The reason for staging a coup in Star City was simple.

It was the inequality between nobles and commoners.

From the treatment they received at the city gates, I waved the red flag, sparking the flames of revolution.

All to create a society where everyone was equal.

“Reform Star City!”
“Reform Star City!”
“Reform Star City!”

After numerous chants, a person who seemed to hold some authority in the city approached us, offering negotiations.

Clearly, they understood the dire consequences of escalating this situation, which was why they were trying to reach an agreement.

If our forces were weaker or smaller, they wouldn’t have bothered to negotiate.

“The workers do not compromise!”
“The workers do not compromise!”
“The workers do not compromise!”

At this, the official clutched his head, shouting for us to state our demands.

Our demands were straightforward.

Equal treatment during inspections.

They told us they’d discuss it and notify us later, ordering us to disperse immediately. But we weren’t that naive.

We made it clear we wouldn’t disperse until our demands were met, and we would continue our resistance until the end. The official’s face turned red with frustration.

Glancing back at us with irritation, the official withdrew into the castle with his soldiers, leaving us waving our flag of revolution.

---

After successfully finishing this protest, I was back at the Red Revolution’s temporary base, organizing my items when I heard urgent footsteps approaching.

“Comrade Yuna! We have a serious problem!”
“What’s going on?”

They handed me a… wanted poster?

I unfolded it to see my photo and name, along with a bounty.

The bounty amount was thirty million gold.

Currently, the game’s currency exchange rate with real-world cash was 1:1.

In other words, there was a three-million-dollar bounty on my head.

“Well, that’s less than I expected.”
“That’s not the point! With a bounty, you won’t be able to enter any city freely!”

Without access to cities, I wouldn’t be able to rest at inns or get essential items. It was a tricky situation, but I’d been through this once before, so I wasn’t too concerned.

And, as expected, the bounty came from the Avalon Empire.

I didn’t like that emperor before, and I still don’t now.

Maybe I should just… pay him a visit and handle things?

“Well, let’s prepare for now.”

Would anyone even try to come after me for such a small amount?

Reality, however, wasn’t so lenient.

I was often ambushed when I was alone.

Though the vast level difference meant I didn’t get a scratch, my dragon companion, Yong-yong, was furious.

“Grrr!!”

Roaring in rage, Yong-yong insisted on flying straight to the empire and burning it to the ground. I had to calm him down, falling into deep thought.

“Should I handle this peacefully, or should I deal with it my way?”

Peace or blood.

The decision didn’t take long.

Since it’s come to this, I might as well claim the role of a necessary evil on the Arcana continent and make a grand move.

Heh, they’re all done for.

But to do that, I’d need a lot of power.

Yong-yong was strong enough, but I decided to keep him as a trump card. This time, I’d borrow the power of the Demon Realm.

To do so, I needed to cross over to the Demon Realm first.

Then, a race came to mind.

The Dark Elves.

They didn’t exist in this world yet.

To bring them into existence, I’d need to plant a World Tree in the Demon Realm.

They had always liked me and followed me loyally.

First, I’d have to get a seed from the Forest Tribe and then head to the Demon Realm.

“Take me to the village of the Forest Tribe.”
“Grr!”

In an instant, my view shifted, and I was transported to the center of the village.

I’d asked to be taken to the village, but not specifically the center…

Arrows came flying from all directions, accompanied by an ominous killing intent.

If Yong-yong hadn’t raised a protective barrier, I’d have been a pincushion.

“Who goes there?!”

I looked up to see Melin aiming her bow at me with a fierce glare.

I waved at her with a friendly smile, but she only tightened her grip on her bowstring.

“Answer me! How did you infiltrate the village?!”

I was about to think of an excuse when a familiar voice called out.

“Stand down.”

The elder of the Forest Tribe had arrived.

“Elder!”
“She is my guest.”

With that, the elder greeted me with a warm smile.

“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”

The elder of the Forest Tribe was also an incarnation of the Creator.

He was one of the few who remembered me.

It had been a long time since I entered the elder’s house. It was just as simple as before, with only the essentials.

“Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, Elder.”

Melin served me tea with an intense gaze.

She stared at me suspiciously, but when I winked playfully, she glared even harder.

“You’d like to speak in private, I presume?”
“Understood, Elder.”

With a warning that she’d be watching me, Melin left.

I took a sip of the tea. Bitter.

It had been sweet before—was this on purpose?

It seemed I’d really rubbed her the wrong way.

“It’s been a while, Yuna.”
“Have you been well? Actually…”
“I know. You’re here for this, right?”

The elder handed me a box containing the World Tree seed.

“Thank you. I’m planning to visit the Demon Realm with this.”
“I anticipated as much and prepared accordingly.”

Then, as if tearing through space, a figure emerged.

It was the priest of the Demon Realm.

“It’s been a while.”
“It has!”

I hadn’t expected things to proceed this smoothly.

I took the priest’s outstretched hand and bid the elder farewell, who told me to be careful. Stepping through the portal, I arrived in the Demon Realm.

The place looked different from when I last visited.

“Did something change?”
“This is what the Demon Realm looked like before it was corrupted. This is the true Demon Realm.”

Gone was the eerie Demon Realm of old; this looked more like the natural landscapes of the Middle Realm.

As we moved forward, a towering fortress came into view.

“The Demon King won’t remember you, so be on your best behavior.”
“Leave it to me!”
“That’s what worries me.”

As we approached the Demon King’s fortress, the guards stiffened in alarm.

“How did a human get into the Demon Realm?”
“Pri—Priest?! What is…?”

“She is my guest. Stand aside.”

With that, the massive doors opened, and we entered the fortress, surrounded by countless demons.

Their fierce faces were as intimidating as ever.

After a long corridor, we arrived at the audience chamber, where the Demon King awaited. The heavy doors creaked open.

Inside, the Demon King sat on his throne, surrounded by high-ranking demons, exuding a noble aura.

It had been so long since I last saw him. My lips twitched, fighting the urge to run up and hug him.

He wouldn’t remember me, after all.

Then, his voice echoed.

“Everyone, leave.”

With that command, everyone, including the priest, left the room.

Leaving only the Demon King, Yong-yong, and me.

“Grr…”

The three of us were alone.

He rose from his throne and walked toward me.

“Nice to meet you…”

Before he could finish, the Demon King embraced me.

“It pains me to hear you say we’re meeting for the first time.”

“You… remember me?!”

Surprised, I looked up, and he gently patted my head, smiling.

“How could I forget my dear Yuna, even if I forget everything else?”

“Demon King…”

A deeply moving moment.

However, it didn’t last long, thanks to Yong-yong.

“Grr!”

“The dragon is still the same, I see.”

Yong-yong positioned himself protectively between us, flicking his tongue at the Demon King.

Such possessiveness.

“Yong-yong is still young.”

“Grr?!”

Suddenly being treated like a child, Yong-yong looked indignant. It was adorable.

The Demon King chuckled, extending his hand toward me.

When I placed my hand in his, he smiled warmly.

“Though holding your hand is nice, don’t you have something else?”

“Oh…”

With an awkward laugh, I retrieved the box from my inventory and handed it to him. He accepted it with care.

“Unlike before, I have just the perfect place in mind. Come with me.”

He activated a gate, and we were transported to a high cliff overlooking the entire Demon Realm.

In a place inhospitable to regular trees, the World Tree was different.

The Demon King planted the World Tree seed and infused it with his mana. A sprout emerged.

“From here, it’s up to you, Yuna.”
“Leave it to me.”

I dropped mana stones from my inventory near the sprout, which began absorbing them one by one, growing larger with each.

Finally, a grand World Tree stood before us.

[It has been a while, Mother.]

“You remember me?!”

[I am the World Tree, after all.]