Gacha Kingdom Building

---This chapter is written in Isabella's POV---

Jackie seemed a little anxious around Nissa, who kept playfully teasing her.

At the same time, Lenard took a seat by my side with Miwen taking the other one.

Mia chose to stand behind Miwen, and in this arrangement, with Nissa across the table, it felt like all eyes were on her.

I felt reassured with Miwen and my brother by my side, but... the tension in the atmosphere was almost palpable.

Even though Nissa was playing with Jackie, no one took their eyes off her for even a second.

She was the first to break the silence.

While looking at me, with a smile, she asked if I wasn't going to let the cat join us.

For a second I thought she was talking about Mia, but...

Nissa: "I'm also quite interested in her powers. It's been a long time since so many [Dark Magic] users have gathered like this... Right, Jackie?"

Jackie: "Yes..."

Bringing that up settled the matter.

She knew about Lana being inside my shadow and was also able to determine her powers.

Miwen: "...How come you can see her?"

Nissa: "I'm a master of both dark and light magic. As one is capable of hiding things, it only makes sense that the other is great at revealing them... If you train hard enough, you might be able to do something similar."

Miwen: "A master of both dark and light huh? How convenient. Didn't you say the purpose of the cathedral was to test if the opposing forces could be empowered simultaneously?"

That is true but...

She also said that the cathedral was made by the masters of Rodky who helped create the city...

If Miwen is trying to imply that the true purpose of the church was to empower her, then...

It would mean Nissa has been around since their age.

Nissa: "You catch on quickly... or were you already suspecting me?"

Miwen: "I can't see your Gift, but I was able to see some of your abilities. And your level. The best generals in this world rarely reach past level 100. Even in this city, the oldest and best mages barely break that barrier. You were too much of an outliner."

...But how?

This would imply she's centuries old, but she looks completely human.

No traces of other races whatsoever... Unless she's hiding them somehow?

Isabella: "Are you not human?"

Nissa: "Absolutely not. It was the Divinity I gathered at the Cathedral that made me reach this state."

Miwen: "To live for so long... I find it hard to believe that you managed it with just a single church."

He's right... There are plenty of Saints who have died young even though they carried the hopes and prayers of plenty throughout the entire continent.

While Rodky is a big city, it simply can't compare.

Nissa: "I wasn't expecting you to be versed in that... Did someone teach you about it?"

Miwen: "You seem fairly keen on the idea of someone teaching us."

Nissa: "...It's rare to find people with good affinity and the desire to train in [Dark Magic]. The last apprentice I had was Jackie, so I was wondering if you'd like me to teach you. I'd love to see what path you take. Of course, you'd have to abandon your current mentor."

Miwen: "Yeah, not happening. At least I have no intention to do so. What about you, Isabella?"

If she's truly one of the founders of Rodky, becoming her apprentice is an unprecedented chance.

The prestige alone might be enough to forever change the way I'm treated, but by learning her secrets and magic, I might become recognized throughout the world as a first-class mage myself...

However... It would mean I'd have to isolate myself from the rest of the world for a long time.

And that... doesn't sit right with me.

I still have not given up on my desires from back then.

Now that I'm not alone anymore... I want to try and realize my wishes from when I was hopeless.

I think I owe it to myself.

Even if I can't make them come true... I didn't run from then back then, why would I do it now that I can fight for it?

Isabella: "I'm sorry. My destiny lies elsewhere."

Although I'm thankful for-

Nissa: "Hm. That was unexpected. I suppose this was in vain then."

I felt a hand on my chest, and the next thing I knew, I was already on the floor.

Looking up, I saw the image of two men standing in front of me.

Then, I heard an incredibly loud bang, as if something had exploded.

The table was nowhere to be seen anymore.

The chairs were scattered across the floor, and Nissa was flying above us like a God ready to descend.

Behind her stood a massive sphere of light, her shadow was filling the entire room.

Miwen: "Fast... Isabella. Turn your brother into a citizen and run away from the island. Mia will accompany you."

I wasn't expecting Lenard to agree so easily, but once I looked at him properly I noticed that his clothes had been stained with his blood.

Nissa: "Such optimism is symbolic of youth. However, escaping from me is a pipe dream."

Miwen: "Mia!"

He pointed at Jackie. She was clearly confused but it only lasted for a moment.

In a matter of seconds, she was knocked out by Mia.

Nissa: "...What do you think that will accomplish? I can take her back whenever I want to."

Miwen: "I'm just getting rid of the obstacles. See, you wanted to take the place of our teacher so much... You should at least see for yourself how capable she is, right?"

Nissa: "Finally showing yourself, demon?"

Elizabeth... Miwen's strongest citizen.

Demons don't exist in this land. They were wiped out a long time ago.

She's the living proof that Miwen truly reigns over another world.

Elizabeth: "..."

The sphere launched multiple rays at Elizabeth.

If not for how bright they were, I don't think I would've been able to trace their trajectory...

Elizabeth had just been summoned. She couldn't react to that in time.

However, she always keeps multiple barriers around her body.

When she's serious about them, even the combined might of Beatrice, Claire, and Licia's magic has a hard time damaging it.

And yet... before her arm flew away, I could hear the sound of them being destroyed.

Miwen: "...Heal your arm, Liz."

Elizabeth: "...I seem to be unable to do so."

Miwen: "...Sorry, this is gonna hurt."

As a demon, Elizabeth is able to heal herself through the use of dark magic.

With her Gift providing her with boundless mana, even an injury like this shouldn't be a problem.

Miwen quickly realized that the reason she wasn't able to heal herself was due to the enemy's ability.

Thus, he used [Hollow Destiny] to block her Gift.

However, that was fruitless. Even after Nissa's Gift was deactivated, Elizabeth's arm did not grow back.

Thankfully, it seems like he was quick to realize what was happening.

It was an extreme method, but... he cut her arm even further.

Elizabeth then managed to heal that region and the entire arm back.

Miwen: "...It seems like her attacks can't be healed. Lenard's case is a little more difficult than yours. I'll need Angelica."

He had a small hole below his chest...

If we left it the way it was, he would eventually die...

However, the region and shape of the wound were a problem.

Assuming the same logic applies, we'd have to perfurate him with an even bigger wound.

That would require a lot of carefulness and attention. Something we definitely wouldn't be able to get while fighting Nissa.

Thankfully Lenard is smart. He knew what he had to do and didn't protest any of my invitations.

Lenard: "You better not appear before me without her."

Miwen: "Of course."

Once he disappeared, Miwen told me to run.

We can't teleport around like the other citizens since we work like anchors, always coming back to the place where we were last.

To get away from here, we would need to do it without any tricks, and only then we'd be safe to enter the Kingdom.

Isabella: "...What about you?"

He never said anything about running...

Miwen: "I'll catch up to you later."

Nissa: "There'll be no catching up. I've already mobilized the workshop owners. In a few minutes, you'll be swarmed."

The workshop owners...

If she's really capable of doing that, this would be a force strong enough to rival a country...

Elizabeth: "...In that case, I believe it's best if you accompany the lady. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine her getting away safely."

Miwen: "...You're just looking for an excuse to fight her by yourself."

...There was no response from Elizabeth.

But in a way, this confirmed his thoughts.

Miwen: "Hah... Are you sure about this?"

Elizabeth: "Absolutely."

Miwen: "...Fine. Let's go, Isabella."

While the two of them were talking with each other, loud bangs kept occurring.

The entire underground was trembling, and parts of the floor were scorched.

Blades of light disappeared in various vortexes of darkness created by Elizabeth, who answered each of Nissa's attacks with one of her own.

The underground was being illuminated by blue lightning and golden rays of light.

All the while, the shadows on the walls kept sprouting spikes or blade-like objects.

It was surreal and threatening, but it was also a little beautiful as both of them seemed to be able to respond to the other in kind.

If I wasn't seeing it for myself, I would've thought this was a battle between multiple masters.

It was scary to turn away from all of that, but we had no choice.

We ran outside at full speed. Our path would often get blocked for a second before Elizabeth dealt with it for us.

By trusting her, we were miraculously able to get outside without having to remove a single obstacle out of our way.

??????: "Oh... While it's good to enjoy your youth, you should be more careful with where you start trouble, young man."

Miwen: "Get out of my way, gramps. Lily will be sad if she discovers I have killed you."

The old man from that one workshop...

Many mages in Rodky had a reputation before becoming workshop owners, but this old man is one of the most well-known in the current generation.

He was seen as a hero a few decades ago.

It was said that he could move a mountain with his [Earth Magic], and after a life as a knight, he was awarded land by the king of Cobierzh.

That land is mostly filled with snow due to the eternal ice of the North Dragon, but he was able to transform some of it back into green fields with his [Green Magic].

It's said that Rodky made an exception for him and that he was bought from Cobierzh.

With Elizabeth facing off against Nissa and Mia carrying Jackie, the only ones I can see posing a challenge for him are the Valkyries...

But it would take them time to win... If they are even capable of doing so.

If the other masters of Rodky stood in our way, Miwen's resources would quickly run out.

Gramps: "Oh, believe me, no one would get sadder at my death than myself. Thankfully, I didn't come here to fight. You see, a bird messed up with a few items in my shop, and it may have caused a small disaster... But it just so happens that said item doesn't affect me as much, and as long as you keep close, the sleeping gas won't affect you..."

Apollo...

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He is Miwen's contracted spirit but also... He has a contract with almost every citizen, including me.

He goes from one person to another, and even when he's with Miwen, he's usually pretty quiet.

Maybe because of that I didn't even notice that he was gone.

Still, for it to have caused the entire city to sleep, it must've not been a few items, but a precious relic.

Otherwise, even if he's a hero, I can't see Gramps putting the masters of Rodky to sleep.

Miwen: "...I owe you one."

Gramps: "Hahah! I cannot carry these things to the other side lad. You owe me nothing."

We followed behind him, and before long, we were at the edge of the city.

Miwen: "...Why did you help us?"

Gramps: "I normally don't show myself anymore. But when I saw you and that young lady, I was captivated. If I had children, I'd like a girl as innocent as her, and a boy as determined as you."

Miwen: "...You better not die old man."

Angelica appeared in front of us, she entered her dragon form and we flew towards my family's main residence in the capital.

It was a very quick voyage, and with the time dilation between this world and the Kingdom, we should have plenty of time to help Lenard.