Tour and Inspection
Higashino Makoto stood at the entrance to the small world. Behind him, Ivan the Terrible's massive body emerged from the spatial rift, his feet stomping heavily on the snow.
The snow is still falling, but it's different from the snow in the Russia Lostbelt.
The snow there was icy cold, carrying a sense of despair and an oppressive feeling that seemed to never end.
The snow here is soft; it falls on your face like a feather, and melts in your palm, turning into a drop of cool water.
A breeze blew from afar, carrying a moist scent mixed with the fresh fragrance of some kind of grass and trees.
In the distance, you can see mountains, covered in snow, unlike the sharp, Lostbelt peaks of Lostbelt.
Ivan the Terrible stood in the snow, looked up, and stared blankly at the sky.
The gray-white clouds drifted slowly, and sunlight filtered through the gaps, falling warmly on his face.
His fingers curled slightly, then relaxed.
"Here... there's no biting cold."
His voice was a little hoarse.
"Of course, this world corresponds to the compassion of the Kabbalah Tree of Life, making it a very suitable place for survival."
Higashino Makoto took over and gave a brief introduction.
This is not permafrost; the snow here melts, and the seasons change; it's not an eternal winter.
Ivan the Terrible lowered his head and looked at his hands.
Although the temperature in this world is still below 10 degrees Celsius, it can be considered warm compared to the minus 100 degrees Celsius in the Russia Lostbelt.
"The temperature here is much higher than in the Russia Lostbelt, generally around zero degrees Celsius, and occasionally dropping to minus twenty degrees Celsius. It should be just right for people from your world."
Ivan the Terrible was silent for a moment, then he nodded, but Higashino Makoto could sense that he was in a good mood.
"Yes, it suits you perfectly."
He turned and walked in another direction. Ivan the Terrible followed behind him, his massive body leaving deep footprints in the snow.
They walked for about fifteen minutes, then stopped.
Tiamat stood there in the snow, wearing a white robe, her long blue hair fluttering gently in the wind.
She looked at the two people approaching, her eyes filled with a calmness, like the gentle gaze of a mother looking at her child.
She walked up to Ivan the Terrible and looked up at him.
Ivan the Terrible looked down at her; his body was now several times the size of hers, yet he lowered his head slightly.
"You are Tiamat, Higashino Makoto has mentioned. I am very grateful for what you have done for my people."
"Yes, I'm Tiamat, you can call me Mommy~"
She reached out and gently touched his arm.
Her fingers were small, but the moment they touched his fur, he felt a warmth.
Ivan the Terrible's body trembled slightly.
"What are you doing?"
"I was able to help you adjust your body because Higashino Makoto lent me some of his Authority. Honestly, kids these days don't cherish their bodies at all; they need a good talking to."
"Your body has adapted to the extreme cold, but the environment here is quite different from your world. If you don't adjust, you will feel uncomfortable and may even get sick."
Ivan the Terrible did not struggle.
He stood there, letting the warmth flow through his entire body, and his breathing became more even.
Tiamat withdrew her hand.
"Alright, now you can live here as if you're at home. If you need anything, come to me, Mom, and I'll help you."
Ivan the Terrible lowered his head, his fingers clenching into fists, then relaxing, then clenching again.
"Thanks."
Tiamat shook her head.
"No need to thank me. You are the life forms of this earth, so naturally you are my children. It is only natural for a mother to take care of her children."
Ivan the Terrible turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Higashino Makoto, thank you. I'm very satisfied with this world. I'll take care of Yaga's relocation. If you need any help from me in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
Higashino Makoto nodded indifferently; he didn't think Ivan the Terrible could be of any help to him.
"Good."
Ivan the Terrible was sent back to the Russia Lostbelt by Higashino Makoto. Higashino Makoto watched their retreating figures and remained silent for a moment.
Then he turned around and walked in another direction.
Utaha followed behind him.
"Higashino- kun, what about that princess? What should we do with her?"
Higashino Makoto's steps did not stop; he continued forward.
"He's locked up over there, Ivan the Terrible has already knelt down. I've basically resolved the Lostbelt problem. Let's see what she has to say now."
Utaha didn't ask any more questions.
Higashino Makoto walked through the snow and came to a low building.
The building was small, built of stone, and the roof was covered with a thick layer of snow. Although the princess's spirit foundation had been sealed by him, he still arranged for demons to guard the place.
"Grown ups."
"Hmm, nothing went wrong, right?"
"Of course, please come in."
Higashino Makoto pushed open the door and went inside.
The room was small, with just a bed and a window boarded up, but a few rays of light leaked through the cracks, forming thin beams of light in the darkness.
Anastasia sat on the bed, her hands on her knees, her long, silvery-white hair slightly disheveled, her icy-blue eyes looking at him in the darkness.
Her magic circuits were sealed, and she couldn't move.
But she didn't struggle; she just sat there and watched him.
"You came to kill me?"
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so long ago. Why would I have waited until now?"
"So what do you want to do? Are you going to ravage my body and trample on my dignity?"
Higashino Makoto paused for a moment, then suddenly realized it was a good idea.
To be honest, he hadn't thought about that.
He had only planned to come and take her to see the new world Russia Lostbelt, and see if she would regret it.
But after she said that, he suddenly realized it was indeed a good idea.
The words "princess" and "imprisonment," along with the connotation of corruption, have always been a fitting pairing.
"Since you've put it that way, then I won't stand on ceremony."
He walked towards her.
The princess's eyes widened, like a cat cornered and raising its tail.
She tried to kick backward, but there was a wall behind her, and nowhere to retreat.
The chains jingled on her body, and the power of the Michael rendered her magic circuits unable to function; she no longer had the strength to struggle.
He knelt down in front of her, pinched her chin with his fingers, and lifted her face up.
Silver hair slipped down her shoulders, revealing her pale neck.
Her eyes reddened, but she didn't cry; her lips trembled, but she forced herself not to make a sound.
Higashino Makoto lifted her up from the ground. His movements were neither rough nor gentle.
She was forced to stand on tiptoe, her body trembling slightly.
He thought that the transformation and relocation of the small world could wait, since Ivan the Terrible and the Yaga wouldn't starve anytime soon.
But he was indeed somewhat interested in this stubborn and defiant princess before him.
You'll regret it.
Her voice was soft and trembling.
Higashino Makoto didn't answer; he simply picked her up and carried her out of the cell.
Utaha stood at the doorway, watching this scene. Her dark red eyes swept over the princess's face, which was on the verge of tears, and then over Higashino Makoto's calm face.
She tilted her head slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"Higashino- kun, is there anything I need to prepare?"
"No need, you go about your own business."
"Yes, sir."
Utaha didn't leave, but took a few steps back, leaned against the wall, crossed her arms, and adopted a lazy posture, but her dark red eyes never left her.