Ten days.
Alistair completed the final barrier's setup and exhaled lightly.
"For now, the basics are all in place."
"Dust."
Persephone stood behind Alistair, saying softly: "The Teigu collection is complete, the world fully integrated, faith establishment progressing smoothly under Ker's push. In at most another half-month, the world will be fully under control."
"Not quite."
Alistair shook his head. "It's not truly under control yet."
"The barriers are set."
"Next."
"We should return to the Underworld, deploy the anchor points there, anchor this world, and drag it fully into the Underworld."
"Moreover..."
Alistair pondered briefly, shook his head, and said no more.
Persephone didn't press, merely asking: "Dust, shall we summon all dependents back?"
"Have Ker stay here temporarily to stabilize things. Leave the Evil Stars."
"Summon the others back."
Alistair thought for a moment and arranged.
"Fine."
Persephone nodded, mentally notifying everyone.
Night Raid headquarters.
The women returned swiftly.
"Boss."
Leone greeted Najenda casually.
"Boss, you should've seen it—the whole world is different now."
Mine smiled happily.
The entire world had utterly changed.
This life was something they'd never dared dream of before.
"That's good."
Najenda lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke with a smile on her lips.
She hadn't witnessed or created it personally.
But.
Najenda felt relaxed. This was the dream she'd fought for all along.
Now.
The dream realized—wasn't that the best?
"Esdeath."
Najenda turned, looking at the proud general, her lips curving into a smile.
All this time.
She'd never matched Esdeath, though she didn't care.
But.
Najenda was proud too. At least now, in one aspect, she'd surpassed Esdeath.
The women entered the room.
Alistair and Persephone awaited them.
"Let's go."
"This world's affairs are temporarily concluded. It's time to return."
Alistair smiled as he spoke.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
The women responded solemnly.
"No need for such formality. It's just a phase ending."
"Later."
"Once this world's anchor points are set, returning will be a mere thought."
Alistair raised his hand, the brilliant, profound portal reappearing.
Alistair stepped through first with Persephone.
All along.
Alistair hadn't closed the portal; otherwise, reopening it would require a three-month cooldown.
Esdeath, Najenda, and the other six women followed quickly.
Crossing the portal.
The next moment.
"..."
The eight women fell silent. What was this place?
Birdsong and flowers.
No!
Scenery like a dream, even a paradise—was this truly real?
"Ladies, welcome to Elysium."
Pandora, in a long dress, smiled mysteriously, scanning each woman.
"Hello."
The women greeted in turn, while Esdeath surveyed the surroundings thoughtfully. "This place doesn't seem suited to me."
"Hm?"
Pandora glanced at Esdeath but said nothing.
It was clear.
This was a battle-maniac type, as Lord Hades and Ker had described—the genius who transcended her world.
Such genius dependents naturally had privileges.
"Follow me."
Pandora led the women toward the other side of Elysium.
The former temple?
Hm~~~
Alistair had thoroughly remodeled it.
Now, at Elysium's center stood a super-massive, ancient-styled, luxurious mansion complex—not quite rivaling a palace, but a top-tier estate.
"Hm!"
Alistair stood at the entrance, nodding satisfied. "Not bad. What I learned hasn't all gone to waste."
Alistair had studied architecture, especially ancient styles from various cultures.
Though.
After graduation, he'd barely used it. Now, it seemed his knowledge remained.
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Persephone stood beside Alistair, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"Dust, it's sufficient for now, but with more subordinate gods and dependents later, we'll need to expand."
"No issue."
"When numbers grow, we expand."
Alistair was indifferent. This was a preliminary design, with space reserved for future outward expansion.
Of course.
Alistair had simply clapped his hands, shaping it with divine energy—whatever he willed appeared.
"These girls seem captivated by Elysium's beauty."
Persephone turned, shaking her head gently at the women walking slowly under Pandora's lead.
Alistair said: "Not surprising. Given the environments they lived in before, arriving in Elysium would naturally enthrall them."
Women who'd known despair, now beholding such serene, harmonious Elysium—if unmoved or repulsed?
Then!
Alistair figured they'd be no different from the nobles now serving as dark divine energy generators in hell.
Speaking of those nobles!
Alistair was exceedingly satisfied.
***
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