Everything proceeded swiftly after that.
First, Offense obtained blueprints of the Imperial Palace through the capital’s assassination guild.
Adwin summoned the spirits of former palace attendants, one by one, and verified whether the blueprints matched the actual layout.
Xenia, sharing sight with Agril, found a route not covered by the guards surveillance.
Lisel, in spirit form, did a trial scouting along that route.
Serein did nothing.
Neril did nothing either.
I asked the two of them,
“Don’t you feel anything about this?”
Neril answered,“This job doesn’t involve hitting, smashing, or breaking things.”
“Spoken like a true Saint of Compulsion.”
“Could you drop the last part? O Sword master of No Killing.”
At that, Serein suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Khhp… Saint of Compulsion.”
“Got something to say, runt?”
“I just thought the last part suited you really well and the first part really didn’t. That’s all. Nope, nothing else to say.”
“You just said it. You’re seriously annoying.”
“Ahaha. If this were the old party, I’d have held back. Definitely like it better here.”
A vein popped on Neril’s forehead.
“Now that I think about it, you don’t have a title, do you? Want me to give you one?”
“…N-No thanks. I already have one.”
“Haven’t heard it.”
“Um, uh… Right. How about ‘God’s Child?”
That didn’t land at all.
In fact, Neril looked inspired by the suggestion and smirked mischievously.
“‘God’s Monster’ sounds better.”
“Eh? Come on, that’s a joke, right?”
“You have got no faith whatsoever, yet you are packed with divine power. You are a moral disaster but act all cutesy.”
“It’s not an act. I am cute.”
“Exactly the contradiction. ‘God’s Monster’ fits. I’ll start calling you that today.”
I stood there with my mouth open.
[Why are you surprised?]
‘Before regression, it was our party that gave Serein her nickname.’
[So?]
‘And the person who first gave it to her was Neril.’
The mood of the conversation might be different now, but still—Neril had been the one who named her.
Funny how, even with all the changes after regression, some things stayed exactly the same.
I said,
“Nice. God’s Monster.”
“That’s not nice! Who’d like a title like that?”
“Everyone but you.”
“That can’t be right!”
“Want us to vote on it?”
Serein nodded confidently, signaling to go ahead.
And that night, our party officially decided on Serein’s new title:
God’s Monster.
By a vote of 6 to 1.
The next night.
Thanks to our party’s full cooperation, we finally stood before the door beneath the Imperial Palace.
As expected, the security was unbelievably tight, but honestly, for our party’s skill level, it might as well have not existed.
The real challenge began now.
Offense wore an uncharacteristically excited expression on his normally plain face and said,
“Mide.”
“Yeah. Let’s see what we can learn.”
Last night, Adwin had even summoned Beyond just for Offense’s sake.
Beyond had marked the location of his wide range search magic circle somewhere in this mysterious space beyond the gate.
I said,
“Of course, for now, we’re just here to see where the circle is.”
“Right. Even Neril wouldn’t be able to activate such a large-scale spell instantly.”
Neril chimed in,
“You sound awfully sure I’ll be helping you.”
“Huh?”
“Pretty sure no one’s asked me formally.”
“Then I’ll ask formally.”
“No.”
Leaving the bickering party behind, I approached the door.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the handle.
“I’m opening it.”
As if by magic, everyone fell silent.
I slowly opened the door.
And we all stepped through it.
Inside was a pure white world.
So bright it could’ve been heaven as described in sacred texts.
No ground or sky—just a vast, white space.
Neril came over and said,
“Good. Looks like we’re all intact.”
“Looks like Lord Grade was right. If not, I would’ve beaten him until death in the afterlife.”
“How do you beat someone who’s already dead?”
“That’s why I said I’d beat him forever.”
I looked around.
Sure enough, there was nothing but this white space.
“Strange. The emperor said there were thousands, even tens of thousands, of gates.”
Xenia asked,
“Which emperor?”
“The current one.”
“He said that?”
Ah. Right. That was from what I saw using the Eye of Omniscience.
I shrugged.
“Just felt like something he’d say.”
“What a weird thing to say.”
“Anyway, if this space is all there is, no one could survive in here. The emperor intended to use Serein’s parents as leverage, so he wouldn’t have wanted them dead.”
“That’s true.”
“That means this space must contain whatever is necessary for survival. But with everything looking so white, it’s just… odd.”
That’s when Lisel spoke up.
“It’s not completely white, though.”
“Huh?”
“There’s stuff floating all around. Over there.”
She pointed.
Sure enough, countless shapes floated in the air—like faint patterns on white wallpaper.
And the moment I saw them, I realized—
“Oh my god…”
“What is it?”
“Those floating things—they’re door handles.”
“Huh?”
“This space isn’t just white. We’re completely surrounded by countless doors. White doors!”
That’s why the whole place looked blank.
These endless doors filling the space…
It had to be tens of thousands.
I approached one and turned the handle.
The others rushed over, peeking over my shoulder.
“What’s in there?”
“Piles of weapons. Looks like an armory.”
“Hm… Ah!”
Xenia suddenly shouted in shock.
“That’s my father’s sword!”
“Huh? Dame’s sword? But last time we—”
“Specifically, it’s the treasured sword he used in the past. It broke during a mission when I was about eleven.”
“…”
“He couldn’t sleep for two days afterward. That’s why I remember it so clearly.”
Dame’s broken sword.
But the sword she pointed at was whole.
Shing.
I drew it. The blade gleamed with razor sharpness, like it had just been forged.
“How is this even possible?”
Offense spoke up.
“Strange place, isn’t it? More importantly…”
“Yeah, yeah. Beyond said twelve steps forward from the entrance, right?”
“Mhm. Then the door to the right.”
We walked exactly as Beyond had instructed.
On the right, another handle floated.
I opened that door, and this time, I was even more stunned.
“What… what is this place…”
If the armory had been strange, this was baffling.
Beyond’s wide range search magic circle was engraved into an endless field.
Literally, an open field filled with grass, bugs, and wildflowers.
Even a cool breeze blew in from within.
This made even less sense.
“Oh! So this is the magic circle. Neril, can you copy it?”
“What would I do with it? I told you, this only works here.”
“I know. I just… it’s a shame.”
“Be glad we even made it this far. Sticking with Mide was the right move, huh?”
“Lately you’ve been complimenting Mide every chance you get. Not that I disagree.”
After partially fulfilling Offense’s wish, we stepped outside.
‘Now comes the hard part… How do we find Serein’s parents in here?’
[…]
‘Why so quiet? This is your cue for “Eye of Omniscience” talk.’
[Hmm. Come with me for a moment.]
Whoosh.
Suddenly, a screen appeared—and it began slowly drifting away from me.
‘Where are we going?’
[Just follow me quietly. I think I know where they are.]
‘Huh? Don’t tell me you’ve been in here before?’
[No. I was too busy beating down Idria to have any connection with a place like this. I can’t explain it myself… but to borrow your usual phrasing, I had a gut feeling.]
I tilted my head but followed Trail anyway.
The others asked,
“Where are you going?”
“I think I know where Serein’s parents are.”
“Huh? How…?”
“By the hero’s mysterious intuition?”
Trail let out a snort of laughter.
[It’s thanks to me, idiot.]
‘That’s why I phrased it that way.’
[…]
‘You’re the oldest hero. So it’s your mysterious insight. Am I wrong?’
He went silent for a moment before replying gently,
[You’re not the only one with good instincts.]
The door Trail led me to opened into… a kitchen.
A kitchen.
…Why is there a kitchen in here?
At this point, maybe it’s better to stop asking questions.
Then we heard the sound of someone noisily eating.
Gulp. “Ahh, I’ve never tasted such delicacies in all my life.”
“Same here. What is this world, seriously?”
“I know, right? No matter how much we eat, the food keeps replenishing.”
“In a place like this, I could live forever.”
Hearing those voices, Serein flinched.
I asked her quietly,
“Are those…?”
“Yes. My parents. For now, at least.”
Step.
Serein approached them.
They were too engrossed in the food to notice her presence.
“Still, we can’t stay here forever. Someday we’ve got to fix Serein.”
“Sniff. What on earth is wrong with that child?”
“You don’t deserve to be called a mother!”
“Gasp.”
“Your happy little days are over. Once I wrap up my business, I’m coming back to deal with you properly. So get ready!”
She stood there, breathing hard through clenched teeth.
Then she turned and walked toward us.
Flinch.
For some reason, the whole party stiffened.
Serein straightened her clothes and smiled brightly.
“Shall we head back?”
We brought Serein’s parents back to the inn.
Given what she said earlier, I’m not even sure if this was a rescue or a kidnapping.
“What should we do with them?”
I pointed to her parents, still unconscious.
Serein frowned and said,
“Just toss them in a well or something.”
“…Offense. I think you should handle this.”
Offense nodded.
“Just need to put them somewhere beyond the emperor’s reach, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then the capital’s assassination guild would be best. No one hides things better than they do.”
Given his reputation, they’d provide top-tier service for a reasonable price.
Serein mumbled before speaking up.
“Thank you. I’m counting on you, Mr. Offense.”
“Oh? You’re talking to me now?”
“I still had a month left on my no-communication sentence, but I decided to deduct it for this incident.”
“Much appreciated.”
Serein gave a faint smile, then stepped back five paces.
Neril asked,
“What are you doing?”
“Backing up until I can see all of you at once.”
“Why?”
“…To say something. Not goodbye, don’t worry.”
She gripped her sleeves tightly.
“I’m really bad at this, so I’ll just say it once. Clean out your ears and listen.”
“…”
“Thank you all. Really.”
“…”
“To be honest, none of you had any reason to help me. I was just someone the emperor had leverage over, you could’ve kicked me out of the party, and that would’ve been the end of it. But you didn’t. You all worked together to help me…”
She paused, then finished quietly,
“Thank you. Truly.”
Serein had always put on a front, but this time, she was doing her best to speak from the heart.
Even her ears flushed red, as if she wasn’t used to expressing herself this way.
I looked at the party.
They all gave me a look: You answer for us.
So I said,
“I’m grateful too.”
“Huh?”
“Thanks for joining our party.”
Serein blinked, dazed.
Then she wiped her face a few times with her hands.
By the time she spoke again, she was back to her usual self.
“Well, I’m a promising investment. Smart investors know to treat their assets well.”
“Glad you understand.”
“Ahem. Anyway… I was planning to do this from the start, but I’ll do my best until we take down the Demon King. Let’s keep working well together.”
“…”
“That’s all! Now I’m hungry, so let’s eat something.”
The party members smiled softly and nodded.
“Looking forward to it, God’s Monster.”
“Pfft. ‘God’s Monster,’ really?”
“You’re the Pheasant’s Apostle, remember?”
“No, I’m not!”
“Am I the only one here with a normal title?”
“Even Offense’s is kinda…”
Serein laughed along with their voices.
It was the most genuine smile I’d ever seen from her—before or after the regression.
So she can smile like that too.
[That’s the power of good leadership.]
‘Yeah. I think you’re right.’
[Try being humble once in a while.]
I chuckled.
Anyway, with Serein’s parents safely secured, there was nothing left holding our party back.
‘Now then, I guess it’s time… to pay the emperor a visit.’
Time to teach him what happens when you mess with a hero.
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