The throne room was silent. Every Guardian knelt, heads bowed low. None dared raise their gaze.
I swallowed hard. This… this was too much. Their shapes—abstract, cosmic, monstrous—there was no way I could keep staring at them for long.
Leaning toward Kurumi, I whispered into her ear.
"…Kurumi, tell them to… change. Into their humanoid forms. Like the ones you showed me before."
Kurumi turned with a mischievous smile. "Hehe, nii-san, are you scared?"
"I'm not! It's just… easier on the eyes, that's all."
"Hehehe… fine."
She stood and spoke lightly, her voice echoing through the chamber.
"Ultivates of Ourolith. Reveal your humanlike forms. Stop scaring my brother."
I fought the urge to glare at her. Damn it, she was embarrassing me on purpose.
At once, the abstract bodies shifted. Layered mouths sealed shut, fractured starlight fused whole, and hollow shadows thinned. They reshaped into humanoid figures—still alien, still strange, but far easier to face.
Yes. This was the form Kurumi had once shown me—the finalized designs. At least now, I could recognize them.
Drawing in a deep breath, I steadied myself. "…Alright then…"
My eyes swept across the Guardians. Even in these forms, the pressure from their gazes weighed heavily on me. If anything, their human shapes made them feel more intimidating… because now they looked real.
I braced myself. "…Astraea…"
I froze. My tongue stumbled. What was her full name again? Astraea Cthy… something?
Kurumi sighed softly, then whispered, "Astraea Cthylium Luthiel."
I cleared my throat, trying to cover my embarrassment. "…Astraea Cthylium Luthiel."
A woman robed in gold rose to her feet. She lowered her hood, revealing glowing constellation lines drawn across her hand and neck. Her gaze was sharp, yet filled with reverence.
"Your servant heeds the call of the Absolute Sovereign of Ourolith."
I swallowed again. "…Calyssa reported a strange resonance around the tower—even reaching across the solar system. Since you hold authority over destiny in the constellations, I want your explanation."
Astraea bowed deeply. "As the Sovereign commands, I am indeed the bearer of destiny within the constellations. And according to those threads of fate… Ourolith has been relocated. Not merely moved, but forced. From the land of Biloiro, near the other dungeons, we now stand in a new dimension. This dimension… is silent. None of the other dungeons from before have accompanied us."
My brow furrowed. "…So we were moved here alone?"
"Correct. And forgive me, but I cannot discern the cause. The constellations here are entirely different. The fates here… are foreign."
A new dimension? That means… a world different from the server?
Kurumi turned to me, eyes shining with excitement. "Nii-san, isn't this fascinating?"
I rubbed my temples. Fascinating? To me it felt more like a disaster.
Kurumi raised her voice again. "Then… Lysaris Luctacnis Aetherion, rise."
A tall figure draped in a robe of stars stood with graceful poise. Her eyes reflected the night sky like mirrors.
"I answer your call, Sovereign."
Kurumi nodded. "As the one who commands space itself, you must understand what happened to us. Explain."
Lysaris bowed deeply. "With utmost respect, I beg forgiveness. I cannot return Ourolith to its original dimension. That world… has been erased."
My heart lurched. "Erased?!"
She nodded gravely. "Yes. The original dimension no longer exists. What I can confirm is that Ourolith was not destroyed, but transferred into this dimension before complete annihilation occurred. However… returning is impossible. That place is gone."
I froze. Erased…? Doesn't that mean… the Dungeon Forge server was shut down?
Kurumi's head snapped toward her. "So our original dimension is truly gone?"
"Yes, Sovereign."
I slumped back into the throne. So in the end, the original world—the server—was no more. Ourolith survived, but alone. Just as Astraea had said: she could not read the fates of other dungeons. Which meant… none of them had made it here.
I turned to Astraea, who still stood tall. "…Astraea, then all the other dungeons are gone?"
She lowered her head. "According to the constellations of fate, yes. I cannot find their threads. It is likely… they no longer exist."
I gave a slow nod. As I thought. She could only read what exists within this dimension. If no other dungeons had come, there was nothing to see.
Kurumi nudged my arm gently. "Nii-san, that means… we really are alone in this new world."
I looked at her. "…And you're happy about that?"
She smiled softly. "Of course. This world is now a blank canvas. Isn't that the perfect opportunity?"
I fell silent. Opportunity… or curse?
My gaze drifted back to the Guardians, still kneeling, unwavering in their obedience.
If this world was truly empty… then Ourolith could reign as its sole ruler.
But… what would that even mean?
And why did it feel… as if this was only the beginning?
Ourolith had been relocated… but to where, exactly? With no clear answer, it felt like I was trapped in a waking nightmare.
My gaze fixed on Astraea. "Then explain it to me in detail. Where exactly is Ourolith now, Astraea?"
She bowed, her voice calm yet carrying a soft resonance.
"According to the threads of foreign constellations in this cosmos, Ourolith now resides upon a planet known as Aurethys… or at least that is what the inhabitants of this world call it. Many strands of fate depict humanity's struggle against monsters, demons, and other races. And those threads gradually converge upon humanity's downfall… though the end has not yet arrived, for many branches of fate still remain open."
I fell silent. So this wasn't an empty world… this was another realm, one where humans, monsters, and even demons existed.
Astraea continued, "Yet despite their oppression, humanity has managed to hold one continent as their refuge—Eryndor. Ourolith now stands upon that continent. Though far from any settlement, we rest in the heart of a monster-infested forest. A place humans avoid, for they fear disturbing the fate woven around it."
My eyes wandered across the throne room. So this was to be our new home… Eryndor, on Aurethys. An unfamiliar world, steeped in conflict. If humanity was already cornered, then their enemies must be far stronger than I had imagined.
Kurumi turned toward me, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Nii-san, didn't you once say the throne room could display the outside view?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I installed that feature in Dungeon Forge to relax. Let's give it a try."
Raising my hand, I brushed the air. Transparent runes swirled to life, and the starry ceiling dissolved into a colossal glass-like screen showing the world beyond.
The Guardians stirred in surprise, though none dared to speak.
From the hundredth floor, I gazed out upon a vast green expanse. A forest, stretching endlessly to the horizon, waves of trees rolling like an ocean. Much of it was shrouded in thick clouds.
I moved my hand again, activating penetration view. The clouds parted, revealing a colossal woodland where giant trees rose like pillars, mist curling between their ancient trunks. A wild, untouched land.
Kurumi clasped my hand. "It's beautiful… So this is our new world?"
I muttered under my breath, "So this is… the continent of Eryndor?"
Astraea bowed her head. "Correct, Sovereign."
My eyes lingered on the forest. If something powerful enough had forced Ourolith here, then that meant there was an existence even Astraea could not read through fate. Even Lysaris had only managed to rescue the tower from destruction. Was that entity still watching us now?
I clenched my teeth. If humanity itself was on the brink of extinction, then whatever races they fought against… must be unimaginably dangerous. The question was: could Ourolith withstand them? Or would we become their next target?
"Nii-san." Kurumi nudged my shoulder.
"Hm?"
She smiled faintly, though unease glimmered in her eyes. "So… what will you do next?"
I exhaled slowly. "…For now, the Guardians must return to their respective domains. Stay on guard. Await further orders from me or from DollMaker."
Kurumi arched an eyebrow. "That's all?"
I quickly added, masking my nerves, "And… I want all of you to remain in these humanoid forms whenever you're near me. Don't show me your true forms again."
Kurumi covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Nii-san, you… ah, fine." She smiled, clearly mocking me in her quiet way.
That girl. She definitely knew I couldn't stand looking at their real shapes.
The Guardians lowered their heads in unison.
"As the Absolute Sovereign commands."
Their voices echoed throughout the chamber. The weight of their obedience pressed heavily upon me, yet this time… I forced myself to endure it.
One by one, they rose, turned, and marched out. Their steps rumbled like thunder until the cosmic gates closed behind them. Silence returned.
I leaned back against the throne and closed my eyes. Aurethys… Eryndor… a forest of monsters… and we were alone. This world was no longer a game. Everything here was real. Alive.
Opening my eyes again, I found Kurumi still at my side, smiling in quiet satisfaction.
And I realized—I had to become a leader. Like it or not, every gaze was fixed upon me.