The atmosphere was rather off putting at the moment, but neither side made a move. Now wasn't the time, acting recklessly here would only draw the ire of their lords.
Aizen's playful smirk returned as he casually twirled his hand before resting it on his waist.
He leaned slightly forward, eyes glinting with amusement. "I suppose I'll be taking my leave first, Mr. Titrus."
"Wise choice, demon," Titrus said, arms crossed over his metallic chest, his voice carrying a steady weight. "But before you go"
Aizen halted mid-step, raising a brow. "Hmm? What is it?"
"My master is the most sacred existence in my life." Titrus's fingers curled into a fist, joints creaking under the strain. "If you ever so much as think about harming her"
Crack.
His grip tightened, veins bulging against his skin.
And then, for the first time since arriving in this world, he laughed... a deep, rolling sound that carried a quiet promise of violence.
"I won't stop at anything to kill you. And when I do, I'll bring you back just to do it all over again. I swear on my name, an eternal hell will rain down upon your soul."
Aizen's grin widened.
Then.
"Creepy! Hahahaha!" He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, his entire body shaking as he bent over again and again, as if Titrus had just told the most absurd joke.
But even as the laughter died down, his eyes stayed sharp.
He wiped away a stray tear from the corner of his eye, lips curling into a smirk. "Relax, I won't lay a finger on Her Highness. No need to worry about that."
Then his grin stretched further... too far, a little too sharp, the edges of his mouth extending past what was natural.
Something inhuman flickered behind his gaze. "But I hope... you won't get in my way just because of your so-called light"
"You reeks of the smell of hope and duty, disgusting"
Titrus snorted, turning away without another word. He cast one last lingering glance before shifting his gaze elsewhere, ending the conversation on his terms.
----
Above them, the night pressed on, the sky a vast, silent expanse. Meanwhile, Liam was making his rounds near the resource points in the inner territory.
There weren't many resource sites, but the ones they had were valuable.
As he moved, Elias followed half a step behind, his usual composed presence wavered a little.
"With our current stockpile, we have more than enough materials to construct another layer of walls around the existing ones, my lord," Elias reported.
Liam came to a stop, looking ahead at the gold mine.
Workers bustled about, hauling crates onto rail carts and pushing them toward the surface.
Deeper inside, the rhythmic sounds of mining echoed through the cavern.
"What's the issue you mentioned earlier?" Liam asked.
Elias adjusted the board in his hands before answering. "It's the workforce, my lord. We're lacking the manpower to keep all the mines running efficiently, especially the metal and silver ones"
"So far, under your leadership, we've secured seven Tier 3 metal mines, four Tier 3 silver mines, and one Tier 2 gold mine. But even after reallocating workers from other areas, only the gold mine is running at full capacity. The others… they can barely function without soldiers stepping in to help"
Liam exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. "So, it really is a manpower issue."
His thoughts briefly drifted to a conversation he'd had with Mize not long ago. That cheerful, teasing voice echoed in his mind.
"The villagers, huh."
"Pardon?" Elias lifted his gaze from his board, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Are you reconsidering my proposal about the outside natives?"
"Well… slightly." Liam resumed walking, heading toward the mines up ahead.
This area was different from the other resource points in the territory.
Located southeast of the castle's main gate, it stood in contrast to the food, wood, and agricultural zones, which were all clustered to the southwest.
A long marble road cut through the land, connecting the town to the castle walls.
As they walked, Liam continued, "Maybe it's time to call them back."
"The Shadow Generals, my lord? But if you recall them from their mission"
"It's fine." Liam shrugged. "I've done enough damage to those who thought they could steal what's mine"
Elias frowned slightly. "Even so, some of them might already be watching at us, my lord"
"Their methods are unpredictable, being able to track us down to the warp"
Liam's expression remained calm, but his eyes turned icy. "That's fine. Everything is under control."
"For now, they wouldn't be able to send much power here"
"Enough time for us to grow"
A slow, almost lazy smile tugged at his lips. "And before leaving, of course… we'll need to send them off with a proper lesson first"
"I will slaughter their cities and soak the whole land under their blood as a warning"
"Since they were so bold to try and stop me from bringing Mize here, then feel my anger"
"But if her highness was to be made aware of this... Based on her nature and personality, won't-"
"It's my decision, Elias" Liam interjected, "Know your position"
Elias dipped his head. "Understood, my lord"
---
Morning arrived.
Friday, a day people loved and hated. Loved, because of what it signified.
Hated, because the weekend was still just out of reach.
Just another day God DAMNIT!
The scene shifted, zooming in on the private quarters of this land's so-called fair princess.
Well, more like the prince trapped in a princess's body.
A woman in a man body?
A man in a man body?
Or a pervert?
That's for you to judge...
Inside a spacious bathroom, warm water sat still in an extravagant bathtub.
Even after an entire night, it remained clear, its surface carrying a light, fragrant scent, like a thousand flowers crushed into the finest perfume.
Mize lay within, completely still. His breathing was deep, steady.
Despite the water level nearly submerging him, the bubbles clinging to his skin never let him sink.
Then, he stirred.
A quiet groan left his lips as his lashes trembled, fluttering ever so slightly.
His mind felt sluggish, thoughts struggling to come together.
He blinked once, twice, before finally recognizing the familiar ceiling above.
A sigh left his lips. His fingers flexed, arms shifting against the water, sending ripples across the surface.
"I passed out, didn't I?" he murmured.
Bracing his hands against the sides of the tub, he pushed himself up.
The water cascaded off his body, gliding down smooth skin.
The bubbles clung for a moment before shifting, morphing into a towel that floated gently to the side.
As he turned toward the mirror above the sink, a foggy reflection greeted him.
Half of it was blurred.
Frowning, Mize stepped closer and wiped a hand across the glass.
And then, his full image came into view.
His breath hitched.
"This…" His mouth hung slightly open, words failing him.
Slowly, his hands lifted, fingertips grazing over his cheeks, tracing the sharp contours of his jaw, the delicate slope of his nose.
'What kind of beauty is this?'
It was unreal.
Not just stunning, but something beyond human comprehension.
'Can words even describe how I look now?'
With just this face alone, he could crush anyone who dared claim the title of "most beautiful".
No one else even came close.
"…Seventy marks the peak of human beauty." His voice was barely above a whisper. "Then seventy-one…"
He pressed a finger against his cheek.
The once milky white skin had paled into something unnatural, almost luminous, like an untouched pearl.
Faint golden veins pulsed beneath the surface, delicate yet hidden.
"Golden blood?" He gasped.
Every touch left a temporary pinkish imprint, proof of the impossibly soft texture.
"…This isn't human."
"At last… have I finally crossed that threshold?" Mize muttered, his voice low, his gaze lingering on his reflection.
His expression was unreadable, lost somewhere between awe and disbelief.
His eyes trailed downward, following the smooth lines of his collarbone until they settled on an unexpected change.
"Ah…" His fingers instinctively pressed against the soft swell that hadn't been there before.
"They… grew."
Poke. Poke.
Squish.
A sharp breath hitched in his throat. His hand clamped over his mouth as a small, unexpected sound slipped past his lips.
His brows furrowed. "And it's… oddly sensitive?" He murmured.
That was a problem, especially considering Liam.
That man would absolutely make a big deal out of this.
A gulp slid down his throat, a strange mix of apprehension and something else flickering at the edges of his mind.
His eyes flashed red for the briefest moment before he shut those thoughts down, gripping the edge of the sink.
"Whatever that feeling was… stay put for now," he muttered, exhaling as his chest subtly rose and fell.
And for the first time, he felt a weight at the front of his body that hadn't been there before.
"…Weird," he whispered, pursing his lips.
Then, with a quick shake of his head, he straightened up and let his gaze travel lower.
His stomach was noticeably leaner than before, defined in a way that made him pause.
A slow grin crept onto his lips. "This… This is ridiculous."
His fingers grazed over his abdomen, tracing the subtle yet firm lines.
He exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to laugh. "Every guy's dream, huh?"
His eyes then shifted toward his waist, and the moment he turned to the side, he nearly choked.
"…What the hell is this?"
It was absurd. The proportions were impossibly balanced, slim yet curvy in a way that should've contradicted itself, but somehow didn't.
A perfect blend of sharpness and softness, mixed in with a plump addition to it.
"So, thick… and yet lean?" His voice wavered between admiration and sheer confusion.
Then, something clicked in his memory.
"Wait…" He gasped. "T-Tobrut?"
His astonishment only grew as he examined himself further.
Every subtle shift in his stance, every small movement, felt impossibly smooth, almost unnatural.
And yet, at the same time, it felt right.
His gaze hesitated at the final change.
The spot where something once existed… now didn't. And yet, it still felt like it did.
A strange sensation rippled through him as he focused.
It was subtle, almost instinctive, but after a few moments, realization dawned on him.
"…I can still control it?" His brows lifted in surprise.
Even without the system's guidance, he could understand his own body, its functions, its shifting nature.
He had full control.
"Incredible…" he muttered, flexing his fingers as if testing a newfound ability.
A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "This isn't just any ordinary transformation"
His hand brushed over his side as his mind pieced things together. "This isn't exactly a female body, is it?"
"More like a switchable body to both genders, but from now on, I prefer this state to farm points"
It was something else entirely. Something in between, malleable, shifting, adaptable.
His gaze flickered, lips curling as he whispered, "That could be useful."