"NEOMA, you’re here."

Ah, of course.

Neoma smiled when she saw Ruto in front of the giant, pearly white gates of the Upper World.

She had already expected him to greet her.

"Ruto, catch me."

To be honest, Neoma didn’t have to say it because she already saw Ruto opening his arms before she even said anything.

After confirming that they were on the same page, she jumped off Veton’s back.

Ruto caught her effortlessly.

"This place is done for, Ruto," Neoma said, wrapping her arms around Ruto’s neck. "We can’t live here, even if we ascended. It’s faster to just nuke this place than have me purify the pollution. The Upper World is beyond saving."

"Yes, I know. But try not to say that in front of the gods later. They’re already desperate to turn you into an Aether. If they hear your assessment of this place, they might just bury you alive."

"Eyy. I know you won’t let that happen. And I won’t just stay still and let them do what they want either."

"It doesn’t hurt to be extra careful, though. No need to provoke enemies who already can’t wait to see you dead."

"I’ll try."

"Did you send Trevor Kesser somewhere?"

"Yeah. I sent him to sleep. Why?"

"Neoma, don’t make a deal with Helstor without Trevor Kesser," Ruto reminded her carefully. "I know you’re here to talk about the change of rules that Helstor proposed. But don’t agree to anything without your Contractor. I know you’re smart. But, sometimes, you forget to use your big brain when you’re provoked."

"Don’t worry. I won’t get provoked this time because you’re here. Just looking at your face is enough to heal my soul."

"I’m glad to hear that, then," Ruto said, pausing for a moment to admire(?) Neoma’s face, even though he couldn’t really see it. "Did you visit our Sapling before coming here?"

"You can tell?"

"I can smell our baby’s scent clinging to you."

"Really? What does our baby smell like?"

"I can’t explain it— I just know what our baby smells like. That’s how I recognized him as soon as I saw him in this lifetime."

"You just suck at explaining, you know?"

Ruto just smiled slightly while shaking his head, and then he suddenly stopped walking— his face darkening immediately.

Aigoo.

Neoma looked ahead and saw a few major gods, who came to see her face.

Hah.

It was a surreal feeling.

She saw the faces who contributed to the death of her baby in the first timeline.

For a moment, anger surged through her entire body.

And the major gods felt that.

She almost laughed when those bastards unconsciously took a step back after feeling her bloodlust.

But it was only for a moment.

With Neoma’s memories of the first timeline finally intact, she remembered how to kill those arrogant major gods.

Of course, admittedly, she hadn’t reached the older Neoma’s level yet.

I can’t kill all the gods here with my current strength, but I know how.

Knowing that put her blazing heart at ease.

"Hello, everyone," Neoma greeted the major gods cheerfully. "It’s me, Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio— the Visual Goddess."

***

A MALE ROSEHEART.

But only Emperor Nero should be the sole male Roseheart in existence at the moment.

Hence, Lewis Crevan ended up with a reasonable conclusion, especially after seeing that the ’person’ in front of him took the form of a white fox earlier.

This is a Soul Beast.

It was just unnerving because it took Lewis Crevan that long to decide that.

But it wasn’t his fault.

How can a Soul Beast feel like a human...?

It was different from Tteokbokki.

Lewis Crevan didn’t have the time to worry about that because the Soul Beast suddenly charged at him.

That bastard swung his double daggers at him, aiming for his heart.

Normally, he would have pulled out his sword since the opponent was armed.

However, the young(?) Silver Foxes were watching him intently.

He remembered the fighting skills that he had learned from Lisica and Rustin— the queen and king of the Silver Fox Clan from the old times.

Silver Foxes fight with our bodies— because our bodies are our weapons.

Hence, Lewis Crevan blocked the daggers by kicking them one by one.

After sending the opponent’s weapons flying, he charged at him with heavy, fast punches.

The bastard looked shocked by Lewis Crevan’s speed, and he barely avoided the punches coming his way.

That was probably why the opponent suddenly transformed into a small, agile white fox.

However...

I’ve already seen that coming.

Lewis Crevan pretended to give the enemy a spinning kick when it transformed.

So, the white fox immediately ducked to avoid his kick.

However, his real attack happened next: three of his silver fox tails appeared behind him and slapped the opponent hard enough to break his bones.

To be honest, that kind of fighting style was liberating.

I like swordsmanship, but this is also fun.

It was probably proof that Lewis Crevan was, indeed, a Silver Fox through and through.

"You bastard..."

Ah.

The white fox was back in its human form, slowly getting up while clutching its sides.

He probably has a few broken ribs.

It didn’t seem like the white fox would attack again, but Lewis Crevan didn’t lower his guard.

But he got distracted when he heard the young Silver Foxes talking behind him.

"He has three tails!"

"I think he has more tails, but he’s holding back..."

"Could he be the first Silver Fox ever to produce 9 tails?!"

"That older brother is amazing."

"Is he our older brother, though? We were born first. But we got frozen in time, so we remained this young..."

"Does it matter? Anyone who’s stronger than you is a big brother."

"Right?"

Pfft.

Lewis Crevan got distracted, and the opponent immediately used that chance to attack.

He wasn’t worried because he was confident he could block it.

However, he didn’t have to move an inch.

THUD.

CRAAACK.

Curses.

It was the sound of the opponent getting sent flying, his bones breaking while receiving rapid punches and kicks, and all he could do was curse while lying helplessly on the ground.

But it wasn’t Lewis Crevan who did all the attacking.

"A male Roseheart... no, a Soul Beast?"

"Whose Soul Beast, though?"

"Did the young emperor betray us?"

Ah.

Lewis Crevan realized that he was now surrounded by the adult Silver Foxes, and everyone was growing wary because of the Soul Beast’s attack.

He didn’t want the Silver Foxes to grow suspicious of the Imperial Family again.

But...

I don’t know what’s happening either.

"Ah, you’re here."

The Silver Foxes flinched when an unexpected presence suddenly appeared and grabbed the Soul Beast by the scruff.

Lewis Crevan raised an eyebrow.

What is the Grand Spirit doing here?

***

"AH, YOU’RE HERE, Princess Neoma."

Hmm.

"It’s been a while, Helstor," Neoma said dismissively. She was talking to Helstor, but her eyes were glued to Ruto’s handsome face. "Since you made me come all the way here, you better explain yourself properly."

"At least look at me when you’re talking to me, Princess Neoma."

"I’m doing you a favor, you know? If Ruto wasn’t here to calm my blazing heart, you would have been dead by now."

"Surrounded by major gods, and yet you still act like you’re above everyone."

Heh.

Neoma finally tore her gaze away from Ruto, who was frowning because of Helstor’s sarcasm.

That level of provocation won’t affect me, though.

Anyway, it was funny to share a table with Helstor without trying to kill each other.

Well, she couldn’t move as she pleased.

After all, they were surrounded by major gods.

I can’t see them, but I can feel their eyes on me.

"Let’s get straight to the point," Neoma said, propping her chin on her hand. "Helstor, I heard you wanted to change the rule and include children in the fight. Instead of freely choosing our own Battle Representatives, you suddenly insist that I include Skylus and Monik. Just what kind of rule do you have in mind?"

"It’s simple, actually," Helstor said, leaning against his seat. "The old rule dictates that each of us only needs one human weapon and three Battle Representatives. I’m sure you have already chosen your fighters."

Neoma just raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying anything.

Information is vital, so I’ve got to keep my mouth shut this time.

Helstor just chuckled at her silence, and then he continued with his explanation. "Princess Neoma, there’s a reason why I brought up Prince Skylus and Princess Monik."

"Of course, you have a reason," Neoma said sarcastically. "Were you hoping I’d lose my mind the moment you drag children into the war? You almost succeeded, Helstor. If it weren’t for Ruto, I would have lost it already. So, you better start explaining now while he’s here to keep me calm."

"Before I explain that, let me tell you about the rule that I’m proposing to change first," Helstor said while tapping his fingertips on the table. "Why don’t we both bring in 10 Battle Representatives. Then leave it up to luck when choosing who’d fight in each round. Like using something like this..." The God of Eternal Darkness snapped his fingers, and then a small dice appeared out of thin air. "Brilliant, isn’t it?"

A game of dice to decide who among the Battle Representatives would fight in each round?

And bringing in 10 Battle Representatives instead of 3?

That’s kind of interesting.

"What’s the catch, Helstor?"

***

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