The first rays of morning painted the village in a soft, golden light, illuminating freshly paved roads, the orderly hum of automata, and the bustling workshops that had become Keran Thalwyn's pride. Today, however, was unlike any other. Word had spread through distant courts that a mortal of extraordinary ingenuity had transformed an entire village, integrated humans, semi-humans, and apprentices into cooperative labor, and built bridges, roads, and workshops with uncanny efficiency. And so, the first emissary arrived—no, not just an emissary, but the daughter of a neighboring kingdom, sent to evaluate this SSS+ hero in person.
Keran stood in the square, notebook tucked under one arm, tabby cat perched comfortably on his shoulder, surveying the arrival of a procession that glittered with regal embellishments. The carriage, drawn by four unusually calm horses, rattled along the new cobbled road, and a small retinue followed behind, faces a mixture of curiosity, awe, and veiled suspicion.
The carriage door opened, and out stepped the heiress, a striking young woman whose posture betrayed both nobility and confidence. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the square. Automata moved efficiently around her, carrying goods, water, and tools; villagers bowed politely; children waved, clutching books. She paused, blinking as a mechanical helper accidentally toppled a basket of apples, only to have another automaton heroically catch it mid-air.
Keran stepped forward with a bow, cat curling around his shoulders as if to greet her. "Welcome to our humble village," he said warmly. "It is… chaotic, perhaps, but progress thrives here, and laughter accompanies all serious matters."
The heiress raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "I have heard tales," she said, "but tales rarely do justice. Even the stories of your automata—how… extraordinary."
A small mechanical cat scampered past, chasing a sunbeam and startling a servant. The heiress chuckled softly, her composure faltering just enough to betray genuine delight.
Keran gestured expansively. "Allow me to show you our workshops, the bridge under construction, the road network… even the schools, where knowledge flows freely to all children regardless of birth or station. Innovation is… democratic, in our practice."
As they walked, Keran explained the various inventions: mana lamps illuminating previously dark streets, pulleys and automata assisting in heavy labor, printed pamphlets disseminating knowledge, and minor magical devices that simplified domestic chores. Each explanation carried a subtle humor, often punctuated by the occasional minor malfunction—a lever that swung unexpectedly, gears that slipped, or an automaton chasing the tabby cat in a futile attempt at order.
The heiress observed keenly, occasionally smiling at the absurdity, yet taking careful mental notes. She leaned slightly toward a companion. "This human… he does not merely innovate. He organizes, inspires, and, I suspect, disrupts centuries of carefully maintained hierarchy. Remarkable, though… unsettling."
Keran paused atop a small hill, overlooking the village. "From here," he said, gesturing expansively, "you can see the full integration of labor, education, and automation. Every bridge, road, and workshop reflects cooperation, efficiency, and—of course—a touch of absurdity."
The heiress followed his gaze, noting the neat lines of roads, the orderly chaos of workshops, and children laughing as automata assisted them. She tilted her head, intrigued, yet cautious. "And the nobles? Do they consent willingly?"
Keran chuckled. "Some do. Others… grumble. Authority, tradition, superstition—they adapt slowly. But progress is persuasive, even if delivered with a smile and the occasional mechanical mishap."
As they approached a workshop, the blacksmith's apprentice—a half-wolf youth—demonstrated lifting a beam with the aid of a pulley and automaton assistant. The heiress's eyes widened. "Even… half-breeds are taught and empowered here?"
"Indeed," Keran replied. "Strength, ingenuity, and willingness matter more than bloodline. Equality does not diminish excellence; it amplifies it."
Meanwhile, in distant forests, elves observed quietly. "The heiress has arrived," whispered one, "and yet the SSS+ hero continues undaunted. His methods blend absurdity with genius—an unpredictable combination."
In shadowed towers, vampires murmured to each other, discussing potential strategies and alliances, their eyes fixed on reports of the heiress's observations. Wolf alphas remained on high passes, ears twitching at the distant sounds of progress, calculating whether their intervention might one day be necessary—or unnecessary.
Back in the village square, a minor incident occurred: an automaton carrying buckets of water tipped, soaking a group of nobles' attendants. Gasps and muffled laughter followed, and Keran raised a hand in apology, bowing theatrically. "Even our machines are… occasionally enthusiastic."
The heiress laughed, a clear, melodic sound, her formality briefly melting into amusement. "I had expected chaos… but not such charming chaos."
The day continued with tours, explanations, and demonstrations, each punctuated by minor comedic mishaps. Keran displayed a mechanical cat army in miniature, which, while intended for simple tasks, scampered in every direction, eliciting laughter and astonishment.
By evening, the heiress retired to her temporary quarters, her mind abuzz with possibilities. She had witnessed ingenuity, social reform, and cooperative labor—yet she could not dismiss the subtle power of a single mortal reshaping society.
Keran, watching the sunset atop the hill, tabby cat at his side, whispered to himself: "One visitor today, countless reactions… and tomorrow, perhaps, the next daughter, the next court, the next challenge. Progress is unstoppable, even with absurdity as its ambassador."
Far beyond the village, the Celestial God trembled. "He attracts attention," he murmured, pacing. "Courts, heirs, neighboring kingdoms… I must… act, or the mortal realm will be irreversibly altered."
The assistant deity, calmly sipping starlight tea, smiled. "Let them come. Observation, diplomacy, curiosity… all will reveal how the SSS+ hero shapes the world."
And so, with laughter, ingenuity, and the subtle beginnings of political intrigue, the stage was set for a new chapter in Keran Thalwyn's improbable rise: the arrival of princesses, diplomatic visits, and the slow, absurdly miraculous modernization of an entire kingdom.