"WHY IS it so hard to see your face these days, Yoan?"
"I go by the name of 'Ruto' now, Lady Elina," Ruto said, bowing to the Sun Goddess who was currently possessing Sienna's body. "Are you still alive?"
As soon as he returned to the Eastern Continent, he went straight to House Solfrid.
To be precise, he visited the Sun Priestess in her temple located within the Solfrid Estate.
After all, if the Sun Goddess was possessing the Sun Priestess' body, then they wouldn't be able to leave the prayer room.
Yule could possess any of his representatives at anytime and anywhere because the Moon God had the de Moonasterios to draw his strength from. The Sun Goddess only had Ruto and the Sun Priestess.
[Sienna and I aren't always together, so the Sun Goddess has to draw strength from the temple in order to have the power to temporarily use the Sun Priestess as her vessel.]
"Of course, I am, you rude punk," Goddess Elina said, then she lit up a cigar and smoked it before speaking– leaning against the backrest of the sofa while crossing her legs. "We're done pretending that we abandoned the empire. But, well, you already went out of your way to help Neoma de Moonasterio by renouncing your other citizenship just to join her Selection. I guess we didn't fool anyone."
"But it worked even though the show only lasted for a short while," Ruto reasoned, then he sipped his tea before continuing. "Moreover, Neoma succeeded in distracting Helstor and the crows when she gathered the strongest young men in the empire."
The Sun Goddess nodded in agreement. "Thanks to that, I was able to save that stupid Yule from his fancy cage."
"Where are you now?"
"I can't tell you our location. It's not that I don't trust you, Ruto. But it will be safer if we keep our location a secret for now."
"I see. So, what can I do for you, Lady Elina?"
The Sun Goddess wouldn't summon him just to see his face.
"Yule had a vision," Lady Elina said solemnly. "Three Calamities will hit the world soon. Fortunately, those are the same Calamities that hit the world in the first timeline. Hence, we know how to deal with them now."
Ah, right.
How could he forget about those Calamities?
"We lost to those Calamities in the past because we didn't have the right people back then," Ruto said, reminiscing about the first timeline. "And Neoma awakened her potential as the Aether a little too late back then. But, right now, she's at her peak. Most of all, Trevor Kesser has also unlocked his full potential as the Contractor. He'll be the biggest key player in the war alongside little Neoma."
Ruto frowned.
He didn't want to admit this, but the Sun Goddess was right.
The empire was lucky to have Trevor as a loyal ally this time.
[Well, Trevor also joined the war during the first timeline. But he only did it because he had fun teasing Neoma. When things got serious and boring for him, he disappeared.]
The Trevor right now wouldn't abandon Neoma even if it killed him.
[Moreover, Trevor is three times stronger now after he received the Ancient Devil's power.]
Trevor Kesser was someone who gained all the right to stand equally with Neoma.
[I… hate that.]
"Aren't you glad that you didn't sacrifice Nikolai de Moonasterio this time?"
Ruto flinched at the Sun Goddess' question.
"Nikolai de Moonasterio is the only person who can destroy the Second Calamity, but he was already gone when the Calamities hit the world in the first timeline," Lady Elina continued. "Moreover, this time, a Light Priestess was actually born. It wasn't only the big change that little Neoma has brought to this lifetime. The Moon Saint and the baby Monster Tamer were both the children of the queen that little Neoma befriended. If it wasn't for her, the current Griffiths wouldn't be the amazing Royal Family that they are today."
"It wasn't just the Griffiths that Neoma changed in this timeline," Ruto added. "If Neoma didn't bring the Ice Spirit to Hazelden, then they would have never discovered the treasure that was hidden there."
"You must go to the empire and teach them how to properly use the treasure and the baby Monster Tamer, Ruto. Since you know how the First Calamity would hit the empire, you should help them overcome it," the Sun Goddess said. "The Eastern Continent will be fine since Helstor cannot bring his reanimated corpses here. He'll focus on the Imperial Capital to terrorize the citizens."
"That's the plan, my lady."
"But you must return here for the Second Calamity," the Sun Goddess said firmly. "Nikolai de Moonasterio has the Light Priestess, so the empire will be fine. But the Eastern Continent only has you and Sienna. As long as the empire and the Eastern Continent overcome the First and the Second Calamity, then the other parts of the world will be safe."
He nodded in agreement. "I'm worried about the Third Calamity, though. It was the Calamity that ruined Prince Nero and Miss Dahlia in the past. I can already see history repeating itself."
"Little Nero and little Dahlia's fates are entangled, and there's nothing I can do about it."
He had no choice but to agree with the Sun Goddess.
[Prince Nero looks calmer now than he did in the first timeline. If he could tone down his Lunacy with Miss Dahlia by his side, then everything should be fine.]
"I need to talk to the king and prepare the continent for the impending Calamities."
Lady Elina nodded. "I already sent the king a vision so he'd support the empire without a question. The Kingdom of Suoh is the strongest kingdom on the Eastern Continent, so the other countries and kingdoms that follow the Sun Goddess would obey your command."
"Does it mean I have to reveal the fact that I'm your representative?"
"It wasn't a secret among the devotees of the Sun Goddess anyway."
"Then can I declare openly that I support Princess Neoma?"
Lady Elina laughed softly. "Yoan– no, Ruto. You must express your stance to support the empire and not just your little princess."
Oh.
He misspoke.
Ruto would never admit it, but his cheeks definitely turned red. "I'll make my preparations now, Lady Elina."
***
[GOSH, Ruto might still be into me, huh?]
Neoma couldn't help but smile haughtily after hearing Ruto's declaration of support towards the de Moonasterios.
Never mind the fact that he intercepted her speech.
Never mind the fact that he somehow stole the spotlight from her.
[It's fine as long as Ruto makes a stance that favors the empire.]
<"As the successor of House Solfrid and the representative chosen by the Sun Goddess herself, I officially condemn Lord Helstor– the God of Eternal Darkness– for threatening the human race with Darkness,"> Ruto said in a calm yet firm manner. <"Fret not, everyone– the de Moonasterios and the Solfrids– the families that represent the Moon and the Sun respectively– won't let Darkness swallow the moon and the sun. The sky looks dark at the moment, but I swear on the Sun Goddess' name that it won't last long.">
"That's what he said," Neoma said proudly. "Lord Ruto, have you said everything you wanted to say?"
She wasn't being rude.
It was just that she had to start advertising herself to her potential clients. It wasn't easy to connect a communication device to most parts of the world. Hence, she wouldn't miss the opportunity to promote.
[Advertisements rule the capitalist society of my past life, after all.]
<"Yes, Princess Neoma,"> Ruto said politely. <"You may continue with your speech. I apologize for interrupting you, and I'd like to express my gratitude for allowing me to speak on behalf of the Eastern Continent.">
"It's nothing. I should be the one thanking you for making a wise decision, my lord," Neoma said, then she faced the camera once again. "Now that you know that the empire won't be alone in this fight, I'd like to take this opportunity to invite everyone– humans or not– to come and fight with me."
Yep, this was her goal in the first place– to recruit allies.
"I know that most of you allied with Lord Helstor because you were being threatened," Neoma said, smiling "sweetly." "If your territory, domain, or property is polluted by Darkness, come to me and I'll clean that shit up for you." She put a hand on her chest. "I already did that for Goddess Alethea and the other minor gods who sought my help. Of course, it won't be free. You need to offer something with an equivalent value. Trevor Kesser, my trusted Contractor, will be open for negotiations in my place."
She stood up and slightly leaned against the table, her arms still crossed over her chest.
Usually, she was insecure about her height.
But she wanted to look big and intimidating this time, so she stood up.
"Ah, I would also like to take this opportunity to comment on the current rumor that the nasty crows had spread," Neoma said. Yes, she wasn't done yet. "It's true that I only have a few years left to live."
It was better to be honest now that the truth had been exposed anyway.
She just had to assure her people that her short lifespan wouldn't affect her competency as the Imperial Princess.
However, she knew that was she was about to say would hurt her family and friends.
[But I still need to say it.]
"I have no intention of dying alone," Neoma said, smiling coldly this time. "If I'm going to die in this war, then I'll make sure I'll drag the enemies to hell with me." She waved at the camera as she ended her speech. "Lord Helstor, Calyx, Callisto de Luca– I'll see you in hell, bitches."
***
OH.
Brigitte was surprised when the scary wild dog that was with her father-in-law suddenly lunged at her as soon as she entered the conference room.
Glenn immediately stood in front of her protectively.
But her husband didn't have to act so protectively of her.
[I think I can handle it…]
"Stop," Brigitte said in a firm and commanding voice. "Stop and sit."
Much to Brigitte and everyone's surprise, the wild dog really did stop running towards her.
Then the monster sat in front of her, its expression different than it was earlier.
Now the wild dog looked like an ordinary dog.
[It really worked…]
Glenn looked at her in disbelief. "My queen, it took me years before Bastian listened to me. You're amazing."
'Bastian' must be the name of the wild dog.
"It wasn't me," Brigitte said while shaking her head, then she gently touched her baby bump. "It's our baby, Glenn."
***
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