As Rex reappeared at the base of the tree beside the pond, a faint smile lingered at the corner of his lips.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting scattered shadows on the ground.
The calm ripples of the pond reflected the sky, completely unaware of the chaos and transformation that had just unfolded in another world.
Rex stood there for a moment, unmoving.
Inside the sandbox, he had just erased an entire dominant species… and given a name to the first being of a potential civilization.
“…Aren.” The name echoed faintly in his mind.
A subtle sense of satisfaction rose within him- not excitement, but something quieter.
Control.
“Alice,” he said calmly, “now that I have intervened, what are the probability of them becoming a human species?” [WITH THE HOST’S INTERVENTION, THE PROBABILITY HAS INCREASED TO 97.39%.] Rex’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…So close to certainty.” But not absolute.
That meant variables still existed.
Unpredictability was his greatest fear for now.
“…Good.” “Keep the speed the same as the original world for now.” [UNDERSTOOD.] Rex gave a small nod and turned toward his house.
As he entered, the familiar scent of food and the low murmur of voices greeted him.
His parents were sitting together, talking and laughing.
For a brief moment, Rex paused at the doorway.
This scene… It felt distant, yet close.
In his previous life, moments like these had passed without notice.
Now- They felt different.
As if they held weight, greater than the world itself.
As they noticed him, both turned their heads.
His father smiled slightly.
“You’ll be receiving your test results tomorrow.
Nervous?” Rex walked in calmly.
“Not really.” His tone was casual, almost indifferent.
But his father only chuckled.
“Confidence is good… overconfidence isn’t.” Rex didn’t reply.
Instead, he glanced at his mother.
“Mom, can I have dinner early today?
I’m feeling a bit tired.” She nodded immediately.
“Of course.
What do you want?
Fried rice with chicken curry and meatballs?” Rex gave a small nod.
“That’s fine.” She stood up and went toward the kitchen.
Rex watched her for a moment.
There was still fatigue in her movements.
It was subtle but noticeable.
His gaze darkened slightly.
“…Not enough.” Despite everything he had done- It wasn’t enough yet, not enough let his parents let go of their worries.
He turned and walked into his room.
Later that night, after dinner, Rex lay on his bed.
The room was quiet and eerily silent.
His eyes slowly closed.
But his mind remained active.
“Alice.” [YES, HOST.] “The small group… how are they doing?” [THEY HAVE STARTED GATHERING NEAR WATER SOURCES PROVIDED BY THE HOST’S INTERVENTION.] [NO SIGNIFICANT THREATS DETECTED CURRENTLY.] Rex nodded slightly.
“…Observe only for now.” [UNDERSTOOD.] He turned slightly on his bed.
“Evolution alone isn’t enough…” His voice was barely a whisper.
“…they need direction.” With that thought, he finally drifted to sleep.
—- The next morning- The streets were already lively.
Rex stood near a small roadside shop, dressed in his school uniform, waiting for someone.
Students passed by in groups, chatting loudly, laughing, complaining about exams.
Normal life like any other.
Ordinary yet- For Rex, it felt… distant.
Soon, a familiar figure approached from a distance not too far.
Without warning- He threw a bottle at that figure.
“Catch.” Sandy raised his hand, caught it effortlessly, and walked closer, grinning.
“Wow.
Someone’s being generous today.
What happened?
Did a donkey kick your head?” Rex glanced at him.
“Just in a good mood.” Sandy raised an eyebrow.
“That’s suspicious.” He grabbed the bottle and took a sip.
After a moment, his expression shifted.
“Man… I’m actually nervous about the results.” Rex looked at him.
“You say that every time.” “And every time, you still end up in the top ten.” Sandy rolled his eyes.
“Says the guy who beat the top student in his first year after coming from abroad.” “And don’t even start with languages.
You beat locals in their own subjects.” He shook his head dramatically.
“Seriously… not everyone’s a monster like you.” Rex didn’t react.
He simply shrugged.
Then, as if recalling something, he said, “I heard the biology teacher got transferred.” Sandy nodded.
“Yeah, you missed that class.” “The new teacher’s name is Richard Brown.” Rex listened silently.
Sandy continued, “Our next chapter was supposed to be ‘Human Sexual Organs’- but he skipped it.” Rex raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Skipped?” “Yeah,” Sandy said, making a face.
“He said it’s important for the final semester, not now.” “So instead, we’re starting ‘Evolution Theory and Humans’.” He groaned.
“Seriously… who even wants to study that?” For a moment- Rex’s expression changed.
“Evolution…” Images flashed in his mind.
The sandbox, the creatures inside can be called his evolution experiments.
And- Aren.
A faint smile appeared.
“…maybe it won’t be that boring after all.” At school, the atmosphere was tense.
Students gathered in small groups, whispering about results.
Some looked nervous while some were confident.
Others completely indifferent to the atmosphere.
Sandy kept pacing back and forth.
“This is bad… this is really bad…” Rex leaned against the wall.
“You said that last time too.” “And I almost dropped out of top ten!” “You didn’t.” “Barely!” Rex shook his head slightly.
Just then- A teacher entered with a stack of papers.
“Results will be distributed in class.” The murmuring intensified as soon as this was said.
Inside the classroom- The tension was thick.
One by one, names were called.
Students walked up, received their papers, and returned with varying expressions.
When Sandy’s name was called- He walked nervously.
He came back, sat down and looked at the paper.
Then- “…YES!” He slammed the desk lightly.
“Top 8!
I made it!” Rex glanced at him.
“Not bad.” “Not bad?!
This is amazing!” Then- “Rex.” Rex stood up calmly and walked forward.
The teacher handed him the paper with a brief glance.
As he returned, Sandy leaned in.
“Well?” Rex placed the paper on the desk.
Sandy looked.
Then froze.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.” “First again?!” Rex said nothing.
Sandy leaned back dramatically.
“I give up.
I’m done competing.” After the results- A new teacher entered the classroom.
A tall man with sharp features and a calm expression.
“Good morning.
I am Richard Brown, your new biology teacher.” His voice was steady and clear.
“From today onward, I will be teaching you.” The class quieted down.
“Let’s begin.” He wrote on the board: “EVOLUTION THEORY AND HUMANS” Rex’s eyes focused instantly.
Richard turned toward the class.
“Tell me… what is evolution?” A few hands went up.
Answers followed as the teacher pointed at them.
“Change over time…” “Survival of the fittest…” “Adaptation…” Richard nodded.
“Correct.
But incomplete.” He paused.
“Evolution is not just survival.” “It is selection, a direction that leads an entire species” “It is the result of countless interactions, pressures, and decisions over time.” Rex’s eyes sharpened.
“…Selection and…..Direction.” His fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
Richard continued, “Without balance… evolution leads to collapse.” “For example- over-predation.” Rex’s gaze froze for a brief moment.
“…Exactly the same.” “In ecosystems, if one species dominates excessively…” “It destroys its own food chain.” “And eventually…” “…it collapses.” The classroom was silent.
But Rex- Was thinking deeply.
“…So even in reality… the rules are the same.” A faint smile appeared on his lips.
After class, Sandy stretched.
“That was boring…” Rex stood up slowly.
“Was it?” Sandy blinked.
“…Wait.
Don’t tell me you actually enjoyed that.” Rex picked up his bag.
“Let’s just say…” “…it was useful.” Sandy shook his head.
“You’re weird.” As Rex walked out of the school, his thoughts were already elsewhere.
The sandbox.
Aren.
The fragile balance.
“…Selection… direction…” His eyes darkened slightly.
“So that’s what I was missing.” He stopped for a moment.
Looking ahead.
“…If I want them to become human…” “…I can’t just let them evolve.” A faint smile appeared.
“I have to guide them.” That night- Rex lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Alice.” [YES, HOST] “Prepare sandbox observation.” [UNDERSTOOD.] Rex closed his eyes.
His voice was calm.
But carried a new intent.
“…Let’s begin the next phase.”