《ORIGIN: Intertwined Worlds》 Prologue ?? ? ?? Judivial "Oh, Kuro, you''re here? It''s been a while since I last saw you. How have you been?" The sound of a cloth wiping against a glass is noticeable, even with the constant loud noise of speakers blasting soundtracks to liven up the bar. "Hey there Judivial, I was just in Atlanta. I came here to pass by. Glad to see that you''re still working here." Low scratching noises can be lightly heard as a wooden chair is moved slightly, followed by the creaking sound of someone sitting down. "Of course." Judivial grinned a bit. He put the cleaned glass back on its shelf. His movements are slow and elegant, but it''s clear that he''s a professional when it comes to his work. Kuro finds the way he moves fascinating. Judivial is someone with a ton of work experience; Kuro is pretty sure the latter doesn''t need to continue working at a bar, but Judivial had told him before that working as a bartender is much more enjoyable than any other work available. Judivial probably owns this bar stand at this point, and it would probably never be the same again if he ever lost interest and quit. His eyes shift to look around, soft lavender orbs examining every inch of alcohols, glasswares, the nicely made and crafted wood table that feels nice to touch, and the calming light decorated board that makes one wonder if they really are inside a bar. "So, tell me, how''s Atlanta?" Judivial turned to face him again just to ask a question. Sometimes Kuro really does find it weird that most demons would turn to face him even if they''re busy just to reply or ask him a question. Although it does feel more respectful to do so, the netherworld really isn''t a place where others mind how you talk. Except maybe for the sovereigns. "Well... Atlanta is really a beautiful nation to visit. The water was crystal clear in a... Um... Quite literal term of crystal clear water..." Kuro stops for a bit as Judivial laughs at his words, it made him smile after a long while. He waited for Judivial to finish before he continues. "There are a lot of land in Atlanta more than I thought. I was honestly expecting to be in a boat the entire time, I even expected to be swimming for a long time..." Kuro closes his eyes, the memory of his time in Atlanta flashing back. "The places in Atlanta are really beautiful... Everything is elegantly beautiful and there were a lot of shops as well. I even got to see how the residents there dives back to the water. But, I didn''t get to see the palace of the sovereign at all, even from a distance." Kuro sighs disappointingly. "Well, that''s because the palace is underwater." "...¡± "Huh..? The palace is.. underwater?" Kuro tilted his head, confused. He had never heard anything about a palace being underwater. Most of the gossip and rumors he''d heard mentioned a beautiful palace in Atlanta, shrouded in shining crystals and pearls. Plus, how could a palace be accessible or functional underwater? Unless there was a cave leading in, Kuro doubted it would be worth it to hide a palace deep underwater. "Don''t look so confused. Atlanta''s sovereign is Lord Leviathan, the avatar of envy." Judivial glanced at Kuro before continuing. "The palace is underwater because Lord Leviathan doesn''t like interacting with others and prefers to be alone. There''s also another rumor, which may be true, that he actually enjoys being in water. Hence the palace being underwater." Kuro made an "oohh" sound. He completely forgot that Atlanta had a sovereign managing and overseeing the nation. Honestly, most people probably would forget that the sovereign of Atlanta exists, considering he never mads any public appearances and is rarely seen even in his own nation. Even rumors about his physical appearance are based more on demon guesses than facts. "Hm... But I really do wonder what an underwater palace looks like. Is it actually shrouded in shining crystals and pearls?" "Who knows? Only Lord Leviathan knows about it." Judivial chuckles. Kuro found himself smiling, deciding to end the conversation as customers began to arrive. Judivial''s attention now focused on assisting the customers'' orders. Most of them were ordering alcoholic drinks. With nothing else to do, Kuro leaned over the table and watched Judivial work. The way he effortlessly grabbed the glassware and alcohol, the way he shook the mix in an entertaining and handsome way¡ªit was truly amazing. Kuro still remembered the time he first met Judivial. It was a low point in his life, but it might have been the first time he felt special. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. There was nothing to do, but he didn''t want to leave yet. It had been a very long time since he last went out, and the amount of soulstones he had accumulated was probably rotting away if it wasn''t protected by some sort of magic. Come to think of it, he was already here. He might as well spend some soulstones and get a taste of Judivial''s amazing drinks. Unfortunately, he didn''t really drink alcohol. Were there any other options? Kuro would have grabbed a menu or even read one by now, if there were one. Bars don''t really have menus, and Judivial''s bar certainly didn''t. He would have asked Judivial, but he felt too shy to speak now that there were more customers either sitting down at the bar to order or simply passing by. Kuro watched Judivial, his attention flitting between the bartender''s focused work and the conversations of nearby customers. Many of these conversations were intriguing, like the one about the Alvisos preparing for an event or festival. After a while, Judivial finished assisting his customers. Kuro waved to get his attention, and Judivial approached with a playful grin. "Oh? You need something, my lady?" he teased. "Ehh, don''t call me that, it''s embarrassing! And I''m not a lady... Anyway, I was just wondering if you..." "I?" Judivial prompted. "If you serve non-alcoholic drinks... I don''t really like to drink alcohol, so..." Kuro looked away shyly, feeling awkward asking for a non-alcoholic drink in a bar. "Don''t be shy. I do serve various drinks, you know? I might as well say, I''m the greatest drink maker of all time!" Judivial boasted, making Kuro giggle. He really knew how to make someone smile. "Well, we''ll see about that! Do you have anything with Gloopernuts?" Kuro asked, adjusting his posture. "Well yes, dear customer, I can serve you a Sparkbrew, a brew, or if you like, some fizzle. Your choice!" Judivial offered. "Hm..." Kuro pondered. It seemed the bar didn''t serve straight-up juice. Sparkbrew was a carbonated drink, fizzy and best served cold. Brew was something Kuro had never tried before. It always contained a shot of espresso, a drink recently popularized in the Netherworld due to the Avatar of Pride''s interest. Fizzle, on the other hand, was a thick, soft, and cold drink that resembled a cloud. He wanted to try the other two drinks, but for now, he wanted... "So? What would you like?" Judivial asked. "Can I just have a Gloopernuts Sparkbrew?" Kuro requested. Judivial gave an "okay" sign with a grin and returned to work. Kuro watched, now enjoying a full view of Judivial as he worked in front of him. Soon, his drink was ready. The sound of glass gently sliding across the wooden table caught his attention. His eyes met Judivial''s dark ones. "Here''s your order. Made with special care and love, do enjoy it." Judivial''s black horns seemed to stand out against his dark eyes, extending upwards before curving down to eye level, the tips pointing outwards. "Thank you..." Kuro murmured. Judivial gave a small grin before turning to greet new customers. Kuro watched him approach them before focusing on his drink. Today, Judivial seemed more handsome than ever. ??? The wind howled mournfully as Kuro walked through the bustling street. He took a deep breath, continuing his journey. It was late, though he didn''t know the exact time. He knew the evening had passed. He really should buy a watch, or better yet, an astral. It would definitely be helpful. Anyway, the Gloopernuts Sparkbrew Kuro had tasted was truly delicious. It was the most flavorful sparkbrew he''d had in a long time. Its lavender color and fuzzy bubbles created a beautiful sight. The swirled cream topped with fresh Gloopernuts made it even more amazing. He had stayed there for so long that it was now late. Even though it was very late, the street was definitely more bustling than it had been during the day. Sometimes he forgot that they were nocturnal, well, them. Since Kuro preferred to sleep early and be more active during the day. Kuro felt his nerves growing as more and more people appeared. There was a ton of noise coming from both sides, a never-ending stream of conversations that were impossible to focus on with all the other distractions. It had been such a long time since he had gone out. A crowded place was not something he wanted to deal with right off the bat. It felt nerve-wracking, and he kept being conscious and worried about being stared at or glanced at. He wished he could just use teleportation magic to go home, but he didn''t have the knowledge or the magical strength and ability to do so. He just had to deal with it and find a way to get away from the crowd. After a long walk, Kuro felt like throwing up from all the feelings that swelled inside him. He wanted to go back home and never go out again. But at the same time, locking himself inside his own home felt like being locked inside a prison cell he had put himself in willingly. He didn''t want to feel that way again, but the crowd today was just too much. He should avoid being out this late at night. For the moment, until he got used to it, that''s it. Now out of the bustling crowd, Kuro could breathe freely again. His hands were still shaking from the nervousness and panic he had felt internally, but it was slowly disappearing. At the moment, he was at a station. Although nations could be walked by if you felt like it, each nation used a gateway, some sort of portals connected to each other. Entering by foot was not really recommended. A demon that tried it said he had a very terrible experience of headache and endless feeling of floating up in the air. To prevent future issues, the Stargazer was created. It''s a long, connected vehicle that travels through gateways, with only four entrances on both ends. Two on the left side serve as exits, while two on the right are entrances. This is the same vehicle Kuro rode when he traveled to Atlanta. It''s a pleasant experience, but if you''re new to it, you might feel dizzy. There are many other vehicles and transportation portals similar to, yet different from, gateways. Some are specifically designed for transporting goods or trading with other nations. While the Stargazer might seem like a good experience, it''s not entirely free. The cost in soulstones depends on your current location and destination. You must pay after entering the entrance, once you receive the payment card from the machine. You can then proceed to take a seat inside. It''s not worth trying to enter the Stargazer without paying. A barrier will appear, preventing you from continuing. You can''t cheat the system by choosing a closer nation for a cheaper price either. If you try to disembark in a different nation, another barrier will appear, blocking your exit. The card given to you is likely the reason for this. It completely disintegrates upon the passenger''s exit from the Stargazer. If you leave the card behind, even if you pay the fare, the Stargazer won''t let you out unless you have the card with you. This advanced technology must have taken a long time to develop and implement correctly. It''s fascinating to learn more about the Stargazer and other vehicles. The sound of horns echoing from the gateway snaps Kuro out of his thoughts as he stands up from his seat. Safety railings appear at the sides of the gateway, ensuring no one jumps as the Stargazer emerges. After the third long horn, the Stargazer finally appears from the gateway. Its finely painted red and orange hue is clearly visible as it slowly begins to stop. Upon stopping, the sound of wind being released can be heard as the doors of the Stargazer open. Chapter 1 ?? ? ?? Stargazer The double doors slide open with a whoosh, revealing a bright and simple interior that welcomes guests with a payment machine. Not wanting to waste time and be left behind by the stargazer, Kuro steps inside the vehicle. He reaches out and touches the machine''s screen. The machine lights up, its screen transitioning from a "Welcome to Stargazer" pop-up to a list of options: [Which Nation is your destination?] *Current Nation Kuro lightly presses the option, his home nation where he has lived his entire life. .....[B E E P] [Please take your card and find your seat.] [Thank you for riding Stargazer. Enjoy your ride.] With his stargazer pass in hand, Kuro successfully enters the stargazer and begins walking towards his seat. While it would be easier to have the freedom to sit anywhere, the stargazer automatically assigns seats based on the distance and duration of the journey. Inside the stargazer are separate compartments: the Star passenger seats compartment, the Shore passenger suite, and the Stellar Chamber. Restrooms are available in each compartment, along with refreshments in the Stellar Chamber''s own compartment. The Star passenger seats compartment features connected seats, like a long bench, placed only on the sides, leaving a wide open space in the middle for walking or standing. The seats themselves are neither soft nor hard, but comfortable enough. Star passenger seats are typically assigned for shorter journeys. The stargazer does not provide seat numbers, only the compartment name: [Star Passenger Seats]. Passengers can sit anywhere that is empty. The Shore passenger suite compartment offers individual seating with comfortable, soft reclining chairs that can be adjusted for comfort. Each chair has a table in front of it. Shore passenger suites are usually assigned for journeys lasting between 6-8 hours. Each suite has a number displayed on its sliding door. The stargazer pass will indicate the seat or suite number, guiding passengers to their designated space. The Stellar Chamber, Kuro''s chosen accommodation, is a private compartment with its own bed, table, and chair. It also features a viewing window that can be opened and closed without disturbing others. This chamber is offered for journeys exceeding 12 hours. Similar to the Shore passenger suite, the Stargazer pass guides passengers to their designated chamber. Kuro''s journey from BaaL to Dystopia, costing 5,000 soulstones and lasting 20 hours, highlights the significant cost of inter-nation travel. This expense explains why many prefer to remain within their own nation. ...swwwiiesshh The sound of a sliding door opening announces Kuro''s arrival. He steps inside, and the door closes behind him. The interior, familiar yet luxurious, is the same as he remembers from his previous visit to Atlanta. This is his second time experiencing the Stellar Chamber. Many aspects of his journey feel new and unfamiliar. Having secluded himself in his room, Kuro has missed out on recent news, innovations, and changes. The world has evolved significantly during his absence. The changes he observes feel strange and disorienting. Familiar places have transformed, leaving him feeling lost and confused. It''s as if everything has changed, except for him. HOOOO-HOOOOO The Stargazer''s horn echoes, drawing Kuro''s attention away from his contemplation. As the Stargazer begins its journey, Kuro settles into the provided chair and gazes out the window, watching the scenery blur past. BaaL, a vibrant nation teeming with energetic devils, is renowned for its abundance of bars and restaurants. It seems as if the devils cannot live without a constant supply of culinary delights. Despite its differences from Atlanta, BaaL was a worthwhile stop. Kuro is glad he chose to visit, especially since he was able to see Judivial again. Next time... Kuro smiles, unsure if it''s for himself or for the experiences he gained in BaaL and Atlanta. He knows, however, that he will return to both nations. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. See you again next time, Nation of BaaL. With a final farewell, the last glimpse of BaaL vanished, replaced by a disorienting darkness. After a moment, the view outside the window shifted. Stargazer was now inside the gateway, revealing a magnificent sea of stars. He had seen this view before, but witnessing it again still filled him with awe. It was beautiful, a sight rarely found in nature. He wondered how Stargazer was created and where exactly the gateway led. The stars seemed endless, stretching infinitely in every direction, completely surrounding the Stargazer. This view was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, for some, this sea of stars had become a mundane part of their daily lives, unlike Kuro, who still found the stars new and magnificent. Not many people traveled to other nations daily. In most cases, the Stargazer was only used for vacations and visits to other countries. Even traveling via Stargazer was exhausting. The sheer distance between nations was staggering. The shortest journey between two relatively close nations still took four hours. Stargazer offered little in the way of entertainment. A soft, calming melody played in the background, but it was too quiet to be truly distracting. Most Stargazers featured a "Stellar Refreshment" compartment, where passengers could purchase snacks, drinks, and hot or cold meals. Of course, nothing was free. Passengers, regardless of their ticket price or travel duration, still had to pay for anything they consumed. Nothing in this world came without a cost, not even life itself. In any case, Kuro hadn''t tried anything from the Stellar Refreshment yet. Perhaps he would visit later and sample some new items. Apparently, Stargazer even had its own merchandise¡ªsome sort of collectible that passengers could buy or receive with other purchases, Kuro guessed. But today, Kuro is tired. He needs to rest, especially after such a long day. With that in mind, Kuro went to the bed and created an opening between the blanket and the mattress. He removed his shoes, and the rustling of the blanket could be heard as he settled comfortably into bed. He lay on his side, the blanket providing a warm comfort that made him drowsy. As his eyes grew heavier, he began to think about his day. His mind wandered through memories, comparing the experience of being alone at home to the calming memory from Atlanta and the happy, comforting memory from BaaL. The differences between the two new memories and the old one were truly significant. .... ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ...? What was that...? The ringing sound of Stargazer''s horn roused Kuro from his sleep, but the sound was strange and didn''t sound like Stargazer at all. Was another vehicle passing by alongside Stargazer? But why did it sound so weird, even oddly creepy? Kuro opened his eyes to try and see, but his body felt incredibly heavy. He couldn''t move, and no matter how hard he tried to flutter his eyes open, it was as if something were taping them shut. He managed to flutter his eyes open slightly, struggling to keep them wide, but he could only squint. His vision was blurry, but he could tell that whatever was happening, whether something was passing by or not, it reflected a deep, vibrant red color. The color reflected throughout the entire room and seemed to be moving quickly, judging by the reflection it cast. Kuro felt himself growing even heavier. The eyes he had forced open became harder to keep open. As his sight slowly faded to darkness, he heard the sound of something metallic sliding down. Before the darkness completely swallowed his sight, Kuro saw the deep, vibrant red disappear as whatever was sliding down completely blocked its reflection. .... ... "Mngh... Mmm...?" Kuro woke up, able to move his body again. Wait, again? Did something happen? Kuro pushed himself up, leaning on his right elbow as his blurry vision slowly adjusted to the same room he remembered before falling asleep. Everything was the same. He lightly rubbed his eyes before taking a second look around the room. It was still the same. His face twisted in confusion, certain that he recalled a bizarre event. It evoked a profound, heavy feeling within him, and the color red was intensely vivid. He struggled to sit up, his gaze drawn to the window behind him. Nothing obstructed it, and the stargazer window blocker slid down silently, without the metallic sound he expected. The view outside was the same sea of stars he remembered, lacking any trace of the deep, vibrant red from his memory. "Was... was that just a dream?" Kuro raised his hand to his face, running it across his forehead as he attempted to recall more about the strange experience. But no matter how hard he tried, it was as if the event had never occurred. "How could that be a dream?" he wondered. "It felt so strange... so real... and the vibrant red was too specific." Kuro, his mind a fog, yet the heavy drowsiness had lifted, pushed himself up from the bed. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he steadied himself against the wall, waiting for it to pass. Once the room stopped spinning, he turned back to the bed, meticulously straightening the sheets and blankets before slipping his shoes back on. The sound of the compartment door sliding open, then closed, echoed in the now-empty space. He sighed, the sleep he''d gotten feeling insufficient, leaving him more tired than before. Yet, he couldn''t bring himself to return to bed, not after the unsettling experience he''d had. Now that he considered it, he seemed to be the only passenger. He was the only one who had boarded the Stargazer, and he hadn''t encountered anyone else on board. He wished he hadn''t thought about it. The realization that he was alone on the Stargazer sent a shiver down his spine. He desperately hoped there were other passengers, simply resting. [Stargazer''s. We are now approaching the nation Alvisos. Repeating, We are now...] A monotonous voice echoed through the compartments, the announcement of their imminent arrival at the next nation crackling from the speakers. "Alvisos... If it''s Alvisos, then I was asleep for eight hours...?" Kuro mumbled to himself. He wasn''t sure anymore. Forget about it. Kuro pushed aside the confusing thoughts and started walking towards the refreshment area. He needed to clear his head, to try and decipher whether what he''d experienced was a dream, an overactive imagination, or something more. A short walk later, the compartment doors parted, revealing the Stellar refreshment area. Kuro inhaled deeply, detecting the lingering scent of a recent meal. Someone had been here just moments before he''d left his chamber. His eyes wandered around the compartment, eventually settling on a peculiar device resting on one of the tables. Intrigued, Kuro approached and silently took a seat. His gaze remained fixed on the device, which resembled an Astral but appeared larger. Curiosity piqued, Kuro tapped the screen, causing it to light up. Instead of a greeting, however, he was presented with the Stargazer''s menu. At the top, a large banner read [STARGAZER''S REFRESHMENT], and below it were various options such as [All Menu, Hot meals, Cold meals, Pastas, Drinks], and so on. The sight was fascinating. Even restaurant menus had been transformed into devices, replacing the traditional paper versions. Everything had truly changed. His hand glided across the screen, sliding and tapping to explore the options. There were numerous choices, and it seemed that multiple orders could be placed, with a maximum of five dishes per order. He took a moment to familiarize himself with the new device before deciding to stop experimenting and actually order some food. He wondered how he would receive and pay for it. Did Stargazer even have any employees? It seemed to function entirely autonomously. The order was placed, and now he waited. The screen transitioned from the menu to a [Meal is being prepared] waiting screen. He couldn''t help but wonder how this would all work. ..... Kuro sighed contentedly, setting down the tissue. A pleasant fullness settled in his stomach, a stark contrast to the weariness he''d felt moments before. The "Forestheart Stew," a rich concoction of vegetables and mushrooms, had worked wonders. He''d washed it down with "Moonlit Elixir," a fruity tea infused with¡­ lunar something or other. He wasn''t quite sure what lunar meant, but it tasted delightful. The meal had set him back 650 soulstones. A hefty price, perhaps, but the taste and generous portion size rivaled, and possibly surpassed, some of the finest restaurants he''d encountered. The service, however, was an experience in itself. A sleek, advanced mechanical robot had delivered his meal, accompanied by another mechanical contraption that efficiently processed payments and dispensed change. It was interesting, to say the least. Weird, even. Very weird. With hours to spare before reaching Dystopia, Kuro considered his options. Perhaps he''d sample some of the desserts on offer. After all, he had time to kill, and a newfound energy to burn.