The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak

Souta, Alice, and the other top members of the Astros convened around the table after the Crown Prince's departure, delving into discussions about the Walpurgis invitation.

"Hmm... Send a message to Amanda. Have her return here as soon as possible," Souta instructed.

"The invitation... should we inform Athen's Champion about this?" Eilish inquired.

"No, there's no need. Athen's Champion won't intervene unless we present compelling evidence, such as proof of collusion between Walpurgis and the Deadly Sins," Souta replied, pausing to glance around the table before continuing, "Additionally, since the invitation originates from the Dream Realm, it suggests that Walpurgis is situated there. Even if we were to bring warriors from Athen's Champion, the Walpurgis stronghold in the Dream Realm would repel them and transport them elsewhere."

"So, we all can't go there?" Alice questioned, her expression narrowing.

"That's correct. The invitation has its limitations," Souta affirmed.

"The invitation specifies that the banquet will take place in a month and a half. However, the exact time and location will be revealed closer to the event," Eilish explained in a subdued tone.

"Which is why I need Amanda back here. I'll be taking her with me. But we still have a month, so there's no need to fret," Souta reassured, placing the Nightmare Mask on the table. "For now, activate it and attempt to gain entry to the Nightmare Realm. If successful, you'll acquire the power of dreams."

"The Nightmare Realm? I've heard it's a part of the Dream Realm..." Eilish mused, eyeing the mask on the table.

Souta, now possessing the power of dreams, had no need for the Nightmare Mask to access the Dream Realm.

"Dream Power is beneficial. It will enhance your combat capabilities to a certain extent. Though I can't guarantee how many of us can attend Walpurgis, gaining Dream Power will afford you more freedom in the Dream Realm," Souta elaborated.

Since Walpurgis was situated in the Dream Realm, having Dream Power would be advantageous. Crown Prince Servon shared some details about Walpurgis that Souta hadn't known from the game.

Suddenly, a knock interrupted their discussion.

Souta, Alice, and the others turned their heads towards the door.

"What is it?" Souta inquired.

"My Lord, Sir Eztein, Sir Franklin, and Sir Vashno have awakened," a voice announced.

...

Souta was inside a room, observing as Eztein, Vashno, and Franklin regained consciousness. He noticed that their strength had greatly weakened.

Previously, Eztein had been at Three Shackles, but now he had dropped to Two Shackles.

"What are you feeling?" Souta inquired.

Eztein looked at him before replying, "It's the same, just weaker. But I believe I can quickly regain my former strength."

"I feel much the same," Franklin added.

"It feels normal, as if the loss of memories is inconsequential," Vashno remarked.

"I see... Do any of you recall what happened to you?" Souta probed.

Despite their efforts, Eztein, Vashno, and Franklin struggled to recall the events that led to their loss of strength. No matter how hard they tried, a crucial part of their memories seemed to be missing. The only recollection they had was of being with Erkigal in a strange space, assisting in the removal of mashed-up realities.

Souta posed various questions, hoping to glean some relevant information about their experiences in Selnes Country. However, it became apparent that their memories were too fragmented to provide any useful insights.

With his focus squarely on obtaining the mythical-grade fruit, Souta had little time to spare for delving into the details of what occurred in Selnes Country. The transformation of Paente into a formidable entity, along with the absorption of the tree that bore the mythical-grade fruit, marked the climax of the battle. With Gilaine's demise, the conflict reached its conclusion.

Leaving Vashno, Eztein, and Franklin to their recollections, Souta excused himself and made his way to another room.

In this room, the woman called Erkigal was sitting on the bed. She turned her head when Souta entered the room.

"You're here," Erkigal said.

Souta sat on the vacant chair before observing the changes in her body. She was the same as the three others. She, too, had suffered a loss of strength.

"Do you remember what happened?" Souta asked.

"I don't know. I'm sure that the others are in the same situation," Erkigal replied. Pausing, she glanced at Souta before looking out the window. "But some words keep lingering in my mind."

"What are they?" Souta narrowed his eyes, curious.

"Frozen Continent, No God Emperor, and Forbidden Curse... These words kept popping into my mind, and I don't know why. It seems like something important," Erkigal said.

Souta widened his eyes, feeling surprised at her words.

"No God Emperor..." He heard the name of that god once again. Was he related to this event?

And the Frozen Continent... This land was the most mysterious among the seven continents. Even Souta, who experienced the game, didn't know much about this land.

"That's the only thing that I know," Erkigal said.

"I understand," Souta nodded.

The things that happened to her and the others were beyond his imagination. It was probably the same for him because he too couldn't remember his past, only fragmented pieces of it.

With his current power level, Souta could easily delve into his memories and even rearrange them, yet his past remained elusive. Only fragmented pieces were left, such as his name and other basic details from Earth. It was as if those memories didn't exist at all.

"Do you need anything? I can arrange everything you need. I've also helped the people of the Flaem Clan settle in the Hall Plains," Souta said to her.

During her unconsciousness, he had already delved into her background. He discovered that she was the former Clan Leader of the Flaem Clan. Many clan members perished in the war, but hundreds survived.

In the scale of the current Hall Plains, the power of the weakened Flaem Clan was significant. After all, Hono Flaem, the current Clan Leader, was at the top of the SSS-rank. There was likely no one in the entire Hall Plains who could defeat her except for Souta and Kessa.

"What happened to the other Five Master Clans?" Erkigal asked.

Souta explained to her what had transpired after the conclusion of the battle in Selnes Country.

The Botano Clan was decimated, with thousands of its members perishing and leaving nothing alive. Their Clan Leader, Paente Botano, betrayed the army by attempting to massacre everyone. Ultimately, he met his end at the hands of Souta, Red Mist, and Kessa.

The Darkna Clan was severely crippled. While not all were dead, most of their experts had perished, and their Clan Leader, Bezvin Darkna, suffered a similar fate. The current strength of the Darkna Clan was greatly diminished, with the strongest remaining expert only at the Solidifying Realm.

The Windi Clan faced a similar fate to the Darkna Clan, losing nearly ninety percent of their strength. Reaching their previous level of power would require significant time and resources.

The Methal Clan fared relatively better than the other two clans. Although they suffered significant casualties, a higher number of experts survived. The strongest surviving expert was at the Fourth Shackle Realm.

Four out of the five Clan Leaders had perished in the battle.

After conversing with Erkigal, Souta exited the room. The other regions of the continent remained relatively calm. Although the war's intensity was high, it was contained within the territories of Bruim Principality, Selnes Country, and Fedru Republic. While some areas experienced chaos, it paled in comparison to the conflict with the Gluttony Army. Only smaller nations were embroiled in such situations. The Holy Lands remained peaceful... for the time being.

In his office, Souta sifted through the events that unfolded during his absence.

The Dragon Council was growing stronger, consolidating their influence in the Hall Plains. They hadn't encountered any threats beyond their capabilities.

Sighing, Souta turned his gaze toward the window and called out, "Alice!"

A few seconds later, Alice entered the room, her expression reflecting her confusion. "What is it?"

"Um... Can you prepare some coffee for me? I want to relax for a while," Souta requested, slumping onto the table.

"Why didn't you call the maid or the butler?" Alice inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah, I never thought about it," Souta admitted.

Alice sighed, observing Souta's half-slumped form on the table. "Fine, just wait for me."

"Okay, thank you," Souta replied, his voice slightly muffled by the table.

After a few minutes, Alice returned to the room with a cup of coffee.

Souta lifted his head, the enticing aroma of the coffee drawing his attention. He smiled appreciatively as he leaned back in his chair.

"Here is your coffee, Sir Souta," Alice said, adopting a mock-

waitress demeanor as she served the coffee.

"Thank you, I'm gonna give you five stars," Souta remarked, eyeing the cup of coffee with satisfaction.

"Five stars?" Alice tilted her head, puzzled.

"Well, you know, like when a customer visits a restaurant and they're going to leave a review. Something like that. Oh, never mind, don't worry about it. I forgot you're a princess," Souta explained, taking a sip of the coffee.

Alice settled into her chair, listening attentively. "I'm a princess, but I've been living a relatively normal life for the past few years," she clarified before shaking her head and asking, "Anyway, what's gotten into you?"

Souta shrugged casually. "Nothing much. I just felt like I needed to relax for a bit. I know I'll be busy soon because of the invitation."

"Are you sure you have to go?" Alice inquired.

"Absolutely," Souta affirmed. "We have witches in our ranks, and since Walpurgis discovered that, we don't have much of a choice. Besides, I've been looking forward to it. I want to see their approach in this chaotic era. Will they stick to their past? Whose side are they going to take?" He grinned, his curiosity evident.