Second World

Mistress came to a long silence after Master's statement. Master didn't repeat his words. He stood still and waited for Mistress' response.

After a very long period, Mistress gave a short reply, "No."

"… Why? You should know this is not a smart move. You don't have enough force. Insisting to keep this place is simply you being stubborn," Master said.

"This should not come as a surprise to you," Mistress replied.

It didn't. Master had known of Mistress' stubbornness, but he also knew that Mistress was not a fool. He was simply hoping that her intellect triumph against her obstinacy. It appeared it was not the case.

"What's the point? If we pool our resources, we have a better fighting chance," Master continued to persuade. "When I become a God, I can grant you a bigger land to rule on. You can even be the empress who rules all the seven main countries. My right-hand woman who represents me in the affairs of mortals. What's the point of insisting on retaining your hold on this country that is sure to be short-lived?"

"Because it's mine!" Mistress exclaimed. "Yes, you help me get the throne but mostly it's my work. It's not something that is given! All my life, people always said that all my possessions are not mine. They were simply given to me by my father. Even after I proved myself working up the positions in his company, those voices didn't change. You were right when you told me this new world is my second chance. That's why I refused to join your guild and built my own instead. This time, everything I have is mine. They are not given!"

"I never peg you for someone who is bothered by public opinion," Master said.

"Everyone can be bothered by public opinion. Some of us simply hide our feelings better than others," Mistress replied. "Even you… What was it again that drives your desire to become a God?"

"… To stand on top of everyone else," Master uttered.

"Isn't that so you don't get bothered by what others think of you?" Mistress said. "So, you can do anything you like without public persecution. In the end, we all still act due to public opinion."

Master didn't want to prolong the argument. He said, "Suit yourself. Don't expect me to waste my resources to help you. You and your guild members can come to Liguritudum once you are done."

Mistress didn't respond. If she was offended that Master considered her effort a lost cause, she didn't show it.

"I'm going to need your country guardian," Master said.

"You can't have her. Don't you already have a better candidate to replace Suzaki?" Mistress returned.

"I don't mean that I want the eldritch beholder as my country guardian. I simply want to talk to her for a bit."

Mistress was silent as she considered Master's request. She then stood up and said, "Follow me."

The two flew out of the throne room atop the palatial tree. They went near the edge of the forested capital. A huge cave was situated there, near the capital wall. Scores of soldiers guarded the entrance to this cave. The soldiers bowed when they saw Mistress fly over.

Mistress waved them away. She entered this cave with Master.

Inside the cave was pitch-black. The demon eye on Master's forehead opened. He had no problem seeing in the dark then. Mistress had to cast Illumination to find her way in the dark. The two went further into the cave.

While walking, Master saw several large egg-like objects along the floor. As they delved deeper into the cave, these egg-like objects increased in number. Their sizes were also larger. When they came into an enormous cave hall, Master saw the entire floor was filled with these eggs.

"She had laid so many…? No wonder you thought you still had a chance," Master said. He stopped and approached one of the eggs.

"Are you changing your mind and deciding to come here to help fight the enemy?" Mistress asked.

"No, I have my own preparation to make. The Palgrost Armada is right outside my territory. The force from Hydrurond may be heading toward Liguritudum as we speak. It will be best if you can hold the Verremor army here, but I will focus on my own country."

"I heard that the Themisphere army fought using some sort of a walking fort in Hydrurond. What was that?"

"… I don't know," Master answered.

"Then I guess it's a secret feature like the monarch system," Mistress said. "To think that guy hid so many things deep inside the system. Makes you wonder how the other side acquired it."

"We will just have to fight them with what we have."

Master had one hand hovered over the egg-like things. The eggs in this cavern hall were almost as large as his body. The egg throbbed when it sensed something close.

"What did you feed them with?" Master asked.

Mistress pointed in one direction. Master looked over. His demonic eye was able to pierce the darkness and looked far ahead. At one side of the cavern hall were several cages. Each cage was filled with many elves. These elves were all natives and they were all level 1 commoners.

Master snickered. It appeared he was not the only sovereign who sacrificed his subjects. But since the Aurebor public remained peaceful, he guessed Mistress had done this discreetly.

"Why have you intruded on my nest?" A chilling voice entered their minds.

They looked up and made out a titanic round object from above. This object floated down and revealed itself to be the eldritch beholder. The eldritch beholder's gigantic eye stared at the two.

"I need something from you," Master said to the beholder.

"Something from me? Hehe, I don't give things for free. What will you give me in return?"

Master gave the surrounding eggs another look. "I believe we can think up something. How about I let you expand your brood to my realm?"

The large mouth of the eldritch beholder turned up into a weird grin. "What do you need from me?" She asked.

*

The Verremor and Themisphere force took their time marching toward Lorethion. The Verremor army was carrying siege weapons so they had to adjust the pace. They also invaded three settlements as they marched, turning these settlements into the bases for their supply lines.

The settlements didn't have many defenders. Thus, the battle had been short and with minimal civilian casualties. One even outright surrendered without putting up a fight.

After ten days of marching, the combined army arrived on the outskirts of Lorethion.