It was fully night.
Moonlight illuminated the newly paved stone streets. Beyond the defensive walls, the entire settlement had fallen silent once again.
The sound of axes was gone.
No wooden carts rolled by.
No human voices echoed through the air.
The settlement was still empty.
Only a single building had begun to see use.
The main residence at the heart of the district.
Inside the spacious hall, Hax stood before a massive window overlooking his entire domain.
Nocelle stood several steps behind him.
Her hands were neatly folded before her.
Her posture was impeccable.
Like a head maid who had served her master for centuries.
Her gaze slowly swept across the hall.
Hax watched her in silence.
There was a reason he had summoned Nocelle first.
Back in the old world...
Nocelle Cordelia had been the head maid of the Demon King's Castle.
Administrative affairs.
Castle management.
Logistics.
Even the assignment of servants...
everything had been under her supervision.
Even while the Enigma Commanders led wars across the world...
the Demon King's Castle had never once fallen into disorder.
All because of one person.
Nocelle.
"..."
Building a fortress was never the difficult part.
Turning it into a place where people could truly live...
was something entirely different.
And when it came to that...
there was no one more capable than her.
Hax finally broke the silence.
"Nocelle."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"There is something you need to know."
She immediately straightened her posture.
"I am listening."
Hax looked out through the window.
"This..."
"is no longer our world."
"..."
Nocelle's expression remained calm.
Yet her eyes sharpened ever so slightly.
Hax continued.
"The war is over."
"The Demon King's Castle no longer exists."
"Our armies..."
"Our territory..."
"Our world..."
"They're all gone."
For the first time...
Nocelle's pupils trembled.
"...Gone?"
"We were transferred."
"To another world."
Silence filled the hall.
Nocelle lowered her gaze.
Instead of panicking...
she calmly organized the information in her mind.
Another world.
An unfamiliar civilization.
Unknown races.
Unknown kingdoms.
Unknown enemies.
Everything had changed.
"...I understand."
She slowly bowed.
"Then our priority remains the same."
Hax looked at her.
"We shall build a new home for Your Majesty."
"We shall establish a new castle."
"And if necessary..."
"We shall build a new kingdom."
No hesitation.
No confusion.
As though rebuilding an entire nation from nothing was simply another duty she had accepted.
Hax gave a small nod.
"That is precisely why I summoned you first."
Only then did a faint smile appear on Nocelle's face.
"I am honored."
"...Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
"Allow me to present my report."
"Go ahead."
Nocelle bowed her head slightly.
"The structure itself is exceptionally sturdy."
"However..."
She looked around the room.
"This place cannot yet be called a proper residence."
Hax turned toward her.
"...?"
"The room are too empty."
"And..."
She paused briefly.
"Your Majesty doesn't even have a private bedroom yet."
Hax fell silent.
His gaze wandered across the grand hall.
The walls.
The pillars.
The staircase.
The stone floor.
Everything had indeed been completed.
But...
aside from that...
there was nothing else.
"...I forgot."
His answer was so flat that Nocelle barely reacted.
Instead...
a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Exactly as she had expected.
His Majesty had always prioritized construction efficiency over comfort.
"In that case..."
"I'll begin furnishing the residence tomorrow."
Hax nodded.
"Use whatever is necessary."
"Understood."
"I won't disappoint you."
Silence returned.
No more words were exchanged.
Only the occasional night breeze drifted through the still-open window.
However...
a few moments later...
Hax slowly turned his head.
"..."
His eyes settled on the floor.
A small ripple of darkness emerged from the shadow in the corner of the hall.
Nocelle looked over as well.
The ripple slowly expanded.
Then...
a tiny pitch-black worm crawled out.
Its body was slender.
Almost indistinguishable from the surrounding shadows.
If it hadn't kept moving...
no one would have noticed it.
"...Umbra Vermis."
Nocelle murmured.
Some time ago in the city of Liora...
Hax had released dozens of Umbra Vermis throughout the kingdom.
Each carried a simple mission.
Observe.
Gather information.
Then return.
Tonight...
one of them had finally come back.
The tiny creature made no sound.
It simply crawled toward Hax at remarkable speed.
Upon reaching the feet of his black armor...
its body slowly dissolved into shadow.
Then...
merged back into him.
At the same moment...
Hax's System immediately responded.
[Reconnaissance Unit Returned]
Skill: Umbra Vermis
Status: Information Synchronized
Dozens of images flashed through his mind.
A burning sky.
Villages engulfed in flames.
Monster armies.
Collapsed fortresses.
And...
a royal banner slowly falling amid an overwhelming siege.
Several seconds later...
the synchronization was complete.
Hax opened his eyes.
"...Faster than I expected."
Nocelle looked up.
"Is it an important report, Your Majesty?"
"Yes."
"The Demon King's army has begun its next invasion."
...
For the first time since being summoned...
Nocelle's expression changed.
The gentle smile faded from her face.
Her empty gaze turned cold.
Exceptionally cold.
"...The Demon King?!"
she murmured quietly.
Her voice was barely audible.
Yet somehow...
the air inside the hall suddenly felt heavier.
The fingers that had been neatly folded slowly clenched into fists.
"Your Majesty..."
she said softly.
"With all due respect..."
"I dislike that title."
Hax looked at her.
"...?"
Nocelle took a slow breath, trying to compose herself.
Yet unmistakable anger still lingered in her voice.
"In our world..."
"there was only one being worthy of bearing the title of Demon King."
She lowered her head toward Hax.
"You, Your Majesty."
"Anyone else who dares to use that title..."
"...is nothing more than a foolish imitation."
Silence filled the hall once again.
After several moments...
Nocelle spoke again, her voice calm once more.
"My apologies."
"I lost my composure for a moment."
Hax studied her briefly.
Then replied flatly.
"...What they call themselves doesn't change reality."
"Even so..."
Nocelle smiled faintly.
This time...
the smile carried no warmth.
"One day..."
"I hope to teach that creature the true meaning of the title it has stolen."
Silence settled over the hall again.
After a while...
Nocelle quietly asked,
"Will Your Majesty intervene?"
Hax did not answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on the map.
The System began calculating possibility after possibility.
Logistics.
Material reserves.
Risks to his territory.
Efficiency.
The conclusion was singular.
"...Not yet."
"This territory remains outside the current invasion route."
"Intervening now offers no strategic advantage."
Nocelle nodded quietly.
She did not question his decision.
To her...
every decision made by His Majesty always had a reason.
Hax closed the System window.
But before it disappeared...
another notification appeared.
[Umbra Vermis Active Units]
Remaining: 47
[Reconnaissance Coverage: Expanding]
"...Forty-seven remain."
Meaning...
forty-seven other Umbra Vermis were still moving across the kingdom.
Crawling through forests.
Mountains.
Cities.
Even territories already occupied by the Demon King's army.
Gathering every fragment of information.
Waiting for the day they would return.
Hax gazed through the window at the night sky.
The moon hung high above.
Calm.
Peaceful.
It was hard to believe...
that beyond those distant mountains...
thousands of people were fleeing from the flames of war.
Meanwhile...
in the western region of the Kingdom of Etravia...
a small town had just been born.
And without anyone realizing it...
that place would slowly become the point that shifted the balance of the world.
----
Dawn once again illuminated the western frontier of the Kingdom of Etravia.
A thin layer of mist still covered the stone roads as the doors of Hax's residence slowly opened.
Nocelle stepped outside first.
Her black-and-white maid dress remained immaculate despite getting almost no rest the previous night.
She stopped in the front courtyard.
Her eyes slowly swept across the settlement.
The stone houses were complete.
The warehouse was finished.
The main road stretched neatly toward the gate.
Yet...
everything was still empty.
"There is still much to be done."
she murmured.
She raised her right hand.
"...Awaken."
Threads of silvery-white mana slowly emerged from her fingertips.
More and more appeared.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
They drifted through the air before gradually gathering in the courtyard.
Then...
one by one...
small figures began taking shape.
Dolls.
Their entire bodies were carved from pale wood.
Each stood only chest-high to an adult.
They all wore simple work aprons.
No mouths.
No expressions.
Only a pair of glass eyes glowing faintly.
Within seconds...
over a hundred dolls stood neatly before Nocelle.
No sound.
No wasted movement.
They simply waited.
Nocelle opened a small notebook.
"Today's work assignments."
The dolls bowed simultaneously.
"Units One through Twenty."
"Tidy the main hall."
"Install the tables."
"Chairs."
"Cabinets."
"Carpets."
"And curtains."
Twenty dolls immediately departed.
"Units Twenty-One through Forty."
"Finish the kitchen."
"Units Forty-One through Sixty."
"Prepare His Majesty's bedroom."
"Units Sixty-One through Eighty."
"Stock the library."
"The remaining units."
"Organize the residential houses."
"Inspect every building."
"Ensure there isn't a single construction flaw."
The moment she finished speaking...
more than a hundred dolls dispersed.
None collided.
None asked questions.
Every movement resembled a perfectly programmed machine.
Nocelle closed her notebook.
"Begin."
In an instant...
the once-silent settlement became filled with activity.
Some dolls carried tables larger than themselves.
Others installed windows.
Several scrubbed the floors.
Some even polished door handles until they gleamed.
Everything moved with near-perfect rhythm.
Not a single second was wasted.
Before long...
the main gate opened.
Cain returned with four wooden wagons.
But...
he stopped the moment he stepped inside.
"...What now?"
Beyond the walls...
dozens of tiny wooden dolls hurried about carrying furniture.
Some hammered wooden boards.
Others installed shelves.
Some swept the streets.
Several were even planting flowers beside the stone road.
"..."
Cain rubbed his eyes.
Then rubbed them again.
The dolls were still there.
One even paused.
Politely bowed toward him.
Then returned to work.
"...Am I..."
"...still dreaming?"
Behind him, the villagers also froze.
"Dolls..."
"They can move?"
"Is that magic?"
"No..."
"I don't even see the mage."
At that moment...
Nocelle approached them.
She bowed gracefully.
"Good morning."
"My name is Nocelle Cordelia."
"I serve as both the head maid and the administrator of this territory."
For a brief moment...
Cain forgot how to respond.
"..."
Beautiful.
That was the first thought that entered his mind.
Her silver hair shimmered beneath the morning sunlight.
Every movement was so graceful it was almost silent.
Her smile was gentle.
Her gaze was calm.
She looked every bit like a noble lady...
yet chose to wear the attire of a servant.
"..."
For some reason...
his heartbeat quickened.
"Uh..."
"I-I'm Cain."
Only then did he realize he'd forgotten to introduce himself.
Nocelle merely inclined her head politely.
"A pleasure to meet you, Master Cain."
"..."
Cain fell silent once more.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
"...She's unbelievably beautiful."
Nocelle, however, focused only on the wooden wagons.
"The lumber you've brought will be stored immediately."
She clapped softly.
Fifteen dolls arrived at once.
In less than a minute...
every log had been neatly stacked inside the warehouse.
Cain could only stare in disbelief.
"..."
"...I'm starting to think..."
"...Sir Hax doesn't actually need my help."
Not far away...
Hax, who was examining a blueprint, answered without looking up.
"Wrong."
Cain raised his head.
"The dolls can work."
"But they cannot produce lumber."
"They can only process the materials available."
"As this territory continues to grow..."
"a steady supply of resources will always be necessary."
"..."
"You are part of that efficiency."
For the first time since meeting Hax...
Cain smiled sincerely.
"...Then..."
"I'll bring even more tomorrow."
The System appeared.
[Worker Motivation Increased]
Estimated Productivity: +31%
Hax gave a brief nod.
"...Effective."
Meanwhile...
Nocelle looked over the settlement with satisfaction.
Signs of life had begun to appear.
The once-empty houses were gradually becoming proper homes.
The small settlement no longer felt like a collection of stone buildings.
Instead...
it was beginning to feel like a town that had truly come to life.
----
The sun slowly climbed toward its zenith.
Activity throughout the new settlement never ceased.
The sound of hammers echoed everywhere.
The small wooden dolls continued carrying furniture into the newly completed houses.
In the central courtyard...
Hax stood before a black magic circle.
The air before him began to ripple.
Bzzzz...
Space slowly split apart.
A long black crack stretched open into a gate.
Beyond it...
the stone streets of Liora could be seen.
Cain, who had been unloading lumber, froze.
"..."
"That's..."
He couldn't even finish his sentence.
Spatial magic.
He had heard legends about such magic before.
But witnessing it firsthand...
was something else entirely.
Hax looked toward Nocelle.
"I'll be away for a while."
Nocelle immediately bowed.
"How long will Your Majesty be gone?"
"Not long."
"I'm going to pick someone up."
There were no further questions.
No curiosity.
"Understood."
"I shall safeguard the territory until Your Majesty returns."
Hax nodded.
"That is your duty."
Then...
he stepped into the Rift Gate.
Whoosh...
A moment later...
the crack in space closed.
As though it had never existed.
Cain remained rooted to the spot.
"..."
"...Sir Hax..."
"...He's human..."
"...right?"
No one answered.
A few moments later...
Nocelle reopened her notebook.
"Unit Twelve."
"Inspect the eastern wall."
"Check every stone joint."
"Unit Twenty-Six."
"Continue installing the windows."
"Unit Forty-Eight."
"Logistics warehouse."
"Sort all materials by category."
More than a hundred dolls resumed their work.
Not a single order was repeated.
Not a single task overlapped.
Cain could only watch.
"...Amazing."
He was beginning to feel...
that the entire territory functioned like one enormous machine.
And Nocelle...
was its central processor.
Meanwhile...
high above the sky...
a group of enormous shadows swept overhead.
SRAAAAK!!
The thunderous beat of wings echoed through the air.
A bird suddenly took flight in panic.
Then dozens more followed.
Nocelle slowly raised her head.
Her gaze turned skyward.
"..."
Around a dozen winged figures flew above the surrounding hills.
Wyverns.
Monsters that hunted in packs.
One of them glanced downward.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
Stacks of lumber.
Dozens of humans.
In an instant...
its reptilian eyes turned savage.
SKREEEEEEEE!!
A piercing screech rang through the air.
The entire flock immediately dived.
Cain instinctively drew his axe.
"W-Wyverns!!"
"Everyone!"
"Get inside!"
Several workers panicked.
They abandoned their carts.
Some immediately began running.
Yet...
Nocelle's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"All units."
"Cease all work."
A hundred dolls stopped simultaneously.
"Protect all workers."
Within a single second...
dozens of dolls shifted formation.
Some escorted the workers into the stone houses.
Others closed the gates.
The rest formed defensive lines.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Everything moved exactly as ordered.
Cain's eyes widened.
"...So fast."
The first wyvern was already closing in.
Its jaws opened.
Flames gathered inside its mouth.
Nocelle watched it for a brief moment.
Then let out a quiet sigh.
"...You're interrupting my work."
She raised a single finger.
A nearly invisible thread of mana shot into the sky.
Tss...
The wyvern continued charging.
Five meters.
Four.
Three.
Then...
its body suddenly stopped.
"...?"
Its wings still flapped.
Yet...
it no longer moved according to its own will.
Countless mana threads had wrapped around every one of its joints.
Nocelle gently moved her finger.
"Turn around."
The wyvern spun through the air.
Then...
with a furious roar...
it crashed straight into the flock behind it.
BOOOM!!
Two wyverns collided.
One plummeted into the hillside.
The other lost control.
Nocelle moved her finger once more.
Mana threads spread through the sky.
Not one.
Not two.
But dozens.
One after another...
the wyverns lost control of their bodies.
Some slammed into each other.
Some spun wildly through the air.
Others suddenly attacked their own allies.
The sky that had been filled with monsters...
descended into complete chaos.
Cain could only stare with his mouth hanging open.
"..."
"...She's..."
"...controlling them?"
Nocelle remained standing gracefully.
Not even a speck of dust had touched her maid dress.
Her expression remained calm.
As though all of this were nothing more than a minor inconvenience interrupting her work schedule.
Several minutes later...
the final wyvern crashed to the ground.
Silence returned.
Nocelle lowered her hand.
"Unit Nine."
"Collect all wyvern materials."
"Unit Fifteen."
"Clean the area."
"Unit Twenty-Seven."
"Resume the suspended tasks."
The hundred dolls immediately returned to work.
As though the battle...
had never happened.
Cain swallowed hard.
His gaze slowly shifted from the wyvern corpses...
to the silver-haired woman who had already reopened her notebook.
He genuinely couldn't decide...
which was more terrifying.
The man clad in black armor who could build an entire town overnight...
or the head maid who regarded a flock of wyverns as nothing more than a minor interruption during working hours.
Meanwhile...
hundreds of kilometers away...
Hax stepped out of the Rift Gate into the city of Liora.
He had only one destination.
To pick up the Dryad girl who had been waiting for his arrival.