Dinner passed without much incident.
The Rashanz cuisine was rich and comforting—steamed crystal-grain infused with aromatic spices, slow-roasted cuts of tender meat glazed in a deep blue sauce that carried a gentle heat, and warm bowls of broth that seemed to settle into the body rather than the stomach.
Everything was carefully prepared, meant to soothe rather than overwhelm.
Gara, however, barely noticed the food.
It took him a moment—several, really—just to steady his hands enough to lift his utensils. His shoulders were tense, his movements stiff, as if he were afraid that one wrong motion might shatter the entire moment.
Beside him, Runa sat happily, sneaking glances at him before chuckling softly every time he hesitated.
Across the table, the Emperor noticed. He said nothing, only smiling faintly, amused.
[White Space] cleared his throat lightly. "Apologies on his behalf," he said calmly. "He's still just a scared kid."
Gara flushed, forcing himself to finally take a bite.
Leif, by contrast, ate in silence, unfazed, as though the setting didn't matter to him in the slightest.
The Empress sat beside the Emperor, composed and dignified. She appeared middle-aged, with dark black skin, crimson eyes, and two white horns.
Unlike the Emperor and his grandson, she had only two arms, folded neatly as she ate.
Locarius was present as well.
He didn't speak to Gara or Leif, but his gaze drifted toward the red-haired young man every so often—brief, assessing glances that never lingered long enough to be openly confrontational.
For the most part, dinner was quiet.
The Imperial Family dined alongside their guests—Gara, Leif, Runa, and [White Space]—in a calm, almost solemn silence.
...
"Thank you for the meal," [White Space] said, nodding his head slightly.
"Thank you!" Gara added quickly.
"Thank you," Leif said.
Runa nodded enthusiastically. "It was really good!"
"You're welcome," the Emperor replied.
He paused briefly, then asked, "Will you be staying the night?"
"If we're allowed," [White Space] answered, "then yes."
The Emperor nodded. "You're welcome to stay in my palace for as long as you need."
"Thank you," [White Space] said again. "We'll be leaving the Fragment tomorrow."
The Emperor inclined his head in acknowledgment, then turned to one of the nearby red-skinned maids. "Prepare a room for Mister [White Space]."
He then shifted his gaze to Gara and Leif. "As for you two—would you prefer to stay in the room you woke up in earlier, or would you like new rooms prepared?"
Gara froze, the tension stealing his voice.
"We don't mind the room we woke up in," Leif replied calmly. "Thank you."
The Emperor nodded once. "Very well."
And with that, the four of them left the dining room.
Outside, the maid waited quietly.
[White Space] turned to Gara and Leif. "Would you escort Runa back to her room?"
"Sure, leave it to us." Gara seemed to finally return to life.
[White Space] chuckled softly. "I'm sure I don't need to remind you—but I will anyway. Don't cause trouble."
"We won't," Gara said quickly. "Thank you."
Leif nodded. "Thank you."
The old man reached out and patted Runa's head.
"I'll miss you," she said.
He laughed warmly. "I'm not going far."
With that, he turned and left with the maid.
Gara let out a long sigh.
The tension from dinner finally began to fade now that he was surrounded by people closer to his own level.
Even so, he had to admit—he'd grown unexpectedly comfortable around the old man, especially after everything they'd talked about, and after seeing just how kind an SS Ranker could be.
Leif didn't comment on Gara's state.
He understood… or rather, he understood why Gara felt that way.
Leif had grown up surrounded by powerful Rankers, so being in the presence of strength had never felt unusual to him.
For someone who hadn't, especially someone who'd seen too many Blue Trade Records where a single wrong glance could cost a Player their life, the tension made sense.
Instead, Leif pointed toward the other end of the hallway. "We should escort her back."
Runa nodded eagerly and started hopping ahead, glancing back with a grin. "Come on, big bro Gara! You're slow!"
Gara laughed. "Hey—don't rush me!"
She giggled, and he teased her right back as they followed.
But only a few steps away from the dining room, a voice called out.
"Gara."
They turned.
The Rashanz Crown Prince, Locarius, was approaching them, waving lightly. A warm smile rested on his face as he made his way over.
Gara's expression turned a little awkward in response, while Leif greeted him back with a calm, neutral nod.
Runa slipped behind Gara, peeking out cautiously. She hadn't spoken to the prince before—and she didn't know him.
Locarius caught up to them. "How was dinner?" he asked.
"It was good," Leif replied.
Runa leaned out from behind Gara, her eyes shining. "I loved it! It was the best ever!" she said brightly.
Gara avoided Locarius' gaze. "It was… good," he said.
The prince cleared his throat. "If possible… could I speak with you privately?" he asked, looking at Gara.
Leif considered it for a moment. "I don't mind."
"That's okay," Runa added. "Alright."
Gara nodded. "Sure."
Before leaving, Runa tugged lightly at Gara's sleeve. "You have to come say goodnight to me before I sleep," she warned. "Or I'll be upset."
Gara chuckled, ruffling her hair. "I will."
She smiled brightly and left with Leif—without teasing him the way she did Gara.
Soon, only the red-haired young man and the Rashanz prince remained in the hallway.
Gara didn't say anything at first, unsure of how he felt right now.
Locarius shifted slightly, clearing his throat. He didn't look at Gara when he spoke.
"…Are you okay?"
Gara nodded. "Yeah. I'm doing well."
"That's good…"
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Locarius spoke again, his voice quieter. "You don't have to worry about hiding the fact that your Story was cracked. I understand." He hesitated. "I'm just… worried. Do you need help? I could try asking my Grandpa—"
"No need," Gara cut in.
Locarius blinked, turning to him. "Huh?"
"I already found a way to fix it."
There was a brief pause.
"…You did?" Locarius gasped.
A wide smile immediately spread across his face. He stepped closer and patted Gara's shoulder, unable to hide his excitement. "That's amazing. I'm really happy for you."
He laughed lightly. "There was no way the Story of [Root of All Things] was going to end because of some stupid Cover guy."
He was so excited by the news that he patted Gara's shoulder again, then hesitated for just a moment before pulling him into a hug.
That, more than anything, caught Gara off guard.
He stiffened slightly, eyes widening in surprise.
He could barely believe it—he had known Locarius for less than two hours. They had talked a little, sparred once, and that was it. And yet, the Rashanz prince was reacting as if he had just heard incredible news from a long-lost brother.
Gara didn't know how to feel about that.
He didn't exactly like other species.
Trust didn't come easily either.
He knew it wasn't right to lump everyone together, but experience had carved deep scars into him. Because of that, there were only a few exceptions—humans like him, and creatures with draconic features.
Anyone else, he kept at a distance.
And yet…
Warmth spread through his chest.
Before he could overthink it, he returned the hug, gripping Locarius briefly. They separated a moment later, and Gara couldn't stop the wide grin that stretched across his face.
He let out a short chuckle. "Of course it's not the end for me."
He lifted his head, confidence burning in his eyes.
"I'll make sure [Root of All Things] becomes the strongest Story in the entire Story World."
He glanced at Locarius, grin still there. "That much, you can be sure of."
The Crown Prince laughed openly and raised his hand.
Gara blinked for half a second before catching on, then grinned and slapped his palm against it—a sharp, satisfying clap echoing through the hallway.
Locarius pulled his hand back, still smiling. "I'll be waiting for you to get there," he said. "Just don't forget about me when you do."
Gara laughed, scratching the back of his head. "As if I could. I'll help you out whenever you need it."
He then hesitated for a moment, before he added, a little more serious, "Once you enter the Story World proper, contact me through the Blue Trade Records. We can stay in touch that way. Maybe even meet up somewhere."
His grin returned as he continued, "Who knows? I'm a Story Guide. I could even guide you through your first few Fragments."
Locarius' eyes lit up. "Oh? And would this Story Guide be working for cheap, since we know each other and all?"
Gara laughed. "Of course, of course. Friends' discount and all!"
The Prince laughed with him, the sound light and genuine as it filled the hallway.
...
Time passed as Locarius and Gara walked through the palace hallways, their footsteps echoing softly as they talked about all kinds of things—dreams of the future, expectations, and what life was like growing up in the Rashanz Empire as its Crown Prince.
Before long, Gara slipped back into what Locarius would later recognize as his teacher mode. He spoke about the Story World, about Players, Fragments, mistakes to avoid, and the kind of resolve one needed to survive.
Locarius, in turn, fully entered student mode, asking question after question, his curiosity seemingly endless.
Eventually, they stepped out onto an open balcony.
Cool night air brushed against them as the view unfolded below.
Far, far beneath the palace lay a gigantic city, illuminated by countless lights cutting through the darkness. From this height, it almost looked unreal.
The palace stood atop a massive hill, overlooking the capital of the Rashanz Empire—the largest and most powerful city within the [Rashanz] Fragment.
They stood there in silence for a moment, simply taking it in.
Then Locarius spoke, his voice quieter than before. "When I found out earlier… about your Story being cracked," he said, eyes fixed on the city below, "it felt like something broke inside me."
Gara glanced at him, surprised, but didn't interrupt. He just listened.
Locarius continued, fingers curling lightly against the balcony railing. "I thought… if someone like you—someone with so much confidence, someone who talks about his dreams like they're already within reach—if your Story could break…"
He swallowed.
"Then what does that say about me? A prince who isn't even a Player yet."
He continued, his voice tightening just a little. "Could I ever… get revenge for my parents?"
Locarius let out a slow sigh and shook his head. "For a moment, I really doubted myself," he admitted.
"But then I saw you. Even with your Story cracked, you were still smiling. Still joking. You talked to me like nothing was wrong… even sparred with me without a single complaint."
He chuckled softly. "That really inspired me. It made me think that giving up just because things go wrong is… pointless."
He turned his head then, finally looking at the red-haired young man beside him. "But now that I know it's only a matter of time before you fix your Story," Locarius added, a relieved smile forming, "I feel much more at ease. Honestly… I'm really glad."
Gara smiled in response. "Thanks," he said simply.
Then his gaze drifted back to the city below, lights shimmering like distant stars. His tone shifted—still calm, but heavier. "When I was younger," he began, "back when I was still in my Fragment… something bad happened."
He paused for a brief moment.
"My entire family was killed overnight."
Locarius stiffened, but didn't interrupt.
"I would've died too," Gara continued, voice steady, "sooner rather than later. If not for one man showing up that night."
He smiled faintly.
"The [First One Out]."
Locarius listened intently.
"He saved my life," Gara went on. "He told me about the Story World. Gave me my trump card—the Geru."
He let out a quiet breath.
"And he gave me my goal. To become the strongest."
Gara clenched his hand slightly, then relaxed it. "Since then, that's all I've wanted. And a cracked Story?"
He turned back toward Locarius, confidence clear in his eyes.
"That won't stop me. Of that, you can be certain."
Locarius laughed and held out his fist. Gara smiled, and the two bumped fists lightly.
Time passed as they talked about all kinds of things, until Gara finally excused himself for the night.
"We'll talk more tomorrow," the Crown Prince said.
"Yeah," Gara replied with a nod. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Locarius answered, remaining on the balcony as Gara left.
...
The red-haired young man made his way through the hallway until he stopped in front of a familiar door.
He knocked.
"Come in!" a small voice replied from inside.
He opened the door and stepped in. Runa was huddled on her bed beneath a pink blanket, peeking out with a bright smile.
"You kept your promise," she said happily.
Gara smiled back. "Of course I did."
He tilted his head slightly. "I thought I'd find you asleep by now, especially since I spent quite a while talking with the prince. But I guess not."
She let out a small chuckle. "Of course I couldn't," she replied. "Not until big bro Gara says goodnight to me."
Gara chuckled in response and walked over to the bed, pulling one of the chairs closer before sitting down across from her.
Runa stayed wrapped in her blanket, her gaze drifting away from him instead of meeting his eyes.
She hesitated, fingers tightening slightly around the fabric.
"It's not that I'm not tired…" she murmured after a moment.
"I'm just… scared. I don't want to sleep all alone."
Gara didn't rush her.
He stayed quiet, letting her speak at her own pace, watching the uncertainty on her face. After a few more seconds passed, she finally looked back at him.
"Can you… stay with me until I fall asleep?"
He smiled softly. "Of course."
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he added, "I can even tell you a bedtime story, if you want."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Yes, please!"
Gara chuckled, leaned back slightly in his chair, and began telling her a story he'd once heard long ago—from his late sister.
Time slowly passed as the story reached its end, Gara's voice lowering little by little.
Before long, Runa's breathing evened out, her small form relaxing beneath the blanket, her expression calm and peaceful as she drifted into sleep.
Gara watched her for a moment, a quiet warmth settling in his chest.
Carefully, he adjusted the blanket, making sure she was fully covered so the slight chill in the air wouldn't reach her.
He lingered just a bit longer, then leaned in and whispered one final, gentle goodnight.
With that, he quietly left the room, closing the door behind him without a sound.
...
A while later, Gara stood in front of the door to the room he shared with Leif. He didn't open it right away. Instead, he lingered there, lost in thought.
It had been… a strange day.
Just yesterday, he had entered this Fragment, clashed with members of the Cover Club, and even died once to the Golden Lightning.
After so many years stuck at the very bottom of the Story World, he had finally evolved for the first time in his life—from the lowest possible Rank, F, to E Rank.
And today…
He had learned that Dante's little sister had escaped prison back in his homeland, Third Town. That Lavia—the girl who usually annoyed him and somehow still managed to make him unsure of himself—had been injured in the incident and was now hospitalized.
He had made friends with Locarius, the Crown Prince of the Rashanz Empire. Met the Emperor himself. Grown a little closer to Mister [White Space] and learned far more than he ever expected.
Discovered that his Story was cracked—and, more importantly, found a way to fix it.
And then there was Runa.
So much had happened in such a short span of time that it almost didn't feel real.
He took in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then entered the room.
Leif had already turned off the lights.
He was sitting on his bed, a faint glow coming from the black Story System Interface hovering in front of him. He glanced up at Gara and gave a small nod before returning his attention to it, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Gara smiled lightly in response and made his way to his own bed.
He sat down and let himself relax. His clothes were still somewhat ruined from yesterday's fight, but he didn't really care.
His Story was cracked—but he didn't mind.
Dante's situation… Lavia's injuries… all of that could wait.
For now, he just wanted some sleep.
He closed his eyes, settled into the bed, and let himself drift off, allowing sleep to pull him away from his troubles—just for now, just for the night—before he would have to face them again in the morning.
...
Gara opened his eyes and stretched lightly. Turning his head to the side, he saw Leif sitting on his own bed, stretching as well.
"Good Morning," Gara said.
"Morning," Leif replied, just as simply.
With greetings exchanged, both of them stood up and left the room together.
They found a nearby guard and asked where the toilets were.
After washing their faces and taking care of their morning routine, the same guard informed them that they had been summoned once again to the dining room, asking if they needed him to show them the way.
"No need," Gara said, thanking him.
Instead of heading there right away, the two made their way to Runa's room first. She wasn't there—most likely taken by the old man earlier.
With that, they turned and headed for the dining room.
Once inside, Gara followed Leif's lead in greeting those present. He wasn't quite sure how one was supposed to greet an Emperor and Empress in the morning, but Leif greeted them normally, so Gara did the same.
He then took a seat beside Runa, greeted her, and ruffled her hair, earning a small chuckle from the girl.
Breakfast was served, and once the Emperor began eating, everyone else followed suit.
Time flowed by as they enjoyed the dishes brought before them.
Gara quickly realized he had never tasted food like this before. Back at the workshop, whatever Dante served was… normal.
Edible, filling, but nothing special—meals prepared by F Rankers or, on rare occasions, an E Ranker at best.
This, however, was on an entirely different level.
Each bite carried depth, warmth, and an almost unreal balance of flavor that made his chest feel strangely full.
This was food made by a B Rank Gourmet Story Owner.
The cook wasn't even Rashanz—a hired Player, brought in by the Emperor and paid handsomely to work here for a time. Locarius had told Gara all about him the night before, back when they had been talking about everything and nothing at once.
At the time, Gara hadn't really grasped what that meant.
Now, he did.
He hadn't paid much attention to the food the day before. Back then, the tension of sitting in the presence of an X Ranker had been too overwhelming, his nerves drowning out everything else.
Even so, he had been able to tell that the meal was exceptional.
Today was different.
The tightness in his chest was mostly gone, his shoulders no longer rigid. With his nerves settled, he could truly appreciate every bite—the textures, the warmth, the care behind each dish.
The food didn't just taste good; it felt deliberate, almost like it was meant to be remembered.
Across the table, the Crown Prince was present as well. Locarius caught Gara's eye and gave him a small wave, clearly wanting to say something.
Before he could, the Emperor lifted a single finger to his lips, silencing him without a word.
Gara smiled faintly and returned his attention to the food.
Gourmet Story Owners weren't exactly rare in the Story World, but reaching B Rank in that path was.
Anything higher than that was exceptional.
In fact, among the more than a hundred known Z Rankers—a shockingly small number when compared to the trillions living across the Story World—one of them was said to be a Gourmet Story Owner.
The leader of an organization devoted entirely to cuisine.
The Thousand Tastes.
As Gara took another bite, he couldn't help but think that, if this was only B Rank cooking… he could hardly imagine what food at the very peak of the Story World would taste like.
Soon enough, the meal came to an end.
[White Space] rose from his seat first, turning toward the Emperor and Empress. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said warmly.
"It has been more than generous. In about an hour or so, I may have to trouble Your Majesty to contact the Fragment's Reciter, so that I—and these three children—may exit."
The Emperor inclined his head. "You are welcome to remain in my palace longer if you wish," he replied calmly. "But if you have business elsewhere, I will ensure that Miss Reciter allows your departure when the time comes."
[White Space] smiled faintly. "My thanks. Truly."
Leif straightened and spoke next. "Thank you for the meal, Your Majesty."
Gara blinked, then hurriedly followed his example. "Y-Yeah. Thank you very much."
A beat later, Runa chimed in, copying Gara's example in turn. "Thank you for the food!"
The Emperor's expression softened slightly as he acknowledged them with a nod.
With that, the four of them turned and left the dining room together.
A moment later, hurried footsteps followed behind them—Locarius slipping out after them, clearly unwilling to let the morning end just yet.
The Crown Prince called out, "Gara!"
Gara turned and smiled. "Morning, Locarius."
Locarius returned the greeting easily, walking over to them.
[White Space] glanced at the two young men. "Gara, Leif—keep Runa close while I tend to a few matters. And prepare your belongings. We'll be leaving once I'm done."
They both nodded.
With that, the old man left them.
Locarius stayed behind, spending the time mostly with the red-haired young man. He tried striking up conversation with Leif as well, but the blonde wasn't much of a talker and replied only when necessary.
Runa, on the other hand, quickly grew comfortable around the Crown Prince. Before long, she was teasing him freely, completely ignoring his status.
Locarius didn't seem to mind in the slightest—if anything, he looked amused.
Time passed quickly.
Before long, [White Space] returned. "I'm done," he said. "Everything's ready. Have you finished taking care of your things?"
Gara nodded. "Yeah."
Leif nodded as well.
Runa hurried to copy Gara. "I'm ready too!"
The old man chuckled and patted her head. "Good girl."
He then turned to Locarius. "Could you ask your grandfather, the emperor, if we may bid him farewell and take our leave?"
Locarius nodded. "Of course."
The Crown Prince then headed off to find his grandfather, leaving the others waiting.
Not long after, he returned.
"Follow me," Locarius said. "My grandfather is waiting in a nearby guest room."
[White Space] replied, "Thank you."
Locarius then led the way, with Gara, Leif, and Runa following behind. As they walked, he reached into his Ring of Storage and began taking things out one by one.
There was a neatly folded red kimono, freshly stitched just yesterday, meant for Gara—his own still torn from the fight against the Cover Club members.
Then a black shirt and black pants, followed by a black cloak for Leif, whose clothes had suffered similar damage.
And he didn't stop there.
More items appeared in his hands—several dresses and different kinds of outfits, all clearly meant for Runa.
The little girl's eyes lit up instantly.
Without hesitation, she hurriedly stuffed them into her Storage Space. It was a small one, as expected from an F Ranker with a Borrowed Story, and between the new clothes and the few belongings she already had, it was quickly filled to the brim.
Still, Runa looked happier than ever, clutching the last dress with a bright smile as they continued down the hallway.
Gara turned to Locarius, clearly moved. "Seriously… thank you. That was really thoughtful."
Leif paused for a moment before nodding as well. "…Thank you." The surprise in his voice was obvious.
"Of course," Locarius replied with a smile. "You can use one of the unused rooms to change."
He led them to a nearby empty room.
Gara went in first, changing into the new red kimono. When he stepped out, Leif went in next to change into the black clothes and cloak.
[White Space] chuckled as he watched them. "Young and handsome," he said teasingly. "What a dangerous combination."
Runa immediately pointed at Gara. "Yeah! Big bro Gara looks way cooler now!"
Gara laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Hehe, of course I do!"
She stuck out her tongue at him, clearly enjoying herself—though notably, she didn't tease Leif at all.
With that, they continued toward where the [Rashanz Emperor] awaited them, soon to leave the SS Ranked Fragment of [Rashanz].
—End of Chapter.
-------
Are we done?
Gara: Seems like it, yeah.
Leif: That took a long time, didn't it?
Gara: Yup, it sure did. What, 16 chapters, all 4k words, if you add to it the few hundred words there since it wasn't 4k exactly, that'd be about 65 or 67k words for the [Rashanz Fragment] arc... That is insane seeing as how not that much happened all in all.
Leif: Agreed, but I personally had fun, I got to become a character in this arc, somewhat. Btw, I heard the next arcs will only get longer?
Gara: Yup, they sure will, a lot at that, but more characters will be there, like Marcus, Tania, and more.
Leif: Interesting, will Lavia also be...
Gara left the chat.
Leif: I didn't even finish my question, but I get it.