Location: New Kingdom - Royal Knights Academy Dormitory
Time: Late Afternoon
"Hmm..."
The setting sun, burning madder red, came in through the window. A small wooden private room which smelled faintly of medicine and flowers.
Lux Acadia woke up on the bed in the room.
"Yes. I remember now."
Yesterday was when he entered the Royal Knights Academy, originally thinking it would be easier than he expected.
For someone whose fate exists outside the world, some things were just unavoidable. For instance, him being challenged to a mock duel.
Even after avoiding the first scene of the 'script,' he was still challenged under the guise of her inability to accept him.
A male in an all female's school.
"Like the script... a Gargoyle attacked."
He clasped his palms together, letting out a sigh. He could end all of this; however, a certain person had advised him against it.
Of course, some things did not change, such as Lizsharte losing to him. Though, it was not that bad.
After all, Wyvern could barely accept his powers, and Bahamut was still kind of a secret.
KNOCK-! KNOCK-!
That was when a knock came from the door.
"Enter."
He said it plainly, and the door swung open.
Entering in was the princess of the new kingdom, Lizsharte Atismata.
Following her, unexpectedly, was Airi, his sister. Alongside her aide, Noctis.
"Seems like you slept well."
"H-hahaha..."
Lux averted his gaze.
He'd feigned collapse yesterday after effortlessly repelling the Gargoyle's attack just right after battling the princess.
"Also, Lizsharte-sama came to check up on you."
"I-it's not like I'm worried about you or anything."
Lizsharte muttered that, eyes darting to the side like a textbook tsundere, and seeing this reminded Lux of one person.
'Luminous-san.'
He let out a wry smile when thinking about that goddess.
"W-why are you laughing? You're laughing at me?"
"Eh? No, no, I wasn't, Lizsharte-sama."
Lux waved his hand, wiping the smile from his face. He couldn't speak too informally, she was a princess, after all.
"By the way, what about him? I thought he would enroll with you..."
With the atmosphere in the room returned to its neutral state, Airi finally asked the question.
Lux heard it, then let out another wry smile.
"Unfortunately, he has lots of things to attend to. Though he said he'd drop by once in a while."
As he said that, Lizsharte's expression shifted, curiosity sparked across her face. But before she could voice it...
Perhaps Lux had been around Laurel too long not to sense the timing of people's questions.
So Lux leaned forward, smile still easy, tone ever so slightly mischievous.
"By the way, if I may ask, what brings Lizsharte-sama here today?"
He diverted her attention with a perfectly-timed change in topic.
Though his words could've sounded arrogant, he'd phrased them with just enough tact and playfulness to avoid offending her.
"Eh...?"
Lizsharte tilted her head in puzzlement, looking at Lux... For a little while, she blinked slowly, clearly caught off guard.
"Lux Acadia. You're a guy I don't know whether to call modest or arrogant. Was everyone in the royal family of the empire like that?"
"I don't know. I was driven out of the imperial court when I was a child."
As Lux gave another wry smile, Lizsharte muttered quietly, "I see."
"Please forgive him. Nii-sama is just like that."
"D-does that have anything to do with your heading toward the Abyss without hesitation?"
She continued in a slightly awkward tone.
"Eh?"
"An ordinary human can't do it, and wouldn't. Facing an Abyss with a general-purpose Drag-Ride is... Why did you save me-?"
Showing a somewhat shy aspect, Lizsharte asked.
"Eh...? Do I need a reason too?"
Saying that, Airi let out a sigh, the kind that said, that's just how Nii-sama is.
When Lux spoke so casually, troubled even, Lizsharte folded her arms and gave a thoughtful look.
"I see. Well, it's fine. It's my principle not to think about bothersome things, after all. You protected me, us. I'll leave it at that."
"You're quite a frank person, eh, Princess."
As Lux Acadia said that with an awkward smile-
"Yes, that's right. I'm a very lenient and generous Princess... to those who are competent."
Lizsharte replied with a lovely smile.
The caution and hostility she had shown Lux Acadia up until very recently seemed to have completely vanished.
Rather than childish, her pure and honest attitude was... refreshing.
"Yes. You might be a very useful guy, fallen Prince."
As Lux Acadia breathed a soft sigh of relief at the sight of the princess, who now slightly blushed and nodded-
"Okay, Lux Acadia. I will believe you completely. So-I'll fulfill my promise."
Lizsharte suddenly declared.
"A promise?"
"Y-yes! That... if you won, I'd acknowledge you."
Hahhh, that's what she's talking about, Lux thought, with a shake of his head..
Same time.
Location: Cardinal World - Western Nation - Western Holy Church: Ruberios.
She sat on her throne, satisfied with the amount of faith she was receiving from her believers.
Not only was it stronger than before-their belief in her had deepened further.
Then again...
"Hehehe."
Letting out a soft chuckle, her fangs peeked through as her heterochromia red and blue eyes glowed intensely.
A hot spring was in creation. After making that trade with him, their collaboration had advanced further.
Laurel had sent her infrastructural blueprints, plans to improve public enjoyment for the citizens of Ruberios.
Among the structures were cafés, community centers, public squares, and various others.
The constructions followed designs suited for a more modern age.
Each blueprint arrived complete with its own set of materials and detailed building instructions. Thanks to magic, overall production expenses were significantly reduced.
Still, the one she favored above all was something called Project Hot Air Bath, as Laurel had noted.
While she launched two public hot springs...
Her private hot spring had now been completed. Built high on the mountain, open-air, where one could enjoy the sky up close.
Now, all she needed... was the perfect excuse.
The perfect excuse to invite Mei and Hinata. As one could clearly see, her greed knew no bounds in this regard.
It was then-
[DING!]
[World Progress: Substantially Increased.]
[Major modifications detected across all members' worlds.]
[All-World Guild Influence: Gradual Expansion in Progress.]
[Global Time Synchronization for each World: Initiating...]
A series of such notifications resounded alongside several prompts. And when notifications like this happened....
[Weakest Undefeated: LAUREL!]
They always called him out.
[Fourth Calamity: Whazzat?]
[Fourth Calamity: Oh that?]
Global Time Synchronization works like this, as one is aware.
Worlds spread across entirely different "multiverses and beyond" each operate on distinct timelines.
Therefore, synchronizing time would mean that every world connected by the All-World System would experience morning, afternoon, evening, and night at the exact same time.
Naturally, this was only possible through their influence. In the first place, the system itself wasn't all-powerful.
Neither was it omnipotent.
However, coupled with [Fourth EX], which could influence and alter systems, even though it couldn't massively alter megaverses not created by it, it could influence some things.
Especially when it was a universe among infinite universes it was influencing.
[Fallen Heiress: So... what does that mean?]
[Vampire Ancestor: We experience the same day-night cycle. Simple.]
Luminous said that, but in reality, she was already excited. After all, this was simply good news for her.
Once, she was thankful to Laurel.
Obviously, neither Mei nor Laurel knew what she was thinking, nor did they know how much it benefited her.
[Fallen Heiress: Oh. Then...]
[Vampire Ancestor: Oh, yes. By the way, Mei, when will you be free? I want to invite you over. Of course, the other two are not invited.]
[Fallen Heiress: Eh?]
[Fourth Calamity: I smell something I can't place. But I can feel a sense of loss. What are you planning, Luminous?]
[Vampire Ancestor: You stupid fool. Disappear back to the corner you came from!]
[Weakest Undefeated: Laurel, you've really earned your nickname, Calamity.]
[Fourth Calamity: Oh, please. You should be thankful I am neither of the other three calamities dammit!]
[Vampire Ancestor: A pest is still a pest regardless of the number.]
[Weakest Undefeated: ....Or the archetype.]
[Vampire Ancestor: See. He gets it.]
[Fourth Calamity: Wait! Why am I getting bullied?]
[Vampire Ancestor: You deserve it!]
[Fallen Heiress: Please, both of you, stop bullying Laurel.]
[Vampire Ancestor: Mei?]
[Fourth Calamity: Ha! Luminous! Ha!]
[Fallen Heiress: Laurel, you too, quit it.]
For some reason or another, being scolded by the gentle Mei felt like a literal star had fallen on their backs.
She probably didn't mean it that way, but her phrasing made the three of them chuckle in embarrassment.
None of them wanted Mei to be angry at them. Not Laurel, not Luminous. And for Lux, out of pure respect for her, he didn't want to get on her bad side.
[Fourth Calamity: But, in all seriousness, putting that aside, I believe it's time.]
[Vampire Ancestor: What is it? Stop speaking in riddles.]
[Ding!]
[Two new members have been invited to the All-World Alliance Guild.]
[Fourth Calamity: This.]