〔I want to apologize in advance for any mistakes and for this being a short chapter. In general, I confess that I am pretty bad at writing, so I apologize in advance.〕
The sky—
That was the first thing she saw when her eyes opened. Lying there on the warm, grainy surface, the young woman stared up, unmoving. Though she was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, the sand clung to her clothes in patches, rough and invasive.
Most people, finding themselves in such a situation, would scramble to their feet, confused or panicked. But she remained still. She didn't even seem to register the sound of waves crashing or the cries of distant gulls. Her expression was vacant, almost hollow, as if her consciousness had sunk so deeply into the abyss of her mind that the world itself had ceased to exist. All she could do was stare at the pale blue sky above her, lost in thought.
Minutes passed—perhaps ten, maybe fifteen. She didn't move an inch. From a distance, one might think she was dead. But eventually, she stirred. With her right hand, she pressed against the sand and pushed herself up, not a single muscle trembling with effort. She stood tall, her height nearly 170 cm, yet she didn't seem to care or even notice. There was something detached in her demeanor.
「So it was real? No… this isn't right. I should've gone to hell, or to heaven. The God I know only offers two endings: salvation or damnation.」
To those who walk in the path of the Lord—Jesus—the promise is paradise, where the Savior will greet them by name. But for those who stray, His only words will be, "I never knew you."
Just as the thought faded, a nearly black, deep blue translucent screen materialized in front of her, floating a meter from her face.
[Do you accept the gift from ■■■■■■■?]
「I accept your gift.」
As the words left her lips, the screen dissolved, replaced by another—this one filled with detailed information:
[Customizable Sword (Max Level) — 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣: A weapon that can hold up to ten unique effects. Only the chosen wielder can handle it, anyone else who touches it will be forcefully repelled. The blade returns instantly to its master's hand, and the user gains unmatched proficiency, able to cut even while sheathed.
Mystic Eyes of Death Perception — 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴: Allows the user to perceive the "lines of death" in everything, red lines that represent the flaws in all things. Whether physical, metaphysical, or conceptual, if a flaw exists, it can be cut. And if it doesn't, the eyes will evolve to find a way. Even true immortality means nothing before them. However, the brain endures overwhelming information while using them, making prolonged usage dangerous. A single touch on these lines ensures death.
Stellar Territory Creation — 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢: Grants the ability to establish a future kingdom—a personal domain spanning 100,000 kilometers. Within it, the user receives all advantages of a Star Spirit.
Ultimate Summoning Ticket — ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️: Allows the summoning of a character from the Throne System, ranging from 1 to 5 stars, summoned at full strength as displayed within the Divine Throne System.
+10 Star Boost — ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️: Adds one star to physical stats for each point, though the maximum cap is seven stars.]
Despite the modest number of items, the gifts were overwhelming in value. The eyes alone were beyond perfect for someone who didn't rely on brute strength. The sword? A masterpiece that could end a battle before it even began.
And somehow… it all felt familiar.
She remembered, albeit vaguely, that this system—this divine mechanism—was one of kingdom creation, fused with a summoning engine. The summoned characters… they were from Shinza Banshō, her favorite series in her past life.
She had been a devout fan, owning all four physical volumes of Avesta and even translating them for her friends. That memory clung to her now like an echo from another world.
Her gaze drifted to her status screen. Before assigning any points, she mentally tapped on the "Explanation" option.
[What each stat means.
Strength: As the name suggests, this stat defines the user's raw physical power—how much force, impact, or destruction they can generate. It governs everything from lifting heavy objects, smashing through structures, or tossing enemies aside. It also affects melee damage, grip strength, and the ability to shatter physical defenses.
Agility: Determines the speed of the user's attacks, whether armed or unarmed. It also influences combat reflexes, reaction time, acrobatic movement, evasive maneuvers, quick directional shifts, and even strike precision.
Speed: This is the user's pure movement speed—their ability to travel from point A to point B, whether running, flying, or swimming. Unlike Agility, it does not affect attack speed, but instead governs movement in open terrain, such as chases or retreats.
Endurance: Measures the user's ability to withstand damage. If a mere graze from a projectile leaves deep wounds, the endurance is too low. High endurance allows one to remain functional even under relentless, heavy attacks.
Constitution: Reflects how long one can keep fighting after sustaining serious injuries. It ties to pain tolerance, bodily stability, and resistance to blood loss, fractures, or poisons. The higher the constitution, the harder it is to bring the character down before they reach their absolute limit.]
She scanned the information calmly. Though she already had a basic sense of each stat, having played countless RPGs with her friends, it was still good to double-check.
Speaking of her friends…
A sharp ache surfaced in her chest. The memories were hazy, the cause of her death unknown, yet the grief she imagined they'd feel cut deep. A silent guilt gnawed at her. But even as she felt that sting, she also knew—they'd move on. They had to.
As for her family… there wasn't much to say. She'd never been the kind of person people remembered, and frankly, she wasn't all that torn up about it.
Steeling herself, she shifted her gaze back to her stats. She inhaled slowly. It was time to distribute her points—cautiously, deliberately.
[Strength: 1 → 2
Agility: 1 → 4
Speed: 1 → 4
Endurance: 1 → 3
Constitution: 1 → 2]
Once she confirmed the updates, the world around her seemed to slow. Everything grew distant, trapped in a weightless, suspended moment. Her body felt light, overflowing with energy, muscles humming with newfound strength.
It was as though she could do anything.
「So this is power…」
Of course, that last part was just a metaphor. But even so, the sensation was exhilarating.
While the daylight breeze brushed her face, her long, dark blue hair was lifted and carried by the wind. Her skin was white, delicate as fabric and soft like tofu. After a few seconds of stillness, what appeared was a ōdachi: 108 centimeters in total length, with a 73-centimeter blade and a 30-centimeter hilt. The blade was abyss-black, the hilt matching in tone with crimson details, and a small, intricately designed handguard shaded in silver and black. The scabbard instantly materialized around it, white, adorned with violet flame-like patterns and a light purple cord tied near the upper end. It resembled Acheron's sword from Honkai: Star Rail.
It rested on her left side, perfectly positioned for a right-hand draw.
Extending her left hand, several characters from the Shinza series appeared before her eyes, ranging from levels 1 through 5. She scrolled past Bey (Wilhelm), Samiel (Eleonore), Albedo (Wolfgang), Taurvid, and others, until she reached him… Munsarat. One thing was certain: he was the most powerful among the level 5s, a being second only to the Seven Pillars of Absolute Evil (Demon Kings) in his world. She had no doubts about summoning him for one simple reason, the system's settings and notes confirmed that anyone summoned would possess unwavering loyalty toward her. She couldn't fathom how beings like Reizen, Bahlavan, Hajun, or Magsarion could be loyal, but her only choice was to trust the system.
The moment she confirmed the summoning, a killing aura unlike anything that existed in this world erupted, accompanied by a light so blinding it outshone the sun. Reflexively, the girl shut her eyes and raised a hand to shield herself, even though she didn't truly need to. After a few seconds, a tall man stood before her, taller than most humans, at 184 cm (6 feet). He radiated elegance in his formal suit shaded in deep black with violet accents. His silver-gray hair fell smoothly over one side of his face, and he wore glasses that gave him a composed, intellectual air. His presence was refined, confident—like a noble shadow in human form.
His murderous aura was instantly retracted, and he bowed deeply, like a head butler summoned by his king.
「Allow me to introduce myself, my Lady. My name is Munsarat.」
Raising his head, he added with unwavering composure,
「My specialty is assassination—in all its forms.」
The "lady" returned the bow with graceful formality as she introduced herself in truly noble fashion.
「Suzume. I'll be in your care, Munsarat.」
Raising her face with dignity, the young woman turned on her heel and began walking toward the forest. Munsarat followed silently, like a bodyguard shadowing the heir to a throne.
As the two entered the forest, they passed large trees—far bigger than those from Suzume's previous world. She moved toward some pure white flowers blooming at the base of a sakura tree and lightly touched them with her right index finger.
Suzume felt a vague sense of familiarity, as though she recognized the art style of the place where she and Munsarat had met, but she dismissed the thought and simply admired the tree. Its petals were pink, and it towered over thirty meters high—far too large for the forests she once knew. Before she realized it, she had reached the very heart of the forest, thanks to her innate authority as a Stellar Spirit within her own territory. In truth, she stood nearly at the center—the tree itself being the true core of everything.
「My Lady, do you intend to make this part of the forest the center of your kingdom?」
The butler's tone sounded more like a certainty than a question, as though he had already foreseen his master's intentions.
Suzume gave a slight nod, and a faint, almost invisible smile curled on her lips.
「Exactly. I shall name this kingdom…」
The beautiful young woman brought her left hand to her chin and her right below the elbow that supported it, striking a thoughtful pose. Her delicate fingers added grace to her contemplative expression.
At last, she snapped her fingers as if struck by a "eureka" moment. As Munsarat was just about to offer a suggestion, the lady began to speak, activating her Stellar Spirit authority as she declared the name of her kingdom.
「It will be: Freedom」
When she gave a name to her future kingdom, the entire island, along with the sea spanning the remaining 90,000 kilometers within her authority, began to reshape itself. The massive sakura tree at the center became the heart of the realm.
「Well, now we have the structure ready, but there's a huge problem… HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET PEOPLE!」
Young Suzume entered a mini panic, almost pulling out her black hair after overthinking the issue, while comical tears streamed from her eyes.
「My Lady, allow me to take care of that.」
Munsarat bowed with elegance upon seeing his master in such distress. His words reached the ears of the beautiful lady, who stopped immediately and looked at her butler with sparkling eyes.
It was as if she were witnessing a miracle with her own eyes. But she quickly recovered, letting out two fake coughs. Her body trembled slightly from the act, then stilled. She arched her back and leaped to the rooftop. Upon arriving, the view before her… was stunning. She could even make out the tiny crustaceans along the beaches.
She made a promise to herself, that she would turn this world—at least within these boundaries—into a better place. Her territory would become a haven of freedom, where children wouldn't have to fear tomorrow.
As she held that promise longer in her heart, she felt the presence of the head butler, who had silently ascended to the rooftop as well. She gave a single, clear command.
「Begin the operation, and do not hesitate to kill anyone who shows hostility toward the people, but avoid killing whenever possible.」
Her delicate lips moved, and her deep blue eyes pierced the world around her like flames burning through paper.
「As ordered.」
Munsarat vanished without a sound. If someone were to arrive, they wouldn't have even noticed his movement. The gap between him and the rest of the world was truly astronomical.
—————————-
Munsarat had already arrived in a small village. His attire and composed demeanor made the locals hesitant to approach him. To their eyes, he resembled a servant of the "nobles"—the Celestial Dragons who ruled this world with divine authority. Out of fear, they answered his questions cautiously, their voices trembling. He had anticipated this reaction long before, thanks to his foresight, always several steps ahead of those around him. Without wasting time, he resumed his path. He needed to find a place where people were truly in need.
Do not misunderstand—Munsarat did not care for people. As a man-shaped assassin, he felt nothing but detachment toward humans. And as an older assassin, his mind had already begun to shift in a peculiar direction. The more seasoned the killer, the more their instincts evolved: some ended up drawing nourishment from water or minerals alone. The most obsessive went so far as to worry about harming microorganisms—until, at last, they ceased eating altogether.
Munsarat was one of those assassins.
He walked calmly through the alleys, his every step precise and unhurried, until a muscular man abruptly attempted to bump into him. With refined ease, the butler sidestepped the collision. However, just as he was about to continue forward, he tilted his head slightly to the right—an instant before a sword swung through the air, aimed directly at his neck. In one fluid motion, he leapt to the side, dodging a second slash coming from behind, launched by the same bulky man from moments ago.
「You… YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE DAMN NOBLE SERVANTS!」
One of the men shouted, pointing a lead-forged weapon at Munsarat. Yet the butler remained perfectly composed, his steps unshaken as he calmly walked toward them without uttering a word. He would not waste breath on those beneath him. The larger man dashed forward like an arrow, slamming his foot down and scattering debris as he closed the distance.
In response, Munsarat lifted a single finger, his movement refined and graceful. From his sleeve, he drew a black rose and released it, as if bestowing a gift to a peasant. With a casual flick, he spun the stem and let it fall, not thrown, not propelled—merely surrendered to gravity.
The result was a spectacle of violence, worthy of a man whose name was whispered alongside demons.
The rose pierced straight through the abdomen of the charging brute, severing his upper body from the lower half in a single instant.
Before the other man could react, his head was already soaring through the air, detached cleanly from his shoulders. The sharp scent of iron and flesh filled the alley. Yet not a single drop of blood marred the butler's immaculate gloves—his fingers moved with such elegance and control that they seemed untouched by the very act of killing.
Munsarat's cold gaze fell upon the corpses now sprawled across the ground, a ground he himself did not even need to step on. The air around him grew so frigid it felt as though the temperature had plunged below freezing, sending a chill down the spine of any who might witness such a scene.