Fantasy World — Chapter 3 (Creation: The Path of a God)

Guessing by their behavior, the four were probably a family. Han thought about how they were related as he looked at them.

The woman, who had the leg injury, was likely the mother.

In front, with the swords, were the father and son.

Considering the number of people they faced and still willing to stand up to them before he arrived gave Han a good impression.

Han felt proud for being able to remain calm and not burst out laughing at the family.

“I imagine that each of them is grasping to hold onto reality,” Han mentally smiled.

Their eyes were wide, especially the mother, who looked like someone who was carefully watching the magician to catch the trick but was still fooled by the illusion.

The mother was dazed, struggling to understand what had just occurred.

Based on their expression, they had never seen someone with his level of “healing” magic before.

Calling what he did “healing” would be a misnomer, considering all he thought about was the mother being made whole and into her optimal health. Then he just removed the extra foreign stuff that didn’t belong in a person.

“With how easy it was, I could easily open up a clinic in the countryside back home,” Han daydreamed for a second, imagining a simple clinic. “On top of that, right next door, there could be a dry-cleaning business.”

The idea of pretty amusing, so he ended up chuckling. Looking at the family, he noticed they were looking at him with wariness.

“Who wouldn’t be concerned about a guy laughing out of nowhere.” Han thought to himself wryly.

“Where are my manners.” He grinned at them.

With a flourished bow, “I am Han, and these are my companions,” Introducing each one to the family.
“I apologize about earlier. I tend to have a flair for dramatics. It is one of my many faults. Your wife was never in any danger of blood loss.” Han casually reassured them.

The family’s faces were frozen — unsure of what to think.

“With these powers, I need to work on taking things more seriously,” Han mentally noted. “The problem is how easy and enjoyable it is to play around.”

Being unrestricted with his powers, Han couldn’t help but imagine that he was in an anime where the main character was significantly stronger than anyone else.

“I feel like those demons who make contracts with humans, portrayed in stories on Earth,” Han looked to his creations.

They waited patiently, not finding anything he did to be strange.

Brittany, in particular, looked proud.

The family appeared to have collected themselves while Han was in thought.

“My Lord, thank you for saving my wife and family from those soldiers. Please do not hesitate to ask if there’s anything I could do for you.” The father continually bowed with both hands clasped together.

Pointing to himself, “I am Tom. This is my wife, Molly; my son, Jake; and my daughter, Samantha.”

His son bowed to Han while the wife and daughter awkwardly curtsied.

They recognized that he had protected them, but Han’s actions made them cautious.

“Don’t think much about it. How could I allow those soldiers to target such a lovely-looking family.” Han waved the thanks away. Placing a hand to his chin, “By chance, would you happen to know who those soldiers belong to?” He asked, thinking it would be a good idea to learn about regional politics.

“They belong to the Lunar Empire, my Lord,” Tom informed him.

“The Lunar Empire?” Han asked.

“They’re a vast empire to the north of our kingdom, my Lord,” Tom explained.

The father’s brow furrowed before he forced his expression to return.

“Lately, they’ve been tormenting the nearby kingdoms, grabbing many civilians and taking them back to who knows where. There’re rumors that the Empire is capturing civilians to turn them into slaves for some large-scale project.” Tom explained in more detail.

Han understood that Tom sensed that Han didn’t know events that were widely known. It clearly confused the man. The problem was Han’s unknown lineage, making the chance of offending a noble too high.

Nodding slowly, Han took in what the father said.

Pulling up a map and learning more about the Empire was an option. Still, it felt like conversing with a non-playable character in a game when interacting with Tom.

He enjoyed the interaction.

Looking over at the overturned wagon next to the road, Han asked, “Might I ask where you were heading with those crates?”

The crates suggested something interesting could be found, piquing Han’s interest.

With Han’s mention of the wagon, the family’s mood dropped.

Tom had a pained expression, seeing his belongings scattered across the ground.

“We’re heading to Leaf Village, my Lord. I’m a merchant. I often sell my wares to the village. My business specializes in raw materials for clothing, weapons, armor, and food.” Tom motioned to his products.

Some of the crates were cracked open — revealing animal pelts.

“We were traveling with a caravan, but when the Empire soldiers attacked us, we were abandoned.” Tom’s voice lowered as his face dropped.

Hearing the story, Han could imagine what was going through the man’s mind.

It could be comparable to working with fellow vendors, helping one another to make sure the whole sees improvement. Still, such camaraderie often collapses during a sudden unexpected economic downturn.

“Looking at your wagon, the damage appears to be severe,” Han said.

Han looked at Brittany.

Brittany nodded her head. She then pointed to the maids and motioned them toward the crates.

The maids went to the crates and handled the work of bringing them to the back of the carriage. They moved efficiently, taking little time to gather all the items.

A portal appeared where maids emerged carrying new crates.

Han watched as the maids broke apart the damaged crates with ease. The formerly stored items were then transferred to the new wooden boxes.

Once all the crates were neatly stacked close to the carriage, Andrea helped secure the items to be ready whenever Han wanted to leave.

Han redirected his attention to the family behind him.

“I don’t like the idea of leaving you behind. How about your family travel with me to the village?” He offered.

Seeing them look hesitant, Han added, “I’m sure it would be much more comfortable and calming. It would be beneficial for your wife and daughter.” Han cheerfully said.

He could have repaired the wagon but decided this method would be more enjoyable.

“It wouldn’t even take a second to make a better one,” Han imagined something that would allow for comfortable travel while protecting against the sun.

The image of the improved wagon existed in his mind, waiting for Han’s will to manifest.

“It would be fun traveling with people who lived in this world,” Han discard the designed wagon into the void of his mind.

Just remembering how Elis looked amazed by everything and these people repeating it made him smile.

“There’s something fun about watching people’s expectations be destroyed.”

Han smiled.

Tom and his family noticed Han’s smile, not knowing what the noble was thinking about.

Han, the family, and Elis headed to the carriage.

Bowing to Han, Brittany opened up the door for them to enter.

Entering first, Han headed into the carriage.

Han looked around, “This is a bit crowded if another four people are going to join us.” With his will, Han made it larger.

The interior nearly doubled without a sound. Popping into existence were more sofas to accommodate the family. He also made small tables appear next to each sofa to allow for better access to food and drinks — so no one had to get out off their sofas to reach the tables in the middle.

Wanting to get a good view, he leaned against the leather chair.

“Don’t disappoint me,” Han thought to himself.

Han watched the family.

Confusion was all over their faces, and Han saw them hesitating to proceed.

Each of them turned to each other, checking whether it was okay, before deciding to follow after Han.

“To be fair, I don’t know if I could enter an unknown vehicle if I were them. I’m sure their first impressions of me aren’t the greatest.” Han said to himself.

Turning to see Brittany behind the family and making her way toward him, Han said, “I think it may be time to have something to snack on, maybe a light meal for our guests. It’ll also help get their minds off what happened earlier.”

“Yes, Master,” Brittany answered.

A glowing smile on her face as Brittany pressed up against him. She whispered into his ear, “You are such a generous Creator — to consider these insignificant people’s health and well-being.”

Brittany lightly bit his earlobe before moving away. Her eyes glistened. Nothing but devotion was visible in them.

Han placed a hand on Brittany’s hip before pulling her towards him.

His hand slipped down to her ass — groping it.

Brittany’s lips were slightly parted as her breath escaped with a moan. Her hips slowly grinding against his thigh. She bit her full lips as though to contain her desire.

“Patience,” Han smiled.

Han let Brittany go.

“Have a seat, Master. I’ll bring you a drink.”

Brittany seductively smiled at him before moving away to fulfill his command.

Clapping her hands to the other maids, Brittany commanded, “You heard Master.”

They bowed to Brittany and disappeared into portals.

“Have a seat,” Han said to the family, who hadn’t noticed the exchange between Brittany and him.

Molly held both children close to her as though instinctually afraid they would be taken away. But her face was full of wonder as she looked around where she stood.

The daughter and son stared at the sofas, tables, counters, and everything else.

Tom looked back at the way they came and then at the interior. His eyes were wide, and he trembled slightly. The father was having a different reaction.

“I see that he realized what’s different about this place,” Han smiled.

Observing each of their reactions, Han was happy. He then looked to Elis.

The few fruits that remained before they stopped were still on the table. Elis was eating some grapes and ate them as she watched the family.

It didn’t take a mindreader to know that Elis empathized with the family — having experienced the confusion earlier.

Han took a seat, enjoying the show.

“I imagine it’ll be a bit for the family to adjust,” Han grinned, unable to hide his fun.

Brittany’s hips swayed back and forth as she walked to him, carrying a pitcher in one hand and a glass cup in the other.

Standing beside where Han sat, Brittany smoothly poured the sweet tea into it before placing the cup into the holder on the armrest.

Taking the glass of sweet tea, Han drank it, enjoying the refreshingly cool taste.

Though it was sweet, the sugar didn’t make him thirsty like drinks had in the past.

The door gently opened, letting the added sunlight light the interior.

Helania and Queen entered the carriage, followed by Cindy.

Han smiled, happy to see them. He then looked at the family, still dazed about how elaborate everything looked.

“It’s like people from a remote and underdeveloped country being introduced to a modern city with all the technological features. The difference might as well be as great as someone from a hunter-gathering society being introduced to a post-industrial one.”

Opulent would be the closest word to describe the appearance of the carriage’s interior.

Han enjoyed how they approached one of the couches, hesitating to even sit on it — worried about dirtying it.

“Feel free to have a seat. Do not concern yourself with any formalities.” Han tried to be welcoming, attempting to relieve their anxieties about being in such an environment. “Since it’s likely you are all hungry after such a traumatizing event, I will have Cindy and Mindy bring dishes for you to sample. There will also be meals for you to enjoy as we make our way to the village.” He said.

“M-my Lord, what’s this carriage?” Molly stammered, trying to form a coherent sentence.

Han burst out laughing, covering his mouth to quickly get himself under control.

Waving a hand, “I apologize for laughing at your question. Elis had a very similar reaction.”

Han motioned a hand at the blushing woman — attempting to be invisible due to the attention.

“As I told her, I am just a simple magician. I am not anyone worthy of note.” He said. “Please, enjoy the ride. Do not hesitate to ask if there’s anything I can provide.”

They had been traveling for a few moments. During the time, Han listened to what Tom’s family and Elis were discussing — comparing what life was like for each of them.

A portal emerged, and Cindy, Mindy, and the other Maids emerged carrying numerous bowls, platters, serving dishes, and utensils.

The maids went to the rear section of the carriage that had the appearance of a preparation station — only different by the fact that anyone could see what they were doing. Each of the items was placed on the large table.

Han watched curiously, seeing the food being neatly presented on smaller serving platers.

Each maid moved confidently, as though they had been working in the hospitality industry for years instead of being created within a day’s time.

With the family and Elis talking heard vaguely in his peripheral, Han couldn’t help but think how intelligence and skills were the ability to make connections rapidly. The faster a person was able to notice patterns, the better they’d perform at a task — regardless of the training that may be necessary for others.

Han wasn’t a genius, even with his powers that bordered on the divine — if not surpassing such levels.

“I know that I wouldn’t be able to grasp things so quickly, enough to move with such precision,” Han couldn’t help but compare the maids to robots on a factory production line.

Brittany stood close to the table, the maximum distance away from her Master.

“I hope you don’t work so sloppily on Master’s dish,” Brittany telepathically chastised one of the maids.

She watched and nodded approvingly at how the individual made no external signs, even if the maid mentally flinched from the reprimand.

“Move faster. What will you do if our guests become hungry? I will not forgive any of you if your laziness tarnishes Master’s honor.” Brittany told the group.

Hands would occasionally blur due to the speed at which the maid reached for items. If it weren’t for the fact that the food items would be damaged from the force generated by such speeds, they would have been much sooner.

In addition to the concern of damaging the food, each of the maids was trained not to make too much sound from the ruffling of their uniforms.

“We’re here to serve, not to be noticed,” Brittany reminded the group of maids again.

Those words had become a mantra for the maids, something they were proud to achieve.

Samantha’s nose flared from the smell of the food.

Looking at the Lord, who seemed to be distracted, Samantha glanced at her brother.

Noticing Samantha looking at him, he looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Do you smell that?” Samantha communicated in a way only close siblings could.

Jake grinned and nodded his head slightly.

“Don’t be acting rude,” Her mother lightly smacked Samantha’s leg before returning to her conversation with the village woman.

Samantha rolled her eyes before stopping, realizing where she was at the moment.

Her cheeks burned in embarrassment.

When Samantha looked again at the Lord, her eyes met his.

“Getting hungry?” The Lord asked.

Samantha merely nodded, not knowing how she should address the Lord.

Her father’s business wasn’t large enough to frequently be visited by Lords and Ladies. But, he’d often tell Samantha numerous times that if either she or her brother were to meet a Lord or Lady, they would need to be on their best behavior.

Samantha remembered how stern her father would always be — typically reserved when he was warning them or something dangerous like the monsters roaming in the wilderness outside the gates surrounding the cities, towns, and villages waiting for misbehaving children to eat in the darkness.

“Don’t worry. Brittany and the maids will bring the food soon. I think they’re just about finished making everything look pretty.” The Lord smiled.

Han noticed how impatient the girl was after smelling the food.

“I guess children will always be children, regardless of the world,” Han laughed.

It made him think of when he’d visit the local grocery store with his mother. They’d pick up the usual staple foods, such as rice, kimchi, and other common ingredients.

While his mother would talk to the store owner, he’d play around on top of the stacks of rice bags, imagining an alien world. To this day, he was still amazed at how hard those bags of rice were if they were slapped or punched.

But sometimes, the owner would notice that he was impatient to go home and eat, that she’d tell him to go to the back of the store and grab one of the frozen dessert sticks.

Being an adult, it was now obvious to recognize when a kid was thinking of food. He couldn’t help but smile and be thankful to the friendly store lady.

He reassured the girl that Brittany would be finished with the food, smiling at the mother, who looked at him with slight apprehension.

Han knew that there would be no way for him to make the family feel completely at ease, considering the parents were well aware of how much power he likely held just with how luxurious everything appeared. Even before counting Helania, Queen, Brittany, and the supporting staff he commanded.

Brittany made her way toward where Han sat, carrying a platter of meat and vegetables. All were lightly covered in sauce.

Seeing that the food was ready, Han couldn’t help but smile — anticipating the taste of the food.

Helania and Queen were served food by the other maids.

The others were then served.

Elis had her food served by Cindy.

Mindy and several other maids took the responsibility of taking care of Tom and his family members.

The girl’s eyes were wide, seeing the heap of food on top of the plate placed on a small table next to her.

“Is this all for me?” The girl asked the maid.

Hearing the girl ask such an innocent question, the maid smiled, “Yes, Young Miss. If you wish to have more, please let me know. In addition, what would you care to drink?”

The girl sat on the couch, stunned by what the maid said.

Seeing the girl struggle, Han told the maid, “Bring her orange juice and then continue to change the drink for each refill. Let her get exposure to the different items we have.”

“By your will,” The maid turned to him and bowed.

“My Lord, you needn’t provide us with such luxurious drinks,” Tom stammered, his eyes wide.

Han chuckled at the man’s response.

“It’s not something that luxurious. I admit that it might be uncommon for the average person, but for me, it’s not anything major.” Han dismissed the concern.

Both children looked at their parents, concerned about the interaction. Despite the concern emanating from their parents, their eyes periodically glanced at the remaining food.

“Even if things get stressful, children will still be tempted by what they’re interested in — often delicious food,” Han laughed to himself.

The parents noticed the behavior of the children.

Tom looked at his wife, signaling that they should allow the children to eat.

Molly looked to Han, “Thank you for your generosity, My Lord. We greatly appreciate how you’ve shown us such care and consideration.”

She gently told Samantha, “Don’t eat the food too quickly.”

Samantha was already attacking the pile of food, not waiting for permission from her parents. It didn’t even occur to Samantha how she may have appeared, devouring everything like a starving beast.

Seeing her daughter act in such a manner, the mother looked apologetically at Han.

“Miss, please do not concern yourself with table manners. I am quite pleased to see your daughter relishing the food prepared. The chef, I am sure, would be quite overjoyed to hear that his dish is being lovingly eaten.” He tried to pacify Molly.

The mother could only bow her head, looking like she still didn’t believe the current reality.

She nudged her daughter one last time before looking at Han, giving him a small smile, and started eating the food.

Molly still felt anxious.

Thanks to Tom’s business, she had the opportunity to meet nobles. The experience helped her to know how to appropriately interact with them — without the risk of offending them.

She’d learned a long time ago that nobles were prideful individuals. Such pride would cause them to lash out at those they feel had tarnished their honor — something they held the utmost importance in their life and society.

But this is why she felt unsettled by their current circumstance.

Nobles were often people who had powerful abilities, able to defeat groups of soldiers at one time. Still, there wasn’t a noble she’d met that was able to heal a person in such a manner. At one point, she’d been injured and bleeding from a, likely, fatal wound. Then she was made whole.

It didn’t even stop at her leg but also with how she felt.

Molly felt as though she were years younger — feeling more alive than before.

Then there was the carriage itself.

“How is this thing so much larger than it looks from the outside?” Molly wondered.

She tried hard to not allow such emotions to be revealed.

Wanting to avoid offending the noble by not eating the food he provided, Molly moved closer to the small table with a plate on top.

Thankfully, her experience included formal table etiquette.

“It does smell delicious,” Molly smiled.

Her mouth began to water just from the anticipation of eating the desirable food.

The gravy was nice and thick, covering the mound of thickly sliced meat.

Molly looked at the vibrant colors of the vegetables — each of the greens nearly emerald in color.

Dark orange carrots contrasted wonderfully against the green of the other items.

She even saw some reds and yellows from what looked like peppers. There were some scorched marks on the exterior. If it wasn’t for the fact of where she was currently, Molly would’ve thought that the chef had burned them.

Gracefully picking up the fork and knife, Molly gently cut into the meat.

Immediately, her eyes widened upon seeing how the meat easily broke apart due to it being so moist and tender.

Molly swallowed the saliva accumulating in her mouth.

Getting a piece of the meat, she didn’t notice how her hand trembled in excitement.

Her lips hesitated slightly as she slowly breathed in the steam. Gradually she parted her lips and opened her mouth — her tongue partially out to catch any drops of meat fluids.

The explosion of flavor and the juices squirting into her mouth, flooding her mouth with experiences she’d never had before.

Her tongue instinctually caressed the meat, cherishing how it was smothered with thick gravy.

“Father, this meat is so tender! How did the cook make the meat melt in my mouth?” The boy, Jake, exclaimed.

Jake was eating the food at such a rapid pace that the maid was continuously going back to the table to pile on more meat and vegetables.

The father, Tom, was also desperately shoveling food into his mouth.

Brittany lovingly cut up the meat into bite-size pieces, feeding Han.

The meat was succulent, the grease occasionally leaking down the side of his cheek.

Without hesitation, Brittany would lean down and slowly stick out her tongue. She sensually licked up the fluid on Han’s face — ending it with a kiss on his cheek.

Eating the food, Han looked at the family, Elis, Queen, and Helania.

Han was happy that there was such a cheerful mood, no one caring how the other was acting and only enjoying the moment.

He could understand — the way the family reacted.

Even on Earth, Han wouldn’t have been able to eat such quality food on his own. The only time he’d have the opportunity was always thanks to someone else.

“I could barely handle the workload during school while fighting off the existential dread of being unable to cover the daily expenses. After all the suffering, I was lucky to acquire a professional job… It really did feel like everything was accumulating towards a larger goal… until it didn’t.” Han slowly drifted along with his memories.

“Master…,” Helania, Queen, and Brittany said, looking concerned.

Hearing their voice, Han was pulled out of the waters of his past.

He hadn’t noticed that he had zoned out — not paying attention to his surroundings. Seeing them worried about him, Han smiled to let them know everything was okay. With one hand, he placed an arm around Brittany’s hip, lightly patting it to reassure her.

Han looked at the family.

The family was busy smiling and talking with one another — happy about the food.

Elis had joined in and appeared to have developed a friendship with Molly.

“Glad to see that Elis found someone close to her age,” Han thought.

Though Han brought along Elis, he didn’t find the idea of her joining the family and restarting her life.

Han thought that being in a fantasy-type world, it was likely that families with multiple wives would exist. It wouldn’t be so strange to have such a family dynamic. He’d need to confirm things later, but Han didn’t think it would be difficult for Elis to join Molly in caring for the family.

“It’s like watching Alice talking with Dorothy. The two women, exchanging their experience in a strange unusual world that destroyed their former world views,” Han couldn’t help but make the connection.

Elis was just a villager who had lost everything until she encountered a mysterious figure.

Then there was Molly and her family, who, similarly, almost lost everything until meeting a mysterious figure.

Their lives paralleled so well that Han could imagine it unlikely that a bond didn’t form.

As things started to slow down, Elis and both Molly and Tom had hot honeyed tea in their hands, laughing about something that had happened — where Tom did something embarrassing.

“He stepped out of the bathroom, and I just watched the trail of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. It nearly ruined the deal if I didn’t snap out of it and casually stop him — to give him a kiss on the cheek. At the same time, I stepped on the toilet paper.” Molly laughed, a hand on Tom’s leg.

Listening to the story, Tom’s face was beet red.

Elis had a hand to her mouth, trying to hide the smile — feeling sorry for the man.

Both Samantha and Jake had cookies in their hands, provided by the maid.

Molly lifted her hand off Tom’s leg, proceeding to wipe away the tears.

“I didn’t think it was that funny. It’s not my fault the food I ate caused my stomach to become ill.” Tom frowned as he sipped on the tea.

Moving close to Tom, Molly rested her head on his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Tom. My husband did funnier things that I never let him forget,” Elis tried to mediate.

Hearing Elis mention her husband, Molly’s chest tightened slightly — though she made sure not to allow her feelings to show.

Molly couldn’t help but remember that she nearly became like Elis’ husband.

Raising the cup to her lips, she allowed herself to calm down.

The tea felt the warm liquid radiate through her body.

It didn’t hold a candle to other teas she’d drunk in the past — the honey contrasting against the bitterness.

Molly looked at the bowl of honey that was provided in case any of them desired more. It might as well have been a bowl full to the brim with gold with how expensive and labor-intensive the sweet liquid was.

Feeling eyes on her, Molly looked to see the Lord with the aetherial maid next to him.

“Where is your family from?” The Lord asked them.

Turning his body towards the Lord, Tom said, “We come from a relatively large town nearby the capital. My store is located there.”

Molly felt pride, knowing how hard her husband worked to create the business and provide for them.

“Though the size of the business is not impressive compared to others in the capital, we’ve managed to regularly purchase various items from the guild. They receive the items from adventurers, who complete quests and trade the raw material for money.” Tom stopped for a moment.

Tom took a moment, sipping on the tea to wet his throat.

He continued, “After taking the items, the employees convert the items into common materials, which are then transported to the kingdom. We make a decent amount but not enough to hire guards.”

Samantha and Jake paused their enjoyment of the treats as they noticed Tom’s voice change.

Seeing how Samantha acted, Molly placed the cup of tea on the table before placing a hand on her daughter’s back. Molly felt the frustration in Tom’s voice — knowing how the betrayal had deeply affected him.

“To keep expenses low, the decision to travel with other merchants towards Leaf Village was made.” Tom ground his teeth. He clenched his free hand — the cup in his other trembling slightly.

Han listened silently.

It was easy to empathize with the man’s experience and how things almost ended up horrifically — if not for Han.

Han gave the man time to push aside the thoughts swirling through his mind. Seeing Tom’s face made him remember his own expressions in the mirror as he was slowly moved to the brink throughout his life.

Leaving Tom to be comforted by his wife, Han thought about the revelation about adventurers.

“So there are adventurers and a guild in this world, huh?” Han thought to himself.

Thinking of the Guild, Han couldn’t help but think of the adventurers that waited for him.

“It’ll also be nice to interact with the adventurers,” Han imagined taking up requests and hanging out with adventurers — who’d be ignorant of what he was capable of.

When Tom started to look better, Han asked, “These guilds, where are they located?”

“My Lord, there are numerous guilds for various professions. They are usually located in larger villages and towns. The numerous guilds each have a location at the capital.” Tom looked grateful for the distraction.

“Yes, my Lord,” Elis joined into the discussion — likely to give the man some time. “Guilds, like the Adventurer’s Guild, are powerful, providing a greatly needed service.”

Han nodded, feeling like the explanation was similar to what he expected from games and stories he’d read in the past.

“The Adventurer Guild was there to help defend us against the increase in monster and demonic activity that occurs every couple of years. Without such an organization, there would be many lives lost.” Elis further explained.

Hearing about monsters and demonic activities, Han’s ears perked.

“Monsters and demons?” Han asked, intrigued.

“Yes, my Lord,” Elis answered, an eyebrow twitching slightly.

“Where do the monsters and demons come from?” Han probed further.

The question was whether there was a demon realm or portal that allowed such creatures to invade this world. Han contained his excitement until his questions were answered.

Hearing the conversation, Tom regained himself and looked at Han.

Elis looked at Tom before telling Han, “My Lord, no one knows where such beings originate. There are some theories, but no proof exists to support them.” She slowly walked Han through what would be commonly known by the masses.

Tom nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes, my Lord. Periodically, the Adventurer Guild will set up expeditions and have adventurers go out to discover the source, but one has yet to be found. This caused many to think it’s just a natural phenomenon, like rain or snow.” Tom said.

Han raised a hand to the two, needing time to digest what learned.

“I’m curious how I can use this information to my benefit. The question is how serious such creatures are. Are Elis and Tom making a simple matter larger than it is due to the technological knowledge of this world — or is it actually a grave matter.” Han mused.

The problem was that Han came from a highly developed world. His views on what would be considered catastrophic would be materially different than someone in the current fantasy world.

Han looked to Queen.

“I want you to take your shadow assassins and have them search throughout this kingdom to determine if there’s a pattern to the demons and monster sightings.” Glancing at Elis and Tom’s family, “Also, have them look into the various villages and towns, along with the capital, to see if there is anything that should concern us.”

Without using his abilities, there was too little information about the world and its mechanics.

Han telepathically told Queen, thinking of something, “While gathering information about this world, keep tabs on various powers in case there are chances to create mischief. These rulers and nobles likely think they are untouchable, so it would be fun to knock them down a peg or two.”

Han mentally smirked at the thought of the nobility.

“Master, by your will.” Queen bowed.

The journey towards Leaf Village continued smoothly.

Most of the time was spent chatting about minor things, such as life in the kingdom and daily life.

Han took the opportunity to learn more about the world, asking Tom’s family and Elis for information that typically would be common sense.

Tom and Molly were bewildered by the inquiry. But it didn’t take them long to adapt — likely thinking Han was an eccentric noble.

Since Han was ignorant in many areas, he was glad they didn’t delve too deep.

“They do suspect something,” Han smiled to himself.

Han did want to maintain some anonymity, but he did enjoy how others reacted to his wealth and powers.

“I just have to make sure not to abuse it too much,” Han didn’t want to ruin his fun at the moment.

Looking out the window, Han could see the sun readying to relinquish its control to the night, signaling how much time had flown by.

As if waiting for a lull, Andrea reported, “Master, we are approaching the village. There appears to be some form of security at the entrance. How would you like for me to proceed?”

Han thought back to what Elis and Tom had told him regarding the monsters and demonic activity. With this knowledge, he suspected that the security was related to purely protection against the eldritch threats.

Mentally shrugging, “Just explain we are simple travelers and see entry into the village. If they need some money for a fee, just alert me, and I will provide it.”

Han glanced at Helania, Queen, and Brittany before saying to Andrea, “Remember, we are not here to lay waste to this village. Mind your manners.”

Disconnecting from Andrea, Han smiled at Elis and the family. “Well, it appears that we are nearing Leaf Village. Where do you normally stay in this village when you visit for business?” He asked Tom.

“My Lord, we normally stay at the inn, conveniently located near the entrance. They have a variety of rooms available to meet the needs of the different types of clients visiting the village for business purposes.”

Seeming to remember something, Tom added, “The innkeeper is an honorable person. My Lord, you do not need to be concerned about your privacy being violated.”

Han sensed the carriage slowing down.

Taking a moment, Han observed Andrea interact with the Guards.

The guards bowed and motioned for Andrea to proceed into the village.

“The father said the inn should be near the entrance. We’ll be going there.” Han ordered.

After directing Andrea, Han contemplated what to do next. He wondered if he should continue toward the capital. Still, another part wanted to continue traveling with Tom and his family.

There would be plenty of time to explore the world.

“But at the capital, they have the Adventurer’s Guild. It could be interesting to try my hand at being an adventurer.” Han smiled at the thought.

The carriage door opened.

“Master, we have arrived at your destination,” Andrea said.

Elis and the family looked to Han.

“I’m sure that all of you are tired, so let us proceed into the inn,” Han stood up.

After Han got up, the rest of them followed his movement.

One of the maids a bag to Samantha and Jake.

By their expression, Han guessed it was more of the desserts they had enjoyed. He nodded approvingly at the maid’s decision.

Receiving approval from her Master, the maid blushed. When she returned to where the other maids were, a few whispered congratulatory words.

Han noticed Brittany staring at the maid.

“Brittany is doing a fine job with her subordinates,” Han thought to himself — noting that he should reward her later.

Han stepped out of the carriage, enjoying the early night air.

“I’m still trying to get used to how fresh the air is,” Han took a deep breath.

As he let the air out slowly, Han looked at his surroundings.

The first thing that Han noticed was how much larger Leaf Village was compared to the one that Elis came from. It was also much better in appearance — the buildings weren’t in disrepair.

Han was a little surprised by how busy it was at night; people walked around in groups as they talked and laughed. The sight reminded him of cities — people hanging out as they head to the bars and enjoy the nightlife.

There were even carts where people sold food, just like in the city his family lived.

Han observed the different types of people that were going about and enjoying the night. Some wore armor, while others had outfits similar to Tom’s family. There was also the occasional person dressed up nicely, likely a noble or someone connected to such a lifestyle.

A few adventurers attracted Han’s attention, especially the females dressed in revealing armor that showed off their curves. One even wore fishnet stockings.

“I imagine that such outfits allow for ease of movement. The fishnets could also let them place leaves and branches to conceal them — breaking up their figure.” Han surmised. “It’s also nice on the eyes,” Han eyed each one slowly before he turned his attention to the others.

“Brittany, I would like attire that fits my status and our surroundings to be prepared for tomorrow,” Han ordered.

“I will have the seamstress and designers create something that would fit someone of your presence,” Brittany bowed.

Han then looked to Helania and Queen, “The two of you should make something for yourself to wear for tomorrow. Both of you know my taste well, so keep that in mind.”

Though the ability to create outfits was not outside his abilities, fashion was never a strong point for him. Han could hear the laughter, thinking of Beth commenting on his poor coordination skills.

There was one time when, after graduating, Han had gone to find a suit for a job interview that was coming up. With the money he had, he needed to ask Sam to spot him for the rest. Beth joked about how Sam would make some girl happy, considering Sam’s success in life.

Han waved away the phantoms of his memories — dispelling the thought to focus on the present.

In front of the carriage was the inn they’d be staying at for the night.

Han looked up to see the multiple floors.

“It clearly shows that this is a popular establishment,” Han thought.

Because Tom had mentioned the clients that typically visited the inn, it wasn’t difficult to imagine how they could afford such a fancy exterior.

Compared to other buildings, the entrance stuck out as though trying to snatch customers with its mouth. The roof was angled in the center, and columns on either side supported it.

Easily seen from the road on the front of the entrance’s roof, a bed and some silverware were next to each other to indicate the business type. The logo was plated in gold or similar metal to show prestige.

“But it’s not to the level of what we have on Earth,” Han thought of hotels where the staff would be waiting to greet guests and handle their luggage.

The fact that they hadn’t been greeted made Han wonder if it wasn’t typical for hotels in this world or if the level wasn’t high enough.

“I’d think nobles would think negatively about having to bring in their own luggage unless the owner assumes that the noble would have their own staff do such tasks,” Han wondered. “But since there are monsters outside in the wilderness, it would make sense people would still need to stop to rest for the night — even if they had hired protection for their journey. And the business would need to be large enough to accommodate large groups. So even if they’re dissatisfied, this inn may be the only one large enough.”

Han looked at Tom, who was patiently waiting for Han and his staff. Even though the inn was a location that Tom was familiar with, it would be rude to enter before Han.

Though Tom tried to downplay his business, he must be doing well by the look of the inn. It made Han think of the man in a different light compared to earlier.

“I shouldn’t be too surprised, considering the number of crates he had on the wagon. The raw material in them wouldn’t be cheap. Even on Earth, furs and other materials aren’t cheap and fetch a reasonable price depending on the quality.” Han smiled.

Han made his way to the inn.

“It’s not the complete glass door that I’m used to, but the fact that it looks like something used in a modern home is impressive,” Han thought as he looked at the door held open by Brittany.

The outer part of the door was sturdy, while the middle was a pane of glass with some etchings of trees and woodland creatures.

Seeing the artwork, Han realized how advanced Earth was since artists could create images that looked near photorealistic due to elevated skills. The animals etched into the glass were easily recognizable, a few local to the world, but nowhere near the same skill level as what he was used to seeing daily.

The lobby of the inn was furnished with lush carpet. A green with gold embroidered carpet led towards the counter. Standing behind the counter was an older lady waiting for guests.

On the walls were paintings with wall lights, making the interior warm and welcoming with their diffused light.

Against the walls were comfortable sofas that complemented the wooden walls and carpeted floor. On either side of the sofas were vases filled with flowers.

Han breathed in the scent of the flowers before he made his way toward the counter, where the lady waited for them.

Approaching the counter in a relaxed manner, Han greeted the woman.

The woman bowed slightly, “Welcome to our humble inn. If there’s anything our establishment can do for you to improve your time here, feel free to let us know.”

Han looked at the woman’s blonde hair that tumbled over her shoulders. Compared to Elis and Molly, the woman behind the counter wore an outfit that better fit her form.

As the woman straightened, Han couldn’t help but glance at the small triangle window that allowed ease of view of her modest bosom.

“A room big enough for four people,” Han said. Turning to the side, he motioned for Elis and Tom’s family. “The woman will need a room for herself, and the family will need one, too.”

Reaching into his pocket, Han materialized several thin gold bars.

Han then placed the gold bars on the counter.

The woman’s eyes widened, seeing the amount of wealth that was casually placed in front of her.

“Her reaction shows that this establishment does have some nobles who stay for the night,” Han said to himself.

Han thought about how the guards reacted to the gold he’d shown them, feeling their reaction was typical. So the woman not showing much of a response meant it wasn’t unusual.

Seeing that Han was not an ordinary patron, the woman said, “My Lord, for the larger group, we have a royal suite. We’ve made it easy for groups to be close to one another. It’s also possible to have all the rooms next to each other if you want.”

The woman glanced at the gold, “In addition to the cost of your room, would you need any meals provided? It’ll be five silver for the larger room, three for the next size, and only one for the individual.”

“I will only require the rooms, thank you,” Han answered.

Han did think of paying for Tom’s family and Elis to receive meals from the inn, but he dismissed the thought since he could have Brittany order the maids to serve them food.

“The amount you’ve provided is greater than the cost of the room, so we’ll quickly measure out the amount and provide you the change. Thank you for your patience.” The woman bowed as she placed a tray on the counter and transferred the gold bars onto it.

Smiling at her, Han said, “Keep one of the bars for yourself.”

The woman looked at Han, and after seeing his smile, her cheeks turned red. She shyly looked away and bowed again, “By your will.”

Han enjoyed seeing her walking off to the side, where another worker appeared to take care of the tray carrying the gold. There was a quick whisper of words before the woman returned to the counter.

The woman had difficulty looking at Han, shifting her weight as she cutely fidgeted.

Though Han didn’t need to receive change for his gold, he did think it would be good to carry the local currency, so he wouldn’t have to keep creating bars of gold.

When the woman recovered, she looked at Han — a slight tinge of pink still visible on her milky skin. She motioned to the area behind her, where a staircase was going up to the next level.

A teenage girl approached where Han and his group waited. She gave them a broad smile. Bowing low, she straightened before saying, “My Lord, please follow me, and I’ll guide you to your rooms.”

Han nodded at the well-trained mannerism of the young girl.

“I imagine people in this world start working at a younger age,” Han mused.

The more he saw the world, it reminded him of the ancient world he’d seen in history textbooks. A time when kings and emperors ruled over lands. For the average person, work was the only thing that allowed them to survive daily.

What differed significantly was the existence of the Guilds, especially for adventurers.

Han could only imagine adventurers being what he’d seen in video games or portrayed in tabletop games. They’d take up requests from the Guild and get paid for their efforts.

“But not everyone can take up such requests,” Han looked at the girl guiding them, failing to imagine her fighting monsters and risking her life.

As they walked up the stairs, the girl explained all the amenities in the hotel.

“We have a communal bath on the first two floors. On the third floor, where you are staying, the bathing area is restricted to those staying on the floor.” The girl reflexively looked at Helania, Queen, and Brittany before quickly looking away in embarrassment.

The girl continued, “We are proud to have the same water system as the capital, so water is dispensed at the tub. It’s designed to provide hot and cold water, allowing you to adjust the temperature.”

The girl puffed out her chest — proud of the premium service.

Han admitted that such a service was impressive for a world far behind modern civilization.

“We likely wouldn’t need to prepare the baths, but nobles likely enjoy the ability to keep the bath water steaming hot and not have to wait for the staff to provide more hot water,” Han said to himself.

“Each room on the third floor has a copper tube — connecting to the kitchen. If you wish to have room provided to your room, please use the mechanism for your convenience.” The girl said.

In an excited voice, the girl said, “We have a lot of the same modern technology as seen in the capital, my Lord. I’m sure you will be just as comfortable here as there.”

It was clear that the girl assumed that Han and his group originated from the capital. Hence, she wanted to put Han at ease so that his stay in the inn would be comfortable.

As they arrived at the third floor, Han took a moment to look at the interior design of the inn. Though there wasn’t much different from the lobby, the lamps had some kind of crystal instead of glass.

The walls had a more elaborate wallpaper with forest animal patterns, ivy, and leaves. There was also white crown molding at the top of the walls. At the bottom was a baseboard with a nicer varnish.

While Han inspected the hallway, they eventually found themselves in front of the first room.

“Though not typically used by families, it still has separate rooms. Normally, the rooms are meant for each gender since this is usually used by the staff.” The girl smiled at Tom and his family.

Han raised an eyebrow in confusion at Tom’s reaction.

Tom noticed Han’s reaction, hastily explaining, “My Lord, it’s not that I’m ungrateful…”

He looked at Molly, who was nodding her head vigorously.

“We normally stay on the first floor when staying at the inn. Such a room is beyond what we’ve experienced.” Molly explained.

The girl looked at Tom and Molly before she carefully looked at Han. She was clearly nervous due to how the family reacted to Han. But it was apparent that she was trained adequately, how she didn’t make it overly obvious.

Learning that even Tom, a successful merchant, only stayed on the first level made Han wonder about the type of person that would remain on the second and third floors.

It also helped him gauge the wealth gap between him and someone considered well-off in this world.

Since not many people would be staying on the third floor, Han understood how his large group was able to attain rooms as quickly as they did. The woman behind the counter didn’t even ask which floor they should stay on — the gold bars clearly indicated Han’s influence based on the world’s standards.

“If it bothers you, I’m sure they can rearrange things so you’ll stay on the first floor,” Han explained. “But I hope you and your family stay on the third floor.”

“Of course, my Lord!” Tom bowed.

“How could we do something as not appreciatively receive your consideration,” Molly bowed.

There was a flash of murderous intent, quickly pulled back.

Han sighed as he turned his head slightly at his creations behind him.

The girl smiled awkwardly and handed Tom the keys to the room. “If you require anything, feel free to let us know. We’ll try to be accommodating to any of your and your family’s needs.”

Tom smiled at the girl before looking at Han, “My Lord, my family and I will be entering first. We hope that you have a good night.”

Han waved and dismissed the family, knowing they’d feel more relaxed inside the room.

“That’s one of the biggest issues with having a society so focused on social hierarchies,” Han thought.

The way that Tom and his family reacted was something he was familiar with, considering his family’s background. Han had to always be aware of how others were on the social ladder, often causing him stress during his childhood.

His mother would warn him about how he needed to behave appropriately to not attract negative attention from others.

“I imagine that I made my parents’ lives harder by how I failed to behave properly. I likely caused other families to view us negatively.” Han couldn’t help but think of his childhood. “Even though I enjoy seeing how they reacted to my wealth, it doesn’t mean that I did it in a malicious light.”

Han hoped that the family’s experience of traveling with him and enjoying food beyond what they’d have access to would offset the parents’ anxiety.

“The children seem to not have as big of an issue. Though, I imagine the older brother had some sense of what was happening during the trip. He likely didn’t act differently to keep his younger sister calm.” Han smiled.

It was one of the benefits of being young, being able to stay ignorant of how dangerous the world could be if one encountered the wrong type of person.

“I hope my Lord forgives us for taking the liberty of placing the Lady next to your room,” The girl looked at Elis and then at his creations.

Han understood what she meant.

“Elis is a traveling companion. Since she is more familiar with us, I do not think it is inappropriate to have her closer to my room — compared to the family.” Han smiled, letting the girl know she didn’t do anything wrong.

The girl let out a soft sigh in relief.

“As I told the family, feel free to make any requests,” The girl said to Elis.

Knowing that Elis wasn’t a noble, the girl interacted more comfortably than how she addressed Han.

Elis nodded, “Thank you.” She then looked to Han, “My Lord, I’ll turn in now. I thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

Waving a hand, “It is not nearly as big of a deal as you make it sound like. Get plenty of rest, and let Cindy or Mindy know if you need anything. They are already prepared to handle anything you ask for, regardless of the time.” Han gently said to Elis.

Opening the door and entering, Elis bowed before she closed the door.

“The two of you, keep a close eye on Elis. I do not expect any issues, but I would rather not have to work harder than needed.” Han mentally ordered Cindy and Miny, who were with the other maids.

“By your will. No harm will fall on your guest, Master,” Cindy answered.

Arriving at the room he and his creations would be staying in for the night, Han looked forward to finding out what it looked like on the inside.

“My Lord, this will be your room,” The girl moved to open the door.

Leading them inside, the girl began to explain the layout.

“Upon entering, you’ll see a sizeable shared area where you can have meals or entertain guests.” The girl waved a hand to encompass the area.

Compared to the lobby and the hallways, the living area was significantly more lavished in appearance.

They were immediately greeted by a raised ceiling with a chandelier in the center. The light glittered, tiny rainbows seen on the walls — dancing as the crystals slightly moved. There were also two large sofas on opposite sides of a long wooden coffee table.

On one side was a lone cushioned chair where the head of the group would be sitting to signify their higher status. All the furniture had the wooden parts polished and varnished, the wooden support even being carved with trees and animals — matching the theme seen throughout the inn.

“For when you need snacks and drinks prepared by your staff, we have a side room that serves as a mini kitchen. There’s a heating unit, dishes, and silverware that are complementary. If you need more mana crystals to power the units, you can easily switch it out with a new one provided inside the room.” The girl said.

Han noticed the term “mana crystals” used and was curious whether it was what he thought it to be.

The girl then walked to the dining area, “Over here, you can comfortably have your meals. Please let us know if you need a larger table, and we’ll replace it at no additional charge.” The girl smiled, “All the furniture has been commissioned by a well-known craftsman in the capital.” She blushed, “Even the beds are large and comfortable — sturdy for any kind of activities.”

The way that the girl acted it was clear that she had no experience. Han imagined that the girl heard things from the older staff, especially when it came to nobles. He imagined that it wasn’t strange for a noble to arrive in a group where many of the servants were women.

With that knowledge, the girl likely thought that she was acting more mature than she was by adding details about the beds’ quality.

“Though she isn’t necessarily wrong,” Han mentally grinned, looking forward to the nightly activities with his creations.

Han slowly looked around the room, inspecting the area. One of the things he noticed was the quality of the carpet better than what was out in the hallway. There was also something in the air that made him feel better.

He wondered if the room had something that was common for rooms associated with the nobility.

“Inside each room, there’s a private area for bodily functions. And for your staff, there’s a powder room where they can look over themselves after bathing or waking up.” The girl said, her cheeks still slightly pink.

“As already explained, there’s a private bathing area for those on the third floor. It’s separated by gender but also one that’s for mixed uses. These are typically used by the staff. My Lord, you’re free to use the one reserved for the nobility and anyone else you wish to join you.” She quickly moved on, “Since there are no other nobles tonight, in addition to not having received any requests for reservations, you’ll have that area for yourself.”

Han couldn’t help but enjoy how the girl was purposefully trying to avoid looking at Helania, Queen, and Brittany.

“That last part was to let me know that it was okay for me to have the three join me in the bath area,” Han mentally chuckled.

Han noticed the girl fidgeting and felt he was being too much, deciding to let the girl complete her task.

“Girl, what’s your name?” Han asked her.

Blinking, the girl’s voice cracked slightly, “My name is Susie, my Lord.”

Susie used a hand to brush back her red hair out of her eyes.

Reaching into his pocket, Han pulled out gold and held it to Susie.

Placing her hand beneath his, she soon felt a weight being dropped. When he lifted his hand, it was revealed to be gold. Her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the gold gift in alarm.

In a panic, Susie looked at Han — her mouth opened wide enough for a fly to buzz into it.

Seeing her expression, Han said, “You were very professional with your explanation and your service. This is a tip for you. Make sure to use it for your future, but I advise not sharing that you got such a gift to too many people.”

Susie gave him a giant smile and bowed, “Thank you, my Lord!”

When she saw him dismissing her, she tried calmly walking back to the counter but had difficulty due to her excitement. Her feet bounced slightly as though she were walking on a trampoline.

Turning back to his creations, Han suggested, “How about we check out the bathing facility.”

Han couldn’t help but grin at being able to enjoy time with his creations.

“Though I started this to spend time with them, most of it involved other people,” Han mentally shrugged at the thought.

Since Han initially started the journey to explore the world, it didn’t bother him in the least to spend it with others he encountered along the way.

Helania, Queen, and Brittany smiled at the thought of what lay before them.

Brittany bit her lower lips as the corner of her lips curved upwards seductively. Her uniform seemed to protest, attempting to contain her breasts as she breathed deeply.

Not waiting for them, Han headed toward the door, exiting the living area and into the entrance hallway.

Opening the door, Han stepped back into the hallway.

Han’s eyes moved to look at the rooms leading to Elis and Tom’s family. Both doors were closed, and sound wasn’t heard from either.

Feeling the heft of the door, Han could tell that it would take a decent amount of energy to open it. This made the chance of sound leaving unlikely.

It wasn’t difficult to imagine that nobles may have to discuss information that was sensitive in nature. The sound drifting through the door where anyone could listen wasn’t a thought anyone would enjoy.

At the same time, Han imagined that it would be convenient for when nobles wanted to enjoy more rambunctious nightly activities. His thoughts drifted to well-known movies involving masks and large orgies connected to the upper class.

Like Susie had informed them, there were numerous arches with just a curtain providing privacy.

Han looked at the gold-plated signs at the top, which designated the ones for men, women, and mixed. Another one was labeled “Only For The Nobility.” On top of it being gold-plated, there was an ornate wooden frame.

Brittany smoothly approached the curtain and pulled one side open to allow Han to enter.

As Han walked past Brittany, he raised a hand to lovingly brush aside her red shoulder-length hair. With his thumb, he caressed her cheek.

Under Brittany’s white skin, her cheeks began to slowly turn pink and then red as she blushed.

“Master,” Brittany lovingly cooed as she tilted her head towards his hand.

Walking through the opening, Han walked down the short hallway to a changing area.

On the walls, there were more wall lamps that kept the changing area bright. The light danced as it entered the crystal before creating tiny rainbows on the walls.

Curious, Han moved closer to one of the wall lamps.

Han wondered whether it was similar to what was used on Earth before electricity or if it was some kind of magical device. Based on what Susie had said about the mana crystals needing to be replaced, he had a hunch the light was connected to the magical item.

Han simply said, “Analyze,” and a screen appeared next to the crystal.

[Mana Crystal Wall Lamp

Using the unique characteristics of a mana crystal, a special magical circuit generates light by using a type of crystal that causes light to be emitted upon exposure to mana.

The Great Mage, Gelando Flame, developed the light as an alternative to the burning of oils, which would cause issues such as people breathing in the toxic fumes. There was also the problem of the fumes staining the surroundings and the flames occasionally being the cause of many house fires.

Due to the convenience of the lamp, it has been widely adopted across all nearby kingdoms. These include the Helios Kingdom, the Lunar Empire, the Beast Alliance, the Dwarven Territories, and the isolated Elven Kingdom.]

“Fascinating!” Han exclaimed.

Despite the technological prowess of the kingdom, creating such a wall lamp would’ve allowed for great strides toward industrialization.

Having light was a resource that was widely limited to wealthier nations, and even then, on Earth, gas, oil, wood, and coal were the best way to illuminate the night. Before light was widely available, business would often be restricted to when the sun was up. But as people were able to work longer, more inventions were able to be developed.

Han understood the significance of having light that burned clean and was safe to use.

“I imagine that replacing the crystal is incredibly easy. This means that the only prohibitive factor was the cost, which is why the quality is better on the floor for nobles.” Han couldn’t help but grin.

On top of the light, there was also internal plumbing which was a massive leap in technology compared to when people would use chamber pots to collect waste — tossing it out the window.

Han thought about how he didn’t smell any sewage after stepping out of the carriage. With just the number of people he’d seen walking around at night, it would be impossible to hide the smell of bodily waste. The lack of smell indicated that the village had an underground sewer system.

“The pipes also indicate access to clean water,” Han smiled.

Seeing the device, Han was extra curious about what the capital looked like, especially if the inn was designed in such a way as to make nobles feel comfortable. Based on his memory, the village was relatively far from the capital. This meant that it would take time for new technologies to fully reach out near the edges of the kingdom.

With a cool look at the device, Helania patronizingly said, “These primitive humans are creative in their own ways.”

Snorting, Queen sneered, “Master could make something infinitely better. They are merely playing around and not grasping what true power is.”

Queen disliked the idea of any of the creatures outside her Master’s domain, impressed with what amounted to toys only beneficial for children.

In the back of Queen’s mind, the mental gate moved restlessly as the souls of the dead sensed their Mistress’s anger.

Feeling the dead mimicking her feelings made Queen happy, knowing it would be a simple matter of eliminating everything in the world.

“I will make the plead to be useful to our Master,” Queen smiled sinisterly.

“Now, Queen, just because they don’t have our abilities doesn’t mean these things aren’t interesting. The fact that they have to struggle is what makes them able to create such interesting tools.” Her Master said to her as he continued to look at the primitive magical tool.

Queen lowered her head, shame welling up from inside her after being reprimanded.

Brittany glanced in her direction before returning to stare at their Master.

Han turned to see that his creations had already removed their clothing, the skirts and tops neatly folded into wicker baskets and tucked into the cubby area.

Brittany walked up to Han, “Master, allow me to help you remove your clothing.”

As Brittany lovingly removed his light jacket, shirt, and pants, Han smiled at Helania and Queen.

Helania’s black hair was like a waterfall with how it cascaded down her back, nearly covering all of her back. Though her skin wasn’t the bone white that Queen’s skin was, Helania still had a milky color to it.

In front of her, Helania had her hands clasped together. This only served to press her large breasts together.

Han then looked to Queen, who looked desirable despite having the appearance of a corpse. Compared to Helania, Queen had her hands behind her. This made her chest stick out slightly, letting her breasts sway as Queen shifted her weight.

Queen stared at the floor, avoiding his gaze.

“Come here,” Han said to Queen.

Lifting his feet, Brittany removed his socks.

When Brittany stood up, Han wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Queen walked over to him, having the appearance of a child that had been scolded by their parents. A child that didn’t completely understand why she had been reprimanded.

With his free hand, Han lifted up her chin.

“I am not angry with you, so why do you look so sad?” Han asked his beautiful undead creation.

Queen was silent as she pouted, looking to the side.

Though Queen looked cute, the way she acted, Han knew that she was genuinely feeling sad about how he reacted to her words.

There was a slight glistening in Queen’s eyes as they began to tear up.

Letting go of Queen’s chin, Han wrapped his arm around her. He gently pulled his cute undead creation closer to him. Her cool skin was enjoyable with how warm the temperature of the bathing area was, like a cool light mist on a hot, humid day.

Han moved his head close to Queen’s collar area and gently kissed her.

“I was not yelling at you. There is no way I would be angry at any of you, my beautiful creations that are the light in my world.” Han said to her. “You know that, right?” Han asked Queen.

Queen nodded.

Despite how she tried to act, Queen’s cheeks became slightly red.

“Let us go inside and see what they have,” Han smiled, happy that Queen wasn’t sad any longer.

Han brushed aside the cloth curtain that separated the changing and bathing areas. A wave of steam passed his face, immediately making him feel warm.

The bathing area was significantly larger than his room’s living and dining areas. On both walls was a row of water faucets. Upon a closer look, it was the kind that allowed the water to flow out like a waterfall.

They were placed on different levels, which made Han wonder how they were supposed to wash before entering the bath. Below the faucets were numerous containers, likely soap, and shampoo.

Since there wasn’t plastic in this world, it looked like some type of glass or crystal was used.

Han could see the substance through the material and was curious which one was which, seeing the different colors.

The floor was some kind of polished stone with a slight gap between each one. In addition, stacked on top of one another and placed in intervals were wooden stools for seating while washing. The overall appearance was like a traditional bathing house.

Helania quickly made her way to grab one of the stools and placed it in front of several water faucets.

“Master, let us get you cleaned,” Helania said with a smile.

“Yes, Master. We will get you all clean.” Brittany breathed into his ear.

Feeling Brittany’s words so close to his ear, Han felt energy begin to stir in his groins. Even with the steam, he couldn’t help but feel his body begin to warm.

Helania flipped a switch, and soon gentle waterfalls were made as the water flowed out and splashed on the stone floor. The water flowed into the openings between the stones, not leaving even a puddle behind.

“Master, please have a seat, so we may serve you. You have worked so hard, so allow us to use our bodies formed from your hands to bring you comfort.” Helania had one of the containers in her hand.

Opening the cap, Helania placed the container just above her bountiful breasts that glistened from the steam. The container was tilted, and the viscous soap spilled slowly to eventually cover her mounds.

Moving away from Han, Brittany moved towards Helania and reached for the container.

Queen moved away to grab another container.

As Brittany poured the soap all over her breasts, covering them in the white milky substance, Helania used both hands to rub the soap on her breasts, bubbles beginning to form. She took in deep breaths, with the occasional moan each time her hands brushed against her hard nipples.

Han sat on the stool, enjoying the show.

Two large mounds soon pressed against his back, the coolness of the breasts letting him know they belonged to Queen.

Queen cupped under her breasts as she moved them slowly against her Master’s back. She couldn’t help but moan each time her stiff nipples rubbed against the back muscles of her Master.

Though her Master wasn’t what humans would consider in shape, having a relatively average body didn’t matter in her mind. Even more was how she couldn’t help but feel as though his warmth was being sucked into her breasts, entering her body.

Her mouth opened slightly as she began to breathe faster, the air feeling thin as her head slowly felt light. All she could think about was how her Master felt against her skin.

“Master, I love how you feel,” Queen moaned as she lowered herself.

The soap lubricated her Master’s flesh, becoming soapy and causing her to grasp firmer on her breasts — adding more stimulation to her mind.

Queen thought of how her Master’s hot and thirsty eyes would oggle her body like a ravenous beast.

Without realizing it, Queen lowered a hand slowly from her breasts down to her belly and finally spreading the lips apart to slide her fingers along the walls.

Queen didn’t notice the viscous lubricating fluids dripping onto the stone floor, mixing with the water.

Slowly Queen slid her fingers along the outside down before sliding them back up. She’d occasionally stroke the clit as it slowly stiffened, sending pleasant waves throughout her body as she imagined how her Master was enjoying her body.

Queen’s body would periodically twitch and slightly jerk, causing her breasts to push into his back as she used his body for support.

Han could hear Queen incoherently whisper as she moaned — lost in her own world of pleasure.

Helania sat on his leg as she rhythmically slid her groin up and down his thigh.

“Master, you need to take care of yourself more,” Helania smiled as she took Han’s arm and gently positioned it between her breasts.

With one arm, Helania squeezed her breasts together while she used her free hand — sliding the hand and forearm up and down, the foam from the bubbles flowing in and out.

Han enjoyed the sensation of Helania’s lubricated skin and how it formed around him, encasing his arm in a soft and fleshy enclosure.

Helania’s cheeks were red, and her eyes were dilated from the pleasure.

As if unable to hold back, Helania moved her head towards him. Her mouth slowly opened, and her tongue slightly stuck out as she closed her eyes.

Han leaned closer, his mouth connecting with hers.

Helania moaned as her lips connected with her Master’s, and she felt her tongue intertwined with his.

A surge of desire bubbled up inside her, making her breathe faster. Her tongue desperately desiring to display how much she loved her Master, her Creator.

Helania could feel her heart beating faster as she felt her Master returning her savage and desperate feelings of passion.

As Helania moved her groin on her Master’s thigh, a wave went through her. It only made her move slightly faster as she searched for the ultimate pleasure.

“Master, dominate me. Control me.” Helania moaned between her begging.

She could feel her breasts pressed against her Master’s chest and shoulder.

Helania barely registered Queen and Brittany in her peripheral, who was also lost in pleasuring themselves.

Helania released her Master’s arm, and with her free hand, she touched her Master’s chest. With each breath that she felt, Helania felt as though she were breathing at the same time. It wouldn’t be strange if they stopped being separate beings but the four of them merged together into a sphere of desire and passion.

Brittany positioned herself on her Master’s other leg.

As Brittany stared at her Master, all she could think of was how he showed so much love and care toward someone as insignificant as her.

A flash of annoyance was felt, thinking how she had to share such an intimate moment with the other two.

“My Master needs delicate love directed to him, the kind that only I can provide,” Brittany thought to herself.

Though the other two were also created by her Creator, in her mind, they only took up time that she knew her Master would’ve preferred spending alone with her.

Brittany slowly moved her knees together so she could wrap her thighs around her Master’s. She shivered as she felt her clit rub against the only thing that mattered in her entire universe.

“My Creator, use my body to fulfill any of your needs and desires,” Brittany moaned.

Though her Master was kissing Helania, Brittany knew he was paying attention to everything she was doing.

Brittany’s eyes rolled to the back of her head as she felt her Master grope her breasts, electricity flowing into her mind from the intense happiness she felt.

“My Master desires my body,” Brittany breathed heavily, her tongue sticking out as drool slowly spilled out onto the top of her breasts.

Everything went white in her mind, only the sensation of her Master’s strong hand pulling on her nipples being felt.

Brittany didn’t even realize how fluids sprayed out as she jerkily arched her back while mindlessly begging her Master to squeeze and pull harder.

Han took a deep breath, his body covered in sweat and vaginal fluids.

Everything felt as though he were drunk and disoriented. Han barely noticed the bathing area, the gentle gurgle of the water flowing from the faucet and gliding down onto the floor as it babbled on the rocks, faintly registered in his periphery.

The world felt warm as Han leaned against the wall, no longer on the stool which lay on its side — having been kicked away earlier.

Han groaned in pleasure, feeling the slow movement of a tongue on his member. It started from the base and slowly traveled toward the tip while it devotedly caressed every inch of his shaft.

Soft lips kissed his arm with the occasional playful nibble.

Tilting his head, a tongue licked the side of his neck before lightly kissing him.

With a free hand, Han brushed back Brittany’s shoulder-length red hair.

Han sucked in some air — feeling warm moist flesh slowly suck in his shaft as a tongue passed by his skin. Smiling, he enjoyed the sensation as thy fleshy tunnel narrowed.

His hand slowly moved up and down as Brittany’s head moved.

Brittany’s moans as she slid Han’s shaft deep into her mouth only served to direct more blood to his groin. The feeling of him growing inside her only made him suck in the air as he sighed.

As he leaned against the wall, Han closed his eyes, enjoying the love being showered on him.

It was a strange but welcomed feeling, being shown love and all the displays of affection that came with it, lacking any of the underlying manipulations typically found afterward.

Han tilted his head towards Helania as she snuggled up to him.

While one hand was on Brittany’s head, his other was wrapped around Queen’s waist as she leaned against him on his right side.

“I love you, Master,” Queen breathed out.

Han tenderly kissed her on top of her head, “I love you, too, Queen.”

As if in reaction to his words, Brittany doubled her efforts, taking him deeper inside her mouth before lifting her head — then repeating. Air passed by her lips that were tightly sealed around him.

Moaning at the increased pace, Han smiled, “Do not worry, my wonderful Brittany, I also love you.”

He sucked in more air as Brittany changed gears, as though desperate for him to pour out his viscous milky fluid deep into her.

Helania lightly kissed his ear before she nibbled on it. “You are my everything, Master.” She breathed out as she slowly moved her head. With her hands, she gently guided Han’s head to face her as she moved close to embrace his lips with hers.

Their tongues mixed together as though wishing to never be apart.

As Helania moved away, her purple eyes stared deep into his.

“Master, you are our precious Creator. The one who formed us from the emptiness into your warm embrace.” Helania smiled, a single tear flowing down her cheek. “There is no other being as loved as you.”

Han listened to Helania’s words. They felt as though they penetrated his body and delved deep inside before entering his soul.

At that moment, Han felt a release of energy as waves of pleasure rippled throughout his senses.

Looking down, Brittany licked off the white fluid from her lips — using a finger to clean herself before sticking it into her mouth. Her mouth closed around her fingers as she slowly dragged it out cleaned.

“Master,” Brittany smiled as she lay her head on his chest.

Helania lowered herself and positioned herself next to him. She lay on her on Han’s shoulder.

Having the three of them embrace him on top of Helania’s words echoing in his mind, emotions began to bubble out.

“Even if I’m the one that made them, the fact that I don’t have to worry that their words have a double meaning…,” Han felt overwhelmed.

Sensing something was wrong, Helania moved to look at Han.

“Master…?” Helania whispered.

Queen and Brittany moved to see what happened, their eyes widening with concern.

The world became blurry as tears flowed out.

Han’s breathing became short, causing his chest to shudder.

“I am sorry, all of you,” Han felt shame wash over him, revealing such a childish side to his creations.

A sliver of fear wrapped a thin tendril around his heart, thinking of all the other times he revealed his vulnerability to those he cared about. This only caused him to shed more tears.

Han felt as though he were on a rollercoaster of emotions, knowing that he didn’t have anything to worry about but not being able to shake off the fear slowly branching out.

Helania wrapped her arms around Han. Followed by Queen and Brittany.

It was clear that they didn’t know why he was crying, but instead of asking questions, the three merely accepted that their Master was hurting deep inside of him.

From previous moments, Helania knew that her Master held a lot of pain inside him, refusing to reveal it to any of them.

On the outside, her Master was strong and calm — the world casually lying on his open palm. But inside, there was only pain that refused to heal. It only continued to grow inside the Creator she loved with every part of her body.

“I will continue to love and care for him, to be his pillar. Even if my Master never reveals what has scarred him, I will stand by his side — ready to help in any way I can.” Helania thought to herself.

Helania wanted to take her Master back to his chambers where he’d be safe, away from everything in the world.

Helania looked to Queen, noticing that she was looking back at Helania.

“Our Master is in such pain. I wish we could do something for him,” Queen telepathically communicated to her.

Revealing a pained smile, Helania said, “We just need to be close to him. When our Master needs to let out the sorrow buried inside, we must show our Master that he can lean on us for strength.”

Piercing their conversation, Brittany said, “The two of you are unnecessary as long as I am here. My Master’s sorrow and heart will be healed by my love and care for him.”

Not finding it appropriate to argue while their Master poured out his soul to them, Helania decided to ignore such disrespect shown to them.

“Brittany may be our Master’s personal maid, but I am starting to sense something else. It is possible that Brittany believes that she stands above myself and the other Floor Protectors, who guard and protect our Creator.” Helania mentally took note to confront Brittany at a later time.

Han needed several moments before he was able to gain control over his emotions, his face feeling red from not just due to the steam.

“Master?” Queen asked him

Turning his head, Han smiled at Queen and appreciated her face full of compassion. He could feel her emotions, only desiring for him to be happy.

“I am okay.” Shaking his head to let them know he was okay, Han said, “I am happy to have you three here with me. I love all of you.”

Saying the words, Han could feel it deep inside that he genuinely appreciated that they were with him. He imagined what the world would be like, not having them close.

All three smiled, then tightly hugged him as though wishing to inject all their love and adoration into his body.

Helania squeezed Han tight, “Master, we love you and want to be with you always.”

He felt the other two nod their heads in agreement.

“Don’t worry. I will keep you near me.” He assured them, his voice choked with emotion.

After holding one another for several minutes, Han slowly stood up.

The three girls gently released their grip on him as they stood up. Their heads broke through the water, baptizing their bodies — cleansing them of the evidence from their earlier lustful activities.

They moved away from the water, Helania and Queen each taking a hand and pulling him through the waterfall.

Passing through the water, Han felt as though the water washed away his earlier emotions — making him refreshed and appreciative of what he had.

Han couldn’t help but smile as he gazed at them. Even though their bodies glistened, the three were like goddesses that descended from the heavens.

Their hair clung to their bodies.

For Helania, her hair clung to her head and neck as it trailed down her back. It was vastly different from Brittany and Queen, who had shorter hair.

“How about we get into the bath now?” Han gently said to the three goddesses.

Helania, being closer to the baths, led him to the large open area filled to the brim with steaming water, the mist hovering gently over it.

Half of the room was made up of the bath, with large waterfall faucets continually refilling it with freshly heated water.

Han noticed that one of the faucets wasn’t pouring out hot water, the lack of steam giving it away.

Helania walked up the steps before walking down them on the other side. The water slowly covered her firm calves and then inched its way up her sensual thighs.

“The water is wonderful, Master,” Helania flashed a dazzling smile as she guided Han into the bath. Her bare breasts swayed as she walked backward — deeper into the bath.

Han felt the water and enjoyed how he didn’t have to flinch like he’d have done in the past whenever entering a pool. Even in a heated pool, the water would feel slightly cold.

But the water in the bath felt as though it were gently embracing him. It was warmer than a pool but not enough to make it feel uncomfortable.

Eventually, the warm water reached his hips, and he lowered himself — feeling slightly weightless due to the displacement. Though the bath wasn’t the size of a pool, it was still deep enough to reach his chest if he sat properly.

His other arm soon felt a soft marshmallow-type feel.

“Master, sit down next to me,” Brittany giggled as she guided him towards the submerged bench for them to sit on.

Even the bath was formed from some type of stone. When Han sat on it, there was a sense that it conformed to his butt. The sensation wasn’t too dissimilar to the throne he made. In addition, the stone was nice and warm due to the water.

Brittany pressed her breasts against his arms as she relaxed in the bath, her head resting on his shoulder in bliss.

Helania sat down next to him and rested against Han.

Since the two sides were occupied, Queen sat across from him on the steps. The steps were also able to be used as a seat. Seeing both Helania and Brittany enjoying themselves, it was clear that Queen was feeling a little jealous. Though, she held herself back, deciding to be the mature one.

Han thought it was adorable how Queen slightly pouted, thinking he should spend some time with Queen.

“How is the water for you?” Han asked.

Since Queen was an undead, her body was usually cold to the touch. It made Han wonder how she’d react to the warm water.

Smiling, Queen said, “It is enjoyable, Master. Since my body is at a lower temperature, I am sensitive to anything warm. But my ability to withstand changing temperatures makes it pleasant for me.”

Hearing Queen say that, Han wondered if he should install a large bathing area for her to enjoy. It would also be nice to spend time with all his creations when he wanted to be away from the people of the world.

Having been someone that enjoyed baths, it was a pleasant idea to have other warm water areas, like with a jacuzzi. Though it was a pain to maintain, Han knew that his creations would take care of it. So all he needed to do was to dip into it whenever the mood struck him.

Enjoying the water and her time with Han, Helania asked, “Master, what will we do after leaving here?”

Han blinked before tilting his head to rest on Brittany’s head — who giggled at the attention.

“I am trying to decide between following this family back to their town or continuing towards the capital. Based on what has been seen in this inn, it will be interesting to learn what other tools humans have created with the help of magic.” He went silent as he tried to organize his thoughts.

“The level of magic development is also interesting to learn more about. It is completely different from what I have experienced, so I like the idea of seeing more of the advanced areas.” He told them.

Maybe after visiting the capital and seeing what the kingdom was like, he would visit the other areas.

Han thought about the village woman they brought with them. He imagined that Elis would prefer to stay with Tom’s family. Though traveling with him had likely exposed her to a fantastical world, the family would be closer to the pace she was used to living.

Enjoying the feeling of Brittany’s breasts, Han said to Helania and Queen, “I sense that this world is filled with many interesting surprises. And the capital is likely where we can find clues to more interesting places.”

In his mind, Han imagined ancient ruins hidden away from civilization — too dangerous for the average adventurer to venture into. He grinned at the thought.

Helania and Queen shared a glance before they giggled.

After their intense activities, Han simply looked at Queen before sliding an arm around Helania’s shoulders.

“I’m blessed to be able to spend time casually enjoying time with beautiful women while thinking of the future,” Han thought. “I don’t have to worry about money or where my next meal will come from. Then there are things like rent, insurance, and other expenses that adults have to deal with.”

He took a deep breath.

Turning his head, Han kissed the top of Brittany’s wet head.

Queen felt a warmth blossom from inside her undead heart.

“I am glad that our Master is looking better. No longer does he appear to be dealing with his inner turmoil.” Queen thought.

Though she wished to be next to her Master, she was especially annoyed by how shameless Brittany was behaving — forgetting her role to serve their Master. But such emotions were not strong enough to ruin the peace around them.

The steam twirled in the air as the water warmed the air, creating a slight air movement.

On either side, the faucets poured out water, making a relaxing sound. Ripples from the water pouring into the bath were seen on the surface of the bath.

It was then that she felt something strange.

Queen closed her eyes to concentrate and understand what was happening. The dead connected to her whispered about something about to happen where they rested. But she didn’t sense that it was dangerous for any of them, especially her Master.

“Master, there seems to be some activity going on. I sense a large number of humans heading toward this village. Based on their movements and how they are organized, I suspect that it may be connected to the even earlier today.” Andrea informed him from where she sat on the carriage.

Andrea’s concern pulled Han from the peaceful moment.

On either side of him, Helania and Brittany moved to sit correctly as though they also sensed something wrong.

Han looked to see Queen with her eyes closed, as though trying to figure out what was happening. He judged that she had sensed the disturbance just as when Andrea had informed them.

“Queen, I want you to send out your shadow assassins to investigate what this group of humans is all about.” He commanded her as he stood up, the water flowing off his body.

“Yes, Master,” Queen bowed.

Han knew that Queen was likely already communicating with her minions, researching the situation. However, he still felt that it was good to express his will.

Thinking of his closes just beyond the curtain, a part of him didn’t like the idea of donning his old clothes when something interesting was going to occur. Han then remembered that he had told his creations to fashion clothes for him.

Han turned to look at Brittany. “Brittany, is my outfit ready yet?” He asked.

Brittany’s eyes appeared to lose focus before regaining focus. She looked at him and said, “Yes, Master. All of our outfits have been completed and are waiting for us.”

Han enjoyed the idea of wearing something flashy, considering people were coming to attack the village.

In his mind, Han thought about the numerous famous stories where the hero would need to stand against a horde of enemies. Needing to beat them against all odds.

Breathing in the steam that leaked into the changing area refreshed Han. He didn’t need to worry about his body cooling down as he dried off — regardless of it being humid where he sat.

Queen and Helania stood on either side of him, no longer resembling the women that wanted to cuddle against him.

“I guess they’re in business mode,” Han smiled.

Though they stood still, not appearing to be doing anything, Han didn’t need to use his powers to know that they were concentrating and trying to anticipate anything that could threaten him. Regardless of his abilities, they didn’t make any assumptions about his safety.

A portal split the space in front of them.

Emerging out of the portal was Brittany, in addition to several maids. Three of them carrying an outfit — each one belonging to them.

The maids carrying the outfits then lined up in front of them to give them a better view of the custom outfits.

Han looked at his outfit before he looked at the maid holding it. The maid had a proud smile, confident that her Master would approve of the design.

The first thing he noticed was how his outfit was a mix between a stylized school uniform and a business suit. As he looked at it more, the more Han couldn’t help but smile.

The pants were standard black but with blue highlights, providing some contrast. These were seen, especially on the sides along the seam — a blue line that sometimes glowed with a mercury-type liquid metal appearance.

Worn on the inside was a long-sleeved white button-up shirt. With his experience wearing button-up shirts, Han appreciated how it wasn’t heavy. Even on a hot day, it seemed that the shirt would be refreshing to wear.

Covering the shirt was a vest.

Han couldn’t help but be impressed by it. The vest buttons were metal with an intricately cut sapphire in the center. The metal button itself had carvings on it. There were delicate vines on top of flat curves, like long metal sheets resembling paths. Seeing the mix between organic and inorganic lines not only had the appearance of opulence but fit with the overall theme.

The vest opening was curved — where people would see the shirt beneath it. But following the curve was more of the liquid metal as though it were crawling up the vest in a blade shape. It was more of the vines and straight lines. The sight felt like the marriage between nature and industrialization.

The vest’s fabric was black — but slightly different from the pants. It was similar to the metallic elements of the outfit, which had a somewhat fluid feel. Though it appeared close to crushed velvet, the flow of the material was foreign.

To cover the outfits was an overcoat. This wasn’t anything that Han had worn before, but it reminded him of what the nobility would wear. There was even a mini cloak that covered his left arm on top of the overcoat.

The star and moon that crawled up the sleeves, with some vine that flowed between them, was also interesting about the overcoat. Even the cloak had a star and moon appearing to merge together to create an interesting mix of a geometric and organic look.

Three maids walked over to where he sat. Two had towels in their hands, while the third had Han’s outfit.

When Han stood, the two maids began to wipe him down with the fluffy towels.

Han enjoyed how they were careful with how they wiped him down. It was different from how he’d dry himself off, being rough and trying to get dry as soon as possible. These maids took their time, clearly not in a rush since they didn’t imagine anything more important than drying him off at that moment.

Smiling, Han thought, “Even if the building was on fire, I doubt that they would pick up their pace.”

When he was completely dried, more maids walked forward to take the moist towels away.

“Master, we will not proceed to dress you,” The maid holding his outfit announced to him.

Han merely nodded his head.

With his permission, the maids began to perform their duties.

The overcoat was first removed and handed to another maid. Then it was the vest.

The maid on his left walked over to the white button-up shirt. Even though it was only a shirt, the maid delicately held it — allowing it to drape between her arms.

Carrying the shirt, the maid stood next to Han.

The maid on the right side of Han moved to the maid carrying the shirt and gently picked it up.

The one that had been carrying the shirt then opened it up. Opening the shirt, she respectfully took Han’s hand and lifted it. She then guided his arm into the left sleeve.

Han enjoyed the soft feel of the fabric.

“It doesn’t have that new fabric feel,” Han smiled.

The one thing Han disliked about new clothes was how sometimes clothing would have a protective layer — to help with the fabric’s longevity. The issue was that it would often feel unpleasant against his skin. This was an issue back when he was a kid and would wear uniforms, thinking they were itchy — only feeling better after having been washed hundreds of times.

Instead of the scratchy feeling against his skin, the shirt slid smoothly on his arms.

Since the cuffs were already opened, his hand blossomed out of the sleeve.

With one arm inside one of the sleeves, the maid on his left moved to his right. Just like last time, she gently lifted Han’s right arm before inserting it into the sleeve.

Han made sure to keep his arm loose, so it would be easier to manage.

It wasn’t long before the shirt lay on his shoulders, the buttons opened — displaying his chest that could use going to the gym more often than naught.

“Master, I will not begin to button up the shirt,” The left-side maid informed him.

Han lifted his chin to allow the maid to start with the freshly starched collar.

As the first button was finished and Han felt the collar, Han was impressed by how it didn’t feel restrictive. From his experience, collars would either be too large or too tight. It was why he often chose shirts that were slightly larger than his body. If the collar was too tight, he’d have to leave the first button undone — making it look unprofessional.

But the collar on the shirt he wore flit like a leather glove.

“The few times I got to use a tailor, I don’t think it has ever been this good,” Han felt satisfied.

If the shirt was a solid fit, then the rest of the outfit wouldn’t be an issue.

With each button, the shirt slowly began to form along his body. And when the last button was done, Han took a moment to turn his upper body to see how the shirt fit. He lifted both arms with his elbow bent ninety degrees as he twisted.

Han’s eyes widened in surprise at how he didn’t feel restricted. Instead, the fit was well enough that Han imagined he’d forget he was wearing a shirt. This was on top of the smooth fabric that slid against his skin.

As he suspected, the fabric was light. Even with the steam in the room, Han didn’t feel warm or uncomfortable. His mind imagined him feeling comfortable even in the humid jungles of the Amazon.

To let the maids know that he was ready, Han motioned with a hand for the maid to bring him his pants.

Since the experience with the shirt was nice, it wasn’t a leap to think that the pants would be just as good — if not better.

A large mirror held inside a wooden frame decorated with beautiful elves, humans, and beast women was carried by two maids out of the portal. The maids made their way to where Han stood, dressed in his newly designed outfit.

When the mirror was placed in front of him, Han looked at his reflection, turning slightly to see himself from different angles.

“Initially, I did not know what to think of the overcoat with the cloak. It looked a bit much, but now that I am wearing it, I feel it brings everything together well.” Han stared at his image, wondering what people on Earth would think.

“Master, I think you look divine, truly fitting as the one who created us,” A maid with thick long red hair and dog ears said to Han.

Seeing the maid’s fluffy red tail happily wag back and forth. Han couldn’t help but smile. He knew they were biased toward him, but hearing it was appreciated. It also aligned with his positive thoughts about the outfit.

Han was also surprised by how comfortable it felt, not feeling warm even in the current humid environment. The temperature was comfortable.

“Thank you for the mirror,” Han said to the maids.

The maids bowed, “We are happy to server you, Master.”

Han turned his head to look at how Helania, Queen, and Brittany appeared in their new outfits.

The one thing Han noticed was how all of them had a similar style to his own outfit, making them all match. He couldn’t help but think it was comparable to an elite corporation. How at a professional business environment, there would be a dress code where employees tended to match so that they didn’t stick out unnecessarily and complied with Human Resources.

Helania’s outfit was the first he noticed.

Just like Han’s outfit, Helania had a short cloak covering only half of her left arm down to the elbow. The cloak had the same pattern of a Star and Moon with vines mixed with mechanical lines.

Despite the cloak, Han could see that it only accentuated the v-lines created by her top under her coat. The lines traveled from her shoulders down to just below the middle of her torso, providing a tantalizing view of her large breasts. It was impressive how the top could contain Helania while still making her look professional. Along the neckline was a similar liquid metal pattern to what Han had on his outfit.

All throughout the outfit, there were blue highlights that accentuated certain parts of Helania’s figure.

Both the top and jacket were designed with Helania’s breasts taken into consideration to prevent her shape from appearing to be a rectangle. The highlights followed along the sides and went below the two large mounds.

The difference between Helania’s jacket and his was how it only reached just above her belly. Her top also exposed a little of her midriff when moved.

Then there was her skirt that ended just a few inches above her knees. In front and behind her was a rectangular piece of fabric that ended at a point. It had the same star and moon pattern as on the cloak.

The black gloves and knee-high boots with a slight heel finished the outfit. It looked both fashionable and functional.

Han thought of his black leather shoes and how comfortable they felt, so he imagined it would be the case for Helania.

Different from Helania’s outfit was Queens, where significantly more skin was revealed.

Instead of using mainly fabric with a liquid metal to contrast it in addition to the blue, Queen’s outfit was more leather with some fabric, blue highlights, and a fluid metal design.

Queen’s outfit didn’t have a top, just a leather corset top. Holding it in the middle was crisscrossing leather straps, which allowed Han to see Queen’s breasts being squeezed together. Another benefit was how the corset left her graceful milky white shoulders exposed.

The front of Queen’s corset had liquid metal decorations on the edges. One side of the corset had a star, while the other had a moon. All around the corset had vines and smooth mechanical lines.

Near the base of Queen’s stomach, the corset ended to expose her belly.

A slight v could be seen since the leather pants she wore were riding low on her hips.

Han looked at the pants and knew that it would be possible to see her private area if it was slightly lower. Even though they had enjoyed one another’s company, the way Queen’s outfit looked made Han feel ready for another round.

Queen’s leather pants were tight enough to look like a second skin. It made Han wonder how she was able to put the pants on until he noticed that on her sides were leather straps. If the knot were loosened, the pants would become loose enough to allow her to get out of them.

Similar to Helania, Queen wore thigh-high leather boots. The main difference was how they looked tactical, even with the heels. Han could imagine Queen kicking down her enemies and driving her heels into their backs.

Han chuckled, imagining many people back on Earth would pay a significant amount of money for Queen to step on them. It tied in nicely with the whip she had on her hip. Due to the size of the room, Queen wasn’t equipped with her giant sword — storing it away inside a pocket dimension.

Brittany, her outfit looked to have been inspired by the outfits both Helania and Queen wore. She wore a corset, but instead of the leather covering her breasts, they were used to lift them up. The leather was even designed to press them together. Similar to Queen, the corset had a star and moon imprinted on the leather.

Though her breasts were exposed, they weren’t easily seen due to the slightly sheer shirt she wore. With the shirt, Brittany had the appearance of a courtesan. The fabric had vines slowly climbing up the material and decorating the shirt.

Despite the shirt being sheer, it still had a plunging neckline so that the top of her bosom was visible.

Instead of pants or a short skit, Brittany’s skirt went all the way down to her ankle. The material was black, but blue stars and moons made the pattern look like a river leading down her legs.

On one side, the skirt completely exposed her left leg. From her hip all the way down to her ankles, it would be possible to view her leg when Brittany walked.

Brittany looked beautiful in her outfit, and Han knew that others would hungrily look at her. But this only made him happy, knowing she’d never leave him. The confidence that Brittany only cared for him helped to warm his heart.

The three presented themselves, happy to have Han’s eyes travel all over their bodies.

Han saw that Brittany was the most eager, as though wanting him to only look at her and not the other two.

Staring at them, Han said, “You three look stunning, as though the stars and the moon were made manifest. I could imagine staring at all of you, never becoming tired.”

Hearing his words, each of their cheeks reddened as they looked away, shy to receive so much attention.

Seeing that they were all dressed and ready, Han could feel his curiosity growing regarding the group aiming for Leaf Village.

Noticing Han’s behavior, the maids that came to help them change into their outfits began to head into the portal that led to The Stronghold. The maids also carried away the large mirror that Han used.

“I suspect that there is much confusion and chaos due to the news of hostile forces approaching Leaf village, so we should let Elis and Tom’s family know what is happening.” Han smiled at the three.

Han walked out of the changing room into the main hallway.

Stepping into the hallway, he immediately noticed how quiet the hallway was, like something out of a horror game.

“It is quiet,” Han remarked to himself and the three.

“We do not detect anyone with hostile intentions, Master,” Queen said.

Han nodded, “I suspect that was the case. When heading to the bath area earlier, I did not think there was any noise. But that may just be my poor memory.”

It was also worth noting that the fact that they were on the floor typically only used by nobles and their entourage meant that there shouldn’t be anyone active.

But Han still felt as though something was different.

Helania, Queen, and Brittany seemed to have detected the unsettling atmosphere of the hallway.

Han walked over to Elis’ door first. Reaching it, he took a moment to see if there was anything that could be heard. Even though the doors were designed to contain sound, it was better to take precautions — instead of leaving things to chance.

Moving close to the door, Han placed an ear up against it.

“Nothing,” Han said. “It is likely the way the door was designed,” He made sure to add — to avoid escalating things.

Taking a step back, Han calmly knocked on the door.

As he waited, Han tried to hear any footsteps or even feel any vibrations on the floor. But there wasn’t anything — due to the quality of the building’s design.

The door soon opened, and Elis’ face was revealed. Her eyes were wide, and her eyebrows raised with anxiety. In addition, her face was drained of color. It was clear that something had happened during the time since Han last saw her.

“My Lord!” The words rushed out of Elis’ mouth.

The fact that confusion wasn’t the emotion being displayed on Elis’ face, Han could tell that it was connected to what Andrea had alerted him about.

“Calm down, tell me what happened,” Han slowly said to Elis in an attempt to calm the woman down. The last thing he needed to do was cause her to panic.

Opening the door further, Elis moved inside towards the nearest window.

With the door opened, Han followed the village woman inside her room. He took a quick look but then focused on the window. The further he entered, the more Han could hear voices yelling at one another.

“I think something is happening right now, My Lord,” Elis said. She pointed down towards the street, “There are people rushing with their belongings as though fleeing from something. Guards are waving people away from where we entered.”

Elis looked at Han, hoping for guidance.

Walking towards the window, Han looked at the street below them. The first thing he noticed was the guards guiding villagers away from the entrance, likely not the only one but the one they took to enter.

People were pushing carts filled with food and bags, likely with clothes and small objects.

There were a few people that had wagons overflowing with boxes. The wagons were pulled forward by horses while armed individuals stayed around it — clearly protecting the items inside the vehicle. It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots and realize that the wagons belonged to merchants. The armed people were guards they hired.

The village had turned from a peaceful night where friends walked around and families ate together at the various restaurants to one that was chaotic. Shouts and pleas could be heard as people shoved others out of their way.

There was even a child, walking alone in nightwear, crying in the middle of the road — searching for their parents.

Han calmly observed the situation, his eyes slowly scanning what was happening outside.

“Is there anything we should be concerned about? Will we be okay?” Elis spoke quietly, as though worried about others overhearing her concerns.

Turning to direct his attention to Elis, Han almost smiled but decided against it. Instead, saying in a relaxed tone while keeping his expression calm, “Even if there is something happening, you do not need to be concerned.”

As if on cue, Cindy and Mindy walked out of a portal.

“Do not worry, Master,” Cindy, the young red-haired maid said while she looked at Han and then at Elis.

“We will ensure that no harm comes to your guest,” Mindy, the black-haired near identical sister, said. To Elis, Mindy said, “Your safety is one of our top priorities.”

Cindy motioned to one of the nearby seats, “Please have a seat. We will bring you some tea to drink. It will help to calm your nerves.”

“With the two of us here, there is no chance that you will be harmed,” Mindy bowed and motioned to the same chair that her sister had directed Elis to sit in.

Elis looked to the sisters and then to the chair.

Seeing that Elis needed more reassurance, Han lightly pushed her towards the chair. “It will be fine. Regardless of what is happening outside, I can assure you that you will not be affected. Even if something did happen, both Cindy and Mindy would be able to get in contact with me immediately.”

Grinning, Han said, “Cindy and Mindy may look cute and adorable, but those two should not be underestimated.”

Turning towards Han, Elis’s expression relaxed, and her complexion gradually returned to normal. “Thank you, My Lord. The fact that you’re here is a comfort.” She bowed to Han.

In the background, the sounds of yelling and screams could still be heard, an everpresent reminder of the danger approaching the village.

Looking at the twin maids, Han said, “I imagine Tom and his family are in a similar state of mind. The family should be kept safe as well, but prioritize Elis. If you need more assistance, just contact Brittany, and she will send reinforcements.”

In his mind, Han thought about what else needed to be addressed. Though he needed to meet with Tom and provide reassurance, there was a thought to just head to the threat and see what it looked like. He couldn’t help but smile — eager to see what a real battle looked like. The encounter with the small minor group of Lunar Empire disguised as bandits didn’t satisfy him.

Elis noticed the smile on Han’s lips. The blood once again drained from her face as Elis exclaimed, “My Lord, you can’t be thinking about going out there?!”

Behind him, Brittany frowned. Helania and Queen also didn’t look pleased about what Elis was implying about Han’s intelligence.

Though his creations didn’t appreciate the raised voice and Elis questioning his sanity

Han raised a hand to his creations, letting them know that he didn’t find Elis’ words to be offensive. He knew that Elis was just worried for his safety. Though she may have seen what his creations are capable of, there would naturally be a sense of unease.

“There is no need to be concerned about my safety,” Han reassured Elis.

Han motioned for Cindy and Mindy to take care of the anxious woman.

The twin maids moved to where Elis was standing, going to either side of the woman. Each placed a hand on Elis’ back to help Elis go to the comfortable seat with an elegant wooden coffee table in front of it.

Elis initially fought the maids but then moved forward.

In the air was a sense of reassurance and tranquility, making Han look at the twins. There was a slight shimmer in the air like fine sparkling dust was released. The source came from the twins.

“I see that they used some kind of area of effect to give a sense that everything was fine,” Han smiled.

Han hadn’t instructed any of his creations on how to use magic, so he was frequently amazed at how they could grasp it so well. Thinking of what the twins had done made him wonder if it was similar to his own ability, just having a desire and pouring energy into it — willing it to manifest.

Elis sat down on the chair, though her face hadn’t wholly recovered — still appearing a little pale.

Despite her appearance, Cindy and Mindy’s abilities significantly helped Elis to relax and not allow the noise from outside the inn to mentally affect her.

Han watched as Elis’ chest slowly rose and fell as her breathing normalized.

“Cindy, bring Elis the new outfit that was designed for her. I am sure Elis would enjoy seeing what we have created.” Han ordered.

Cindy bowed to Han, taking a few steps back before disappearing into a portal.

Hearing about a dress, Elis’ ears perked, and she looked at Han. There was a slight curve of her mouth due to the excitement of a new outfit, quickly removed as though she felt guilty about her excitement about such a frivolous thing during a crisis.

Seeing the woman try to not be eager for the outfit made Han smile.

“Are you sure this is the time, My Lord?” Elis hesitatingly asked.

Before answering the village woman, Han connected to Andrea, “How much time until the group reaches the village?”

Though Han wanted to take his time, he still wanted to meet the group before they reached the village. There wasn’t an issue with the group entering and attacking the villagers. Han just wanted an open area to meet the group instead of inside an urban environment.

“Master, the group will be arriving relatively soon. They are making good time, clearly motivated to reach the village.” Andrea informed him.

Han looked to Helania, Queen, and Brittany, “We will let Elis look at her dress while we head out and greet our guests.” He grinned, “It would be rude to make them wait for us. We must be decent hosts.”

Though he wanted to meet with Tom’s family and let them know the situation, Han decided there wasn’t enough time. Han told Brittany, “Have a maid inform Tom’s family of the circumstances and for them to stay inside the inn.”

“As you wish, Master,” Brittany bowed.

Raising a hand to stop Brittany, “If the maid senses that the family is struggling to maintain themselves and appear stressed have more maids to attend to their needs. The father seems like a fairly solid individual, so I suspect that he will be fine. But the mother and daughter have already been through trauma earlier today.” Han said as an afterthought.

As Han made his way to the door, Elis got up and turned towards Han. “My Lord, please be safe.” She wished him.

Han waved a hand as he opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

As Cindy closed the door behind them, Han once again couldn’t hear any sounds connected to the chaos outside. The lack of clues, only the eery atmosphere, made Han appreciate the builders of the inn.

Even inside Elis’ room, the sound was manageable and easy to ignore if an individual wasn’t focused on it.

Han and his creations made their way to the stairs toward the lobby area. Though the forces were quickly approaching the village, Andrea’s voice didn’t indicate that there was a need to move in haste.

As they moved through the inn, someone would’ve likely been confused and mistaken the four of them as nobles heading out to a ball. Each of the women was elegant in their outfits. Even with the amount of skin exposed, even a stranger could sense their commanding presence — how they walked with a purpose and calm expressions. They clearly knew what they wanted and wouldn’t allow anyone to stand in their way.

The closer his group got to the lobby, the more Han could hear crying and words of encouragement. There were footsteps quickly moving back and forth — but not fast enough to indicate that it was people fleeing out of the inn.

Reaching the main area, Han looked to the side that led to various areas of the inn, such as the dining and meeting area.

Sitting on the couches and at the tables, people were huddled together in the groups they arrived with. There were even some families similar in appearance to Tom’s family.

“I wonder if any of them are the merchants from the caravan that Tom was a part of before they betrayed him and his family,” Han pondered. “I can see why Tom would prefer staying in his room instead of coming down with everyone else.”

From his own experience, there were a few times when Han needed to sit in an area where people that had made life difficult for him and his family existed. This was especially the case during traditional events that needed to be attended, paying respect to the elders of the community. Typically, when Han had the option, he’d avoid such social events, but it wasn’t always something that was avoidable.

There were many times Han had to bow his head to people he knew who thought less of him.

Han couldn’t help but think about how a crisis wasn’t the time to be around people who had a history of backstabbing and getting in others’ way for their own selfish interests — regardless of whether it was justified or not. It was fortunate that Tom had run into Han, who could ensure his family’s safety. That was on top of the relaxing environment provided.

A few people, part of the inn’s staff, glanced in the direction of Han and his creation. But such attention was short-lived as they rushed to perform their duties.

Han looked to see some families whispering and glancing in his direction once he stepped into the lobby area, away from the stairs.

“Look at how they scurry about,” Queen grumbled.

“How can you expect people with no power to handle such a crisis? Remember that our Master told us not to underestimate these creatures.” Helania chided Queen.

Queen’s eyes darted to look at Han, quickly bowing her head, “I apologize, Master.”

Han could understand Queen’s sentiment on the matter. He knew that just outside the boundaries of the inn, people were frantically trying to snatch every resource that they felt would be useful as they fled from the approaching threat. If it wasn’t for the fact that they viewed him as a noble, it would be questionable how his group would’ve faired.

Not finding it useful to stick around, Han casually made his way toward the entrance.

As he approached the counter in the lobby, the woman who had checked them in was still manning her post. Compared to the composed demeanor when she first interacted with him, there were signs of emotional fraying due to the impending doom.

The woman’s long blonde hair didn’t appear as organized as earlier, slightly messy. If Han had to guess, the woman likely ran her hands through her hair to calm herself down while no one was around. In addition to her hair, the woman’s uniform was slightly disheveled in places, something Han imagined would be unacceptable if it weren’t for the danger looming over the village.

Han had a brief, casual thought about how he fancied the wilder appearance. He glanced at her breasts, enjoying the view again. Though she was older, the woman still had a shape that would be desired. If he wasn’t interested in the invading force, he would’ve likely invited the woman to his chamber after her shift had finished.

With that thought, he sighed at the missed opportunity.

The woman noticed Han and his group, and seeing where they were going, she reached a hand towards Han as she moved from behind the counter as though to stop them.

“My Lord! You need to leave this village! Lunar Empire soldiers are approaching! The village has been preparing to evacuate those who can!” The worker frantically said, the words spilling out from her mouth.

Han turned his head to look at the woman, appreciating her professionalism despite the danger. Such behavior, in addition to her mature body, made him interested in her. He dismissed the thought of inviting the woman with them. What he had planned was likely too much for the woman — who was already at her wit’s end trying to keep herself together.

“There is no need for you to be concerned for our safety. We merely wish to greet the soldiers and give them a gift.” Han cryptically said to the worker.

“But…” The woman’s mouth opened and closed, unsure of what to do with Han’s words as she watched Han make his way out.

“Our Master is safe with us. We appreciate you showing such concern.” Helania turned to the woman and slightly nodded her head in appreciation before moving to catch up with Han.

Upon leaving the inn, Andrea already had the carriage waiting for him. She stood off to the side where she sat and directed the dragon to greet her Master.

Andrea looked at Han and said, “Master, the soldiers should be reaching the village soon.”

“That is good to hear. I prefer not to wait too long, so the timing is near perfect.” Han smiled at the news. “I want you to drop us off in front of them, but not so close that they immediately start engaging us.”

“Yes, Master,” Andrea bowed before sitting back in the driver’s seat.

Brittany had already opened the door — waiting patiently for Han to enter.

Han entered the carriage, the living area welcoming him again. Though the trip to meet the soldiers wouldn’t be long, it was pleasant to rest comfortably when the opportunity presented itself instead of being out in the cooler air.

With his power, Han knew it wasn’t difficult to create something to ride on top of. Even teleporting to his destination was an option as well.

Taking a seat on the leather chair he used before arriving at Leaf Village, Han leaned back — the cushion cradling his body.

As Helania and Queen entered the carriage, they moved to each sit on one of the sofas. Helania on his left and Queen on his right.

Brittany approached him on his right on the same side of the doorway, “Master, would you care for any refreshments?”

Han sensed the carriage moving and heading towards the entrance of Leaf Village, where they’d eventually encounter the Lunar Empire soldiers.

Considering Brittany’s offer, he nodded, “Bring me some banana milk.”

After receiving her order, Brittany bowed and took several steps back, fading into a portal back to The Stronghold.

Waiting for Brittany to return, Han enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. The way both of his beautiful creations acted was something he appreciated about his creations and how they didn’t need to fill the silence with small talk. Both Helania and Queen enjoyed their time with him, respecting his space.

Han thought about how people felt compelled to chat about subjects they didn’t care about — just to avoid the silence.

Feeling that it was appropriate, Han raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

From the void, a small speaker from Earth appeared. Soft ambient music soon emerged from the device, filling the carriage with a relaxing melody.

Helania’s eyes widened slightly, seeing the object that her Master had created.

It was barely larger than a hand, made of a material, not quite metal, stone, or wood. A moment passed before light music began flowing out of the tiny alien item. Despite the small packaging, the music soon filled up the interior of the carriage.

With the music, Helania realized that it was something that came from the world her Master originated from.

“I remember Master making references to the world he came from,” Helania thought to herself.

As though the music permeated her body, Helania enjoyed the warmth that slowly grew inside her. Listening to the music, she felt as though she was getting to know her Master, the one that created her from nothing, better. The thought made her joyful.

Helania looked at Queen, sensing that Queen felt a similar emotion.

For those created by their Master, they felt happiness when their Creator allowed them a peek into his emotions. Each moment they could grow closer to their Master was far more precious than any living creature could imagine.

“Master, what kind of music is this? I feel relaxed while listening to it.” Queen said.

Han beamed, happy to know that his creations were enjoying the music. “It is typically referred to low fidelity ambient music. The music is often played in cafes where people would sip on coffees and teas, possibly even enjoy a light snack as they study, get caught up with work, and socialize with others.”

Thinking of the cafes he’d frequently visit, he couldn’t help but remember the interactions with strangers. There was even a friend that he made while studying for an exam.

They enjoyed the music as the carriage made its way out of the village against the flow of the fleeing villagers. Outside the carriage, people frantically gathered their valuables while still in their nightgowns. Some had taken the time to put on proper clothing, likely anticipating that the night would be cold and there would be a lot of running and walking ahead of them.

It was a drastic contrast compared to Han and his creations’ position.

A portal tore through space, and Brittany emerged. She carried a tray with a pitcher and a cup filled with iced banana milk.

Another maid followed Brittany, carrying another pitcher with two cups of banana milk — meant for Helania and Queen to enjoy.

Han reached for the cup and brought it to his mouth. The banana taste in the milk was satisfying, something he’d frequently enjoyed drinking as a kid and an adult.

Instead of taking a seat, Brittany stood next to Han’s chair, ready to take care of anything he may need.

Han stared at the milk, which had a creamier and yellow tint compared to whole milk. Casually, he watched the liquid gently crash against the glass of the cup, unable to escape.

Lowering the cup and placing it into the holder, Han said, “I am planning on stopping the invading forces, and those in power fall into chaos as they witness the aftermath. But since I do not plan to announce my abilities, I imagine they will worry about who could decimate so many soldiers.”

The fact that this was the second attack from the Lunar Empire, Han suspected that such things were well known by the nobility and controlling powers in the Helios Kingdom. He couldn’t imagine a scenario where those in power didn’t know about actions taken against them.

And since they weren’t stopping the Empire from invading their territory, it was likely that the Kingdom didn’t have the necessary military power.

But it would all change even before the night had passed. The large number of soldiers racing towards the village that generated terror upon everyone regardless of socio-economical status would soon become an ocean of blood.

Han couldn’t help but grin at the idea that the Kingdom would be left scrambling, trying to understand how such a large group of hostile forces could vanish.

“Helania, I want a barrier around the village to prevent unwanted incidents from occurring,” Han ordered. Seeing her nod her head, he turned to look at Queen. “Queen, I want you to create minions to march against the invaders. The flashier, the better. I want the entire Kingdom to talk about this, so a big impact is best.”

Queen smiled, enjoying the task given to her.

Han told Brittany, “Prepare me a roasted ham and some vegetables to snack on while I watch my beautiful Queen fight off these fearsome soldiers. Select a wine that will pair appropriately.”

Brittany left through a portal, her steps light as she smiled to fulfill her Master’s wishes.

Han sat in the chair, taking another sip of his banana milk. Han could imagine the screams floating through the air just as the slow, relaxed lo-fi music did inside the carriage. Watching Queen’s forces tear through and liquefy all the soldiers would be the perfect spice to the delicious food he’d feast on during the event.

Andrea’s smooth voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Master, we are a little distance away from the village. Your guests should be arriving shortly. Is there anything additional you will require from me?” Andrea asked.

“Just stay by the carriage and enjoy the show,” Han commanded her.

Getting up from his seat, Han placed his glass on the table. “We should prepare a proper stage for our guests.”

“I hope that Master enjoys my performance,” Queen bowed.

Han enjoyed how confident she looked. He could tell that she had already started thinking of how the story will move, her minions dancing with their guests on the eldritch and ghastly stage of the battlefield.

Exiting the carriage, Han gazed up at the night sky, the edges appearing like the dying coals of a campfire, mainly orange and red with hints of yellow.

Focusing on the area in front of the carriage, away from the village, Han poured his well into the ground. Bending it to his will, the area around them began to shake and shudder. The ground soon split apart before breaking up as rock could be seen rising from deep underground.

Anyone watching would’ve confused the stone with a section of a parking lot, how flat it was with some areas wet from the water trapped deep below. It was only due to Han’s will that water spouts didn’t spray into the air like a damaged fire hydrant.

If there was a city, the quakes generated from Han’s will would’ve leveled every standing structure close by as the ground was sucked before them.

Han enjoyed the feeling of the tremors, a million times greater than the rumblings of the cars traveling on the nearby highway that helped him to sleep at night when he was a kid. The ripples of the chaos he generated made the ground appear like water due to all the vibration.

It was as though Han were splitting the area beneath him like it were the Red Sea — the stone area rising to reveal a massive pyramid that had worn steps leading up to it. Along its side, waves of dirt and clay rolled off it.

The structure was like the point of a spear belonging to a titan as it attempted to escape from its ancient and knowable prison. Symbols etched on either side of the steps facing Han glowed malevolently.

The pyramid continued to grow the more it was lifted solely by Han’s will. Cracks could be heard miles away from the planet itself, screaming in pain as the tip of the spear continued to be pierced through its flesh.

The ground continued to shudder as the pyramid was birthed. Its presence forever scarred the landscape, never to be forgotten even after the night and battle were lost to time.

Han stared at the structure he had built.

On the sides were rows of statues. There were humans, beasts, and undead women garbed in armor, ready for battle. The curves of the women were distinctly visible, shapely, and desirable while also showing their fierceness.

Some statues had braided hair, and a few had short hair. There were even two that had hair that reached their ankles. The beast women each had different features to designate what type of animal they were connected to.

Their weapons were also diverse, some using short-range, some mid-range, and finally long-range.

Along the steps that led to the top were immense statues as though guarding the path where their Master would be watching the entertainment.

Han enjoyed how they encompassed their feminine features while still conveying an unflinching presence.

Between the larger statues were bowls, and when Han snapped his fingers, each blossomed a raging inferno from inside. Despite the lack of fuel, none of the fires revealed any indication that they would go out. Summoned by their Creator, the balls of fire would continue to light the path until they were unneeded.

“Magnificent, Master,” Helania said where she stood slightly behind him.

Brittany stared at the pyramid where a flat field used to exist, destroying any evidence of the path used by people on their way to Leaf Village.

“Now, everyone will be able to witness the greatness of the one that owns every inch of my body, mind, and heart,” Brittany breathed out in a whisper.

As though wanting to burn the temple that her Creator built into her memory, Brittany slowly inspected every inch of the new world Wonder.

The rock that made up the entire structure had a worn weathered appearance, as though it had been constructed thousands of years ago. With the statues and the fire, it had an eldritch cosmic presence — a monument to preternatural powers beyond human comprehension.

As she started from the bottom to slowly look up to the heavens, Brittany felt humbled by her Master. Just as she was tiny compared to the mountainous display of power that was the pyramid, it was clear how her Master transcended beyond what anyone could imagine.

As she stared at the pyramid, Brittany felt her body begin to heat up — waves flowing from her groin as it began to leak out juices, sliding down her thigh. Her body trembled in excitement, joyful to be part of something as wonderous as what her Creator was designing for this reality. It was beyond her comprehension.

As Brittany looked at the top, images of her Master piercing into her body, asserting his dominance as though announcing to the world she belonged only to Him, flashed into her thoughts. The vision was so realistic that she couldn’t help but moan in pleasure. Brittany even felt her body prepare itself for the blessing.

“That should be large enough,” Han said.

Han craned his head back to look at the massive structure larger than any pyramid on Earth, whether it was the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Great Pyramid of Cholula.

With its massive size, Han wouldn’t be surprised if it could be seen from miles away.

On top of running away from the village, Han imagined the tremors from his actions caused greater panic from people imagining it was an attack from the Lunar Empire. The few guards waiting for the invaders to arrive and hoping to buy more time for the residents were now frantically attempting to grasp what he had created.

“Let us get ready to watch as Queen entertains our guests,” Han moved to the stairs.

Even though he had created The Stronghold, Han still felt the experience of walking on something he made to be alien. Not much time had passed since Han would’ve been considered an ordinary and unimpressive person, and now when he gained his abilities.

Despite the age of the structure, as Han stepped on the first steps, the massive blocks had a feeling of age — as though they had existed far before he created them minutes ago.

“It just shows how our perception of a matter can affect how we interact with it,” Han thought to himself, lost in his own amazement at what he had created.

Han sensed that his emotions were similar to what artists felt after they had created artwork. Though an artist knew that they had been the ones responsible for what they could see, there was still a childish amazement at seeing the thoughts and emotions manifested into the shared reality.

Due to the size of the pyramid, the journey up the stairs was relatively long, but Han was surprised by how he didn’t need to stop. Han thought back to how just going up several flights of stairs would make him increase his breathing and have his thighs burning due to the exertion.

“I wonder if my body has strengthened without me even realizing it? Is it possible that I unconsciously willed my body to adapt, and it has?” Han wondered.

Since Han had been an ordinary human not long ago, there was no telling what other things had changed. He was now entering an area devoid of any benchmarks and reference points.

The sounds of the fire roared from the occasional breeze, the light flickering across the stone.

As Han looked ahead, the appearance was like walking up a stairway to heaven.

Helania and Brittany were quiet as they followed several steps behind him.

Thanks to how calm his creations were, Han didn’t feel bothered by how bizarre his current situation was. He appreciated his creations as he walked the path of his new journey.

Soon, Han’s vision was filled with the flat area at the top of the pyramid.

The area was larger than the average homeowner’s property, making him imagine it wouldn’t be odd to hold ceremonies on top.

Stepping onto the central area, It was as though the heavens were his ceiling and the sky his walls. The view was breathtaking and made Han pause to let it soak in.

The sky was a dark canvas while the stars and moon lit the night.

As Han looked at the moon, he was tempted to add another but decided against it at the last moment.

Just like on Earth, Han couldn’t help but marvel at the moon and wonder what secrets it held.

Smelling food, Han looked to see Brittany next to several tables prepared with a bountiful spread of dishes for him to enjoy.

Even several pastel-colored globes floated and provided diffused light, not enough to ruin the wonderous view of the sky but instead adding to the atmosphere.

Han made his way toward the edge.

Soon, the endless view of the night was broken up by the ground below them. Off in the distance were forests and what appeared to be villages.

Though the area appeared to be empty, not that Han stood on top of the pyramid and had a better view, he could see that it wasn’t as remote as it appeared.

“I doubt it will stay remote after tonight,” Han chuckled.

Below him, Han could see Queen standing in the middle of the road, which used to lead to Leaf Village.

Han inserted his will into the top of the pyramid. There was the sound of stone sliding against stone as a giant pillar emerged. It continued to rise up far taller than any human.

At the base of the pillar were armrests and a seat.

Sitting, Han made some minor adjustments to help him feel more comfortable.

Even after he sat, Han had a great view of what transpired on the ground and allowed him to watch his creation’s performance.

In the distance, a sizeable army was marching towards them despite the ground splitting open, and a pyramid birthed from deep within the planet.

Helania stood on his right side while behind the chair, Brittany was organizing food for him to enjoy

Watching Queen, Han heard footsteps.

Brittany rolled to where he sat with a serving cart and several plates with different food. There were even decanters, one with red and the other with white wine.

Even from where he sat, Han could smell the fruit used in the wine — letting him know that they were likely sweet wines. There was also the smell of honey-roasted ham, steak, brisket, and ribs. On different plates were fire-roasted vegetables.

“You have done a good job, Brittany. The food smells lovely, and I enjoy eating it while we watch Queen handle the Empire soldiers.” Han complimented her.

“Thank you, Master,” Brittany bowed. “The chefs are honored by your enjoyment. I will inform them that you are pleased by their work.”

Even from where he sat, Han could tell that the various portions of meat were tender and overflowing with juices. “They have done a wonderful job, and I appreciate how they work hard for me.”

Han watched as Queen walked away from the pyramid towards the soldiers marching in their direction, aiming for Leaf Village.

The smell of barbeque became stronger. Han glanced to see that Brittany had already cut up some meat and was feeding it to him. Opening his mouth, he enjoyed the bark of the brisket. Just like he thought it would be, the meat was tender and juicy while slightly smoky.

There was a light in the sky. A flickering of lights and rainbows, like the surface of a bubble being poured onto a glass bowl and oozing down. The sight was majestic, like fireworks on a summer night.

The invisible bowl of light encapsulated the surrounding area, including the soldiers — who stopped in confusion by the light show.

Slowly, it unevenly touched the ground.

Once it finished touching the ground, it flashed before disappearing. The only evidence of its existence was the occasional rainbow rippling across the surface.

“Master, I have set up the barrier,” Helania leaned and informed Han.

Han took a sip of the red wine, enjoying the fruity and sweet taste. There was a hint of alcohol but not enough to be noticed.

As the barrier was set up, Queen continued to walk towards the soldiers moving about in confusion.

Han couldn’t hear the sounds of the soldiers, creating multiple screens to allow him a better view and listen to what was happening. Soon the sounds of shouting from the soldiers and panicking could be heard.

“Stay calm and get back into formation! It must be some kind of trickery by the kingdom’s mages in the village!” A commanding officer shouted.

While Han was focusing on the sight of the Lunar empire soldiers slowly becoming orderly, he sensed a growing flow of willpower. Based on the scale of the power, Han glanced at where Queen stood.

Out of the ground, around Queen, an undulating black fog began to billow around her. Tendrils of fog snaked out, periodically touching the ground as though curious about what it was before flinching back.

“It’s like an animal that was deposited into a foreign environment,” Han curiously watched the fog — fascinated by what Queen would be showing him.

As more of the fog rose and expanded into the area, the tendrils continued to become bolder in their movements.

Han noticed rabbits trying to escape from the fog.

Sensing movement, one of the incorporeal tentacles paused before curiously looking at the sounds being made by the scared animal. The tentacle whipped toward the nearest rabbit. A few more smoke tentacles followed the first to grab one of the fleeing creatures.

Pitiful squeaks were heard as the fog caught the rabbit and slowly devoured it.

Seeing the fog behave in such a manner made him curious. It made him remember a movie involving a mist or fog that devoured people fleeing from it, taking place in a small remote town.

The fog started small but eventually expanded to several hundred square feet around Queen.

“What is that?!” A soldier screamed in terror, seeing the eldritch non-euclidean formless mass inching closer.

Several other soldiers shared the sentiment before a superior chastised them for their cowardice.

Seeing how the soldiers behaved to the unknown mass and how those in charge reacted was a contrast that Han appreciated. If he were in the same situation, he wondered if he could behave as the superiors behaved.

“I can see that Queen enjoys playing with her prey,” Han laughed. Finding himself enjoying the performance, Han clapped his hands together.

The fog had grown to such a size that it reached several feet high at the base of the pyramid.

Han took another bite from what Brittany presented him before leaning forward — eager to see what came next.

“This is an extraordinary performance on such a beautiful night while I get to enjoy food filled with flavor. There’s truly something stunning about a beautiful woman turning enemy troops into a frenzied mess while having a gorgeous woman feed me superb food. Truly, truly, I am blessed to have such beautiful creations.” He grinned and laughed, raising his glass of wine to toast Queen and Brittany.

“Your enjoyment is our pleasure, Master,” Helania smiled at how Han was enjoying himself.

Han reached to grab one of Helania’s hands, kissing the woman. “All of you do such a good job — taking care of me and satisfying my whims.”

“Master, how could we not go to such lengths for you?” Brittany kissed him on his head.

Seeing changes to the fog made Han turn his attention back on Queen.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the area around Queen was void of fog, Han would have no way to see his creation. The fog was thick and several times higher than Queen.

“I imagine even a giraffe would be lost in that fog,” Han said.

Though it looked similar to an ocean, the way it rippled and undulated gave it an organic flavor to the incorporeal mass.

Soon, it stopped moving and began to disperse and fade away. As the fog slowly started to become less opaque, it revealed hundreds of humanoid figures clad in pitch-black armor on top of skeletal horses. Each one oozed a malefic air around them — a blight on the living.

Beneath them, the grass slowly turned brown before curling up into a black corrupted mass.

Though there was a chill emanating from their bodies, the air rippled and distorted as though the presence of the creatures was an affront to reality.

Han looked amazed at this force and said, “analyze.”

[Knights of the Order of Death

Long ago, the Knights of the Order of Death were tasked with serving the Great Lord. Their duties were to fight against demonic forces to protect the powerless. They would even depose those that were corrupt, who’d take advantage of the impoverished people.

Their accomplishments, acts of kindness, and pursuit of justice spread across the land. Travels to the fringes between the lands belonging to the demons and those of the humans became safer. Anyone serving the Order would be welcomed in the remote regions where attacks from demons would be frequent.

After hearing the praises placed on the order, those in power became jealous and feared that there would be a revolt. Seeing the populace grow to worship the Order became a nail that dug into them.

The nobles spread the word that the Order had become corrupt, selfishly taking bribes and leaving villages to fend for themselves as they were devoured by demons grew. As time passed, discontent toward the Order gained traction, and rumors developed.

Due to fears that they were siding with organizations that were experimenting on monsters and demons, the Knights serving in the Order of Death were eventually hunted down. Their temples were destroyed one by one, and those in power were brutally tortured. They were forced into confessing to crimes they hadn’t committed.

As support for the Order diminished and inevitably evaporated, the knights were systematically wiped from history and transformed into myths about unholy demonic creatures to be used to scare misbehaving children.]

Han read the lore, finding the amount of detail added to it fascinating. Upon finishing it, he was curious about the origins of the lore and whether the knights created by Queen were indeed those from an ancient order of disgraced knights. It was like reading a brief summary of events in a history textbook.

Another thing he contemplated was whether Queen had summoned beings from the world they currently resided in or if the knights originated from some other planet.

“I should ask Queen where she summoned these creatures from,” Han thought as he leaned on the armrest, his chin resting on his hand.

The knights were spread out disorganizedly. Each one stared into nothingness as though without a will of their own. Their mounts occasionally dug into the dirt. Due to the corruption, it had a grey appearance and was no longer clumped together, just breaking apart to be blown away by the night breeze into dust.

Queen made some motions with her arms, ready for her performance, like a conductor signaling to an orchestra.

No longer giving the appearance of soulless puppets, the knights became alert and began to form themselves into uniform rows — to properly face the Empire’s troops.

Despite the sinister air of the mounted knights, the soldiers of the Empire appeared to have calmed down, the soldiers regaining the appearance of trained soldiers.

“See, it was just an illusion cast by their mages to try and scare us!” A superior officer yelled at those around them.

Nearby soldiers yelled in agreement, angered by how they had acted earlier.

“I wonder if those soldiers we faced earlier were part of a scouting party?” Han wondered out loud.

“That appears to be the case, Master.” Helania agreed.

Han watched as a single soldier in flashy armor moved away from the others. Just with a casual glance, the way the man arrogantly moved — as though expecting the world to prostrate before him — Han knew that the man was in charge of the enemy forces.

“I hope you do not disappoint me,” Han grinned as he took another drink of his wine.

“I am Viscount Dennan Lionhouse the Third, and we belong to the great Lunar Empire. This land now belongs to the Empire! Any resistance will be met with the cold harsh unstoppable power of my men — beyond anything you could comprehend with your feeble minds. With your meager force, let alone any hope of success, your fate is to simply become a sacrifice on my righteous blade. So I suggest you lay down your weapons and grovel for my mercy.” The Viscount ordered.

There was a roar of enthusiastic cheer as the empire soldiers raised their weapons and shook them threateningly at the knights summoned by Queen.

Hearing the raucous behind him, the Viscount grinned, arrogantly brushing back his black hair. “Though you may look imposing, riding on those horses, they mean nothing in front of our platoon of Imperial Mages. We shall obliterate your forces if you are foolish enough to stand in our way.”

The Viscount paused to allow his men to cheer. As the noble threw insults at Queen — belittling a person they believed to be weaker than them — the Viscount’s men began to grow confident about their position.

As Han watched, it was apparent that the Helios Kingdom wasn’t a military powerhouse in the region compared to the Empire.

Instead of responding to the provocations, Queen calmly stood in the middle of her summoned minions. Her eyes slowly scanned the hostile forces.

“Compared to the humans we encountered after leaving The Stronghold, I believe that these humans are significantly stronger. If it was not for my Master’s desire to be entertained, summoning my people would have been a waste of time. Even alone, I would have no difficulty.” Queen stared at her opponent, fighting back a yawn of boredom as she let the insignificant creature yell at her.

Though she was bored of the human, Queen did enjoy how her Master was focusing on her. Her Master was the only reason she dragged out the summoning process and allowed the human to continue talking.

Knowing that her knights would be more than sufficient, Queen hadn’t bothered to summon her sword. If there was a need for her to get involved, it would likely be far more entertaining to use her whip.

Seeing how arrogant the human behaved, Queen toyed with various ideas about how she’d torture the insect.

“To show that the Empire is merciful, we give you five minutes to decide. Surrender, and your lives will be spared. But if you refuse our mercy, you will be captured and enslaved.” Viscount Dennan Lionhouse spoke in a condescending tone.

The Viscount ogled Queen while licking his lips.

Laughing at the foolish individual, Han said, “I think it is amazing to be able to stand in front of such a sinister aura and still behave so insolently. It makes me ponder whether that man is brave or an idiot. The Lunar Empire must be a powerful nation to be able to act with such audacity.”

But Han admitted that the pathetic noble behaving in such a manner was why he was eager to see what would transpire. He imagined that Queen was already contemplating how to make the noble pay for such incivility.

“Yes, Master. These humans should be grateful that we give them a fighting chance instead of just clearing them immediately from the field.” Helania agreed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as she laughed — the sound like an ethereal strumming of a harp gently carried by the wind on a sunny day in the middle of a luxuriant grassy field.

Han took a bite of some ham that Brittany offered before changing the view to project Queen’s face. As he looked at Queen, he appreciated her cool and confident demeanor — unfazed by the noble’s words.

Han heard her respond. “Do not worry about providing us with the time to consider. In front of my Master, I, Queen of Death, commander of his divine forces, will allow you the opportunity to become his stepping stone and entertainment. Do not have feelings of regret, considering you were no match for him, who stands above all. Instead, you should feel honored to be worthy enough to serve as entertainment as he dines.”

“You, insolent slut! How dare you speak to me, a noble of the great Imperial Empire! I will make sure to kill all of your comrades and then take you as my prisoner for me to use!” The Viscount yelled, his face red with rage at the disrespect he felt.

Clenching his fists, spittle sprayed from his mouth as he screamed in rage, “Once I have used you and passed you to my men and citizen of the great Empire, turning you into something less than cattle, I will happily have you flayed and doused in boiling oil! Your screams will become my lullaby for when I require rest!”

The Viscount turned to his men, “The first one to bring me that whore will be allowed to use her foul mouth!”

Hearing the reward, there was a loud cheer from the empire soldiers.

Viscount Dennan Lionhouse the Third waved an arm forward, unleashing the rage of his forces — directing it at Queen.

Numerous balls of fire lit up the night as they flew toward Queen’s mounted knights. Each of the fireballs roared as though alive and screaming for the deaths of their enemy.

Arrogantly sitting on his horse, Viscount Dennan Lionhouse the Third maliciously grinned as he thought about enjoying the body of the scantily clad woman.

Even with his experience ordering women to sleep with him, leveraging the power of his father’s position, Dennan couldn’t imagine any other woman worthier than her.

He soaked in the sight of the woman’s milky white skin that appeared to glimmer under the light of the moon. Dennan felt mesmerized by her eldritch beauty. His pants tightened as his member grew erect — fantasizing about the events later that night.

Dennan imagined that the woman would be a fighter, her fists beating against his muscular chest. She would scream and beg for Dennan to release her, but he knew that those pleas of terror would slowly transform into moans of pleasure.

“They always start off fighting but not long until they beg me to not throw them away,” Dennan grinned.

Though he didn’t expect to use it so soon, Dennan was eager to try out his new custom tools.

As the fireballs streaked through the air and slowly arced toward the knights, each of the black armor-clad mounted knights smoothly raised their shields — as though the motion was something they had completed thousands of times in the past.

Several of the knights expertly guided their mounts to move into position between Queen and their magical attacks in addition to raising their shields to protect their mistress.

The surrounding grassy fields became an inferno as the balls of fire crashed into the shields, splashing fire and swamping the knights under an ocean of flames. Oily smoke billowed as corrupted grass burned. Several feet surrounding where the summoned dead calmly stood, only charred dirt remained once the mana from the spell gradually faded into the night.

Loud cheers were heard from the men as they watched the fireballs drown their enemy. Though they didn’t get to take direct action, aside from the mages, they still appreciated the spectacle which they had witnessed numerous times in the past.

As the flames died down, the Viscount laughed loudly. He viciously grinned, “A pity that slut died. I was looking forward to seeing how great her skills were. She would have made a fine prize after I properly trained her to be a loyal dog for me to parade through my halls and gardens. I will have to apologize to my friends for turning such beauty into a cinder.”

Dennan laughed, confident about his victory. But his laughter slowly died, his smile fading as his jaw lowered in astonishment. His mouth gaped open in disbelief as to what he was witnessing in front of him.

All the hairs on his body raised.

“This is impossible,” Dennan stammered as a chill passed through his body as though the spirits of death licked his neck.

Sensing the fear growing inside of its owner, the armored horse slowly backed away. Its eyes were wide in alarm to indicate that it didn’t need any convincing to escape the eldritch horrors. Only its extensive training as a warhorse prevented it from galloping away from the things in front of it that looked like horses.

Dennan’s eyes were wide. In the back of his mind, he could hear a voice that told him to flee. However, it was drowned out by his father’s voice — yelling about the importance of the family’s honor as noble for the most tremendous power on the continent.

Despite some of the flames on their bodies, the armored soldiers from the Helios Kingdom stood their ground as though the heat from the attack hadn’t affected them.

It was at that moment that Dennan looked at the soldiers more closely. Something didn’t seem right, but he couldn’t figure it out. The voices in his head, telling him to run for his life and how the family’s honor was worthless if he was dead, slowly began to grow louder.

One of the enemy horses snorted and shook its head as though bored.

Dennan’s eyes locked on the horse, and it was at that moment he noticed something wrong. His eyes noticed how the flesh of the horse wasn’t complete in some areas. He saw the bone between the armor plating as the creature moved slightly. Under the light of the moon, the bone stuck out how milky white it was.

“What are those things? The Kingdom does not have this level of power.” Dennan whispered.

In front of the eldritch and bizarre forces, Dennan couldn’t help but sense that they had made a horrible mistake.

Dennan didn’t even feel the warm liquid leaking down the side of his leg.

“Even though I was sure that nothing would happen, I admit to feeling glad that Queen is unharmed,” Han watched Queen’s summons skillfully moved back to their original positions.

Despite the power that he possessed, Han couldn’t help but doubt whether he had considered all the potential outcomes — especially when engaging with a hostile force. Han didn’t have a background related to magic, only experiencing it after he had received the Creation ability. His mind frequently thought about whether his powers were fundamentally different from the magic in the current world and if there were obvious counters to it — known only by those more educated and experienced on the subject.

“Master, fear not. Nothing will allow us to shame your faith in us. We will demonstrate that your love and confidence in us is not misplaced.” Helania smiled as she watched the show next to Han.

“I should not have expected much from them,” Queen sighed after the fire-based attack was over, the last of the flames having died.

Queen slowly observed her summons, checking if there was any significant damage.

The last thing she wanted was to embarrass her Master in front of such rude individuals. Queen clenched her teeth in annoyance, thinking back at the words the noble had spoken.

It was obvious that the Empire forces were wholly ignorant of who they were up against, but Queen didn’t think it was enough of an excuse. A sinister smile grew on her face.

“I want to make it clear. You heard how these organisms had the audacity to mock us, which means that they mocked my Master. Do not fail me, or I shall make you regret it.”

Queen’s voice was not much higher than a whisper, but it traveled through the air and reached every knight. The clinking of metal was heard as the knights shivered in fear from their Mistress’s words.

“Ravage them,” Queen whispered.

Dirt was flung into the air as the horses’ muscles propelled them forwards — charging toward the enemy of their Mistress and Master. The sound of thunder crackled as the hundreds of knights flew forward.

Air blew out like steam from the nostrils of the horses due to the cooler air, giving the appearance of steam engines.

The Knights raised lances, spears, and tridents — directing each one toward their prey.

Compared to the hot-blooded yelling from the soldiers earlier, the knights were silent — oozing with a sinister and eldritch aura. They were like the silent wings of an owl with its outreaching talons soundlessly streaking through the night.

While the Viscount trembled with fear and retreated back to the false safety of his troops as the dreadful wave of death crashed towards — an unstoppable and emotionless force of nature — the soldiers were blissfully unaware and managed to reorganize themselves until the leadership of the seasoned commanding officers.

“Pikemen forward!” An officer yelled out.

Like the precise movements of a mechanical clock, a forest of pikemen stepped forward. They held up their weapons without letting the long weapons waver even an inch. Their faces were grim as they stared at the charging calvary — but they followed their orders and held the line.

“Get ready!” The officer ordered.

In unison, the first row of pikes lowered. The soldiers stepped on the end to brace themselves for the inevitable impact. Behind them, another row of pikes was lowered between the soldiers ahead of the second row.

This continued until a phalanx of pikes created a near-impenetrable wall of pointed tips ready to pierce through anyone foolish enough to try.

“Shields raised and swords out!” Another shout was heard.

Behind the pikemen, several rows of soldiers with more armor smoothly pulled out their swords before placing their tower shields in front of them.

“Archers! Ready!” Another officer yelled near the rear of the massive formation. “Mages, prepare another fireball!”

Five rows made up of dozens of archers had their bows in front before pulling out an arrow and knocking it. Once ready, each one raised their bow and aimed the points of the arrows at the knights charging toward their formation.

“Let them fly!” The officer yelled.

As one, a wave of arrows arched toward the knights. A whistling sound was heard as the arrows’ tips flew through the night’s darkness.

Moments later, the night was pushed back by the roaring flames of fireballs shooting after the arrows. It was as though it was a race to see who would strike their targets first.

Sounds of breaking wood and ringing of metal striking metal peppered throughout the silent undead forces streaking forward towards the enemy. Immediately afterward, a wave of fire and chaos crashed into the knights — drenching the undead in raging flames.

Calmly watching the battle unfold, Han, chewed on some fruit to clear away the grease and fat in his mouth from eating all the meat.

“You have to respect them for their professionalism after seeing how little of an impact the initial volley of fireballs had on Queen’s summons,” Han casually remarked, rinsing everything down with some wine.

The mounted knights pierced through the waves of flames, billowing smoke rolling off of their black armor — the explosions of fire and thundering hooves were the only sounds heard after receiving the attack.

There was a slight tremor of the pikes as the soldiers watched the merciless knights unceasingly rush towards them at speeds never before witnessed, apathetic towards the pikemans’ trivial defense.

Soldiers began murmuring prayers to their gods and last-minute farewells to loved ones. Their loyalty to the Empire was the only chain keeping them from dropping their weapons and fleeing away from the nightmarish creatures.

A few whimpers were heard as soldiers noticed the unnatural appearance of their enemy, raising memories from their childhood of an overflowing ocean of monsters.

The forest of pikes shattered and exploded upon making contact with the Knights. Woodchip shrapnel scattered in all directions, the small pieces of wood becoming knives as they sliced into the pikemen.

Their surprise and yell of surprise quickly transformed into screams of pain as the soldiers were mercilessly and brutally trampled under the hooves of the undead Knights.

Limbs and bodies instantly turned into ground meat. Sounds of bodies squished into pulpy formless masses were accompanied by soldiers screaming and begging for their mothers.

Listening to the screams, Han opened his mouth to take in a morsel of smoked ham. Tasting the smoky flavor of the meat in his mouth, he rolled his eyes back and moaned in enjoyment.

Occasionally, Han raised his glass — complimenting Queen for allowing him to see such an excellent show.

The Knights’ spears and tridents continued to pierce into soldiers. Remembering the orders of their mistress, they purposefully aimed at their guests’ stomachs, legs, and arms.

Soldiers would often stare at their waste, seeing organs spilling out of them — their armor seeming to only be helpful as decoration against the merciless and eldritch enemy.

Once they were deep into the formation of the Empire’s forces, some Knights began to toss aside their weapons — switching to something more fitting for close combat.

Those that chose to discard their lances pulled out their long swords, the blades flashing menacingly as the light from the moon bounced off the dreadful and cold metal.

As soldiers raced to attack the Knights, the undead warhorses used their hind legs to accurately kick into the chest of the unfortunate souls.

Metal chest armor crumbled as the soldier’s ribs shattered from the impact, piercing and puncturing organs. Blood overflowed out of their mouths as they drowned due to internal bleeding.

The Knights on the two ends mowed down soldiers on their way out of the Empire forces. Separated from the middle group, the end groups sped away into the surrounding fields.

After gaining enough distance, both groups of nights charged back toward the remaining Empire soldiers.

Dennan watched as the enemy Knights made their way out of his men, leaving behind trails of ground meat and pitiful screams.

Hearing the explosion of flesh ground into a formless paste, Dennan struggled to hold onto his sanity. Noticing the strange movements of the enemy, he raised a brow — confused by why the two groups were escaping when they were defeating his men with overwhelming force.

Slowly the madness which had been growing retreated, bringing clarity. Dennan raised his brow upon putting together what was about to occur.

“Mages! Fire at those unholy nightmares!” Dennan screamed at a shivering group of mages close to him.

With the enemy inside their formation, the mages had been forced to watch the horrific images of their companions ground into a gelatinous mass of quivering meat. Their faces were wet with tears as they begged for deliverance from the evil they faced.

Hearing the shouting from their leader, a few retained enough of their sanity to look at what the noble was shouting about. They immediately reached a similar conclusion.

In front of each chanting mage, a ball of fire began to form. Those with sufficient strength raised their arms and began to chant and direct their will into a firey attack. The mana inside their body slowly flowed out of them, guided by the instructions from the spell.

As if understanding it would be their last chance, the size of the fiery infernos was magnitudes larger to the degree that it was nearly uncontrollable. Sweat poured down their faces as they continued to chant.

“This time, it will work. It would be unimaginable if those things were completely unaffected.” Dennan madly smiled as he began to laugh.

His mind refused to believe that his mages would be unsuccessful, burning up the last of their mana reserves.

“Fire! Now!” Dennan desperately screamed as he watched the terrifying horses carry the incarnations of death closer.

Despite the scalding heat from the numerous infernos, Dennan could only feel a cold chill that grasped his heart.

Each raging ball of fire streaked through the air toward the mounted Knights.

Dennan watched as the massive fiery balls exploded with enough concussive force to cause his horse to move back in alarm.

All the mages that attacked collapsed from exhaustion, depleted of all energy. Their eyes were wide with horror, knowing they were defenseless and unable to react to the nightmares that would inevitably find them.

“No. This can not…,” Dennan pleaded to some unknown being as he watched the nightmares emerge from the fire and smoke — completely unscathed.

He began laughing as his mind began to crack — the screams of his men accompanied his descent into madness.

Seeing that the battle was beginning to wrap up, Han took a sip of wine.

Han placed the glass on the armrest and stood up, “That was entertaining to watch.”

Raising his hands and stretching, Han began to head towards the stairs.

Both Helania and Brittany followed behind him just as a portal materialized where they were. Out of the portal, maids emerged, and they wasted no time to begin clearing the serving table and handling the remaining food.

Reaching the stairs, Han skipped down them.

“For the first battle I watched with my own eyes, it was definitely an experience to remember,” Han whistled.

Helania and Brittany smiled, seeing their Master in such a cheerful mood.

Though Han could’ve materialized next to where Queen was located, after eating so much food, it felt natural to walk off the meal. He also had a pleasant euphoric sensation after the wine, which made him feel romantic. With Helania and Brittany with him, Han felt the cool night air was something to cherish.

Walking around the massive pyramid took a while; during that time, Han admired the statues.

“I did a good job with the detail,” Han commented.

Brittany nodded, “Master truly created something which will give these humans pause as they admire it. I imagine many humans will worship it upon sensing your divine touch.” Her eyes teared with fanatical rapture.

“I do imagine the humans will find the pyramid to be a wonder far beyond anything they have created with their limited skills,” Helania agreed with Brittany, casually giving the maid a sideways glance.

Though Han was aware that both of his creations were stating things that clearly demonstrated their bias towards him, it was a sentiment that still warmed his heart.

As they walked away from the pyramid toward where Queen stood, surrounded by her summons, Han appreciated the contrast. Around them, the grass waved with the passing breeze, the area illuminated only by the moon. Queen’s skin was pale and cool, absorbing the light and appearing ethereal. Covering the ground was bathed in blood with the scattering of limbs, the occasional arm reaching towards the apathetic heaven above.

Seeing her Master approaching her, she turned towards Han and bowed. Her summons moved away to give their mistress room as they also bowed in submission to their Master.

Walking up to Queen, Han smiled, “You did a wonderful job tonight. You brought pride to all of us with your performance.” Han congratulated her as he waved a hand and indicated the carnage surrounding them.

“You honor me with words,” Queen answered.

Han’s eyes slowly looked at the only remaining human in one piece. Looking closer, Han’s eyes widened as he recognized the arrogant Viscount. The Viscount was on his knees, staring up at the night sky with a giant smile — occasionally giggling as drool dripped down the side.

“A present?” Han looked at Queen, curious about what his creation was thinking — allowing the noble to survive.

Queen looked at the giggling fool of a noble before saying, “I imagine that there is still fun left in him. I hope that Master could use a toy to experiment on.” She smiled before looking at Han.