The light from the seed was blinding. Gideon and Summer both raised their arms to shield their eyes, and when the system announced the process had reached one hundred percent, Gideon slowly lowered his hand.
What he saw made him freeze.
The sand beneath their feet was gone. In its place lay dark brown earth, damp and rich. He crouched and grabbed a handful, letting it crumble between his fingers.
The soil was soft, slightly wet, and carried a deep earthy smell he had not sensed since his old life.
"This is fertile land!" Summer exclaimed.
She was already crouching beside him, hands buried in the soil, fingers stained dark as she dug through it in disbelief.
"How did you do that?" she demanded. "The last time I saw soil like this was in that redhead woman's office, and even then it was just in a pot!"
"Well," Gideon said with a shrug, "miracles happen sometimes."
He didn't know how else to answer. How was he supposed to explain it anyway? That he had been dragged into this world with a system that could purify land and summon things out of nothing?
Summer frowned at him, clearly unconvinced, but she didn't press further. Maybe she understood that this was not something she was meant to know.
Instead, her expression softened, and she grinned like a child, happily playing with the soil.
Gideon turned his attention back to the system.
[Do you want to name the Safe Zone?]
He stayed silent, standing still for several minutes. Naming something like this felt heavier than he expected.
A name that would stay forever, tied to land, to people, to whatever future waited here.
Then he lifted his head.
The sun was sinking behind the canyon walls. The sky burned orange, light spilling across the caldera and making the surrounding stone glow and shimmer.
From here, the sun looked enormous, like a blazing half sphere ready to swallow the world.
"Wow," he muttered. "It's dusk already?"
"Mom will kill me!" Summer gasped, raking her fingers through her hair.
Gideon smirked. "We're staying here for now. Traveling at night is dangerous."
He turned back to the system without waiting for her argument.
"This place will be called Cinders of Dusk."
[Name registered.]
[Safe Zone Status]
[Name: Cinders of Dusk]
[Area: 1.5 km]
[Residential Area Level 2: 1 km]
[Population: 1]
[Houses: 0]
—
[Barrier protection has been added to the area.]
[New passive skill unlocked.]
[Commonsense Override]
[Description: Residents and visitors will unconsciously rationalize the Lord's abilities, land purification, and unnatural events through their own logic.]
—
[Congratulations.]
[As a reward for planting the Seed of Aaru, a house has been granted.]
[House placed.]
[Three objectives have been added. You may complete them at any time to receive rewards.]
[Good luck with your new territory, Lord Gideon. Whether you rule with wisdom or tyranny, the system will support your path to change this world.]
—
Gideon exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on the glowing notifications.
Like cinders buried beneath ash that had nearly gone cold, humans should still be able to light their fire again, even brighter than before.
And even when night arrived with uncertainty, dusk would always remind them that there was beauty in the unknown.
"Well… that's a lot to process," Gideon murmured.
A smile stayed on his face, brighter than anything he had worn in a long time.
When he turned around, he finally noticed what stood behind him. A Mediterranean-style house faced the sinking sun.
Pale cream walls reflected the orange light, two floors rising neatly with a wide balcony that looked perfect for watching sunsets. It was calm, warm, and strangely peaceful.
Summer turned around too and froze when she saw the mansion. For a moment, her green eyes went blank. Then they shone brightly.
"Oh? There is a house here. Let's get inside, there are lots of aberrants that are nocturnal and dangerous!"
Gideon blinked.
'So this is how Commonsense Override works…' he thought. 'That's… kind of creepy. Almost like gentle brainwashing.'
Still, he followed Summer as she excitedly pushed open the gate and hurried inside.
The door was unlocked. The key rested safely in his storage. When they stepped inside, they found the house fully furnished.
The interior was spacious, with a high ceiling that kept the temperature comfortable. It stayed cool during the day and would hold warmth once night fell.
A living room spread out in front of them. To the right was an open kitchen with a dining table.
To the left, stairs led up to the second floor. It was not overly large, but it was more than enough for Gideon.
"Oh wow!" Summer exclaimed. "I've never sat on a sofa this soft before!"
She rushed over and bounced on it a few times before throwing herself down with a satisfied sigh.
Gideon smiled at the sight, though his eye twitched when he noticed her boots pressing into the cushions while her dirty hands touched the sofa surface and left stains.
"Why don't you take a bath upstairs first?" he said. "Also, please wash your hands and change your boots into house slippers. They should be around here somewhere."
He searched nearby and found a small shelf stacked with slippers. He put on a pair and handed the rest to her.
Summer frowned while taking them. "You sound like my mom… And I want my crab."
Gideon paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "I want your pussy too. Do I keep nagging you about it?"
Her face flushed instantly. "You! Pervert!"
She turned away, muttering, "You… can do it after I take a bath…"
"What was that? I didn't hear you." Gideon asked, grinning.
"Ugh! You're so annoying, Gideon!" she shouted.
She jumped up from the sofa and ran upstairs. Moments later, a door slammed shut.
Gideon chuckled and followed her up. She had taken the master bedroom and gone straight into the bathroom.
He chose another room and stepped into the shower. The house provided everything: shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, even aromatherapy candles.
For him, that was more than enough.
Cold water washed away the sweat and grime. Then he turned it warm, letting it ease his muscles.
A lot had happened in just two days. Yet Gideon felt happy. For the first time, his body was not failing him, and his mind felt clear.
"So this is how a normal body feels. I almost forgot what it's like to be healthy."
He felt grateful. Even if he had never believed in God back in his world, he still wanted to give thanks for this second chance.
"I'll live well," he promised himself. "Do good when I can. Punish evil when I must… or at least try to live honestly."
The water washed away the dust, the blood, and the weight of his past.
After finishing his shower, his body smelled clean and relaxed, ready for rest.
But when he opened the door, he froze.
Summer sat on the edge of his bed, wrapped in a bathrobe. Her face was red like a tomato, eyes fixed on the floor.
"I… I think I'm ready," she said quietly, unable to look him in the eyes.