"I feel like this night lasted longer than the previous one."
Hinako's face brightened under the sky's glow, with the shadows of tree branches dancing across her features.
"This way, I can get a clearer view of the path."
Kogan climbed one of the tall trees, making his way up to the very top.
'A mountain?'
The moment he reached the peak, he was met with the sight of a towering mountain, densely covered in lush green trees. At its summit, steam was rising into the air.
Its borders stretched endlessly to the far east and west, with no visible end in sight.
"That tree is taller than this mountain… so why can't I see it?"Kogan looked in the direction where the great tree should have been, but all he saw was an endless expanse of green trees.
He climbed down from the tree and said to Hinako, "There's a huge mountain ahead of us. We're heading there."
"To get there quickly, we need to count our steps to 777." Hinako hadn't forgotten her magical method of survival in this place.
"Let's give it a try, then."
They began counting their steps.
"776… 777 steps! Did it work?" Hinako looked around.
"The mountain is right ahead. We'll keep moving," Kogan said as he climbed down from the tree. They were now standing directly at the base of the mountain.
"Welcome back again."
A gentle, young voice reached their ears.
Kogan and Hinako quickly turned toward the sound behind them.
A young man with fair skin, yellow hair, and loose black fabric clothing sat on a tree branch, his legs dangling freely. A gentle smile was painted on his face.
"The handsome guy," Hinako said, her eyes sparkling.
'This person…' Kogan narrowed his eyes in silence.
"Are you trying to reach the peak?" the handsome young man asked kindly.
"Yes! I counted 777 steps, just as you told me before."
"You're really smart." The young man smiled, then turned his gaze to Kogan.
"Where is your previous companion?"
"He was eaten by a giant ape."
Hinako shuddered as the memory resurfaced.
"That's truly unfortunate." The young man's smile faded slightly. "And so, you found yourself a new companion."
Kogan reached out, plucked a red fruit, and began eating in silence.
'Is he...?' The handsome young man was startled internally, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Well then, just keep walking straight ahead, and you'll reach your destination. No need to count your steps anymore." He smiled before standing up on the branch.
"What's your name?" Kogan asked, his face devoid of expression.
"For now, you can call me… Sagi," he said gently before leaping from one tree to another until his presence vanished completely.
"He left again… but since we met him, we're definitely on the right path!" Hinako said cheerfully.
"Let's keep going, then."
After long hours of climbing, they finally reached the summit.
Looking back, they saw an endless expanse of lush green trees stretching as far as the eye could see. The sky above was a clear, pale blue.
On the other side of the vast mountain, what they saw was something breathtaking.
"Wow." Hinako's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"I wouldn't expect anything less in this place." Kogan's expression remained calm, despite the fact that he had never seen anything like it before.
"Is it as deep as this mountain is tall?" Hinako asked in awe.
"Thinking about it again, this isn't a mountain… it's more like a wall."
Kogan looked at its vast stretch to the east and west—there was no end in sight.
70 steps from the mountain's summit, a river stretched endlessly from the far east to the far west. The atmosphere here was different from the previous areas.
The sky was overcast with a light mist hanging in the air. The water was a deep shade of blue, moving slowly and calmly. Scattered along the riverbank were rocks of varying sizes, from tiny pebbles to boulders as large as a calf.
The opposite bank of the mountain was far away, but at least it was visible.
The height of the mountain-wall exceeded nine kilometers—was the river just as deep? No one knew yet.
"We'll rest here for a while."
Kogan stepped forward to inspect the water.
"For a while? Where do you plan to go after this?" Hinako followed him, curiosity in her voice.
Kogan kept walking in silence, ignoring her question.
"I see, I get it now… the end of one path is just the beginning of another."
Hinako sighed. She had one free complaint—one more, and she might have to pay for it.
After 50 steps on a leveled path lined with evenly spaced trees, and another 20 steps of open ground—just soft, green grassy soil—the terrain gradually sloped downward until it met the water. The further one walked, the deeper the water became.
Kogan stood on a medium-sized rock and looked around. Night was approaching, and with the presence of clouds and mist, the atmosphere had turned into a deep blue, with wisps of fog drifting through the air.
"I'll wash up first to check the area. Wait for me in the back."
He looked at Hinako with black eyes that shimmered with a faint golden hue.
'He's concerned about my safety!' Hinako's heartbeat quickened, but she responded gently, "Alright."
She stepped back until she disappeared among the trees.
Kogan removed the green skirt and took his first step into the river. The clear water wrapped around his ankles as he continued forward until it reached his chest.
Taking a deep breath, he submerged himself. Though he had never swum in his life, moving through the water here felt effortless. He opened his eyes to observe his surroundings, but all he saw was pure, deep blue water stretching downward into the darkness.
Before long, his breath ran out, and he resurfaced. There was no need to dive any deeper to explore the depths.
He sat on a rock, the water reaching just below his back. As he gazed at the distant opposite bank, he sank into deep thought.
"Are you still thinking about that place?"
A gentle voice cut through Kogan's train of thought.
He slowly turned his head toward the voice, having already guessed who it was.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a young man dressed in loose black robes, leaning against a large rock with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Unfortunately, yes. I haven't been able to forget it." Kogan spoke in a helpless tone.
"There's no need for sorrow. There is no place you cannot return to." The handsome Sagi spoke in a reassuring tone.
"What do you mean?" Kogan turned his body toward the handsome young man, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I mean that if you want to go anywhere, all you need is the method. As long as you have the way, you can reach any place you desire." The young man spread his arms wide, a broad smile on his face.
"Do you have the way? You really seem like a kind and clever person." Kogan asked in an eager tone.
"Well... lucky for you, it just so happens that I have the way this time. And it's an easy one." The handsome young man scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
"Please, tell me!" Kogan stood up quickly, speaking in an urgent tone.
The young man's smile faded as he looked toward the other bank of the river. Then, he said, "To cross to the other side safely, you must rid yourself of useless burdens. Excess weight will only drag you down."
"What do you mean? Are you saying that Hinako...?" Kogan's brows furrowed.
"I'm just saying, if you think about it yourself, you might figure it out." The handsome young man shrugged.
"Are you saying that if I leave her—no… I have to kill her!" Kogan's eyes widened, his heartbeat quickening.
The young man narrowed his eyes slightly but remained silent.
"Aren't you deceiving me?" Kogan's voice trembled.
"Why would I deceive you?"
"Can I really trust you?"
"Of course."
"If I turn my back to you, you won't stab me, right?" Kogan asked, tension evident in his voice.
"Of course, I won't stab you in the back." The young man nodded.
"Then come and rub it for me. I can't reach it." All expression vanished from Kogan's face as he sat back down on the rock, turning his back to the young man.
"D-Do you… want me to help you bathe?" Hinako's voice trembled