Hecto's lieutenant, Deca, did not follow the golden ark. During the pursuit, Hecto's scattered subordinates had stretched out like drying water trails, and Deca, always left cleaning up after others, had to gather them together.

Of course, even while doing so, Deca was full of complaints.

"Damn it, damn it…! After everything we've done for the Confederation!"

In the Confederation, a trading guild rises and falls with its Overseer.
To gain a competitive edge over other alchemists in a nation overshadowed by the Golden Mirror's vast influence, technical skill alone wasn’t enough. No matter how remarkable a craftsman's abilities were, an individual’s impact on the world was inherently limited.

What was needed was an Overseer—an alchemist chosen to create value even where there was none, a figure capable of uniting the fragmented Confederation.

"Damn Hecto, you just had to die like that? Leaving behind all those who believed in your ideals?"

The people who processed stored provisions, those who transported the goods, and the guild members scattered across cornfields and cities—Deca had managed to gather a total of 500 people. It might not seem like a large number, but in the Confederation, where groups tended to be loosely organized, a collective of over 500 was rare. And considering that each of them owned a vehicle the size of a house, the guild functioned more like a mobile city.

Once, the sight of this grand procession would have filled Deca with pride. But knowing it might soon disappear made it impossible for him to smile.

Clenching his fists tightly, Deca bit his finger. Blood welled up from the crushed skin beneath his teeth.

"No. I can’t let it end like this. If Hecto’s assets are distributed, the guild will lose its last point of cohesion! Damn it, but which Overseer should I…"

His muttered complaints, dropped alongside his blood, fell to the ground unheard. Without a miracle, Deca’s lamentations would amount to nothing more than that.

"—I have heard your thoughts clearly."

And then, as if by a miracle, someone appeared before Deca.

It was a woman cloaked in a deeply hooded robe. Apart from her slender jawline, no part of her face was visible. Judging by the bandaged fists that peeked from her sleeves, she seemed to be a martial artist skilled in Qi techniques.

Deca had no idea when she had approached him. He felt irritation bubbling up but swallowed it. The sense of destiny that accompanied her sudden arrival in his darkest hour silenced him, drawing his attention to her.

"Order is always necessary. The values everyone believes in must be upheld for the sake of that faith. The Suppression Overseer's Drum Guild is the Confederation’s table. For the people of this land not to starve, it must persist."

She was right, and Deca couldn’t agree more. Why is it that people only know how to cause trouble but never plan for what comes after? If the Drum Guild disappeared now, half the Confederation’s scavengers might starve to death.

"You are part of the system that forms the Confederation. Though this nation has been disrupted by the demon god, no one can deny the order that has been established within it. You have contributed greatly."

Her words scratched the itch in Deca’s heart, stripping away the accumulated grime of frustration. Overwhelmed by the indescribable relief, Deca nodded fervently.

Deca had contributed. The Confederation had grown fat thanks to him and the Drum Guild.
Deca had worked tirelessly. Sleepless nights had been routine, and there were days when he risked his life.
Deca had been loyal. His genuine efforts had earned Hecto’s recognition, eventually elevating him to the position of lieutenant.

Shouldn’t there be a proper reward for such dedication? That’s the way the world ought to work.

"…And you are?"
"I am someone who knows you, acknowledges you, and will reward you."

The woman removed her hood, revealing her face. Ash-gray hair framed her features, and atop her head, a radiant halo shimmered, subtly declaring her identity.

"Aah! Finally!"

…Of course, Deca’s true desires weren’t for order or discipline. Grand ideals like the peace and prosperity of the Confederation were merely byproducts of working under Hecto—they were never his goal.

He was a petty man. Someone who found satisfaction in aligning with greater authority, wielding borrowed power as if it were his own, and reveling in the sense of unity it gave him. Under a different leader, Deca could have easily caused harm.

But now, called by the Saint herself, Deca became a true patriot, a servant devoted to the Confederation.

"I will personally ensure that you receive the recognition you deserve."
"A… aah…"

There is no heaven, no hell—only lonely graves to commemorate the dead.
Yet gods deceive the dying, claiming that humanity’s purpose is noble, that the present is merely a foundation for a grander ideal, and that even in death, their contributions will bring joy in heaven.

Deca’s true desires didn’t align with such notions, but what did it matter? Human faith was always that shallow.

The Iron Saint, Peruel, commanded her follower with divine authority.

"Lead this servant to Claudia. That is your mission."
"…Yes! I will obey!"

He was still a petty man, seeking to cling to greater authority.
Yet, kneeling before Peruel, Deca resolved to devote himself to her entirely, filled with an unparalleled sense of elation.

****

The Regressor's statement about killing a god left the Thunder Overseer momentarily speechless.

"Killing the Thunder God? A wandering outsider solving Claudia’s age-old problem?"

If it were as simple as he claimed, the people of Claudia wouldn’t have had to cower in terror every time storm clouds gathered. The Regressor's offer sounded too far-fetched to believe, yet too enticing to dismiss outright.

"More than anything… there’s an odd sense of certainty about him. Someone with that much confidence must have a plan, right? There's no harm in hearing him out."

Of course, for a city ruler, trusting so easily might seem rash. Then again, it was the Regressor—someone who always seemed to justify such confidence.

After a moment of hesitation, the Thunder Overseer spoke.
"Whether your words are true or mere bluster, we’ll find out once we reach Claudia."

She murmured this as she turned and walked out of the cabin. Earlier, her footsteps had echoed like rolling thunder. Now, with her subdued energy, they were eerily silent. It seemed there was no need for posturing anymore. The Overseer's emotional state translated so plainly into her actions that reading her thoughts felt almost redundant.

"For now, I’ll escort you to Claudia as honored guests."

Her tone was more polite than before, extending an official invitation.

As with most large cities, Claudia had its share of hopefuls clinging to its edges. Before reaching the city proper, the golden ark passed through dozens of makeshift shantytowns. These were inhabited by those who couldn’t even call themselves scavengers—people who could only survive by camping around the city’s outskirts and relying on its scraps.

But those places weren’t Claudia.

The true boundary of Claudia was marked more definitively than most national borders—a two-meter-high electric fence. Anything beyond it was outside Claudia, and the real city began only inside the barrier.

Standing before the fence, the Thunder Overseer extended her hand. An invisible force reached out, grabbing the iron gates and pulling them open with a creak. The massive steel doors, two meters tall, swung wide. The Thunder Overseer strode confidently ahead.

"Welcome. This is the Village of Clouds, Claudia."

Claudia’s initial impression was hazy—literally. Thick fog blanketed the area, obscuring much of the view. But as we pushed through the mist, a breathtaking sight emerged.

The first thing to greet us was an enormous steel structure towering into the sky. It stood at least 30 stories tall, its narrow top branching out into steel limbs that spread in every direction, resembling a massive metallic tree.

Beneath those steel branches lay a dense cluster of smaller but still impressive buildings, gathered as if seeking shelter from the tree's canopy. The Thunder Overseer gestured toward the structure and explained.

"That’s a lightning tower. A steel construction built to protect us from the Thunder God’s wrath. If the skies darken and lightning begins to strike, don’t panic—just take cover beneath the tower's shadow. Ah…"

She paused, covering her mouth as if realizing something mid-sentence.

"Not that it matters for you. I suppose a bit of lightning wouldn’t harm you anyway."
"No, please continue. This is essential information."
"Woof! Woof!"

The two beasts, visibly nervous, barked in unison. Seeing our uneasy reactions, the Regressor raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You act fearless most of the time—why the sudden change?"
"Fear of lightning is instinctive. If it hits, it could kill us."
"Woof!"

Aji barked in agreement.

Lightning, with its deafening roar and blinding light, is one of the most primal forces of nature. For animals, it’s the most immediate and terrifying of natural disasters. Though humans have developed ways to predict and evade it, lightning remains unpredictable and deadly—a force that could end a life in an instant.

The Thunder Overseer nodded, seeming to understand.

"That’s normal. Beastfolk, in particular, tend to dislike Claudia for this reason. It’s…"

The Regressor cut in enthusiastically, like an eager student.

"Because their fur gets soaked in the mist, or charged with static from the lightning?"
"Exactly. How did you know? Most outsiders wouldn’t guess that."

The Thunder Overseer looked genuinely surprised by his knowledge.

"Just a hunch," he replied.

‘Heard that last round,’ I thought.

He was flaunting his knowledge from a previous timeline again. While I understood the temptation to show off, wasn’t he worried? Every little slip like this risked exposing his status as a Regressor. Not that I could exactly warn him—"Hey, maybe tone down the reincarnation trivia?" Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

The sheer number of people living under the lightning towers easily exceeded a thousand. And there wasn’t just one tower—at least ten loomed in the distance, their steel branches set against the backdrop of the cloud waterfall. The grandeur of the Confederation’s largest city was awe-inspiring.

The Thunder Overseer continued her explanation.

"The outer perimeter, where the mist is thinner, is mostly residential. Closer to the waterfall is the industrial area. Seven-tenths of the Confederation’s scavengers were born and raised in Claudia. There was a brief panic due to rumors of the Golden Mirror’s arrival, but thanks to your intervention, the city was saved. Verdant Overseer—or rather, Golden Overseer."

Startled by the sudden address, Peru belatedly responded.
"…Yes."
"Take a good look. While Claudia operates independently, it’s still part of the Confederation. The fate of this city depends on the choices you make."

Peru’s already pale complexion darkened further. Burdened by the weight of responsibility, he replied weakly.
"…That’s why I was hoping to ask for your guidance, Thunder Overseer."
"No. This is your duty."
"…I lack the experience to handle such a heavy responsibility. Someone as capable as you…"
"The Golden Mirror was also inexperienced when he assumed the throne. Yet he became not only the king of the Confederation but a ruler akin to a god. That was thanks to his power."

It was unclear whether her tone was meant to encourage or criticize. The Thunder Overseer spoke sharply.

"I’m an exceptional human, that much is true. Compared to me, you fall short."
"…So—"
"Yet the one acknowledged by the Golden Mirror is you, Verdant Overseer. With the unmatched power you now wield, you can shape or destroy the Confederation as you see fit. No matter how extraordinary I am, I’m merely ‘human.’ I can manage a city and serve a god, but that’s the extent of my abilities."

Her stance was ambiguous—simultaneously humble and self-assured. But one thing was clear: the Thunder Overseer was drawing a firm line.

Clad in lightning and wielding near-unlimited power within Claudia, she was undeniably its ruler. Yet, she still acknowledged the Golden Mirror’s contributions to the Confederation’s grand system, despite her disdain for him.

From my perspective, there wasn’t much difference between her and Peru—both seemed like godlike figures.

"The Golden Mirror was a terrifying god," she concluded. "If you want my support, then become a god worth serving."

In her own way, this was the highest praise the Thunder Overseer could offer.

"…A god? I don’t have that kind of ability," Peru thought, burdened to the point of collapse.

With that, we headed deeper into the heart of Claudia, toward its grandest lightning tower.