A Multiverse Journey Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

Morax thought to himself.

This was the contract he had made with the people of Liyue. Even if the heavens fell, the contract had to be fulfilled.

His gaze was blazing as he noticed villagers from elsewhere at the foot of the mountain, bringing their own goods to barter. He pondered for a moment and said:

"...Bartering may satisfy each household's needs, but it is inefficient and not fair."

"If there were something that could serve as a general equivalent, trade would surely become more convenient and fair."

"...What do you think, old friend?"

Morax asked Azhdaha beside him.

Azhdaha fell silent for a moment before saying, "...Mm, you're right. I can see that with my eyes."

For a time, neither spoke. Even the passing breeze carried a trace of awkwardness.

Azhdaha felt wronged too. It was merely an elemental lifeform, not a Demon God. It did not have any particular affection for humans.

Only after making a contract with Morax and setting three rules had it developed a desire to protect Morax's people.

But that was all. Asking it to study the laws governing the development of human society or understand human culture in detail was beyond it.

Just as the two were trapped in awkward silence, a gentle female voice suddenly interrupted them, rescuing them both.

"Morax, so you were here."

Her voice was pleasantly surprised, carrying a hint of laughter.

Morax's expression did not change. With his back to the newcomer, he merely said, "...It has been a long time, Dust Demon God!"

"Oh? I call you Morax, yet you call me the Dust Demon God. Don't you think that is far too distant?"

The owner of the voice was rather familiar by nature.

Left with no choice, Morax turned around. His expression was as unmoving as stone as he said, "...It has been a long time, Guizhong!"

Not far away, a group of beasts and birds watched them. Counting carefully, there were more than a dozen of them.

"That woman has gone looking for the Lord again. Every time, she uses the excuse that she has something to ask him about. This immortal thinks that excuse is utterly ridiculous."

Seeing Morax and Guizhong talking, a Crane Immortal spoke up.

Another Crane Immortal beside her asked, "...Oh? What insight does Cloud Retainer have?"

Cloud Retainer spread her wings, her tone leisurely. "...There is a term among humans that could not be more fitting for the Lord right now."

"What term?"

The immortals asked again.

As though she had been waiting for that question, Cloud Retainer raised her beak. "...The Lord is utterly oblivious to romance!"

As soon as she finished speaking, all the birds and beasts took a step back. Seeing this, Cloud Retainer snapped, "...Could it be that this immortal is wrong?"

No, you are right. You are so right. Since you can talk, say more!

The immortals grumbled inwardly.

"Enough. We need only listen and watch when it comes to the Lord's affairs. The Lord sees far ahead and must have his reasons. There is no need for us to make wild guesses!"

"...We should focus on our cultivation and fulfill our contracts with the Lord!"

A deer tried to smooth things over. The immortals heeded its words and let the matter rest.

Within the Great Hakurei Barrier, in a Japanese-style cottage inside a Gap, a beautiful blonde woman with violet eyes suddenly opened them. Her expression turned grave as she called out loudly, "...Ran, are you there?"

The Wise Youkai of Gensokyo

Inside the Japanese-style cottage within the Gap, Yukari Yakumo sensed something. She opened her amethyst eyes, her expression grave, and abruptly sat up from the tatami.

The Great Yokai possessed a breathtaking figure, with a willow-thin waist and captivating curves.

Her golden hair spilled around her, while the thin blanket slid down her smooth, pale skin, revealing glimpses of soft, fair flesh.

Whenever Yukari Yakumo awoke from hibernation in the past, she was always alluring and languid, brimming with tender charm.

But this time, Yukari Yakumo was unusually serious, with a barely noticeable trace of anxiety and panic hidden in the depths of her eyes.

"Lady Yukari!"

Upon hearing Yukari Yakumo's call, an incomparably beautiful girl appeared in the small bedroom. She wore a Daoist robe, an oddly styled hat, and had nine tails.

Judging from her figure alone, one could guess that she was the legendary Nine-tailed Fox.

Yet unlike the seductive Nine-tailed Foxes of legend, this nine-tailed girl possessed less seductiveness and more solemn dignity.

Ran Yakumo had originally been a nine-tailed yokai beast. A thousand years ago, she had been tamed by the Wise Youkai and became her shikigami, receiving the Yakumo surname.

Since then, this Nine-tailed Fox had served the Wise Youkai for a thousand years, never leaving her side.

Ran Yakumo had been cooking in the kitchen when she suddenly heard her master's summons. She swiftly got dressed and hurried into the room where Yukari Yakumo hibernated.

Seeing that Yukari Yakumo, who should not have awakened until spring, had suddenly roused herself during hibernation—

And seeing the severity in her gaze and her dignified, steady bearing, Ran Yakumo felt as though she had once again glimpsed the Wise Youkai from a thousand years ago.

How long had it been since she had seen this side of Lady Yukari?

Thinking carefully, it had probably been over a hundred years.

Ever since the Hakurei Great Barrier had been erected more than a century ago, completely isolating Gensokyo from the outside world, Lady Yukari had seemed to have finished everything she needed to do and had become lazy from then on.

The Wise Youkai who had once stirred the world with her power had completely become the Idle Youkai. Put simply, she had given up.

It was as though Yukari Yakumo already knew she was doomed, so she had given up in advance.

Yet who could have imagined that, more than a hundred years later, she would be able to see Lady Yukari in this state again?

If this continues, Lady Yukari should finally strive to improve herself and stop being useless, right?

What pleased Ran Yakumo was not that Yukari Yakumo had suddenly seen the light.

Rather, ever since Yukari Yakumo had given up, every matter had been handed over to her shikigami.

Not only did she have to complete all sorts of bizarre tasks Yukari assigned her, she also had to take care of Yukari's daily needs. Whenever she had free time, she even had to repair the Great Barrier.

And this had continued without a single day off for a hundred years. She had to remain diligent at all times and could not slack off.

Compared to Ran Yakumo's job, a 996 work schedule was practically a blessing.

Under such working conditions, Ran Yakumo was under far too much pressure. Even her mental state had begun to suffer.

If Lady Yukari could regain the bearing of a sage from those days and help handle some of her work, she would surely weep tears of joy.

"Something major has happened. Ran, come with me!"

As she spoke, Yukari Yakumo rose to her feet, her bare jade-like feet stepping onto the tatami.

Her alluring body spun once in place, and a long purple dress adorned with lotus leaves and lace appeared upon her.

"Lady Yukari, could there be a problem with the Great Barrier?"

Ran Yakumo's expression changed slightly. In her mind, the only thing that could concern Lady Yukari so greatly was the Hakurei Great Barrier.

"Something has entered Gensokyo from beyond the Great Barrier."

Yukari Yakumo gave only a brief answer. At a thought, a Gap opened behind both herself and Ran.

It was a place where boundaries intersected. Cute bows were tied at either end of the spatial rift, but the countless bizarre eyes within the crack filled anyone who looked at them with fear.

Ran Yakumo had long grown accustomed to those eyes.

She was puzzled. Things entering Gensokyo from beyond the Great Barrier were not uncommon.

Whenever the human population in the Human Village declined, Lady Yukari would even carry out Kamikakushi on some people.

But this time, Lady Yukari had mobilized so dramatically. Could the thing that had appeared in Gensokyo from beyond the barrier be some terrifying forgotten human—or yokai?

Though filled with doubts, Ran asked no further questions. She knew she would have her answer in the next moment.

Before being swallowed by the Gap, Ran prepared herself for battle.

As the Gap opened from within the Japanese-style cottage, another Gap opened elsewhere in Gensokyo.

Yukari Yakumo strolled out with her shikigami. Her silk-gloved hand held a Parasol, and her gaze fell upon the grass beneath her feet.

Once she emerged from the Gap, Ran had already made every preparation. She discovered they were not far from the Hakurei Shrine.

Yet after remaining on guard for some time, she found no enemy. Her gaze gradually fell upon the jet-black sheet of paper Lady Yukari had picked up from the grass.

"Lady Yukari, this thing..."

The moment she saw the black paper, the fur on all nine of Ran's tails stood on end, as though she had seen something unimaginably terrifying.

Fear appeared on Ran Yakumo's face, and she instinctively took a step back.

Realizing that her reaction was inappropriate, as though she had abandoned Lady Yukari, she hurriedly steadied herself and returned to her original spot.

"As you can see, Ran... the power contained within this thing is truly terrifying. Even though there is only a trace of it, one can still sense the grandeur of the one who possesses this power."

Yukari Yakumo narrowed her beautiful eyes, her vigilance rising to its peak.

It was precisely because this thing had suddenly appeared in Gensokyo that she had been awakened from hibernation.

"Lady Yukari, what exactly is this? Could it have something to do with the moon..."

Ran Yakumo spoke cautiously, her voice lowering as though speaking too loudly might draw the attention of the owner of that black slip of paper.

"No, you think too highly of those people on the moon. They do not possess such power."

"...If this thing were to suddenly appear on the moon, the entire Lunar Capital would likely fall into panic."

As she said this, Yukari Yakumo suddenly wondered whether she should throw the thing onto the moon.

But in the end, she abandoned the idea. Since this thing had appeared in Gensokyo, perhaps there was some profound meaning she could not understand.

"Then what is it?"

Ran Yakumo asked hesitantly. She had actually roughly recognized the symbol on the black paper, but she did not dare be certain.

"You noticed it too, Ran? This is the symbol of Zoroastrianism, the Faravahar."

"...But strangely, the figure on the Faravahar should be male, while this Faravahar bears the head of a woman."

"This thing has great research value. Let us take it back and study it first."

Ran Yakumo's expression changed drastically upon hearing Yukari Yakumo's words. "...Lady Yukari, this thing is too dangerous."

"Ah, I know. But Ran, perhaps the appearance of this thing is fate—and hope!"

Yukari Yakumo murmured, "...Zoroaster is the Ancient Greek name. More precisely, he should be called Zarathustra!"

Saigō left Darkness Between, emerged from his own palace, and headed toward the arena.

Feedback from the Invitation

The overall geographical setting of Yggdrasills was the World Tree from Norse mythology.

The location of the Great Tomb of Nazarick had once been Helheim, the underworld.

When the game still existed, the Great Tomb had been an instanced dungeon. Through the combined efforts of the members of Ainz Ooal Gown, they had conquered it and made it the guild's base.

The Great Tomb had ten levels in total: the tomb, underground lake, glacier, jungle, magma, wilderness, Royal Suite, and Throne Room.

Aside from the first through third floors, guarded by Shalltear Bloodfallen, and the ninth and tenth floors, which no one except designated NPCs could enter—

Every remaining floor had its own Floor Guardian.

When Saigō arrived on the sixth floor of the Great Tomb, the Floor Guardians were kneeling on the ground.

Meanwhile, Momonga stood with "immense dignity" in the VIP seats of the arena, looking down upon the many heteromorphic monsters.

Of course, Momonga's so-called immense dignity was likely only how those NPCs, now living beings with souls, saw him.

Saigō, who knew Momonga very well, understood that Momonga was actually at a loss right now and had awkwardly frozen in place.

His dignity was just awkwardness!