“No, Nil, you can’t do that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you can’t throw that card down.”

“We’ve been at it for hours now, Asagao.”

“Did we really had the same body for twenty years?”

“Now that’s just cruel of you.”

“I just thought of this recently, you were the one acting as an antagonist but why do I feel like I have sharper tongue than you.”

“In a way, you are rubbing more salt on my wounds than you think.”

“If we reversed our situation, what do you think will happen?”

“Humoring with you, you’d be killing me verbally.”

Nil and I are currently in my room, playing cards and messing with each other. I don’t how long we’ve been at it but it’s to say that I am getting full attention from him.

Why am I bonding with him like this?

There are a lot of things to say, there are a lot of things I want to make the best out of it but, if there’s one answer I can give, it’s because…

“Hey, Asagao, you have that kind of face again.”

“Did I?”

“Focus on me.”

“What are you, a kid? Lately, you’ve been having a staring contest with Fonfon and even started trying to go for each other’s throat.”

“Yeah, since he is still pissed that you are paying attention to me lately.”

“…Nil, I…”

“Stop, Asagao. You are only making this harder for me.”

Yeah…

I nodded to Nil’s words.

It was not Nil who wanted to be here, he has no reason to be here. In the first place, Nil and the Order of Arcana lost their purpose as we defeated the devils. But, right now, Nil said that he doesn’t have any leash on the Order of Arcana anymore and they will do as they please.

It was Nil’s last attachment to them. Whether they want to walk down the path with him in the same fate or they will walk into a different path with different goals.

Two of the Arcana Sins are dead.

I don’t know about the other one but the Arcana of Gluttony, Flow, was defeated by Higan, however, he was killed by Hasu and Ichirou. His goal was probably to fight an opponent and enrich their power in the process, like leaving their legacy behind even though they are the one who acted as the antagonist of the story.

Now, disregarding Miss Hydrangea, the remaining four will execute their objectives, knowing that this world’s destruction has come to an impasse.

KNOCK

KNOCK

“Hah?! Who the fuck disturbs my quality time with Asagao?!”

“It.Is.Me.”

The door slowly opens and there, revealed Miss Hydrangea’s face as she slowly peeks in. Nil, who blurted those words, is now profusely sweating with a pale countenance.

She slowly walks towards us with silent strides but for us, the silence is so loud.

“H-Hy…want to play cards?”

“Shit head.”

A short and brief exchange of words proved to be meaningful in a lot of ways. I never get tired of this scene but I don’t want to gawk at it like any sane person would.

Nil cannot oppose Miss Hydrangea…

Why is that, I wonder?

Miss Hydrangea turn towards me and smiled faintly. It seems she is softer on girls.

“Asagao, I got the files that you are asking for.”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Oh? Did you receive it firsthand?”

“Yes, without Violetta noticing it, of course. Else, there would be another alteration.”

“I knew it…”

Ever since the Center Continent Project, I Priscilla periodically sends me about the status of the progress such as the daily and weekly budget allocation for each establishment, infrastructures necessary for the city such as the walls and streets and the paved road towards the outland.

I also proposed to have harbors appropriate in receiving shipments and resources so that’s why we first prioritized the creation of Naval Bases and dockyards.

But since my request is too tall for the time being, they use manual laborers such as dragons. The undead workers were a big leap but they can’t do everything by themselves.

So far, we’ve already had the base of the city, the Council Hall that was made in advance to hold the Congregation and according to the report, they have already built the residential area with modern architecture from our world as the base.

Since we are building a new city from the scratch, we can’t expect to have businesses opening there yet so food supplies are still being brought in. That’s why we need cooperation from all Kingdoms.

To be honest, it’s progressing well.

I had Miss Hydrangea personally deliver some drafts to Priscilla and my proposals are received rather well but they are to be executed in due time.

Nil helped me in taking these drafts into reality by giving me insights and ideas as to how a city should work.

However, this is the catch right now…

“It is as I thought. The interval where the Elven Kingdom and the Dwarven Kingdom send trades for the establishment of the Center Continent slowly declines.”

“You are quite perceptive now, Asagao.”

“I did find it weird that their trades for the past days are so mechanical. There’s not much fluctuation between days that they deliver their resources.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

“The total marginal error of their declaration of trade doesn’t change much, it so consistent that it feels unreal. It’s like there’s no high or low upkeep disturbing their traffic of deliverance. Even the Beast Kingdom who is closer than the sea has their hard times of gathering enough food to trade. I know that Priscilla is handling the monetary problem through Violetta as the proxy since she is holding onto my inheritance from master.”

And by which, I mean that they should be having a lot more problems as they’ve been pulling resources for themselves. The damages from the devil’s attack should do a little bit to them.

The numbers now that showing up in the files that I hold shows how their trades with the center continent declined up to eighty percent.

The only idea that comes to my mind is…

“Do you not want to ask us, Asagao?”

Nil and Hydrangea were watching me contemplate.

It was a sudden suggestion that came from Nil. I am well aware that they are already watching the whole situation with a much bigger picture. But that is in itself would be pointless for me.

If I get the answer from them without confronting the person responsible, I won’t be going anywhere.

“Nah, I’m going to have a talk with Violetta about this. Her and Fonfon, they must be hiding something from me and they knew something is happening between the Elf and the Dwarf.”

“Ah, so brave!~ She’ll crack if you pressure her about the library.”

“That’s…an evil hint, huh.”

“Take it as granted from an omnipotent NPC.”

“You mean the type that appears from time to time, bringing the protagonist information and wares to sell? Are you like that?”

“Funny, right?”

I can take so many jokes but this one definitely deserved to be looked down.

“Lord Nil, such a suckass joke. My future-sister-in-law feels bothered.”

“Future-sister-in-law?!”

“What’s wrong with that? I’m going to marry Ashfon whether he wants it or not. Don’t worry for I’ll at least leave his hands alone when I beat him up to submission.”

“Please don’t break anything from the start.”

That’s scary.

I’ve seen how Fonfon and Alstroe faced each other toe-to-toe. Unlike me, those two who are at the pinnacle of their strength doesn’t have hyper regeneration like me. They have to recover themselves through natural means.

Anyway, I have to do something about this.

“I’ll head to Violetta immediately. Nil, come with me.”

“Why do I have to go to that dusty place?”

“For…threatening?”

“Count on me!!~”

He happily answered but now I’m worried.

Nil and I immediately head out and storm off from the room leaving a speechless Hydrangea. It’s no worry since she’ll appear everywhere like a mushroom.

No, that’s not right.

Who in their right mind would think such a beautiful girl as a mushroom?!

Since we are already on the second floor, walking towards the hallway where Violetta’s library is located was a little fast as we already found ourselves in front of her door.

I slowly open the door and enter together with Nil. We immediately spotted Violetta but…

In front of Violetta stand Fang and Mimi. It seems they are talking about something so Nil and I walk closer. However I see it, Fang’s human form is the definition of a handsome guy, like Ichirou.

Violetta’s hand glows and she hovers it on Mimi’s belly or rather…the womb part? That’s how I picture it.

“How is it?”

“Yes, the experiment was a success and you are safe. There are no abnormalities or rather, the birth control did its job.”

“Thank goodness.”

Huh?

Birth control?

The last time I saw Mimi was three days ago when Nil tried to charm her. After that, I heard from Violetta that Mimi participated in an experiment she started with Mimosa.

It’s been three days since then so now I’m a little surprised that Mimi is here now. That only means that the experiment was over.

Mimi then started a casual conversation with Fang within our earshot. I don’t if she is aware that we are watching close by or not.

“Aren’t you relieved too?”

“……”

“Well, let’s do this again some time. It was quite fun!”

“Are you serious…? You wrung me dry for two consecutive days. I thought I was going to die.”

“Ehehehe, but that kind of bond between us, I don’t hate it. You were quite a brute yourself, you know that. Taking the initiative and doing me thoroughly.”

“I swear, it was the influence of the drug. Well, whatever. Please send me back now.”

Since we don’t have any intention of becoming eavesdropper, Nil and I walk closer to them and Mimi together with Violetta and Fang notices us.

I’m quite…intrigue of what experiment these two has undergone…

I feel like they are talking about something lewd…

“Hey there, Mimi, Topaz is worried about you, you know?”

“Ah, oh yes. Also, it’s been a while huh, Master.”

“…Who are you?!”

What the fuck?!

Mimi isn’t like this!

The Mimi I know doesn’t exude such feminine aura and her smile before are more like a smile of a trickster. The smile that she has on her lips right now comes from a real girl!

If I describe the Mimi that I know, she is a walking disaster pretending to be a girl. Her poor acting skill kills any charm that she has and although she has the appearance for a cutesy act, the presence she exudes is like of a behemoth that she is and she seems so dense about that matter.

So, who, the girl in front of me with a genuine blooming smile and authentic feminine charm, in front of me?!

“Eh? That’s mean of you, master. Can’t you recognize me?”

“Mimi does talk like that but not this kind of…”

“…?”

Wait…

She has undergone an experiment…

I sharply turned my head towards Violetta for the answer.

“What in the world happened, Violetta?!”

“Hmm? That’s something I am not going to answer easily, you know?”

“But I mean…! Look at her!”

She is brimming with confidence! Mimi is shining with a new light around her and I can’t even describe why!

Violetta sprouts an evil grin.

“What’s the matter? I mean, Mimi just affixed her gender.”

“What does that mean?”

“Mimi can’t shift genders anymore, you see.”

Hey, I’m really confused right now. I came to ask Violetta about the huge discrepancies in the reports from the Center Continent Project but this looks like needed some attention too.