NERO hated Ruto Solfrid with all his heart.
He also hated how Neoma relied more on the commander than she did on him.
Having said that, he didn't stop Ruto Solfrid from taking over his "conversation" with Calyx.
It was true that he didn't know much about the Selection anyway.
Neoma is the one leading the upcoming war, so I can't ruin this.
Hence, even if it hurt Nero's pride, he just shut his mouth.
"I suggest you return from where you've come from, Lord Calyx," Ruto Solfrid said formally, addressing Calyx as a 'lord' even though he didn't have to be polite to an enemy. "We're not allowed to discuss the Selection with each other. It's a rule set to avoid sabotaging each other's team."
Calyx smiled, but his eyes showed annoyance.
And, now, Nero was also annoyed since the realization just hit him.
Calyx knows I don't know all the rules about the upcoming war, so he tried to lure out information from me.
And he almost fell for it because Calyx said it was something they should discuss!
I should have known better than believing anything that comes out of that vermin's mouth.
Nero clenched his hands tight, admitting that it was his own fault that he almost became a liability to Neoma.
I should get myself together.
"Must you always ruin the fun, Commander?" Calyx complained to Ruto Solfrid lightly, sighing. "Fine. The talk about the Selection was just an excuse anyway."
"If that was just an excuse, then why are you here?" Nero asked, glaring at Calyx. "State your purpose. That's the least thing you could do after almost breaking the rules."
"I just wanted to see you."
"What?"
Calyx smiled sweetly at Nero, his eyes sparkling while giving him a lustful gaze. "I miss you so much, Nero."
At that very moment, Nero wanted to borrow Neoma's favorite word whenever she was disgusted by someone or something.
What was that again?
'Eww?'
To be fair, it didn't matter to Nero that Calyx was a man.
Whether it's a man or a woman, who can blame them for falling for my face?
But aside from the fact that Nero and Calyx were literally blood-related, it was disgusting to receive that kind of affection from the person who tried to kill his family several times.
"Your Imperial Majesty, that crow bastard is asking for a death wish," Sanford Denver said while holding his scabbard as if he wanted to draw his sword and cut Calyx with it. "This level of disrespect is too much…"
I know, right?
It was even more annoying that Calyx just kept smiling.
"Now that you've seen my face, you may leave," Nero said— scoffing, disgusted. "Don't make me lift the ceasefire between our sides, Calyx."
"Ah, you finally called my name again," Calyx said, smiling. The crow's expression became more disgusting. "This will do for now."
And, just like that, Calyx's feet turned into little crows.
Hah.
He learned a new trick, huh?
The transformation started there, and then up his torso, and finally…
"Goodbye, Nero," Calyx said, half of his face had already turned into little crows. "The next time we see each other, you're coming with me."
Nero just rolled his eyes.
Thankfully, Calyx had vanished into thin air as soon as his entire body turned into little crows.
Those little crows soon vanished as if they were nothing but a fever dream.
"Commander, why did you come here?" Nero asked, raising an eyebrow at Ruto Solfrid. "I thought you were busy training Neoma's "children?""
"I'm just here to assist a lady in her childbirth."
"Since when did you become a doctor?"
Ruto Solfrid just looked at Nero as if he asked a dumb question.
"That's called sarcasm."
"And this is called 'silence,' Your Imperial Majesty."
I will never really get along with this rascal.
"Why would you assist someone who's giving birth to her child?" Nero asked. He didn't want to admit this, but he was curious about that part. "Is the child special?"
Ruto nodded thoughtfully. "The child is a monster, a good monster."
What the hell is a "good monster?"
***
AS EXPECTED, Trevor's skill to open portals leading to other worlds or dimensions was too OP.
Neoma felt like shit since she hated teleportation of any kind.
It often makes me feel like throwing up.
However, she was satisfied this time.
After all, if not for Trevor, she wouldn't have stepped foot in the Cosmic Garden— the space managed by Cosmic Tree.
However…
"This place is dead," Trevor commented while looking around. "It seems like the Cosmic Tree has already died."
Yep, the Sorcerer's observation was right on the mark.
To be fair, it was pretty obvious.
The trees, the plants, and even the soil in that vast garden were all dead already.
There was no sign of life there.
And worst of all…
"It's so polluted here," Trevor said while covering his nose and mouth with his hand. "Moon Princess, would you like a mask?"
"No, thank you," Neoma said while shaking her head. "I'll eat it."
"What are you going to eat?"
"The pollution."
"Excuse me?"
Neoma just opened her mouth, and then the magic happened.
With just one snap of her fingers, all the pollution in that place gathered until they took the form of what seemed like a huge pink cotton candy.
Yep, it was a new trick that she learned recently— making pollution look appetizing.
"Moon Princess, are you a Sorceress?"
"No, I'm just a pretty goddess," Neoma said while eating the "cotton candy," walking around as if she were in a theme park. "Anyway, I found it what I'm looking for."
"What are you looking for?"
"That."
Neoma then pointed at the tallest tree in the garden.
Trevor let out a gasp. "An Aether?"
Yes, it was the Aether.
But, in that timeline, Neoma hadn't been sacrificed yet.
Hence, that Aether was using another de Moonasterio.
"It seems like you know what an Aether is, Moon Princess," Trevor said nervously. "But what are you planning to do with that? It's already dead."
"I know," Neoma said, sighing. "That's why we're giving it a proper burial."
And I have to check something.
***
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