OH, WOW.

Neoma smiled when she saw the ’trouble’ that Tara was yapping about.

My baby capybara is a genius.

Namoo, her Wood Spirit that had the form of a wooden capybara, created a luxurious tree house for the precious Sapling.

It used to be a simple house that Mama Boss and Papa Boss used as their residence before.

Now it was a luxurious tree house, made of wood that Namoo had created himself.

But was that enough to make Queen Tara angry?

Of course not.

The thing that made the Queen of the Spirit World angry was...

"Did you give birth while I was away, Namoo?" Neoma asked while laughing. "Why is there a herd of capybaras here?"

Yes, real capybaras— not wooden ones.

It was a problem for Tara because each capybara was at least a mid-level Spirit.

And Neoma could tell that the capybaras had the potential to get stronger.

If I raise them properly, they have the potential to become High Spirits.

Why would that be a problem for the Queen of the Spirit World, you ask?

Simple.

"Your mid-level Spirits are ruining the power balance in the Spirit World," Tara said while glaring at Neoma. "Moreover, that Sapling... it’s attracting a lot of dangerous beings."

Right.

The existence of the Sapling was something that not even Neoma could keep as a secret forever.

Hence, she wasn’t surprised to know that there had already been attempts to kill her baby.

Of course, she was worried.

But seeing the gentle yet powerful barrier around the tree house put her heart at ease.

It’s Ruto’s divine power.

And it wasn’t just Ruto’s protection that was present there.

Papa Boss’ Moonglow.

Mama Boss’ Mana.

The traces of Papa Boss’ Soul Beasts still lingered in the air.

Papa Boss’ Soul Beasts can’t physically stay here because of Queen Tara’s complaints, but they’re staying somewhere close so that if something happens, they can easily reach my Sapling and protect it.

"Seeing that my Sapling and Namoo are safe, then you obviously did your job well as the Queen of the Spirit World," Neoma said, praising Tara that obviously shocked the queen. "I give credit when credit is due. So, thank you."

"You don’t have to thank me," Tara said, avoiding Neoma’s gaze. "It was your father’s Soul Beasts that drove away the threat before it could even set foot in here."

Ah, figures.

"Okay, I take it back."

At Neoma’s joke, Tara glared at her.

Aigoo.

It’s fun teasing this queen.

"William, you may be a Grand Spirit, but who gave you the right to open and close the door to the Spirit World as you please?" Tara, who probably knew that she couldn’t win a verbal fight with Neoma, turned to William instead. "You should have at least told me in advance that your little princess is coming."

"That child isn’t ’my’ princess," William denied while shooting Tara a cold glance. "And I don’t take orders from anyone, so why would I listen to you?"

You listen to me well, though?

Of course, Neoma kept her mouth shut.

"Just deal with those mid-tier Spirits," Tara said, huffing. "If you don’t, I’m locking the door!"

After saying that, Tara walked out.

Neoma watched the queen with a disapproving look. "I only made Queen Tara younger with my amazing breathing technique, but it seems like even her mind had regressed to that of a child."

"No, Tara is just reacting to you," William said bluntly. "You make it easy for people to be mad at you, so—"

"So, what are we going to do about those cute capybaras?" Neoma asked, cutting off William. "It seems like Queen Tara is threatened because this part of the Spirit World is reacting positively to my Spirits."

Every living thing in the Spirit World followed Tara...

... except for the Spirits that belonged to Neoma.

"But I don’t even know how Namoo was able to reproduce."

"Your Wood Spirit didn’t reproduce," William said, scoffing at Neoma’s wrong conclusion. "It just divided itself."

"So, like clones?"

"Whatever that means. Your Wood Spirit’s true class is between a High Spirit and a Grand Spirit like me. But if it had transformed into its real form, Tara would have thrown a fit. That’s why it divided itself in order to protect your Sapling without getting expelled by the queen."

Neoma gasped, and then she looked at the little wooden capybara in the palms of her hands. "Omo. You’re more amazing than I thought, Namoo-ya. And you’re smart, too—just like me."

"How long are you going to stall?"

"..."

"You’re here to visit the Sapling, aren’t you?"

Tsk.

Neoma carefully put Namoo on the ground, and her Wood Spirit immediately headed to his ’friends.’ "Okay, I’m going."

***

RUTO had already devised a plan on how to counter Helstor’s scheme.

Just dividing the major gods isn’t enough. If the rules are going to change, it has to change in favor of Neoma.

He couldn’t join the war as Levi’s Divine Son.

But he still wanted to support Neoma in every way he could.

"I wonder what the Ancient Devil is doing these days."

Hmm?

Ruto was about to return to his residence when Helstor blocked his way.

"If you miss the Ancient Devil that much, I’ll make sure to bring him here later," Ruto said lazily. "As a corpse, that is."

"I heard the Ancient Devil had supposedly stolen your emotions, and yet your feelings for Princess Neoma remained strong enough for you to go this far for her," Helstor lamented. "Did that bastard really steal your emotions?"

"If the Ancient Devil hadn’t stolen my emotions, I would have killed all of you already."

But his ’feelings’ as a God Slayer were just as strong as his feelings for Neoma.

Hence, he could still think rationally.

Of course, that didn’t mean he’d make the same mistake that he had made in the past.

I’ll never choose my duties over Neoma again.

"When will Princess Neoma arrive?" Helstor asked. It seemed like his information network had been limited ever since he got stuck in the Upper World. "Yoan, you know it, too— even you can’t stop the rules from changing."

Ruto just walked past Helstor this time.

But his brain had already gone into overdrive.

We need Trevor Kesser before Neoma and Helstor come to an agreement.

***

"MY BABY, Mommy is back."

Neoma smiled when she saw her little Sapling safely enclosed inside what looked like a small yet beautiful terrarium.

It’s Mama Boss’ work of art.

Of course, the terrarium was one of the sturdiest barriers in the world.

"Baby, even though your dad and I can’t stay with you at the moment, you’re in the second safest place in the entire universe," Neoma said while squatting down to look at her Sapling closer. Of course, the #1 safest place for her baby was by her side. "Just wait for a bit longer. Once I’m done killing— oh, wait. My baby should only hear pretty things."

She even gently slapped her lips for saying ugly things in front of her baby.

"Anyway, Mommy will just visit the Upper World really quick," Neoma said, gently placing her hands on the glass wall of the terrarium. "Just stay here and grow healthy, okay?"

***

"YOU’RE already leaving? I thought you’d stay here for at least two days."

"That was the plan, but something came up, so I need to visit the Upper World really quick," Neoma explained to William. "I also planned to keep Tara in check. But since Namoo is already doing that, then I can leave the Spirit World now. The sooner I leave, the faster I can return."

"Ah, I see," William said indifferently. "Then is my job here done?"

"Yes. But William?"

"Yeah?"

"Choose well."

"Huh?"

"No one among Nero’s knights is capable of killing children, so I’m sure Nero asked you to bring one Soul Beast capable of doing such a heartless act."

William’s eyes widened in shock. "You knew...?"

"I know Nero as much as he knows me," Neoma said coldly. "So, if you’re going to bring out a bastard who can’t control his urge to kill, then I’ll tear him to pieces myself."

***

NEOMA felt comfortable while lying down on Veton’s back.

The Thunderbird had already changed into its original size as a giant bird, so she was comfortable. Surprisingly, Veton’s feathers were soft.

Anyway, the Thunderbird would bring her to the Upper World.

It might seem like the giant bird was soaring into the sky, but the ’sky’ was just a replica. They were inside a portal, after all.

So, the sky wasn’t real.

She was comfortable in her position, but she felt like she had forgotten to do something important...

... and that was when it hit her.

Ah.

Neoma’s eyes snapped open. "I forgot to tell everyone that I’m headed to the Upper World."

In short, Neoma left the palace without telling anyone.

***

NEOMA’S worries only lasted for a while.

Even if she had left the palace without telling anyone, her smart twin brother would figure out that she had left with William.

Then Nero could just interrogate the Grand Spirit.

Ah, finally.

Neoma carefully stood on Veton’s back and looked down.

What the fuck?

And she was shocked to see the Upper World covered in pollution.

It was worse than she last remembered.

"No wonder those gods can’t wait to turn me into an Aether," Neoma whispered in disbelief. And then she licked her lower lip. "But damn, that looks tasty."

***

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