The next morning, Noctis woke me up in the most unpleasant way possible.
He kicked my leg.
“Wake up, Nucky!
We’ve got a meeting today!”
I groaned and rubbed my head.
“What meeting?”
“How should I know?”
I slowly turned toward him.
“…What?”
Noctis shrugged innocently.
“Arthur came and told me about it.
That’s all I know.”
I stared at him for several seconds.
This idiot woke me up without even knowing what the meeting was about?
My head was still aching from the way he’d knocked me unconscious the previous night.
I had long suspected that Noctis possessed some strange talent for making my life miserable, and every day he seemed determined to prove me right.
“Could you at least wake me up like a normal person next time?”
Noctis grinned.
“Of course!”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You’re lying.”
“You’re getting smarter, Nucky!”
I sighed.
There was no point arguing with him.
After breakfast, we left the camp and headed toward the mansion where Alice and Arthur lived.
We hadn’t walked very far when someone approached us.
Alex.
He looked between Noctis and me, his expression full of suspicion.
“Where are you two going?”
Noctis immediately put on his usual carefree smile.
“We won’t go far.
Don’t worry!”
Alex stared at him.
For some reason, I felt sorry for the man.
He had to deal with Noctis regularly, yet he hadn’t learned that the more confidently Noctis spoke, the less likely his words were to be trustworthy.
After a few seconds, Alex sighed and stepped aside.
“Fine.
Just don’t cause any trouble.”
Noctis raised his hand in a cheerful farewell.
“Would I ever?”
“Yes,” I answered immediately.
Alex nodded.
“Exactly.”
Noctis looked at both of us as if we’d betrayed him.
“What a cruel world!”
Ignoring his complaints, I continued walking.
Eventually, we reached the mansion.
A guard greeted us and escorted us through several corridors before bringing us to the meeting hall.
When we entered, three people were already seated around a large table.
Alice sat at the head of the table, with Arthur beside her.
The third person was a man I hadn’t met before.
Noctis glanced around the room.
“We’re not late, are we?”
Alice smiled.
“No.
You arrived just in time.”
She gestured toward the empty seats.
“Please, sit down.”
Noctis immediately dropped into a chair as though he owned the mansion.
I took the seat beside him.
The unfamiliar man looked at us with a polite smile.
“My name is Ronan.”
He glanced between us.
“May I know your names?”
“Noctis,” my companion replied.
“Nucky,” I said.
Ronan nodded, apparently satisfied with those answers.
Alice folded her hands on the table.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s begin.”
Noctis raised one hand.
“Before that, could someone explain what this meeting is actually about?
And what are we supposed to do?”
Alice looked at him.
“The first matter concerns our escape from this Star Gate.”
Her expression gradually became serious.
“And the Seven Continents.”
The atmosphere in the room changed immediately.
Even Noctis stopped joking.
Alice continued.
“To escape this place, we first need to kill the Star Monster.
However, defeating it won’t be easy.
We’ll need at least one thousand warriors.”
She paused briefly.
“Among those warriors, at least two hundred must be Two-Star Awakened.”
I frowned.
“How many Two-Star Awakened do we have right now?”
“Fifty-five.”
I calculated the difference in my head.
“Then we need another one hundred and forty-five.”
“Correct,” Alice replied.
“And we need to recruit them as quickly as possible.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Why the hurry?
What’s the deadline?”
“Because the Star Monster can only be killed on a specific day.”
Alice’s blue eyes swept across the room.
“If we miss that opportunity, we’ll fall behind schedule.
And if that happens, our entire plan could fail.”
I looked at her.
“How could missing one day destroy the entire plan?”
“Because our plan doesn’t end with escaping the Star Gate.”
Alice paused.
“Our goal is to establish an empire of our own.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“What kind of empire?”
Her expression became colder.
“An empire powerful enough to challenge the Seven Continents.”
She looked directly at me.
“Our ultimate goal is to destroy the Seven Continents once and for all.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Noctis leaned forward.
“If the Seven Continents ever hear about this, they’ll destroy us before we even have a chance to build an empire.”
Alice nodded calmly.
“Exactly.”
“So,” Noctis continued, “we need somewhere they can’t find us.”
“More precisely, we need a place where we can develop our strength without attracting their attention.”
Alice turned toward us.
“And that’s where you two come in.”
I had a bad feeling about this.
Whenever someone said I had an important task, it usually meant I was about to be dragged into something troublesome.
“What do you want us to do?” I asked.
Alice answered without hesitation.
“Bring us the Land of Hearts.”
Noctis burst out laughing.
“HA-HA-HA!”
He pointed at Alice as though she’d just told the funniest joke in the world.
“You’re seriously asking us to go there?”
Alice remained composed.
“Yes.”
Noctis stopped laughing.
“We could die just by going there.”
“Why?” Alice asked.
Noctis stared at her.
“Because going there is basically the same as choosing to die!”
“I know you can do it.”
Noctis crossed his arms.
“And what if I don’t want to?”
“You have to.”
The two stared at each other.
For several seconds, neither moved.
I watched them quietly.
What a fascinating conversation.
One was a woman who could calmly order someone into a dangerous place without blinking.
The other was a lunatic who complained about everything but somehow always ended up doing what he was asked.
Finally, Noctis threw his head back and laughed.
“HA-HA-HA!
Fine!
I’ll do it!”
He turned toward me.
“Looks like we’re going on an adventure, Nucky!”
I rubbed my forehead.
I should have stayed in bed.
Still, I had my own questions.
“I have an opinion about this,” I said.
Alice looked at me.
“You’re free to express it.”
“What exactly does the Land of Hearts do?”
Alice folded her hands.
“It’s essentially a gigantic island that can move wherever its owner wishes.
Its size can be increased or decreased, and the environment within it can be controlled.”
I listened carefully.
“Anything else?”
“The most important thing is that it can serve as a place to live and develop in peace.
It’s isolated from the outside world, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to interfere with what’s happening inside.”
I fell silent.
A movable island.
An isolated world where we could control the environment.
A place where nobody could casually invade our territory.
And, most importantly, somewhere we could live peacefully.
That sounds like heaven.
For someone like me, who had spent years surviving in a world where safety was a luxury, such a place was almost too good to be true.
I looked at Alice.
“Fine.
I’ll do it.”
Noctis grinned.
“See?
I knew you’d agree!”
“Don’t misunderstand.
I’m doing this because I want the island.”
“Of course, of course!”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Nucky.”
I ignored him and returned my attention to Alice.
“Where can we find it?”
“It’s currently inside the Land of Nothing.”
I nodded.
“Then we’ll bring it back.”
Alice seemed satisfied with my answer.
However, there was something else I wanted to know.
“You mentioned the Seven Continents earlier.
Tell me about them.”
Alice’s expression grew serious again.
“Very well.
I’ll explain what we know.”
She stood and walked toward a large map displayed on the wall.
“The Seven Continents are controlled by several ancient families.
Each family possesses a distinct power, and their influence has shaped the world for generations.”
She pointed to the first name.
### The Seven Great Families
0.
Hercol Family — Holy Power
The former dominant family.
Once far more powerful than the others, it was eventually destroyed by a coalition of rival families.
1.
Neo Family — Fire Power
The strongest family in the current era.
2.
Heils Family — Wood Power
A major family wielding the power of wood.
3.
Grey Family — Earth Power
A major family wielding the power of earth.
4.
Esol Family — Soul Power
A family associated with the mysterious power of souls.
5.
Forst Family — Ice Power
A major family wielding the power of ice.
6.
Bros Family — Water Power
A major family wielding the power of water.
7.
Either Family — Lightning Power
The most mysterious family.
Despite its potential to become one of the strongest, it remains isolated in a single location.
Alice returned to her seat.
“There used to be eight major families.
However, the Hercol Family was far more powerful than the others.
Eventually, the remaining seven families joined forces and eliminated it.”
I glanced at her.
“Then you’re probably a member of the Hercol Family, aren’t you?”
Alice nodded.
“Yes.”
I had suspected as much, but hearing her confirm it was still useful.
I turned toward Arthur.
“Then which family does he belong to?”
“The Neo Family,” Alice replied.
I considered that for a moment.
Arthur was the son of the head of the strongest family in the world, yet he had been wandering around the desert with Alice.
There was obviously more to his story.
“Which family is the strongest now?” I asked.
“The Neo Family.”
“And the most mysterious?”
“The Either Family.”
Alice paused.
“They have the potential to become one of the strongest families, but they rarely involve themselves in the affairs of the outside world.
They remain isolated in one place, and very few people know what they’re doing.”
I nodded slowly.
“Interesting.”
Then another question occurred to me.
“What is Arthur doing here?”
Alice looked at me for a moment.
“I understand what you’re thinking.”
She sighed softly.
“You can close your eyes and trust him if you want.”
I laughed.
“First of all, I don’t have eyes.”
I pointed toward my blindfold.
“Second, I don’t trust him.”
Arthur remained silent, while Alice gave me a tired look.
“Fine.
I’ll tell you everything.”
She glanced at Arthur before continuing.
“Arthur is the son of the head of the Neo Family.
However, his mother was a maid.”
I listened without interrupting.
The room fell silent.
I looked at Arthur.
He sat motionless, his expression unreadable.
So that was his story.
The son of a powerful family, born to a mother whom that same family considered disposable.
It wasn’t an unusual story in a world ruled by power.
People liked to pretend that bloodlines and status made them superior, but beneath all their grand titles, many of them were nothing more than ordinary people protecting their privileges.
Still, that didn’t mean I trusted Arthur.
I looked back at Alice.
“I don’t trust him.”
She shrugged.
“You don’t have to.”
“What if he stabs you in the back?”
Alice answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Then I’ll put him in front of me.”
I stared at her.
Then I smiled.
“Now that’s acceptable.”
Arthur’s expression finally changed.
For a brief moment, he looked genuinely surprised.
He had heard every word of our conversation, yet he hadn’t defended himself or offered an excuse.
Perhaps he understood that words wouldn’t change my opinion.
Or perhaps he simply didn’t care what I thought.
Either way, I had no intention of trusting him.
Noctis suddenly clapped his hands.
“All right!
That’s enough family history for today.”
He leaned forward and looked around the table.
“Instead of arguing about who might betray whom, why don’t we figure out how we’re going to awaken another one hundred and forty-five Two-Star Awakened?”
Ronan nodded.
“I have an idea.”
Noctis turned toward him.
“Let’s hear it.”
“First, we select one hundred and forty-five people with sufficient potential.
Then we divide them into four groups and send them out to hunt monsters.”
Ronan paused.
“They’ll hunt continuously, day and night, until they’ve reached the required level.”
I considered his proposal.
The plan was simple, but the danger was obvious.
Sending inexperienced people to hunt monsters around the clock could easily turn into a massacre.
Still, there weren’t many alternatives if we wanted to meet the deadline.
Noctis nodded thoughtfully.
“Not bad.
But who will lead the groups?”
For a moment, everyone looked at one another.
Then Noctis raised his hand.
“I’ll take one.”
Alice nodded.
“I’ll take another.”
Arthur remained silent briefly before agreeing.
“I’ll take one as well.”
That left one group.
Noctis slowly turned toward me.
“And Nucky?”
I immediately had a bad feeling.
He grinned.
“I’ve heard he’s a pretty good fighter.”
I stared at him.
Who told you that?
You?
“He hasn’t awakened any stars yet,” Noctis continued, sounding almost proud.
“So he’ll probably have to work harder than everyone else.”
Before I could object, he thumped his chest.
“But don’t worry!
I trained Nucky myself!”
He flashed everyone a confident smile.
“I have complete faith in him!”
I wanted to punch him.
Alice studied me for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well.
We’ll proceed with the plan.”
She looked around the table.
“We begin today.”
The meeting was almost over when Noctis suddenly rubbed his stomach.
“But I’m hungry.”
Everyone stared at him.
He looked around the enormous mansion.
“By the way, there are only four of you living in such a huge place?”
Arthur finally spoke.
“No.
There are soldiers living here as well.”
“Oh!”
Noctis nodded as though he’d just learned something extraordinary.
“I thought there were only four of you.”
I closed my eyes beneath my blindfold.
How did this idiot survive long enough to become this powerful?
Alice, however, seemed to have noticed something else.
She turned toward me.
“You two can stay in my room if you want.”
I immediately understood what she meant.
“No.”
Alice blinked.
I shook my head.
“If I stay there, I’ll lose whatever dignity I have left.”
For a brief moment, her expression changed.
Then she looked at me with those disturbingly calm eyes.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
She sounded almost disappointed.
I stood up.
“Thanks for the offer, but Noctis and I won’t stay here.”
Noctis immediately rose as well.
“Yeah!
I’ll stay somewhere else.”
He stretched his arms over his head.
“Besides, if someone tries to harm me while I’m sleeping, I’ll kill them in their sleep.”
He grinned.
“So it wouldn’t be wise for us to stay here.”
I looked at him.
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“Of course it does!”
Before I could argue, Noctis grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the door.
“Come on, Nucky!
We’ve got an island to steal!”
“Retrieve,” I corrected him.
“Whatever!”
I allowed him to pull me out of the meeting hall.
Behind us, the others remained silent.
I couldn’t tell what Alice was thinking, but I had a feeling she wasn’t finished causing trouble for me.
And that was only one of my problems.
We still had to enter the Land of Nothing, find the Land of Hearts, and bring it back before the deadline for killing the Star Monster.
After that, we would need to build an empire capable of challenging seven ancient families.
A ridiculous plan.
A dangerous plan.
And, somehow, I had already agreed to it.
I sighed as Noctis continued dragging me down the corridor.
At this rate, I might not even get the peaceful life I’m working so hard for.
Then again…
If the Land of Hearts truly offered a place where nobody could bother me, perhaps the trouble would be worth it.
For now, I just had to survive long enough to claim it.