“Imagine, Ernie… if everyone just needs an answer, then everyone will lose their home, because this process is always accompanied by the changing of the world.”

As Yinra spoke, he controlled himself not to tell a single lie, but simply selected facts that he himself firmly believed in to state: "Just like liches, one of the reasons they pursue immortality is... that their lifespan cannot support their pursuit of truth."

"You may be the same in this respect. I think if ordinary people are like you, they may find it difficult to find the answer to a certain question in their entire lives."

As she spoke, Illa sat down directly opposite Ernie. At that moment, many people were watching, but only a very few realized what Illa was about to do.

"So I think, if people need an eternal [ethnicity], an eternal [nation], a [home] that is forever prosperous and never dies, then perhaps that should be my dream."

“You’ll never find the answer to home, Ernie.”

"..."

What Illa said was very cruel, but even Ernie knew... Illa was right, because she could answer the questions in her heart at any time, but at no time did she have an answer.

Although it may sound distorted and illogical, it's actually quite easy to understand... Part of it consists of simple and clear answers like "yes or no," while the other part consists of open-ended questions.

There is no right or wrong answer to that kind of question.

...

"I will try to find it..."

Ernie said this, while Ira simply placed her hand on the table, leaned towards Ernie, and said, "Well then, how about I ask you a few questions?"

Ernie was at a loss for words in response to Illa's sudden display of strength and aggression... It seemed that she had lost her composure and nonchalance since the beginning.

"We both know the answer to a certain question... Do you think you can go back? I mean the home you once identified with."

As Inra spoke, sharing the same feelings as Ernie, he knew exactly how Ernie would respond. And Ernie, unsurprisingly, shook her head, giving a brief reply:

"No."

Yinla nodded, then asked, "So you want to deceive yourself and rebuild a 'home'? To betray the 'home' of the past, as if it had never disappeared?"

To be honest, at this point, Illa was quite worried that Ernie would say something like "maybe," so he said it rather poorly, adding the prefix "deceiving himself."

Just as Illa had imagined, Ernie shook her head after a moment's hesitation and thought, saying, "No, the past home exists in the past... I don't want to create a fake one to deceive myself, to fool myself, that would be too pathetic."

"..."

Yoon-ra: In a sorry state...?

"..."

Noticing that Ira had suddenly fallen into deep thought, Ernie reached out and turned the dress on the bed into flames, putting it back on. She asked, "What's wrong?"

Slightly upset, Yinla shook his head. He cleared his hoarse throat and refocused his attention on the conversation, saying, "Ahem~ So, you want to travel in the prime plane, don't you?"

"Yes."

"..."

Thus, the poor fire elemental fell completely into the trap. The spider named Yinra transformed her true dream into a vast net, capturing those capable of empathy with her and turning them into tools to pave the way.

Or rather... a sail on a ship sailing on the sea, or a sailor helping to raise the sail.

"Then, isn't what you see obvious? Children with the talent of Mana watch their parents, who lack it, pass away... Long-lived orcs watch their human friends grow old... You watch nations change... Races cease to exist..."

As he made this assumption, he spoke every word of truth. Looking at the stunned Ernie, he said, "You can sense it, can't you? I'm not lying. Is this what you wanted to see?"

Of course, there are also many truths that are not said... For example, Ernie can also see families reuniting after being separated, and people drinking freely at the graves of deceased friends, but Illa chooses not to say these things.

In that brief conversation, Ira realized... Ernie could never have wanted to see this.

"No... but I don't want to see these things... I'd rather they never happen."

Listening to Ernie's words, Illa breathed softly, nodded, rested his elbows on the table, interlaced his fingers, and said, "You see, you didn't find the answer to 'home,' but you found your dream (hope), you found the answer that you can give to the world and give to yourself. This is the answer."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Whether it was an illusion or not, a chessboard seemed to be set up on the empty table, and Ernie seemed to be playing a game with Inra... And in that instant, under Inra's guidance, Ernie willingly moved the barrier in front of the [King].

Then, naturally, what will follow is...

【checkmate (dying)】

...

"Come help me, Ernie?"

Yinla said this.

"Huh? Although my dream... is that I don't want to see..."

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