The soft hum of the activated smartphone resonated in my hand, a familiar, comforting vibration. It was a testament to countless hours of meticulous work, a fusion of advanced technology and lore. I had just completed a series of quick diagnostics, running simulated scenarios of various Yggdrasil dungeons and event challenges. The results were precisely what I had hoped for.
"Looks like all the Yggdrasil's dungeons and many events are working just fine," I murmured to myself, a rare, genuine smile gracing my lips. This device, this world item, was truly a marvel of my own creation, a culmination of ambition and unparalleled skill.
One of its most extraordinary features was the dungeon creation function. I could, theoretically, manifest a dungeon of my choice within the game's interface, allowing for tailored training and resource acquisition. This offered unparalleled flexibility in preparing my forces.
The problem, however, was a significant limitation. I couldn't create a dungeon that I already possessed a 'palm sign' scan of from that novel. This meant no endlessly repeatable versions of my most valuable Yggdrasil dungeons, forcing a degree of variety in my training regimens.
Furthermore, the process of creating a new, unique dungeon from scratch, even within the simulated environment, took an exorbitant amount of time. It wasn't a quick fix for immediate needs, but a long-term investment, requiring careful planning and resource allocation.
A crucial improvement I had implemented for this world item, specifically for its use in new dimensions, was the scanning mechanism. In "Let me game in peace", you needed a physical 'handprint' sign outside a dungeon to register it, a cumbersome and often dangerous process.
Here, in this new world, that requirement was gone. My Smartphone could simply scan the ambient magical signature of any dungeon entrance, regardless of its physical markings or the presence of a 'sign.' This was a massive relief and a testament to the extensive lore I had woven into its core, ensuring its adaptability.
I had also made sure to put immense work into the companion eggs drop function. While the dropping rate was still dependent on the specific monsters and their rarity, the fact that all monsters now had the potential to drop companion eggs was a monumental relief. This eliminated the need to hunt specific, rare creatures for their unique drops.
This meant that even the most common of creatures could, eventually, yield a valuable companion. It was a game-changer for building up my forces, allowing for a truly scalable and sustainable method of acquiring powerful allies.
I truly had grinded countless monsters from Yggdrasil, meticulously collecting their data and, in many cases, their very essences. I now contained armies of monsters within me, from the lowliest fodder to formidable boss monsters, even rare event-specific creatures that once terrorized entire guilds.
These weren't just theoretical constructs; they were ready to be manifested as companion beasts through the smartphone, loyal and powerful entities at my command.
I had never truly used this specific function on the game itself, not in the way it was designed for this world. That was the inherent trade-off for this incredibly overpowered world item. Its full potential was unlocked only by binding it directly to me, making it an extension of my will and power, a part of my very being.
During its creation, I had simply stated my outrageous demands to the game system and staffs. I needed a smartphone to play games within the game, a device directly connected to me, a true extension of my consciousness.
My gaming character, I insisted, should grow as strong as my real-world self. And, crucially, my gaming character should be connected to me with all the memories, sensations, and smoothness of moves, so it felt like I was actually performing the actions, experiencing the combat, without getting any physical hurt.
Yeah, I was treated like a madman at the time. The other players, even the developers, thought my requests were absurd, bordering on delusional. They called my concept a "pipe dream," an "impossible integration," scoffing at the sheer audacity of my demands.
But it was all worth it now. The fruit of that madness was this device, a true conduit to boundless power, a personal training ground that superseded any physical limitations.
I decided to run a quick test. I selected a familiar dungeon from my Yggdrasil collection – a mid-tier goblin cave, nothing too taxing, but perfect for a quick functionality check. My fingers danced across the holographic interface that shimmered above the smartphone's screen, a faint blue light reflecting in my eyes.
A faint hum filled the laboratory, a soft, almost melodic sound that indicated the system was online and ready. A miniature, detailed simulation of the goblin cave appeared before me, rendered in exquisite detail. I controlled my avatar, a spectral, perfectly rendered copy of myself, as it moved through the digital caverns.
The sensation was seamless. Every swing of the sword, every dodge, every impact felt incredibly real, yet without any pain or fatigue. I dispatched the virtual goblins with practiced ease, their simulated forms dissolving into motes of light, collecting their simulated drops.
It still works just fine. The integration was flawless. This was going to be even more efficient than I had imagined, a constant source of growth and power, accessible at any moment.
Others on Zeldania, my loyal subordinates and the burgeoning population of disposable NPCs, needed to go to actual dungeon floors where dungeon instances existed to grow stronger. They had to face real risks, real dangers, to cultivate their power, to truly earn their strength.
However, every Non-Disposable NPC could be resurrected inside Zeldania, as long as they died within its boundaries. This unique feature, a core aspect of Zeldania's defensive and growth mechanisms, had allowed a really large part of Zeldania's forces to grow incredibly strong, overcoming death countless times to gain experience.
But I didn't need to go through that arduous, albeit effective, process. I could grow stronger just by playing the game, by immersing myself in endless simulated combat, refining my skills and acquiring companions without any personal risk. It was an unparalleled advantage, a cheat code for reality.
Currently, in this world, the only significant problem was the existence of the Gods and Goddesses. Their true power, in comparison to my own and that of Zeldania's forces, was still an unknown variable, a looming shadow on the horizon.
One or two individual gods, I was confident I could handle. My own power, combined with the might of my Guardians and the full capabilities of Zeldania, was formidable enough to contend with most divine beings.
But if every god and goddess in this dimension, a collective pantheon of divine beings, were to unite and come against us, even I didn't know what to do. That was a variable I could not yet calculate, a potential threat of catastrophic proportions that could unravel all my plans. Their collective might was a true unknown.
The thought lingered, a strategic dilemma. Perhaps a preemptive strike? No, too risky without more information. A defensive posture? Possible, but limiting.
...Maybe I should really hire Makoto. After all, he is the protagonist of this world, the 'Hero' who, despite the Goddess's rejection, is destined for immense power and influence. His journey is tied to the very fabric of this world.
I'm sure his inherent plot armor will protect us if he is at our side, a convenient shield against unforeseen divine intervention. It was a pragmatic decision, not an emotional one. His destiny, his unique connection to the world's narrative, could be a valuable asset, a living, breathing wildcard in my favor.
It was a calculated risk, bringing in an unpredictable element, but the potential benefits outweighed the drawbacks. His very existence could disrupt the established order of the gods like in anime.
I will get him then. I'm sure he will be wandering here and there, confused and disillusioned, until he meets Ema, the Highland Orc. That meeting is a crucial turning point in his journey, the catalyst for his true growth.
After that, he will definitely come here, all on his own. I never sent Tomoe to clear up the misunderstanding about 'Shin' and the Orc girl. I needed that misunderstanding to persist, to draw him here, a moth to a flame, guided by his own sense of justice.
And I need it to get as many different race people from this world as I can get. Makoto's journey will naturally lead him to encounter various demi-human races, many of whom are oppressed or marginalized by the dominant human society. His presence, and the misunderstanding, would be a magnet for them, drawing them into Zeldania's orbit, seeking refuge and a new home.
Now, I am not a justice hero at all. My goals are purely for my own benefit and the prosperity of Zeldania. I have no grand aspirations of saving the world or fighting for abstract ideals.
But I still don't like unnecessary suffering, especially if it can be avoided without compromising my plans. Wasted lives, wasted resources – it's inefficient.
Character development through gratuitous pain is inefficient. If I can achieve my goals and expand my influence while minimizing suffering, I will. It's a matter of efficiency, not altruism. A well-oiled machine runs smoothly with minimal friction.
In Zeldania, no one is too concerned about my health, not in the obsessive, almost frantic way Nazarick was for Ainz. My people love and revere me, yes, but their devotion manifests differently.
That's not to mean that my people don't love me, or aren't fiercely loyal. They are. Their loyalty is absolute, unwavering. But my orders are absolute, above even their personal concerns for my well-being. I can do anything, take any risk, if I deem it necessary for Zeldania's future.
Also, they trust me implicitly. They believe I will never get hurt, that I am too high a level of divine strategist, too powerful, for any harm to befall me. They are convinced that almost no matter what I do, it will always be for the absolute best for me and Zeldania. This unwavering faith is both a comfort and a heavy responsibility, a foundation upon which I build my empire.
Anyway, after this Smartphone working has been proof-checked, its functionality confirmed across dimensions, I will go meet Tomoe. We need to finalize the expansion of Zeldania's outer defenses, a crucial step in securing our long-term presence here.
I will get her to use her spatial domain, just like her Subspace or Demiplane abilities, to create a boundary, a sort of spatial fixation, on the outer premises of Zeldania's core base. This will act as a buffer zone, a 'royal city' surrounding our 'castle,' expanding our influence and security.
This expanded territory will also allow us to accommodate more of her people, like the Mist Lizards. It's about creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for Zeldania's growth, a place for all our allies to flourish.
Well, a good thing is that despite this world having too many beauties in it, not many truly capture my interest. Few? Yes. A lot? No. My aesthetic preferences are quite specific, and most of the 'beauties' of this world, while objectively attractive, simply don't resonate with me on a deeper level.
Though I still recruit all those with enough talents, regardless of their appearance. Talent is a far more valuable commodity than superficial beauty. A skilled craftsman, a brilliant strategist, a powerful warrior – these are the true treasures, the building blocks of a powerful domain.
"Well, let's get to work now..." I muttered, pushing away from the console, the hum of the smartphone now a silent, internal assurance. The pieces were moving, the grand game was in full swing.
A few days passed by. The days blurred into a focused whirlwind of strategic planning, resource allocation, and subtle manipulations of the world's underlying magical currents. Lily Font Gritonia was still undergoing her 'information extraction' with Tomoe and Shalltear, a process I knew would be thorough and exhaustive, yielding every last scrap of data.
I estimated Misumi Makoto would be reaching here today, anytime now. The temporal calculations were precise, based on his canonical journey and the rate of his mana accumulation. His arrival was imminent.
Currently, I was with Tomoe, inspecting the outer range of the Subspace that would act as the surrounding for Zeldania. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh earth and newly grown vegetation. We stood on a newly formed, verdant plain, a stark contrast to the barren wasteland that had once surrounded our core base.
"The spatial anchors are holding firm, my Lord," Tomoe reported, her voice calm and professional, her gaze sweeping across the newly formed landscape. "The Mist Lizards are already beginning to establish their burrows in the deeper layers of the subspace."
"Excellent," I replied, nodding. "Ensure the energy flow is stable. We don't want any unexpected fluctuations when the city proper begins construction." My eyes scanned the horizon, not just for structural integrity, but for any signs of the impending arrival.
Just think of something like a Castle of the Royal City. The inner, heavily fortified, and magically protected core is Zeldania itself. The vast, newly created outer territory is for the Royal City, a buffer zone, a place for future expansion and resource gathering, a secure perimeter.
Of course, there is no city yet. That would require a lot more work, a lot more planning, and a lot more resources. But it's better now than the desolate, uninviting wasteland from before. The foundation was being laid, brick by invisible brick.
The current atmosphere was just normal, tranquil even. Not too majestic or anything grand, just simple trees here and there, rolling hills, and clear streams, like a peaceful country roadside just outside a bustling city. It was designed to be unassuming, to blend in with the natural landscape of this dimension, drawing no unwanted attention.
Currently, I was on the planning phase for the actual city's construction and population. So, we needed to inspect the terrain, analyze the magical ley lines, and plan the optimal layout for future infrastructure.
"The eastern sector seems ideal for the initial residential zones, my Lord," Tomoe suggested, pointing with a gloved hand. "The mana currents there are gentle, conducive to life and growth."
"Agreed," I confirmed, making a mental note. "We'll begin with basic infrastructure there once everyone is settled."
Well, that was my official excuse, at least. The real reason I was out here, personally overseeing this relatively mundane task, was because Misumi Makoto would be coming soon. I wanted to be present for his arrival, to gauge his reaction firsthand, to observe him before our formal introduction.
Suddenly, a ripple in the ambient mana. A distinct surge of energy, like a leaking faucet of raw power, announced his presence. It was raw, untamed, yet undeniably potent.
...Well, he is here. His mana signature was unmistakable, a beacon in the otherwise calm magical currents. Yet, strangely... weak. Not weak in an absolute sense, but weak compared to what I knew he was capable of, what he would become.
His mana was said to be comparable to multiple Demon Kings at this stage of his journey, a terrifying wellspring of power that would soon mature to Goddess-level. Yet, what I felt was a mere fraction of that, a barely contained overflow from a vastly larger reservoir.
Well, that's a great way to compare how powerful I am in this world, and how much more potent my own energy signature is. His 'leakage' was still immense by this world's standards, enough to cause localized disturbances, but to me, it was a mere trickle, a faint hum against my own roaring power.
Then, without warning, he fired his testing 'Brid' spell. A concentrated blast of magical energy, intended as a simple test of his own power, but clearly uncontrolled, a raw burst of unintentional destruction.
A few moments later, the blast tore through the newly erected outer gate of our nascent perimeter. Not the main, heavily fortified gate of Zeldania itself, but the temporary, less robust barrier we had just put up for the outer zone. It was a simple, wooden gate, meant more as a marker than a true defense.
The sound of splintering wood and crackling magic echoed across the tranquil landscape, disrupting the peaceful hum of the subspace. A plume of dust and shattered splinters rose into the air.
Tomoe got alerted instantly. Her eyes narrowed, and she moved with blinding speed, a blur of motion, interposing herself between me and the point of impact, shielding me instinctively. Her hand went to the hilt of her katana, her posture radiating controlled fury, ready to defend her Lord.
"Who are you?!" she demanded, her voice sharp, laced with a dangerous edge. But it almost looked like desperation to me, a subtle undercurrent of anxiety. Her loyalty was absolute, and any perceived threat to me, no matter how minor, was a grave matter.
I could guess why, though. She was probably desperate that if even a speck of dust, a single scratch, were to get on me, her Lord, she would be chewed out by the other Guardians. This was all happening on her watch, on her duty, and any perceived failure would be met with severe self-reproach, if not outright punishment from her peers. The thought of my discomfort was unacceptable to her.
Misumi Makoto looked awkwardly and guilty, his eyes wide with surprise and a hint of panic. He hadn't expected anyone to be here, let alone two incredibly powerful beings. His face flushed with embarrassment.
"Umm... Sorry," he stammered, raising his hands in a placating gesture, his mana still subtly fluctuating around him. "That was an accident. I will make it again for you." He gestured vaguely at the now smoking, shattered gate, clearly trying to be conciliatory.
"I was here for someone named Shin... You see, there is an Orc girl that she is taking as an offering, and I want to do something about it... I didn't know there were other people here." He trailed off, his gaze shifting nervously between Tomoe and myself, his explanation a jumbled mix of apology and self-justification.
Yeah, I already knew that. The whole 'Shin' misunderstanding was a deliberate part of my plan to draw him here, a calculated manipulation of his sense of justice. But Tomoe looked at him confused, her brow furrowed, clearly having no idea what he was talking about. Her expression was a mixture of genuine bewilderment and growing irritation.
"Me? I never ordered anything like that!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in genuine indignation, her draconic pride clearly offended. "Don't just make fake rumors about me! I haven't gone out for months now!"
Her eyes narrowed, a faint, dangerous glow appearing in their depths. "Who told you such nonsense? And what 'Orc girl' are you speaking of?"
Misumi also got confused now. He looked at the human girl—or well, at least, to him, she appeared human. His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to reconcile her words with what he had known from his understanding of his previous world's tale. The pieces weren't fitting.
"What do you mean?" he asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice, his earlier guilt replaced by a rising bewilderment. "You are Shin? But isn't Shin supposed to be some deity giant clam?"
Tomoe's eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously. A prominent vein throbbed in her temple. The idea of being mistaken for a giant clam was clearly offensive to her draconic pride, an insult of the highest order. Her aura, which had just begun to settle, flared again, more intensely this time.
"Yes, I am Shenron," she corrected, her voice now dangerously low, a growl rumbling in her chest. "I was created by the god. My current identity is Tomoe, a humble servant of my Lord. But where did you even hear that I am some deity giant clam? I am a greater dragon, or at least I was before serving my Lord." Her aura pulsed, a subtle warning, the air around her growing heavy with suppressed power.
"Oh! I am sorry..." Misumi stammered, taking a hurried step back, clearly intimidated by her sudden shift in demeanor and the raw power she was radiating. His face paled. "I am Misumi Makoto. It's just that I... Umm, well, you can say I just thought that?" He was trying desperately to hide his knowledge of the previous world's tale , a cruel joke, the 'deity giant clam' insult, and his true origins.
Now, would you look at that? He's hiding that he's from another world. Which is good, a sign of his caution, his innate intelligence. Though sadly, it's utterly useless in front of a mind reader like Tomoe, who possesses no mental barriers or defenses that could stop her. She could delve into his memories with ease, unraveling his entire life story in an instant.
I saw Tomoe's eyes begin to glaze over slightly, a tell-tale sign that she was about to activate her mind-reading ability. Before she could interfere anymore, before she could expose his secret through her abilities and potentially complicate my carefully laid plans, I called out to him. It was time for me to take the lead, to control the flow of information.
"I am Zevion, the Lord she is serving," I stated, stepping forward, my presence commanding attention, radiating an authority that instantly quelled Tomoe's rising anger. She immediately relaxed, stepping back to stand respectfully behind me, her aura receding. "I see that you have some misunderstanding. We can talk about it, and clear it up, but first..."
I looked directly into his soul. Well, not metaphorically, but literally. My gaze pierced through the layers of his physical form, past his mana, and into the very essence of his being, searching for the tell-tale signs of inter-dimensional travel.
"Are you a dimension traveler?" My voice was calm, but the question was a direct hit, leaving no room for evasion, cutting straight to the heart of his secret. His eyes widened further, his jaw dropping slightly. The surprise was evident.
What? Am I complaining why I am telling her that I am from the other world earlier, and now I'm directly exposing him? I am also a firm believer that you shouldn't tell anyone that you are from a different world, as it can lead to unforeseen complications and draw unwanted attention, attracting the wrong kind of entities.
But currently, my position is different. I am not a helpless traveler. I am the Lord of Zeldania, a force to be reckoned with, capable of handling any fallout. Also, it's not against the rules to expose others now, is it? Especially when it benefits my strategic objectives. This directness would also establish my authority and knowledge from the outset, putting him on the back foot and making it clear who held the power in this encounter. It was a power play, plain and simple.