Bright sunlight sprinkled into the back garden.
On the round little tea table were arrayed exquisite pastries.
If paired with pretty maids, it would look just like a tea party hosted by a noble young lady.
“Such a leisurely life.”
I sipped the black tea brewed by Hill, leisurely savoring the fragrant and soft little cakes.
I was perfectly playing the role of the protagonist in this scene.
Two days had already passed since that night.
During this time, I had chosen to treat the Radiant Monastery as a temporary foothold, enjoying the soft beds and delicious food here.
Of course, my identity had naturally been switched to Claire’s distant relative—for those monastery members who were unaware.
As for why I could still stay peacefully in the monastery after Claire and some of her trusted subordinates chose to join my command.
Naturally, it was because they hadn’t yet abandoned their faith in the light for the time being.
They had only signed a soul contract with me, and would switch their faction stance at an appropriate time later.
After all, the Radiant Monastery held considerable influence in the Alwyn Empire.
If the higher-ups suddenly vanished, it would definitely be noticed, and suspicions could cause a lot of trouble.
Moreover, if Claire and the others remained here in their normal capacities, they could continue gathering more manpower for me.
Just thinking about that organization called the “Holy Light Hermetic Order”—which was actually a lolicon association—continuing to expand made me increasingly worried about my future chastity.
But according to Hill, the only charm I had that attracted these people was this one point.
It feels a bit sad.
Though these might just be minor pretexts.
The biggest key was still what a certain main brain conveyed through Hill.
Yes, the most fundamental reason among all this was that Alice, that fellow, didn’t want me to gain such a large force in the early game, so she used hidden intervention methods.
Though I understood it was for the overall considerations of Epoch’s operations, I still couldn’t help wanting to complain.
“This welfare treatment is even stingier than some unscrupulous officials.”
After all, it was like working hard to liver an event for so long, only to have half the rewards deducted upon distribution—anyone would be upset.
“Working hard—meaning gaining a bunch of high-level NPC thugs just by acting cute, rubbing faces, and feeding them.”
“Isn’t that hard? In that kind of environment, it’s practically requiring a newbie to clear a high-difficulty eroge while staying pure.”
“Want to try? I have some loli-oriented ones here.”
“Want… want my ass! How did you come again!”
Only then did I react, looking at the figure that suddenly appeared before me, subconsciously startled.
Alice completely ignored my disdain, picked up a pastry, and popped it into her mouth. “Isn’t it because I heard someone badmouthing me behind my back?”
…
“Hmph, was I wrong?”
I genuinely felt no embarrassment at being caught red-handed.
“So aren’t I here to deliver compensation?” The golden-haired girl shrugged, switching to a very formulaic tone. “Due to a technical error causing inconvenience to you, related compensation mail has been sent as an apology. Would you like to check it?”
Toward Alice’s boring bad taste, I couldn’t help rolling my eyes.
Of course, what should be claimed still needed to be claimed. “One-click receive, one-click delete.”
But before I finished speaking, a box came smashing down toward my head, startling me into quickly catching it. “Are you trying to murder me…”
While complaining, I also curiously opened it, discovering several rolls of blueprints inside.
Besides the graveyard building blueprint that could revive leader-level or higher monsters, there were also twenty random monster lair blueprints (levels 10-30).
Though this largely resolved the current issue of my subordinates’ monsters lacking combat power, but…
“Isn’t this too stingy? At least give a few selectable ones!” This is like a normal pool with no guaranteed pity— what’s the use of sending a ten-pull?
“You already called me an unscrupulous official.”
Yet the other side seemed perfectly justified.
But though she said that, Alice still reached out and changed five of the blueprints to selectable ones.
This salvaged a certain someone’s little notebook where a mark was about to be added.
“Speaking of which, isn’t that situation a bit strange?” After putting away the blueprints, I thought for a moment and couldn’t help asking.
I was referring to Claire and the others’ situation.
So many high-level NPCs suddenly defecting— no matter how you looked at it, it seemed unnatural.
Even using the lolicon reason didn’t quite hold up.
After all, such a large force definitely involved a lot of data— how could a simple reason like that trigger a chain reaction?
What I didn’t expect was that Alice’s answer actually pointed me to the key lying in those words from before.
“I never thought your theory about the holy light’s true heart would involve so many emotional modules.”
Alice rarely showed a serious expression. “Though to simulate reality, I specially increased the scope of the faith data modules a bit, but to achieve this extent also means it perfectly matched the main data fluctuations.”
…In simple terms, your theory closely aligns with the thought patterns I set for them.” Seeing my bewildered face, Alice couldn’t help twitching her eye corner. “If you don’t mind, can I integrate this theory into Epoch’s faith module?”
Since it’s directly copied from you anyway, I thought silently.
I had no particular thoughts about her request. “Do whatever you want.”
“As expected, choosing you as the Demon King was correct.”
Alice sighed emotionally, casting a meaningful gaze over. “Honestly, to create such a systematic theory— you wouldn’t happen to moonlight as a saintess for some organization, right?”
I let out a dry laugh. “I just read some books to make the disguise more thorough. I don’t have your kind of bad taste…”
“Tch, this young lady’s psychological modules are very green and healthy.”
“Stuffing a bunch of lolicons into the holy light faith isn’t bad taste? And someone with 100.5TB of mosaics in their brain has no right to say that.”
“In a colorful and diverse world, there will always be all kinds of people—that’s what makes it realistic, right?” Alice showed no shame at all, casually adding, “And correction: it’s 101TB now.”
“I said there’s nothing to be proud of there.” I couldn’t help retorting. “Damn, feels like staying too long with a humanoid spray painter model R255-G255-B0 like you—my thoughts are starting to get colorful.”
“That’s just your true nature exposed, you perverted loli.”
Elegantly finishing the last sip of black tea, Alice also stood up from her seat and stretched. “Alright, I should head back to work. By the way, reminder: if you keep slacking like this, be careful or you’ll become part of that 101TB.”
“Pah, I’m working very seriously. At the very least, I can hold out until 500TB.”
“Just you wait—I’ll go draw it tomorrow.”
“Mouth off.”
Watching that golden, graceful figure disappear, I couldn’t help pouting.
But what she said was indeed true—if I kept idling like this, the players’ development speed might soon surpass mine.
At least I needed to arrange the current tasks properly first.
As if sensing my thoughts, the surrounding air suddenly transmitted a familiar change.
I reacted. “You’re back already, Hill? Did things go well?”
Unexpectedly, the ever-reliable Hill shook her head.
This made me put down my black tea. “What happened?”
“Your Highness, the fire resistance potions on the market are all far above normal prices right now. If we acquire those potion formulas as per Your Highness’s requirements, it will severely exceed the budget.”
“How could this be?” I frowned.
Though I knew clearing Black Prison Forest quickly had caused these items to boom, the effectiveness of fire resistance potions couldn’t compare to redstone potions, and their applicability was too narrow—normally, prices shouldn’t go that high.
I had considered this point, which was why I felt safe sending Hill to acquire them, yet unexpectedly, this result occurred.
“Subordinate guesses it might be due to the Barenna Underground Fortress opening in a few days.” Hill paused, reminding, “Some adventurers inferred from library books that the fortress likely has high fire attribute damage, causing most fire resistance potions on the market to double in price or more.”
The Barenna Underground Fortress Hill mentioned was a famous instance in the Alwyn Empire from my previous life.
It was famous because the equipment sets it dropped were all minor top-tier in the early game, with a clear difference from ordinary silver gear.
Besides equipment, the materials spawned inside were plentiful, and most were essential for rare potions.
If clearing other instances only affected guild face, then progress in Barenna Underground Fortress directly determined a guild’s elite members’ current combat power.
In the eyes of major guild leaders, its importance went without saying—and for me, who had experienced it in my previous life, even more so.
That’s why I had laid out plans long ago.
Yet unexpectedly, this plan hit a snag at this relatively key link.
“Examining parties have already appeared this quickly.”
I frowned.
In my previous life, the book materials in the library only gained attention at least a few months later.
Could this be the butterfly effect from my rebirth?
A bit tricky.
Though clearing Barenna Underground Fortress required special fire resistance potions, this situation had severely disrupted my plans.
But thinking carefully… In the early game, finding related background materials should be rare, with insufficient evidence to support it— it might easily collapse.
My eyes darted around, faintly thinking of a good idea.
I leaned close to Hill’s ear.
“Hill, do it like this. For the plot aspect, just have Kashalia think simply about it.”
“For such an important matter, Your Highness doesn’t plan to handle it personally?”
Hill’s gray pupils showed hesitation.
“This is because I trust Hill.” I stood up, stretched, and smiled faintly. “Besides, I have something more important to handle.”
…