She pulled the robes tight over her body. Noah did apologise, but it made sense. Built for his muscular body, no one really expected the clothes to fit.

“What a shame he doesn’t have ‘Clothes Creating Magic’ or ‘Clothes Alteration Magic,’” Iris commented.

Frances tried her best to look away. She kept her eyes solely in front. Not anywhere near the naked blonde woman behind.

“And what a shame it is that they decided to arrive before the laundry’s done drying.”

“Indeed. It's amazing that such a person doesn’t have magic for that.”

“Well, maybe not wearing clothes 95% of the time means he never had the need to create magic like that.” Iris chuckled. “You’re done?”

“It feels weird.”

“Trust me, it’ll feel weirder once you actually get rid of it.”

“The Colonel said that his sister didn’t get hurt, so I trust him.”

“Not that. You’re a woman now, so you have to conduct yourself in a certain manner. Alright? I’ll help you if needed. Can’t have you commiting suicide on me now, can I?”

Even then, it still felt unreal. She turned around, and showed off to Iris. Noah’s old clothes were far too large.

“You look good,” Iris commented.

“Hm. Well then, let's go. Noah’s gonna undo the seal.”

Frances sighed. She prepared herself, and walked out. The wet, slippery stone tiles of the bathhouse greeted him. Steam still lingered up to the root, before getting siphoned out to reheat water once again. For a single man project, it was far more efficient than what a normal person could have done.

Right beside her, Iris followed close. As for her, somehow, she made the oversized clothes work.

“Alright, you’re done?” Noah’s back was turned. He spoke as soon as they returned to the great library.

He stared at the seal. The entrance of the library. Thick grey stone, and just beyond that, the world. Noah stood up and approached the stone. He placed his hand on it, and multiple golden circles, filled with inscriptions of an ancient, foreign language floated up. Gold bands overlapped and turned, spinning wildly. In a great boom, the front of the mountain dropped. Cold wind rushed in. The drop in temperature bit her skin, and her hairs stood up.

Noah shouted something, but she couldn’t quite hear it over the wind. He took a step forward first, then just peeked outside. In the distance, the sun waved.

“Oi!” Hye-Sung called.

“Was the seal blocking the signal?”

“Probably. Either way, my protection spell on you triggered, and Haein’s spell led us to a mountain. Are you in there?”

“Noah?” Iris shouted. “I’ll need you to grab a few people from below!”

“How many?”

“Katalina, Hye-Sung, Haein... I think that’s it?”

“How many of you are there?”

“3. Myself included.”

“I take it that the others are my wife and my knight?”

“There are 3,” Frances said. Iris and Noah nodded. The latter jumped out from the mountain side as if he was the main character in an action movie.

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“We didn’t take the Colonel. And Katalina insisted on coming. The Empress and I were never really worried.”

“You have that much faith in Iris?”

“Of course. As a mage, I can assure you that her skills are unparalleled. Though she lacks in formal training and refinement, she makes up for it in sheer talent and mana.”

“Just as a forewarning, a human sized meteor might be heading towards you right now.”

“Is that a threat? Wait, I think I see something. Holy shit.”

“Well? Human sized?”

“Very large and muscular human.”

Frances chuckled and headed away from the cold wind. Stray pages blown back flew by. It maybe took the better part of an hour. Just how long had they been here? But Noah returned, with the guests in tow. Well, not so much guests, so much so as sacks of potatoes judging from how they were carried. Katalina and Haein carried in his arms, while Hye-Sung simply flew up there.

“What kind of women are you hanging out with?” Noah asked as soon as he reapplied the seal.

“And you picked up someone insanely powerful,” Hye-Sung tucked her hair, as if nothing happened.

“I don’t understand...” Haein muttered to herself.

“Katalina, Hye-Sung, Haein. This is Noah,” Frances introduced. “Let's go around the table. Katalina, you first. Question away.”

“What the hell is going on?”

“I’ll explain later. Lady Hye-Sung, you next.”

“Who are you?”

“A demigod. Lady Haein?”

“What happened to my husband?”

“Wife now, and nothing much. My turn. What happened after Iris killed the Head Priest?”

“Loyra’s going back to war. You’re a woman now?” Hye-Sung answered. “Congrats.”

“What?” Haein shouted. “You can’t just do that! Did you already cut it off?”

“Not yet. Don’t worry, we’ll be spending every night together. If not, one of us can always get a male consort.”

Haein shook her head and sighed. Her hand was raised up in the air, as if going for a strike. But she ultimately stopped at the last moment. Did she recall their pact?

“I’d rather die than spend a night with those brutish men. And you have no idea how much trouble you’re creating if you’re seriously planning to go through with this.”

“We’ll talk about it later. I’m sorry, really am.” Frances bowed her head.

“Haa. We’ll need to make a formal announcement, and you’ll have to appear at a lot of social gatherings. If you want to be a lady, you need to attend Countess Purson’s tea party.”

A brief silence enveloped them. Noah, perhaps sensing the atmosphere, gestured towards the bath house.

“I’m sure you all are tired from your travels. Lady Iris and Lady Frances have already taken their turn, so please feel free to use it.”

Hye-Sung nodded and stood up. She touched Katalina and Haein on their shoulders, and may have pulled them up. She shot a questionable glance. They made their way towards the bath, slammed the door shut.

“Well, your wife seems pissed,” Noah commented.

“I would be as well if I were in her position.”

“What do you plan to do from now?”

“I’m more concerned about you. Do you plan to stay here?”

“Probably not. Either I follow you guys, or I’ll just journey around the continent.”

“Well, what do you want to do, Noah? I’m the emperor.”

“Honestly? I just want to die. When I sealed myself here, the collection of books I had was in its infant state. Only when the Lich appeared and made a visit, did it expand to this level.”

“You want to die?”

“Demigods can’t exactly die. And trust me, it's painful. Watching everyone you make bonds with eventually wither away, until only their bones remain... That’s why I locked myself here. Even the Lich himself got vanquished.”

Noah shook his head. He closed his eyes, as if recalling a distant memory. Beyond the doors to the bath, they heard splashing. Were they seriously playing? Well, probably Hye-Sung would.

“And how would you die?” Frances asked.

If she could get Noah on her side. Noah, the latest variable thrown into the game. And not just a small, negligible variable too. Even without the talent of Iris, she knew, or rather, could just tell that Noah was probably the greatest person on the continent.

“We can only die if our parent god dies.”

“How does a god die?”

“I don’t know,” Noah said.

“You kill a god by killing their worshippers. Their strength is proportional to their worshippers,” Iris explained.

“I see. So I just need to kill their worshippers? I was planning on murdering on the gods either way.”

Meanwhile, Noah stayed silent. On his face was a stunned look. And then a doubtful one. With his brows furrowed, he aged at least a decade. Still, for a person who lived for a thousand years, he barely looked older than 40.