Preparation for war (1)
A neatly organized flower bed as if it had been maintained by a skilled gardener.
Countless small creatures living within it were writhing and moving their bodies diligently.
A natural ecosystem where creatures such as ants, butterflies, ladybugs, and earthworms live in harmony.
In some ways, they could have been viewed as mere insignificant creatures, but the sight of the members of that small world doing their best in their respective positions to somehow survive was enough to evoke a strange feeling.
“···cute.”
And there was someone who was particularly strongly impressed by such a sight and muttered to himself without even realizing it.
It was the silver-haired woman who was squatting down and looking down at the flower bed, Saint Hatianus Riesta, a saint of the main church.
“Hmm~ Hmm~♪”
She wasn’t satisfied with just looking at them, but hummed lightly and blessed each one of them.
Several hours had already passed since she had been like this, but there was not the slightest hint of boredom on her face.
It simply looks down at the creatures in the garden, its pair of golden eyes shining brightly, as if observing something interesting to play.
‘It’s also amazing.’
What small, adorable creatures are these?
Riesta, who had invested all of her free time in a long time into her hobbies, smiled slightly.
‘I’ve been busy in many ways these days…’
The main church has been having a very busy time since the death of former Pope Hatianus II.
Externally, he had to continue to take the lead in stabilizing the continent as before, and internally, he had to pay attention to filling the now vacant position of the Pope.
‘A clear decision will be made soon.’
Currently, at the Great Temple of Roselia, only six cardinals from the entire denomination were gathering together and holding a conclave, an in-depth meeting to elect the next pope.
While saints and saints were representatives chosen directly by God, the Pope was closer to an elected representative among God’s followers, so this was a necessary procedure.
‘No matter who it is, it won’t take that long. If the cardinals remain absent for a long time in the current situation, they won’t be able to respond immediately when an accident occurs…?’
While Riesta was enjoying the calmly flowing air in her small shelter.
She suddenly felt some discomfort.
Soon, an unidentified ominous feeling that stimulated instinct and intuition, regardless of reason, began to surge into the accident.
‘···Ugh, this can’t be…?’
As she already had experience, she was able to immediately figure out what the cause was.
A revelation from the Lord.
It was a phenomenon close to an unexpected realization or self-awareness.
From No ble mt L dot c om
As she was staggering around holding her head, an uninvited guest flew into the garden from outside.
Food duk—
While she was unconscious, a crow with black feathers was snooping around the flower bed.
After exploring the surroundings for a while, he quickly found bugs that had grown plump and fat thanks to the saint’s blessing, and quickly began eating them one by one.
Caw—caw—
As if they were tasting a delicacy, they kept making exclamations of birdsong.
“Whoa…”
Riesta, who had just recovered from the revelation and had barely come to her senses, frowned slightly when she saw the crow, but then relaxed her expression again, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.
In fact, it was not that uncommon for birds or insects from outside to visit like that.
For the sake of ease of management and aesthetics, it would have been better to completely isolate the garden from the outside, but this would only result in a slightly larger model garden.
Isn’t the law of the fittest also a natural providence arranged by the Lord?
‘by the way···.’
Soon, she regained her normal condition by taking a deep breath and slowly approached the small intruder.
Caw—caw!
Food deuk—
A crow flinches when a human approaches it and flaps its wings repeatedly to try to run away.
However, it only flapped its wings a few times and eventually froze in place, unable to fly until it landed right next to her.
“Come on, you’re a good boy.”
In response, she carefully wrapped the crow, which soon became calm, with both hands and gently stroked it.
Even if Riesta was a non-combat group, there was no way that a mere creature could handle that level, so it was not strange that this phenomenon occurred.
She was a great person who could literally knock down a bird flying in the sky with sheer will.
‘It’s outside…’
After petting the crow a few times, she stopped and looked at it again.
Of course, I had no intention of doing anything with this guy.
Holding it like this was just a whim as my mind became complicated.
‘Invaders from an external dimension…’
It was clear that the being that the Lord himself had warned about just a moment ago would not be so easygoing as this bird.
Isn’t the main lord the one who never gave a single word no matter how many people from this world have come and gone here?
‘···Could it possibly be related to the Immortal King this time?’
Although it was a reasonable inference, it was also not certain.
In any case, the important thing now was that it was necessary to prepare in advance for the revelation in some way.
Caw—caw!
Food duk—
Riesta flew the bird fluttering in her hands high into the sky again and turned around with a stern expression on her face.
First of all, a trustworthy man who can immediately consult about the current revelation.
To talk to Saint Heinrich first.
***
Little by little, but steadily without stopping.
Time passed like running water.
A lot of things happened during that period of time, which I felt was longer than others, perhaps because I was operating multiple bodies at the same time.
“Long live Her Royal Highness Riley Carte Azerion!”
“hehehehe! Congratulations, Your Majesty. Now all that remains is to finish it properly.”
“Oh my, how! You look even more beautiful today, Your Highness. Even the flowers of the mighty empire lose their vitality in front of you.”
First of all, Riley was finally officially promoted to the title of Crown Princess in Xeron, the capital of the Azerion Empire.
He successfully brought down Prince Simon, who was now almost forgotten, and was officially recognized as the successor to the empire.
‘The current emperor’s health doesn’t look that good, so he may be able to abdicate within a few years.’
From the time when she was simply leading a large faction as the 5th princess to now that she has become the crown princess, the amount of authority Riley has has completely changed.
As the current second-in-command and the next first-in-command in name and reality, he was able to more directly mobilize the power of the empire and the imperial family.
It was evidence that her long journey, which began after meeting Lee Se-ah 10 years ago, was slowly coming to an end.
Additionally, such changes in the continental situation were not limited to within the empire.
In the free city of Dracal, a land of mercenaries located in the southeast of the continent…
Kwaang—!
“I heard there’s a guy named Harley here! I, Stalon of the Blood Fog, have come to learn a lesson! “Let’s compete properly.”
“Huh? “What is it again?”
“···uh?”
“Sniff! Well, I don’t know if it’s blood fog or blood shells. If you’re going to attack, do it quickly.”
It was as if a contagious disease had spread in this city where people would die if they failed to prove that they were manly men even for a second. Instead of being amazed by Harley’s reputation from the beginning, there was no shortage of people coming to visit with a burning desire to win.
Even though mercenaries are radical by nature and it is common for them to be ignored if they cannot appeal their strength, this feels a bit harsh.
‘Of course, I’ve never seen anyone maintain that attitude consistently even when facing this body directly.’
It was Harley’s spirit that was visible now that made even the highest-ranking members of the mercenary guild and the most powerful men give up the moment they faced each other.
But there’s no way that someone who hasn’t even reached that level can overcome that, right?
What happened after that went smoothly.
As the eyes of the large man who confidently came through the door were wandering back and forth, Harley walked up to him and stood next to him, putting his forearm on his shoulder.
The other person was by no means small, but standing side by side with him made me look like a middle school student being ripped off by a scary older brother.
“Would you like to be beaten until it becomes finely minced meat, or would you rather buy finely minced meat?”
“···Okay, I’ll buy it.”
“Good choice! Then guide me to the store you think is the best! If I don’t like it, I’ll bend over backwards, so you’ll have to choose wisely, right? hahahaha!”
Actually, it was true that I was being ripped off.
Harley patted the man on the back and led him forward.
Of course, there were some people who were blinded by fear and rushed at me recklessly, but after receiving a little loving physical therapy, those people were soon reborn as civilized people who could think normally.
Of course, Harley, who is kind-hearted and generous, took care of these guys and even created a place where they could have a meal together and resolve any misunderstandings.
“hmm! As expected, the quality of meat in this area is excellent! “Isn’t this quite surprising?”
“Well, Dracal is a barren land, so it’s difficult to farm, but it’s not bad in other ways. First of all, it is a major center of trade, and the meat of the cliff goat, which is a specialty of this region, is also excellent. …The price is a little high, though.”
“It’s as you said, brother! …But you’re out of meat again? Well, first of all, I’ll order 10 more servings… no, 20… sorry, 30 servings. ha ha ha···.”
“Tsk, stop the flow. If they think they run out of meat, they will order it again. “You’re so clueless, that guy.”
An unconventional move that shook the entire city upon visit.
In addition, sightings and rumors of the famous Harley, who had only been heard of, spread rapidly in Dracal society, resulting in further raising his awareness and influence.
‘No matter what, mercenaries are ultimately people who sell force. Overwhelming power is more important than complex politics. In this respect, it’s similar to the South.’
In the end, it could be said that this Dracal is a perfect place for Harley, whose very existence can be said to be the embodiment of violence.
Moreover, the situation not only here but also in other regions was developing in a much more favorable way than initially expected.
‘Not to mention the south, the expansion of the eastern base led by Obaipo is going smoothly. Also, the kingdom of Thalia in the west has officially established diplomatic relations with neighboring kingdoms and has entered the stage of expanding its influence…’
It was also a natural trend for the Hubert Company, which had begun to encroach beyond the Tulk Kingdom and encroach on the entire West, to become deeply involved in the expansion of influence that had begun in the West.
The biggest factor in the Hubert Company’s market encroachment was the rare metal that was supplied indefinitely from the North, and each country was a top customer, competing to purchase such materials that could help increase military power due to fear of the immortal army. It was.
‘In fact, the entity supplying those items is the Immortal Army.’
A situation where military supplies are traded between the two camps solely for profit, regardless of enemy or enemy.
Isn’t this what they call ‘merchant of darkness’?
I somehow felt like I had stepped into a new world.
‘however.’
Not long ago, in a situation where everything was going smoothly, I heard some shocking news.
‘A second-dimensional intruder worthy of warning from the Lord?’
It was a revelation from the main priest delivered to Saint Riesta.
‘···As expected, there’s only one guy that comes to mind.’
A monster that travels across multiple dimensions and eats the source of the world.
Beoncheonhoeju.
‘How dare you come here?’
If it weren’t for Riesta, I probably wouldn’t have even gotten this much information.
Instead of having time to prepare, you might have panicked and collapsed due to the sudden situation.
Since she was a saint, she must have been able to interpret the revelation this way.
Since I didn’t know the mechanism by which it crossed dimensions, I couldn’t figure out where it was and what it was doing.
However, it would not be the method of reading the memories of the target of origin and moving on to “Summon the Otherworld Transfer Jin” like himself.
When I think about his abilities when I encountered him in Japan, I thought he might have found a way to hone his unique skills in managing space to the limit.
‘But that’s not what’s important now.’
Yes, now the ‘how’ was a secondary question.
What was important right now was that the place that the monster was targeting and trying to invade was the stage that I had carefully set up.
‘This land… Outerica.’
My stomach was boiling.
Of course, that was absolutely unacceptable.
It was known to the outside world that the Immortal King’s army and humanity were at war with each other, but that was not true.
Because both sides were like my limbs.
It may be unimaginable to others, but controlling the flow of the world was easier for me than anyone else.
Because I have influence over most of those who rule this Outerica.
The Immortal King and his immortal army, the Vampire Alliance led by the Vampire King, the Main Church that believes in Heinrich as a saint, the fighting king and mercenary king Harley and numerous warriors, the high elf Harris and the Elven Kingdom, and an empire that can be moved through Riley. elite soldiers, the merchant cartel represented by Hubert, etc.
Most of this world was already in my hands.
‘Auterica is—.’
This place.
It’s my land.
It is my territory.
‘It’s mine.’
It was a world prepared just for me, a stage where I could unfold my dreams to the fullest, and a treasure chest filled with precious things.
Still, if you try to crawl in here.
‘You will have to fight the whole world.’
It was time to prepare for war.
