“Why have you come to visit this time?”
“Do I need a reason to visit? I just came today.”
The great Emperor’s mercy, the Empire of Deserthum, basked in sunlight.
The woman with blue hair and blue eyes walked through the peaceful city, responding to the diplomat following her.
It was hard to believe there was a war going on here.
If only the many monsters prowling around claimed this place as their territory.
“You’re not someone who just drops by…”
“Don’t worry. It’s already been communicated to the Pharaoh.”
“Oh, did you exchange messages with His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Of course.”
She had definitely mentioned it when she left this place a year ago.
“If I think of the food here, I’ll come back. When, you ask? Well…”
“I said about a year later. This is the perfect timing.”
“…That doesn’t sound like communication.”
“Anyway, I came to talk, and there’s important news to share.”
At the mention of news, the diplomat’s eyes lit up.
Deserthum was the nation most concerned with the relations between numerous human kingdoms and races.
If she, who traveled all around the world, had information Deserthum must know, it was crucial.
“R-right! Let me take you to His Majesty!”
“Calm down. I’m only advising caution as it’s just a prediction.”
“How can you say that? Especially when winged maniacs are running rampant.”
“Indeed.”
All the winged maniacs’ wings must be torn off, and their souls destroyed so they cannot be resurrected.
Only then can everything end after revenge, and I can go back…
“……?”
“What’s wrong?”
I turned my head.
It was an ordinary street filled with the Pharaoh’s subjects.
I had wandered around several times, but today felt different somehow.
Something…
“Is today a special day or something?”
“Uh… not really. If there is one, it’s the visit of the great Saintess and savior of humans, Lily Elbrite!”
“Enough. Enough with that, let’s get going.”
“Yes!”
“…….”
This is strange.
■
[Wow, this is amazing]
[No one recognizes her]
[LOL]
[What’s with walking through bodies]
[Is this omniscient ghost perspective?]
[Haven’t you read the book?]
[Lily?]
[Huh]
As I roamed the streets to check the situation and time in this place, I closed the book in my hand and exited the bookstore.
The viewers expressed confusion at my sudden bizarre behavior, but I let out a chuckle.
‘It really exists.’
The fact that Deserthum was still thriving meant that my past self could also be here.
I hadn’t frequently visited Deserthum, but at least among the mad monsters, there was a decent being who came by about twice a year.
I didn’t visit, but still, among the crazy monsters running rampant, she was like a fairy, so I at least dropped by twice a year.
But it was only twice, and since Deserthum was so vast, I thought it would be hard to run into her.
“Hard to run into? What are you talking about?”
As soon as I started, I ran straight into her.
[Current Interference Level – 99.8%.]
In fact, the moment I took out a book from the bookstore to check the timing, she sensed the anomaly and glanced my way.
She didn’t interfere with anyone except for the book, and definitely not with Lily.
But thanks to that, I figured out the exact timing.
“I’ve been in Lily’s body for 18 years. It’s time to report the movement of the ‘Demon Race’ to the Pharaoh.”
At that moment, I was about to alert the Pharaoh after confirming the abnormal signal that the Demon Race was finally starting to stir after being active in another continent.
By the way, I was in a pretty sensitive state at this time.
Not as sensitive as the ‘second’ incident, but after the ‘first’ event, I went through a lot of changes, and Lily during this time was in the late middle of that transition phase.
She wasn’t fully formed yet, but at least in the current situation, she was more threatening than anyone else.
“I figured out what it feels like. I was just trying to grasp the timing anyways.”
[Really?]
[Let’s meet the Emperor right away.]
[Don’t we have to find the Heritage Successor?]
[Let’s go see that Guy Uncle.]
[Wouldn’t they just pop out if we break everything? lol]
“Well, I don’t think it’ll be around right now…”
The moment the Heritage Successor got their inheritance was a story thousands of years later.
The Scorpion, who was just a Scorpion, obviously doesn’t exist in this timeframe.
The Forgotten Emperor has a chance, but I can’t find him for the time being.
I can interfere with three different timelines, so in the first timeline, I should focus on gathering information rather than interference.
Sure, I could defeat the Pharaoh right now and sneak the heritage away, but the Pharaoh is strong.
Even using the casket would be tough, and even if I could win, Lily is here at the moment.
“Right now, with Lily and the Pharaoh at the same time?”
I would rather choose to fight the Intermediate Demon Tribe.
“First, since we’re still before the destruction, I need to find a place to hide the inheritance.”
I’ve never heard of the Pharaoh hiding anything in particular.
It only took five minutes for him to lose everything, and he must have moved urgently, so he wouldn’t have had the time to plan for the future.
Moreover, at that time, the Pharaoh had to gather something more important.
“Will Serrek-sama show up today?”
“Maybe? Honestly, you two look so good together, don’t you understand why he doesn’t ascend to the Empress position…”
“Are you not going to rise to meet me…?”
“Shh! Be quiet! What if someone hears us?”
“Ah, why? Did I say something wrong? Honestly, it’s true that the Emperor is paying attention…”
‘Serrek.’
The left hand of the Pharaoh and the real second-in-command of the Deserthum.
I turned my gaze away from the Empire’s subjects passing by, unaware of my presence.
Like two suns, one rose low and the other high in the Sun Palace.
Seeing the lower sun, I immediately set my steps.
I must meet Serrek.
■
“…How many times do I have to tell you? I am not interested in that.”
“Hah, Serrek. No, Administrative Minister. Are you messing with me right now?”
“I have never played around.”
The Sun Palace of the lower sun.
Serrek, the real master of the palace and the administrative minister involved in almost all governance within the Empire.
She faced the woman before her with her characteristic blunt expression.
She should have been sitting in her rightful place.
“Not playing? Then what are you doing?”
The empress, bedecked in shimmering gold, glared at Serrek with dissatisfaction.
“The Empress has come, and a mere administrative minister is seated? Is the administrative minister on par with the great Emperor?”
“…….”
Of course, they are not on the same level.
She manages all the Empire’s administration but is not comparable to the pinnacle of the royal family.
However, the Pharaoh granted Serrek the position of the ‘master of the lower sun’s palace.’
‘Only the second-in-command of the Empire can ascend to this position.’
I cannot know for sure why such a choice was made, but the position meant for the empress or the successor was given to the administrative minister.
Serrek sighed.
“This is the lower sun’s palace. Unless the Emperor arrives, I have no reason to rise.”
“Oh my. Are you defying me now?”
“I am merely following the Emperor’s orders. I cannot go against His will.”
A brief stare-down ensued.
The empress narrowed her eyes in warning, but Serrek did not back down either.
In the end, it was the empress who retreated.
“Really… I’m curious. Just how did you manage to roast him like that?”
“…The expression ‘roast’ is excessive. He merely gave me a position that suits me. Being here is the way to make the Empire more prosperous.”
“Are you so unaware? How unfortunate for you.”
“……”
“Alright. Let’s agree on that. But why are you refusing to be a concubine?”
The real second-in-command of the Deserthum.
With the Pharaoh’s favor, she could seize not just the concubine’s place but also the empress’s throne.
If it’s her, she could take not just the position of a concubine but also that of the Empress.
However, Serrek still didn’t rise to the top and quietly continued to be a Knight below.
“Why are you toying with that person’s feelings without trying to take them for yourself? No matter how that person is, for how long—”
“…You’re going too far!”
Clunk! Serrek, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly stood up and glared at the Empress.
It’s not like Serrek to act out like this.
The Empress looked surprised, but Serrek was serious.
“If you speak carelessly about that person again, I will kick you out of here, even if you’re the Empress!”
“…Are you being naive or just too smart for your own good…”
“That’s got nothing to do with me…”
“Enough. I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t get it. I’m leaving.”
Sre. The door on the top floor opened as the Empress turned her back.
“Oh, and.”
“Huh?”
“I heard that human who occasionally came by has arrived. Should we be on guard?”
“…What do you mean?”
“As you know, that person has been paying a lot of attention to that human lately. They talk a lot. What if all your interest gets taken away?”
Well, you’re smart enough to handle it yourself.
“Just saying.”
“…Take care.”
Clunk!
The door closed.
Left alone on the quiet top floor, Serrek slumped back into his seat.
He was too emotional.
Normally, he would have just let it slide quietly.
‘Not like me at all.’
“…Am I just losing my mind?”
What in the world…
……
‘Lady Lily?’
What’s up with that person?
She’s neither from the Desert nor follows that person.
She doesn’t even like that person and isn’t even here in the first place.
Their personalities obviously don’t match, the relationship doesn’t seem good, and while she is pretty, other than talking a lot with that person lately, it’s like they have absolutely no relationship—
…?
“Uh, uh, huh?”
Suddenly, one side of his vision twisted and someone appeared.
Li…
“Lady Lily?! When did you…?”
“I’m not interested. Really.”
“……Huh?”
Lady Lily waved her hands.
Her expression was completely void of any emotion.
Ah.
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
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