But with everything sorted, there was nothing left to do except wait for the monsters to descend and deal with some boring politics. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NoveI★Fire.net
"I’ll head into the palace to deal with the paperwork stuff. You can help me if you want," Melina announced.
Rael shook his head and created ten constructs to do the job for him.
They each had crimson eyes just like Rael, and from their neat appearance, they seemed pretty professional.
He pointed at Melina. "She’s going to be your boss. Help her with whatever she needs help with. Same applies to you, Melina. If you need anything, let them know. They can handle any task you throw at them."
Melina grinned. "Haha... Hey, do you think you can create like 1,000 more of these? I want to—"
In an instant, a thousand more Autocrats appeared on the platform, some nearly falling. Melina stared at him with a conflicted look, clearly shocked.
"I was joking. What am I supposed to do with over 1,000 of these?"
"Figure something out. You control them now," Rael replied matter-of-factly.
Melina sighed in frustration. "Seriously? I mean... They are good for labor, but are all of them the smart kind?"
"They each have around 15% of my strength." Rael smirked. "So if it ever comes down to it, and you get their permission, you can give them swords and even train them."
"I forgot you’re going to leave after this is all over," Melina muttered, lowering her gaze. "I see... I suppose this is your way of leaving something behind."
Rael shrugged. "I don’t like farewells either, but it’s not like I won’t ever come back. If anything, I’ll be back to the Depths after I’m done with some stuff on my side."
Having said that, he tapped the air a few times and sent her a friend request.
A faint smile appeared on her face as she accepted the friend request right away.
One? Oh right. Everyone was thrown out of my friends list after I used that perk, Rael recalled with a sigh and shot Melina a nod.
"I’m going to train until the monsters arrive," Rael said, turning to Chop-E. "What about you?"
"Me?" Chop-E pointed at himself, puzzled. "I suppose I’ll keep following you?"
"It wasn’t a loyalty question." Rael clicked his tongue. "Think of it this way. I will be training, Melina will be dealing with paperwork alongside the other constructs, so what do you want to do? I’m not saying I won’t allow you to come with me, but you must have something else in mind, don’t you?"
Chop-E fell into thought for a few moments, then nodded.
"I sensed something deep in the mountains earlier. I wish to explore it... Also, Rael, I have distant memories from my predecessor. Is that normal?"
"You do?" Rael’s eyes widened. "How far back?"
"I remember everything from the moment you created the first Chop-E on the battlefield outside Yrgon’s capital city. I also vaguely remember fighting Alene inside the Mind Realm, and then holding her down."
Rael frowned slightly and narrowed his eyes. "What is your last memory?"
Chop-E tilted his head. "I believe I was approaching the mountain where you and Solenne were fighting. I was intending to help you, but when I saw your figure in the distance, my body shattered as I lost consciousness. My memory resumed when you created me earlier."
This is unexpected, Rael thought, rubbing his temples. Do they share their memories if I give them the same name? Or could it be some hidden Plasma Core effect?
He turned toward the new constructs he created and got their attention.
"Do any of you remember working with Zafira?"
All the Autocrats shook their heads in unison, further confusing Rael. But since it wasn’t something he could fully comprehend just yet, he simply smiled at Chop-E as though this particular something was nothing.
"I have a feeling you have a bit of my memories as well," Rael remarked.
However, instead of Chop-E answering, one of the Autocrats from in front of him stepped up and bowed slightly.
"We all have a portion of your memories, master."
With that, a moment of silence ensued, but it was soon broken by Melina’s whistle.
"I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be very busy from now on. Well... Maybe not so much since these little champs will help me, but still. Gotta go, see ya."
She walked off the platform, and after giving Rael deep bows, all 1,010 Autocrats followed after her, marching like an army.
He turned toward Chop-E, who also gave him a bow and vanished from sight. He seemed to be heading toward the mountains. While Rael wasn’t sure what Chop-E had sensed, he chose not to question it.
Instead, he took a deep breath and summoned a pair of mosquito wings before lazily flying off the ground. The moment he did, the raised platform finally lowered itself into the ground as the familiar billboard with the increasing numbers appeared.
Despite that, Rael ignored it and flew out of the city before stopping in the sky.
I could go to the Plague Lands maybe? No... there’s no point just yet, Rael thought, and glanced to the side.
There was a single silver tree resting in the middle of the Hollow Kingdom. Its size was similar to a small mountain, but compared to other trees, it was anything but small.
Still... Rael turned to the east and spotted a massive tree several thousand kilometers away that touched clouds and extended beyond them.
It was the same tree he had seen the last time he visited the Depths. Except that time, he was too weak to enter that area where the tree was.
Though that thing is still very fucking massive, and it’s also the only thing I can see from the sky, Rael thought, glancing around to double-check.
Nope, the other continents definitely don’t have something that colossal. But I guess I’ll have an excuse to check it out when I go there next time.
With those thoughts, Rael flew over to the silver willow tree belonging to the Hollow Kingdom and stopped just a few kilometers away from it.
He dropped to the ground and did a few stretches. Finally, he was free and ready.
"Burger. I think it’s about time you showed me you’re not completely useless."