Step.
Step.
Step.
Slow footsteps echoed through the endless void.
A lone figure walked across the silent expanse of the space-time dimension, the strange corridor that existed between worlds. A place that every traveler must pass through to reach another realm.
Here, time did not flow.
There was no past. No future. Only an eternal, unmoving present stretching endlessly into darkness.
The creature looked around the vast emptiness with cautious curiosity.
"So… this is the space-time dimension His Highness spoke about."
His voice drifted through the void endlessly.
"For His Highness to form a gate leading to another world… as expected of him."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I must make this first mission a great success. Gathering information about another world should be simple… especially when it isn't that one's world."
The moment those words left his mouth, a faint shiver ran down his spine. His thoughts returned to a meeting from several years ago. The memory of a certain existence. Someone who had appeared far older… far greater… than even his own master.
Just remembering those radiant violet eyes made his entire body tense. During that gathering, every subordinate present had felt it.
The crushing pressure and the overwhelming presence. Even the servants of the other great beings had struggled to breathe beneath that silent gaze. All except the servants who belonged to him.
They had stood beside him calmly… as if such terrifying power was nothing unusual. And those servants themselves were unbelievably strong.
"As long as it isn't his world…"
He murmured quietly.
"…then everything should be fine."
As those words left him, the darkness surrounding his body slowly began to dissolve. The endless void of the space-time dimension faded away as a new world awaited beyond it.
But before his arrival there… his mind once again drifted back to the conversation between the rulers of the worlds. Especially the part where they spoke of the one who had never attended their gatherings.
---
A vast circular table floated within a space that resembled the very heart of the universe.
Around it stood five colossal thrones.
Four were occupied.
The fifth remained empty.
A reminder of the one who refused to appear. Each throne was filled by a being whose presence alone could shape worlds. Beside every one of them stood two powerful subordinates. For a few long moments, silence ruled the chamber.
Then one of them finally spoke.
The third existence born among them.
His black hair shimmered faintly with a pale white glow. His eyes mirrored the same strange coloration.
He leaned forward slightly as he spoke.
"…I believe we must address the absence of the missing one."
His voice carried a tone of cold authority.
"For beings such as ourselves, meetings like these are inevitable. Cooperation between us is necessary."
His eyes briefly glanced toward the empty throne.
"For someone to continuously refuse to appear… is unacceptable."
His words carried a subtle pride… and unmistakable arrogance. Silence followed.
Then another voice spoke.
The fourth existence born among them.
She leaned lazily upon her throne, gently spinning a small object between her fingers.
Her hair flowed like strands of crimson starlight, who looked like he has his own heart beat. Her eyes shared the same deep crimson color.
"Hm~… but somehow…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I cannot even determine where exactly they reside."
Her voice was playful, yet thoughtful.
"The state of their world… their creations… even their presence."
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"Everything becomes… blurred."
Another of the great beings finally spoke.
The fifth existence born among them.
He rested his head lazily against his hand, his expression calm and natural.
His hair shone with a brilliant silver-white glow, and his eyebrows carried the same color. His eyes reflected that same pale silver… touched faintly with shadows.
"To be blurred even before our sight…"
He spoke slowly.
"…that is rather strange."
Then his gaze shifted toward the final figure seated at the table. The oldest among them. And the most powerful.
"What do you think about this…Oreleon?"
...
The ancient existence did not respond.
Oreleon sat perfectly still upon his throne, eyes closed, his posture calm and unmoving.
Seconds passed and no answer came.
"…You know," the white-haired one finally continued, leaning slightly forward on his throne.
"To be honest, I'm not really interested in whether they attend these meetings or not."
He tilted his head lazily toward the table.
"…What I want to know is something else."
His silver eyes slowly turned toward Oreleon.
"…Are they stronger than you?"
Silence fell over the chamber once more.
Oreleon opened one eye slightly.
The faint violet glow within it drifted toward the white-haired existence. For five long seconds their gazes nearly met. Then Oreleon simply closed his eye again.
Without a word.
"…Huff."
The white-haired man sighed, clearly disappointed.
"Anyway…"
The black-haired existence spoke next, his voice carrying a faint tone of reproach.
"I'll make sure to have a proper conversation with them next time."
His lips curved slightly. The expression of someone who had already begun planning something.
---
"…The unknown one, huh?"
A figure slowly stepped out from the folds of space.
"Let's see what kind of world you have… to be arrogant enough to ignore the gathering."
He placed one foot into the new world. Looking downward at the world as he hide his presence completely.
Then he began scanning the planet below.
Creatures lived everywhere. Some deep within forests. Some across vast oceans. Others within the towering mountain ranges. Strange presences lingered in the far south. And a few… even drifted through the skies.
He remained there for a while. Watching and observing.
Then he sighed. A long one.
"…Haaaaah…"
His face twisted with visible disappointment.
"…Weak."
"…Soooo weak."
His voice carried clear disbelief.
"Is this really a world older than ours?"
His mind drifted back to his own world. The powerful species that lived there. The terrifying beings that his master's created, and compared to those… This world seemed pathetic.
He was about to sigh again.
But then—
Something happened.
No. That wasn't correct. Because he didn't feel anything. Not time. Not space. Not even the slightest movement of mana.
And yet… Someone was in front of him.
Golden hair floated gently through the air. A breathtakingly beautiful face leaned closer, carrying a faint playful smile. Eyes of heavenly blue color stared directly into his.
He couldn't move. Not because he didn't wanted to. but because his body wasn't there
"Hii~~"
The voice was soft and playful.
"What brings someone from another world here, cutie?"
The moment he looked into those eyes…His mouth began to move. Words started forming against his will. Even though he tried to resist. Even though he didn't want to speak.
And in that moment, he knew by instinct that a huge mistake was made. Something had gone terribly wrong. This was never a world he should have entered. And the mistake Was not his.
...It was his master's.