"Where am I…?"
Mike's voice echoed into nothingness.
He floated in endless space, naked, weightless. No ground. No sky. No heat. No cold.
For a moment, he thought he was dead.
But this place was not hell.
It was something else—an unknown realm he had never seen before.
"…Am I dead?" he whispered.
Suddenly, a mechanical sound echoed.
SYSTEM
[YOU ARE NEITHER ALIVE NOR DEAD]
[TO LEAVE THIS SPACE, YOU MUST SACRIFICE A SKILL OR A STATUS]
Mike clenched his fists.
"…Then take this."
He reduced the limit placed on his future bonds.
SYSTEM
[REAL WIVES: 0 / 50]
[LOADING...]
The space shattered like glass.
Mike slowly opened his eyes.
A familiar scent greeted him.
He was lying on a bed, his head resting on something warm and soft. When his vision cleared, he saw Lila's face above him. She was watching him closely, relief written all over her expression.
Their eyes met.
She smiled gently.
"I'm happy… you're alive."
Mike exhaled slowly. For the first time, he felt truly safe. He sat up carefully.
Lila spoke again.
"Everyone is waiting for you, Mike."
They were inside his house.
Mike stood up, picked up a spade leaning against the wall, and walked outside with Lila beside him.
The moment he stepped out, he froze.
A massive crowd stood before him. Demons, villagers, workers—all gathered.
The silence broke instantly.
"MIKE!!!"
"OUR BOSS!!!"
The sound exploded like a wave.
Mike raised the spade slightly, and the cheers grew even louder.
Lila stepped forward gracefully and spoke near his ear.
"Our food stock has reduced by twenty-five percent."
Mike frowned.
"How is that possible?"
"You were unconscious for a week," she answered calmly. "And many demons refused to obey my orders."
Mike nodded.
Then he spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"From today onward, Lila is my secretary—my personal secretary. Her orders are my orders."
The crowd stiffened.
"But remember this," he added, his voice sharp. "My authority is absolute. You will respect her."
Everyone bowed and nodded.
They returned to the farm.
The soil was dry, but rich with nutrients. Mike noticed something else—the farm had doubled in size. The fields stretched far into the distance.
Then he saw it.
A small green sprout.
Life.
Mike whispered softly,
"This is a sign… I'm winning."
He turned to the workers.
"Does anyone here know water magic?"
They shook their heads one by one.
So Mike headed toward the slave sector.
Neva sat lazily, using slaves as furniture. One shaded her from the sun.
Mike approached.
She smirked.
"So you're still alive… You really are lucky. Become my right hand and I—"
"Stop."
Mike cut her off.
"Enough nonsense. Listen carefully."
Neva inhaled deeply and exhaled, calming herself.
"…What do you want?" she asked, her eyes glowing faint pink.
Mike smiled.
"Do you know anyone who can use water magic?"
She paused.
"No," she replied. "But if you're looking for such people, go to the Dark Forest. Rain falls there often."
Mike nodded.
He then asked about the geography of the Dark Territory.
Neva sighed.
"Come another day. Now disappear."
Mike returned to the farm and questioned his workers again. None knew water magic.
Then he noticed Lila speaking with a worker nearby. He approached.
The worker left.
Mike asked, "Do you know anything?"
Lila nodded.
"Yes. In the Dark Forest, we can find those who use water magic. Rain is common there."
Mike smiled widely, genuine joy on his face.
"Good."
Very good.