
Afterward, he had killed the "Time-Worm," abandoned the dimensional ascension plan with its higher chance of success, chosen the "Imaginary Tree," and restarted the world.
Finally, he had instructed Gray Wind to protect Zandar, saying, "I owe him a life."
Gray Wind's feelings were terribly complicated.
If either of them slipped up, if their cooperation was exposed to the Aeons...
"Higher-Dimensional Invaders" could not be killed, so Eric possessed an ageless body and an immortal soul.
But Zandar? He would certainly die.
Both of them had entrusted their lives to the other.
Gray Wind had never imagined that Eric, who guarded against everyone without exception, would willingly give Zandar the power to decide whether he lived or died.
Eric, you really are a man who keeps his promises and means every word!
You said you owed Zandar a life, and you really intend to repay him!
Or have you experienced the helplessness of watching someone close to you seek death, unable to stop them, and left a fallback plan because you don't want your teacher to suffer the way you did?
Gray Wind looked at Zandar.
The scholar, who had been laughing