"What on earth is that...?"

The expressions of the group soured instantly. What is that giant, earth-colored balloon-like object? Did they set that up to welcome the Emperor? Is Vermont insane?

[Kyah, kyahoo! Is this enough?]

"What is that, Vermont?"

"Oh. Did you see? That’s the mascot of our city."

"A mascot...?"

"Essentially, it’s a representative character. Just because the road is open doesn’t mean that the number of visitors to Vermont will suddenly increase. But if rumors spread about a strange living entity, won’t it become famous?"

"Are you aiming for tourism revenue? I wonder how many people would come all this way just to see that..."

The Emperor’s expression was equally soured. But Aslan stood next to her, as if he were a fish in water, happily explaining.

As she watched that bizarre sight, Irene stiffened.

'What did I just see?'

A faint smile from the Emperor brushed past her. It wasn’t a derisive or mocking smile. It was the kind of smile that one would have while reading a romance novel alone in a room, letting out a giggle they couldn’t suppress.

Only Irene saw that smile. In the blink of an eye, the Emperor’s expression contorted, her face now filled with anger, just like the rest of the group.

'Did I see that wrong? Was it an illusion?'

Irene hurriedly rubbed her eyes, again and again. Of course, it didn’t make sense. The emotionless iron-empress laughed at that ridiculous-looking monster? With an expression that seemed about to let out a loud "hee hee hee"?

No matter how she thought about it, she must have seen it wrong. It had to be.

Even shaking her head couldn’t shake off the Emperor's smile from Irene's mind.

She hadn't seen it wrong!

"Your Majesty. I will immediately order that abominable thing removed..."

"Shut up. Whether to demolish that monster or not is up to Aslan Vermont. Let him do as he pleases."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."

"…Stand up. If you keep prostrating like that, your clothes will wear out."

Aslan’s prediction had come true...? Irene was left dumbfounded. And at the same time, her memory returned to the day before.

"Aslan. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"No bad words in the Vermont mansion!"

"…"

With a loud shout from the audacious Charlotte, Irene was taken aback and momentarily lost for words. Did this little green-haired brat just interrupt me?

As her temper flared, Irene’s hand instinctively went up but stopped. Behind her, Silvia was purposefully making a sliding sound as she drew her sword. The overwhelming mana radiating from Silvia felt like something she couldn't match now, unlike that time when she had beaten her mercilessly.

"Damn it."

"Damn it is prohibited too!"

"…Shit."

Irene clicked her tongue and took a step back. This was no time for pointless power struggles. She needed to find a way to survive. Because of Aslan's craziness, she was getting dragged into this mess and her head was on the line...!

"I can use the kids and that dirt creature somehow."

"Explain in more detail. I can understand the kids, but how could that brown monster win the Emperor's favor? That makes no sense. There must be some implicit meaning behind it?"

"There’s none. It’s literally what it is. The Emperor likes cute things, so the idea was that she would be very pleased to see it."

"What the hell...?"

As Irene was about to explode with anger, she bit her lip and held it back. Fine, it’s true that the Emperor has a fondness for adorable things. No matter how much she wanted to turn Aslan into bloody pulp right now, she’d let that pass for now.

"Is that thing cute? Who the hell thinks that abomination is cute!?"

That aside, saying that thing is cute? That monster? Are your eyes okay?

[Kyah! An abomination, you say!]

"That’s right! It’s too much! Our dirt creature is so cute!"

[Yeah! I’m cute! …Huh? Huh!? What!? I’m cute!!!]

"It’s a fact that you’re cute, so denying it won’t help, Dirt! Accept it! Love yourself as you are!"

[Kyah!!!]

With Charlotte’s remark, the great spirit screamed.

Irene felt a sharp headache coming on. Anyone who could find something like that cute, excluding children, would likely be a severely deranged person suffering from emotional deficiency due to a stark divide between harsh reality and their tender inner self.

"Your expression looks like you’re chewing on shit."

"Wouldn’t it be odd not to? On the eve of welcoming the Emperor, you’re spewing this nonsense...!"

"Just give it a try. What do you have to lose?"

"If I lose, I’m beheaded, you crazy bastard."

"Regardless. Even if you take the lead in preparing the welcome without me, do you have confidence?"

"…Not really. After all, the young lord is you. With the Emperor visiting, it wouldn’t be odd for the representative to lose their title just for having their sister host."

Right. I know that well.

Aslan looked as if he was saying that he knew exactly how to conduct himself, causing Irene to tremble her lips but say nothing.

Now, there was no other way but to silently follow Aslan's 'plan.'

"This is maddening..."

Irene sighed and turned around. It was a signal that she wouldn’t interfere any longer and let him do as he pleased.

"Yulia. I’d like your opinion. What should we do to make that thing even cuter?"

"Hmm. Dirt was cuter when it was bigger. Maybe we should grow it back to that size? ...Right?"

"Good. Accepted. Let’s welcome the Emperor by enlarging it with your command."

"A big Dirt...! That sounds super cute!"

[Kyah! What are you saying without permission! Who cares about the Emperor or the head of humans! I have no intention of helping with your hospitality!]

Struggling and flailing, the great spirit squirmed next to Charlotte. Aslan squatted down before it, making eye contact.

[Ugh!?]

In that moment, the great spirit froze, feeling an unknown chill. It had an expression that conveyed both foreboding and fear.

"Let’s make a deal."

[What, what? I won’t accept any material goods from the human world.]

"It’s not that. If you follow our orders for just one day tomorrow, I’ll send you back to the mountains. After that, I won’t interfere with what you do in the mountains."

[Is that true! Then I will cooperate!]

The great spirit quickly fell for the offer and agreed to cooperate. At this, Silvia tilted her head in confusion.

No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t seem like a promise that could be kept...?

"Young lord, are you serious? If you release the great spirit back to the mountains, the road will be in chaos from earthquakes."

"Dirt! Do we have to send it back?"

"Wait a moment, both of you."

Aslan wore a meaningful smile. Meanwhile, Charlotte, who had been anxious, shut her mouth and decided to wait.

It was clear that Uncle had some trick up his sleeve.

"Well then, I’ll go."

With a deep breath, Yulia sent forth her command.

A pale light enveloped the great spirit’s body, and that light gradually grew until it reached a size much larger than the mansion.

[Kyah! I’ve returned to my original size!]

As the light faded, what was revealed was the enlarged form of the great spirit.

The great spirit opened its mouth wide and roared, displaying its majesty.

[Huh!?]

Suddenly, it wobbled.

Unable to maintain its balance, it flailed its arms and then fell backward with a thud.

Flailing, flailing.

The great spirit was unable to stand up alone, lying on its back, its short arms flapping helplessly.

[What’s happening!!!]

"It has grown too big to control its body. Right now, it’s in a tangible form affected by gravity, not an ethereal form."

[Lift me up! Now!]

"Really? If I lift you up, what will you do? If you want something, you have to give something too, right?"

[Kyah! You damn human! You knew it would come to this from the beginning! How is it that all you think about is screwing others over!!!]

The great spirit wailed and shouted.

I’ve been deceived again!

This bastard is trying to squeeze something out of me!

"Let’s modify that promise a bit. If you follow our orders for just one day, I’ll send you back to the mountains. We’ll change that to ten years from now. How about it?"

[What? Ten years? I can wait as long as that! I’ll accept that proposal! Lift me up!]

The great spirit’s face lit up as it readily accepted the proposal.

At this, Silvia tilted her head once more in confusion.

"Even if it’s in ten years, isn’t it still the same if the road gets ruined by then?"

"Think about it. Ten whole years. Just now, we had a chance to modify the agreement, but how many chances will there be in ten years? If we keep extending it by ten years, then it might never be sent back."

"Oh."

"And even if we do end up sending you back, it’s no problem. We’ll sell the existing road for a pittance and dig a new road on the nearby mountain."

"Oh."

Silvia’s previously wavering heart completely steadied.

This man was indeed a blatant villain.

[The evil god, 'Cali,' passionately notes your devilish plan!]

Aslan, pleased with himself, wiped his nose and snapped his fingers toward Irene.

"Sister. I’m counting on you. You’re the only one who can lift that thing."

"Sigh, damn it..."

With a deep sigh, Irene stood up. With a gesture from her hand, a black shape began to emerge from behind her.

"…!"

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Silvia drew her sword and stepped back.

It was clear. This aura was from the enormous avatar of the evil god that had destroyed the mansion’s walls that night...!

'In terms of size and form, it’s definitely it!'

As Silvia braced herself for battle, the avatar of the evil god, Laura, manifested in this world.

"…Huh?"

But...

Was it originally like that?

Was it just terrifying in the dark back then?

Caught off guard by its surprisingly shabby appearance, Silvia was left speechless.

[Ugh... Ha!]

[Thank you.]

After using her strength to lift the great spirit, Laura nodded in response to its gratitude.

Silvia felt her tension dissolve and put her sword down.

Had I been humiliated and terrified by something like that?

It was a moment when Silvia's remaining pride shattered into pieces.