As they rode on their chariots toward the village of Kurohama, the journey was weighed down by an unspoken silence. Joseph, typically lighthearted and talkative, was now withdrawn, his usual demeanor replaced by a somber expression. The weight of their previous encounter in the city of Iwakuni lingered heavily over him. Yoshi and Lyra exchanged glances, both recognizing the pain etched on his face. Joseph had lost something irreplaceable: his XPT—Xentrocurnia Prime Tech Orb.

Unable to bear the tension, Yoshi nudged his horse closer to Joseph’s chariot, hoping to lift his friend's spirits. With a cheerful but careful tone, he broke the silence. "You’re really missing it, huh? If it weren’t for you and your tech, saving both Lyra and me would’ve been a whole different story," Yoshi said, offering a warm smile.

Joseph, however, remained unmoved. His gaze shifted to Yoshi, his expression tinged with sarcasm.

"How about this?" Yoshi continued, undeterred. "What if I made a perfect replica of the XPT for you? I’ve got the tools and the knowledge. Wouldn’t that help?"

For a fleeting moment, Joseph’s face lit up with a spark of hope. But just as quickly, it faded into melancholy. He shook his head. "Even if you could recreate it down to the finest detail, it wouldn’t be the same," he said, his voice soft but resolute.

"The XPT wasn’t just a piece of technology. It was unique. It was... alive in its own way. We shared a bond, one that can’t simply be replicated by external forces," he explained. His words carried an emotional weight that made Yoshi and Lyra fall silent.

Taking a deep breath, Joseph recounted the events of their last battle. "During our fight with the demoness, the XPT knew its energy reserves were running low. It suggested a plan—sending either you or Lyra into the XPT dimension for safety while using its remaining energy to protect the other. But that wasn’t all. It warned me that if I accessed every XPT stored in its dimension, there was a chance I could defeat the demoness... but at a cost."

Joseph’s voice trembled slightly as he continued. "The cost was losing the XPT for good. It gave me a choice, but before I could even make one, it acted on its own to save you both." He clenched his fists, his frustration and grief evident. "It sacrificed itself to ensure your safety. And now it’s gone. Completely gone."

Yoshi remained quiet, allowing his friend a moment to process his emotions.

"If only there was a way to access the XPT dimension again," Joseph murmured. His voice was barely above a whisper, but the longing in his tone was unmistakable. "If I could just reclaim one of the stored XPTs... maybe I could get a part of it back. Maybe it wouldn’t feel so... empty."

The chariot ride continued in silence, the weight of Joseph’s words hanging heavy in the air. Yoshi and Lyra exchanged another glance, this one filled with resolve. They couldn’t let Joseph face this burden alone.

"Hmmm... Is that so? I see now," Yoshi mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as they rode side by side. "I could summon the XPT dimension again, but... that won’t be necessary, Joseph."

Joseph’s eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to Yoshi, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Huh? Why not?" he asked.

Yoshi smiled knowingly and reached into his satchel, pulling out a fragment of the XPT. Its faint blue glow pulsed softly, radiating an otherworldly energy. "Because this should suffice," Yoshi said, holding it up for Joseph to see.

Joseph’s expression shifted from confusion to astonishment. "Wait... you didn’t create this using your aura or magic, did you?" he asked, his voice filled with both hope and disbelief.

Yoshi shook his head. "No, I didn’t. After you sent me into the XPT dimension, I came across a few fragments like this. There were also... other strange things in there—things I can’t even begin to describe." He gave a sly smile, watching as Joseph’s wide eyes betrayed a mix of shock and embarrassment.

"Why do you even have those in there?" Yoshi teased before continuing. "Anyway, I instinctively grabbed one of the fragments, thinking it might come in handy someday. And here we are."

Joseph reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he took the glowing fragment from Yoshi. With a deep breath, he allowed it to absorb into his body, feeling its familiar energy surge within him. His expression softened, gratitude evident as he looked back at Yoshi.

"Thank you," Joseph said sincerely.

Yoshi simply smiled, pleased to see his friend’s usual demeanor returning. "Don’t mention it," he replied.

Joseph, now more at ease, closed his eyes and telepathically connected with his inner XPT. The bond had been restored, and he silently expressed just how much he had missed it. After a moment, he turned back to Yoshi, a renewed determination in his eyes. "Now, about the rulers of the remaining regions," he said, shifting the conversation.

Yoshi chuckled lightly. "Ah, the Joseph we know and love has returned. Very well, I shall explain their titles."

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

But before Yoshi could begin, a traveler riding alongside them, hailing from Kurohama Village, respectfully interrupted. "If I may, Prince Yoshi," he said with a bow. "Allow me the honor of enlightening Sir Joseph on this matter."

Yoshi nodded graciously, and the traveler began to speak. "Since you have already come to appreciate the beauty and governance of the regions under the Funimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom, it is only fitting that I highlight the titles of rulers across the remaining territories."

The traveler continued, his tone warm and engaging. "Titles of rulership vary across the lands, each reflecting the customs and traditions of their respective regions. For example, in our humble village of Kurohama, we address our leader as the Village Chief. However, this is not universal. Other villages may use titles such as Village Head, Village Elder, or, in more modern settlements, Mayor. There are also titles like Sarpanch, Chieftain, Village Leader, Thane, or even Village Lord or Lady, depending on the culture and history of the region."

Joseph listened intently, his curiosity piqued by the variety of titles and their cultural significance. The traveler smiled, pleased to have shared this knowledge. "As you continue your journey, Sir Joseph, you may encounter these different titles and the unique customs they represent."

"Whoa! That’s quite the list of titles," Joseph said with a sheepish smile and a light laugh. "Though I can’t say I’ve encountered all of them myself—most of those honors go to my variants in alternate realities, not me."

The traveler from Kurohama Village nodded and continued. "Other regions, such as towns, have their own unique ruling titles as well. For instance, Mayor, Town Manager, Town Administrator, Burgess, Alderman, Town Master/Mistress, Town Governor, Burgomaster, or even Castellan are commonly used."

"For the prefectures," he added, "titles like Prefect, Governor, Commissioner, Prefectural Mayor, Intendant, Prefectural Lord/Lady, Governor-General, Commissioner-General, Prefectural Chancellor, and Magistrate are among the most notable."

"And lastly, we have the islands, where leaders are recognized by various titles," the traveler continued. "These include Island Governor, Island Administrator, Island Commissioner, Mayor—in island municipalities—President, in island nations, Island Sovereign, Island King/Queen, Lord/Lady of the Isles, Island Governor-General, or Archon."

"Interesting!" Joseph said, clearly impressed.

"Indeed," replied the traveler, "as each title carries great responsibility and commands respect."

Joseph tilted his head slightly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "But how do you come to know all these titles if you’re not a resident of those regions?"

The traveler smiled knowingly. "A brilliant question, Master Joseph. This information is shared by the leaders of each region with their people. Once a year, a grand meeting is held, where all leaders across the Wisteria Forest Kingdom gather to discuss their progress and deliver reports. Through this, every citizen becomes aware of the various ruling titles across the kingdom."

As this conversation unfolded, Lyra, who was riding side by side with Yoshi, engaged him in a quieter discussion. Yoshi, deep in thought, had been contemplating breaking Joseph’s seal further if the situation ever called for it. His concern was ensuring Joseph wasn’t left vulnerable, especially after the demoness had resealed much of his potential. Pouring his thoughts out to Lyra, Yoshi confessed his worries, his voice tinged with both determination and hesitation.

Lyra listened intently, her expression soft but firm. When he was done, she spoke gently, her tone laced with concern. "Yoshi, I understand how much you care for Joseph and why you feel the need to protect him, but you’ve been struggling ever since you first broke his seal. I’ve seen it—it’s been weighing on you."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. "You need to be cautious. I don’t want to see you hurt yourself or lose control trying to help him. Joseph wouldn’t want that either. You have to find balance, Yoshi—help him, yes, but not at the cost of your own well-being."

"I know you’ve been secretly fighting your own inner demons, much like Yoshito," said Lyra, her voice heavy with concern and her expression reflecting the weight of her words. "You must not lose control of the darkness within you. And what if Joseph finds out? It would hurt him deeply to know you’ve been struggling like this while carrying the burden of protecting him."

She paused, her gaze steady as she continued. "I think it’s time you take a step back, Yoshi, and refrain from breaking his seal any further. He’s learned self-control from us and has proven he can fend for himself—even without all his abilities. Besides, Joseph isn’t truly vulnerable. His incredible regeneration and resurrection capabilities ensure that, even if he falls, he’ll rise again."

Lyra’s voice softened, but her conviction remained firm. "We can’t always be there for him, Yoshi. Sometimes, we need to let the other lands or people shoulder his burdens. But what we can do is guide him toward the right paths. Whether he’s destined to be a savior or not, Joseph still has a long journey ahead. And, just like us, the lands and their people will play their roles in shaping his successes and failures."

She placed a reassuring hand on Yoshi’s arm. "In the end, it’s up to Joseph to decide who he truly wants to be—a savior or a destroyer. We can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst." Her words struck a chord within Yoshi, who nodded solemnly, understanding the wisdom in her advice.

After their long journey, the group finally arrived at the village of Kurohama. At first glance, everything seemed to be in perfect order. There were no signs of monster or supernatural attacks, and the village exuded an almost unsettling tranquility. Yoshi’s companions marveled at the harmony they observed—monsters and supernaturals were not only coexisting peacefully with the villagers but were actively assisting them in their daily lives.

"Whoa! Is this the power of the treasure?" Joseph asked in awe, his eyes scanning the scene before him. "It has to be. Everything here is perfectly fine—almost too perfect. The Treasure of Order is no joke! I’d say it rivals the Relic of Servitude, the Relic of Will, the Treasure of Manipulation, and maybe even the Treasure of Probability." He grinned, impressed by the sight of young and old, human and supernatural, working side by side.

"I guess our work here is done," Joseph added, still smiling. "This village doesn’t seem to need our help at all. Honestly, this might be the easiest task we’ve faced so far. If only the remaining regions could be this simple."

But the traveler from Kurohama Village wasn’t convinced. "We haven’t done anything yet!" he said sharply. "Something about this doesn’t feel right—it’s all too good to be true."

"Exactly!" Joseph replied, clicking his tongue and pointing two fingers at the traveler, who rolled his eyes in exasperation.

The group’s suspicions deepened when they discovered that the village chief—the rightful leader—was working as a slave among the villagers. Worse, no one seemed to find this unusual, nor did they react to the group’s presence.

"Okay, now something is definitely wrong," Joseph said, his cheerful demeanor giving way to seriousness. The traveler, visibly distressed, informed them of the chief’s identity and current plight.

"A village chief acting as a slave in his own community? That’s outrageous," Joseph remarked, shaking his head.

Before the group could approach the individual in charge, their path was blocked by a group of warriors. The heavily armed guards made it clear that outsiders were not welcome and demanded they leave the village at once. However, the traveler from Kurohama Village stepped forward confidently, his voice firm as he addressed the warriors, determined to uncover the truth.

The warriors immediately recognized the traveler as one of their own and tried to dismiss his concerns. "Everything has been taken care of," one said sternly. "You can return to your home now, and as for the rest of you—leave the village."

However, tensions escalated when Joseph interjected, his voice cutting through the growing tension. "How can you say everything is fine when your village chief is being treated as a slave in his own community?" he demanded, his sharp gaze fixed on the warriors. His words left them visibly uneasy.

Yoshi, stepping in with his usual diplomacy, managed to keep the situation from boiling over. "We mean no harm. We simply wish to speak with whoever is in charge. Surely that isn’t too much to ask," he reasoned calmly.

Joseph, however, wasn’t as patient. His stance was firm as he stared down the warriors. "We’re not leaving until we know the truth. Is the person in charge a monster? A supernatural? Or is it a traitor among your own people?"

Before the warriors could respond, a voice rang out from the crowd. "That would be me!" A figure emerged, stepping gracefully out from the bustling crowd. The woman carried the Treasure of Order in her grasp, its aura radiating an undeniable authority. She approached with confidence and, upon seeing Yoshi and Lyra, immediately offered them a respectful bow.

The traveler gasped in recognition. "Nana Rie!" he exclaimed.