Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

I was chasing a snake that was slithering away. Smooth scales covering its long body, giving it a pearly luster. It’s a very beautiful white snake.

Despite the surrounding scenery flowing by like a revolving lantern, I couldn’t catch up with the snake easily. However, when I stopped, the snake also halted its movements, turning back to gaze at me with its two golden eyes, as if trying to convey something.

Unable to resist its gaze, I took a step forward, and it seemed to imply, “Come and chase me,” as it turned its back again and fled.

Huh? Where did the snake go? And what am I looking at now?

I had lost sight of the snake without realizing it. The flowing scenery had also stopped, revealing in my flickering vision a unfamiliar young boy.

“Because everyone has been working hard, no one goes hungry in this land. But we’re still struggling, and it’s not truly prosperous. Even the necessities of life are so expensive that they’re out of reach.”

The black-haired boy was speaking to someone.

“There is a limit to achieving true prosperity through self-sufficiency. However, the reality is that there are very few peddlers who make the effort to travel to these remote areas.”

Like a fast-forwarded film, the boy continued to grow while expressing unchanging feelings.

“Hey, listen. People and goods are starting to gather in Eastbridge. I’m thinking of turning that place into a big city when I become the head of the family. At that time, I want you to come with me. I want you to watch what I do from my side, what do you think?”

The black-haired youth, who still retained traces of the boy, embarked on city development in a new location with the goal of turning it into a bustling trade city.

“That suspension bridge won’t do. It needs to be a wider, sturdier bridge that allows people and carriages to pass safely.”

As a fully grown man, he initiated a major public project of building a large bridge across the large valley.

“Thanks to you, I was able to build a splendid bridge that can withstand even storms. No matter how much I thank you, it won’t be enough. Thank you so much.”

The young man, satisfied, smiled as he looked at the completed bridge. The flow of people became active, bringing a new wind to Eastbridge. When the people in the city unanimously felt that way, an unusual event occurred.

――Emergency Code

“What happened?”

――Many people, many horses, they’re coming.

“Many? Where are they coming from?”

――From the other side of the bridge.

Their success was short-lived, as an armed group of people and horses surged from the opposite bank of the valley.

“They are invaders from the outside. Attacking us at night, their goal seems to be nothing but our destruction. If we allow them to intrude, our city will be forcibly taken, violated, and engulfed in flames. Those who can fight, take up arms and stand!”

The young man stood at the forefront, tirelessly fighting against the external enemies day and night. So did his spirits.

“It’s no use, there’s no end to it. We’re stuck here on the defensive, and the enemy can keep resupplying by crossing the bridge. At this rate, we’ll be overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.”

――Freeze the bridge.

“I want to, but the enemy has occupied the area before the bridge and is already forming a defensive line. So, we can’t approach recklessly.”

――Freeze everything outside the city.

Without hesitation, everyone, humans and horses, every living thing, stopped moving and froze. The spirits exerted their utmost effort, using vast power to trap the invaders in eternal slumber.

With the unexpected turn of events and victory, the people surged with enthusiasm, beginning the vigorous reconstruction. However, on the other hand…

“I’m the biggest fool in the world. I let you use your power until it came to this. In the end, I burdened you with everything. It’s my fault. My foolishness brought about this situation. I shouldn’t have had such an inappropriate dream of building a city and a country in the first place.”

――Don’t go.

“Valenfield is the paradise of spirits. You said that, right? You would have been happy there. Yet, because of my selfishness, I forcibly took you out of your paradise, and it came to this. I don’t have anything more important than you. I wish I hadn’t done anything.”

――Be happy together.

“Please, don’t disappear… I love you. Don’t leave me alone!!”

――Just sleeping here.

――So, don’t go.

“Just sleeping? Really?”

――Long sleep is needed.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll spend my whole life… No, that’s not enough. Even after death, I won’t leave your side. I’ll talk to you every day until you’re annoyed, make your favorite white flowers bloom all around, and pledge my love to you morning and night. Because you get lonely easily. If I’m always with you, you won’t be lonely, right?”

The image stopped there. As if a switch had been flipped, the surrounding scenery began to move rapidly in the opposite direction from before.

Where is that snake?

Should I just leave now?

Even when I looked around, I could only see changing scenes passing through my field of vision, and I couldn’t see the white snake anywhere.

――Lord Lyon, Lord Lyon.

After a while, a familiar voice was heard. And suddenly, I woke up.

When I slowly opened my eyes, I was inside the moving carriage. The four passengers looked at me with worried faces.

“Oh, thank goodness. We were worried because you didn’t wake up at all, and we didn’t know what to do.”

“I’m fine. I don’t feel sick. I just had a dream… yes, a long dream.”

What was that all about?

It felt like watching a movie projected with an old projector. What on earth did I see? No, what was I made to see?

The desperate feelings of that man reached me, and I felt like I was being engulfed by his emotions.

Right now, I just feel oddly melancholic. My heart was drawn to such an aftertaste.