Fantasy World — Chapter 2 (Creation: The Path of a God)
Running a hand through his hair, Han smiled as he thought about the adorable and innocent Brittany.
After their session and taking a quick nap, he felt recharged. He was ready to experience what the world had in store for him.
Han thought about the map he’d seen before and knew their journey would be relatively long. However, he didn’t imagine they’d walk the entire way. The experience wouldn’t be challenging.
He suspected their travels to be significantly easier than before he gained his powers.
“At least it’s not that bad,” Han smiled bitterly.
Considering his ability, they didn’t need to bring general supplies when traveling around the world, like back on Earth.
Thinking about traveling and needing supplies made him remember when he would go camping with his friends, the time and preparation required to get to the site and get everything ready when they arrived. The first few, they’d forget to bring a necessary item — the ones often used for cooking food.
“It would probably ruin the experience if I just teleport back to my chambers to sleep,” Han tried to imagine what people would’ve said.
After having the chance to test out the bed in his chambers, Han played with the thought of teleporting back to his room instead of sleeping outside the Stronghold.
“Master, we are ready to depart at your command,” Helania informed him as he neared her.
Standing beside her, Queen looked enthusiastic at the prospect of traveling with him.
He smiled at Queen’s expression.
Han asked, “Are you looking forward to seeing the outside world?”
“Compared to the world you created inside here, I do not believe anything out there could compare. I merely look forward to being by my Master’s side, ready for any of his needs.” Queen bowed her head.
Han didn’t miss how she blushed before she could tilt her head down, trying to hide her expression. It was cute.
So that they could all see, Han projected an image of the Kingdom from an aerial view.
Pointing at the map, “We are currently located here, where the red dot is located.”
“I’m curious to see what the nearest village looks like, so we will teleport ourselves little ways away and enter the village.”
Looking at Helania and Queen, “It’s about enjoying ourselves. Remember not to create any disturbances that would reveal ourselves unless the situation calls for it. Though, people in this Kingdom can’t even be compared to our abilities.” Han smirked at the idea.
“Master, we shall follow your command,” Helania said. “It would be an insult to you, our Creator, for those pests to think they could reach your perfection. They should be grateful that you would even consider walking amongst them.” She scowled at the thought, disgusted by it.
“I agree, Master!” Queen added fervently.
Laughing at how serious they looked, Han quietly said, “Remember that we are doing this to enjoy ourselves. I look forward to walking around this world with my bewitching creations.”
He smiled at them and twitched his finger upwards to have them come to him.
Trying to hide their smiling faces, they walked over to him.
Reaching out to both of them, holding their waist on either side of him, he felt the warmth of their body. Leaning his head to the nape of Queen’s neck, he breathed in her womanly smell.
Han kissed Queen tenderly.
“Master~~~, I thought we were going to the village.” Queen cooed and shyly moved her hips to caress him.
Nodding, Han ordered Helania, “Take us to just outside of the village.”
Instantly, the three of them were standing on a grassy field and could see signs of the community off in the distance.
“It does look like something from the middle ages or a fantasy world,” Han said.
Around the village was a simple wall, trees that were gathered together and bound together. Without using his powers, Han suspected a simple rope was used.
Han looked around, “With all the tall grass, I wouldn’t imagine they know how to make simple ropes.”
The three continued to make their way toward the village.
“They seemed to have cut off the branches, though not the bark.”
It had the appearance of something built for purely practical purposes. Han didn’t imagine that the village had a lot of resources available to make something more presentable.
“I wonder where they get the trees?”
Han turned his head around.
“Master, there are probably forests close by within a few days of walking,” Queen suggested.
Helania nodded.
The closer they approached the village, Han noticed a path that led to the gate where guards were on duty.
“It appears to be some kind of road,” Helania guessed.
“I suspect it’s what merchants use for bringing supplies. This place is far too remote for them to own businesses.” Han was impressed that Helania had guessed what it was, considering it wasn’t long since he created her.
The guards' appearance also made Han think about how unsuitable the equipment was on them. It was evidence of what he suspected to be true about the village's situation.
From their looks, they seemed more like militia, not part of a formally trained military. The guards just had some kind of helmet, each one a different style. Both had a flimsy spear.
“I doubt that could even stop an angry cow,” Han sighed.
When they reached the road in front of the entrance, the guards appeared to notice them finally. Both were startled by how they frantically tried to look like proper guards. They had clearly not been paying attention to their surroundings and incompetently performing their duties.
“I feel bad for the village,” Queen sniffed in disgust.
The two guards pointed the tips of their spears at the three.
“Hold it right there!” One of the guards yelled.
Han tried to hold back from laughing caused they looked ridiculous while standing there.
“Do they think they would be able to protect the village?” Han fought back a laugh, not wanting to escalate things.
The worst thing would be for the guards to get offended and do something they’d regret.
He signaled Helania and Queen to hold and reminded them to do nothing drastic.
One of the guards moved forward until he stood in front of them.
“What business do you have?” The guard waved the spear threateningly, first looking at Han in the front before his eyes moved to Helania and Queen.
There was a noticeable pause as the guard stared at the women.
“I don’t need my powers to know what he’s thinking about,” Han rolled his eyes.
Though it was annoying to deal with such a human, Han didn’t particularly care about how the guard looked at either of them, considering he could wipe out this entire village if he wanted. He found the guard rather amusing to disrespect them so openly.
“My companions and I are travelers and saw this village. We wanted to see this place out of mere curiosity,” Han said with his hands open and palms up, indicating that he had no weapons.
The guard’s eyes glanced at Han's hands.
“Are these two your guards?” The guard asked. “W-hy is that one carrying so many weapons?”
“So he noticed the weapons,” Han thought while his respect for the guard rose. “He may not have noticed the first time — while ogling the girls — but after the initial surprise, it would be hard not to see what Queen was carrying on her person.”
There was sweat on the guard's forehead.
“Yes. The two of them are my guards. I hope you understand.” Han smiled, brushing aside the concern.
The guard considered his answer and replied, “There’s a fee to enter the village for newcomers. It will be fifty coppers for each person.”
Han thought it interesting how metal referred to the currency instead of some other name.
“It’s like a video game,” Han thought back to games where the currency was some precious metal. “I guess some things don’t change. Precious metals are often valuable, even without being used as a raw material.”
The issue was that Han didn’t have any currency.
“I guess this is where my powers become convenient while hoping I don’t crash the market,” Han wondered how markets would be affected by what he planned.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin.
Letting the guard see what he had in his hand, Han showed the guard the gold.
Immediately the guard’s eyes widened into saucers.
“I guess gold is valuable even in a fantasy world,” Han said.
“My-my lord, I a-pologize for my behavior!” He stuttered.
The guard was undoubtedly afraid that he had offended someone powerful.
Han waved a hand as he handed the money.
“You gave no offense,” Han said.
It wouldn’t look believable if he made a big deal about how a guard acted towards him. So, Han decided to play it cool.
Han did wonder what this person would think if he knew what he could do if he were offended. Part of him thought about what the image of a person’s spine being pulled out through their mouth would look like.
Thinking of how bothersome such an action would become, Han dismissed the idea.
The other guard looked confused by his buddy’s response, so he walked up to them. It only took a moment, seeing the gold in Han’s hand, that the blood drained from the other guard’s face.
“I think he might faint,” Queen teased.
Still worried that things would turn badly for them, he said, “Sir, I’m sorry I can’t provide change for that amount, so please feel free to continue to our humble village, my lord and his ladies.” The first guard tried to hand the coin back.
Han laughed, “Do not worry about change. Even with this amount, I will be fine.” He added, “Divide it amongst the two of you. Give it to your family if you have any. I’m sure they would appreciate it.”
The three of them walked past the guards who were desperately trying to be friendly — clearly understanding the dangers of offending them.
“Master, you are a benevolent creator. They do not deserve your compassion.” Queen whispered to him.
Queen burned with hatred for how her Master had to be patient with things that were less than Him.
“If it were not for Master wishing that we hide from these creatures, I would have wiped them out for their audacity,” Queen clenched her teeth.
“I agree, Master. You should have allowed Queen and me to wipe those insignificant creatures into oblivion.” Helania concurred.
Raising his hand to indicate he didn’t want them to continue.
Han said, “The two of you already understand why we are outside the Stronghold. Such action could ruin my fun.”
“Yes, Master.”
Both lowered their heads, ashamed about being reprimanded.
Once past the entrance, Han looked around the village.
“The houses look like they could fall apart by a stiff breeze,” Han said.
It seemed like the world had some structural engineering concept, considering they were built using bricks and the roofs had shingles. But, the houses clearly weren’t being maintained properly.
The walls had holes covered up by a mixture of grass and mud. Many of the bricks were cracked and damaged.
“This village lacks resources,” Helania observed the homes.
Seeing shingles instead of thatching was strange, making him wonder about the kingdom's technology. If the village lacked resources, it would make more sense for them to make the roofs out of the surrounding resources.
Han was surprised by how cheerful the villagers appeared.
“Despite how broken everything looks, the people are in good spirits,” Queen raised an eyebrow — impressed by the villagers.
Though the homes and walls looked dilapidated, the villagers were in good spirits. Despite life taking a heavy toll on them, they went about their daily tasks with a smile.
Compared to his previous life on Earth, though the job may have been challenging, ordinary people didn’t age as much as the villagers.
He wondered if this was due to better nutrition or if the typical work was more straightforward with technological improvements. It only reminded him of how well off the Earth was for most of the global population.
Some families looked to be preparing meals in a communal kitchen, likely for a midday meal. Seeing them getting ready to eat made him think about Brittany.
“Brittany.” He thought in his mind.
A gentle voice responded. “Master, is there anything you require from me?”
“I was just thinking about you….”
“…”
Han smiled at the pause, imagining Brittany blushing from his comment.
“I would enjoy a steak dinner when I’m ready for my meal. I will contact you when I am hungry. Have the chef think up a good steak meal. Inform the chef that I will need two additional meals prepared since Helania and Queen are accompanying me.” He informed her.
“I eagerly await your command. I will let the chef know about your wishes.” Brittany acknowledged respectfully.
The ability to speak to whomever he wanted was convenient. A phone didn’t even compare. Instead of going through the process of selecting an individual, he could just think of the person and begin talking.
Han also thought about how his creations also prioritized him.
Their treatment brought up memories of how he’d attempt to contact people and not hear back until after days had passed.
Han wondered if CEOs and executives of large massive corporations felt similar, where everyone bent to their will.
The difference was how his creations would do anything with near-religious zeal. There was no doubt about their motives, unlike a typical employee. He knew his creations would kill themselves with a smile on their faces — no questions asked.
As he walked, villagers often glanced at them, trying to figure out who they were.
Han noticed their eyes checking out his clothing before glancing at him.
They also whispered amongst themselves, pointing at Helania and Queen.
“The fact that they’re observing me and not just Helania and Queen, I suspect it’s all our outfits,” Han pondered. “Since kingdoms and empires exist in the world, clothing is likely a common symbol of one’s status.”
Thinking about clothes throughout history, there was a difference between those who had wealth and those who didn’t.
He was sure that his current outfit, the same outfit from Earth, and his creations, the ones he created, looked far superior regarding material and quality.
Han rolled his eyes slightly, not caring much for the attention.
Han could have changed their entire situation with a wave of his hands, but he didn’t feel like doing this. It was like playing a video game and going into the code to make alterations.
“Sometimes, playing a game involves dealing with storylines that I don’t enjoy as much. Tampering too much with this world would be like using cheat codes. What would be the fun of doing that?”
Though Han knew that his powers were broken, he still tried to limit his usage around making his experience more enjoyable.
Movement out of the corner of his eyes attracted his attention.
Han saw an older woman carrying a large basket on her head.
There was nothing special about the woman, but Han still felt himself observing her. It may have been the look of determination on her face.
Han made his way towards the woman — also getting a better view.
Coming up behind, Han quietly took the basket off of her head.
Startled, the woman spun around. Her eyes opened wide. There was an apparent confusion, wondering who had taken her basket.
“Lady, please allow me to carry this for you.” He gently smiled at her, oozing with charm.
When the surprise wore off, the woman took a moment to see who he was. But, it only lasted for a moment.
Han watched as her mind was quickly putting things together.
“It’s not difficult to realize that I may be someone of importance, not only due to my clothing but also having two attendants,” Han was slowly starting to warm up to the world he existed in.
A formal hierarchy made interactions much easier for moments like the one Han found himself in. There was no need to explain himself since the other person would automatically defer to him.
Han couldn’t help but think how people on Earth would quickly jump to conclusions. But living in a society where status was important, it wasn’t wise to say something before confirming the other party’s social status.
The worst case would be yelling at a noble when one was low-born.
Curtsying to Han and his attendants, all she could say was, “M-my lord, there is no need for you to do this!”
“What kind of man would I be if I allowed such a charming lady to carry such a heavy burden?” He softly spoke to her. “Where are you taking this so I may send it to its destination?” Han inquired, stopping any further protest.
The woman pointed in the direction she was walking while making sure not to show Han her back.
“I need to take these to my neighbor’s house.” She told him.
Seeing him indicate that he would follow her, the woman continued to walk. She clasped her empty hands together as she led the way — not knowing what to do with them in her unusual predicament.
Looking closer at the woman, Han guessed she was in her mid-thirties. She had her hair tied in a single braid down to the base of her back. It gently swung back and forth to the rhythm of her steps.
She wore a simple one-piece dress, conservative with how the skirt went down to her ankles and sleeves covering her arms.
“What do we have here?” Han’s eyes slid down the woman’s back.
Even though she looked older, her butt was shapely and probably maintained by her continuous working environment.
“Those hips aren’t bad either. I’m surprised she hasn’t birthed hundreds of kids with hips like those.”
Han was mesmerized by how they swayed.
Breaking away from enjoying the woman’s body, he asked, “Why are you taking…,” Looking down, he noticed it was various roots and plants, “plants to your neighbor’s?”
Looking back at him, she said, “I go out of the village to gather various plants for food. The villagers pay me a couple of coppers for my services.”
The smile she made was tinged with sadness.
“That is rather commendable for a lady such as yourself.” He told her, slightly impressed by how hard these people work to survive.
She said, “I am no lady, my Lord. I am just a simple village woman.”
“Do you have a husband or family to help you?” He probed.
Looking down, she murmured, “My husband was killed by a monster in the forest nearby. He would hunt them to gather various parts to trade with the traveling merchant.”
Her eyes were hollow.
“My family passed away from a sickness that hit this village several years ago. Now, I search for items that now only help me to provide food for myself but also pay the taxes to the King.”
Though this sounded like a painful memory, her voice didn’t fluctuate much. This was probably due to how difficult her life was — numbing the pain.
Gathering the plants for just a few coppers sounded like a very arduous task.
His parents were very similar, working hard for meager pay compared to his friend’s parents, who were often financially well off. Memories of his childhood rose to the surface before being pushed back down.
Even with all his powers, he couldn’t shake off the memories of his past and how powerless he had felt. The world was a playground for only a few, while everyone else was abandoned to struggle.
He remembered sleeping in his car while attending school cause he couldn’t afford a place to stay. Later, a friend offered him to sleep on the floor for no rent. It had been suitable for a short time, but his roommates demanded payment. Even though these people considered themselves pious, they still expected his money to live like a homeless person.
It made him question humanity and how they claimed to be altruistic but were often self-serving.
Reaching their destination, the woman knocked on the door of her neighbor.
A fairly nice-looking couple answered the door.
It was soon replaced with a flash of disgust upon seeing who was at the door.
It was never as intense for him, but Han had seen enough people look at him that way to recognize it.
“I have returned with the food you have requested.”
The woman motioned to the basket that Han had in his hand. Her voice was cheerful and upbeat.
Glancing over at the basket, the woman sneered, “You expect us to give you money for trash like that? They’re all butchered by your poor gathering skills.”
“Even the last ones we requested were all torn up and low quality,” the man chimed in.
With how they hadn’t even clearly looked at the items in the basket, Han knew this was a regular tactic used on the woman.
Looking annoyed, the man said, “Even though they look horrible, I will at least give you a piece of copper for the bunch. I don’t want other people to accuse me of theft, so this amount should cover it.”
He walked away from the door.
While the man was away, the woman glanced at Han and then at Helania and Queen. She quickly looked away.
The man soon returned with a single copper piece. Tossing it at the woman, he accused, “Next time, I expect you to do a better job, or else we won’t give you even a single copper. I’m sure there are people who would be grateful — even doing a better job.”
The woman poked at the man, which made him raise his eyebrows in confusion.
She whispered to her husband something, likely about Han and the two.
It was then that the man noticed Han, Helania, and Queen.
The two of them bowed before hurriedly closing the door.
Han looked at the single copper coin on the ground.
The woman bent down and picked up the single copper coin from the ground. She didn’t defend herself and instead just took the abuse the couple was giving her. “Thank you for your patronage,” She said to the closed door.
The woman took the basket from Han’s hands and placed it in front of the door.
She then turned toward Han and his companions.
With a smile, she said, “My Lord, thank you for your assistance. Please let me know if there’s anything I could assist you with.”
“Would you know if this village had an inn?” He asked her, trying not to embarrass her after witnessing what happened.
The woman shook her head.
“I’m sorry, but our village isn’t large enough to have an inn. Most people pass our village on their way to their destination. Even the merchant that comes around will camp outside with his armed guards.” She answered apologetically. Seeing his frown, she hesitated briefly before saying, “I hope this isn’t presumptuous, but if my lord and my ladies are willing, I offer my home.”
With everything he had seen in the village and how the woman was treated, Han didn’t imagine her home to be better off. It would likely be worse, all things considered.
“We would be honored by your gracious offer.” He said to her.
Following the woman, Han and his creations were led by the woman to her home.
Though she stated she was taking those plants to her neighbors, her home was several houses away. The term neighbor likely referred to anyone in the village.
Han’s eyes widened.
It was slightly smaller than the others, with only one window next to the door.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t collapsed,” Han noticed how warned down it appeared.
There were even holes between the bricks.
Entering the house, they saw part living room and dining room setup.
Han noticed a door that, presumably, led to a bedroom.
With a communal kitchen area, they probably didn’t need to incorporate one inside the homes.
Against the wall appeared to be a place for various food ingredients.
“I see that they don’t have anything to keep food cold, meaning everything has to be made fresh or dried,” Han thought.
Han realized that the villagers must have a high turnover for food, considering it would spoil quickly.
“How is this woman treated so poorly when she helps bring supplies?” He was confused by the situation.
Based on the villagers' needs, it would make sense for anyone who contributes to the village's safety to be treated with respect. This was, even more, the case with her husband being someone of note, it seemed.
The home was pretty empty looking, just the bare essentials. Even the table only had one chair since she was the only one living here. There was a carpet, but that seemed to be the only thing to brighten up this dreary place.
Han noticed Helania slowly approaching him.
“Master, I don’t think we should stay here. I can take us back to the stronghold, and you could sleep in your chambers. This place does not suit a being such as yourself.” Helania whispered to him.
Knowing Helania, Han knew that the whispering wasn’t because she wanted to be considerate but because she didn’t want to reveal themselves without his permission.
Han slightly shook his head.
“I do not mind staying here. I find this to be amusing, and this woman intrigues me.” He informed them, ending any further discussions.
“As you wish.” Helania bowed.
Han knew she was not satisfied with the situation but would fulfill her Master’s wishes.
The woman looked back at them, embarrassed. “I apologize for my home. Ever since I began living on my own, this size is all that I can afford.” She tried to explain it to them.
The woman’s face was red as she tried to clean a bit to make things look more presentable.
“Nonsense. You are generous with your hospitality, allowing us to stay here when we have only met one another.” Han expressed himself. “If you have not eaten yet, please let me express our appreciation for your consideration.”
He estimated that it was slightly after midday now. Hence, it wasn’t likely that she had eaten if she spent her morning gathering those plants.
Looking perplexed, the woman exclaimed, “My lord, how can I expect you to prepare a meal for me?!” She frantically raised her hands, trying to stop such thoughts.
“I will not hear another word. Do not concern yourself, and just enjoy my humble meal,” Han said.
Han took a moment and then felt a slight connection.
There was a flash of excitement and warmth felt through the link.
“Brittany, I would like you to bring me four steak meals. Also, include a refreshing fruit drink. Bring all the necessary things for four people.” Han commanded.
“Yes, Master! I will bring everything to you immediately.” Brittany replied.
The link in his mind ceased.
Waving his hand, Han made two comfortable-looking sofas materialize.
The woman was startled by the sudden appearance of the two sofas.
He sat down, with Queen, on his left and Helania, on his right. Han leaned back and relaxed on the couch — pulling the two towards him with a sigh.
The two squealed in delight from the sudden public display of affection.
Seeing the woman looking dazed, he laughed, “Have a seat. I assure you that these sofas are extremely comfortable to sit on.”
He attempted to reassure her.
Sitting down and sinking into the sofa, the woman asked, “How did you make these appear?”
“I’m sure you understand that magic exists, correct?” He inquired, and seeing her nod her head, he continued. “You can think of me as being a simple magician. My companions and I are just taking in the sights of this Kingdom and happen upon this village.”
The way he said it made everything sound like such a simple task.
“I’ve never seen someone able to perform this kind of magic before.”
Her brow furrowed as she attempted to rationalize everything she saw and heard.
Han shrugged nonchalantly.
“Just think of this as being a minor thing. Aside from this, I have another thing I want to demonstrate to show my appreciation.”
As he said this, a portal opened up. Several waitresses brought a table, silverware, and other elaborate dining accessories.
After they had set up everything, they curtsied to him and then proceeded into the portal.
Brittany then came out with a single dish for him.
Appearing after Brittany were several other waitresses bringing in the remaining plates.
After serving the dishes, the waitresses and Brittany went to the side to be ready to serve.
Han smiled.
“I hope this is all to your taste. The waitresses can bring a different dish if the food is not to your liking.”
He motioned with his hands. “Feel free to eat.”
Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Han cut a portion of the steak.
Han took the portion to his mouth and enjoyed the flavors.
“Though the noodles I had eaten earlier tasted nice, they did a nice job with this steak.” Han smiled as he chewed.
He enjoyed the flavor of the seared meat mixed with the seasoning and juices.
Han nodded appreciatively at how it fell apart in his mouth as he chewed.
“This is much better than what I’ve had at expensive restaurants the few time I’d get to dine at one.”
Seeing that he had started eating, both Helania and Queen began eating. They moved with elegance, the way they used their fork and knife. With their mannerism, anyone would have thought them to be nobility.
Looking at her plate, she could see teardrops falling onto her food.
“When was the last time someone treated me like a human?”
It was like a ray of light piercing through the darkness of her world.
Raising her hand to her mouth, she struggled to hold back her happiness.
The way the couple treated her was very much what she experienced throughout the village — treatment she experienced regularly.
They saw her with contempt, an eyesore, probably due to her having no one to help her. She was alone, without family.
While others could afford meat and ingredients from the merchant, all she could eat was what she was able to gather in the forest.
She stared at the plate in front of her. Even the vegetables on her plate felt more full of life than she did and entirely different from what she had eaten in the past.
Watching how she reacted to the food, Han felt his chest warm.
It made him happy to see someone enjoying food to such a degree.
Thinking back to what he had seen, he doubted that her life in this village was easy.
“I am glad that you are enjoying your food. You should also try the fruit juice.” He pointed out — smiling.
Queen felt confused by how the woman was eating.
She clenched a fist silently, ensuring not to allow her frustration to ruin her Master’s moment.
“This cretin is allowed to eat my Master’s food — produced by his divine powers. My Master’s altruism is greater than the sky, the way he cares for these insects.” Queen felt greater love for her Master — her admiration soaring to new heights.
A part of her wanted to summon a legion of skeletons and raze this village for disrespecting her Creator.
Han placed his hand on their thigh, sensing Queen's anger and frustration.
With his other hand, he lay it on Helania’s thigh.
As he caressed them, he noticed their reaction. He enjoyed watching them hold themselves back.
It was as if the two were trying to maintain their dignity in front of a stranger.
“I am terribly sorry, but I forgot to introduce myself and ask for your name.” He said. Placing a hand on his chest, “I am Han.”
Indicating to Queen, “This is Queen.”
Returning his hand on Helania’s thigh, “This is Helania.”
“They are my dear companions.”
Putting down her utensils, the woman bowed her head. “My Lord, I am called Elis. Thank you for everything that you have done for me. Your kindness knows no bound.”
Seeing him motion for her to lift her head and continue eating, she returned to the food on her plate and drank some of the fruit juice.
The drink was beyond refreshing compared to anything she had in her past. It was sweet without being overwhelming, not lingering on her tongue. When looking around, the world appeared brighter.
“Where did these nobles come from? To have such amazing magical abilities and food is beyond my imagination?” Elis thought to herself.
She tried to remember any information related to those who could use magic.
“Are magicians stronger than mages or sorcerers?”
From tales she had heard from merchants, there were some mages in the capital, but the term magician was not one she was familiar with. Being inside a small village didn’t allow for much exposure to the world, so she found it unbelievable.
After they had eaten, he had Brittany bring them some tea to help them digest the meal.
“There’s nothing like tea after a large meal,” Han leaned back with a smile.
He slowly breathed in the scent of the leaves and honey.
The tea did a great job of helping him not feel sleepy.
While they drank their tea, Han thought about their world and asked Elis, “Are all settlements in this Kingdom similar to this one?”
“No, my Lord,” Elis shook her head. “This village is short of many resources. In addition to our lack of resources, how we’re so far away from the capital discourages merchants and travelers from coming here.”
“But merchants do come here,” Han remembered Elis mentioning how they would stay outside the walls.
“That’s correct, my Lord. We have a merchant that regularly travels here and the few other remote villages, but compared to the other towns and villages closer to the capital, there’s nothing here to attract wealth.” Elis explained.
Han took another sip of his tea, absorbing the information.
“This probably means the more interesting things are closer or at the capital.” He thought to himself.
Considering it was still ways until nightfall, Han believed they could continue their travels. It wouldn’t be so bad to enjoy the beautiful weather and travel, instead of just appearing in the capital.
He placed the tea on the table and leaned back as he thought about his future actions.
Reaching a decision, he looked at Elis and smiled. “How would you like to travel with us and see the rest of the kingdom?”
“M-my Lord??” Elis raised her eyebrows.
Lazily waving a hand, “From what I’ve seen in this village, there isn’t much here for you. You have no strings keeping you attached to this dreary place. The village doesn’t treat you with respect. You can help us understand local customs. I believe this would be beneficial for both parties.” He reassured her.
While Elis tried to take in what he told her, Han leaned forward.
He touched the teacup and still felt the warmth.
Picking it up, Han cradled it in his hands, enjoying the warmth of the tea.
There was an enjoyable quality — drinking tea while talking about new events. He enjoyed it better than coffee.
Drinking the tea also gave an appearance of being calm and patient.
After getting her cup filled with more tea and lightly added milk and honey, Elis brought the cup to her lips and drank the cleansing beverage.
A part of her felt some pain — thinking about leaving behind the memories of her late husband. At the same time, she knew moving on, instead of staying in an abusive situation, was what he would want her to do.
Elis was curious about what life outside the village would be like, no longer being mistreated but instead valued. A future filled with new and beautiful experiences.
A dazzling smile emerged and brightened the room.
“My Lord, please allow me to travel with you.”
“Fantastic!” Han clapped his hands in approval.
Helania and Queen smiled, enjoying their Master looking so happy.
Though they still had reservations.
“I don’t understand why we need to bring this woman,” Helania and Queen shared the same thought.
But despite their negative opinion about the additional person, both would set aside their thoughts if it meant their Master’s happiness.
Helania looked at Queen, and they nodded, agreeing that they wouldn’t stop the woman from joining them, but if she posed a threat — they’d eliminate her immediately.
It would be the first and last thought the woman would have.
Looking around Elis’s home, “Unless there are any objects of sentimental value, you won’t need to worry about taking anything along with you.” Han turned to Brittany, “I will need you to prepare several outfits for Elis so that she will have something to change into. Make sure they are outfits that showcase her figure. She doesn’t need to look like some typical village woman.”
“Yes, Master. I will have one of the tailors prepare a wide selection for you to approve. They will be ready by the end of the day.” Brittany bowed.
After being dismissed, Brittany motioned for the other waitresses to remove the food items.
Standing up, Han stretched before he said, “If there isn’t anything else, I feel like it is time for us to depart from this dreary place.”
Seeing Elis getting up and not refusing his idea, he nodded.
Both Helania and Queen silently got up, ready.
Snapping his finger, Han made the two sofas disappear.
Elis’s only reaction was to blink in surprise. It was vastly different from when he had materialized the items in front of her the first time.
Seeing that she could adjust so quickly, Han thought Elis would fit in with them well, unlike other humans.
Heading to the door, Queen had opened it for him, already allowing him to walk out of the confining dilapidated home.
When Han looked around the village, he didn’t see cheerful people but spiritless individuals who only cared about themselves. He snorted at them before making his way to the other entrance, which faced the direction of the capital.
Exiting the village and walking for several minutes so that it was barely seen in the distance, he turned around and looked at the other three.
“Though walking sounds fun, in theory, I think it may be better for us to travel on something with wheels.” He grinned.
Twirling a finger, Han created a pitch-black carriage.
Instead of a horse, a large four-footed dragon was in front of the carriage.
Han walked up to the dragon and scratched it behind its ears like a pet. The dragon made a purring noise, indicating its enjoyment of affection and attention.
Sitting in the driver’s seat was a mature-looking woman dressed in a steampunk-inspired driver’s outfit.
The woman’s face was expressionless, as though she were annoyed by the world.
For Han, he saw the way the driver looked and thought her impatient facial expression to be attractive. He liked the idea of her treating others with impatience and annoyance, but she would be gentle and affectionate with him.
Looking at her, Han said, “You will be named Andrea, and from now on, you will be my personal chauffeur.”
Andrea bowed her head, acknowledging her Master’s command.
Like all his creations, her combat abilities were nothing to laugh at. The difference between her and his other creations is how she preferred hand-to-hand combat.
Han gave her gloves that she could wear to fit her outfit and be useful as weapons.
Andrea reminded Han of the monk class in online games, where she’d rely on her hands and feet to defeat opponents.
“I imagine they’ll have a surprise when going up against such a petite woman — only to discover how deadly she is even without weapons,” Han hoped that they would encounter enemies so he could watch her deal with them.
To help her with being a chauffeur, Han made it so she could sense her surroundings — a nearly 500 miles away detection sphere. In addition to detecting oncoming attacks, this ability would allow her to map the surroundings.
If given a destination, she can quickly determine an optimal navigational route.
He also designed her to take in the ambient mana in the world as nourishment. This way, Andrea wouldn’t need to rest or eat, though she could if she wanted to. This made her the most overpowered professional driver if all her abilities were included.
Helania moved to open up the door into the carriage so that they could enter.
Like the Stronghold, the carriage’s interior revealed itself to be significantly larger than what it appeared on the outside.
Han nodded approvingly at the leather sofas, leather chairs, coffee tables, and a mini dining area to help with hosting guests.
From the outside, the size of the vehicle looked like a common carriage you would expect on Earth. But the inside was the size of a pool house.
There were plenty of windows so that you could view the outside of the carriage. Since the interior was like a separate dimension, there was no feeling of motion. Looking through the windows would feel similar to viewing the world on a TV screen.
Glancing over, he curiously watched Elis’s expression. He couldn’t help but smile at her widened eyes and open mouth — captivated by the wonder.
“Brittany, bring some refreshments and fruit here.” Han pointed at the coffee table in the middle of the sitting area.
Sitting on one of the leather seats, Han enjoyed how the leather cushions embraced him. It gave him a full view of the carriage’s interior.
“Andrea, head towards the capital of the Helios Kingdom immediately,” He ordered.
He soon sensed the carriage moving as Andrea commanded the dragon forward.
When he looked out the window and watched the landscape pass by, Han couldn’t help but feel like he was going backward.
Helania and Queen sat on the sofa to his left, opposite the entrance.
Elis sat by herself on the couch to his right.
The interior looked similar to those large, expensive RVs that politicians used as they crossed the United States for national elections — but much wider.
Though it was large, the carriage didn’t have beds and a kitchen, just a lounge and dining area. A kitchen wouldn’t make sense since food was carried from The Stronghold’s dining area.
Part of him felt he should materialize a cigar. The feel of the interior reminded him of those upscale cigar lounges he and his friends would frequent during college. They would pretend to be wealthy CEOs as they checked out the serving girls, who wore skimpy outfits — enjoyed by the older rich men.
After some time, Brittany returned carrying a tray with a large bowl, four smaller empty plates of fruits, and four glasses filled with some kind of beverage. She gently placed the tray on the coffee table and proceeded to serve each of them a drink.
Han noticed that his chair didn’t have a glass holder. With a thought, he modified the leather seat to have one.
Brittany put the beverage into the newly created cup holder.
Taking the glass out of the cup holder, Han tasted the liquid and thought it was similar to a traditional sweet tea.
While enjoying the tea, he watched as maids came out of a portal to begin helping the others.
He saw Brittany begin to dish out various fruits in the empty bowls. She walked over and placed the plate on the small seat table on his left side. In the bowl were sliced strawberries, honeydew, pineapple, and apples. There were also grapes, which were still on the vine.
“Master, if you like, I can feed you the fruits for convenience?” Brittany shyly asked him while attempting to look professional.
Even though she didn’t need to feed him directly, it was a nice feeling that she wanted to spoil him. Han wondered if Roman Emperors felt the same way, having people feed them.
Han looked at Brittany and enjoyed the sight of her smooth legs.
Grinning, Han slid a hand up her skirt — groping her butt.
“Get me a grape.” He leaned back into the seat while enjoying how springy it felt each time he lightly squeezed it.
From the way she quivered, Han could tell that she was happy to serve him personally.
Han opened his mouth.
Brittany gently placed a single grape into his mouth.
Closing his mouth, he broke the grape's skin and drank the abundant juices overflowing out of it.
A soft napkin soon touched his lips as Brittany cleaned the juices that leaked out from between his lips.
When Han was ready, he opened his mouth again while enjoying Brittany’s ass which felt like fresh chapssaltteok.
He enjoyed the juicy and sweet flavor when she placed another grape into his mouth.
“Instead of my fingers getting sticky from the sugary juices, I get to enjoy Brittany’s ass,” Han smiled as Brittany cleaned his mouth again.
Han lazily turned his head to look at the world outside as he enjoyed the food.
Turning his attention to his guest, Han asked, “Elis, are you enjoying yourself?”
Elis was blissfully enjoying the fruit and was caught off guard.
She blushed from the attention.
“My Lord, I have never eaten such sweet fruits in my entire life! Even this carriage looks magical.” Elis looked around at the interior of the carriage. “It is so large inside compared to how it looks from the outside!”
Her innocent wonder was endearing to watch. Han was glad that he could show someone in this world such happiness.
It would be good to show off his wealth and power to at least a few humans or non-humans. Just having authority and hogging it for only himself and his creations didn’t seem right.
“Didn’t everyone enjoy showing off now and then?” Han chuckled.
Han brushed off Elis’s words. “It’s a simple ability of mine. I’m happy that you are enjoying it.”
Han motioned for her to continue eating, “Don’t hold back. If you feel thirsty or hungry, plenty more can be brought to you. Let one of the maids know if you desire something to eat or drink.”
Thinking about it for a second, Han said, “Brittany, have two maids come here to look after Elis.”
Though the maids were coming in and out, Han liked having dedicated maids to look after Elis while she was his guest.
“As my Master commands.”
Brittany’s expression looked distant for a moment. She was clearly speaking telepathically to someone just as two cute, near-identical maids suddenly appeared.
The maid on the left had ruby red hair, and the second one had jet black hair.
The two maids faced Han and curtsied.
“Master, we are here to serve.” They said in unison.
“You two are adorable. Have you chosen your names?” He laughed at their blushing faces.
“My name is Cindy, Master,” said the red-haired maid.
“My name is Mindy, Master,” said the black-haired maid.
“I have summoned the two of you to look after Elis and fulfill her various requests while she is my guest,” Han commanded the two young maids.
Standing up. “My lord, you don’t need to go so far for me!” Elis protested.
Han dismissed Elis’s concerns.
“Nonsense! Just let them know if there are any foods that you’re interested in eating. They will also help you bring your clothes — after they’re made.” He explained to her.
Though he could’ve had Brittany bring Elis various foods and items, he didn’t feel like sharing Brittany with Elis.
While moving his hand around the different parts of her ass, he felt liquid dripping down her leg.
It took him a moment to realize that Brittany was wet.
“Such a naughty maid,” Han chuckled at Brittany as he squeezed one of her cheeks.
Brittany squirmed in embarrassment, “But Master, your hand feels good. “Her face reddened. “I’m sorry for being such a dirty maid.”
Lightly slapping her ass affectionately.
“Now. Now. I’m glad that my beautiful little Brittany is feeling so aroused. I admit to enjoying your body.”
Helania and Queen jealously stared at Brittany, wishing they could trade places with her.
Seeing their thirsty expressions, how could Han not feel loved and appreciated?
“Master, up ahead, many people are fast heading towards a relatively large caravan.” Andrea's voice interrupted Han’s thoughts. “It appears that the group chasing after the caravan is hostile.”
“How far away are they?” He asked in response.
“The two groups are about thirty miles in front of us,” Andrea informed him. “What are your orders?”
Han thought about what he wanted to do. The question was whether they should help the strangers or not.
It wasn’t a question about whether they could assist them. It was whether supporting them would be beneficial to his enjoyment.
Though they were making their way to the capital, Han thought about whether they should visit a larger nearby village.
“If we help out these people, I suspect we could have them escort us,” Han guessed.
He hoped that the village was better than the one Elis was from.
Shrugging his shoulders, “Speed up and catch up to them.” Han added, “If something happens before we can get there, then it’s none of my concern.”
Immediately, Han sensed the carriage speeding up. Inside, there was no change.
None of the others knew that they were racing toward a fight.
“I imagine the ones attacking the other group don’t expect they’ll soon be part of a slaughter,” Han grinned.
Samantha sat next to her mother — frightened by the wagon's speed.
Her father was scaring her — shouting for them to stay down.
She and her mother huddled in the wagon bed behind various boxes. Boxes that her daddy planned to sell at the village.
Samantha was confused.
“Mommy and daddy told me that we were going to be safer with the other merchants,” Samantha felt herself begin to tear up.
Now they were trying to escape evil men who were shooting arrows at them.
“Damn those Lunar Empire soldiers!” Her daddy shouted out as he whipped the horses to go faster.
“Father! They’re getting closer! I’m about to run out of bolts!” Jake, her older brother, shouted to her father.
Her father swore.
Looking back at him, her father yelled, “Start throwing out the boxes, and try to trip those Empire scum! We need to make this wagon lighter if we’re going to make it to the village! We just need to make it to the village. There is an outpost. They’ll be able to handle these pieces of shit!”
A bolt struck inches from her mother’s leg. Her mother screamed in fright after seeing how close the bolt lodged itself into the back of the wagon.
Even though they tried to make themselves smaller targets, they almost hit her mother.
“Mommy, I’m scared!” Samantha cried out to her mother, burying her face into her mother’s arm.
Her mother patted her head. “It’ll be alright, my baby. Daddy will get us to the village, and we’ll be safe.”
From how her mother talked, Samantha could tell the evil men would probably catch them. She didn’t want to think about what was going to happen.
Samantha nearly tumbled to the floor as the wagon suddenly weaved.
“What are you guys doing!?” Her father yelled out.
She heard a voice call out, belonging to one of the other merchants, “I’m sorry, Carl. We have to think about our family!”
“Stop it! If you keep tossing your boxes, you’ll make the horse’s trip!” Her daddy tried to reason with them.
There was another lurch of the wagon as it dodged another box the merchant threw in their way.
“BRACE YOURSELF!” Her father yelled back at them.
Samantha tried to understand what her father meant before she was forcibly pressed against the wagon as it violently tumbled.
It felt like the world had flipped upside down.
They all were flung out of the wagon after it flipped once and turned over again.
Her mother held on to her as the two of them hit the grassy ground. They rolled and eventually slid several feet before finally stopping.
The entire world felt like it was spinning out of control. Her whole body hurt.
“What happened?” Samantha groaned.
Samantha didn’t know how long she lay there.
The edges of her vision were dark, and everything was bright. A constant ringing was heard in her ears.
Through the ringing, there was a voice calling out to her.
Turning her head, Samantha saw her mother. Her mother tried to tell her something, but the ringing drowned every sound.
“B-by, -re you a-right-??” She slowly started to hear her mother’s voice but could only understand a few words.
“Mommy, w-wha-what ha-happened?” She struggled to form thoughts.
It felt like her mind was full of wool — the flashes of light distracting her.
With each passing second, the world didn’t feel like it was out of control, and Samantha was able to see better. The ringing was still there, besides her dizziness, but it was less.
She struggled to get up — failing to do so.
Samantha drunkenly looked around at her surroundings and saw her brother and father holding a sword.
The evil men chasing them were slowly approaching her family on their horses.
“Seems like all of them survived!” Yelled out the man in the front while the other men were laughing. “I was worried I would have to please a corpse.”
The offer made the other men laugh louder.
Panic began to bubble up inside her, partially understanding what the evil men were planning with them.
She couldn’t understand why there were such evil people.
A figure moved in front of her, blocking the view. Samantha took a moment to realize it was her mother.
“It’s going to be okay. Mommy will protect you.” Her mother’s voice trembled.
“Molly!” Her father yelled. “Jake and I will hold them off. You need to take Samantha and run to the village.”
“Tom, I won’t leave you!” Her mother shook her head.
“Damn you, woman! For once in your life, will you just do what I tell you!? We’ll be okay! We’ll see you in the village!!” Her daddy screamed out. Desperately pleading with her mother.
“Mother! Please, for all that is pure in this world! Listen to what Father is saying! We will see you in the village! You can’t let these savages have Samantha!” Jake tried to reason with her.
Her mother started to cry and began to get up. She stumbled for a second, and when Samantha looked, she saw a large patch of blood on her mother’s skirt.
Her mother turned around to face Samantha.
Looking straight into Samatha’s eyes, her mother said, “Samantha, your mommy, daddy, and Jake love you very much. Can my baby be a big girl for mommy?”
Her mother sobbed with tears streaming down.
“Can you, my big girl? I need you to run towards the village. The strong knights will protect you. Listen to your mommy, okay? We’ll see you at the village after Daddy and Jake beat the bad men.” Her mother smiled.
Samantha stubbornly shook her head, “No, mommy! I don’t want to go! I want to stay with everyone!”
Samantha knew that her mother and everyone were lying to her. If she left, Samantha would be alone.
“Who the fuck are you!?” one of the men in the back yelled out.
Both Samantha and her mother looked to see what was happening.
Behind the evil men, a beautiful carriage with a scary dragon in front casually rolled towards them.
Samantha thought back to the stories her mother told her before bed. In the stories, knights would ride on pretty white horses, not menacing dragons.
She trembled, scared that it was another bad person working with the wicked men.
When the carriage stopped, everyone was looking at the carriage.
Slowly, the door opened. A beautiful lady in a pretty maid outfit emerged.
Once outside, the maid held the door open — suggesting more people would be coming out.
A man came out wearing weird clothes.
His expression was relaxed, as though he didn’t care about what he was walking into. He placed a hand on the maid’s hip before moving forward.
“How could the man not see the evil men with swords?” Samantha thought to herself.
She was confused by the man’s attitude.
“Hello there!” The man called out to all of them, friendly waving at them.
It was like he was casually greeting a friend.
Behind him, several beautiful ladies came out.
One appeared to look like a noble, and another wore a leather outfit.
Standing behind them were three pretty maids lined up.
The last person was a woman who looked like a regular village lady, similar to her mother.
“Did they come here for a picnic?” Samantha thought to herself. Looking up at her mother, she asked, “Mommy, are those bad men going to kill the pretty ladies?”
Her mother didn’t say anything as she pulled Samantha closer.
“Whoa! Those are some quality women you got there!” The evil man in front yelled out. “You look a bit lost? We’re busy with something you, so we’ll do you a favor. How about you leave behind those lovely-looking whores, get back into your fancy carriage, and be on your way?”
The mysterious man laughed, “I’m having appalling luck with people today.” He shook his head. “First, I go to a village that treats people like crap, and now I’m dealing with stereotypical evil soldiers. Is there any way you could be more cliché?”
The man looked at the women next to him as if in disbelief about what he was witnessing.
The evil men didn’t appear happy at the man laughing at them.
They held their swords menacingly.
The leader of the group smiled menacingly. “I tried to be a gentleman, but we’ll need to treat this noble brat a lesson.
He turned to his men, “Make sure you don’t hurt the woman. I get first dibs on all of them, and the rest of you can share after I’m done.”
The men cheered at the comment.
Aside from the village lady, none of the people standing next to the carriage appeared frightened.
Samantha was confused since there were so many evil men but only one man.
“Jake, we need to help those people out!” Her daddy told her brother — pointing at the people next to the carriage.
Getting his sword ready, Jake said, “Yes, father!”
The lady in leather suddenly made a big sword materialize.
Immediately the white-haired woman jumped at the evil men.
Swinging her giant sword, the woman killed the evil men effortlessly. The horses the men sat on top of were cut cleanly in half, blood bursting and raining down.
Samantha had a difficult time following the motion of the woman.
“It’s like watching a river,” Samantha couldn’t believe how the woman moved between the evil men.
“What are you doing!? Hurry up and stop her. She’s just one woman!” The leader shouted at the other evil men.
The lady kept slaughtering them — bathing the grass in blood. On the ground, a small lake of blood had formed.
Samantha’s father and Jake stood there stunned, no longer trying to help.
She knew her brother was strong and could fight adults significantly older, but Samantha didn’t think Jake could beat that woman.
When the beautiful lady finally killed the leader, she made her sword disappear and walked back to the man she had come with. It was obvious the strong woman was working for the mysterious man.
The man kissed the lovely lady.
He then walked toward her father and brother. Before he reached the blood, the man waved his hand and made the blood disappear.
Jake and her father cautiously put away their swords. They appeared confused about the situation, but it was apparent that holding their swords was meaningless.
Samantha and her mother ambled to rejoin them.
When her father looked back at them to ensure they were okay, he saw her mother’s injury.
Her mother was pale and leaned heavily on Samantha. Samantha was a big girl, so she tried her best to support her mother.
When the man came closer, followed by the pretty ladies, he looked at her mother’s leg injury.
“Oh my, that looks pretty serious. I hope that one of you is a doctor, considering how the nearest village is still ways away and too far for her. If you don’t get her some medical attention quickly, I don’t believe she will make it.” The man said.
He looked to be thinking about something before saying, “At the rate she’s bleeding, I estimate she’ll pass away in less than an hour, so I advise you to act with haste.”
Samantha’s father fell to his knees in front of the man. His hands clasped together as he begged the man.
“My Lord, please, would you be willing to take my wife, in your carriage, to the village? If it’s payment, I have the money to pay. I beg you, my Lord!” Samantha’s father sobbed.
The young Lord tilted his head as if considering it. The man’s expression was as if the whole situation was a hassle.
He rolled his eyes and shrugged. “I don’t feel like doing that.”
Her father pressed his forehead to the ground, “My Lord, I beg for your mercy! I will do anything if you can save my wife! PLEASE!”
Looking bored by the spectacle of her father prostrated in front of him, “How about I do this instead.”
The man just raised his left hand and snapped his finger.
Her father looked up in confusion.
“Honey, I’m healed!” Her mother exclaimed in shock.
Her father, Jake, and Samantha looked at her mother, wondering what she was talking about.
Immediately, they noticed that the wound on her leg was gone.
Samantha stared at the place soaked with blood. The blood was gone.
They slowly turned to look at the man.
He smiled, “Isn’t this a better solution?”
