The sparks of the bonfire crackled and danced under the night sky.


    The girl sitting by the bonfire, hugging her knees, tried to fight against drowsiness and cold.


    But as her eyelids grew heavier and heavier...


    Lonely darkness gradually enveloped Freya.


    Just then...


    A new faint light appeared in the distant night, apanied by the sound of approaching footsteps, making the girl''s sleepinesspletely disappear.


    Freya first showed a happy expression, but quickly became nervous and vignt again. As the figure holding the torch came closer, Freya saw who it was and finally breathed a sigh of relief, her expressionpletely at ease.


    "Sorry, I''mte."


    Because Reji had temporarily changed his ns, he spent more time at Earl Nichs''s residence, so by the time he returned to the temporary camp he had agreed upon with Freya, it was alreadyte at night.


    Seeing the Saintess who hadn''t slept yet and had been waiting for him to return, her face full of fatigue, Reji felt a pang of heartache and couldn''t help but feel a warmth in his heart.


    He immediately stepped forward, put down the torch, and draped his coat over Freya, who was still wearing casual clothes and was lightly dressed.


    The coat still retained Reji''s warmth, making Freya''s cold body much warmer.


    However, the Saintess then looked at Reji''s empty back and seemed to understand something, her eyes dimming a little.


    "I searched for a long time but still didn''t see your twopanions. I''m sorry for disappointing you."


    "No, no, no, Lord Reji has already done his best. I am very grateful to you. I believe they, like me, are prepared to fight against the cmity and save the world."


    Freya, who had lowered her head, quickly cheered up, her eyes even more determined and persistent, as if inheriting the will of her deceasedpanions, no matter what, she must help and assist Reji to be a true hero.


    Compared to the original history, the real plot where Freya was nearly upied by thepanion she trusted the most, and then Reji, as the hero, killed Tabor and saved the Saintess...


    Reji believed that this ending was undoubtedly better.


    Whether it was for Freya or for that crazily infatuated Tabor.


    At the same time, the Philosopher''s Stone on Reji''s right hand emitted a faint glow, reminding Reji that history had shifted, but the loss of energy inside was negligible, basically ignorable.


    This once again confirmed the previous conclusion.


    As long as the overall "ending" of the plot remained unchanged from history, the process in between could be freely modified as long as he became the only witness.


    So, at the end in Earl Nichs''s residence, Reji used mind control instead of killing the family of three and let them continue to maintain their original state.


    This meant that the wanted notice for Reji was still ongoing.


    And that Earl''s daughter, Rosa, who was admitted to Daran Academy, would still sessfully enroll as in history.


    And in the future Academy Tournament, she would encounter him.


    These public histories would not change.


    So the Philosopher''s Stone would not consume energy, and the world line would remain stable.


    However... In the "hidden" history that only he knew, it had already been quietly modified.


    To put it simply... The family of three, Earl Nichs, gained a new master.


    Reji would awaken their spiritual imprint at the nodes where he needed them in the future, bing important chess pieces for him to continue changing the future.


    The chapter of Earl Nichs was temporarily turned over. On the brand new tomorrow after a night, the hero and the Saintess embarked on a true journey of saving the world.


    Their first stop was Stone Sword Vige, the closest to here.


    In the carriage, Freya, just like in the game''s plot, was diligently informing Reji about the subsequent hero quests.


    As a hero, one definitely couldn''t directly go fight the Demon King.


    One had to first gather the Holy Swords.


    And Freya, ording to the prophetic revtion given by the Light, told Reji that the location of the first Holy Sword was their current destination—Stone Sword Vige.


    After riding the carriage and arriving at this secluded little vige, it was time for free exploration.


    Freya only knew that the Holy Sword was here.


    But as for the specific location and how to obtain it, she was also clueless.


    Fortunately...


    "Follow me."


    Reji directly walked in front, recing Freya''s position. He led the Saintess through several small paths in this little vige, skillfully making several turns, and finally arrived at a small waterfall behind the vige.


    "Has Lord Hero been here before?" Freya was very curious to see Reji''s familiar manner.


    "No, it''s just that after arriving here, I vaguely felt a summons. It should be that Holy Sword guiding me."


    Anyway, with the hero''s identity, Reji could make up any reason to fool her. Seeing Freya''s sudden realization and "so that''s how it is" appearance, there was not a hint of doubt.


    Reji led the Saintess through the waterfall, and sure enough, there was a hidden cave behind the water curtain.


    As soon as they entered, Freya''s eyes immediately lit up, and an excited expression appeared on her face. Her little hand tugged at Reji''s sleeve and said, "Lord Hero, look! That''s it! The Holy Sword in the prophecy!"


    In the center of the cave was a stone b with an ancient aura.


    On the stone b was a sword that looked ordinary.


    Just as Freya was excitedly about to run over, Reji pulled her back first. And in that moment, the stone b bearing the Holy Sword began to tremble. Sensing the two outsiders, it seemed to awaken the spirit sleeping within.


    [Hehehe, it''s been hundreds of years. Someone has finallye?]


    An illusory sword spirit rose from the stone b.


    It was extremely tall, wearing armor, very majestic, like some general.


    [Being able toe here proves that you should have already gained the trust of all the vigers, right? Otherwise, they wouldn''t have told you such an important location.]


    The sword spirit''s attitude towards Reji and Freya was very friendly.


    As it said, ording to the normal historical process, he should have gone to the vige to inquire with the cksmith, then the cksmith would have told him to find the vige chief. The vige chief would have been unwilling to tell him, an outsider, so in order to convince the vige chief, he could only go and solve various vigers'' requests and help them deal with troubles.


    After doing this whole set of good deeds, he would be able to raise the vige chief''s favorability. Once he had a high reputation among the entire vige, the vigers would be willing to tell him about the legend of the Sword in the Stone passed down from their ancestors.


    As for the current Reji...


    It was equivalent to speedrunning.


    Thinking it would end like this?


    Far from it.


    In the first ythrough, the Holy Sword was a divine weapon. How could it let the yer obtain it so easily? After passing the vigers'' hurdle, one still had to pass the sword spirit''s obstacle.


    [Adventurer who hase to seek the treasure, I regret to inform you that this sword was once the apanying sword of me, a general of a nation. It apanied me in expanding territory and fighting on the battlefield. Now that I am dead, the sword has umted too much killing intent. It has long since fallen from the founding divine sword to a demonic sword.


    Let alone pulling it out, just approaching it will affect and pollute your mind.]


    [Therefore, you must first find the [Pure Water], [Boundless Grass], and [Primordial Dew], these three heaven and earth treasures, and bring them to me. Only then can I help you purify the demonic sword and eliminate the killing intent.]


    [Secondly, to pull out this sword, you must possess the same talent as I did back then. With your current level, it''s far from enough. But don''t worry, you just need to go to my true burial ce and retrieve my [bones]. That way, I can temporarily return to my remains and take out the Holy Sword in your stead.]


    [Finally, to let the sword acknowledge its master, you also need to prepare offerings for the divine sword. There are a total of five items, namely [Flower of the Other Shore], [Resurrection Pill], [Sword Emblem], and...]


    Reji closed his eyes.


    He had been refraining from taking action just now tomemorate the hardworking first ythrough.


    Now, as Reji who had returned from the "third ythrough," he calmly said to the sword spirit who was still issuing quests,


    "Are you done talking?"


    "If you are, then you can be on your way."