To the Empire [1]
I'm in a real bind right now.
Plopped on the sofa, staring blankly out the window, I seriously pondered my own intelligence level.
……Am I an idiot?
I'd scored a pretty decent carriage. Perfectly remodeled inside to serve as a house. But there was one fatal flaw left.
No horse to pull this house.
Since I'd wiped out every living thing in this village, all that remained was thick dust, food on the verge of expiring, and empty buildings without owners.
"Haa……."
……I'm an idiot. A total idiot. I reincarnated, lived for hundreds of millions of years, and somehow forgot to grab even one horse, obsessing over the interior instead? Sigh…… When you get old, you should just die. Die gracefully.
Groaning over my boneheaded mistake, I dragged my heavy body up as if I could barely stand.
But the moment my gaze landed on Lulu and Mimi wriggling around playfully in the middle of the living room, my furrowed brow smoothed out like magic.
I spoke to them in the lowest, gentlest voice possible so as not to startle the kid.
"You two play here. Daddy'll be right back."
At once, Lulu and Mimi turned their heads in perfect sync, staring right at me.
"Daddy, where goin'?" "Where goin'?"
Mimi's echo made my head spin. Swallowing a hollow chuckle, I mumbled some excuse.
"Gonna grab some food."
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Lulu toddled over on her short legs and grabbed my pant leg.
She thrust up her tiny, twig-like hand.
"Lulu too! Lulu help tooo!" "Too!"
Mimi flailed her arms wildly from the side, no less enthusiastic.
I hesitated for a moment. Lulu had no idea there wasn't a single living soul left in this village.
Plus, what I was about to do—rifling through empty houses for food as "emergency aid"—was basically theft.
Not great for the kid's education.
But those big, sparkling eyes looking up at me were too much. My resolve crumbled under that gaze brimming with expectation.
Fine. Don't think of it as stealing. Just borrowing for a bit. The owners just aren't coming back. Ever.
"……Alright, let's go. Get ready."
My permission unleashed Lulu's joy—she bounced around like she'd won the lottery.
"Waaah! Mimi-ya, le's gooo! Time to go!" "Ung!"
Mimi leaped into Lulu's arms.
Lulu dashed to the entryway and started shoving her feet into her shoes with determination.
They were my old shoes, forcibly resized, so they were bulky and oversized, but she seemed to love them, carefully working her feet in.
I swapped my own shoes and held out my hand. Her tiny one slipped perfectly into my palm.
"Let's go."
We stepped out into the village streets, shrouded in eerie silence under the night sky.
The moment the door opened, a sharp night breeze grazed my cheek.
Lulu, standing beside me, shivered from the sudden chill.
Having only known cold dirt floors and cardboard boxes her whole life, the temperature drop from the warm carriage interior must have hit her hard.
I casually flicked my hand, wrapping a layer of warmth around her.
Her expression relaxed instantly, and she mumbled.
"……Waaarm."
A chuckle escaped at her dazed look.
Holding her hand, I started walking, mentally crunching the numbers.
The empire was about a week away by carriage. Recalling the continent map from the saintess's memories, we'd need food and basic supplies.
Supplies? I can synthesize those with my powers and stock the house. The real issue is a horse to pull the damn thing.
Honestly, I didn't even need a horse.
I could tweak gravity to push or pull the carriage myself.
But that sounded like a hassle. And my Sloth Force evaporated the more I used it lately.
It's like leaving a hose in the ocean—you won't drain it right away, but hey, a drizzle still soaks your clothes if you're not careful.
Better save what I can for emergencies.
Plus, a driverless carriage rolling around? People would freak, screaming "witchcraft! Sorceress!" and cause a headache.
Horses, horses…… Hmm.
Lost in thought, I felt Lulu tug my hand hard.
Snapping back, I looked down—her eyes were shaking with unease.
"Daddaa…… No people hewe."
The ghost-town vibe must've spooked her.
I replied offhandedly.
"They're all on a trip." "Ooo…… Trip!"
Simple kid.
Remembering my promise about the sea, she perked up, whispering to Mimi in her arms.
"Mimi-ya, on trip we see sea……." "Sea! Bwue watew!"
As they cooed excitedly, I went to open a nearby house door, but Lulu grabbed my sleeve.
"Not this one. Can't go in hewe."
No one taught her, but she instinctively knew.
How cautious you had to be entering someone else's space.
I lowered my voice like it was our little secret.
"Truth is, the people here said Daddy could take whatever he needs for our trip. That's why we're here."
"Weally?" "Yup, yup."
At my shameless lie, her eyes went wide, then she gasped "Ooo!" in awe and followed me inside.
The house was a wreck, as expected. Shabby wooden furniture, mold and cobwebs everywhere.
Wrinking my nose, I picked out the least spoiled food. The selected items floated obediently behind us at my will.
After looting(?) the village, I crammed the haul into the fridge back at the carriage.
This fridge guzzles Sloth Force more than you'd think.
It freezes time inside to prevent spoilage and constantly chills drinks.
Capacity's infinite as long as my power holds, but the more stuff inside, the faster it drains me in real time.
I slammed the door shut, scooped up Lulu, and headed out again.
"Alright, now let's get a real horse."
Instead of fancy spells, I gripped gravity itself.
My feet lifted off the ground; Lulu yelped in surprise, clinging tight to my neck.
"Eek…… Eeeek!?"
Her little body trembled visibly.
I stroked her head soothingly, ascending higher.
"It's fine. Won't drop you."
Refugee camps weren't just this one. Dozens dotted the continent, plus thousands of villages big and small. Scanning my mental map, I expanded my vision for the nearest.
That way.
Turning, I spotted a sign: Anshik's 12th District.
Confirming horses in the outer stables, I started descending—when a tiny gasp erupted from my arms.
"Wooowaaah……!"
I glanced down. Lulu was entranced by her first real view of the world.
To a girl who'd thought her trash heap was everything, the vast plain below was pure wonder, her eyes sparkling.
"Mimi-ya, wook……!"
She turned Mimi's head toward it, whispering dreamily.
"So pwettyyy……."
Her awestruck murmur halted my descent. In her eyes, the ground's tiny lights shimmered like a galaxy. To someone who'd only glimpsed sky through box cracks, this expanse was beyond imagining.
I quietly stroked her messy hair, murmuring low.
"You'll see so much more from now on."
She looked up at my voice, her dazed eyes filling with novel anticipation.
"Endless blue oceans stretching forever, lakes like mirrors reflecting the sky. Towering snow-capped mountains piercing the clouds, vast plains where golden waves crash in the wind……."
I pulled the real world beyond her tiny view into her ears, one wonder at a time.
"Lush forests humming with rain-soaked earth, deserts where stars rain down at night. We'll see it all together. Got it?"
Her eyes blinked like my words were magic, then she nodded, face lit like she'd won the world.
"Ung! With Daddy, evewything fun!"
She hugged tighter, burrowing in. Her warmth fluttered pleasantly near my heart. Chuckling, I looked down again.
"Alright, let's borrow our 'ride' then."
Muttering to myself, I angled toward it and descended slowly.
Mid-flight, my appearance shifted—raven hair turned Lulu's deep brown, sharp eyes softened to match hers exactly.
Perfect father-daughter duo.
Thud.
Feet hit ground near the entrance. Guards startled, thrusting crude spears at me.
"Wh-who goes there!"
Fair reaction to someone dropping from the sky. About to knock them out for the hassle—when a senior-looking guy smacked his junior's head and bellowed.
"You idiot! Lower the spear! What the hell?!"
He snatched it away, rushed forward, and bowed nearly ninety degrees.
"S-sorry! He's never seen a mage before and was rude. I apologize on his behalf!"
He pressed the junior's head down, bowing repeatedly.
……Huh?
Caught off guard by the deference, I skimmed their memories.
Surprisingly straightforward: Volunteers standing watch, skimping sleep to protect villagers from bandits and monsters.
I waved it off with a smirk and got to the point.
"Need a horse or two."
"Ah! Yes, mage! We've got some sturdy ones. This way!"
He eagerly led the way.
The stables were worse up close—scrawny, donkey-level.
Wonder if these can even pull a cart.
Eh, I can push. Nodding vaguely,
"These two."
"Yes, sir!"
The guard fetched them without complaint.
Curious at the easy handover, I peeked into his mind again.
Not that they didn't need them. He was scared. Of me—or rather, "mages." Continent's mages were tower shut-ins with elitist superiority complexes.
Bragging non-mages were inferior trash.
Hm, being lumped with those jerks is annoying.
Eying the groveling guard as he handed the reins,
"Thanks. Want anything?"
His eyes widened—mages rarely asked for payment, apparently.
"N-no! We live peacefully thanks to you mages."
Flattery laced with real gratitude and fear. Tsk. I gathered Sloth Force from thin air, synthesizing items.
Plush microfiber blankets and thick, fluffy comforters landed in his arms—top-shelf stuff that'd warm you just by touch.
"Nights are cold. Take care of yourselves. Don't overdo it."
While he stood stunned, clutching his treasures, I led Lulu out casually.
Far from the village, I eyed the scrawny pair tugging at the reins.
Turning dolls into familiars wasn't enough—now malnourished nags for my retinue.
"Haa……."
A deep sigh escaped. For a great demon, this felt pathetically humble.
But Lulu stared innocently beside me, oblivious.
Oh yeah, she lived with a dog around four.
Her animal-loving memories surfaced. I tossed casually,
"Wanna pet 'em?"
Lulu jumped, looking up with trembling reddish-brown eyes full of hope.
"Eh? Weally? Lulu touch too?" "Course."
I fixed the horses with a chilling glare, warning silently.
Don't move. Don't spook her. Or I'll turn you into jerky.
Sensing my killing intent, the scrawny beasts stiffened, quivering.
As I approached, Lulu tentatively reached out from my arms, touching a flank.
"Waaah…… Waaarm."
Fascinated, she poked everywhere—mane, neck, back, sides—savoring the feel with tiny hands. Her innocence drew a chuckle.
"That's enough."
Stepping back, she clamped her mouth shut, glancing nervously—worried I'd gotten mad.
"Not your fault. These guys are sick right now. That's why I'm fixing 'em. Once they're better, pet as much as you want."
Her eyes shook before I finished.
"Ah…… Hurt? Hurt a wot……?"
She yanked her hand back like it'd burned.
Staring at the horses with near-tears, she looked up desperately, like I was her savior.
"Daddy…… Daddy fix?"
I pressed her head gently, nodding to erase the worry in those huge eyes.
Relief bloomed instantly. Pure, blind faith radiated—if Daddy said so, it was done.
"Ung! Daddy best! Daddy fix, no more hurt!"
Fist pumped, she cheered me on.
Bolstered by her innocence, I drew up my inner Sloth Force slowly.
Familiars were creation from soul shards. Kin were subjugating existing life into my orbit.
Accepting my power, these beasts would transcend mortality, reborn as spirit-beasts serving me.
Hands on their foreheads, I intoned a heavy, air-shaking edict.
"I bind this lowly life in chains eternal, to serve forever in my shadow. I grant my breath to its flesh—become claws and fangs to draw my carriage."
Silence hung—then deep purple Sloth Force erupted from my fingertips, enveloping them.
"As my kin, do you swear eternal obedience?"
Their dying eyes ignited with cold gleam. As if souls twisted in agony and ecstasy, they bellowed earth-shaking cries.
"Purrung!"
My command unleashed grotesque cracks splitting the night.
Crack, crunch!
Donkey-like frames ballooned like inflated hides. Skeletal frames screamed, tripling in size; twig legs exploded into muscle.
Dull coats gleamed like melted starlight; manes flickered like black flames. Eyes burned red with vertical slits—mirroring mine.
Each breath puffed black smoke; hooves scorched earth purple-black. Overwhelming aura that'd burst a normal heart.
No longer mere horses—these spirit-beasts bowed at my feet.
…….
"……Way too much!"