Bonus Episode — Memoirs of the Lord of Felsen: The Lights of the Waterways and My One-of-a-Kind Neighbor

Late at night, in the office of the Lord’s manor. Outside the window, the night view of the new city sparkles like a scattering of jewels, powered by the glow of magic stones.

I sat alone, sipping a cold, black carbonated drink—Cola. As the stinging bubbles burned my throat, my thoughts drifted to the one man who saved this city.

He simply introduced himself as Zect. A man who refuses to take a single step out of his "Sanctuary of Stagnation" deep within the forest, choosing instead to lounge on his sofa and spend his days patching the flaws of this world.

I still remember the day my son, Leon, was on the brink of death.

A fever so fierce that even the most renowned doctors had given up hope was cured by a single white tablet Zect handed over with total indifference, claiming it was just "some leftovers I used to use." That tiny pill preserved my son’s life more brilliantly than any magic in this world ever could.

As I trembled with gratitude, he took a sip of his Cola and spoke to me in a perfectly flat tone.

"Gustav, the reason Leon got sick is that the water is filthy. Unsanitary environments cause management costs to skyrocket. It’s not rational. So, let’s just rebuild the city’s entire water system from scratch."

He wasn't satisfied with merely saving my son. He went on to construct a massive dam, installed plumbing in every home, and even built a maintenance system to collect water usage fees in a single stroke of genius.

Even when faced with residents who opposed moving to the new city, he didn't resort to cold-hearted eviction. Instead, he showed them a path forward by transforming the old town into a special "Tourism District."

Bartos worships him as a Master, and Elishua looks up to him as a Sage. But to me, it feels a bit different.

To me, he is ultimately just a man named Zect—an unambitious and slightly lazy soul.

When I presented him with piles of gold coins as a reward, he merely yawned and laughed.

"Gold? I don’t want it. Use it for something else. It’s heavy, and the cost of managing and carrying it around is a waste of resources. If you want to reward me, just maintain the peace in this city so I never have to move from this spot again. That’s the best payment you can give me."

Right now, he lounges in a strangely luxurious chair that seems to swallow anyone who sits in it.

"It’s pretty good, isn't it? It was expensive," he had said with a hint of pride. I don't know exactly how expensive that chair was, but for a man who rewrites the world without moving a single step, that throne suited him perfectly.

It is so like him that his legend began with the prank of a cat.

Apparently, when Bartos first visited, Zect had no intention of opening the gate, but his black cat, Tama, accidentally stepped on the release mechanism.

"I got dragged into a lot of trouble because of her," he often grumbles, yet the hand he uses to pet Tama’s head is always gentle.

Lately, I find myself making any excuse I can to visit his base in the forest.

Consulting on new magic tools, reporting on the progress of the Tourism District... While I tell my subordinates it is top-secret diplomacy, in my heart, I am just looking for an excuse.

Is it because I want to try the new snacks he offers, or because I want to soak in the strange atmosphere of that house?

...No, even that feels wrong. I think I simply want to see him.

No matter how much the world is rewritten, he never changes. He is neither a hero nor a god; he is just Zect.

The fact that he is likely fast asleep on his sofa again today is my greatest comfort, and my greatest reason for protecting this city.

"Well then. I suppose I should find a nice gift to bring him tomorrow."

I finished the last drop of my drink and picked up my pen. He doesn't want a reward; he only wants a peaceful daily life where he doesn't have to move.

Therefore, protecting that irrationality-free, perfect sleep of his is the only way I can truly repay my debt.

Outside the window, the lights of Felsen glowed in the silence of the night. It was a light of hope, lit by a man who had no intention of saving the world, but simply wanted the peace to be himself.

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