The event, proposed by Musk, delivered effects far beyond expectations.

Despite Savior formally declaring a "holy war," the demon worshippers, armed with meticulous caution, proved challenging to root out.

Their willingness to resort to suicide bombings complicated matters further. Even with actionable intelligence, taking immediate action often resulted in the perpetrators fleeing during the confusion.

However, as Musk had suggested, an irresistible reward could override any hesitations. After all, many held honor more precious than life itself.

Initially, public sentiment about the event was less than favorable. Time and time again, people questioned whether meeting Zenon was worth risking one’s life. Critics condemned the event as reckless, arguing that no reward justified human lives being gambled away.

A Turning Point

But everything changed after news broke of a village entirely under the grip of demon worshippers.

[A whole village falls under the hands of demon worshippers...]
[A horrific tradition masquerading as heritage...]
[Children rescued from emotional and physical torment now under church protection...]

The revelation of children being brainwashed and tortured shook the public to its core. Across time and cultures, children are seen as symbols of innocence and must be protected. To harm them is universally condemned, even by criminals.

This horrifying news flipped the narrative.

Hidden Atrocities Unearthed

The event didn’t just save one village. Like a treasure hunt, it uncovered horrifying truths across the land.

Numerous lords’ corruption and crimes were exposed, and countless individuals, treated like livestock, were liberated.

Among these were shocking discoveries:

[Slaves rescued included not only humans but also beastmen, dwarves, and even elves. Tendons severed, mana sealed...]
[Elves, considered "premium stock," often used as sex slaves, alchemical materials, or sacrifices for summoning demons...]
[Dwarves exploited for labor; beastmen sold to fulfill twisted desires...]

Even the proud and god-chosen elves were not spared from the demon worshippers’ clutches. Their arrogance often left them vulnerable to ambushes and abductions.

These revelations enraged Alvenheim, especially when it was revealed that the trafficking network targeted elves specifically.

[Alvenheim’s fury: A task force is dispatched to track down perpetrators...]
[Solo travelers advised against complacency...]

As Alvenheim stood as a dominant power akin to a global superpower, their wrath sent shockwaves across nations, particularly the Minerva Empire, where many of these atrocities occurred.

A Larger Crisis

The event not only unearthed the suffering of elves but also shed light on the plight of demonkind.

[Demons subjected to "demonification" used as materials or sacrifices...]
[Slavers avoided using demons as sex slaves due to rapid demonification...]

These findings further vilified the demon worshippers. Many cases, once blamed on inherent demonic nature, were revealed to be orchestrated by worshippers.

Even Helium, long isolated, was not spared entirely, and their fury at the revelations was palpable.

A United Front

Public outrage grew to such an extent that the Minerva Empire was forced to cooperate with neighboring nations. Complex bureaucratic barriers were dismantled to allow collaborative investigations and military interventions.

The vast territory of the Minerva Empire was difficult to patrol thoroughly, even for such a powerful nation. Had these revelations been delayed any further, the demon worshippers might have consumed the empire from within.

Personal Aftermath

"You look exhausted."
"I feel like dying."

Before me sat Lina, her face pale, with dark circles under her eyes.

The once radiant princess now bore signs of days spent grappling with the aftermath. Her golden hair retained its luster, but her weariness was impossible to miss.

"I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to sleep forever. I’m going to die."

Nestled in my arms was Ariel, her crimson hair and golden eyes resembling mine, with a sprout-like feature on her head and translucent wings adorning her back.

"Who’s the kid? She looks like you, but with wings and a sprout on her head."
"Would you believe me if I explained?"
"At this point, I’d believe anything. Am I right in guessing what she is?"
"Yep, Ariel’s an angel."

Lina let out a dry laugh, her tired eyes gazing at Ariel.

"I guess I’ve lived long enough to see an actual angel. You really are something else."

Though curious, she shook her head.

"Maybe later. I have too much on my mind right now..."

Her elegant yawn hinted at just how ingrained her royal upbringing was. Even her exhaustion was tempered by her noble poise.

Ariel’s Names

I turned to Ariel, gently cradling her as she smiled up at me.

"Ariel, what will you call Lina from now on?"
"Sister."

As expected, Ariel referred to Lina as "sister," much like she did for Kate. To Ariel, women connected to me seemed to fall into one of two categories: "mothers" or "sisters."

"That leaves Lilin..."

It was only a matter of time before Ariel assigned her a title too.

"Let’s take our time and think about it. Unlike Ariel, Lily is a newborn. She can’t walk, or even crawl. She’s just a baby.

At least she’s managed to roll over. When she struggled to turn over at the mansion, it was so adorable that I nearly fainted.

Lily and Ariel—both of them are like unexpected gifts to our family.

Imagining how they will grow strong and healthy in the future, I looked ahead with a smile.

To chase away the sleepiness creeping over me, I sipped my tea. That’s when I noticed Lina, her eyes half-closed, visibly tired.

“Lina.”
“…Huh?”
“If you’re that tired, you can go back and rest.”

Currently, the Minerva Empire is facing its greatest crisis since its founding.

Though Kate managed to save the reputation of the Saviors from being tarnished by the corruption of a cardinal, the Empire itself didn’t benefit much from that.

Things have gotten so bad that the Empire is on the verge of being branded as a haven for demon worshippers. Vast territories symbolize national strength, but without proper management, they’re just an empty shell.

While the Empire has maintained control with its powerful military, this has escalated into a global issue that affects more than just one nation.

“No, it’s fine. There’s some news I must deliver to you.”
“News?”
“Father wishes to meet you.”
“…?”

Hearing Lina’s words delivered so casually, I blinked in surprise. But there’s only one person Lina calls “Father.”

The Emperor of the Minerva Empire, the person holding the greatest authority in the land. And now, that Emperor wants to meet me.

As I was processing this sudden announcement, Ariel, who was snuggled in my arms, looked up at me and asked,

“Daddy, what’s an Emperor?”
“Huh? Emperor?”
“Yeah.”
“Well… it’s hard to explain, but they’re the most powerful… no, the most important person in the country. All matters related to the country need the Emperor’s permission.”
“Even for you, Daddy?”
“Uh…”

Instead of answering immediately, I glanced at Lina. If she weren’t present, I would’ve responded directly, but with her here, it felt a bit awkward.

She knows very well that my authority surpasses even that of the Emperor, but it wouldn’t be polite to say it aloud.

Sensing my discomfort, Lina gave a gentle smile and answered, not to me but to Ariel.

“Ariel, right?”
“Yep!”
“Your daddy is an extraordinary man. The only beings greater than your daddy are the gods themselves.”
“Wow… really?”
“Of course.”

Ariel’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me, filled with awe. I could only smile awkwardly at her reaction.

She probably doesn’t fully understand what a country is yet, but hearing that I’m amazing seems to have stuck. At least that resolved itself smoothly.

“Ahem. So, the Emperor wants to meet me?”
“Yes. Oh, and just so you know, it’s a request, not an order. If you refuse, that’s the end of it.”
“What does he want to discuss?”

Frankly, I doubt there’s much to gain from meeting the Emperor. At most, it’ll be a lavish meal with some light conversation.

Though, I’m sure they’ll try to persuade me during the meeting. And the means of persuasion will likely be…

“You already have an idea, don’t you?”
“An arranged marriage?”
“That’s right.”

As expected. I nodded while watching Lina sip her tea calmly.

As I mentioned before, the Minerva Empire is likely to propose an arranged marriage to secure ties with me.

Even though I’m already engaged to Mary from the Reckliss Ducal Family, they’d want to cement their connection to me further.

Especially now that news of my relationship with Arwen is slowly spreading, and my connection with Cecily is set to be announced soon.

Naturally, the royal family would put in considerable effort to link Lina and me somehow.

“Isn’t it a bit hasty? If that’s their plan, wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until my relationship with Cecily is announced or after I marry Mary?”
“They’d prefer to, but ever since the events kicked off, crises have been piling up. The Empire is deeply infiltrated by demon worshippers, making people feel unsafe and distrustful of us. Recently, there was even a case where a lord sold his own people to demon worshippers.”
“The Empire is unstable.”

At my concise remark, Lina nodded in agreement instead of responding verbally. I paused to think over her explanation.

The ongoing events have accelerated the purge of demon worshippers. But as the pace picked up, horrifying acts buried beneath the surface started coming to light.

And those atrocities can’t just be swept under the rug. Moreover, since I’m the one who initiated the event, stopping it midway isn’t an option for the Empire. Instead, focusing on strengthening internal discipline seems to be their best move.

“Of course, it’s not like they want you to marry immediately. That would risk sidelining Mary. It’s more about shaping public opinion for now.”
“That’s acceptable. When?”
“You’ll agree?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Just keep in mind that if any incidents occur during the event, the meeting will have to be postponed.”

While the event started with good intentions, unexpected accidents could still happen. Above all, ensuring there are no innocent victims is a top priority.

However, canceling the event entirely isn’t an option, as demon worshippers might exploit that decision.

Hearing my reply, Lina’s expression brightened as she thanked me.

“Thank you. That’s a huge relief. And like I said, it’s not like you’re marrying me right away, so there’s no need to worry.”
“So, it’s settled that we’ll get married?”
“You could say that.”
“Then… you’ll do that too, won’t you?”
“…?”

At my playful question, Lina froze with her teacup in hand. Then her face flushed red from her neck to her ears.

I didn’t say it outright, but she must’ve understood my meaning. I chuckled, picking up a cookie.

Realizing I was joking, Lina put down her cup and began fanning herself, glaring at me with a look that said, “How could you?”

She tucked her loose hair behind her ears and spoke, still maintaining her refined tone.

“…Of course, if we’re married, we’d have to. It’s a tradition, after all.”
“Are you sure? If you don’t want to, we could stick to a purely political marriage.”
“No. Compared to marrying some mediocre man, I’d much rather be with you. Besides…”

Lina trailed off, glancing at me with her still-flushed face.

Her hand, which had been fanning herself, dropped as she clutched her dress tightly, her body tense for some reason.

Just as I was about to ask about Lina’s peculiar behavior, she took a deep breath and said,

“…Never mind. Let’s talk about this later. For now…”
“Who should we ask?”
“Huh?”
“What?”

Before Lina could finish, Ariel’s voice interrupted. Both of us turned to look at her.

Ariel stared at Lina with a mischievous expression and said boldly,

“Mary? Cecily? Or someone else?”
“…?”
“I want to see it soon. Should we ask someone for practice?”

What is she talking about? I tilted my head, unable to grasp Ariel’s meaning.

Judging by how she was looking directly at Lina, it’s clear she was reading her mind. But I had no idea what she was hinting at.

“They wouldn’t mind, right? After all, they’ve seen everything already.”
“W-what?”
“This isn’t because I’m a pervert. They’re just… too indecent… indecent?”

It seemed like she encountered a word she didn’t fully understand.

“Daddy, what does ‘indecent’ mean?”
“…?”
“And what’s a pervert?”

As soon as she said that, I glanced at Lina.

Already dealing with a headache, I wondered if the heat had gone to her head.

Thunk—

Meeting my gaze, Lina slammed her head onto the table."