Logout Error: My NPCs Now Worship Me

The month following the vassalization of Elysia was one of quiet, terrifyingly efficient consolidation. While the rest of the world whispered and schemed, the newly formed Dominion of Nexus established its foundations under the meticulous direction of Rose and her administrators.

The eastern Elysian territories were absorbed with barely a whisper of protest. The populace, having heard the tale of the "Miracle of Oakhaven" and the "Judgment on the Amber River," were more than willing to accept their new, seemingly omnipotent master over the weak king and the silent goddess who had abandoned them. Tithes were collected, laws were enforced, and order was maintained with a supernatural efficiency that the bumbling bureaucracy of Elysia could never have matched.

Inside the Great Tomb of Nexus, the influx of Divine Power had brought about significant changes. Kaelus, with over 12,000 DP at his disposal, had begun to upgrade his home.

[System Action: Domain Upgrade (The Great Tomb of Nexus) - Tier 1]

[Cost: 10,000 DP]

[Effects:]

[Mana Atmosphere Enrichment]: The ambient mana within the Tomb is now denser, accelerating the power growth of all inhabitants.

[Spatial Reinforcement]: The Tomb is now shielded against teleportation and scrying from outside entities below the level of 'god'.

[Creation Forge Unlocked]: A new facility is now available, allowing for the crafting of high-tier items, golems, and undead using Divine Power as a catalyst.

[Expansion]: Two new, empty floors have been generated at the bottom of the Tomb, ready for development.

The upgrade had been a silent, profound event. The very air in the Tomb now felt thicker, richer with power. It was like breathing pure energy. His Guardians were already feeling the effects, their own power growing passively just by existing within its walls.

Today, Kaelus sat on his throne, contemplating his next move. The world was watching him, but they were hesitant, fearful. He needed a reason to project his power again, a justification to expand his influence.

His thoughts were interrupted by the approach of two of his Guardians: Gravity and Rose. It was an unusual pairing. Gravity, with her cosmic power and possessive nature, rarely concerned herself with the "mundane" administrative tasks that Rose excelled at.

They stopped before the throne and bowed.

"My Lord," Rose began, her voice as smooth as ever. "The initial integration of the new territories is complete. However, we face a minor logistical challenge. The farmlands are fertile, but the human farmers are inefficient. Their crop yields are… pathetic."

Kaelus tilted his head. "And your proposed solution?"

"Flora has offered to 'enhance' the farmlands," Rose said, a hint of dry amusement in her tone. "But I fear her methods might result in sentient, carnivorous pumpkins that would solve our food surplus issue by eating the farmers. A less… dramatic solution is required."

Gravity then spoke, her voice cool and precise. "My Lord, the issue is not just the farms. It is the people. They are weak, fragile, and short-lived. Their worship is potent, but their lifespans are fleeting. To build an eternal empire, you need eternal worshippers."

Ravi saw their point. They were thinking on a grander, longer scale.

"I was reviewing the lore you programmed into me, my Lord," Gravity continued, her eyes glowing with intellectual fervor. "The legends of the Dark Elves of the Gloomwood. A race of long-lived, magically adept beings who live in a subterranean city. According to the lore, they were your first allies in the ancient wars."

Ravi's mind flashed back. He remembered writing that lore. He had designed the Dark Elves as a potential allied race for his guild, but no one in Yggdrasil Nova had ever managed to complete the incredibly convoluted questline to find them. He had just assumed they were flavor text, not a real part of this new world.

"Their city, Erebus, is said to be located deep beneath the roots of the Dragon's Tooth Mountains, which lie on the border of the Baharuth Empire," Gravity explained. "They are masters of stealth, shadow magic, and agriculture that thrives in darkness. They would make perfect citizens for your growing Dominion. Loyal, long-lived, and powerful."

Kaelus remained silent, contemplating this. If the Dark Elves were real, they would be a massive asset. But approaching them would mean projecting his power right onto the doorstep of the Baharuth Empire, the powerful, militaristic nation that was already watching him with extreme prejudice. It was a risky move.

Before he could decide, Rose presented a second issue. "On a more immediate matter, my Lord. We have received a formal request. From the vassal-king, Theron."

This was unexpected. Kaelus had assumed Theron would cower in his capital, too afraid to even breathe in his direction.

"A request for what?" Kaelus asked.

"An audience," Rose replied. "Not for him. For his daughter. The Princess."

This piqued Ravi's interest. He remembered seeing a royal family tree in the game's lore. The King had one daughter, Princess Renner—no, that was a different story. Princess Lilliana. She was described as being fiercely intelligent, politically cunning, and possessing a rare magical talent.

"And the reason for this audience?"

Rose's serene smile became a sly, knowing grin. "She has sent a private message, delivered through a channel she believed to be secret. My agents, of course, intercepted it. It seems the Princess is… dissatisfied with her kingdom's new status. But she is not a fool. She knows she cannot fight you. So, she has a different proposal."

Rose paused, savoring the moment.

"She wishes to offer you a political marriage."

The throne room fell silent. Even Gravity seemed taken aback by this.

Ravi was floored. A marriage? To him? A towering, faceless entity of shadow and death? What was this princess thinking?

"She is a pragmatist, my Lord," Rose explained, sensing his silent question. "Her letter argues that a marriage alliance would solidify the bond between the Dominion of Nexus and the vassal Kingdom of Elysia. It would quell the remaining rebellious nobles and give the people a symbol of unity to rally behind. She believes that by becoming your Queen, she can secure a better future for her people than they would have as mere subjects."

Spidy, who had been listening from the shadows, suddenly appeared, a low whistle on her lips. "Well, well. A human princess wants to climb into the spider's web all on her own. She's either very brave or very stupid."

Flora, who had also drifted closer, had a dangerous sweetness in her voice. "A queen? How lovely. I wonder what kind of flowers she would like for her bridal bouquet. I have a new strain of Wolfsbane that would match her royal colors perfectly."

The harem's jealousy, which had been dormant, was instantly reignited. The idea of an 'official' queen, a human outsider, was a threat to all of them.

Kaelus held up a hand, silencing their budding animosity before it could bloom. A marriage. The idea was absurd, yet… intriguing. He had no physical body, no human desires. But the political advantages were undeniable. A human queen would be the perfect bridge to his mortal subjects, a smiling, acceptable face for his terrifying, shadowy regime. And the princess was said to be intelligent. A useful pawn could be a valuable asset.

And for Ravi, the lonely university student trapped inside the god-avatar, the idea was… strange. A wife? A queen? It was a fantasy so far beyond his own life that it was hard to even process.

"This princess," Kaelus's voice was thoughtful. "She is willing to bind herself to... me? A being she has never seen?"

"She is a true royal, my Lord," Rose said with a hint of admiration. "She is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the stability of her kingdom. She sees you not as a demon or a man, but as a political reality, a force of nature to which she must adapt. In her own way, she is a conqueror, seeking to win through diplomacy what she cannot win through war."

Kaelus considered his two new potential paths.

One, a quest to find the mythical Dark Elves, a move that would risk confrontation with a major world power.

Two, a political marriage with a cunning human princess, a move that would solidify his current holdings and potentially give him a new, intelligent and dangerous piece to play in his game.

He looked at his Guardians. At Gravity, who advocated for finding new, worthy worshippers. At Rose, who presented him with a chance to master the political landscape. At Spidy and Flora, whose simmering jealousy was a constant, dangerous variable.

He made his decision. The Dark Elves could wait. The game of politics was far more interesting.

"Rose," he commanded. "Send a reply to the Princess Lilliana. Grant her the audience. Let her come to Oakhaven and make her proposal to me in person."

He would meet this brave, foolish princess. He would look into her eyes and see if her ambition was something he could use, or something he would have to crush.