Having traversed countless realms, can you possibly be as clever as me?

Ha! When it comes to the chaos caused by infinite multiverses, the best examples are the two major American comic book universes!

Look at Marvel and DC next door. Since they started using the multiverse concept, they've attracted all sorts of talented people, young and old!

The prison warden's attempt to overturn the universe, spanning over a hundred light-years, is unprecedented on the moon, but what about in the DC/Marvel universe?

Justice League or Avengers: First Time?

Something that doesn't even qualify as a crisis on the scale of a single universe doesn't deserve to be called a major event! At most, you'll get two issues of a Batman solo comic, and that'll be it when Batman has some free time!

Lucifer has turned the moon into a true multiverse, which seems like a great thing, but considering that crossing boundaries in this place is no more difficult than going to the toilet, and the Throne of Heroes is like a hotel where you can just wander around...

"Anyway, it's true that Gaia and Alaya's positions are in jeopardy," Tsugumi said gloatingly.

Putting aside other issues, the main axis of pan-human history established by human reason will definitely be blown away in the face of the multiverse crisis!

This pan-human history is itself built on a central finite curve within a finite multiverse. However, once you enter the multiverse, the concept of an absolute main axis does not exist in the multidimensional network.

Conversely, because the multiverse might breed major villains that raise questions about the origins of things, it is highly likely that, like those two American comic book universes, the main universe will occasionally see a group of uninvited guests who are up to something big.

Given Alaya's lackluster performance and Gaia's shameful behavior, they are no match for the monsters and demons of American comics and Earth. They'll probably be turned into spinning tops by all sorts of IF-themed gods on various online forums.

"Um...that's roughly the idea."

Hier touched the back of her hand. Although she didn't quite understand what Tsurugi was saying, that was the gist of it.

Both the Restraint Force and the Church hope that Tsuruga will find out what Lucifer did, fix it, and restore the world to its original state!

But the problem is—

"Fuck you, why would I help you?"

Tsugumi gleefully gave Hiel the middle finger and laughed wildly.

"I should be fucking happy! This means this boring universe is becoming more entertaining!!!"

"You're a saint!!!" Hiel's eyes widened.

"Ha, so what if he's a saint? And to put it bluntly, aren't the lives of people in the Lostbelts just lives too?" Tsurugi said sarcastically.

"Does this mean you want me to prematurely kill countless unborn people in order to save a small minority in the pan-human history?"

"Heh, I don't have that kind of free time. I'm not some useful human slave like Fujimaru Ritsuka. What the hell does the pan-human history of this world have to do with me?"

After saying this, Dongjiang laughed loudly and turned to leave.

"Please wait a moment..."

Hier stamped his foot and hurriedly followed, trying to persuade Tsurugi. One after the other, the two disappeared at the end of the road.

......

Meanwhile, on the other hand, Demon Tsugumi was having a great time.

Three days have passed since the day the food fell from the sky, and Tsurugae's performance can be described as a great success.

Throughout Rome, the legends were spreading that the Tulip River was a descendant of Cres (the Roman god of agriculture), and that their emperor was a reincarnation of the goddess. The praise and flattery were endless!

And Tsurugi didn't falter afterward; instead, she brought over tons of starchy food converted from carbon dioxide from the UC universe.

These things don't taste very good; they're like bland mashed potatoes. But at least they're filling and provide enough carbohydrates.

Most importantly—it's distributed for free.

The starving Roman commoners didn't care about the taste; they were usually overjoyed to have food for free.

Besides, can't we just take it back and process it ourselves?

As ordinary people happily carried home batch after batch of starch, the smear campaign and media offensive launched by the Senate and Julia for Tsurugi and Nero easily crumbled and disappeared.

On the contrary, Nero's prestige increased further, and the momentum for Tsurugi, a stranger, to become governor vanished.

That's how ordinary people are; the more they face hardship, the more pragmatic they become. If Dongjiang and Nero can bring them enough food, then they don't care about anything else—that's all they care about!

As for the nobles and councilors, their attitudes differed. Some chose to lie low and continue plotting, while many more began to try to side with Nero, believing that the young emperor was gradually gaining power.

Ultimately, the decline of the Roman Republic's Senate system was already evident after their assassination of Caesar. Even though the emperors before Nero were not exactly benevolent, under the oppression of the feudal imperial system, any attempt to restore the Senate system was destined to be nothing more than a pipe dream.

Okay, putting aside these complicated political topics, for Tsugumi, his relationship with Nero has also warmed up considerably.

Love begins with a passionate pursuit of physical appearance, but is elevated by facing a problem together and deciding how to proceed.

Dongjiang arrived at a terrace situated on the edge of a cliff, where real and bronze grapevines entwined the white marble railings, and tiny glass lamps, like frozen fireflies, dotted the branches and leaves. Below, the Tiber River stretched like a black jade belt in the night, and in the distance, the massive silhouette of the Flavien Amphitheatre lay dormant in the darkness.

In the center of the terrace, a round alabaster table was set up for two people to sit facing each other. Nero was waiting there somewhat nervously.

When Tsurugi was led here by the maid, she saw a young girl who had changed into a simple light white Heaton dress, with her long golden hair tied up in a braid. She no longer had the dazzling radiance of her usual self, but was much gentler.

“Your Majesty,” Tsugumi said.

Nero trembled slightly, as if startled from a scene in her mind. She quickly raised her head, her emerald eyes shimmering more moistly and brightly than usual under the glass lamplight. A very faint look, which could be described as panic, flashed across her face, but she immediately covered it up with her usual tone of voice.

"Ah! You're here! Yu's Star! Quick, sit down, sit here!" She pointed to the seat opposite her, her gesture quick.

Tsurugi sat down as instructed. So close, he could smell the faint fragrance emanating from her, not the strong myrrh often used by Roman nobles, but the sweet scent of apple blossoms and a hint of sun-dried grass.

“I… originally intended to host a larger banquet,” Nero began, his fingers unconsciously picking up a pomegranate seed, but he didn’t put it in his mouth. “But those councilors and nobles were too noisy. I don’t know if this suits your taste.”

Looking at the young empress before him, who was so cautious and seemingly afraid of displeasing him, Tsugumi smiled slightly.

“Very well, Your Majesty, I also dislike long banquets.”

Hearing Tsugumi say that he didn't care, Nero breathed a sigh of relief, then cheerfully picked up the sake jug on the table and filled it for him.

The deep red wine poured into the crystal glass, shimmering like jewels in the moonlight and lamplight. She pushed one glass towards Tsurugi, picked up the other for herself, and a barely perceptible hint of panic and anticipation flickered in her eyes.

"For my grand performance as governor." She tilted her head back and took a sip, perhaps a little too quickly, as a trickle of wine spilled from the corner of her lips and slid down her pale chin. She hurriedly wiped it with the back of her hand, a thin blush instantly rising to her face, clearly visible in the moonlight.

"His Majesty seems a little anxious..." Tsurugi said, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Does being alone with me make His Majesty a little nervous?"

“No, that’s not it. I just… have something to say.” Nero turned her head away and whispered, her small feet, which barely touched the ground from her high chair, gently swaying.

A brief silence followed, broken only by the soft rustling of the night wind through the grapevines. Nero seemed suddenly fascinated by her fingers, her wine glass, and even the patterns on the table, but dared not look directly into Tsugumi's eyes. This was a stark contrast to her usual confident and unrestrained demeanor.

After a long while, Nero took a deep breath and finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Those foods... could you tell me where they came from? Were they really stolen from the gardens of Hesperides, or from Chris's secret treasury?"

She blinked, clearly curious, while Tsugumi stroked her chin and chuckled.

"Just think of it as coming from another world. It doesn't matter, does it? Whether it comes from the Mediterranean or somewhere else, it's just a difference in location."

"And you? Are you truly a traveler from Seris?" She leaned forward slightly, her pale white gauze sleeve slipping down to reveal a section of her fair forearm.

"Will you one day leave Rome?" Nero hesitated. "Will you...will you stay in Rome?"

This question lacked any of the emperor's cunning or strategic thinking, leaving only cautious anticipation.

The night breeze picked up a bit, ruffling the hair on her forehead and stirring a corner of the tablecloth. The faint chirping of night birds drifted from afar.

Tsurugi met her gaze but did not answer immediately. The air on the terrace seemed to freeze, with only the silent, complex emotions—between hazy feelings and deep loneliness—lingering between the two, more intoxicating than the aroma of wine.

Tsugumi pondered for a moment, then smiled at Nero.

"Of course I will not leave Rome, Your Majesty, but I wonder in what capacity you would prefer me to remain?"

"Of course, I am your subject!"

Nero nervously gripped the hem of her skirt, but still managed to project an air of composure.

"Of course, if you wish to take things further, that's not out of the question, after all, I haven't even confirmed my partner yet..."

Seeing Nero's bright red face, Tsugumi revealed an increasingly amused expression, but did not respond.

Nero, unable to contain himself any longer, coughed lightly and said...

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about those Imperial Guards; they were all so loyal and compassionate," Dongjiang said softly, turning her head away.

"I wonder if this sentiment is for His Majesty, or for someone else?"

Changing styles doesn't change anything, it's still all about killing! : 164. The Pantheon Ambush

If this visual novel had an affinity system, Nero's affinity would already be at 99%, and her Q-level...

In short, the Milk Girl Emperor is already a character that Tsugumi has successfully conquered.

Demolish, adjust, degenerate—unlock special CGs all in one smooth motion!

That sounds like something a scumbag would say, but Tsugumi doesn't seem to feel any guilt at all.

After all, he only did good things!

However, it's too early to talk about love and affection right now; at this moment, Tsurugi is more interested in the game of raising and nurturing a character.

He genuinely wanted to see what kind of person Nero would become.

Although the other self is scheming to destroy Rome, it doesn't stop this self from building Rome.

"Your Majesty should understand that your power is still not secure at this moment."

Tsugumi put down her wine glass, seamlessly switching into politician mode, and looked at Nero earnestly, saying...

Nero blinked, then looked at Tsugumi with a mournful gaze, pouting unhappily.

"Qing, it's banquet time now, do you really have to spoil the mood like this?"

"Your Majesty, some things cannot be rushed, but some things cannot be delayed." Tsurugi braced himself on the table, leaning forward, his handsome face looming over Nero as he looked at the unconsciously reclining emperor and spoke softly.

"Now is the perfect time to press your advantage. Your Majesty should seize this opportunity to consolidate more power from the Senate and solidify your position. Most importantly—you should also let go of your mother."

Mentioning her mother, whom she both respected and feared, Nero finally snapped out of her rosy-tinted state.

She took a sip of wine, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a very soft voice...

"Does it really have to be this way? After all, she did make a difference..."

"So what if she's done well? She's already dabbled in far too many things she shouldn't have," Tsugumi said without hesitation.

"I just want to remind Your Majesty to make a decision sooner rather than later. If we let things escalate to the point where you two are at loggerheads and irreconcilable differences, I'm afraid the outcome will be beyond Your Majesty's expectations."

"Qing... Waaah~~~"

Nero was about to speak when suddenly his face turned pale, he let out a mournful cry, pressed his hands to his temples, and slumped onto the table.