Between two worlds, the goal

Bill's Pov

I sat staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes, lost in thought, contemplating my situation deeply... 

"The king has returned..."

"The time for war has come..."

These two sentences never left my mind. Who, by the creator of hell itself, is this king...? And what war was that thing talking about...? 

Slowly, I turned onto my right side, my gaze meeting the old glass window... The time was already late, and the sun was about to set on the horizon, painting the sky in a soft, warm orange hue... 

The scent of the night teased my nose, while a gentle breeze slipped through the window, embracing my body. It wasn't too cold, yet it sent a small shiver down my spine... 

Despite everything, the sight before me was beautiful. And yet, I was beneath it, lost in my thoughts, caught in this damned moment... 

*"Death would be the best choice I could make..."* I muttered to myself in a low voice. 

With the creaking sound of old wooden boards, I stood near the window. I was high above the ground, but even if I jumped, I wouldn't die—at worst, I'd break my legs... 

I turned away with a frown and sat on the floor, pressing my back against the wall. 

*"Let's go over what I know first..."* 

My past life was filled with suffering—hallucinations, strange visions that nearly drove me insane, and countless nightmares and bizarre dreams that made me despise sleep itself... 

Then there were those damn strange threads, entwined around everyone I knew, forcing me to question the existence of supernatural forces... 

And finally, there was that eerie, surreal sight within a dark void—before I woke up in this world... 

Everything seemed both random and connected at the same time... 

I scratched my head hard, trying to think... 

I decided to assume that nothing was connected, that I was simply hallucinating... 

So, someone must have brought me to this world. Someone strong enough to seize my soul after it had left my body and place it here again... 

Hmmm... 

And then, there was that king. The one *it* spoke of. 

Who is he...? 

All I know for certain is that he isn't me. That much is beyond doubt. 

How do I know...? Because who in the damned world would ever choose *me* out of everyone else...? 

**"Your Highness, may I enter?"** 

My thoughts were interrupted by the voice of that maid from before—Leona. 

**"Yes, you may enter."** 

As soon as I granted permission, she opened the door, carrying a tray of food in her hands. 

**"Here, Your Highness. This is the best I could manage to get..."** 

She spoke with a hint of embarrassment as she placed the tray before me. On it lay a piece of bread—old, from the looks of it—and a small bowl of soup that wouldn't even be enough to satisfy a child's hunger... 

Upon closer inspection, she was in a much worse state than I was. Her facial bones were nearly visible beneath her pale skin, her lips cracked and dry... 

And when I glanced at myself in this body, I found it just as pitiful... 

Unkempt, long black hair. Deep black eyes—not sharp or piercing, but fearful, filled with nothing but dread... My clothes were old, patched in too many places to count, evidence of both poverty and utter neglect... 

**"Grrr..."** 

I placed a hand on my stomach as it clenched with hunger. My excessive thinking had made me forget about it... but now, back in reality, I was starving. 

I took the piece of bread and dipped it into the soup, taking a bite. It tasted awful. The bread was hard and stale, barely chewable... 

Leona's expression was a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She was the personal maid and caretaker of the original owner of this body, meaning she likely saw him as a son—or perhaps a younger brother. 

And watching him in this miserable state, so weak and left to eat the servants' leftovers, must have reminded her—over and over—of her own helplessness, her inability to change anything... 

**"Leona, I want to ask you something... and I want an honest answer."** 

She lifted her gaze toward me, placing a hand over her chest. 

**"Ask, Your Highness. I would never lie to you."** 

I stared into her eyes with an intense look, making her hesitate slightly. 

**"Tell me... why do people keep fighting? Why do they continue standing, no matter how much they suffer? And on the other hand, what is it that humans truly seek through all their actions—good or evil?"** 

Leona tilted her head slightly, thinking deeply, even going so far as to scratch her head in frustration, struggling to find an answer. 

**"Forgive me, Your Highness... but I don't quite understand the meaning behind your question..."** 

I sighed internally at her response. 

**"Allow me to rephrase... What is the ultimate goal that humans strive to achieve? Some train until they die for a single battle. Others study until their bodies collapse from exhaustion. Many work until their shoulders give out from fatigue. Why do you think that is?"** 

She lowered her gaze to the floor for a moment before answering. 

**"Isn't it to achieve their goals, Your Highness? Everyone works, trains, or studies to reach something they desire..."** 

**"And what do they gain from that goal? What do they truly obtain after achieving it?"** 

I asked in a deep voice, leaning my back against the wall. 

**"Your Highness, I am merely a humble maid... I do not know what you are trying to say. If you do not explain, I fear I won't understand you..."** 

She spoke with sincerity, her eyes deep and uncertain, her hand pressed against her chest. 

**"It is happiness, Leona."** 

Her mouth fell open in astonishment, her eyes widening slightly, a faint light flickering within them as she processed my answer. 

**"Everyone seeks happiness, Leona. The warrior trains because his battle will bring him joy. The worker toils because the completion of his task will grant him fulfillment. That fleeting moment of joy... That is what drives all humans forward."** 

I spoke as my gaze shifted to a small, broken-down dresser—completely empty, home only to cobwebs and dust. 

Leona took a small step back, shock and realization painted across her face. 

**"Your Highness... are you saying that every action, no matter what it is, is driven by that desire?"** she asked, curiosity overflowing from her eyes. 

**"Yes... Nothing moves without that ambition, that hunger for happiness. Even actions that seem cruel and bring suffering to others—those who commit them do so for their own pleasure. And in the same way, the opposite is true as well. But what most fail to realize... is that happiness fades far too quickly."** 

**"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"** 

I took a deep breath, my eyes drifting toward a vase filled with melted wax... 

In my past life, I had read many books. I had pondered this question for longer than anyone could bear without losing interest... 

"Happiness is like a tiny candle… it only lights up a single moment, then vanishes forever, forcing a person to search for another candle, another fleeting moment of joy…"

I explained calmly, my eyes glowing with depth, while on the other side, confusion dominated Leona. Her expression made it clear—she didn't fully understand...

She started scratching her head, thinking deeply.

**"But, Your Highness, don't those short moments hold weight in our lives?"** she asked, forming a small smile. **"Aren't moments of achievement and happiness something that stay with a person until death? I believe they're more important than you think, Your Highness…"**

I scoffed inwardly at her deep words...

Maybe she was right, but...

**"Leona, how was life for you before my birth? You must have been happy serving the Queen. Your days must have been somewhat pleasant. What do those memories mean to you now, when they've been washed away by the river of time, replaced by nothing but suffering and endless hardship…?"**

Unlike before, she smiled gently and intertwined her fingers, answering softly:

"Those moments were, and still are, beautiful, Your Highness. I am just a humble servant, but I am more than happy with those memories… and with the moments I have spent serving you, whether in hardship or in joy."

Her words made my eyes widen in surprise...

At the same time, I laughed bitterly in the depths of my heart...

"Tell me… do you still hold on to the hope that better days will come?"

Humans are strange creatures… They fear death, yet even in the deepest pits of despair, they cling to hope—a faint light that might, one day, turn into a star and illuminate their wretched lives…

"Hope? What are you talking about, Your Highness…?" she asked, with an oddly innocent tone.

I furrowed my brows in frustration. This woman is a fool… truly a fool…

"Never mind. It was a foolish question. It's late… get some rest."

She stood up obediently and bowed to me with respect.

"As you command, Your Highness. Good night. May the gods bless you."

With those words, Leona picked up the tray and left the room...

That maid… despite her slight foolishness, her words held some meaning…

I sighed and leaned my head out of the window, gazing at the outside world…

The full moon shone brightly, stars dancing across the sky, spreading their gentle glow over the land…

"And now… what should I do…?"

I asked myself, still lost in my own thoughts, feeling hesitation growing within me with each passing moment...

I clenched my fist tightly…

If I don't make a decision now, I may become a slave to this hesitation—a hesitation threatening to consume me…

**"Happiness…!"**

In this damned world, can I truly obtain happiness…?

If I abandon surrender and choose to fight for happiness, will I ever reach it…?

I thought… Maybe… just maybe… I could reach that level…?!

My eyes shimmered with a faint light of determination beneath the silver moonlight. Slowly, I turned toward the desk…

A quill and a few sheets of paper were already there…

I began writing down everything I knew about this world: future events, locations of dangerous attacks, and certain key individuals still in their early stages—people I could use to my advantage…

I wrote with unwavering resolve, having already silenced my conscience…

"At any cost… I will reach that level."