A meticulously maintained flowerbed, as if tended by a skilled gardener.
Countless small creatures wriggled and bustled within, each diligently playing its part.
Ants, butterflies, ladybugs, earthworms… a miniature ecosystem thriving in harmony.
They might seem insignificant, mere insects and worms, but their struggle for survival, their dedication to their roles in this small world, was a strangely moving sight.
“…Cute.”
And there was one who was particularly captivated by this scene.
Saintess Liesta Saint Hatianuss, a silver-haired woman, crouched down, her gaze fixed on the flowerbed, a soft murmur escaping her lips.
“Hmm~ Hmm~♪”
She hummed a gentle tune, blessing each and every creature within the flowerbed.
Hours had passed, but she showed no signs of boredom.
Her golden eyes sparkled with childlike wonder as she observed the miniature world before her.
‘So precious.’
Such small and lovely creatures.
Liesta, enjoying her rare moment of leisure, smiled faintly.
‘Things have been so hectic lately…’
The Main God Church had been incredibly busy since the passing of Pope Hatianuss the Second.
Externally, they had to continue their efforts to stabilize the continent, and internally, they had to choose a new Pope to fill the vacant position.
‘It should be decided soon.’
The six Cardinals, the highest-ranking officials in the Church, were currently gathered at the Roselia Temple, conducting a conclave to elect the next Pope.
While the Saint and Saintess were chosen by God, the Pope was elected by the followers, so this was a necessary process.
‘It shouldn’t take too long, no matter who it is. The Cardinals can’t be away for too long, especially in these times. We need to be able to respond to any incidents immediately…’
As Liesta was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in her small sanctuary,
A sudden sense of unease washed over her.
An ominous premonition, a chilling feeling that bypassed her rational mind and resonated deep within her instincts.
‘…Ugh, this is… could it be…?’
Having experienced it before, she immediately understood the cause.
A revelation from the Main God.
It was a sudden epiphany, an awakening.
As she clutched her head, a wave of dizziness washing over her, an uninvited guest flew into the garden.
Flap—
A black crow, fluttering around the flowerbed, pecking at the plump insects that had been blessed by the Saintess.
Caw— Caw—
It chirped happily, as if savoring a delicious meal.
“Huu…”
Liesta, having recovered from the revelation, frowned slightly as she saw the crow, then wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and relaxed her expression.
It wasn't uncommon for birds and insects to enter the garden.
Completely sealing it off would make it easier to manage and maintain its pristine appearance, but then it would just be a large, artificial garden.
The law of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, was also a part of the natural order ordained by the Main God.
‘But still…’
She took a deep breath, composing herself, and slowly approached the small intruder.
Caw— Caw!
Flutter—
The crow, startled by her approach, flapped its wings, trying to escape.
But it couldn't take flight, its body frozen in place as she reached out and gently cupped it in her hands.
“There, there.”
She stroked the now docile crow, a gentle smile on her face.
It wasn't strange. Even though she wasn’t a combatant, her level was far beyond what a mere animal could comprehend.
She could crush a bird in flight with just her will, if she wanted to.
‘An outsider…’
She paused, her hand still stroking the crow’s feathers, and stared at it thoughtfully.
She had no intention of harming it.
She had simply caught it on a whim, her mind clouded by the recent revelation.
‘An invader from another dimension…’
The being the Main God had just warned her about wouldn't be as harmless as this bird.
The Main God had never given her any warnings before, despite the numerous Earthlings who had come and gone.
‘…Could it be related to the Immortal King again?’
It was a reasonable assumption, but she wasn’t certain.
What mattered was that she had to prepare for this potential threat.
Caw— Caw!
Flutter—
She released the crow, watching it fly away, and then turned, her face grim.
She needed to discuss this with someone she could trust.
Someone who could offer guidance.
Saint Heinrich.
____________________
Slowly, but surely,
Time flowed like a river.
He had experienced much during that period, the passage of time seemingly stretched and distorted due to his multiple bodies.
“Long live Crown Princess Riley Carte Azerion!”
“Congratulations, Your Highness. You’ve finally done it.”
“Oh my, Your Highness, you look even more radiant today. Even the most beautiful flowers in the Empire pale in comparison.”
First, Riley had finally been officially appointed as Crown Princess in the Azerion Empire’s capital, Jeron.
She had successfully ousted Prince Simon, who had practically faded from memory, and secured her position as the Empire’s heir.
‘The current Emperor doesn’t look very healthy. He might abdicate in a few years.’
The power and authority she wielded as the Crown Princess were vastly different from when she was just the Fifth Princess, the leader of a large faction.
She was now the de facto second-in-command, the future ruler, able to directly influence the Empire and mobilize its resources.
It was a sign that her long journey, which had begun after meeting Isea over ten years ago, was nearing its end.
And such changes weren't limited to the Empire.
In the Free City of Dracal, the land of mercenaries, located in the southeast…
Kaboom—!
“I heard there’s a guy named Harley here! I, Stallone of the Blood Mist, have come to challenge you! Let’s see what you’…!”
“Huh? Again?”
“…What?”
“Tsk, I don’t care if you’re Blood Mist or Blood Clam. Come at me if you want to fight.”
As if a plague of machismo had swept through the city, an endless stream of challengers, fueled by Harley’s reputation, continued to appear.
It was understandable that mercenaries had to constantly prove their strength to avoid being looked down upon… but this was excessive.
‘Of course, none of them have maintained that attitude after meeting me in person.’
Even the Guild’s highest-ranking executives, master-level experts, had submitted to Harley’s overwhelming presence.
How could these small-fries hope to stand against him?
What followed was a predictable routine.
The challenger, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fear, would falter, and Harley, casually approaching him, would place a hand on his shoulder.
Even though the challenger wasn't small, standing next to Harley made him look like a middle schooler being extorted by a bully.
“Do you want to be beaten to a pulp, or do you want to buy me a meal?”
“…I-I’ll buy you a meal.”
“Good choice! Now, take me to the best restaurant you know! If I don’t like it, I’ll break you in half! Hahaha!”
It was extortion, plain and simple.
Harley patted the man’s back and followed him, his entourage of terrified Guild executives trailing behind.
Of course, there were a few who, driven mad by fear, recklessly attacked him… but they were quickly ‘re-educated’ with a bit of… forceful persuasion.
And the kind and generous Harley would even treat them to a meal afterwards, giving them a chance to apologize and clear up any misunderstandings.
“Hmm! The meat here is excellent! I’m surprised!”
“D-Dracal might be barren, but it has its advantages. It’s a trading hub, and the local specialty, cliff goat, is exquisite. …It’s a bit pricey, though.”
“Indeed, boss! …We’re out of meat again? I-I’ll order another ten servings… no, twenty… I mean, thirty! Hahaha…”
“Tsk, tsk, so slow. You should be more attentive. Order more before we run out. No common sense.”
His arrival had caused a stir in the city, his reputation and influence growing with each passing day as stories of his exploits spread like wildfire.
‘Regardless of their background, mercenaries sell their strength. Overwhelming power trumps political maneuvering. In that sense, this place is similar to the south.’
Dracal, a city where strength was paramount, was a perfect fit for Harley, a walking embodiment of violence.
And the situation in other regions was also developing in his favor, exceeding his initial expectations.
‘The south is completely under control, and the expansion in the east, led by the former Obaifo members, is progressing smoothly. And the Talia Kingdom in the west has established diplomatic relations with the neighboring kingdoms, expanding its influence…’
It was only natural for Hubert’s Trading Company, which had started its expansion in the west, to become deeply involved in the process, now extending its reach to the entire region.
And the key to their success was the endless supply of rare metals from the north, which the other kingdoms were eagerly purchasing to strengthen their forces, fearing the Immortal Army.
‘Of course, the ones supplying those metals are… the Immortal Army.’
A situation where both sides of the conflict were trading weapons and resources, driven by profit.
He had become… a merchant of death.
‘But…’
Amidst this smooth progress, an unsettling piece of news had arrived.
‘An otherworlder, powerful enough to warrant a warning from the Main God?’
It was a revelation Liesta had received from the Main God.
‘…There’s only one person who fits that description.’
A monster who devoured the essence of worlds, traversing dimensions.
The Master of Heaven’s Turn Society.
‘He’s finally here.’
If it weren’t for Liesta, he wouldn't have even known about this potential threat.
He wouldn't have had time to prepare, let alone react.
Only someone of her level could interpret the divine message to this extent.
He didn’t know how the Master traveled between dimensions, so he couldn’t pinpoint his current location.
But he probably didn’t use the same method as him, reading memories and using “Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon”.
Considering his abilities, he had probably mastered a space-manipulating unique skill.
‘But that’s not important right now.’
The ‘how’ was a secondary concern.
What mattered was that the monster’s target… was Auterica.
The world he had meticulously crafted.
‘…This land… Auterica.’
A surge of anger coursed through him.
This was unacceptable.
The world believed that the Immortal Army and humanity were at war… but that was a lie.
They were both his pawns.
It might be unimaginable to others, but he could easily manipulate the flow of events in this world.
Most of the influential figures in Auterica were under his control.
The Immortal King and his undead army, the Vampire Alliance led by the Vampire King, the Main God Church that worshipped Heinrich as their Saint, Harley the Fighting King and his warriors, Harris the High Elf and the Elven Kingdom, the imperial elites controlled through Riley, the merchant cartel led by Hubert…
Auterica was practically in the palm of his hand.
‘Auterica is—’
This was…
His land.
His domain.
‘Mine.’
A world prepared just for him, a stage for his dreams, a treasure trove filled with precious things.
And if someone dared to intrude…
‘You’ll have to face the entire world.’
It was time to prepare for war.
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