Strawberry Devil in a Fantasy World - Chapter 103

There were still some preparations I needed before I could return to the outside world.

I had certainly not just interacted but also interfered with the people of the world. It was a fact that I rescued certain individuals that weren’t evolved. However, because a high level demon was also involved in their capture, perhaps this could be considered a grey area.

In the first place, I had not received a download of much information regarding demons and guardians. I didn’t know how everyone was being monitored.

Echo. What’s the punishment for violating the Edict?

[The most severe punishment is banishment and having their powers sealed away.]

Who or what is monitoring the situation?

[It is what you call “the system.”]

Ah, so you will be doing it I assume and also the judgements?

[It can be understood that way. The system only administers punishments in the most severe circumstances. The guardians are the peacekeepers and the primary enforcers of the Edicts within their own jurisdictions.]

Is there an alliance between guardians? Vorte mentioned that if he was targeted, other guardians would show up. How would they know?

[Guardians are provided a telepathic communication network and the ability to instantaneously travel using said network to perform their duties.]

Ah crap, that sounds like a hassle. Assuming I had violated the Edict, how much punishment will I receive normally?

[The situation is reversible.]

The answer was somewhat strange and expected. I could technically just return everything to what it was moments ago in that facility, except that demon. In any case, destroying a demon wasn’t a violation of anything. In the worst case, I might get ganged up by a bunch of demons which so far they had tried and failed.

How many demons and guardians are there?

[Classified information.]

Since numbers were off the table, I tried to obtain other types of information. Before going into a battle, one had to know his or her enemy.

Are there celestial races other than me currently residing in that world or in related subspaces?

[No.]

This was the answer I had hoped receive.

Can demons or guardians create subspaces?

[No.]

Then, can they administrate subspaces?

[Yes.]

Okay, will you or have you informed the guardians and demons of my violation?

[No.]

Do Edicts not apply to me?

[They do, only in severe cases. Upper celestial race serves the roles of the mediator and the administrator within a world.]

Although I said I wanted to be a god, I didn’t want the work that came with it. Basically, I get to do what I want as long as I don’t bother the other races too much. In terms of the Edict and whatnot, I am to use my own judgement.

[Yes.]

To sum things up, the work related to my position wasn’t much. The guardians took care most of it. Heroes and demons were unpredictable components but everything normally balanced out. If any of them went rogue and caused trouble, I could step in and eliminate them in the worst case scenario. Though, their traits normally influenced them enough that the possibility of going stray was closed to zero.

You should have just downloaded all that information to me when I had evolved.

[You did not request it.]

Then do it now.

[Yes.]

A crap load of information started streaming into me, or at least that was what I was expecting. It didn’t happen that way. Only a tidbit of information trickled in. It had to do with my job description, information related to the previous mediator, and the state of the world.

The previous mediator was around thousands of year ago before this current system was installed. It was also that same being who helped with implementing this system. After that, the mediator faded into the background and operated behind the scene only. Before he left the world, any memories of him was completely erased as if he had never existed in the first place.

Looking at the current state of the world, I could guess where guardians, demons, and heroes were located. Still, I felt that it was kind of unfair that I didn’t get to know exactly where and who these beings were given my new “duty”. Despite that, if I tried, apparently I could vaguely sense their general locations and the type of energies they extruded.

On the continent, guardians seemed to have gathered within Grusia Empire mostly, likely at least five of them, plus likely one within Sovereign of Mist where the elves resided. The one in the elf country was giving a mixed energy signature. Then, there were at least two living in the southeast of the continent in the wilderness away from all the battles.

Demons were mostly scattered across the world including some living in monster territories.

The number of heroes that currently existed was likely less than five based on the information I had gathered in Rotask, the capital of the human country. From what I could sense though, there were at least twice as many as I had previous noted. If I had to guess, the resistance to the Hero King was the cause of it. Surprisingly though, one or two heroes were in the northern war theatre between the beastfolks and the reptilians.

The last section to survey was the ocean, home to countless ancient beasts and monsters of unfathomable power. Even in the depth of the ocean, demons and guardians existed seemingly not in humanoid forms unlike their land counterparts. Most of them were balanced in terms of power thus I decided I didn’t need to focus on them.

After a short survey of the world at large, I returned to my little home where Smoothie was awaiting my return.

“I’m back!”

I snuck behind the adorable Smoothie for a surprise hug. She seemed to be doing something in the kitchen.

“Mother, I have a request.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Please change my constitution so I can eat.”

I held back from eating in front of Smoothie while she was here. However, it wasn’t like I could hide that forever.

I could technically grant that request but the issue was that I didn’t want to use her as my guinea pig. If it was urgent and life threatening, I had no problem trying it but this wasn’t the case.

Technically, [transformation] could also accomplish it but that depended on the individual. For example, I was only good at transforming my external appearance but Kanoko could transform herself entirely from her fox form, tail form, and human form. Her interiors would also transform to match.

For the current me, I still preferred to keep things in the simplest form, mana and dusts. Simply put, I was a lump of star dusts, true to my nature, a celestial being.

“Can you ask [sage] about it? Perhaps it could teach you how to transform properly. Or, do you want to ask Kanoko? She’s an expert in that field.”

“But [sage] said you can do it.”

“I technically can but I’ve never done and I really don’t want to try it.”

“You’re just a lazy bum!”

“Wah!? Do you want to eat food that badly? I mean, you can savor my memories if you like!” I offered another alternative just to tease her.

“You meanie! I’m ignoring you now.” She stormed off like a kid on a tantrum. Still, that was super cute because I had never seen her like that before.

“So adorable…” I murmured.

“Ahno, Berry.”

“Oh, Haelley, do you need something?”

“We have decided.”

“Okay, so what did you all come up with?”

“Please help them.”

“Got it.”

Since I had clearance from the system, I no longer had to be overly cautious of my actions. The guardians and demons might find what I did disagreeable, but without the system supporting them, there really wasn’t much they could do to a celestial race of my level.

“Then what will you all do? Do you wish to stay for longer?”

“No, they wish to leave.”

“I see. I respect that. And what about you?”

“I will fight against humans and we will take back our homeland.”

“Very well. I’ll help you in that regards as much as I can. Speaking of which, I noticed you are speaking fluently in the common tongue.”

“Yes. I practice every day!” She spoke cheerfully.

“Good, gather your folks, and I’ll send you back to Vera. Is that alright?”

“Yes, please.”

Moments later, all the winged beasts have gathered. I transferred everyone some distance away from Vera’s city gate. After we said our farewells, I returned to my subspace. Of course, I secretly replaced their memories of my subspace for security reasons.