A huge thank you to Yogi for being the very first sponsor of a chapter! 🎉 Honestly, I got so excited by your support that I ended up finishing the translation in record time—one day! Your contribution gave me that extra push, and I hope you and everyone else enjoy reading the chapter as much as I enjoyed working on it.
Here’s to more chapters (and maybe more speed runs) in the future! 😄

After three days spent moving the mountain range, Vandalieu was now making fine adjustments. The new formation, now called the Ark Mountain Range, presented a unique challenge that the Boundary Mountain Range had not.

“Unlike the Boundary Mountain Range, the airspace above the Ark Mountain Range isn’t a Devil’s Sky,” he noted. “This makes it defenseless against aerial enemies.”

A Devil’s Sky is an airspace transformed into a Devil’s Nest due to intense mana contamination. In these regions, gravity shifts unpredictably, sometimes allowing islands to float, or even clouds to become solid surfaces that one can walk on. The very air itself can turn toxic or unbreathable, creating a hostile and twisted environment that is as hazardous as it is surreal. In deeper levels of contamination, space itself begins to warp and twist into a maze without walls, where even entering could be fatal.

Creatures born to survive in these environments thrive amid these chaotic skies. Monsters adapted to Devil’s Skies include bird-like creatures, dragons like wyverns, giants such as Cloud Giants, as well as bizarre entities like Gizmos—cloud monsters—and Stalkers, gas-bodied specters that float eerily through the poisoned air. Undead like skeletons and zombies also lurk, haunting the air. These monsters navigate effortlessly through spaces where a shift in movement might mean that down becomes up, or left shifts to right, turning the air into a perilous battleground. For most adventurers, even highly skilled ones, navigating these skies is a death sentence.

These Devil’s Skies hover several thousand meters above the ground, making them challenging to even reach. The lower portions float around two thousand meters, barely within reach of only the bravest, most skilled adventurers. Consequently, few venture into these territories, and the Adventurers’ Guild has precious little information about what lies within them.

The reason the world isn’t entirely cloaked in these Devil’s Skies is due to the difficulty of sustaining high mana levels in the air. It’s easier for mana to settle in water than in air, making it harder for Devil’s Skies to form. Typically, these tainted skies only develop above lands that are already heavily contaminated by mana, like the Demon Continent or the Demon King’s continent, where the ground is so saturated with mana that it seeps upwards, contaminating the air. They can also form above mountain ranges like the Boundary Mountain Range, where high-altitude peaks have been transformed into Devil’s Nests that reach up into the clouds.

In other regions, however, the sky remains relatively untouched. Even if the monsters in a Devil’s Sky were to go berserk, their distance from the ground means that they rarely threaten those below. Because of this, few nations see the need to invest funds or resources into exploring or subjugating these sky-bound nests. Only a small number of adventurers, drawn by fame or the thrill of adventure, have dared to enter Devil’s Skies over the course of thousands of years, leaving humanity with only fragments of knowledge about these dangerous realms.

On the Demon Continent, however, the Devil’s Skies offer something practical—food. Diana, the “Moon Giant,” leads volunteers on hunts there, finding it easier to secure provisions above ground than in the dangerous lands below.

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

As Vandalieu continued making adjustments to the mountain range, Sam observed, “It would have been convenient if the Devil’s Skies had moved along with the mountain range.”

Indeed, the Devil’s Skies still hovered over the Boundary Mountain Range’s original location, separate from the newly formed Ark Mountain Range. The skies and the mountains were not bound as one, making the transition incomplete.

“But even with Devil’s Skies, wouldn’t it be no obstacle at all for the ‘Five Colored Blades’ or the ‘Fifteen Evil-Crushing Swords’ that Vandalieu is wary of?” Bilde, who had switched with Kachiya, asked.

“Well, you might be right,” Vandalieu replied. “Devil’s Skies are challenging for regular adventurers, but for A-rank adventurers or those on a similar level, passing through isn’t too difficult, but that’s only if they have a way to reach it.”

Devil’s Skies are populated by monsters of ranks up to 10, which wouldn’t pose much of a challenge for seasoned fighters like Heinz and the elite members of the “Fifteen Evil-Crushing Swords.” Yet, this had been part of Vandalieu’s plan all along. He explained, “If they kill monsters there, those monsters will become spirits, which will then inform me of their presence.”

To make this work, Vandalieu has set up a system where spirits generated in the Boundary Mountain Range are immediately guided to him by placing Demon King Familiars and other clones in these mountains. He had already set up a similar system in the Ark Mountain Range as well. In other words, the monsters served as a living alarm system. Even for Heinz and his group, it should be impossible to pass through the mountain range without killing a single monster.

And since the Ark Mountain Range lacked Devil’s Skies, Vandalieu compensated by floating Demon King Familiars in the air and releasing numerous ghosts created from monster spirits. Although he’d considered turning the skies into Devil’s Skies using the [Demon King’s Evil Eye] and other powers, he decided to abandon the idea as it would have taken forever.

“Then, what if they come attacking by destroying the mountain range itself?” Kachia asked.

“If they do something as flashy as destroying the mountain range, that itself will serve as an alarm,” Vandalieu replied calmly. “In the first place, I’ve turned the mountain range itself into a golem, so if they split, crush, or make a big hole in the mountain range, they’ll end up killing a large number of monsters living in the mountain range, so I’ll definitely notice.”

While powerful warriors like Heinz and the elite among the “Fifteen Evil-Crushing Swords” might be able to destroy mountains, it wouldn’t be easy. They would have to use skills like [Heroic Descent] or [Limit Break], consuming vast amounts of stamina and mana just to bring down a single peak. The mountain range, now a giant golem, would sense such attempts immediately.

“And if they try to bypass it using space magic like [Teleport], Gufadgarn will stop them. There’s no human better at space-attribute magic than she is.”

“I shall certainly live up to the expectations of the great Vandalieu,” Gufadgarn pledged with a bow. The “Evil God of Labyrinths” was not one to overlook any attempt to slip past her through teleportation. Among Alda’s forces, no other god matched her mastery of space.

“Then is it alright?” Pauvina asked.

“Yes, it’s fine, Pauvina,” Vandalieu assured her. ”Though, I’m not that wary of a major offensive from a surprise attack.”

Juliana, who had led a unit of knights in her previous life, was surprised by this. “Why not? The enemy is the Amid Empire, even if they’ve changed their name. I believe we must not let our guard down.” (Juliana)

She knew, from her background as the youngest sister of the Alcrem ducal family, the dangers of underestimating an enemy state. But Vandalieu explained that this was a very different kind of threat from any traditional war she’d studied.

“The Amid Holy Nation’s goal is my life. It’s not military achievements, territory, treasure, or taking hostages to demand ransom.”

That’s because it’s not humans, but the “God of Law and Fate” Alda who is controlling the current Amid. Alda, being a god, unlike humans, wouldn’t weigh the politics and conflicts of interest between people, or the losses his country would bear and the benefits it would gain as a result of war. His single, unyielding aim was to eliminate Vandalieu.

“Of course, the people of the Amid Holy Nation will aim for those things too,“ Vandalieu continued, ”and for Alda, the Demon Empire that I rule and the current Orbaume Kingdom are obstacles, so they are targets of attack. But if they can’t kill me, it won’t be a victory for Alda.”

Thus, it was unlikely that they would waste resources on a surprise attack merely to weaken the Demon Empire. While such an attack might hurt his forces, it wouldn’t deliver a decisive blow, and the effort would likely exhaust them before they even reached him.

Heinz and the “Fifteen Evil-Crushing Swords” might be able to tear down a few mountains, but their energy and willpower weren’t infinite. Unlike Vandalieu, they lacked a way to rapidly restore their mana and strength, and facing him in a weakened state would be foolish.

However, he acknowledged that the Amid Holy Nation’s faction might feel pressed for time. If desperation drove them to a risky assault, he had prepared a series of countermeasures.

As one step, he had given divine protections to warriors of the High Goblin and High Kobold nations in the Boundary Mountain Range and taught them the [Familiar Spirit Demonfall] skill. If even a single warrior activated this skill, Vandalieu would know something was amiss, and the warriors’ powers would increase dramatically.

Since Demon King Familiars were stationed in each of these nations, they also acted as a reliable relay for transmitting information in the event of an attack.

“Then I have another question… Why drink Bilde’s blood but not ours?” Juliana asked, eyeing him with curiosity.

“That’s right, Van,” Pauvina chimed in. “Even Rowen-san came prepared, you know.”

“No, please, really don’t worry about me,” Rowen replied, waving her hands dismissively.

Inside Sam’s cargo area, Vandalieu was quietly replenishing his mana by drinking Bilde’s blood. Besides Bilde, Pauvina, Juliana, and Rowen, a swordswoman from the Drakonid nation, were also present. However, Vandalieu had not touched the others’ blood.

This wasn’t out of hesitation to drink blood from Pauvina, who was like a true sister to him, or Juliana, who was like a sister to her, or even Rowen, who was more of an acquaintance than a close friend.

“It’s simply because I haven’t lost much mana. I’m only doing fine adjustments now”, Vandalieu explained.

The heavy lifting was done right after Bilde’s contribution, so there was no need to draw blood from the others. Vandalieu didn’t feel awkward about drinking blood from friends or family; he even drank from his own mother, Darcia, without a second thought. By comparison, drinking from captured bandits was more like having a snack, neatly compartmentalized in his mind as entirely separate from his friends.

“Necessity doesn’t matter, just do it anyway, Van,“ Pauvina insisted, ”If we wait for an opportunity for you to drink blood to recover mana, we don’t know when the next time will be.”

Juliana, emboldened by Pauvina’s encouragement, added, “If you’re worried about our bodies, that’s unnecessary! We’re fully grown adults!” She puffed out her chest, her confidence causing her ample figure to bounce, with Pauvina following suit.

Vandalieu nodded earnestly, glancing up at the two towering figures. “Yes, I can see that. I’m really proud of how much you’ve both grown.”

He reflected on how far they’d come—Pauvina, who was born after they arrived in Talosheim, and Juliana, who had been reborn only two years prior. Pauvina had grown larger than him within a few months, and now stood over three meters tall. Juliana, too, had developed quickly and now appeared around fifteen years old in proportion, though her height was an imposing two meters. To those unfamiliar with the situation, the idea that Vandalieu was actually the oldest among them would sound absurd.

Watching Rowen, Juliana continued, “And if Rowen remains like this…”

“No, really, please don’t mind about me. I’ll knock down the elders of the country again when I get back.” (Rowen)

Rowen gritted her teeth, recalling the Drakonid elders who’d insisted she be sent to serve Vandalieu. “Really, it’s fine, please don’t mind me” she said, balling her fists. “I’ll just knock those old men down again when I get back.”

The elders of the Drakonid nation had gotten fired up saying, “We must also send someone from our country to be by Vandalieu-dono’s side!”. Apparently, she had knocked them down once before being sent.

Pauvina and the others continued pressing, finally convincing Vandalieu to accept. As his tongue stretched out, he muttered, “You’re right. It’ll help level up my [Blood Rule] skill, too. Alright, then… in order.”

His tongue branched into multiple needle-like proboscises, transforming into butterfly-like mouths, much to Rowen’s shock.

“Eh, wait a moment! I’m not really— Aah!”

As her voice rose in surprise, Bilde smiled to herself, murmuring, “Looks like we’re having stir-fried liver and chives tonight.”

To her, it’s a first experience that requires more iron than red rice.

T/N: In this scene, Bilde mentions “liver and chives stir-fry” instead of sekihan (red rice) as a playful twist. Traditionally, sekihan—red rice cooked with azuki beans—is served in Japan to celebrate important milestones, such as coming of age or a girl’s first menstrual period, symbolizing growth and new stages in life. Here, Bilde humorously swaps it out for an iron-rich dish, suggesting she’ll need it to recover after Vandalieu’s blood-drinking skill practice, as if marking a “first experience” of her own. It’s a cheeky play on both traditional celebrations and her rather unusual need for iron! 😆

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

Meanwhile, in the Mirg Shield-Nation, the arrival of reinforcements from the Amid Holy Nation had saved them from a crisis. Waves of monsters had poured in from the newly named Ark Mountain Range, but thanks to the reinforcements, the creatures were subjugated before they reached the towns and villages along the border. The local villagers celebrated, relieved to hear the threat had been neutralized. Farther from the border, citizens breathed sighs of relief as well.

For the high-ranking officials in the Mirg Shield-Nation, the relief was not just due to the monster subjugation; it was because the task had been handled by the powerful forces of the Amid Holy Nation. The Mirg Shield-Nation’s own fortresses, while robust and protected by elite troops, were built to fend off the Orbaume Kingdom’s army—not to contain monsters spilling over from the mountain range.

If the intruding monsters had been lesser ranks, such as Rank 5, 6, or even 7, their knights and garrison troops, experienced in monster combat, would have likely held them back. However, the situation became unexpectedly dangerous when Rank 10 Storm Dragons appeared—dragons so powerful that even skilled dragon knights couldn’t hold them at bay. Unlike typical wyverns, these Storm Dragons were equipped with storm-like breath attacks, tossing even the fiercest wyverns aside with ease, and their scales were harder than obsidian iron.

Heroes from the Amid Holy Nation arrived just in time, entering the desperate battle at the fortress and making quick work of the Storm Dragons, demonstrating power beyond anything Mirg’s own forces could muster. Their intervention not only minimized fortress damage but also saved nearby villages from ruin. Yet, this impressive display left the upper echelons of the Mirg Shiled-Nation wary—they had been shown the overwhelming power of the Holy Nation’s champions. The heroes dispatched by Amid could easily decimate monsters that their own forces struggled against, underscoring a sobering truth: should Mirg break free from the Amid Holy Nation, they would find themselves facing heroes they couldn’t hope to challenge.

Indeed, some of the upper echelons of the Mirg Shield-Nation had been planning independence from their suzerain state, predicting that the Amid Holy Nation would soon collapse. Originally, those considering independence were a minority within the Mirg Shield-Nation. However, this was when the suzerain state was the Amid Empire, which had established a solid system of control.

T/N: I used “suzerain” here to capture the relationship between the Amid Empire and the Mirg Shield Nation. A suzerain is like a “boss state” that lets its subordinate (Mirg) handle day-to-day stuff but keeps control over major things like defense. Think of Amid as the “overbearing landlord” who doesn’t live there but still calls all the shots!

The kanji used here is 宗主国 (sōshukoku):

• 宗 (sō) means “principal” or “main.”

• 主 (shu) means “lord” or “master.”

• 国 (koku) means “country.”

Altogether, it refers to a dominant nation with partial control over another.

But the rest of the upper echelon believed that even if they succeeded in gaining independence now, they would fall together with the Amid Holy Nation. After all, unlike other vassal states, the Mirg Shield-Nation shares a border with the Orbaume Kingdom. Even if they became independent, it’s unlikely that the Orbaume Kingdom would forget past grudges.

On the other hand, they didn’t think the Mirg Shield-Nation alone could defeat the Orbaume Kingdom. So, they thought they had no choice but to continue fighting Orbaume with the support of their suzerain state as before. That’s what the upper echelon was thinking… However, they soon realized that this plan would need major course correction.

The Mirg Shield-Nation is a shield against the Orbaume Kingdom. This was supposed to remain unchanged even after the Amid Empire changed its name to the Holy Nation. Until the day they occupied the Orbaume Kingdom and achieved their national policy of unifying the Bahn Gaia continent. However, that future was fragily closed off by the earth-shattering event of the mountain range moving.

For those within the Mirg Shield-Nation advocating for independence, this shift resolved one of their long-standing complaints: “Why are we forced to serve as a convenient shield, without receiving any real benefits?” Yet, paradoxically, the mountain range’s move had also stripped it of its very identity as a vassal state. The officials questioned whether they could even sustain war with the Orbaume Kingdom any longer. What would they do with their extensive forts and defenses? Would they be reduced to becoming an agricultural state—or worse, face the threat of national collapse?

While such questions were endless, according to the heroes, the Holy Nation, their suzerain state, had no intention of forcing anything on the Mirg Shield-Nation. Instead, they encouraged faith. This made them worry about the future of the Amid Holy Nation, but the upper echelon of the Mirg Shield-Nation decided to wait and see for now.

The situation had changed too drastically in too short a time. They were apprehensive about making a decision on whether to steer towards submission or independence.

“First and foremost, we must protect ourselves from the monstrous dragon and enormous centipede seen above the moving mountains,” declared the king of the Mirg Shield-Nation. “And from the Demon Empire of Vidal’s emperor who commands them.”

Of course, they don’t think they can avoid fighting Vandalieu by cutting ties with the Amid Holy Nation and surrendering to the Demon Empire of Vidal. This is because the Mirg Shield-Nation has a deep grudge with the Orbaume Kingdom, especially the Sauron Duchy, and they have a history of invading and destroying Talosheim two hundred years ago.

Moreover, in recent years, they carried out the Second Invasion of Talosheim. Although it was a war they couldn’t refuse due to the wishes of their suzerain state, it can’t be denied that the upper echelon at the time was also enthusiastic about it. Furthermore, the upper echelon vaguely realizes that the emperor of the Demon Empire of Vidal is the Dhampir, whose existence was whispered about at the time, who fled to Talosheim with a horde of ghouls.

Since there were no survivors from the invasion operation, they don’t have any reliable information. However, they couldn’t stop imagining the worst-case scenario for themselves. If they were in the position of the emperor of the Demon Empire of Vidal or the Duke of Sauron, they would never forget that grudge. Surrender would either be refused, or accepted with terms that would be far more severe than any they faced now.

In a very human-like way of thinking—measuring things by one’s own yardstick—the Mirg Shield-Nation’s upper echelon kept envisionning the worst case scenario. Yet, amidst all these doubts and calculations, they had overlooked a critical shift within their own ranks: many of their best soldiers and adventurers had already begun swearing loyalty not to the Mirg Shield-Nation, but to the Amid Holy Nation, having received divine protection that further distanced their loyalty from their homeland.

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

In the divine realm, Rodcorte was successively granting divine protections to new hero candidates.

“That’s right. You just need to do what you’re told—nothing more,” Alda ordered, his voice cold and unyielding. Standing next to Rodcorte with a stake in hand. To bolster his forces, he had loosened a few of the countless stakes he had driven into Rodcorte, giving him enough freedom to perform minimal movements. The threat was clear: if Rodcorte refused or tried to resist, the stakes would be driven in even deeper.

“Kuh, ma–“

“I don’t recall giving you permission to speak,” Alda interrupted sharply, driving the tip of the stake into Rodcorte’s forehead as he attempted to say something.

“—!!”

Rodcorte lets out a death-agony-like scream, but Alda continues to twist the stake, gouging Rodcorte’s forehead.

“I know you’re planning to deceive me again, but I won’t allow it,” Alda continued, “Your only task is to listen and obey. Say nothing, do nothing beyond my orders. I will not be deceived again.”

Alda had no intention of letting Rodcorte speak. Whether it was flattery or abuse, whatever it might be. If he didn’t let him do anything, he couldn’t be deceived or have conspiracies plotted against him.

(I closed the door to the divine realm at the bottom level of my dungeon in the Fazon Duchy. There’s no chance of Vandalieu invading it. But should I have some dungeons of the gods’ trials lowered on the Amid Holy Nation side? No matter how many divine protections we give to increase the heroes’ potential, it’s meaningless if they can’t gain experience to grow.)

And so, Alda continued his uncompromising pursuit of an ideal world that only he could envision, oblivious to the fact that Rodcorte’s Familiar Spirits were quietly acting independently of him.

T/N: Quick reminder that the familiar spirits mentioned here are Endou, Aran, and Izumi—former Bravers who became Rodcorte’s familiar spirits.

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

After finishing the final adjustments on the Ark Mountain Range, Vandalieu turned his attention to Elizabeth’s coronation ceremony. The construction of churches and hot spring towns was part of the Sauron Duchy’s new policy, a project that—at least publicly—was only being “supported” by Vandalieu. For it to officially begin, Elizabeth had to be recognized as duchess.

“Eli-chan, you’ve grown up so wonderfully… Darling, are you watching?” Amelia whispered, eyes misting with emotion.

“Yes, I’m watching closely with these very eyes,” Vandalieu replied.

“I’m watching from the right too,” chimed in one of Vandalieu’s Demon King Familiars.

“And firmly from the left as well,” added another.

“From the ceiling too.” a third echoed.

With the High Priest of the Vida Church in the Sauron Duchy stepping aside, Elizabeth recited her vows to Darcia, who then placed the crown upon her head.

Amelia teared up watching this scene, surrounded by multiple Vandalieus observing from beside her, from the left and right of the venue, and from the ceiling. Of course, the Vandalieus other than the one beside Amelia were Demon King Familiars. They were recording the coronation ceremony, Elizabeth and Darcia’s grand stage, from different angles to show later.

“[Goddess Descent]”

Responding to Darcia’s quietly muttered prayer, a pillar of light enveloped her—Vida herself descending. The awe from the attending Vida believers and the people gathered outside was palpable.

“Here, in the name of the ‘Goddess of Life and Love,’ I declare and bless the birth of the new Duke of Sauron,” Vida announced through Darcia, sealing her blessing with a gentle kiss on Elizabeth’s forehead. A soft glow suffused Elizabeth, her face radiant with gratitude.

“Th-thank you very much!” Elizabeth stammered, overcome. With this divine blessing, she became not just a duchess but one now recognized by Vida herself. Though previously little known to the people of Sauron, this blessing instantly garnered widespread support.

“Congratulations, big sister.” Bakunawa’s voice echoed.

“Gishaa! Gishaaaaaa!” Pete added his own resounding cheer.

Hovering just above the buildings, Bakunawa and Pete’s powerful presence cast a daunting shadow over any nobles or citizens who might have looked unfavorably on Elizabeth’s rule.

“Long live Lady Elizabeth Sauron!”

“Hooray! Long live Lady Elizabeth-sama!”

“We swear eternal loyalty in the name of the great Vandalieu-sama!”

And the crowd of undead praising Elizabeth outside the venue also exuded an unusual presence.

Outside, a crowd of undead joined the celebration with their own haunting praises. At the forefront was a zombie with a crooked neck and masked face—Urgen Tercatanis, once executed, now resurrected as an undead. Behind him followed a retinue of undead, each crafted from fallen criminals and villains that Vandalieu had vanquished across the Orbaume Kingdom. While many were former bandits and thugs, others had been criminal organization members skilled in accounting and administration. Now, they were undead civil officials, meticulously trained to serve with loyalty.

They are elite undead civil officials who could respond to Vandalieu’s difficult request, “Prioritize Elizabeth-sama over my orders.” They are adjusted so that if it’s Elizabeth’s order, they can disobey Vandalieu, their creator, even while shedding blood tears and suffering mental anguish. Without this measure, there was a risk they might misinterpret his intentions and interfere with her rule.

As they were, these undead civil officials were incorruptible, tireless, and unwavering in their loyalty. Their very existence served as a grim reminder to anyone considering betrayal or corruption that, “this is what happens if you betray.” Those contemplating taking advantage of a young, seemingly inexperienced duchess would undoubtedly think twice.

Thus, Elizabeth’s rule over the Sauron Duchy began on unshakeable ground, backed by divine blessing and the fearsome loyalty of Vandalieu’s elite undead retinue.