Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

The stares from Cleo, Luna, Aria, Sheila, and Mei grew increasingly sharp, so intense that Gina ducked right behind Dion’s shirt. Dion glanced over at Olga, who sat there looking utterly composed, apparently content to stay out of it after dropping that prophecy bomb. Dion decided to beat her to the punch.

"Is that prophecy actually real, Lady Olga?" Dion asked.

Olga didn’t answer right away. She leaned forward, picked up her book, opened it to a specific page, and set it down right in front of Dion.

"I didn’t believe the prophecy at first either. But after seeing this illustration, I believe it," Olga said.

Dion’s eyes widened. On the page was a hand-drawn copy of a ancient relief with descriptive text written beneath it. At a glance, the scene looked ordinary enough, farmlands, agriculture, a prosperous society, a grand palace, a king waving to his people, and several obelisks. It all seemed normal. But in the final panel, the entire view, the city, farms, fortress, golem army, and palace, was zoomed out. It revealed that everything sat atop a massive island floating in the sky. Flying right alongside this floating island was a gigantic dragon equal to it in size.

The next relief panel depicted something far more terrifying: a scene resembling a cosmic war between the floating island and its dragon against an endlessly tall tower. Between them flew a human figure with outstretched arms, depicted enveloped in radiant light. The relief sequence ended there. Dion looked back up at Olga, his face drained of color.

"Is this... what’s going to happen? Is this the interpretation of the prophecy?" Dion asked.

"Precisely. Which is why I believe it will come to pass, unless we prevent it first by completely obliterating the Kingdom of Minatheras," Olga answered.

Dion went quiet, staring back down at the intricately detailed drawing of the relief. Beside the glowing human figure, there was an inscription in ancient text. The book translated it as "World Guardian," but Dion read it differently. What they assumed to be ancient script or a lost alphabet was actually plain English, and the text explicitly spelled out World Keeper.

Cold sweat broke out on Dion’s forehead. He tried his absolute best not to give away that he could read it, especially with the five girls staring at him without breaking eye contact. As the situation grew tense with Dion nearly exposing that he could read the ancient script, which was literally just a writing system from Earth,

"Beep... beep!"

A loud air-raid alarm echoed throughout the city. Olga stood up and walked to the window to look out. Naturally, Cleo, Luna, Aria, Sheila, and Mei followed her gaze. In the distance, a massive swarm of black, bird-like flying creatures was heading straight for the city.

"What are those?" Aria asked.

"Undead wyverns. They’re back," Olga replied.

"Back? This isn’t the first time?" Cleo asked.

"We are constantly attacked by undead creatures. They all originate from the no-man’s-land and the desert over there," Olga explained, pointing straight ahead.

"I see... but who’s ordering them to attack this city?" Luna asked.

Olga paused for a moment, keeping her eyes on the swarm of undead wyverns closing in on the city.

"We still have enemies out there, creatures left over from the ancient war. But the one directing them here every time something happens in this city is someone from the royal palace," Olga stated.

Hearing her words, the five girls tightened their jaws. Olga didn’t need to drop a name; they already knew exactly who she meant. While Olga, Cleo, Luna, Sheila, Mei, and Aria stood by the window watching the incoming threat, Dion looked back down at the detailed relief sketches in the book. He narrowed his eyes. The palace structure, the terrain, the landscape, the obelisks surrounding the palace, the fortress walls encircling the city, he recognized that entire territory.

"This... can’t be real, right? No way... Is the seal behind my mansion... the Kingdom of Xandor?" Dion thought to himself.

"Kyuu,"

"Hmm... you’re saying I’m right?" Dion asked.

"Kyuu... kyuu... kyuu,"

"Oh, really? You saw the name Xandor written on the obelisk in the middle of that crater?" Dion asked.

"Kyuu... kyuu," Gina nodded repeatedly.

"Hmmm,"

Dion fell deep into thought, his mind drifting back to his past life. Back on Earth, living on a quiet, peaceful country farm on the edge of town had been his baseline dream. But his ultimate, pie-in-the-sky dream had always been owning an isolated ocean island, living all by himself with his Golden Retriever. Since buying an actual island was way beyond his budget back then, he had settled for the farm.

Recalling his old dream, he began picturing himself in a Hawaiian shirt, kicked back on a lounge chair on his palace balcony, sipping a cocktail while his private island floated through the sky.

"Heh... that actually sounds awesome," he thought to himself.

Then he looked back at the copied relief panel showing his island going to war against the demon tower. Sure, it was just a carving, but in reality, that kind of battle would be pure chaos. He looked down at Gina in his arms.

"Honestly, destroying the Kingdom of Minatheras sounds like a great idea. What do you think?" Dion asked.

"Kyuuu... kyuuu," Gina chirped cheerfully, looking completely on board.

"Right? Once that’s done, we can just kick back and relax while flying around on our own island," Dion said.

"Kyuuu,"

"Alright, it’s settled. I’m going to destroy Minatheras," Dion declared.

"Huh."

Dion and Gina whipped around, startled to find Luna, Cleo, Aria, Sheila, and Mei standing right behind them, all wearing completely stunned, pale expressions. Olga stood further back, looking thoroughly pleased that someone had finally backed her plan. Dion turned around and held Gina close, the little dragon looking just as flustered.

"Um... how long have you guys been standing there?" Dion asked with an awkward smile.

"Right around... Honestly, destroying the Kingdom of Minatheras sounds like a great idea," Luna said.

"Followed by... kyuuu," Sheila added.

"And then... Once that’s done, we can just kick back and relax while flying around on our own island," Aria chimed in.

"Capped off with another kyuuu," Mei added.

"And finally, Alright, it’s settled. I’m going to destroy Minatheras. So... care to explain what you mean by that?" Cleo asked.

"Sounds like you know something we don’t," Luna said, probing further.

"Even little Kyuu-Kyuu over here knows what’s going on," Sheila added.

"Now I’m really curious, what is actually back there on that hill behind the house?" Aria pondered out loud.

"Yeah... come to think of it, you went back there alone that night. Plus, finding an underground chamber back there was pretty strange," Mei added.

"Hmm... an underground chamber? Mind filling us in, Mei?" Cleo asked.

Mei began explaining everything to Cleo, with Luna chiming in to help fill in the details. Soon enough, all five girls were completely absorbed in talking about their house, leaving Dion completely sidelined. Olga, who had remained quiet the entire time, walked over and sat beside Dion. She leaned in and whispered into his ear:

"Thank you, World Keeper... and Calamity Dragon. I knew you would agree with my plan."

Dion turned to face her, his visage instantly turning pale as he met her sly smile. His heart hammered against his ribs like it was about to burst. Gina stayed completely frozen in his arms, stiff as a statue without making a sound.

"W-what do you mean by that?" Dion asked.

"Relax... your secret is safe with me," Olga replied with a subtle smile.

Dion stared at Olga as she leaned back, crossing her legs comfortably. Suddenly, "BLAM... BLAAR!" A loud explosion echoed outside. Still holding Gina, Dion stood up and walked over to the window. The swarm of undead wyverns had reached the city, but the town’s mages were already firing spells at them. The magic watchtowers were also reinforcing the main barrier, launching heavy, multi-elemental artillery into the sky. Dion replayed Olga’s words in his head.

"My secret is safe with her? I was never trying to hide it in the first place. I’ve been telling the truth the whole time, but nobody gets it because it’s so hard to explain... That’s not even what gave me the creeps... There’s something off about that woman. Even with the life experience of a 67-year-old, I can’t figure out her real agenda. Her motive for wanting to destroy Minatheras is still a total mystery, but my goal is crystal clear: living a lazy life on a flying island," Dion thought to himself.

"Kyuuu,"

"Yeah... you’re right. We should probably get out of here first. Destroying Minatheras is easy enough... but we need to check on our home right away. I have a feeling something big is about to happen," Dion whispered back to Gina. For the first time, his expression turned dead serious.

***

Meanwhile, back at the royal palace,

"Clang!" "Thump!"

King Theobald collapsed right onto his desk, his arm bleeding and trembling as he clutched a shattered sword hilt. He reached over with his other hand to grip his wounded arm, staring straight ahead with horror written all over his face.

"Why, Minerva... why are you doing this?" Theobald gasped out.

Standing right before Theobald, Rene held her sword directly at his throat. Behind Rene stood a legion of undead knights, led by Frederick, who had also been turned into an undead. Minerva stepped forward, standing beside Rene with her arms crossed, looking down at her father.

"Because I want this kingdom for myself, Father. So... hand it over. I’m going to build a place of my own... a place so high it can reach the dwelling of our goddess... hahahaha!" Minerva declared, breaking into wild laughter.

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