**********
—Night—
Area 1,
Somewhere in Area 1, Lev and his companions had settled down for the night. They sat around a crackling bonfire, where several pieces of meat had been placed over the flames to roast. The enticing aroma of barbecue filled the surrounding area as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
Unlike the other regions they had visited throughout their journey, Area 1 had no trace of civilization where they could settle down for the night. As such, they had no choice but to make camp in the wilderness.
Speaking of civilizations, Lev and his companions had visited every known settlement in the Gourmet World, whether it still existed or had long since fallen into ruin.
In Area 5, for instance, the civilization that had once thrived there had already been destroyed, much like the one in Area 7. However, upon discovering the ruins, Lev had taken it upon himself to restore the place, turning it into a settlement where people could once again live in the future.
Area 4, on the other hand, was a different story. Lev and his companions had encountered a civilization that was still thriving there, and they had managed to establish a good relationship with its inhabitants. Their relationship had improved even further after Lev allowed them to experience his extraordinary cooking.
He had even established a branch of the Infinity Castle Restaurant in the region, leaving several of his clones behind to manage its daily operations.
Meanwhile, the civilizations in Areas 2 and 3 had also long since been destroyed. Although it was a shame to see such places reduced to ruins, Lev couldn't simply leave them in that state. Just as he had done in Areas 5 and 7, he had restored them, ensuring that they would be ready for future inhabitants.
When the right time came, he was confident that he would find a way to put those restored settlements to good use.
Their travels had also taken them to one of the IGO's special Biotopes, a facility whose existence remained a secret from the world at large. It was located in Area 3, also known as the Cloud Continent.
There, they encountered one of the members of Biotope 0, who was understandably surprised by their unexpected arrival. However, what truly caught Lev and his companions off guard was the fact that the man already knew who they were.
It was only after speaking with him that they discovered the reason. Ichiryu had apparently told the man about them and had even provided him with illustrations of their appearances.
With that encounter, Lev had finally completed two of the World Missions assigned to him upon arriving in this world.
"It has been quite a journey, hasn't it? But it looks like we're finally approaching the end," Lev muttered, turning his gaze toward his companions.
Twenty years had passed since their journey through the Gourmet World began, and the passage of time had brought about noticeable changes in Alpha and the others. They had all matured considerably, both in appearance and in character, after enduring countless hardships and experiencing adventures that few could ever imagine.
Among them, however, Shizuku had undergone the most remarkable transformation.
The once little girl had grown into a fully matured woman, her appearance reflecting the many years she had spent traveling alongside Lev and the others. Yet, her transformation wasn't limited to her outward appearance. Among the five women, she had also become the strongest.
Thanks to her Swordmaster job, Shizuku had made tremendous progress in her swordsmanship, eventually surpassing all her companions in that particular field.
Her human origins had done little to hinder her growth. Through relentless training, countless battles, and the extraordinary ingredients she had consumed throughout their journey, she had continued to push beyond her limits.
After twenty years, she had surpassed everyone in their group except Lev—and possibly Nakime, whose true level of strength remained difficult to determine.
"It's time for us to take a break. And with that, I have something to announce," Lev said, drawing everyone's attention toward him. "The time for us to go our separate ways is approaching."
"What do you mean, Master?" Alpha asked, confusion evident in her voice.
"I've decided that, with the exception of Shizuku, the four of you will remain in the Gourmet World. Each of you will be responsible for looking after two continents and ensuring their protection," Lev explained, looking at each of them in turn.
"Alpha, you'll be responsible for Areas 5 and 6. Shion, Areas 7 and 8 will fall under your jurisdiction. Tomoe, you'll return to Areas 3 and 4. Lastly, Ghislaine, you'll be in charge of Areas 1 and 2," Lev announced.
He had carefully considered each woman's capabilities before making his decision, taking into account their individual strengths, fighting styles, and racial traits to determine which territories would suit them best.
"What about you and Shizuku, Master? Where will the two of you go?" Ghislaine asked, taking her turn to speak.
"We'll be staying in the Human World for a while," Lev replied, looking at her.
"Don't worry. I'll summon you to the Human World from time to time," he added, noticing the disappointment on their faces.
"Besides, you won't be alone. My Shadow Soldiers will accompany you."
As soon as Lev finished speaking, eight Shadow Soldiers emerged from his shadow and lined up behind him.
Three of them were already familiar to the group: Indra, Ishana, and Varuna. However, the remaining five were new additions to Lev's growing army, each possessing a bloodline connected to one of the Eight Kings.
The first was an enormous, deer-like creature named Kubera. Lev had acquired this Shadow Soldier back in Area 5, where he had found a creature belonging to the same bloodline as the current Deer King. Although it wasn't the Deer King himself, its lineage granted it a remarkable aptitude that distinguished it from ordinary creatures.
The next was Nirrti, a Shadow Soldier Lev had obtained in Area 4. Its appearance was unmistakably serpentine, and, like Kubera, it shared the same bloodline as the current ruler of its region—the Snake King.
Among all the Shadow Soldiers Lev had acquired so far, Nirrti was currently the strongest.
Another member of the group was Vayu, a gigantic bird-like creature that Lev had selected back in Area 3. It belonged to the same bloodline as the Crow King, the ruler of that continent, giving it a natural aptitude comparable to that of the other Shadow Soldiers connected to the Eight Kings.
In Area 2, Lev had also acquired a creature belonging to the same bloodline as Guinness, the Wolf King and ruler of that continent.
Of all the regions they had explored, Area 2 had given Lev and his companions a particularly troublesome experience. Unlike the other members of the Eight Kings, Guinness traveled with his pack, making encounters with the Wolf King far more chaotic. Whenever Lev and his companions crossed paths with him, a massive battle would inevitably erupt. Attempting to pursue a single member of the pack could quickly escalate into a chaotic confrontation involving numerous battle wolves.
The Shadow Soldier Lev obtained from that region was named Yama. In appearance, it closely resembled the other battle wolves belonging to Guinness's pack, making its origins immediately apparent.
Lastly, there was Agni, the Shadow Soldier Lev had acquired in Area 1.
As expected, this creature belonged to the same race as the Dragon King, Derous, the current ruler of the continent. Its appearance was remarkably similar to that of the Dragon King, with its size being the most noticeable difference. Aside from that distinction, the two shared many physical characteristics.
With these five additions, Lev had assembled a complete set of Shadow Soldiers whose bloodlines corresponded to those of the Eight Kings.
As for the names he had given them, Lev had drawn inspiration from the Ashtadikpalas, the eight guardian deities associated with the cardinal and intermediate directions in Hinduism, Jainism, and Vajrayana Buddhism. These deities were traditionally regarded as guardians of the universe's directions, responsible for maintaining cosmic order and spatial balance.
It was a fitting naming scheme for the eight Shadow Soldiers he intended to use to oversee the eight continents of the Gourmet World.
"You four will each be accompanied by two Shadow Soldiers. They'll serve as your companions and assist you while you're stationed in your respective territories," Lev explained, looking at Alpha, Shion, Tomoe, and Ghislaine in turn.
"And when the time comes, we'll have another opportunity to travel together. Until then, let's enjoy ourselves and eat to our hearts' content!"
With a smile, Lev shifted his gaze toward the star-filled sky above them.
Hearing his words, Alpha and the others nodded. Although they were disappointed that they would soon be separated from their master, they understood the reasoning behind his decision. An order was an order, and they had no intention of disobeying him.
Besides, Lev had promised to summon them to the Human World from time to time. Their separation wouldn't be permanent, and they could look forward to reuniting with him in the future.
Shizuku, on the other hand, was delighted by the arrangement.
Unlike the others, she had been chosen to accompany Lev to the Human World. Unable to hide her happiness, she couldn't help but feel that her master must have favored her considerably to have selected her over the others.
Of course, she had no intention of questioning his decision. She was simply happy that she would be able to remain by his side.
With their future arrangements settled, Lev and his companions continued enjoying their time together around the bonfire.
They ate, talked, and relaxed beneath the starry sky, making the most of their remaining time together before their paths diverged.
Eventually, as the night grew deeper, they prepared to sleep. However, even after such a long journey, none of them had abandoned their training habits. Before finally settling down for the night, they performed a series of exercises to keep their bodies in peak condition.
Only after completing their routines did they allow themselves to rest, replenishing their exhausted energy in preparation for the days ahead.
**********
—Three Months Later—
Human World,
On a vast, rocky stretch of land bordering the Human World, Lev stood beside Shizuku, gazing at the gigantic walls surrounding the area.
They were currently on Zabel Island, an island connected to the Human World through the North Mountain Area of Area 7.
Lev had chosen to stand at the edge of a cliff known as the Waterfall Basin of Life for a particular reason. The massive cliff served as one of the safest routes into the Gourmet World, leading travelers toward the Underground Forest. It was also the location of the IGO's 18th Barrier, one of the many barriers overseen by the IGO Bureau of Defense Management.
Before heading to the Human World, Lev and Shizuku had accompanied Alpha and the others to the continents they would each be responsible for overseeing. This gave them an opportunity to reunite with their acquaintances and spend some time with them before finally parting ways.
Now, as Lev and Shizuku remained at the edge of the cliff, a group of people dressed in military uniforms suddenly came running toward them. They quickly formed a line as a short, ugly-looking man casually approached, smoking a cigarette while observing the two newcomers. Despite his unimpressive appearance, he carried himself with an air of authority and confidence.
"I'm Elboh, an officer of the IGO Bureau of Defense and the Surveillance Chief of the 18th Barrier. I see you've come from below. Why don't you follow us back to headquarters?" the short man introduced himself, looking between Lev and Shizuku.
Following the sudden appearance of two unidentified individuals outside the barrier, Elboh's subordinates had immediately begun investigating their identities. However, they had been unable to find any records matching either of them, which only heightened their curiosity and made them more cautious.
"That's exactly what I had in mind," Lev replied with a smile before following Elboh alongside Shizuku.
He recognized the man as soon as he saw his ugly face. Lev had deliberately chosen this location as his entry point because it was one of the closest routes connecting the Gourmet World to the Human World. Nevertheless, he hadn't rushed his journey. Along the way, he had continued hunting and collecting various ingredients, storing them in his inventory for future use.
'Master, is this the Human World?' Shizuku asked telepathically as she glanced around their surroundings.
After spending twenty years in the Gourmet World, she had witnessed countless extraordinary sights. Compared to the magnificent landscapes and terrifying creatures she had encountered there, the scenery before her seemed rather ordinary. The most notable difference was the presence of other humans like herself.
'Yes. For now, let's follow this Elboh guy. To be honest, I don't know much about the Human World beyond a few notable events and important pieces of information,' Lev replied.
He was telling the truth. Although he knew about some of the significant events and figures in the Human World, his knowledge was limited to information he considered important or memorable. When it came to everyday matters and the smaller details of life in this world, he was practically clueless.
'Understood, Master. However, I don't think this Elboh guy has good intentions. If he tries anything funny, may I kill him?' Shizuku asked, keeping her eyes on Elboh's back.
Having spent years confronting countless creatures in the Gourmet World, she had developed a keen ability to read their expressions and intentions. Even when she couldn't understand their words, she could often tell what they were thinking simply by observing their behavior.
'Let's leave killing him out of it. You're allowed to beat him up if he gives us trouble, though. Anyway, let's see how things unfold. I'm curious to find out where they'll take us and how they'll handle our arrival,' Lev answered with an amused smile as he continued walking.
With that, Elboh led Lev and Shizuku toward the headquarters of the 18th Barrier.
Neither of them seemed particularly concerned about what awaited them. However, unbeknownst to the two newcomers, news of their sudden appearance—and the circumstances surrounding it—had already reached the IGO headquarters.
By then, several IGO personnel had already been dispatched to the 18th Barrier.
Whatever the organization intended to do about these two unidentified individuals, its representatives would soon come face-to-face with a pair of people whose arrival could turn the Human World upside down.