After being forced to step down, the once-annoying nun eloped with me.

"My parents seem to have an incomplete second half to their story—like I just mentioned, they said I would spend my life with a successful man."

"Excuse me, is this...?"

"What successful man am I? I only have a down-on-his-luck little dog. We're in the same boat. How can I be considered a Caesar or an emperor?"

At this point, Theresa shrugged.

"In Bayern, putting aside the Emperor for now, Caesar is the second most powerful figure in the empire, wielding military power, leading the empire's progress, and possessing almost equal rights to the Emperor... The only thing I have to do with the Emperor is that, besides being the Last Princess, I am also the Last Sister of the Church of Light—that's a barely acceptable connection, but do you think he counts?"

"...I think you're escaping reality, Princess Purple."

"This is reality."

As one of the last nuns and a princess, I've fallen so low that I have to feign conversion just to survive. If it weren't for the convent in my family, I probably would have lived like a caveman.

A former regent who was betrayed and humiliated, reduced to chopping wood with me in a dilapidated monastery and patching up leaky vents with planks, whose public identity was previously that of a woodcutter of unknown origin, would probably not have been able to return to our village alive without the secret protection of you elves.

Tell me, which one qualifies as a successful person? Which one is even remotely related to prophecy? Therefore, all prophecies are lies.

While it sounds like an interesting story, it's unlikely to happen in the end. And that pillar of light thing is even more ridiculous. I'm already expending almost half my divine power just casting Tranquility on him every day; you're telling me I have the ability to unleash a pillar of light that reaches the heavens?

"It's better to just tell me directly that I'll find out someday that bastard God of Light is having sex with the clouds in the sky. He's already disgusting enough; it wouldn't be a problem if he made his followers 'enjoy the heavenly dew' even more disgusting."

At this point, the last nun and the princess sighed heavily. It was unclear whether they were lamenting their own weakness or the absurdity of the prophecy.

The elf just stared at her. After a long while, she shook her head: "I... I actually already gave you a chance, Princess Purple."

“But I refuse. I know I really want to revitalize my country and restore my Lord to His divine position... but really, pointless persistence is unnecessary. More than a lofty but unattainable power, I now crave the tangible comforts of daily meals, the necessities of life, and Him.”

"...I understand now."

Has she truly made up her mind to no longer consider the restoration of her kingdom and the pursuit of light?

Finn wasn't sure. All she knew was that her deal today was a complete failure—but only for today.

It seemed inappropriate to continue this conversation now. So she took another sip of her sweet and sour juice and glanced at the exquisite mechanical clock in the reception room—a gift from the artisans of Bayerzans, which the elves had carefully maintained and which showed no signs of damage to this day.

It's already late at night, and His Majesty the Regent will be back soon. Let's talk about something lighter now.

Thinking this, Fen spoke up:

"So you know that in our elven kingdom, there has always been speculation about the 'traitor' from back then?"

"[Traitors]? I remember my dad saying that back then, it seemed like the whole nation was on the front lines fighting against the demonic calamity... and then the empty towns behind were apparently pierced by the barbarians who were originally protecting them, and St. Petersburg had to sink prematurely because of this, but it stopped sinking after less than 50 floors."

Theresa seemed thoughtful, clearly interested in the topic. Finn, on the other hand, was playing to her interests; it would be wonderful if they could become friends.

“There are some discrepancies in the details.” The elf smiled and shook his head. “We elves have more detailed records… but in the war back then, only one in ten elves survived, resulting in a significant gap in our culture and memory, so I can’t be sure if this is accurate.”

"So? What is Gaparia's guess?"

"...Those who betrayed us back then are, without a doubt, the barbarians who now form the Roman Empire."

"...Huh?"

Theresa raised an eyebrow: This is truly... astonishing? After all, the traitor who betrayed Bayern during the Demonic War should have acquired considerable technology and wealth and become a regional overlord, right?

And you're telling me he's a barbarian? Five years ago he was a barbarian in a tribe? Seriously...?

Theresa truly couldn't believe it—not only had her homeland been betrayed by such barbarians, but these barbarians had also regressed to the tribal era? Are you kidding me?

Finn clearly saw the distrust in Theresa's eyes. Finn could only smile wryly and say, "It's precisely because they don't act like the traitors they were back then that we've been guessing, given the memory gaps and cultural differences."

"After all, elves do not betray oaths. Back then, Gaparia and Bayez signed a covenant to fight for the lives of Elusia and to fight against the demonic calamity together... So no matter how much we doubt the Roman Empire or how much we hate them, without evidence, we will not destroy a country for our own selfish desires—not to mention that the elves are not capable of sending troops to any country now."

"After all, your population is really small... so what's the reason for the traitors?"

"St. Petersburg, your Holy City of Light. According to the Emperor's prophecy, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the God of Light is one of the traitors—according to our Elven records, before becoming the God of Light, he may have been just a mortal... and this mortal, in the limited records, had the most contact with the tribesmen in the southern part of the Empire. They were the people we promised to protect back then."

And coincidentally, most of the ancient cities these barbarians now possess retain relics of the former Bayrzan Empire—take Kargard, for example; its portals are Bayrzan technology. "Princess in Purple...no, Miss Theresa, please think carefully, in all the history you've heard, what place was the first to be attacked?"

Theresa frowned.

She tried to recall the stories her parents had told her, and in the end, she remembered—some vague words and sorrow:

"...is a plain town far from the forest battlefield, where a large number of militia and supplies have been conscripted."

That makes sense...

Why does the Roman Empire now possess a vast network of teleportation portals thanks to Yang Hao's efforts? Why are the core cities of the Roman Empire said to have countless layers of underground ruins...?

Those things...were they actually once part of our own motherland?

The nun blinked, and finally added calmly:

"So they actually regressed into barbarians?"

"Perhaps it's because they are barbarians. They don't understand writing or technology, so even if they steal things that belong to Bayer Zans, they won't be able to maintain them."

"And what about St. Petersburg?"

"...According to the old elves, all the followers of the Church of Light responded to the call to fight the demonic calamity, leaving only women, children, and the elderly in St. Petersburg. But one day, the divine barrier within St. Petersburg was stolen, and the demonic calamity appeared in the city. The remaining people paid a heavy price to repel the demons, but the next moment, barbarians stormed into the devastated holy city."

It was precisely because St. Petersburg was ultimately massacred and the entire city was taken over that the sinking only partially stopped—it's said that the parishioners even claim those elevators were a miracle created by the parish itself.

"...No wonder they're barbarians. They take what they want, and if they can't take it, they destroy it."

“It seems we have quite a bit in common on this matter, Miss Theresa.” Finn nodded with a smile. “You may call me by my real name—”

“No need. The word ‘Fen’ is fine, and your elves’ real names are so long and tedious, my father has complained about it more than once. It’s more practical to use an abbreviation.”

"It's only less than a hundred words?" Fen's face stiffened for a moment. It's only less than a hundred words, and you're already complaining about the trouble?

Theresa simply looked at this as if she'd seen a ghost: "A name with dozens of characters? Who the hell can remember that?!"

No wonder you guys...wait, footsteps?

The little nun suddenly perked up her ears, and she heard a familiar sound—the footsteps that belonged only to Yang Hao.

He's back?!

Theresa turned around with great anticipation to look at the door leading to the corridor. With a pause and a soft sound, the door was opened from the outside.

Yang Hao and Qin Na entered from outside. He first bowed to Fen, then said rather apologetically:

"Fen, it's getting late. Even if we're going to work, I'd like to start tomorrow. I want to take her home first."

"Oh, please, go ahead—I had a very pleasant chat with Miss Theresa. Have your rooms been arranged?"

"Thank you. The room was great, and everyone loved the desserts."

The man smiled and responded, then took the hand of the nun on the table who suddenly looked weary, and led her out of the reception room.

Watching their departing figures disappear outside the door, Fen simply shook her head and said:

"Sigh... a pillar of light reaching the heavens, an empire destined to rise again... does she actually think this is a fabricated story? Truly, humanity is something else..."

"Fen?"

"It's nothing, just talking to myself—by the way, Qinna, how long is your real name?"

"124 characters? In human terms..."

On the way back, while chatting with his loyal servant about the fact that names are too long for humans, Finn pondered in his heart how to get the Regent to sincerely request to stay in Gaparia forever—a plan that seemed long-term even for elves.

On the other side...

On the western side of the Monster Forest, there is an ancient ruin called the "Watchtower" perched on a steep cliff.

The remnants of the Bayern Empire, known as the "Tower Keepers," are telling their children stories of the past in an ancient language.

“Our queen will lead us back to the surface. So our duty is to guard this last fortress on the surface.”

The child, holding a shield and a short sword passed down through generations for who knows how many years, seemed to understand but not quite, while the elderly tower keeper looked forward to the distant night.

He heard rustling sounds below. He turned around and saw his comrades who were transporting supplies, their faces covered in blood, though there were far fewer of them than before.

"Constantinople has been attacked again. Petrifying demons and lava demons killed many of our men, but fortunately we killed one of them and avenged the centurion."

One of them muttered to himself, placing the box made of demon skin on the ground before adding:

"These dried earthworms and dried mushrooms are to be eaten sparingly; they were saved up by the women and children... The demons have been rampant for so long that even moss can't be found near the city."

What happened to the Eagle Flag Brigade?

"The 24th Eagle Flag Battalion is history, but fortunately the equipment was recovered. At least the 25th Eagle Flag Battalion still has equipment."

Where are the soldiers?

"This year, we've already enlisted 16-year-olds for training. But the demons aren't doing well either; I just saw quite a few newly hatched larvae... Normally, they wouldn't let their offspring stray too far from the core area. They're at their breaking point. Oh, right—here, this is for you. It looks like the weapon your father used; we found it inside the petrified demon's belly."

The soldier threw an axe to the tower guard, whose child obediently caught it and handed it to his father.

The tower guard took the axe, skillfully pressed the button on it to transform it from a one-handed axe into a special weapon resembling a harpoon, and then grinned.

After nearly a thousand years of war with demons, the remnants of the Bayerjanes have evolved shape-shifting weapons adapted to the diverse underground environment. These weapons, which can shrink or lengthen, are perfectly suited to the modern Bayerjanes.

I wonder what has become of the humans on Earth, and what kind of life the races they and the elves once protected are living now.

After the warriors left, the tower keeper handed the axe to his child.

He was too old to wield such a weapon and fight demons—but his child could.

This is necessary cruelty.

All for the sake of returning to the surface. All for the sake of their queen.

Chapter Fifteen: Former Subordinates and the Flames of Change Among the Elves

......

5 month 4 day.

After concluding his morning meeting with Finn, Yang Hao told the Ling clan members and Joseph's family, who were staying in the temporary room in the Green Garden, to receive guidance from the elves when they went out today and to be careful. Then, under the guise of work, he took Theresa away from the Green Garden and headed to Fingel's commercial street and artisan street to learn about the elves' situation.

After all, reforming an ancient and perfect country is impossible without conducting on-site investigations.

Moreover, Teresa had been sulking with him all day yesterday, which made Yang Hao feel guilty. He also thought that it was quite nice to have a date while working. Driven by these thoughts, he invited Teresa to go out for a walk. Teresa bit his ear, dressed herself up beautifully, and took his arm as they went out.

Fingal is a vibrant city. The pedestrians look exceptionally strong, a true testament to the city's wealth and prosperity, yet for some reason, Yang Hao always felt a strange sense of unease...

"...They eat snacks from a thousand years ago, wear clothes from a thousand years ago, and their houses are almost identical to those from a thousand years ago—everything looks so perfect...outdated."

While eating meat snacks she had bought from the grocery store, Teresa whispered in Yang Hao's ear.

"In a sense, this city is on a completely different timeline from the world we live in—it really gives you the feeling of living thousands of years ago."