Chapter 10: One Direction

[The war results are being briefed.]  

[Out of 138 invaders, 130 have been killed. Eight have been captured alive.]  

[Out of 80 hunters residing in the Second City, 39 have died, and 27 are seriously injured.]  

[Out of 351 Tinyfolk residing in the Second City, 150 have died, and 79 are seriously injured.]  

[30% of the Second City’s buildings and 12% of its farmlands have been burned.]  

The counterattack against the invaders was successful.  

However, the losses were great.  

“How long will it take to recover?”  

[It is estimated to take around three years.]  

“Is that so?”  

I rubbed my eyes.  

The death of nearly 150 Tinyfolk.  

This tragedy would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Tinyfolk’s happiness in the future.  

“I’ve been careful, thinking that a drop in happiness would lead to ruin.”  

Who could have predicted such an unforeseen event?  

If I had known about the other dimension in advance, could this have been prevented?  

If I had considered a broader range of risks and managed them accordingly.  

I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh at the endless chain of “what-ifs.”  

“Have I changed a bit?”  

I used to be someone who wouldn’t hesitate to lay off dozens of employees.  

Back then, I believed the company’s growth slowing down was a bigger issue than the livelihoods of those who were let go.  

But now.  

I found myself thinking not only about the lives lost but also about the emotions of those left behind.  

This change felt unfamiliar, yet not entirely bad.  

I would succeed in a way different from my past self.  

This was proof that I was upholding that value.  

“Apostle.”  

You called for me.  

“Are you in the Tinyfolk Village right now?”  

Yes, but is something wrong?

“The Second City has been attacked.”  

I relayed the news of the Second City to the Apostle, who hadn’t yet received the information.  

The Apostle, grasping the full situation, let out a heavy sigh.  

I’m sorry. If we had responded better… 

“No. This isn’t anyone’s fault. If we must point fingers, it’s mine for not foreseeing this.”  

I’m sorry.  

“Enough with the apologies. It’s time to discuss what comes next.”  

Sadness is sadness.  

But moving forward requires continuing to walk.  

“Can you head to the Second City immediately? They need someone to hold them together.”  

I’ll prepare right away. 

It would take half a year to get there, but the Apostle began packing without complaint.  

I admired their dedication to following my will.  

Still, having the Apostle absent for half a year is a big deal.  

“System, didn’t you say the Apostle can use blessings or miracles?”  

[That is correct.]  

[The blessings and miracles available depend on the Apostle’s level of devotion.]  

“What blessings or miracles can the Apostle use at their current level? Or rather, is there an ability to send them to the Second City?”  

[Miracle: To Your Embrace (Lv. 1) is available.]  

[This miracle allows the Apostle to travel to a place where believers in the Dimension’s Master reside.]  

As long as there are those who believe in me, they can go anywhere.  

‘That’s a pretty powerful miracle.’  

With this, the Apostle might be able to manage multiple cities alone.  

I’ve finished preparing.  

“Oh, Apostle. I’ll grant you the authority to use my miracle.”  

A faint light enveloped the Apostle’s body, and their eyes widened in awe.  

Then, they bowed deeply, offering a prayer to the heavens.  

O Dimension’s Master, I am honored to wield your miracle.  

“Good. Let’s go.”  

The Apostle knelt and prayed.  

As their prayer reached the heavens, a massive pillar of light enveloped their body.  

The pillar of light that drew the Apostle in descended upon the Second City as well, and the Apostle, who had been in the Tinyfolk Village, appeared there.  

The Tinyfolk, who had been in despair without knowing why, rejoiced and bowed at the Apostle’s arrival.  

The Apostle comforted them, gently soothing their pain.  

I’m not good at that kind of thing, so it’s fortunate the Apostle handles it well.  

“Apostle, we will hold a funeral. Prepare immediately.”  

Understood. 

A typical funeral was impossible.  

There wasn’t enough space or manpower to bury the bodies, and leaving them unattended until they could be processed wasn’t an option either.  

Thus, the only choice was cremation.  

The bodies and belongings of the departed were gathered in the center of the Second City’s square, and the Apostle lit the fire.  

The Tinyfolk watching the bodies burn rapidly had tears welling in their eyes.  

I watched the scene calmly before calling the Apostle.  

“Apostle, from now on, convey my words to all the Tinyfolk.”  

Understood.  

The Apostle stepped forward, leaving the fire behind.  

Standing where all the Tinyfolk could see, they began relaying my words exactly.  

“Today, we have buried many families in our hearts and in the earth.”  

“You did not know they would leave so senselessly, nor did I.”  

“But do not grieve too deeply.”  

“Though they have left your side, they are not entirely gone.”  

“As long as you remember them, they will continue to breathe beside you.”  

“So remember this day and keep living.”  

“For the Tinyfolk.”  

As my words ended, the Tinyfolk bowed their heads.  

I don’t know how much my words comforted their hearts.  

But I hope they can overcome this and move forward.  

For their happiness.  

[Eureka!]  

[By meeting specific conditions, Classical Theology Technology is imparted for free.]  

[Two additional Apostles have been selected.]  

[Apostles can use blessings and miracles for free once.]  

[Additional blessings and miracles are now available to Apostles.]  

[The added blessings and miracles are as follows:]  

[Blessing: Unyielding Will (Lv. 1)]  

[Miracle: Dimensional Passage Opening (Lv. 1)]  

The system displayed messages one after another.  

It was a lot to take in.  

In summary, the Apostle-related abilities had been significantly enhanced.  

Upon checking through dimensional observation, I saw one new Apostle in the Tinyfolk Village and one in the Second City.  

The consciousness of the two new Apostles immediately connected with me.  

“You are the new Apostles.”  

Eek! 

I-I greet the Dimension’s Master.  

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.”  

I didn’t immediately know how to utilize the increased number of Apostles.  

But as the saying goes, having more special units is always a good thing.  

“Apostle, I mean my first Apostle.”  

Speak, my lord. 

“You, and those who inherit the role of Apostle from you, will all be called the First Apostle.”  

I obey.  

“And the other Apostles will perform their duties under the First Apostle.”  

I follow the Dimension’s Master’s command. 

A system for managing Apostles centered around the First Apostle.  

Establishing this system would make it easier to manage Apostles as their numbers grow in the future.  

“And the new Apostles should learn much from the First Apostle and focus on advancing the Tinyfolk.”  

We obey your command. 

With that, I assigned tasks to the two new Apostles.  

What remained was the issue of the First Apostle and the Second City.  

“First Apostle, for now, stay in the Second City and handle the aftermath.”  

Understood.  

“Focus on restoring the damaged facilities and normalizing the city as much as possible.”  

I will keep it in mind.  

“And there’s one more task.”  

Is it regarding the captured species? 

“Yes.”  

The existence of another dimension besides the Tinyfolk’s?  

Understood.  

And the fact that they tried to destroy us?  

I understand that too.  

“Find out everything about them. Where they came from, what their dimension is like, how many of them there are, and their purpose for coming here.”  

I will uncover everything, including their families.   

“Good.”  

Even when I was let go from Spectrum, I never forgot.  

I kept the memory alive, sharpening the blade of revenge.  

For those who killed my precious Tinyfolk, I will make them pay this debt.  

***  

Restoring the Second City took longer than expected.  

Three days in real-world time.  

Fifteen years in that dimension’s time.  

The absurd reason for this delay was food.  

“Who would’ve thought the most critical warehouse would burn down?”  

I don’t know if the invaders did it strategically or intentionally.  

What matters is that all the stored wheat was destroyed, and it took far too long to recover the lost Tinyfolk population and happiness.  

“It still pisses me off thinking about it.”  

As soon as the investigation into that dimension is complete, I’ll crush it. Oh, right.  

I’ve already started preparing for that.  

“System, how are the bronze technology and casting technology I imparted?”  

[Both Ancient Bronze Technology and Ancient Casting Technology have been fully mastered by the Tinyfolk.]  

“Good. Then they’ll gradually start replacing their tools?”  

[It will take considerable time for polished stone tools to be replaced with iron tools.]  

“Why is that?”  

[There is a shortage of relevant resources near the Tinyfolk cities.]  

“Oh!”  

Because I focused on growth, I arbitrarily excluded areas near mines.  

“I’ll have to plan for the third city to grow with steel in mind.”  

To do that, I’d need to build roads and expand transportation methods.  

The road ahead is long.  

“What about the warrior and hunter training camps?”  

[Both training camps have been established in the Tinyfolk Village, with 30 soldiers currently undergoing military training.]  

[In the Second City, only a hunter training camp has been established, with 50 hunters currently undergoing military training.]  

Warriors are practically useless in peacetime.  

At best, they handle public safety.  

But to prepare for future wars, I boldly began investing in them.  

The numbers are small for now, but they’ll grow stronger over time.  

“With walls going up, it’s starting to feel like a nation.”  

Come to think of it, I haven’t named this dimension.  

Nor the Tinyfolk’s cities.  

“Hmm, System.”  

[Is there something you need?]  

“I’m thinking of naming the dimension One Direction. What do you think?”  

I learned that this isn’t the only dimension.  

I also realized we might encounter and even oppose beings from other dimensions.  

And I concluded that absorbing those dimensions is possible.  

This conclusion sparked a certain ambition.  

“Our dimension will become the center of all dimensions.”  

All roads lead to Rome.  

Like that saying.  

All paths will lead to the Tinyfolk’s dimension, One Direction.  

And the Tinyfolk’s nation will be their center. Their core.  

[Would you like to name this dimension One Direction and the Tinyfolk’s nation Core?]  

“No objections, huh? Fine.”  

[The dimension’s name has been set.]  

[The dimension’s nature has been confirmed.]  

[The Tinyfolk recognize their world as ‘One Direction.’]  

[The Tinyfolk’s nation, ‘Core,’ has been declared.]  

[A founding day has been designated.]  

[The Golden Age has begun.]  

A Golden Age just for naming the world?  

“The Golden Age doesn’t seem like much.”  

Still.  

“System, during a Golden Age, the cost of imparting technology is halved, right?”  

[That is correct.]  

“Then prepare to impart technology right now. Sort out the most useful technologies.”  

Through this Golden Age, the Tinyfolk will advance even further.