After leaving the castle, I flew to my mansion. It was destroyed. I found the desiccated corpses of my servants but no trace of their souls. I dug out the mansion along with the grounds, splitting a box of stone underneath the whole lot from the ground. That way the whole lot was considered an object and I stored it.

And no, I couldn't store the whole planet. I tried once. I guess it's either a living entity like the elves theorize, or it is not "unattended". I took an hour to get a few other mansions around. Nobody will miss them, the city was all but ruins.

I went to meet with Nenandil and Cedric's family. Because "Harem Party" wouldn't cut it anymore. They were all married to one another in one happy orgy that never ended. And that was nobody else's business.

I was properly attired as Rosewise when I came out of a tree next to them. Totally unnecessary but it would hide my method of arrival. The new mage of the harem party, Isolde, had a perimeter of light spells around their camp. I could sense her magical energies. I set my wellspring to cover them and Nenandil came to sit on my shoulder.

I heard Cedric, "Rosie, thanks for sending Lady Nenandil to help us evacuate. What happened out there?" The fairy giggled uncontrollably at being called a "Lady".

"The Dungeon Stampede was a criminal act. A cabal of necromancers and demonists attempted to... no, they summoned a Demon Lord. This one could create subordinates that went out and stole the souls of people to engorge their master."

"A WHAT?" Cedric shouted. "A Demon Lord? The same that laid waste to half the Scorched Continent?"

The babies cried. I heard the canvas rustling. I assumed the girls came out of the tents.

"Not the same. They're pretty unique."

Cedric sighed, "Rosie, I'm going to ask. What are you? A {Hero}? Because you have a level one hundred and a fairy on your shoulder, you do stuff that a person your level shouldn't."

I giggled, "Cedric, you are a noble, born and raised. I didn't think you were that naive to ask that. Do you want to know my secrets?"

"I surely damn want? What does it take?" Josie's voice was gradually approaching. "A blood pact? An oath of fealty? Who are you, Rosie?"

I laughed. "Cedric? Do you agree with what your wife said? Are you willing to pay the price of knowing the truth about me?"

"Dammit, Rose," He cursed, annoyed. His answer came after some thought, "I do. All the girls do. That's what? The third time you save our lives? Damn, if you want me to put a collar by now, I think I'll be safer being your slave than the King of Lonid."

I stifled my laughter. The reason I felt like laughing was too sinister. After a deep breath, I recomposed myself. "Cedric, it is better if you don't aspire to be a King. Who I am? The elves call me the 'Old Soul'. In what is now the Scorched continent, I was known as both the 'Death Princess' and 'First Hero'. I was also Queen Alloralla of the elves. Among many others. Today, I'm Rosewise. [Sorceress], [Jeweller], and [Enchanter]. Among other occupations."

Nobody made a noise, processing what I said. Finally, Cedric spoke, "Did you killed the demons in the city?"

"I killed the Royal family. And the archmagister. And all the corrupt wicked knights Lonid had. Today I killed the Duke Regent. A Demon Lord, the third or the fourth, depending on how you count them. Dozens of infiltrator demons. If you want to go back, I think it is safe. Although your parents probably didn't survive. Not many did. Perennenth is a ghost city. Without ghosts, I purified all I could find.

"But if you are true to your offer, I can use a reliable group of people. I was tasked with making the people of Windemere happy. And burdened with the role of {KIng}. You can go back to Perennenth ad rebuild it from the ashes, or you can come with me to Windemere to help me. I'd like to have your help."

I changed my title and level. It displayed like this to anyone who {Appraised} me:

> {Hero King}

>

> Level 101

Josie started to talk but Cedric interrupted her, "I feel I'm losing a great opportunity. But I think we'll stay and help rebuild Lonid. I can't abandon my nation."

"Your secret will be safe with us," Alethea, the "official" wife answered. "If Your Majesty allows."

I waved a dismissive hand, "That's fine. I'm never going to restrict my friends. Nenandil and I are going back to Windemere... wait a second. There's one thing you can do for me."

"Anything," Cedric, Josie, and Alethea said at the same time.

"I'm going to send some settlers from Windemere here with some money and supplies. They are to become citizens of Lonid. Some fifty or maybe eighty thousand, I think. This way you can repopulate your town."

This way I can round up those that don't like my rule and kick them out. I have the nobles' treasures and a ton of valuable junk in storage anyway.

"Isn't that too much?" Someone asked.

And I knew that voice.

I also noticed that everything else around us froze. I couldn't hear the sounds of crickets or the night animals. Not even the wind rustling the leaves and grass.

"Wyxnos. God of Logic," I said. "To what I owe the visit?"

"Why to ask if you know," He said with a vocal shrug.

"Is everyone around us froze in time?"

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"I'm not," Nenandil chirped.

He scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Freezing people in time so we could have a conversation would be extremely expensive. The humans behind you are just suspended. Time flows normally."

Nice to know he didn't say "impossible" regarding time-stopping powers.

"Was this one the third or the fourth?"

"The third. The same one they tried to summon using the Elf Queen," His flat tone couldn't hide that he was annoyed to be near me.

Yeah. I couldn't like these guys. They were too haughty, too stuck up.

"Quite convenient for me to be in town when he was summoned," I snarked.

"Not a coincidence. We worked with several factors to delay their attack so you'd be available."

The core would give Nenandil and I thirty-two Attribute points each. I could probably find a stronger one. Demon Lord cores gave Exp and divinity. I could use the core as a bargaining chip to lift the quest Bundeus gave me. That quest was bullshit. But I had a way to cheese the quest. I just had to lock down Windemere and make sure only people that admired me lived there. Or maybe turn the whole country into a lake where nobody lived except for me. Both approaches worked, along with others. So I chose to keep the quest.

"You know what delights me, Wyxnos."

"Aren't you powerful enough?" He asked. I knew I was stretching his patience, but the cat in me wanted to play with him.

"Not if I keep dying. Or if I keep being manipulated by you guys. I did your dirty work, Bundeus gave me two perks for killing the Demon Lord. It's a bit cheap but hew as a pushover." Funny how my curse of talking about gods did not apply if I was talking to gods of the same pantheon. "You want the core, pay for it. It's only fair. Or we can get Galbarar here and strike a deal that you gods won't interfere with my lives ever again. Like delaying the time for me to reincarnate, or shoving me in the right time and place to get killed by a stray sacrificial dagger, or threatening to strip me of my hard-earned perks."

Because even if he doesn't like me, the God of Truth and Justice won't screw me over. I hope.

"That would require the whole pantheon to agree to, and there's some that I know won't. I won't even try to convince them."

Good to know he didn't deny doing that shit to me.

"Mostly Bundeus and the Dragon Broodmother, right?"

"I'll not say you're right."

"Sure," I grinned.

"Therefore, it brings us back to the reason for my visit. The core."

I laughed. The guy was too stiff! But what should I ask for the core? What do I need? I don't think they can fix my brain to allow me to see. They can't affect me or I'd be exterminated already. There were several things I wanted. A pocket world. The ability to craft things directly in my item box. But I decided to earn some goodwill.

"Okay. Wyxnos, I won't give you the core for free. But I also won't extort you. Talk to Yznera and Galbarar. I trust the Mother to know what is best for me, and Galbarar to be fair with the value of our trade. I'll take whatever they decide to give me."

Wyxnos sighed, "So shall it be. I'll be back tomorrow. Don't eat the core. If you want something to snack on, you have two dragon cores more than twice as powerful than the demon one."

I heard the sounds of the night again.

"Eighty thousand people?" Cedric gasped. "Isn't that too much?"

"I don't think so. The demons did little damage to your rural areas so you'll have a surplus of food. And I told you I'm going to send them along with some money and resources. And if you can talk to your King and negotiate an alliance between Lonid and Windemere, that would clear our debts."

"You'd need to talk to the King yourself. I don't have enough clout to propose such a deal."

----------------------------------------

We camped where we were. People were tired and so was I. I really needed those metabolic Skills back. The next morning, we walked back to the city. It was deserted. The few survivors, mostly people from the slums, the place I cleared first, were looting the abandoned houses. Here and there, plumes of smoke rose where arsonists went wild.

Cedric's home was no different. We caught some thugs loading a wagon with his furniture. The small valuables were long gone, stolen during the night.

We saved the furniture and the really valuable things were taken with them during the evacuation. Unfortunately, they had no guards or servants, but that's one plus of having strong wives that were adventurers too. in that family, only the babies weren't badass.

And I could give them a little hand with that. We entered the mansion and I took everyone to the nursery. If I didn't go overboard, the cost wouldn't be too much. Just a little perk or two for the three babies. I explained what I wanted to do. Karina picked him up in a bear hug.

"You can grant boons? Real perks? Are you some sort of legendary fairy godmother?"

"Something like that," I answered dismissively. No, exactly like that. I kissed the forehead of the three babies and sacrificed twenty thousand SP for each. It was about one percent of my maximum SP.

* Fairy Goddaughter (very rare). You have a protector fairy. You gained +2 Dexterity, +2 Endurance, +2 Mind, +5 Luck. Other fairies will recognize you have this perk.

* Family Shield (rare): If family members with a higher level are within ten meters and willing, all damage and negative effects dealt with you can be split among them. Whenever this Perk is activated, all your Exp share from combat will be split among them too.

* EXP Boost I (uncommon). Gain 25% more Experience.

I explained the perks I granted to them.

"Hey, give me something too," Josie nudged me.

I laughed. "No can do. This ability only works on young people. And what part of me sacrificing my power permanently didn't you hear?"

We spent the day fixing the damage done by the looters to Cedric's house. They poked the walls in search of secret vaults or stashes.

At night, I went to an empty mansion to wait for my visitors. Wyxnos, Galbarar, and Yznera appeared.

"Child. It delights me to see you," Yznera gushed.

"We are grateful for your quick and decisive action, [True Hero]," Galbarar stated politely but with subtle warmth, like the "high expectations Asian father" congratulating you on an A+++.

"We need the core, miss Honorcoin," Wyxnos said.

"Sure. Here it is," I took it out of my storage and set it on a table. "So long you fulfill your part of our bargain," I concluded and took several steps away from the core.

I knew I leeched some energy from them just by being nearby. I could feel it being sent to [REDACTED], I mean Loki.

"Your trust won't be betrayed, [True Hero]," Galbarar stated firmly.

I didn't forget I had a boon for him to call when I went to clear the false legend of the Witch of Tambrillia, the petrified body of Rosalinda. I would go there if I wasn't burdened by Bundeus' stupid quest.

That quest was bullshit!

"Your boon is ready," Yznera said kindly. "Wyxnos, please."

A prompt appeared and I accepted.

* Superior Metabolic Efficiency (very rare): Your need for air, food, water, and sleep are reduced by 80%.

* Instant Storage (ultra-rare): Resources you harvest are immediately sent to your Item Box, including the bodies of your enemies.

* Summon Messenger Bird (very rare): You can use a written message to summon a bird. The bird will fly to a location or search for a person you know in a region you believe they can be found. Once the target is reached, the bird will disappear, leaving the message behind. Small harmless items weighing no more than ten grams can be sent with the message but otherwise, it can only be composed of normal materials used in letters.

I pumped my fists. That was an awesome set of perks!

"I am very grateful. Thank you," I bowed deeply to the trio of Deities. "Before you go, I have a question." I used my daily charge of {Suppress Curse} on {Unspeakable Curses}. "I have a curse, called Divine Siphon (unique). It is the curse that's sending the divine energy to Loki. Should I attempt to remove or cancel it?"

"Please don't," Wyxnos said immediately. "Never remove or cancel it. The results would be worse than sending energy to Loki. Maybe I should give you a minor boon."

* Sense Divinity (rare): You can sense the presence of divine energies and entities that are not hidden in a range of 20 meters.

"That is a dangerous blessing for us," Galbarar warned. "Use it with wisdom, [True Hero]. We'll be watching and may reward or punish accordingly."

The gods vanished, taking the Demon Lord magic core with them.

Tomorrow, the King of Windemere will pay the King of Lonid a visit.