[Okay, you hate riddle-makers. After your persistent questioning, he tells you a secret about a pre-existing civilization.]

"Based on some incomplete data, we have come to the conclusion that people with special talents like you seem to appear in every era."

However, our era has only just begun, and such talents usually appear only every two or three hundred years.

The shock you caused reminded me of those people; perhaps you really are extraordinary.

You asked Smith what happened to those people afterward.

Smith said he didn't know either; a lot of knowledge-related materials from those eras have been preserved, but the historical parts have been largely destroyed.

They didn't know the specific events of that era, nor the abilities or identities of those extraordinary individuals.

"There is only one thing we can be sure of: in each era, not long after the appearance of the strongest special person, that era will face its own destruction."

Those who attempted to confront the root of darkness, judging from the current situation, have all failed without exception.

You fell silent. This ending didn't sound very auspicious, but you didn't think you would end up in that situation.

You know your own strength better than anyone else. It is a power that grows stronger every moment, every second. It doesn't require special materials; it only requires the resonance of the mind to unleash the power of the mind.

And there's the burning heart flame, indistinguishable from a perpetual motion machine...

It's no exaggeration to say that, given enough time, you truly have the confidence to influence the entire world single-handedly.

"So, Mr. Smith, you seem to know what the root of darkness is. Can you tell me about it?"

"I'm sorry, this really won't work. That thing is too special, and knowing about it too early won't do you any good."

His expression was exceptionally complex as he spoke, and your keen perception caught a hint of despair and helplessness in his words.

[If it's like this again, let me reiterate: you hate riddlers. If one day you have enough power to defeat the whole world single-handedly, you must establish a rule that riddlers are not allowed to exist in this world.]

Time continued to pass, and a year later, the renovation work on the abandoned settlement, which is the settlement you will be relocated to in the future, was basically completed.

Apart from the passageway between the two settlements, all other passageways of that settlement were blocked and marked with special tools.

This way, you won't have to worry about the Dark Devouring Beast sneaking in and wreaking havoc here again before you move.

As for the houses inside, construction isn't in a rush right now. You're just moving the building materials back. New buildings can be prepared three to five years before the move.

[Because the beast nest in the abandoned settlement has been destroyed, there is one less source of troops continuously spawned by the Dark Eclipse Beasts. As a result, the frequency of attacks you encounter has decreased, and the number of enemies has also declined.]

The safe environment provided ample manpower for the development of existing settlements, expanding farmland and increasing grain production. The number of newborns also increased during this period, and the settlement is developing in a positive direction.

Three years later, with your consent, Smith granted you the status of a reserve administrator, as agreed upon initially.