She wasn’t smiling.

The title hung there like a cursed sentence.

Its ominous weight made it feel less like a system-generated label and more like a prophecy of impending doom.

Something about it was just... wrong.

It didn’t sound like a challenge or a competition. It sounded like a death sentence.

A death sentence for the world.

She looked toward Liam, who was half-turned away from her.

"Cleansing?" she repeated, voice low. "It sounds like the world’s about to end."

"Was the horn this loud before?"

"You slept like a log, and yes the horn was this loud before."

Liam didn’t glance over.

"As for that term" he said, as casually as one might talk about the weather, “cleansing events are meant for those worlds the warp has decided are no longer worth salvaging.”

"This information wasn't hidden. In fact, it was rather well known to the masses."

Mize’s shoulders stiffened, and she tilted her head, watching him now with a new layer of scrutiny.

He continued, his voice even.

"Basically, the fate of this world was supposed to be destruction like most generic worlds out there. But then, after what we did in the last event, something shifted. The timeline got overwritten, and that stirred things up.”

“So now the system’s sending down a punishment for trying to resist fate?” she asked, but her tone was dry. She already knew the answer.

Liam finally looked at her. “You could put it that way.”

"But it's more like a test rather than a punishment. "

"For most worlds that successfully escaped from the original fate, this is a punishment. But for us, it's a test."

"Why?"

"Because we are strong, dear... We are strong enough to do it."

"The warp allowed intervention through 'the warp' rules itself. But the warp will also send down punishment."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before dropping to her lap.

She sighed and rested her cheek on her palm. “That makes it worse, you know.”

“I know.”

There wasn’t much she could do about it now.

Not in her current state. She knew that. And Liam knew.

Despite having a system herself, the warp was and will always be off limit.

The silence between them wasn’t empty, it was simply an acknowledgment of limits.

After a while, she shifted again, now propping her chin on both hands, as she called up a projection in midair.

“Hey,” she began casually, “can you tell me why Elias designed the city layout like this?”

She waved her hand and the projection spun, showing an overhead map of the territory’s current state.

Specifically, her fingers pointed to the maze-like sprawl of alleyways and narrow lanes that twisted and branched in irregular patterns, an architect’s nightmare, or a tactician’s puzzle.

Liam’s eyes flicked to the projection, and he paused for a breath.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“You noticed that, huh?”

“I noticed it the second I used my Divine mind to see the territory. It’s like walking through a labyrinth,” she said, raising an eyebrow at him. “Hidden paths everywhere, sudden dead ends, looping streets… What’s he trying to do? Confuse the population into staying put?”

"These alleys and hidden roads will become a huge problem in the future."

Liam chuckled, though it sounded more like a controlled exhale through his nose.

He leaned on the table slightly, arms folded, head tilted with a lopsided grin.

“Can’t say too much. But you’re not wrong,” he said, voice tinged with a teasing edge. “It’s part of something we’re working on. Consider it… a layered design philosophy.”

Mize gave him a flat look. “That’s a nice way to say you’re hiding something.”

He grinned wider. “Aren’t I always?”

She didn’t laugh, but she didn’t press either.

She glanced towards Liam curiously, as if she was meaning to say something. But then, seemingly to understand, she simply shrugged it aside.

Her fingers flicked through the projection again, the map spinning slowly.

Her gaze stayed on it, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere now.

“Just tell me one thing,” she said, eyes still on the streets. “Is it for defense?”

Liam didn’t answer right away. He walked around to her side, looked down at the projection, then tapped a specific cluster of alleyways with two fingers.

“Let’s just say…” he said, voice lower now, “if an invader wants to walk through our city, they better be ready to get lost first. And if they find the wrong door, well... ”

“Boom?” she offered, raising a brow.

He smiled without confirming or denying it.

Mize shook her head lightly. “You and Elias are both dangerous men.”

“That's why we’re still alive.”

...

The room went quiet briefly, Liam noticed this, but he simply waited for Mize to sort out her thoughts.

Then...

"Say, Liam" she began, "I hope we both can tolerate each other as much as possible, no?"

She tilted her head again, letting the projection dissipate into the air as her thoughts trailed off, "If anything, we both have our own share of secrets. So for now, I will tolerate yours, as you will tolerate mine."

...

Liam was taken aback for a moment, but he simply nodded, and smiled, "I suppose light and darkness can co-exist after all."

Later that night, Mize made the decision to sleep early.

She didn’t say much, just a casual mention, but Liam easily understood what she meant. It wasn’t about rest.

It was her way of escaping the weight of the conversation they’d just had, even if only for a while.

After all, it took time to familiarize herself with the current state of the territory. Everything appeared to be new.

Before she could fully drift off, lying quietly on her side with her back turned, the low sound of Liam's presence came from behind.

Then came Liam’s breath, close to her ear.

"Quite the commotion you’ve caused in the world chat,” he murmured.

Her eyes widened, and she froze.

…!!

That night, she sweated profusely, unnecessarily so. Liam didn’t let her off easily.

What she did was basically placing Liam in center of a huge whirlpool.

Now, having potential enemies, world class enemies that wanted to take his head off because of her.

The punishment? Unusual. Strange. She had no intention of ever describing it to anyone.

Liam played with her body throughout the night.

The next morning arrived without warning.

A soft orange haze crept in through the eastern windows, brushing over the land.

The city stirred from slumber, and before long, the main street was alive with sound and color.

Vendors rolled their stalls into place with practiced ease, setting up counters of fruit, smoked meat, herbs, and various trinkets.

The air was filled with a mix of roasted spices, incense smoke, and warm bread.

Hawkers called out from both sides of the street, waving their hands to passing pedestrians.

“Fresh berry wine! Brought in just this morning, taste it for yourself!”

“Don’t go into the dungeon without proper talismans, just 100 silver coin for three!”

The crowd was a mix of lively and elegant.

Men in dark, gold-laced robes strolled alongside women in long, flowing dresses embroidered with flowery symbols.

Many held communication scrolls in hand, speaking into them without breaking stride.

Awakeners moved in pairs or threes, identifiable by their appearances.

Most of them were headed toward the massive dungeon situated at the far side of the city.

Conversation between them was kept brief, most of them already in a serious mindset.

"That’s group five. They entered last night and haven’t returned yet," one of them muttered.

"They’re probably camping inside. We’ll take the east side, our marks are better there," another replied, adjusting the grip on his sword.

Meanwhile, closer to the market square, townsfolk gathered near a bulletin post and a floating projection board that occasionally flickered with updates.

This was one of Aizen's invention, a way to let the people know what was happening in and outside of the territory.

[Horrible disease broke out in the nearest city, 700 people die and numerous wounded]

[A group of warband bandit was spotted in the open world, be careful to those who are planning to travel]

[...]

People were murmuring in tight groups, some pointing toward the eastern outskirts of the territory.

“They said the Lord’s army crushed another wave of enemies outside.”

"Was it the shadow army or the broken blade legion?"

"It was the shadow legion. Word is, they didn’t even need reinforcements."

The mood among them was light. Smiles lingered on their faces, and pride sparkled in some of the gazes.

Children ran past them with wooden swords, pretending to reenact scenes they’d only heard about in passing.

However, tucked away from all that noise, down a narrow alley connected to the main road, the atmosphere shifted.

In that quiet space, where the stone walls seemed to press a little closer and the shadows lingered longer, a man stood.

He wore a long, black cloak, nothing flashy, but thick enough to conceal his frame.

Easily 1.9 meters tall, his presence alone gave a sense of weight to the space.

His back rested against the cold brick behind him, arms crossed loosely as his hooded face remained fixed on the crowd flowing through the main road.

No expression. No movement.

Just a quiet gaze, hidden beneath the hood.

He watched.

And waited.

Not long after.

"You came."

The voice came from the road.

The man turned his head toward the source, eyes narrowing beneath the shadow of his hood.

A tall figure approached, clad in full armor, helmet included.

The metal plating clinked with each step, and the heavy, measured strides sent subtle tremors into the ground, rippling through the air.

People along the path instinctively veered away. Some merely stepped aside, others paused and watched.

“Who is that?” a merchant muttered, half in awe.

“That’s… a Holy Knight, right?” someone whispered back.

“The Holy Knights don’t show up unless something serious is happening…”