The sun set, casting golden rays over the rural village, blending with the fresh green of the fields to form a serene, harmonious scene.

Smoke curled from wooden cabins, merging with the dimming sky, a natural bridge between earth and heaven.

"Bwoh bwoh~ Bwoh hmm!"

A girl in a straw hat, pants rolled up, waded through the muddy paddy, planting rice seedlings.

Ogerpon hummed an incomprehensible tune, releasing a green Grassy Terrain from her body, nourishing the soil and seedlings with Grass-type magic for robust growth.

Beside her, sturdy Kijin worked in unison, planting seedlings.

They cultivated not just rice but vegetables and fruits too.

The Cardinal World boasted diverse crops, including unique otherworld varieties and Earth seeds.

With skills, creating crops, altering genes, and breeding varieties was far simpler than on Earth.

This made the Cardinal World's biodiversity far richer than in the original story.

Splash~~

Before the cabin, a small river, about four or five meters wide, flowed gently, its clear ripples echoing the distant sounds of fieldwork, crafting a tranquil pastoral life.

The stream was dug by Benimaru and his crew.

The Kijin planted cherry and peach trees along its banks. A breeze sent pink and white petals drifting like snow, turning the village into a hidden paradise in the Jura Forest.

"How's it feel?"

Damien sat by the river, fishing rod in hand, leisurely awaiting a bite.

"It's nice. I like this world."

Snow Empress stood behind him, glancing at Ice Empress playing with Kijin children nearby. "I haven't seen Ice this happy in ages."

Ice Empress seemed aloof but had a childlike streak, much like Ogerpon.

Ogerpon, a kind soul, hit it off with her quickly.

Oh, and Shion too.

The trio, like mischievous tomboys, followed Shion's lead to wreak havoc on the forest's dim-witted magical beasts.

That was a good thing.

Magical beasts were endless.

As long as Magicules existed, new ones would spawn after each cull.

Unlike soul beasts, magical beasts were resources in the Cardinal World.

Monsters and human adventurers alike hunted them.

Magical Beasts: When can we rise?

Sadly, never.

They lacked souls, essential for evolution.

Damien didn't recruit them because they couldn't provide Magicules.

"I've been learning management from Shuna."

Snow Empress saw herself as Damien's deputy.

To excel, she needed both intellect and strength.

She disliked being second to anyone but refused to leave Damien, choosing the deputy role.

Seeing a new world, failing to grow stronger would waste his kindness.

This hard-won chance, she wouldn't let slip.

"Also, Benimaru's swordsmanship has been enlightening."

Back in the Cardinal World, Snow Empress established her authority.

Like Ogerpon, she first subdued the Kijin, including Benimaru and Shion.

Under Damien, only Ogerpon and Ice Empress could challenge her.

Even Ogerpon, facing Snow Empress's unleashed Frost Desolation Empress, had to evade and stall.

But Snow Empress gave no such openings.

Initially, unfamiliar with Ogerpon's abilities, she took losses.

After that, Ogerpon never gained the upper hand again.

Damien could only say the Sword Saint Unique Skill gave Snow Empress a massive edge.

"And Ogerpon's been improving fast."

Half a month had passed since returning.

The Kijin village thrived, with clansmen returning from mercenary missions.

New members brought more Magicules.

Ogerpon's growth remained Damien's top Magicule source, unmatched.

But at A-rank, she needed B-rank or higher foes for experience.

B-rank magical beasts were scarce in the Jura Forest, mostly in Veldora's sealed labyrinth.

Damien wasn't ready to deal with Veldora.

His Dragonoid race urged low-profile growth to avoid dragonkin scrutiny.

This slowed Ogerpon's experience gains.

In half a month, her Magicules barely hit 48,000.

Thanks to her boost, Damien's Magicules broke 90,000, reaching peak A-rank.

"Let's go, Snow."

Damien stored his gear in his space and called to Snow Empress. "Time for today's training."

"Mm."

She followed, daily honing his combat skills and power familiarity.

Damien's Magicules were vast, his stats high.

But his skill synergy and improvisation were lacking.

With such power, he barely used 5%.

Snow Empress saw he wasn't bad at fighting.

He had combat talent.

What he lacked was experience.

Soon, they returned to their cabin.

They skipped the village's arena.

No need.

With the soul spirit space, they could simulate battles mentally.

"Hm?"

Ice Empress, heading to play with Ogerpon, paused. "Starting again?"

"Good. Let's see Master's progress."

She split her consciousness, sending a sliver to control her body toward the fields, focusing most on the soul spirit space battle.

Shion, Shuna, and others did the same.

Besides Ice and Snow Empresss' constant presence, other subordinates, with Damien's permission, could enter as soul spirits.

The space was a perfect combat stage, loved by all for sparring.

Over time, they created a power ranking.

Among the seven subordinates, Snow Empress topped the list.

Ogerpon was second.

Shion and Ice Empress were close, trading wins daily.

Benimaru, with legion-focused Unique Skills, lagged slightly.

Souei, an assassin, and Shuna, a priestess, couldn't match the combat fanatics head-on.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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