Vandalieu had meticulously prepared various scenarios for handling the Sauron Duchy, but ultimately, the path forward depended on Elizabeth’s true desires.

If she wanted the duchy—if she wished to protect it and see it flourish—that would guide his actions. If she didn’t care, if she thought “whatever happens is fine,” that too would shape his approach.

But even if Elizabeth showed no interest, Vandalieu and his companions would not actively seek to destroy or abandon the Sauron Duchy. As a devout follower of Vida who upheld the sanctity of love and life, Vandalieu would never willingly trample on innocent lives.

If that were the case, he would have isolated the former Scylla Autonomous Region and conducted only the occasional concert by Kanako and her group, accompanied by Darcia’s visits. Vandalieu himself would have roamed the land, guiding lost souls as he did in other duchies. Even with the added complexity of the Sauron Duchy’s shared border with the Mirg shield-nation—a vassal of their enemy, the Amid Holy Empire—he would have proceeded with caution.

In the event of war, sparked by an invasion from the Amid Holy Empire, Vandalieu would have responded appropriately. He would act as an ally of the Orbaume Kingdom, offering support akin to that of a normal allied nation—providing supplies and arranging reinforcements through the Adventurers’ Guild. But that would be the extent of his involvement.

He would not deploy Knochen as a mobile fortress or send Borkus and Vigaro rampaging across the battlefield. Nor would Sam be summoned to aid in transporting supplies.

Of course, he would do everything possible to protect those he had guided and lend his strength to reclaim lands seized by the Empire. But by that time, the government of the Sauron Duchy would likely have collapsed.

To Vandalieu, Rudel Sauron and his allies held no value. They had abandoned Iris and the other members of the “Liberating Princess Knight” resistance. With Gufadgarn’s Transfer Gates, Cuatro’s aerial capabilities, and Sam’s swift transport, Vandalieu did not need the Sauron Duchy as a strategic asset in his inevitable confrontation with the Amid Holy Empire—or more precisely, with Alda, the god of law and fate, and his champion, Heinz.

Some of Vandalieu’s companions, like Kasim, hailed from the Sauron Duchy, but their home villages had been destroyed during the Empire’s invasion and no longer existed. For Iris and the resistance, their home villages had also ceased to exist within the duchy.

From the Amid Holy Empire’s perspective, conquering the Sauron Duchy would not offer a direct route to invade the Vidal Demon Empire, protected as it was by the formidable Boundary Mountain Range. This geographical barrier may have deterred them from causing significant trouble. However, the duchy’s high concentration of Vida worshippers might tempt the Empire to attack, hoping to split Vandalieu’s forces by forcing him to intervene.

Neither Darcia nor the others objected to Vandalieu’s plan. They trusted that he would step in if the Amid Holy Empire’s soldiers resorted to massacring civilians. Moreover, they believed that regardless of the extent of the Empire’s military efforts, any invasion would be short-lived. Everything would hinge on the outcome of Vandalieu’s battle with Alda.

This indicated that Vandalieu was prepared to accept limited casualties as long as they did not escalate to widespread slaughter. A brief conflict, in his view, was tolerable.

Vandalieu had withheld these thoughts from Elizabeth until the last possible moment. He wanted her decision to be her own, uncolored by his influence.

He did not believe Elizabeth’s destiny was set in stone. He did not think she had to become the duchess, nor did he believe that living a peaceful life was necessarily the best path for her.

All he wanted was for Elizabeth to live the life she chose for herself. The same wish extended to Mahelia, Zona, Macht, Juseph, and Taurus.

But Elizabeth, true to her determined nature, chose to become the duchess. Though she had lamented “I don’t want to graduate” after the ceremony, deep down she had already resolved to accept the role.

The proof was in her silence. She hadn’t said, “I don’t want to become the duchess.” If she had, Vandalieu could have done something—even manipulating Rudel into being a puppet or appointing Viidar as a figurehead.

And so, in that moment, Vandalieu shared his thoughts to support her choice.

T/N: A brief reminder: Viidar is Rudel’s brother. He played a key role in the power struggle for control of the Sauron duchy, spreading vicious rumors about Elizabeth’s mother. However, he ultimately ended up pleading for Vandalieu’s mercy. His name resembles—and is pronounced similarly to—the Vidal Demon Empire. To avoid confusion, I’ve opted for “Viidar” to distinguish it.

<<<< ++++ >>>>

Vandalieu stood in the castle of the Sauron Duchy. He had arranged a meeting in a manner unbefitting a leader of a friendly nation, sending a blunt message: “I have important matters to discuss, be here at this time.” Now, he occupied the castle’s conference room with several of his subordinates, while Rudel and his closest aides sat before him, their feet shackled to prevent escape.

“If you have any spies infiltrating the Amid Holy Kingdom or its vassal states, please recall them immediately,” Vandalieu ordered, his voice steady and unyielding.

“W-what’s this all of a sudden!?”

“Wait a moment! This doesn’t make sense!”

Rudel and his group, with their hands free but their feet shackled to prevent escape, were confused and terrified by the sudden demand.

“Wait, didn’t I already step down from the position of duke?” Rudel protested.

“From now on, you will serve as civil officials supporting Elizabeth-sama,” Vandalieu declared. “Whether you do so alive or dead is up to you. What’s your choice?”

“I’ll serve while alive!” Rudel shouted, his voice high with panic.

“I too, while alive!” another aide chimed in hastily.

“Me as well—certainly while alive!” a third added, nodding furiously.

They knew instinctively that refusal would mean being turned into undead. Realizing this, Rudel and his aides quickly voiced their willingness to be rehired as civil officials. Elizabeth, however, would still be assigned a different, trustworthy undead official—one who had once been a prime minister and was now fully disguised.

“Indeed, we have spies in place,” the noble in charge of intelligence admitted reluctantly. “But recalling all of them could disrupt the false identities and networks they’ve built. It might put their lives at risk if they’re exposed.”

Vice General Kurt stepped in, his expression hard. “His Majesty intends to completely seal off the border between the Sauron Duchy and the Amid Holy Kingdom. That’s why he wants them recalled now, before it’s too late.”

“…Huh?”

Sealing the border. The very idea was absurd given the current state of the world and the technological limits of humanity.

The “border” was vast and complex, stretching across plains, rivers, forests, mountains, and dangerous Devil’s Nests—areas infested with monsters. While it was possible to secure fortresses and checkpoints along main roads, building a continuous wall and stationing troops along the entire border was beyond reason.

Rudel and the noble who had overseen the intelligence organization exchanged glances, certain they must have misheard.

“If it’s just a matter of tightening security, we have secret routes that our operatives can use. It shouldn’t be a problem,” the head of intelligence said, trying to sound confident.

“Unlike those engaged in illegal smuggling, our spies are trained to enter and exit even during the strictest controls,” a close aide added, nodding.

But Kurt’s next words shattered their assumptions.

“That’s why I’m telling you,” Kurt said with a grim smile, “His Majesty plans to change the very shape of the Boundary Mountain Range to seal the border completely. Maybe A-class adventurers could make it through, but you don’t have operatives that skilled, do you?”

Total border closure meant exactly that.

“If this will take time,” Vandalieu said, unfazed, “I’ll open a [Transfer Gate]. Now, tell me the passwords and signals needed to reach their current locations.”

Gufadgarn’s silent presence confirmed that Vandalieu had no intention of letting this process drag out.

<<<< ++++ >>>>

As he watched the earth trembling and groaning, Miles Rouge, the vampire known by the epithet “Kiss” and currently the president of the Starving Wolf Security Company, recalled words he had once spoken himself.

He had confidently said that one day, the Boss would be capable of moving even the Boundary Mountain Range.

“Back then, I wasn’t joking at all—I was serious,” Miles muttered, eyes wide as he watched. “But seeing the mountain range actually moving makes me shudder.”

Before him, a section of the Boundary Mountain Range writhed like a colossal serpent, shifting steadily from south to north. The peaks soared thousands of meters into the sky. From this distance, he could see the entire spectacle, but being any closer would have forced him to flee without the luxury of awe.

High above the mountains, something darted through the air. It was difficult to make out at this distance, but he suspected they were Wyverns or perhaps Hurricane Dragons.

The Boundary Mountain Range was full of Devil’s Nests, teeming with monsters. Not just the lands it divided, but the range itself housed countless creatures now thrown into chaos by the sudden upheaval. If ordinary adventurers or knights found themselves caught up in this, survival would be impossible.

But Vandalieu, riding Sam alongside Bakunawa and Pete, was an unstoppable force. Any monsters that dared fly too close were swiftly devoured.

Meanwhile, ground forces led by Kasim and Hendriksen, who had arrived in the Sauron Duchy for Miriam’s live performance, were already positioned at strategic points along the border. Backed by Demons, Undead, and Privel accompanied by other Scylla, they ensured that monsters escaping from the Devil’s Nests wouldn’t reach human settlements.

As for the Mirg shield-nation, soon to be entirely cut off by the shifting mountain range—they would have to manage on their own. After all, they prided themselves on their fortresses.

From the perspective of their adversaries, the Orbaume Kingdom and the Vidal Demon Empire, this was no cause for concern.

“Still, even from here, I can see scores of monsters bursting out of the Devil’s Nests,” Miles remarked. “Is it because the ground beneath them is shifting? Or maybe…”

Perhaps the creatures weren’t just reacting to the movement itself but had fallen into a frenzied panic at the sight of Bakunawa, Pete, and Vandalieu wielding vast amounts of mana.

“If that’s the case, I almost feel sorry for the monsters. What do you all think? …Wait, am I the only one talking here?”

“Miles,” Iris said, glancing at their companions, “it seems Elizabeth-sama and the others are… unconscious with their eyes wide open.”

“Can’t blame them…”

The hilltop overlooking the border between the Sauron Duchy and the Mirg Shield Nation wasn’t occupied by Miles alone. Iris stood beside him, her father Nemesis George inhabiting the sword she carried. Elizabeth and her group were also present, though they remained frozen, staring blankly at the spectacle. They seemed to be paralyzed, perhaps even unconscious.

“I’m more worried about whether anyone’s caught up in this than I am about the monsters.” Miles said, “Knowing His Majesty, I’m sure he checked, but still…”

“There shouldn’t be any people in the mountain range,” Iris reassured him. “Only a fool would try to climb the Boundary Mountain Range—especially the part behind the former Scylla territory. Adventurers wouldn’t get that far unless they somehow escaped the ‘Headhunter.’”

“I see. Then the only ones who might be at risk are those near the border.”

“Even then, there shouldn’t be anyone on the Sauron side, Iris,” Nemesis George spoke from within the sword.

“We made sure we sent out warnings in advance,” Miles added. “And with the Boss leading at the front, even if there were any stragglers, they’d be safe.”

The section of land through which the mountain range now carved its path lay between the fortresses of the Sauron Duchy and the Mirg shield-nation. Though technically a border, the two nations were perpetual enemies. In their nearly 500-year history, they had signed armistice agreements multiple times but never a full ceasefire. In essence, they had agreed to “take a break from war,” but never to “end the conflict.”

If such adversaries had built checkpoints or fortresses directly adjacent to each other, minor skirmishes would have erupted frequently, leading to significant attrition and the potential for accidental escalation into full-blown war.

To avoid this, a buffer zone stretched between the borders marked on both nations’ maps—a no-man’s-land without clear ownership.

The mountain range was now advancing through this buffer zone. The only people who might be found there were adventurers collecting materials or criminals engaged in smuggling.

For the adventurers, warnings had been issued through the Adventurers’ Guild, urging them to stay clear of the buffer zone.

Of course, there was a chance that some adventurers had ventured out before seeing the notice and were still within the zone. There was also a slim possibility that hunters or herbalists had entered the buffer zone in search of game or medicinal herbs.

To prevent any such individuals from being caught in the shifting mountain range, Vandalieu and his group kept a vigilant watch at the front, ensuring no one was overlooked.

As for the smugglers, they hadn’t been a concern from the start.

“It’s truly remarkable,” Iris said, awe evident in her voice. “I thought I’d gained the power to alter terrain, but His Majesty’s ability is on an entirely different scale.”

“Of course it is,” Miles agreed with a knowing smile.

In this world, powerful beings capable of reshaping the landscape weren’t uncommon. B-class adventurers or Rank 7 monsters could demolish trees, rocks, and even buildings. A-class adventurers could split hills. If Iris wielded Nemesis George at full strength, she could cleave through a mountain and carve craters spanning hundreds of meters. Miles, too, possessed that level of destructive force.

But S-class adventurers like Randolph the “True,” the “Lightning” Schneider, and those comparable to S-class adventurers like the “Sword King” Borkus, the “Roaring Flames Killer” Bone Man, or former “Majin King” Godwin could change the terrain on an even grander scale. Gods like Luvesfol and Fidirg held similar power.

However, these feats were all through destruction. Only Vandalieu could alter the landscape itself—reshaping mountains several thousand meters high and extending them into a wall. Skilled mages could shift terrain, but not on such a colossal scale.

“Wait a minute!” Elizabeth’s voice cut through the stunned silence. “Is this really safe?”

“I’ve heard about a barrier on the Boundary Mountain Range—can we move it without consequences?” one of her friends chimed in.

“And what about the ground and underground water veins? Won’t this cause major disruptions?” another added anxiously.

Elizabeth and the others, having snapped out of their daze, bombarded Miles and Iris with questions.

“Good questions,” Miles said, nodding approvingly.

He turned his gaze to Macht and the others, who looked uneasy, exchanging glances until Juseph finally spoke up.

“Wouldn’t moving such a massive mountain range affect the climate? Couldn’t that cause problems?”

It was a fair question. Terrain influenced not just the surface but underground structures and even weather patterns. In this world, such knowledge was considered advanced, known only to scholars and specialized mages. Even among them, many lacked a comprehensive understanding if their studies were unrelated.

Miles himself had learned this through casual conversations with Vandalieu after joining him and from reading documents summarizing the research of past creation oriented heroes within the Boundary Mountain Range.

“There’s no need to worry,” Miles reassured them. “As for the barrier, His Majesty is only moving the sections that aren’t protected by it.”

The barrier established by Vida’s faction of gods served to hide their presence from Alda’s forces and Rodcorte. However, it didn’t cover every peak in the Boundary Mountain Range.

The barrier consumes less resources if the area it covers is narrower. Therefore, the gods of Vida’s faction have set up the barrier starting from the innermost mountains. As a result, moving the other mountains doesn’t affect the barrier.

“And about the ground issue,” Miles continued “the Boss isn’t just turning the mountain range into a golem and changing its shape to extend it. At the same time, he’s using [Golem Creation] to create bedrock to support the mountains on the ground where the mountain range will be placed as he moves forward.”

If the mountain range caused major ground subsidence after being moved—because it couldn’t support the mountains’ weight—their elevation would decrease, making them easier to cross. This would defeat the purpose of moving them. Worse, if the shift compressed underground water veins, it would cause wells in the Sauron Duchy’s villages and cities to run dry.

That’s why Vandalieu is moving the mountain range while devising ways to create bedrock so that the mountains don’t sink. Although the details weren’t explained, it seems he’s not just laying bedrock on the ground, but creating something like bedrock pillars to avoid underground water veins.

“I see. As expected of His Majesty. I don’t really understand, but I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Iris said, nodding.

It seems Iris didn’t quite understand.

“Iris, you…” Miles sighed.

“No, it’s all Godwin’s fault,”, Nemesis George’s voice muttered from the sword.

Miles inwardly shook his head, wondering if Iris had always been this disappointing, while Nemesis George defended her, saying that his daughter was just busy with desk work as the queen of the Majin nation and wasn’t actually ignorant.

“As for the weather,” Miles added, “I’m sure His Majesty has it under control. He wouldn’t risk droughts or floods. This is going to be your territory, after all.”

If Vandalieu’s only goal had been to cut off the Mirg shield-nation—the Amid Holy Empire’s vassal—from the Orbaume Kingdom, he wouldn’t go to such lengths.

Miles and Iris know that Vandalieu tries to help even people whose names and faces he doesn’t know if he has the capacity. However, he won’t sacrifice those he knows and is close to for that purpose.

All of this is being done because this land will become territory governed by Elizabeth.

“W-well, I’m grateful and happy about that,” Elizabeth said, blushing as she spoke. “But there’s one more thing I want to ask.”

“Go ahead,” Miles said, curious.

“If he does something like this, won’t he be treated even less like a human? What does he plan to do about that? You know, Vandalieu dislikes being treated like a god, right?”

Miles’ smile faltered. He glanced back at the slowly shifting mountain range. A feat this monumental was unfolding in plain sight, undeniably beyond human capability.

Moreover, any inconveniences that might have occurred later due to this are being prevented in advance by the one carrying it out. Truly the work of a god. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think so… no, normally one would think so. Even Miles himself, before meeting Vandalieu, would have believed that some divine power was at work.

“S-Surely he must have considered various implications…” Miles said, trailing off.

He wondered if Vandalieu brought Bakunawa and Pete along was not just to eliminate monsters that burst out, but also to show their appearance to people and substitute them as objects of divine reverence. As Miles was thinking about such things, Iris answered decisively.

“Miles, I’d bet on it. His Majesty hasn’t thought about anything,” she said, her eyes gleamed with unwavering trust and a deep bond with Vandalieu.

“Ah,” Miles said, sighing. “As expected.”

“But we probably shouldn’t tell him yet,” Iris added.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Elizabeth agreed. “If Van realizes it now and panics, who knows what might happen to the shape of the mountain range.”

<<<< ++++ >>>>

Name: Pete

Rank: 15

Species: Divine Steel Thundering Centipede Netherworld Beast King

Level: 1

• Passive Skills

Hunger Resistance: Lv 3

Self-Enhancement: Subordination: Lv 3 (UP!)

Deadly Poison Secretion (Neurotoxin): Jaw Horns: Lv 7 (UP!)

Wind Attribute Nullification Physical Enhancement: Exoskeleton, Horns: Lv 7 (UP!)

Superhuman Strength: Lv 8 (UP!)

Self-Enhancement: Guidance: Lv 10 (UP!)

Rapid Regeneration: Lv 10 (UP!)

Ability Score Enhancement: Predation: Lv 10 (UP!)

Dark Vision Subordinate Enhancement: Lv 5 (NEW!)

• Active Skills

Stealth: Lv 1

Charge: Lv 7 (UP!)

Limit Break: Lv 5 (UP!)

Hundred Shells Technique: Lv 1 (Awakened from Armor Technique!)

Thunderclap: Lv 8 (UP!)

Coordination: Lv 8

High-Speed Movement: Lv 3 (UP!)

Familiar Spirit Demonfall: Lv 4 (UP)

Size Reduction: Lv 6 (UP!)

• Unique Skills

Dragon God Devourer: Lv 2 (UP!)

Zanalpadna’s Divine Protection

Vandalieu’s Divine Protection

<<<< ++++ >>>>

● Monster Explanation: Divine Steel Thundering Centipede Netherworld Beast King Author: Luciliano

Pete’s species, which has joined the ranks of the Beast Kings after ranking up to Rank 15.

A monster becoming a Beast King is unprecedented, and if I hadn’t confirmed it myself, I would have dismissed it as “theoretical speculation bordering on delusion.” This is because Beast Kings are the children of the great god Ganpaplio, the “Beast God,” who was born simultaneously with Vida and Alda, and they represent the kings of birds, beasts, fish, and other creatures. They are beings completely unrelated to monsters.

There are Beast Kings who, like the Boar Beast King, defected to the Demon King’s army and became the ancestors of monsters.

However, there has never been an example of a monster ranking up to become a Beast King. Well, to begin with, there’s no reliable data on Rank 15 monsters outside of unverified legends and myths. According to Gufadgarn, monsters of Rank 14 or higher barely existed even when the former Demon King Guduranis was leading the Demon King’s army.

At that time, monsters were treated like common soldiers by the evil gods of the Demon King’s army. While they did create facilities to mass-produce and raise monsters like dungeons, they were viewed as disposable forces. And after Bellwood and the others were summoned, monsters were defeated one after another, making it difficult for them to surpass Rank 13, which was equivalent to their evil god creators.

There were cases of individuals created with a purpose from the start or raised as a hobby by their evil god masters, but these were apparently very small in scale compared to the whole.

It’s quite ironic that it became easier for monsters to live after the sealing of the former Demon King, who was the ruler of their creator masters.

Pete’s transformation into a Beast King might be indicating a new way of existence for monsters under the new Demon King, Master, and his rule.

By the way, although he has joined the Beast Kings, it seems he can still operate on the surface as before, being both a Beast King and a monster.