Fantasy Library, Ch 361-365

Chapter 361: What Are You Expecting?

Liliana had actually already woken up.

Seishuin Ena hadn’t gone too hard on her—she merely dispelled her Davidic Kotodama and knocked her out with a single strike. If it hadn’t been for the magical backlash caused by the breaking of the Davidic Kotodama that impacted her body and mind, she definitely wouldn’t have remained unconscious until the next day.

This morning, before dawn, Liliana finally recovered from the backlash brought on by the Davidic Kotodama and awoke from her comatose state.

And then... she didn’t flee immediately, but instead contacted the Bronze Black Cross first and learned from them everything that had occurred while she was unconscious.

Thanks to that, Liliana also became aware of Kaiser’s feats.

Barely a month since becoming a Campione, he had already slain five gods and obtained five Authorities, one of which was the legendary God-Slaying Spear that never misses and never loses, and another being the strongest spear and shield to a god—capable of severing Divinity—the Golden Sword!

Even before becoming a Campione, he had already been extraordinary, with skin as tough as armor. After undergoing the rebirth ritual upon becoming a Campione, his body transformed—his physical strength now rivaled that of gods or Campiones empowered by the Protection of Steel!

Beyond that, he also possessed multiple powerful divine weapons. One of them, as known, could rival the Sword King of Italy’s magical sword Authority that could sever anything. The others likewise were suspected of holding god-slaying power!

All these combined made this newly crowned king—barely twenty years old, and not even a month into his reign—repel the oldest Demon Lord, who was renowned as one of the strongest among Campiones. Thus, he became known as the King of Sacred Treasures, capable of freely wielding various mighty divine weapons!

All this intelligence deeply shocked Liliana’s heart and mind!

Under such circumstances, once she collected herself, Liliana immediately decided to remain here and beg Kaiser for forgiveness.

There was no helping it. Even if her actions had been in obedience to Marquis Voban’s orders, the fact remained that Liliana Kranjčar had indeed laid hands on the Hime-Miko under this new king’s command.

Marquis Voban could wash his hands of the matter and leave, but she, Liliana—Milan’s prodigy and Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross—could not simply walk away as a prisoner.

If she were to leave, the new king’s wrath might very well be directed at the Bronze Black Cross—or even the Kranjčar family.

To protect her family and the Bronze Black Cross, Liliana had no choice but to stay here and quietly await the new king’s judgment.

“Punishment?” Kaiser looked at Liliana, who was kneeling on one knee before him, and his expression turned slightly amused as he spoke. “Then why don’t you tell me—what kind of punishment would satisfy my lovely Miko?”

That one sentence instantly made Mariya Yuri, who had planned to plead on Liliana’s behalf, blush furiously.

“L-Lovely...?!”

Mariya Yuri entered a flustered state.

“As expected, what the king likes most is still Yuri,” Seishuin Ena teased from the side. “Good luck, Yuri. Since the king already called you lovely, you have to work hard and climb into his bed.”

Only then could Ena become number two and naturally receive the king’s affection!

“C-Climb into bed?”

In the end, before Mariya Yuri could react, Liliana was the one who froze first.

“So you and the new king... have such a scandalous—cough, that kind of relationship?”

Liliana’s gaze toward Mariya Yuri changed.

“It’s not like that! You misunderstood!”

Mariya Yuri quickly shook her head to deny it, but her red face utterly failed to be convincing.

At least, Liliana wasn’t buying it.

So Liliana once again bowed her head deeply toward Kaiser.

“To offend the king’s favored concubine is indeed a grave crime. No matter what punishment the king wishes to impose on me, I shall accept it.”

To strike the king’s subordinate was one thing—but to strike the king’s woman was quite another.

The former might still allow for atonement; the latter was far more serious. If handled poorly, it could bring calamity upon all those behind her.

Liliana was well aware of this and only hoped to bear all responsibility herself, wishing that the young king would not direct his anger toward her family and faction.

Kaiser gazed at the once again bowed Liliana. As if seeing through her thoughts from her slender form, he curled his lips slightly.

“Willing to accept any punishment—those are words you shouldn’t say so lightly.” Kaiser said leisurely, “You’re a girl, and a pretty one at that. Saying something like that so casually... Aren’t you afraid I might do something to you?”

Those words froze Liliana in place.

Kaiser’s statement, without doubt, triggered a brainstorm in the girl’s mind.

Don’t be fooled by Liliana’s usually clever and composed demeanor, or the fact that she rivaled Erica as a prodigy. One might think she was a strong-willed girl, but compared to the scheming Erica, Liliana could only be described as pure-hearted.

Not only was she a knight proficient in swordsmanship and magic, she was also a domestic goddess. She made her own lunchboxes and sweets, possessed high feminine charm, and loved writing romance novels—very good at fantasizing and daydreaming, but terribly bad at political negotiations.

If Erica was a refined noble lady, then Liliana was the ideal wife who could both attend banquets and manage a household.

As such, when she was with the foxy and shrewd Erica, she was often the one getting teased, completely unable to handle explicit topics involving male-female relationships.

Now, with Kaiser’s one remark, Liliana’s mind instantly conjured up hundreds of miniature scenes…

Yes—that kind of scene.

“N-No way!” By the time she came to her senses, Liliana was already shouting in a panic. “I’ll break! I’ll seriously break!”

The moment those words reached everyone’s ears, the room fell into utter silence.

Kaiser’s mouth twitched.Seishuin Ena tilted her head with a curious look.Mariya Yuri… perhaps having imagined something herself… covered her mouth with her hand, staring at Liliana with an expression similar to the one Liliana had just given her—tinged with subtle change.

“I-I-I-I-I…” Realizing what she had just said, Liliana stared at the silent trio, and an overwhelming urge to draw Il Maestro and end herself washed over her.

“What exactly were you imagining?” Kaiser looked at her speechlessly.“Sure, I shouldn’t have made such a suggestive comment, but did your brain just go and generate several volumes’ worth of scenes we couldn’t even upload online?”

“Such wild imagination… You really are a novelist.”

Hearing that, Liliana’s face turned red—not just from embarrassment, but also shock. “Y-You knew I write novels?!”

Kaiser had already prepared his answer.“You didn’t know?” he replied, smiling like a certain crimson demon.“Erica Blandelli swore allegiance to me back on Sardinia.”

The moment Liliana heard the name of her eternal rival, her expression shifted to one of both alarm and outrage.“That vixen told you, didn’t she?!”

Her gritted teeth and furious voice made her emotions clear.

She and Erica were rivals—growing up together, constantly clashing.The rivalry between the Bronze Black Cross and the Copper Black Cross, between the Blandelli and Kranjčar families, was practically woven into their fates.

Not only were they the same age, they both possessed exceptional talents as knights, which only intensified the competition between them.

There were times they fought head-on, and times they fought side-by-side. It was a complicated relationship—enemy and friend both. Describing it in just a few words wouldn’t do it justice.

You could even see it in the fact that they wielded two swords meant to be a pair.

Cuore di Leone and Il Maestro—these two magic swords had once been wielded by one of the strongest knights in Europe: Saint Raffaello, the original owner and guardian of the Davidic Text, master of both swords, and teacher of Salvatore Doni. A dual-sword warrior known across the continent.

When Erica and Liliana were twelve years old, they both passed Saint Raffaello's trial to become official knights and each received one of the paired swords.

Their rivalry wasn’t born out of hatred. Erica might openly acknowledge their friendship, but Liliana… would adamantly deny it.

Why? Because Liliana Kranjčar had suffered greatly at Erica’s hands!

Though both were prodigies and Great Knights, when it came to schemes and politics, Liliana fell far behind Erica.

Outside of direct combat, every time she had to deal with that vixen, Liliana’s fate was always the same: being toyed with, fooled, and manipulated.

She had no idea how many times Erica had tricked her—always dancing in the palm of her hand. No wonder she ground her teeth whenever Erica’s name came up.

Naturally, upon hearing Kaiser mention Erica, Liliana instantly assumed that damn fox had gossiped about her behind her back, ruining her image in front of the new king!

Kaiser, of course, didn’t bother correcting her.

All he had said was that Erica had sworn allegiance to him.He never said she was the one who told him about the novels, right?

So this misunderstanding? Not his problem.

“Since you’ve already pictured it so vividly,” Kaiser said playfully, “can I assume you’re mentally prepared now?”

“You did say you were willing to accept any punishment, didn’t you?”

Liliana’s stiff body began to tremble. At last—true fear surfaced in her expression.

“Y-You are the unrivaled king of the world… Surely you wouldn’t torment a woman, right?”

“Of course I wouldn’t. But you’re the one who said you’d accept any punishment. So this is a special case, no?”

“How can a king indulge in personal desires like this?!”

“That’s a funny thing to say. Isn’t every Campione living according to their desires? Do any of them actually restrain themselves?”

“B-But none of them are obsessed with women!”

“That’s why they’re all single. Every last one of them. What kind of Demon Lord doesn’t even have a girlfriend? Embarrassing.”

“You… they…”

“I’m not like them. Sure, I don’t need a harem of three thousand women. But three—or thirty—that’s acceptable, right?”

“I… I…”

Liliana was about to cry.

Faced with Kaiser’s coolly delivered lines, the poor girl—an overimaginative romance author—found herself utterly speechless.

You couldn’t say he was wrong. Every sentence was logically sound.

But if you said he was right… didn’t that mean she really had to offer herself?

Was she going to become part of the king’s harem?

No, that wasn’t even it! She wasn’t a concubine—she was just a criminal awaiting punishment!

This wasn’t a harem—it was a toy!

Normally, even if the other party were a Campione, if someone tried to humiliate her like this, she would rather die than submit.

But she had already said she was willing to accept any punishment. If she went back on her word now, wouldn't that make her a dishonorable knight?

In that moment, Liliana felt utterly trapped. Her future felt bleak and full of despair.

“Oh, King…”

Just as Mariya Yuri was starting to feel sorry for her, Seishuin Ena finally spoke up.

“Please stop teasing Miss Liliana. She’s about to cry.”

That one sentence drew everyone’s attention.

“…How did you know I was teasing her?”

Kaiser sounded genuinely surprised.

“Because you’re not the kind of person you pretend to be,” Ena said with certainty. “Even though Yuri and I could be called your concubines, you haven’t laid a finger on either of us, have you?”

“If you were really so lustful, Yuri and I would’ve been devoured long ago.”

...That was an incredibly strong argument.

Mariya Yuri couldn’t take it anymore.“Girls shouldn’t just say things like that out loud!”

“It’s the truth,” Ena said, unfazed.

“You guys…”

Liliana was thoroughly confused by everyone’s reactions.

So what exactly was happening now?

Was she still going to be punished?If so… what kind of punishment would it be?Would it be like the ones she wrote about recently? Or even more daring?

As her thoughts wandered, Liliana’s face grew as red as fire.

“…Are you expecting something?”

A low murmur entered her ears, jerking her out of her fantasy. Liliana stiffened.

“I’m not expecting anything!” she retorted, face burning.

“Only you know the truth of that,” Kaiser said with a smile. “Anyway, since you’ve shown such sincerity… from today on, you’re mine.”

“No objections allowed.”

Liliana opened her mouth—then gave up.

She said nothing in the end and accepted her fate in silence.

That day, the prodigy of the Bronze Black Cross became Kaiser’s possession.

As for what awaited her from that point forward…

Well, even Liliana herself was imagining it—in vivid detail.

Chapter 362: Truly Weak Yet Addicted

Kaiser took in Liliana, not because he had any particular purpose, but simply because he thought of her as a capable homemaker.

Right now, he was being attended to daily by Mariya Yuri, but Mariya Yuri wasn’t always by his side.

She still had to attend school, sometimes had to fulfill her duties assisting the History Compilation Committee, and even had to go home to take care of her younger sister. As a result, Mariya Yuri generally didn’t stay with him all the time.

Of course, it was possible for her to devote herself entirely to serving him, but Kaiser didn’t intend to make a girl sacrifice herself to such an extent. Even though he often said that Mariya Yuri was his possession, he still couldn’t bring himself to treat her purely as a tool.

He hadn’t truly become a lawless Campione like the others.

Even though, after becoming the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, he had gradually started to loosen up and become more unrestrained, he had never intended to become a villain who disregarded human rights.

So, even though Mariya Yuri had become his woman, Kaiser still respected her wishes—at least when it came to matters that weren’t important.

He wouldn’t make Mariya Yuri give up school, give up her family, give up her role as Hime-Miko, just to serve him full-time. As long as she could help him achieve his goals when he needed her, that would be enough.

At such a time, for Liliana to deliver herself to his doorstep could be considered a good thing.

With her excellent housekeeping skills, even if she was used as a maid, she should be able to relieve Mariya Yuri of a good portion of her burden.

Therefore...

“...Have I really ended up like this?”

In the living room, Liliana appeared looking completely disheartened.

She had already changed out of her usual blue and white outfit, now wearing a black and white ensemble instead.

With its fluffy skirt hem, pleated lace, and overall apron-like design filled with a cute aesthetic, plus the white headdress, white thigh-high socks, and black leather shoes...

There was no doubt—this was a maid outfit.

“Wow!” Seishuin Ena gasped in amazement the moment she saw Liliana and said, “I thought Miss Liliana was more of a strong-willed type, but surprisingly, she suits a maid outfit unexpectedly well.”

“Sh-she really does suit it,” Mariya Yuri was also extremely surprised, murmuring as if to herself, “To think Miss Liliana would actually look this good in a maid outfit... I really never noticed before.”

The two girls of the same age gave high praise, but it failed to bring Liliana any joy.

“I’m a knight, not a maid!” Liliana clenched her small fists, looking ashamed and angry. “As a knight of the Bronze Black Cross, the granddaughter of the Kranjčar family, I’m actually wearing a maid’s uniform. This is simply disgraceful!”

Liliana wasn’t entirely opposed to maid outfits.

After all, there were people around her who dressed like this.

As a Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross and a witch with a lineage, Liliana had a high standing in Milan’s magical society, with subordinates who served directly under her.

Those subordinates were apprentice witches and also acted as her maids, taking care of her daily affairs.

Not just Liliana—Erica had them too, and so did other Great Knights.

Though she didn’t know if other people’s maids dressed the same, both Liliana’s and Erica’s maids did dress like this. They usually looked just like maids serving them, and indeed, that was essentially their role.

This time, because she had come with Marquis Voban to this far eastern island country, Liliana hadn’t brought her personal maid. But due to being used to seeing this style of clothing daily, she naturally didn’t think there was anything wrong with maid outfits themselves.

The problem was that now she was the one wearing it, and that was something she couldn’t accept.

For a dignified Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross, a descendant of witches, to be dressed like those apprentice subordinates as a maid—this was simply too humiliating!

Wearing this maid outfit, Liliana felt as if someone were constantly whispering to her that she was still immature, incapable of standing on her own, and had to start all over as an apprentice witch, beginning her training anew as a maid. If her own maid saw her like this, she would no doubt laugh at her mercilessly, right?

But who told her she had done wrong this time and must accept punishment?

“From now on, you’ll be responsible for all the affairs around here,” Kaiser scrutinized Liliana for a while, then nodded with satisfaction and said, “If you have any objections, you can raise them now.”

...Can she really raise objections?

No, she could raise them, but who knows what would happen after she did.

“Understood.” Liliana chose to accept reality, sighed, and said, “Since this is a punishment, it can’t be helped.”

Compared to truly having her body toyed with, this outcome was actually already quite good, right?

...Yes, this outcome really wasn’t bad.

It’s not like she imagined some bold scenario in her head and ended up mysteriously looking forward to it or anything!

“Actually, this isn’t necessary.” Mariya Yuri weakly offered, “This place was originally where I rested, and taking care of His Majesty and Ena isn’t difficult—I can easily manage it on my own.”

She wasn’t trying to act tough; this was simply the truth.

She already regularly cooked and did housework at home, and there was also a younger sister there who constantly needed her care, so she was long used to such tasks. She didn’t think having two more people would be exhausting at all.

In Mariya Yuri’s view, she could easily look after Kaiser and Seishuin Ena by herself. There was no need to find another maid just for some chores.

However, it was fine when Mariya Yuri didn’t say anything—once she did, Liliana became serious.

“If these are your usual duties, then I all the more have to take over them.” Liliana looked directly at Mariya Yuri with sincere eyes and said, “Though it was forced, I did raise my hand against you.”

“If it weren’t for the fact that you had already pledged loyalty to the new king, I definitely would’ve taken you to the Marquis and forced you into that unforgettable ritual.”

“If something had happened to you during the ritual, then it would’ve been no different than me being the one who killed you.”

“So, atoning for that is only natural.”

Thinking that she was taking over Mariya Yuri’s usual tasks, Liliana was instead able to accept her current role.

She did feel guilty toward Mariya Yuri.

The two of them were survivors from that cruel and inhumane ritual four years ago. Logically, they should have cherished each other, cared for each other, and supported each other, yet this time she had become an accomplice, trying to push the companion she had once survived with back into hell—this was absolutely unforgivable.

Now that the culprit, Marquis Voban, had been driven off, though Liliana said nothing aloud, she actually felt relieved deep down.

With that, the Marquis’ plan could no longer proceed, and there was no longer a need for anyone to sacrifice themselves as they did four years ago. That was undoubtedly a great thing.

Compared to the worst possible outcome, being reduced to a mere maid was a small price to pay to prevent the otherwise inevitable—this was an immense blessing.

Since that was the case, what did she have to complain about?

With that in mind, Liliana felt much better.

“Then, Your Majesty, I shall get to work.”

Say what you will—once she accepted her role, Liliana carried it out quite well, quickly changing her attitude and bowing to Kaiser like a proper maid.

Then, she picked up a mop and walked out.

“Wait!” Mariya Yuri immediately stood up and said, “Let me help you!”

“Yuri?” Seishuin Ena blinked in confusion. “Isn’t it time for school?”

“It’s the weekend—no school today.” Mariya Yuri shook her head and said, “I had already planned to do housework anyway, so I’ll go help Miss Liliana.”

Saying that, Mariya Yuri ran after Liliana and left the living room.

“Yuri really is a wonderful woman.” Seishuin Ena remarked with admiration, “Whoever gets to marry her will definitely be very happy.”

“Are you hinting at something?” Kaiser glanced at Seishuin Ena. “Don’t tell me it’s that whole ‘if Mariya is first, then I’ll be second’ thing again?”

“Ena’s not that obsessed with titles, okay?” Seishuin Ena gave Kaiser a cheerful smile and said, “Even if Your Majesty only keeps Ena as a lover, Ena would still be perfectly willing.”

“...A woman like you must be liked by a lot of men, huh?” Kaiser couldn’t help but voice the thought. “Not just your looks and figure—even your personality is every man’s dream.”

“Really?” Seishuin Ena’s eyes squinted happily like she’d just been praised. “Then does Your Majesty like me?”

“What do you think?” Kaiser turned to her and looked into her smiling face. “I’m a normal man, after all.”

As he said this, Kaiser looked straight at Seishuin Ena, smiling brightly, his gaze practically radiating heat.

“Uuh...”

Being stared at so intently by Kaiser, Seishuin Ena’s true nature came out—she immediately blushed and became shy.

“I-I’ll go see if there’s anything I can help with!”

With that, Seishuin Ena ran out of the living room.

“Truly weak yet addicted.”

Kaiser chuckled as he watched Seishuin Ena leave, then picked up his teacup and leisurely sipped his tea.

Thus passed the day in peace, until the arrival of night...

...

At night, Tokyo was ablaze with lights—except for one place: the red steel tower that usually lit up at this hour had been swallowed by darkness, silently watching over the city.

Tonight, Shichio Shrine was particularly quiet.

Mariya Yuri had already gone home. After asking Kaiser’s permission, Seishuin Ena also left alone, heading into the deep mountains.

To maintain her own spiritual purity, Seishuin Ena often went into the mountains to train like this. Having stayed too long at the base and even using spirit descent twice recently had affected her negatively.

“Ena will return to Your Majesty’s side very soon. Before that, please claim Yuri.”

The ultimate Yamato Nadeshiko uttered words more open-minded than anyone, then disappeared into the mountains.

As for Liliana… after finishing a day of chores, she too requested permission from Kaiser, saying she needed to meet with people from the Bronze Black Cross.

“I still need to report back to my family and the Bronze Black Cross about staying by Your Majesty’s side as a maid.”

Thus, Liliana also left, using that as a reason, leaving Kaiser alone in the shrine office.

Kaiser didn’t feel uncomfortable. After all, he was used to being alone and didn’t have the kind of sensitive personality that got uneasy just because he was the only one around.

However, after nightfall, Kaiser didn’t stay in the office. Instead, he left and entered the forest within the shrine grounds.

The forest at night was extremely quiet.

There were no bird calls, no insect chirps, no lights—only endless darkness. Compared to its daytime tranquility, it now seemed deathly silent and terrifying.

Of course, compared to the forest, the one walking within it—Kaiser—was undoubtedly the truly terrifying one.

He was merely strolling calmly through, yet the pressure he exuded was enough to overwhelm the entire forest.

At a certain moment, Kaiser suddenly stopped.

“It’s about time you came out, right?”

Kaiser looked up at the moon in the night sky and suddenly spoke.

“Hiding is useless. I’ve already felt your gaze.”

As soon as he said this, a voice responded.

“That is an inaccurate statement.”

It was a voice like heavenly music—a woman’s voice.

“I’ve always acted with dignity and righteousness. Why would I need to hide anything?”

“If I wanted to conceal myself, no one in this world would sense my presence.”

“You sensed my gaze because I allowed you to.”

Along with this imposing speech appeared a peerless beauty, descending as if from the moon palace, like a true Chang’e.

“If it were anyone else, I would’ve punished them for that rude statement just now.”

“But since it’s you, I’ll let it slide.”

“Be grateful for my generosity, fellow countryman junior.”

The peerless beauty landed atop the crown of the tallest tree in the forest, looking down at Kaiser and speaking.

“You…”

Kaiser naturally saw the other party—and was momentarily stunned.

The reason he was stunned wasn’t her unrivaled beauty.

Though her beauty could be said to eclipse all the women Kaiser had seen until now, he wasn’t the type to be dumbstruck just from seeing a pretty face. He wouldn’t freeze in place simply because the other party was a beauty.

The reason he froze was solely because of this person’s identity.

“You’re Luo Hao?”

Kaiser asked in barely concealed surprise.

“Indeed.”

The Wuxia Queen of China, just as she claimed, announced her name with poise.

“My surname is Luo, given name Cuilian, courtesy name Hao.”

Kaiser’s senior from the same homeland had arrived—without warning.

Chapter 363: The Female Emperor Who Stands Alone at the Pinnacle

Gentle moonlight cascaded down from the night sky, illuminating the dim forest.

The young man standing on the ground and the celestial maiden descending from the heavens—one looked upward, the other looked downward, their gazes meeting in midair.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, no longer moving forward.

A breeze blew from the distance, lifting the boy's coat and the celestial maiden’s feathered robe.

This fleeting eye contact felt like an eternity, yet also like an instant.

This was a reunion with a familiar presence in a foreign land.

This was a gaze exchanged across a thousand miles.

Amidst such an atmosphere, Luo Hao was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

“Compatriot, why do you not offer a salute?” Luo Hao spoke as though interrogating someone, “Even if you are in a foreign land, upon encountering a senior, you should offer a greeting. That is the way of humanity, and even more so the way of kings.”

Her voice remained as celestial as ever, but the aura of reigning over the world that accompanied it completely changed the impression given by this martial king of China.

If one were to say that earlier she was like a fairy descending from the Jade Pool, then now she was the female emperor who stands alone at the pinnacle, brooking no rival.

And this was the true Luo Hao—the alliance leader who ruled over the martial world of China for more than two hundred years, the sect master of the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains.

“...It is indeed somewhat discourteous.”

Kaiser finally snapped out of his astonishment at unexpectedly encountering Luo Hao. After closing his eyes for a moment, he reopened them with his usual calm restored.

“To meet a compatriot in a foreign land is something that should bring joy—especially when the one I’ve met is a revered senior from my homeland.”

In this world, Luo Hao was someone who followed the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi, adhered to the Quanzhen Taoist school, and incorporated Buddhist elements into Daoist culture. She ruled the martial world for over two hundred years, founded the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains, and left behind many martial legacies. Calling her a pioneer and sage was absolutely justified.

Many famous martial arts and esoteric techniques in modern-day China originated from Luo Hao. The entire martial world of China could be said to have inherited her martial philosophy, creating a thriving Eastern martial realm not inferior in the slightest to the birthplace of Western magic in Europe.

To Westerners, this island nation in the Far East might seem like a backwater countryside, but the ancient Eastern nation was viewed as a land of mystery by the global magical community, a place revered and coveted by countless individuals.

If not for Luo Hao, if not for the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains she led protecting China, then the Celestial Empire in this world would likely have suffered the same fate as the one in Kaiser’s original world—ravaged by countless Western powers.

But because Luo Hao existed, although not entirely without incident, at least the forces on the mystic side dared not act recklessly.

What a joke—this was the domain of an unparalleled figure on par with Marquis Voban, one of the oldest and most fearsome of the Campiones. What faction would dare stir up trouble there?

Therefore, Kaiser believed that calling Luo Hao a pioneer, a sage, a senior—none of it was an exaggeration.

However...

“Before that, let me first understand the senior’s intent,” Kaiser said calmly, arms folded. “At the very least, let me first determine whether you come as friend or foe.”

“I see.” Luo Hao looked at the calm-faced Kaiser and suddenly smiled. “You believe I have come as an enemy?”

There was no denying it—Luo Hao was indeed beautiful. When she suddenly smiled like this, the effect was anything but trivial.

Looking at that smile, Kaiser even thought that had this woman been born in the era of King Zhou of Shang, there probably wouldn’t have been a place for Daji.

Having experienced so many fantasy worlds, Kaiser had encountered all kinds of beautiful women—many of whom could be remembered for all of history—but even among them, Luo Hao’s beauty was nearly unmatched.

Perhaps Kaiser’s personal bias played a part in this?

After all, he was a Chinese through and through. His favor for classically beautiful women from the East was surely greater than that for foreign beauties.

So it was undeniable that Kaiser harbored little hostility toward Luo Hao in his heart.

But that was separate from the matter at hand.

“I’ve been a Campione for not even a month, yet I’ve already encountered two fellow Campiones, each of whom I fought,” Kaiser said factually. “You’re the third I’ve met, and like the others, you appeared uninvited and out of nowhere.”

“Moreover, even in a foreign land, I’ve heard that the Sect Master Luo Hao has long resided in seclusion in the Lushan Hermitage, rarely stepping into worldly affairs.”

“And now, you’ve suddenly appeared here, right before me—surely I can’t just assume you’ve come to make friends?”

Even if Luo Hao did wish to befriend Kaiser, given her domineering and self-centered nature, it might be possible if Kaiser had visited her in person to pay respects. But for her to take the initiative to seek him out to make friends? That was absolutely impossible.

Sure enough...

“My coming to find you does indeed involve important matters.”

Luo Hao, as if weightless, lightly tapped a branch with her toes and gracefully descended before Kaiser.

“Though I am a senior, and it would be reasonable for me to instruct an outstanding junior, you’ve already proven your capabilities. There is no need for such a gesture.”

As she spoke, her gaze toward Kaiser was filled with admiration.

“To have become a king for less than a month and yet to have already slain five gods and repelled Marquis Voban—your performance exceeds even my expectations.”

“Though I am a few years older than Ying’er, your potential is clearly far greater than his.”

“What a pity I didn’t meet you before you became a Campione. Otherwise, I certainly would have taken you as my final disciple, conferred upon you the title of Holy Son of the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains, and passed down my legacy to you.”

To be praised to this extent by the domineering Luo Hao—perhaps only Kaiser in the entire world could receive such honor.

“You flatter me.”

Kaiser didn’t feel particularly honored. After all, he was no longer the person he used to be. He now stood on the same level—or even higher—than Luo Hao. Why should he feel honored just because she valued him?

“What is this important matter that prompts the Sect Master herself to come in person?” Kaiser was indeed curious.

As mentioned earlier, Luo Hao was essentially a recluse—more plainly put, a shut-in. She rarely left home.

Having become a Campione over two hundred years ago, she sometimes stayed in the Lushan Hermitage for years or even decades at a time.

For her to suddenly come meet him now, how could Kaiser not be curious?

To this, Luo Hao did not hide anything.

“I originally intended to have Ying’er give you a little guidance and let you learn of this matter. But your repelling of the Marquis greatly exceeded my expectations and stirred my curiosity, so I decided to come in person.”

Though she rarely left her abode, for Luo Hao, traveling far wasn’t difficult at all.

Because she was a Taoist nun who had mastered many strange divine arts.

Among them was a teleportation technique known as “Shuukuchi”—a Taoist art for instant movement.

Ordinary people using this technique would need significant preparation time and a solution for the massive energy cost—but Luo Hao was an exception.

She had cultivated her Shuukuchi to the point that she could travel anywhere in the world with a single thought. She really had just decided on a whim to come personally.

Just a few minutes ago, Luo Hao had still been in Lushan. That was proof enough.

Even her disciple didn’t know she had come here. If Lu Yinghua discovered that his master had disappeared, it would likely cause quite the uproar.

What’s scarier was—even if Lu Yinghua didn’t notice his master’s absence, once Luo Hao returned, she would still give him a good scolding.

Failing to notice his own master had gone missing was a dereliction of duty—and proof that his training was insufficient... Luo Hao would definitely think this way and then beat Lu Yinghua severely.

All one could say was—being Luo Hao’s disciple was Lu Yinghua’s blessing...

Given Luo Hao’s unreasonable personality, it was a good thing Kaiser hadn’t met her before becoming a Campione—let alone become her disciple. Who knows what his life would have turned into?

“Sect Master, please speak freely.”

Kaiser awaited Luo Hao’s words.

“Do you know of the Western Heaven Palace?”

Though overbearing and unreasonable, Luo Hao never dragged things out, and thus went straight to the point.

“Western Heaven Palace?” Kaiser raised an eyebrow. “You came here because of the Monkey King?”

“Oh?” Luo Hao looked at Kaiser with some surprise. “So you already knew?”

“I’ve known for a while.” Kaiser shrugged. “It’s a part of the Nikkō Tōshō-gū—the shrine on Mount Nikkō in Tochigi. That is the Western Heaven Palace.”

“It’s said to be an important sacred site guarding the Divine Lord—one that the Kuhoutsuka family has safeguarded for generations.”

The Kuhoutsuka family he referred to was naturally one of the Four Great Families, alongside the Sayanomiya and Seishuuin families.

Unlike those other two families, which wielded great influence on a national level, the Kuhoutsuka family didn’t hold such lofty positions, but within the world of sorcery, they held very high status and extremely important responsibilities.

They had always protected the Western Heaven Palace, worshipping the Divine Lord enshrined there. They acted low-key and adhered to secrecy, concealing most information about the Western Heaven Palace.

Because of this, most people only knew that the place existed, and that a Divine Lord was enshrined there—but why this was the case, and the true nature of that deity, was known to almost no one.

But among the two Campiones present, both Kaiser and Luo Hao knew the secret.

Because the deity enshrined in the Western Heaven Palace was a hero god of their homeland.

And this deity was not being honored—but sealed, used.

“Since you already know of the Divine Lord’s existence, why do you turn a blind eye to it?” Luo Hao frowned in displeasure. “A hero of our nation is being imprisoned by the Yamato people. As the king of China, you ought not to ignore it.”

At these words, Kaiser laughed.

He laughed heartily.

“I never had any intention of turning a blind eye.”

Chapter 364: You're Only a Few Years Older Than Me?

Back when he first became a Campione, Kaiser had already been thinking about the god sealed within Western Heaven Palace.

As for the reasons—first, to slay the god and obtain an Authority; second, to meet a childhood idol. And if there were a third reason, it would be, as Luo Hao said, his displeasure that a mythological hero of his own country was imprisoned by this tiny island nation.

So, even without Luo Hao bringing it up, Kaiser was definitely going to visit Western Heaven Palace eventually. He just hadn't had the opportunity lately, and he wasn't in any rush.

Now that Luo Hao had mentioned it, Kaiser naturally didn’t mind revealing his thoughts.

“I’ve always had the intention to go to Western Heaven Palace. I just wasn’t in a hurry,” Kaiser said leisurely. “Lately, I’ve either been harassed by that old man hiding in the Netherworld, or by that other old man who used to live in the Balkans. Where would I find the time to do this?”

“If we really count from the time I left Sardinia and returned here, it’s only been a few days.”

“I didn’t expect that even the great Luo Hao would come to me over this matter.”

Kaiser’s words gradually relaxed the frown on Luo Hao’s brow.

“It’s not that I came to trouble you over this,” she said, “but that if you were the one to act, there might be a breakthrough.”

If it were anyone else, Luo Hao certainly wouldn’t have offered so much explanation.

But facing this fellow countryman and junior, her patience and domineering tone seemed to be restrained quite a bit.

“Roughly a hundred years ago, the god of Western Heaven Palace was once released. I had a dispute with Him but failed to settle the matter,” Luo Hao said as she shook her head. “I wanted to lift the restriction on Him and slay the monkey raised by the Wa nation to restore the honor of our Chinese land, so I followed Him to Western Heaven Palace.”

“I thought that by doing this, I could reach His dwelling place.”

“Who would have thought that Western Heaven Palace was merely a prison meant to confine Him? His true location lies in an otherworldly corridor within the Netherworld. Even when I exhausted every technique I had learned, I could not enter.”

“In the end, I could only blow up Western Heaven Palace along with those connected to it, but I still couldn’t enter the corridor. Afterward, Western Heaven Palace was even rebuilt.”

This was why Luo Hao had been keeping an eye on this island nation in the Far East.

She believed it was an unforgivable sin for the heroes of her own country to be raised and played with by the Wa people. Knowing of such a being and doing nothing would tarnish her title as a king of the Chinese land.

Thus, she had been waiting for an opportunity for a long time, hoping to liberate the god of Western Heaven Palace and deliver judgment.

When Lu Yinghua mentioned that Kaiser, during his battle with Susanoo-no-Mikoto, had used the Golden Sword to sever a portion of the god’s Divinity that resided in the Netherworld, it drew Luo Hao’s attention.

As a result, Luo Hao instructed Lu Yinghua to find a chance to guide Kaiser toward learning about Western Heaven Palace. But due to Kaiser's excellent performance in repelling Voban, she ultimately decided to come herself.

First, she wanted to meet this fellow countryman who had become a king and already repelled her old enemy.

Second, she wanted to personally tell him about the matter and see his attitude.

Fortunately, he didn’t disappoint her. In the face of the issue of their national hero being kept by the Wa, he was likewise unwilling to stand idly by.

Though he wasn't as outraged as she was, as long as his stance aligned with hers, he was a commendable and outstanding junior.

“If you were to act, could you use the Golden Sword to slay the god?”

This was the main point Luo Hao came for.

“It’s hard to say.”

Kaiser gave an ambiguous answer.

There was no helping it.

“Although the Golden Sword is the strongest spear and shield against gods, sharp enough to sever divine bodies and Divinity, that’s only if the enemy god’s essence is revealed before me.”

“Like last time, during the battle with Susanoo-no-Mikoto—even though he was in the Netherworld, part of his Divinity appeared in the present world and summoned a storm, so I could strike Him.”

“If the essence of the enemy god doesn’t manifest, if the Divinity doesn’t reveal itself, then it would be difficult for me too.”

In other words, if the god of Western Heaven Palace manifests Divinity, things will be manageable; if not, then it becomes a problem.

At least, if relying solely on the Golden Sword, that is.

“That won’t be hard,” Luo Hao declared resolutely. “Using the blood of Dragon-Serpent to provoke the god’s essence should be enough to draw out His Divinity.”

Dragon-Serpent referred to the Earth Mother Goddess.

In mythology, serpents with the ability to shed their skin and cyclically hibernate and awaken were symbols of death and life, as well as seasonal change.

Thus, the serpent was a symbol of the Earth Mother Goddess, and also the protector of witches, a holy beast representing life and death.

In myths, dragons were often referred to as winged serpents, and many Earth Mother Goddesses appeared in this form. Even if not stated outright, there were many implications.

In other words, Dragon-Serpent equals Earth Mother Goddess, and vice versa.

In countless hero myths, evil dragons or wicked dragons typically meet the same fate: they are defeated by heroes or gods.

So, the Dragon-Serpent is the degraded form of the defeated Earth Mother Goddess, while the hero or god who opposes the Earth Mother Goddess is the Steel Sword God or Steel Hero.

Steel Sword Gods and Steel Heroes are the nemeses of Earth Mother Goddesses, but they are also entities that stimulate or are nourished by Her presence.

Coincidentally, the god sealed in Western Heaven Palace was a Steel Hero of complex attributes.

He was sealed in Western Heaven Palace because the one who sealed Him wanted to use His power to subdue the Dragon-Serpent that had appeared on this land.

As a member of the Steel Faction, born under the star of Dragon-Serpent Subjugation, once Dragon-Serpent blood and divine power appeared on this land, this god would undoubtedly be provoked.

At that time, even if He didn’t manifest physically, He would reveal His essence and Divinity.

Luo Hao immediately thought of this and told Kaiser:

“If you need Dragon-Serpent blood, I can try to find it for you.”

With that sentence, Luo Hao was essentially telling Kaiser—she would help him capture an Earth Mother Goddess.

To capture a Heretic God alive!

Such a ridiculous idea could only be uttered by a monstrous figure like Luo Hao.

But...

“No need,” Kaiser shook his head and said. “Even without Dragon-Serpent blood, even if I can’t use the Golden Sword, I still have a way to break the seal of Western Heaven Palace.”

“Oh?” Luo Hao was slightly startled. She looked at Kaiser in surprise and asked, “Is that true?”

“Of course,” Kaiser said flatly. “Otherwise, knowing that there’s a seal, why would I dare say I’d definitely go to Western Heaven Palace?”

It was precisely because he had a way to break the seal that Kaiser could say that.

“Should be quite soon, right?” Kaiser looked at Luo Hao and said, “As long as no more trouble comes knocking, sometime in the near future, I’ll pick a day to head for Western Heaven Palace.”

“When the time comes, I’ll meet that god personally.”

“I want to test for myself just how different that famed being is from the other gods.”

This was already a prey Kaiser had set his sights on.

Even if Luo Hao hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t let it go.

“Excellent.”

Seeing this, Luo Hao broke into a smile again.

If any other Campione had said such things, Luo Hao definitely wouldn’t have backed down.

In her view, only by slaying the monkey god with her own hands could she erase the shame of her nation’s hero being raised by the Wa.

So, if someone else had targeted Him, Luo Hao would have insisted on a fight to claim hunting rights.

But since the one preparing to act was, like her, a king from the Chinese land, it made no difference whether she or Kaiser did it.

“In that case, I shall await your good news, my fellow countryman and junior.”

Luo Hao demonstrated the generosity of a senior.

“My name is Kaiser.”

Kaiser made the effort to emphasize that.

“Then I’ll call you ‘Wise Little Brother Kaiser,’” Luo Hao surprisingly said in an easy tone. “I’m a few years your senior, your predecessor, so I’ll allow you to call me elder sister.”

…A few years older?

More like a hundred years older!

Even counting the several decades Kaiser spent in the Soul Society, he still hadn’t lived a full century—he wasn’t even eighty yet, younger than Hitsugaya Tōshirō.

And Luo Hao?

She became a Campione over two hundred years ago!

She could easily be his grandmother, let alone his elder sister.

But if he actually said that aloud, Luo Hao would likely flip on the spot and challenge him to a fight, admiration be damned.

Although Kaiser wasn’t afraid, there was no need to poke the tiger—especially when the tiger was a tigress.

“I’ll just call you Sister Cuilian.”

After much deliberation, Kaiser settled on a name with a distinctly Chinese flavor.

“Very well,” Luo Hao nodded and smiled. “Now that I think about it, it’s been a long time since anyone called me by name.”

Luo was her surname, Hao her courtesy name, and Cuilian her given name.

Using the courtesy name was formal and respectful; using the given name was a privilege granted only to those close to her.

“The matter of Western Heaven Palace is in your hands, Wise Little Brother.”

Luo Hao’s voice grew distant.

“If you need someone to do any miscellaneous tasks, just shout Lu Yinghua’s name loudly.”

Leaving those words behind, Luo Hao’s figure wavered like the moon in water, like a flower in a mirror, and vanished like a mirage.

In the quiet forest, only Kaiser remained standing, as if he had been monologuing to the moon the whole time. The celestial maiden who had descended just moments ago now seemed like an illusion, a dream, long gone without a trace.

“Luo Cuilian…”

Kaiser looked in the direction she had left, softly repeating the name, then smiled.

“What a fascinating person.”

That said, he felt rather pleased at seeing someone from his homeland after so long.

“If I get the chance to return to the world of the Asterisk War, I should drop by Jie Long.”

With that thought, Kaiser turned and left, letting the forest return to its tranquil silence...

Chapter 365: "Monkey God Lord"

Tokyo metropolitan area, Kanto Region, Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko City.

This is a city where one can see natural scenic spots and well-preserved historical architecture everywhere, allowing people to clearly feel the perfect harmony between man and nature.

There are many tourist attractions here, including but not limited to Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, Rinnō-ji, Mount Nikkō, Mount Nantai, Lake Chūzenji, Senjōgahara, Yumoto Onsen, Kegon Falls, etc. In the mountainous region to the west lies Nikkō National Park, and the highest peak within its territory, Mount Oku-Shirane, has an altitude of 2,578 meters. Nearby, there are more than twenty mountains over 2,000 meters in elevation, most of which are bell-shaped volcanoes. The region is rich in famous sightseeing spots, attracting several million tourists annually and is a must-visit place for many foreign visitors.

Just like right now, even though it is still some time before the peak tourist season, a considerable number of tourists have already arrived here, with people of all ages—some traveling alone, some with family, some as couples, and some in tour groups—making the area feel very lively.

At the foot of Mount Nikkō, there was also a constant stream of worshippers arriving.

They were climbing along the main pilgrimage road from the foot of the mountain, and eventually arrived in front of a torii gate.

From here, walking through the torii would lead to Tōshō-gū; going right leads to Rinnō-ji; deeper to the left lies Futarasan Shrine.

Nikkō Tōshō-gū, this is the sacred shrine built to enshrine the deified Tokugawa Ieyasu, also known as the Great Deity Tōshō.

This sacred shrine was constructed at the cost equivalent to several tens of billions of yen in modern terms, and is a luxurious shrine that gives off a dazzling impression everywhere. Not only are the buildings brilliant and magnificent, but there are also all kinds of carvings and exquisite small decorations. Rather than calling it a shrine, it would be more fitting to call it a palace.

This Tōshō-gū was built by the monk Tenkai, who was Tokugawa Ieyasu's strategist, a monk of great wisdom who served until the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. He is a renowned enlightened person in this region.

However, very few people know that in one corner of this dazzling and luxurious palace, a shrine that ordinary people can hardly enter has been secretly built.

This is a shrine whose appearance clashes completely with Tōshō-gū—it appears very plain.

It is small, and old-fashioned, with no eye-catching decorations, looking just like a stable.

On its walls, under the eaves, many monkeys are carved.

There are monkeys with closed eyes, monkeys with closed mouths, monkeys covering their ears, sitting monkeys, monkeys looking up at the sky, lying monkeys… altogether more than a dozen monkeys carved upon it, making people puzzled as to why so many monkeys are depicted here.

In front of this building covered with monkey carvings lies the Western Heavenly Palace.

It is a part of Nikkō Tōshō-gū, but unlike the Tōshō-gū which enshrines the Great Deity Tōshō, it is an independent sanctuary that enshrines another god.

"Who would’ve thought that a real god is being worshipped here?"

Kaiser stood before this plain stable-like shrine, gazing at the forest behind it, murmuring to himself.

Looking closely, Kaiser's outfit today was also very plain, even to the point of being low-key, and there was not a single person accompanying him.

He had come here alone, and even concealed his visit from the others.

There was no helping it. Today, Kaiser had come here to stir up trouble.

"Leading the Four Great Families of the History Compilation Committee—Sayanomiya, Seishuuin, Renjou, and Kuhoutsuka—each has its own duty." Kaiser continued to talk to himself, saying, "And the duty of the Kuhoutsuka family is to guard the Western Heavenly Palace of Nikkō Tōshō-gū, right?"

In fact, Kaiser had already sensed the presence of an extremely powerful barrier here.

This barrier had a repelling effect, which is why, despite the endless stream of visitors at Tōshō-gū, this place alone was completely empty. Only Kaiser had intruded in.

"If it were in the past, this barrier might’ve worked on me."

But now, before Kaiser's magical power resistance—far beyond that of ordinary gods and Campiones—this barrier was as good as nonexistent.

Kaiser then stepped forward, walking past the stable toward the vast forest behind it.

This was a transition area leading to both Futarasan Shrine and the interior of Tōshō-gū, not very eye-catching.

Kaiser walked through the forest for over ten minutes and finally arrived before an ancient shrine.

This shrine was just like the previous stable—not very large, nor very splendid—just like those very plain and ordinary shrines often seen along countryside roads. Only the low peach trees growing around it stood out.

Arriving at the front of the shrine, Kaiser immediately saw the sacred ropes strung among the peach trees.

These were ropes made of straw, with white zigzag-shaped paper streamers hanging from them, fluttering in the wind like wind chimes.

Shimenawa mark the boundaries of sacred objects, and may appear on torii gates, sacred trees, near rocks, etc. In ritual ceremonies, even the highest-ranked sumo wrestlers wear belts similar to shimenawa.

(Shimenawa lit. 'enclosing rope' are lengths of laid rice straw or hemp rope used for ritual purification in the Shinto religion.)

Kaiser felt very strong magical power from them, indicating that a powerful barrier had also been set around the shimenawa.

"Is it inside here?"

Kaiser peered toward the interior of the shrine beyond the shimenawa, but could see nothing—only a broken lattice door blocking the way, with total darkness behind it.

"This should be the place."

Just as Kaiser was about to walk in, a large group of people suddenly appeared around him.

"Who are you?!"

A well-dressed young man in a suit, leading the group, blocked Kaiser's path and questioned him.

"People of the Kuhoutsuka family?"

Kaiser was not at all surprised by their appearance.

However, since he had come here alone and secretly, he didn’t plan to reveal his identity or engage in pleasantries with them.

So...

"Shatter..."

A Zanpakutō with a gleaming blade appeared in Kaiser's hand, which he held reversed.

"Kyōka Suigetsu."

At once, centered on Kyōka Suigetsu, the entire world seemed to become a mirrored world, and then suddenly shattered.

The Kuhoutsuka clan members first panicked, then froze.

"Where did that guy go?"

"Gone?"

"Where did he go?!"

"Quick, find him!"

Under the loud command of the leading youth, those who had been blocking the shrine dispersed and began searching the surroundings.

However, Kaiser—their target—had already sheathed his sword and passed through the shimenawa.

The barrier around the shimenawa could not stop him at all. He had easily entered.

And though the Kuhoutsuka clan members were right nearby, each one ignored Kaiser as if they couldn’t see him, letting him pass by as if invisible.

Very quickly, Kaiser opened the shrine’s lattice door, walked into the dark interior, and slowly moved toward the deepest part of the darkness.

"Can’t see anything at all."

Kaiser found it a bit strange.

One should know, Campiones gain night vision after reincarnation. In theory, mere darkness cannot deprive them of their sight. Only darkness caused by Authorities can affect a Campione.

Since Kaiser could see nothing now, it proved that this darkness was not merely the absence of light—it involved mystery.

Walking in such a place, one could lose even the sense of time and be unable to tell how long they had been walking.

But as he walked, Kaiser noticed something unusual.

He realized that he was no longer in the real world, but had entered a different dimension.

Because here, the mind was more important than the body. Kaiser could clearly feel his spirit becoming more active, while his physical senses dulled.

"Sure enough, the path within the Western Heavenly Palace shrine is a corridor between the present world and the Netherworld."

Netherworld, the realm between life and death, the void land between the human world and the realm of gods—Kaiser had arrived here.

"This place must be isolated from the rest of the Netherworld, forming a cage to imprison the god inside."

Kaiser walked through the dark corridor for a very long time until, finally, he saw a square-shaped opening.

Light shone from there, and in the deepest part, there was a dilapidated little house.

The house was uninhabited, looking like a stable. Unlike the previous darkness, there was sunlight here, a refreshing blue sky, and... a monkey.

Yes, a monkey.

Not a sculpture like outside, but a real, living monkey.

It lay in the corner of the stable, on a pile of dry grass. One glance showed it wasn’t a Japanese macaque—its face wasn’t red, its fur was bright, with golden-orange hair that looked majestic.

It was about eighty centimeters long—not large.

However, upon seeing it, Kaiser’s heart began to race, his blood started boiling uncontrollably, his adrenaline automatically surged, and his body instantly entered combat mode.

This was the natural response upon encountering a nemesis.

This was the best proof of encountering a god.

"Oh?"

The monkey god lying on the hay seemed to sense something as well. It immediately stood up and turned its eyes toward Kaiser.

Those eyes were very bright, as if flames were burning within, golden all over, exuding authority without anger.

"What a rare visitor."

The monkey god spoke human language, and its voice, like its eyes, was especially bright.

"To think that a god-slayer would actually visit my palace. I thought it was the miko from a hundred years ago coming back to play."

The monkey god’s demeanor was not exactly friendly, but not hostile either—it didn’t seem at all like it was facing an enemy. It was cheerful and lively.

Looking at this somewhat peculiar god, who looked little different from an ordinary monkey, Kaiser smiled.

A smile devoid of emotion.

"Seems like you're really enjoying being imprisoned, Great Sage."

Kaiser’s tone was also neither friendly nor hostile.

Because the monkey god before him didn’t even qualify as an enemy yet.

"Great Sage? Are you calling me?" The monkey god tilted its head on the haystack, puzzled. "Is that my name? Or my title?"

"Hmm... feels familiar. I guess you are calling me?"

"Too bad, I’m sealed right now. My past name or title, I’ve long forgotten."

"Those who imprisoned me call me Monkey God Lord. I suppose that’s the only name I can go by now?"

The monkey god truly couldn’t remember its former name or title.

It had once been a Heretic God manifesting on Earth, a rebellious god, a hero from the East.

However, many, many years ago, it was sealed by the ancient sages of this country using a great spell formed from their life’s work. From a Heretic God of Steel, it became the Guardian Sword of the Nation.

The magical power gathered from holy grounds across Japan was channeled through that great ritual to become divine power for the Great Deity Tōshō, which bound the Monkey God Lord—causing it to lose its ferocity, its wildness, its divinity, and even its nature, becoming a harmless monkey, raised here.

Whenever dragons or serpents appeared on Earth, its seal would be released, and it would regain its lost ferocity, wildness, and divinity, and, following its instincts as a Steel Hero, would destroy them.

But once those dragons and serpents were eliminated, the great spell would again take effect, and it would obediently return here to continue being sealed.

Now, it had remained here for over a hundred years without leaving, wasting away.

Therefore, the monkey god knew clearly...

"The current me is definitely no Great Sage, but rather Keeper of the Horses, no?"

The name of the great sealing spell that imprisoned it was Keeper of the Horses.

In the past, in the Heavenly Court, it once held this position—responsible for looking after the gods’ horses.

But...

"And now you can so openly and righteously call yourself Keeper of the Horses?"

Kaiser said flatly.

"In the past, you were so humiliated by that position that you rampaged through Heaven, just to prove you were not Keeper of the Horses, but the Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

Hearing this, the monkey god scratched its face.

"Even if you say that, I don’t remember what I used to be like."

It grinned foolishly, laughing without a care.

Watching it like this, Kaiser could finally understand Luo Hao’s feelings a little.

That legendary Monkey King, being kept here like a pet with no wildness or self-awareness, and not even feeling ashamed about it—rather appearing cheerful—would indeed upset many who grew up hearing tales of the Great Sage.

Kaiser included.

"No wonder Sister Cuilian has obsessed over this matter for a full hundred years."

Kaiser ignored the monkey god, as if he had nothing to say to its current self, and muttered to himself.

"Hmm? What do you plan to do?"

Perhaps sensing something, the monkey god asked in surprise.

"Nothing." Kaiser glanced at it and said, "Just planning to wake you up."

"Awaken that unparalleled hero."

"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong."

(End of Chapter)

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