Chapter 283: Karma (II)

Mwah!♡~

“Mmnh…” Vivian sighed softly when my lips pressed back to hers, but soon Maria’s hand pulled at my chin, stealing a kiss for herself.

Her lips were soft, sweet, and almost clumsy compared to Vivian’s sultry skill.

“Hmnn…” I groaned lightly as another set of lips pressed against mine, Mia, forceful and passionate, biting my lower lip before shoving her tongue inside.

But something strange about all of them… was that they always cleaned my lips with magic before kissing them.

It looked like they were afraid of indirectly kissing another girl.

Ripple~~

Water splashed gently around us as their bodies pressed close. Vivian, still perched on my lap, didn’t back down either.

She wrapped her arms tighter around my neck, kissing along my jaw while Maria’s fingers slid across my chest, tracing slow lines downwards.

It was chaos.

Their breaths, their warmth, their lips… all tangled with mine.

But suddenly, Mia froze. Her eyes snapped open mid-kiss as if something had just hit her mind.

“Wait!” she gasped, breaking away.

I raised an eyebrow, my lips still wet with their kisses.

“What is it now?”

“Isabella! She called you to her court, remember?” Mia huffed, cheeks red, as she pressed a palm to my chest.

My expression stiffened slightly.

“…When should I arrive?”

“The fastest you can,” Mia replied without hesitation, her eyes sharp and serious despite the blush still on her face.

…The fastest?

Is it really that urgent?

I narrowed my eyes slightly, brushing damp hair back from my forehead.

“Did Isabella say what she wanted?”

No… she didn’t explain.” Mia frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. “She just had this really serious expression, almost cold. She only said it was urgent.”

…Strange.

“For Isabella to look like that… it must be important.” Vivian’s arms remained wrapped around me, but her gaze softened with a trace of worry as she spoke.

Maria bit her lip, her fingers resting on my thigh, but not moving teasingly like before.

“…It almost feels like something’s wrong.”

I exhaled slowly, my eyes drifting up to the carved ceiling above the bath.

A serious Isabella wasn’t something to take lightly.

“…Urgent, huh?”

The water rippled softly around us, petals brushing against my skin, as I rose directly from the bathtub, stepping out of it.

Fwip~

A faint shimmer passed over me, and a set of simple, casual clothes wrapped themselves across my frame.

One step forward, and…

Fwoosh!

The bathroom vanished.

In the blink of an eye, I stood in the grand central hall of the Royal Palace.

The massive chamber stretched endlessly, banners of light and shadow draping its towering pillars.

Rows of high figures sat in silence, their gazes all turning toward me at once.

I recognized some immediately.

Christina…

My heart ached a little every time I saw her, and judging by the way her eyes were looking at me…

She, too… was probably hurt by her own actions, but now, she should simply suffer the consequences.

Across from her sat the Elven Emperor, his emerald crown resting lightly on his head as his sharp gaze narrowed.

And the moment I met his gaze, he frowned slighly.

There was also the Beast King, and the Dwarf Emperor… but those two didn’t dare to meet my gaze.

Dozens of other dignitaries, lords, and rulers filled the hall. All their gazes sharpened when I appeared, but I ignored them without hesitation.

I took another step.

Fwoosh!

I appeared directly at Isabella’s side.

Her icy expression softened the moment her eyes fell on me, just a little… like winter easing into spring.

“…You came,” she whispered softly.

I simply nodded, and then her gaze swept across the other people present.

“A Divine Gate has been opened…” she paused for a moment, her green eyes sweeping across the gathered rulers, “…right beside the Grand Canyon.”

The entire chamber stirred.

“What?!” Christina’s voice broke in disbelief.

Her golden aura flared for a split second before she quickly restrained it.

“That’s impossible! Divine Gates don’t appear in the mortal realm unless—”

“—Unless someone forced it open.” The Elven Emperor finished coldly, his deep voice carrying weight.

His long, green robes shimmered faintly, but his brows furrowed. “And even then, it should have required divine authority.”

Whispers started spreading across the room.

BAAM!

The Dwarf Emperor slammed his fist onto the stone table, his voice rumbling like an earthquake.

“Bah! Do you fools not see what this means?! If a Divine Gate opened here, then the order of our world is cracking! That cursed gate is the bridge of chaos itself!”

I said nothing about this fact.

Yennefer…

The thought passed through my mind silently.

…She finally ascended to the Divine Realm.

Isabella’s voice cut sharply again, quieting the room.

“And that is not all.”

Everyone’s eyes turned back to her.

“At the same time, the Divine Gate appeared… the Demon Kingdom struck. Their armies launched a full offensive at the rear of the Dwarf Kingdom.”

The Dwarf Emperor’s teeth ground together audibly. His massive yet small frame leaned forward as his eyes burned furiously.

“Aye! My western fortresses are in flames as we speak! The cowards crept through the Black Marsh while our eyes were fixed on the Gate. Half my generals are already engaged in battle!”

He gritted his teeth and spat to the side, his beard shaking with rage.

“Those blasted demons… always skulking like rats in the shadows. They think we’ll fall so easily?!”

“Wait,” Christina leaned forward, her golden eyes narrowing.

“If they struck at the Dwarves the moment the Gate appeared, then this isn’t a coincidence. It’s coordinated. Someone planned this.”

The Elven Emperor’s face darkened, his elegant fingers tapping on the armrest of his chair.

“…Then the true aim of the demons may not be conquest, but distraction.”

The Dwarf Emperor gave a heavy growl.

“Distraction or not, my warriors bleed even now! I’ll hear no talk of riddles until I’ve crushed those horned bastards into the ground!”

But Isabella’s voice cut sharper than ever.

“No… You need to listen.”

The chamber fell into silence again.

Her silver hair shimmered faintly as her gaze grew cold.

“Because the attack isn’t random. The Demon King isn’t aiming at your cities or fortresses. From what I’ve seen, he is aiming for Yggdrasil itself.”

A heavy stillness crashed over the hall.

“Yggdrasil?!” Christina’s voice trembled, her eyes widening. “The World Tree… the source of all life in this realm…”

The Dwarf Emperor’s jaw tightened.

“…He seeks the roots beneath thy mountains.”

“And if he finds it,” Isabella continued gravely, “…he intends to consume Yggdrasil. To use its source… to turn himself into a god.”

A deafening silence followed.

… That’s interesting, I thought only Yumi and Yennefer knew about that method to ascend.

Clatter!

The Elven Emperor’s goblet fell from his hand, crashing against the marble floor and spilling wine across the glowing runes carved into the table.

His entire body froze, every muscle locked stiff.

The air seemed to solidify as every gaze in the hall turned to him.

“…What?” Christina whispered.

The Elven Emperor’s lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first.

His normally composed face had gone pale. His long fingers gripped the armrest so hard the wood cracked.

The silence pressed heavily.

All eyes drilled into him, waiting for him to say something.

“Huff… huff…”

And after taking a few yet nervous breaths, the Elven Emperor finally spoke.

“…The World Tree… Yggdrasil…” His throat tightened as if the words themselves hurt to speak.

“…It has… disappeared.”

The chamber erupted instantly.

“What?!” Christina shot to her feet, golden light spilling off her body in sharp waves.

“Impossible! Yggdrasil is the root of our realm! If it had vanished, the balance of life itself would—”

“—We would have felt it!” the Dwarf Emperor bellowed, beard bristling as his fists slammed the table hard enough to crack stone.

“The rivers, the mines, the earth beneath my mountains—none of it has changed! What nonsense are you spewing, Elf?!”

The Elven Emperor shut his eyes tightly, shame twisting his features.

“…And yet, it is true. The sacred site where Yggdrasil stood is barren. No roots. No trunk. Not even ash. It has been… taken.”

Murmurs and shouts erupted across the hall, disbelief and fear twisting into one.

“Taken?!”

“Who could possibly—?!”

“This cannot be! This shakes the foundation of the world itself!”

Even Isabella’s calm face faltered, her eyes narrowing sharply.

“…If that is true, then the Demon King’s movements make perfect sense. He must already know.”

“And if he reaches whoever possesses it… he will ascend.” Christina’s voice trembled with fury.

The hall vibrated with panic, fear, anger… all of them struggling to grasp the weight of the Elven Emperor’s words.

All except me.

I leaned back slightly, folding my arms.

Because while they lost their composure, I already knew the truth.

Yggdrasil hasn’t vanished.

It was with me.

But despite that, I said nothing about that fact. My lips simply curled faintly as I watched their desperate expressions.

It’s not that I’m a sadist… but seeing these guys who had tried so hard to kill me before, falling into a state of despair…

It felt… exhilarating.

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