My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

My goal is to return to Earth.

This young but supposedly genius mage, Lud, had claimed that magic is capable of carrying out that task, at least in theory.

So far, I have identified three things holding me back.

First of all, is the magic itself―Since learning magic myself would take too long, I need someone capable of casting either top-class spatial or dimensional magic, which are both apparently exceedingly rare.

Secondly, I need an immeasurable amount of pure magic energy. Lud wasn't able to give me a quantifiable number, but by his rough estimate, the amount of magic energy required to travel worlds would likely be about a fifth of this world's total magic energy.

Lastly, I need the coordinates of Earth for the magic to be cast successfully. If teleportation magic is ever cast without the right coordinates, Lud said, then whatever is being transported will be destroyed with a 99.999% failure rate.

Overall, it sounds very implausible, but I think it can be done.

No, it must be done.

However, in order to do so, I will probably require the assistance of one of the Twelve Transcendents just like I was first told.

The only issue is that I need to select a particular transcendent to enlist, as not all of them would be able to help me.

We start with 12.

For starters, let alone spatial or dimensional magic, I have been informed by one of the other party members, the archer Gil, that not all transcendents are even capable of casting magic in the first place.

That alone narrows down the search by about a fourth or third.

We now have 8 or 9.

Then, although they all naturally possess vast quantities of magic energy, the number of transcendents who would be able to successfully gather and control a fifth of the world's total magic energy on top of that could be counted on one hand.

That leaves 4.

Finally, since I no longer have Truth to give me the answer for free, I need a transcendent capable of doing all of that in addition to figuring out the coordinates of Earth.

That drops the total down to a potential 2 or 3.

Oh, and, they had to be someone who would actually be willing to help me, of course.

Well, I could always just force them to if it doesn't work out, but it's easier to try for a friendly target first.

"..."

Someone in this world who met all four of those conditions.

Did they even exist?

Out of the Twelve Transcendents, the twelve most powerful beings in this world.

From the knowledge I currently possess, I could roughly identify how many met the conditions.

With that said, there wasn't a whole lot to consider

Because there was only one.

Peering into the distance, I could glimpse something on the periphery of the horizon.

Something tall, incomprehensibly so, that seemed to pierce through even the heavens.

The incarnation of Mother Nature herself.

That's right.

"..."

My destination was the World Tree.

❖─────❖─────❖

Feeling the rickety wooden carriage shaking ceaselessly beneath me, I had already used the Measurement of Reality to erase the feeling of discomfort harassing my back and rear.

Gradually, I was growing more accustomed to using it, but I could feel that my proficiency was nowhere close to having mastered it yet.

In the meantime, because the full name was so long, I decided to name it just like I did Truth in the old days.

That is how 'Reality' was born.

"Alright. You said we're almost there?"

"Yes, we should be coming up soon-- Oh, speaking of which, you see over there? The walls are coming into view just now."

Raising my head, I laid my eyes on the sight in front of me.

...Huh. He was right.

It's quite large.

"That's the city of River, ruled by Count Percus."

I half-heartedly listened to the words of the carriage driver sitting just in front of me. Glancing behind me at the party members of the B-rank adventurer party, 'Steel Balance', whom I had saved just a few days prior, they seemed to be now waking up from their collective nap.

"Hng...? Oh, Cee~? You're up already...? No, looking at you... Did you even go to sleep?" The 'tanker' of the party, Elle, sleepily rubbed her eyes and asked me.

"..."

To be honest, I had no idea how they were able to sleep so serenely within the confines of this rattling beast, but perhaps they were simply used to it.

Looking at her briefly with a sidelong glance, I answered curtly. "I got enough."

The truth is, I haven't slept at all ever since we set off from the abandoned city three days ago. Still, I felt fine.

Thanks to Reality, I discovered that ordinary mortal banes such as nutrition and sleep are now unnecessary for me. With simply my will, I can ensure that there is no need for me to eat, drink or sleep, and I have already confirmed that there is no downside to it.

Because, even if there was a downside, I could simply make it disappear.

It isn't a very complicated process.

It's like rewriting my hunger status from 'hungry' to 'full'. One moment I am hungry, the next I am not.

I don't experience downsides or side-effects for the same reason―by rewriting my nutritional status from 'unhealthy' to 'healthy', in combination with the first, my body magically feels as if I have eaten a full and balanced meal.

Like that, I feel I am slowly beginning to realise the essence of Reality.

The carriage, provided by the remaining residents of the abandoned city, soon arrived in front of River's Eastern Gate; the massive stone walls, even taller than those of the abandoned city, towered on each side.

Contrary to what I would expect from a city of this size, there was no line of traffic we had to patiently wait behind.

That wasn't due to a lack of residents, however.

"Halt! Present your identification."

A group of men wearing suits of armour approached, weapons sheathed at their waists and on their backs. Evidently, they were guards.

Rhode, Steel Balance's party leader, moved to the front of the carriage alongside the driver and spoke to the guards. Their expressions brightened upon seeing his face.

"Oh, Rhode, is it? I didn't expect you guys to return with a carriage! Perhaps, did something happen to the source of the Nightmares?"

Someone who appeared to be the captain of the guards spoke with a hopeful look, but Rhode waved his hand.

"No, no. The Corrupted Plains is only growing more dangerous with every expedition, and in fact, we were this close to losing a head this time. I don't think we'll be enough to make the delivery by ourselves, so I'll report it to the Guild."

At that dark realisation, the knight's expression turned grim. "I see. And this is...?"

He turned his gaze in my direction, and following it, Rhode gleamed a prideful grin.

"Ah, this is Cee, the lad who saved our hides. It's thanks to him that Lud is alive, and not only that, but we were even able to take a good ol' kip on our way back with no fear of a Nightmare attack."

"Really now?"

The knight captain looked at me with a gaze of wonder.

"Saving 'the' B-rank adventurer party, Steel Balance, and single-handedly escorting them home without so much as a slight disruption... You look young to accomplish such a feat."

Then, he asked.

"Sorry, but do you have I.D.? I can't let you through without it, even if what Rhode here said is true."

"..."

At that, I wordlessly reached into my pocket and took out a small card. "Does this work?"

"Hmm... F-rank, huh." Handing over the adventurer card I had just received before leaving the abandoned city a few days ago, he muttered before asking. "Did you recently apply, or are you hiding your true rank?"

"I just applied. I come from a faraway place, so I didn't possess the I.D. used in this land until recently."

Nodding at my reply, the man handed me my card back and took a few steps away from the carriage. "Well, if Rhode's fantasy-like story is to be believed, then I expect to hear stories of your name in the future, Cee."

He lightly smiled.

"Welcome to River."

Thus, we passed the checkpoint without any issues.

Everyone exited the carriage at the city stables and gathered for a final goodbye before we departed.

"Hm. Cee, I know it's been a short time, but I'm really glad you were with us. It made travelling a whole lot easier, you know?"

"That's right! And, I've yet to pay you back for saving my life―if there's ever something you may need, don't hesitate to give me a call!"

"We could always do with more reliable guys like you."

Elle, Lud, and Gil each said their pieces with vigour, and finally, I turned to the party leader, Rhode.

"Cee. You saved the life of one of my party members, and since I'm not sure we could've made it back with just three, potentially even all of us."

"I can't thank you enough; for that, Steel Balance is in your debt."

"If ever you're in need of a party to go adventuring with, we'll be there."

"You might be thinking it's a drag because you're strong, but always remember―"

He formed a fist with his hand and gently bumped my chest.

"―What's most important is to make sure that this never loses."

"..."

"Maybe you don't understand right now, and you will probably forget about it in a few days or weeks, but engrave it into your heart and you'll always be reminded when the time comes."

He lowered his hand and started walking away with the rest of the party.

"We'll be taking a short rest before getting back into things, so maybe we'll see you around. Stay strong, lad."

"See ya~!"

"Goodbye! Send a message through the Guild if you need something!"

"'Till next time."

Watching their backs as they all headed off in separate directions, I turned my head down.

I looked at my chest; the spot where Rhode had pressed.

"..."

To be honest, I had no idea what he was talking about when he said that stuff at the end.

'What's most important is to make sure that this never loses.'

It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but it doesn't matter anyway.

Because...

Moving away from the stables, I walked down the street and looked around me as I went.

This giant, mediaeval city, teeming with people.

In a sense, it could be considered real, but in reality, none of it was.

In these past few days, I have come to realise a few things about the world―about reality.

It's quite simple, really.

It's that things exist―just not in the realm of reality.

It could thus be called the realm of the imaginary―a false, or imitation reality.

This Otherworld resides in a place of lower status than my Earth due to its creators being from that world, but they share the same false reality.

My power, Reality, the evolution of Truth.

Compared to Truth, who could answer any question about 'reality' I asked, be it the fake or real version.

In essence, I could exert my own influence over the fake reality in which I live.

It was close to being granted editorial rights.

With this power, I will return to Earth and carry out my revenge on those who have wronged me, those who can't seem to leave me alone no matter what.

I will rid of them once and for all.

And once that is done, I will escape this cursed false reality.

I don't need lower existences such as yourselves to interfere with that.