My goal was to reach the Outside World.
To achieve that, I had to shatter the Wall of the Principles of Magic that partitioned our worlds.
However, if that wall were to vanish, the mana from the Outside World would come flooding into the World of the Principles of Magic.
As a Transcendent, I possessed a natural resistance to outside mana, allowing me to survive in such an environment without issue. For the vast majority of humanity, however, that mana was nothing short of a lethal poison. Forcing others to sacrifice their lives just so I could reach the Outside World was out of the question.
I had to break the Wall of the Principles of Magic while ensuring that no one died in the process. That was my absolute minimum requirement.
Furthermore, any attempt to do so would undoubtedly draw interference from the Cyclamen Cult. A confrontation with them was inevitable.
Therefore, the tasks I needed to complete to achieve my goal were broadly divided into two categories.
First: find a way for people to survive even in the environment of the Outside World. Second: utterly crush the Cyclamen Cult.
Neither would be easy, but I had no choice but to do it. It was all to seize the "future where I can live with a smile" that Grandpa had wanted for me.
◇
After reuniting with Amunzaas in the Hitia Duchy, exchanging information, and handling the tasks I wanted to address immediately, I used the Downing Trading Company’s facilities to teleport back to the basement of Grandpa’s general store—just as I had in the previous timeline.
However, what greeted my eyes was not the familiar sight I remembered.
Perhaps because it had been abandoned for many years, the room showed signs of deterioration in various places.
"……Grandpa……"
the murmur that escaped my lips reached no one, dissolving cruelly into the cold silence of the room.
In this world, Grandpa had supposedly died ten years ago. In the previous timeline, he had merely faked his death at that time, eventually coming to Tsutrail to run his shop and watch over me.
In the current world, however, that lie had become the reality. It was only logical to assume that any evidence of Grandpa’s life in Tsutrail had either vanished or been replaced by something else.
I climbed the stairs, reflecting on the memories of Grandpa that had been effectively erased from existence. When I reached the first floor, I found a desolate, empty space covered in dust, much like the basement. Not a single trace remained to suggest that Grandpa's general store had ever existed.
My footsteps were the only sound echoing through the hollow rooms, leaving me with a profound sense of emptiness.
◇
After leaving the building that used to be Grandpa's shop, I headed straight for the manor of the local lord, Marquis Forgas.
I had originally intended to simply make an appointment, but things proceeded much faster than expected, and I was granted an audience with him that very day.
"Thank you for making time for me on such short notice, Marquis Forgas."
"I am in your debt, after all. I’m happy to make time for you. So, has something happened?"
Marquis Forgas welcomed me with a gentle, hospitable air. I was grateful for the reception, but the sense of incongruity was overwhelming.
The version of the man I knew best was from the time he was being manipulated by Philly to sponsor the Hero Party. Back then, the words "cold-blooded" and "atrocious" were the most accurate ways to describe him. Even though I understood that his current self—freed from Philly's curse after last year's Thanksgiving Festival—was his true personality, I couldn't quite shake the feeling of unease.
"Actually, I was hoping to exercise a certain right of mine."
"By 'certain right,' do you mean the reward for winning last year's Martial Arts Tournament?"
"Yes."
The Marquis’s gentle expression shifted into that of a focused ruler.
I had emerged victorious in the Martial Arts Tournament held during last year's Thanksgiving Festival. At the time, as a reward for my victory, Marquis Forgas had granted me the right to ask a favor of him, provided it was within his power to grant.
In the time since, Oliver had gone on a rampage, I had been sent on an assignment to the Regrif Territory, and now we were at war with the Empire. Many things had happened, leaving me with no opportunity to use that right until now.
"I see. I will grant your wish, provided it is within my power. Tell me what it is you desire."
"I have only one wish. ——I want you to brand me a criminal."
"……Come again?"
Marquis Forgas furrowed his brow, looking at me with deep suspicion. I suppose it would be stranger if he weren't bewildered by such a request.
"Naturally, you can’t simply label me a criminal without cause. Therefore, I will orchestrate an incident in the near future. I intend to raid the criminal detention center and break out Oliver, who is currently being held there. I will ensure there are no casualties, but I plan to destroy the facility quite flashily. On the day of the event, I would like the Territorial Army's patrol routes around the detention center to be, within reason——"
"——Wait! Stop right there!"
Marquis Forgas cut me off as I was explaining my plan.
"What on earth are you saying...? From what you've described, your goal is to free Oliver. If that's the case, why not simply ask for his release?"
"No. My goal, to the very end, is to be driven out of this city as a criminal."
The Marquis was finally left speechless. His expression spoke volumes, practically shouting that he couldn't understand a word I was saying.
"Forgive me for the sudden shift in topic, but Marquis Forgas, what is your opinion of Philly Carpenter?"
"Philly Carpenter...? To put it bluntly, I consider her the lowest, most wretched woman imaginable."
He answered my question despite his confusion, his eyes harboring a flicker of lingering anger.
"I agree. I intend to move against Philly Carpenter and, by extension, the Cyclamen Cult to destroy them. However, once I engage the Cult, they will ruthlessly target my weaknesses."
The Cult already viewed me as a target for elimination regardless of what I did, but there was no need to mention that here.
"And you consider this city to be your weakness?"
I nodded in response to his question.
"I have many precious things in this city. Because of that, I must make the Cult believe that I have broken ties with this place entirely."
"So, if you are exiled as a criminal, the Cult will believe that?"
"That alone might not be enough. Therefore, I plan to cause another major incident—one so significant that the entire world, not just this city, will label me an enemy. Once they witness that, the Cult will be convinced that I have abandoned Tsutrail."
Marquis Forgas stared straight into my eyes, seemingly trying to peer into my true intentions.
"……Very well. However, my condition is that there are to be no casualties."
After a long silence, the Marquis exhaled softly and accepted my request. As for the condition, that was my intention from the start, so it wasn't an issue.
"I am grateful for your cooperation. I accept your condition; I have no desire to hurt people unnecessarily."
After expressing my gratitude, the two of us spent some time finalizing the details of the raid on the criminal detention center.
Next on the list was tampering with the teleportation circle in the Explorer Guild. Grandpa was the one who handled it last time, but since he was no longer here, I would have to do it myself.