Amita Valeria, Iomi, Decimus, and Hadrian exchanged glances, clear expressions of annoyance etched upon their faces. They had agreed to read a chapter, but now they had no choice but to continue; stopping would mean being barred from witnessing the unfolding events, and the "Fictional Worlds Story Reader" system would be deactivated.
"It's fine—this was to be expected, after all. Given that the chapter is titled 'Peace Does Not Last,' it's only natural that the events revolve around the main characters currently in the city of Yusbikers.
As for Reinhardt, he exists outside the realm of Yusbikers, which technically places him beyond the scope of this chapter's events."
Amita Valeria spoke calmly, her gaze fixed on the system screen displaying the first part of Chapter 114.
The others nodded in agreement; her reasoning made sense, and besides, they had no other theories to debate.
As Reinhardt moved toward Hadrian, Amita Valeria tossed an entire universe in his direction, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Master Reinhardt, do accept my gift—after all, you're always so fond of taking things!"
Reinhardt gritted his teeth, watching as the universe hurtled toward him at a speed that defied its immense scale.
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened them to find himself within an endless void, filled with an infinite number of books.
He pulled out a book bound in charcoal-black leather, inscribed with indistinct, illegible words, and opened it with an air of indifference. [Chapter 114: Sometimes the Reader Is Read, and the Spectator Becomes a Witness]
As Reinhardt headed toward Hadrian, Amita Valeria hurled an entire universe in his direction, a malicious grin spreading across her face.
"Master Reinhardt, do help yourself to my gift—after all, you're only ever interested in taking, aren't you?"
Reinhardt gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the universe hurtling toward him at a speed that defied its immense scale.
The universe collided with Reinhardt. Amita Valeria watched with an arrogant smirk as the resulting explosion wiped out several other universes in its wake.
"Come now, Reinhardt—surely a trivial little blast like that didn't kill you!"
Oriana remarked, her tone dripping with mockery as she stared toward the epicenter of the blast.
Several seconds passed before Reinhardt emerged—in a dire state.
One of his wings was gone, his entire right arm had been obliterated, and the skin on his face had been stripped away.
Reinhardt stared at the chapter text for a few moments before speaking, his voice calm:
The original text began to fade, replaced by new writing:
[The universe collided with Reinhardt, triggering an explosion that erased several other universes. Yet, Reinhardt emerged completely unscathed—not a single scratch upon him—a haughty smirk playing across his face.
"Even if the wing merely serves as a catalyst, it's still better than nothing at all. After all, none of you possess the power to manipulate the narrative;] "Because your abilities are dormant and ill-defined, you remain ignorant of your true nature.
I possess the 'Sovereign King's Wing'—for I embody royal sovereignty, a king whose authority reigns supreme over all!"
Reinhart stepped out of the narrative realm, casting a smile toward them. Their expressions were so contorted with shock that he could hardly suppress a fit of laughter.
After all, this had been one of their greatest sources of anguish: their inability to manifest their true potential. The only way to unlock it was to possess a 'Prime Wing'—a tier far superior to any 'Individual Wing,' regardless of its specific type.
As they watched, Reinhart engaged in a fierce duel with Decimus; the battle was evenly matched, with no clear victor in sight.
On the system interface, the second part of the chapter continued:
[Chapter 114: Peace Does Not Last – Part II]
A few minutes later, the vendor handed Beatrice and Lucy each an iced orange juice, a faint smile gracing his face.
"Since you two are the very first customers to try out my juice machine, this one's on the house—courtesy of Taba's Shop!"
Lucy looked slightly taken aback; she wasn't accustomed to receiving things for free—and neither was Beatrice. Yet, neither felt any compulsion to return the favor or decline the gift.
"Thank you! Have a wonderful day."
With that, the two walked away from the stall, sipping their iced orange juice. "It's delicious and refreshing!"
Lucy's tone was filled with delight and vitality—a stark contrast to Beatrice, who downed her entire drink in one go, even consuming the ice cubes along with it.
Lucy stared at her, bewildered.
"Are you actually human, Beatrice? Or just a doll crafted to look exactly like one?"
Beatrice looked up at Lucy, held her gaze for a few seconds, and then pointed toward a spot nearby.
"Isn't that Yuta Caseral? He's with Privka—she's clinging to his arm, pressing her face against his shoulder, and looking right at you with a mischievous glint in her eyes!"
Lucy's gaze snapped toward the direction Beatrice had indicated, her expression instantly darkening with a mix of anger and jealousy.
"Where is that... little...?!"
Lucy's face flushed with embarrassment as she scanned the nearly deserted street. She realized Beatrice had tricked her; Yuta was nowhere to be seen, and Privka was actually off training with Silesia, the Ruler of Love.
Lucy turned back to Beatrice, her face etched with clear indignation. Yet, she said nothing, and the two continued on their way without another word.
Elsewhere, Jian Yi was practicing the techniques of the Mount Hua Sect within a forest surrounding the city of Yospeakers.
He stopped abruptly, glancing around.
His expression shifted entirely, his eyes fixed on the depths of the woods.
"There is a danger lurking nearby—it could arrive at any moment!" Jian Yi's tone was sharp as he returned his sword to its sheath.
He placed his hand upon the ground, unleashing a wave of energy that swept across an area eight kilometers in diameter in a mere four seconds.
Jian Yi kept his eyes closed for several moments before opening them, a pinkish glow emanating from his gaze.
"The enemy is approaching! Several Beast Sovereigns are heading our way—they will arrive in two hours at the latest!"
Jian Yi set off toward the city of Uspeakers at the speed of light, reaching it in no more than two seconds.
Yorichi encountered Gray and Seok along his path and spoke in as calm a tone as he could muster:
"An enemy is approaching. Five 'Beast Sovereign'-level monsters are heading our way!"
Shock washed over everyone's faces; Beast Sovereigns were terrifying entities—even those at the 'Master Sovereign' rank could be killed by them with absolute ease.
What added to their bewilderment was that Beast Sovereigns typically inhabit separate dimensions and have no interest in humans. Furthermore, each Beast Sovereign harbors deep-seated hostility toward the others.
Thus, the fact that they had gathered into a single group was not only shocking but also fraught with unimaginable danger.
Nevertheless, the belief that Reinhardt was present in the city offered them some solace, easing the immense pressure weighing on their hearts.
"Very well. We must inform the ruler of Yospeakers City, as well as the rest of our companions. Jian Yi and I will head to the ruler's residence, while you two—Gray and Seok—should gather the others."
Yorichi's tone remained calm and composed.
Stunned, they listened to his instructions. Gray and Seok set off to locate their companions, while Yorichi and Jian Yi departed for the residence of the ruler of Yospeakers City.
As they read the chapter, everyone's gazes turned toward Lucy, filled with bewilderment—all the while overlooking the situation involving Decimus, who was currently locked in battle with Reinhardt. Had Reinhardt possessed the tool capable of boosting his power by a single level, Decimus would have been dead long ago.
The same principle applied to them; the gap between the ranks of the "Boundless" and those above them could not be bridged by mere talent or techniques designed to enhance one's strength.
The three lunged toward Reinhardt with blinding speed, launching a coordinated, three-pronged assault that sent him flying several meters back, blood spilling from his mouth.
Reinhardt glared at them with undisguised contempt; their fighting style was utterly base and unfair. Four combatants of his own rank were ganging up on him—and even without them employing any of their special abilities, he felt his life was in genuine peril.
Yet, none of them struck him directly—a fact that left him puzzled.
Throughout the skirmish, they had avoided targeting his vital points, and from time to time, they even allowed him a moment to catch his breath.
Were they planning something?
A look of shock crossed his face as he recalled the beginning of the fight, when he had asked them what their objective was in attacking him.
................
Reinhardt studied them for several seconds, scrutinizing each one, before asking:
"Who are you, and what on earth do you want from me?"
Each of them looked back at Reinhardt, faint, mocking smiles playing across their lips.
What did they want from him? Was that even a question worth asking?
The same thought crossed every one of their minds.
Decimus spoke, answering Reinhardt's question:
"Isn't it obvious?" "Do you think you're the only one who receives missions from the Ruler? Since you've been tasked with improving your relationship with your son, Yurichi de Moliar, and helping him overcome his complex—well, we've received a mission of our own that requires... actually, I won't tell you!"
................
A look of realization crossed Reinhardt's face as he watched them; he seized the moment to slip away and tend to his wounded body.
"So, they've received a Ruler's mission, just like me. It seems the objective isn't to kill me, but rather to delay or weaken me."
Reinhardt vanished, returning to his own universe at the speed of light—or so he thought, banking on their distraction.
A sly, mischievous smile spread across each of their faces as they watched Reinhardt retreat into his own realm.
"How amusing—truly,, immensely amusing!"
Iomi remarked, her tone laced with a cold, mocking irony.
The expressions of Amita Valeria and Decimus shifted as they turned toward Iomi, their faces now reflecting deep reverence and respect.
"Lady Iomi, your performance in this little play was magnificent! You played the role of the troublesome younger sister to perfection. Please forgive our impolite behavior—even if it was all just an act."
Decimus spoke with a tone full of profound respect.
A faint smile graced her lips—a smile that blended authority, wisdom, and cunning. She looked at them, then shifted her gaze toward Yuta and Gowther, who were watching her with calm, steady eyes. Amita Valeria, Decimus, and Hadrian approached Yuta and knelt on one knee. Amita Valeria spoke with profound respect:
"Revered Emperor of the Ruler's Path—Yuta, Great Creator—we have completed our mission. We thank you for assisting us in manipulating the narrative to make the play all the more realistic."
Yuta regarded them calmly. Nearby, Gother appeared somewhat bewildered; he turned toward Yuta, who, for his part, showed little interest in the other's confusion.
"Well done. You may return to the palace now."
Yuta spoke softly. Though his tone carried absolute authority, they felt no unease—they were accustomed to it, having watched him grow up from his earliest days.
Without another word, Amita Valeria, Decimus, and Hadrian departed for the Imperial Palace.
Oriana remained, fixing Yuta with a gaze full of intense annoyance and vexation, but he ignored her, turning his attention instead to the perplexed Gother.
"Did you learn anything from what you witnessed?"
Gother remained silent for several minutes, piecing together the events of the past few hours, before finally speaking:
"Yes. You assigned Reinhardt a task intended to help him overcome his complex regarding Yoriichi. You granted him the essence of a demon from a fantasy world, then had him face some of your subordinates—whose powers you had sealed to match his own." "After that, I manipulated the narrative to make it all seem realistic, ensuring no one would discover the existence of a conspiracy."
"What I've learned from everything that happened is that I must keep my trump cards and schemes hidden—never revealing them, even when I'm alone. But you do the exact same thing, so what's the difference between us?"
"I am stronger. Besides, I've issued a declaration: anyone who keeps me under surveillance will die."
Gowther's face registered sheer astonishment as he listened to Yuta's words; then, he opened a spatial rift.
"I must be off. Enjoy your family reunions, Mr. Yuta Caseral! Hahahaha!"
Gowther spoke with a mocking tone as he stepped through the rift that would lead him straight back to his own realm.
Yuta stared at the spot where Gowther had been standing for several seconds, then shifted his gaze toward Iyumi, who was glaring at him with intense annoyance and irritation.
Yuta let out a deep sigh, watching her for a few moments before walking toward her with steady, deliberate steps.
"How are you, Iyumi?"
"........"
Iyumi ignored him, turning her face away.
Slightly bothered by her petulant behavior, Yuta stepped closer and pulled her into an embrace, resting his chin atop her head.
"My cute little sister, Iyumi—stop acting like a child. You're over forty thousand years old, for heaven's sake!"
"Shut up! A terrible brother like you has no right to talk to me!"
Iyumi retorted, clearly vexed; she puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.
After all, she was the type of girl who felt deeply irritated and annoyed whenever she was ignored.
She tried to break free from Yuta's embrace, but failed every time she attempted to escape his strong arms. This only fueled her frustration, and she began flailing her arms and legs, desperate to get loose.
Yet, her childlike demeanor only made her look all the more adorable—even to Yuta—who then vanished from the spot, taking her along with him to his own private spiritual realm. Yuto's spiritual realm consisted of vast forests, teeming with monsters from various fantasy worlds—including those he had acquired after clearing the Dungeon of the Rulers' Tomb.
Yuto and Ayumi sat together on an elegant sofa.
Ayumi rested her head on Yuto's lap, while he gently stroked her hair.
"How are you doing, Yuto-nii? You've stayed in this world for so long—three whole years, in fact! And there's no guarantee you'll even return directly to the Imperial Palace."
Ayumi spoke with deep longing, tears streaming freely from her eyes.
"Even if you are a despicable scoundrel—a cunning, deceitful, selfish, greedy, and avaricious wretch—you're still my brother, and I love you dearly."
Yuto's expression held a hint of annoyance, yet his demeanor was a far cry from the cold indifference he typically showed his companions in the fantasy world.
Speaking with his family brought him a sense of peace, allowing him the freedom to express whatever was on his mind and in his heart.
He pinched Ayumi's cheek, offering a warm smile.
"You really ought to show some respect for your older brother, Ayumi. It seems Sira, Kira, and Lira are better behaved than you—they actually show some manners!"
Ayumi's face flushed with jealousy as she clutched her reddened cheek.
"I'm the best little sister—got that?"
"Hahahaha! Alright, alright—you certainly are." Yuta spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on Ayumi.
Ayumi rose from her seat at once.
"Well, brother, I must be going now. Let's meet again soon, alright?"
With that, Ayumi vanished, heading toward the Imperial Palace without even waiting for Yuta's reply.
Yuta's expression returned to its customary coldness; then, he too disappeared, leaving his own spiritual realm behind and setting off toward the city of Yusbikers.