The World Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 976 - 148 - Bigger Plan (4)

Su had been staying here in the Leonamon for quite some time now, and surprisingly, she seemed to be fitting in just fine. There was no signs of discomfort with her, and there was no awkwardness as well... just calm, natural ease. She even managed to get along well with a few of my girlfriends who occasionally dropped by, especially Yr. Those two hit it off faster than I thought they would.

Well, thinking about it, if Su was going to bond with anyone, it was only natural that it’d be Yr, huh?

Han, on the other hand, hadn’t shown herself since the whole mess with the Empire. I didn’t know when she’d decide to return, but I had a feeling she was doing it intentionally—giving Su some breathing room, letting her enjoy her time here. Maybe Han just wanted Su to experience something normal for once. Probably the first time she’s ever had a friend, too. Guess Han’s more considerate than she lets on, especially when it comes to Su.

Everything had been running smoothly lately. There was no immediate issues and no chaos waiting to explode. For the first time in a while, it felt like things were calm.

And then the day finally came—the day I’d be heading out to the Great Forest.

Before that, though...

"Lord Leon..."

Ayane’s soft voice broke the quiet air. She stood before me, her head bowed low, hands clasped tightly against her chest. Her entire posture trembled faintly, like she was trying to keep herself together.

"Please, take me with you."

Her voice carried a desperate sincerity, a kind of quiet pleading that made it hard to turn her down. She wasn’t just asking to come—she was begging from the heart. Considering she was from the Great Forest herself, it made sense she’d want to go back. With all the recent reports of bandit raids terrorizing the tribes, anyone with ties to that place would be worried sick.

And Ayane... she wasn’t just worried. She was determined. There was something deep in her eyes—like she wouldn’t forgive herself if she stayed behind. I couldn’t exactly say no when she looked that fragile yet resolute, her lips trembling as though she was fighting back tears.

So, in the end, it was decided—Ayane would come with us to the Great Forest.

The journey there had never been easier. Thanks to the teleportation circle we’d set up between my office in Leonamon and the Yggdrasil, moving between the two places was almost instant now. The magic seal shimmered beneath our feet, runes glowing faintly like breathing stars before they burst in a flash of white light.

And just like that, we were there—me, Maya, Ayane, and Meria—stepping out of the portal and into the vast expanse beneath the Yggdrasil’s towering roots.

Artemis was already waiting for us. I had sent word ahead, so she probably knew the exact moment we’d appear. She stood with that calm, confident aura she always carried, her golden hair catching the faint gleam of the sun filtering through the leaves. Beside her stood Aegis with her arms crossed, expression sharp enough to cut stone. The moment her eyes met mine, she looked like she’d rather gouge them out than see my face again.

I honestly thought sleeping with her might’ve eased the tension between us a little. Guess I was wrong.

"Nice to see you, Leon," Artemis said, her voice smooth and playful.

"Yes," I replied simply.

It hadn’t even been that long since we last saw each other, but judging from the faint curve on her lips and the spark in her eyes, I could tell she missed me already. Then again, we were fucking almost every day—it’s not like I could forget her even if I tried. Not that I’d complain. As long as I kept everyone’s schedules balanced, I could always make time for her.

"My mother is currently out," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "She’s tending to those still recovering, helping them overcome their trauma. So for now, it’s mostly just me here in the Yggdrasil. I’ve been learning how to handle kingdom affairs, too."

"So, you’re getting ready to be the next queen, huh?" I said with a faint grin.

"Fufufu... then shouldn’t you be kneeling already? Maybe even kissing my feet while you’re at it? After all, I’ll be queen soon." She said it with a teasing grin, her tone dripping with amusement.

"Honestly, I wouldn’t mind doing that," I replied with a chuckle. "Kissing someone’s feet isn’t as bad as people think, you know?"

Artemis laughed softly, shaking her head. "You really are a pervert, Leon. But that’s one of the things I like about you."

Aegis, however, didn’t look amused at all. She glared at me like I’d committed some unspeakable sin, her stare heavy enough to burn through flesh. The funny part was, when we were fucking, she didn’t seem nearly this hostile. She was moaning and panting like crazy back then. Maybe she could only tolerate me because Artemis was there during that threesome.

"Oh, by the way," Artemis suddenly said with a sly grin, "Aegis might be glaring at you like that now, but she was actually masturbating while thinking about you. The walls here in Yggdrasil aren’t exactly soundproof, you know."

"P-Princess Artemis?!" Aegis nearly shouted, her entire face flushing a deep red as her composure crumbled.

So, she really was using her fingers while imagining me? Now that was unexpected. Or maybe not. Back at the Leonamon, she used to warm herself up before bed, moaning Artemis’s name. And now she’s whispering mine? Looks like Aegis might be starting to like me. What was she, a tsundere?

"Well, anyway," Artemis said, her tone turning more serious, "it sounds bad out there, doesn’t it? The bandits attacking random villages in the Great Forest."

"That’s right," I said, nodding. "It’s not just random attacks either. The frequency’s too precise—it’s coordinated. From what I’ve heard, the Empire’s been making some suspicious moves through the underground network. There’s a good chance they’re behind all this."

"I see... so they’re moving to the offensive now," Artemis muttered, her gaze darkening slightly. "And what are you planning to do about it? You didn’t come all the way here just to say hi, did you? Knowing you, there’s always something you’re plotting."

"Well, yeah," I said with a small grin. "I’m planning something... that sounds impossible."

"Impossible? What do you mean?"

I met her gaze directly, my smile growing as the air around us grew heavier. "I plan to unite all of the tribes and kingdoms in the Great Forest," I said.