The Valkyrie Frelia vanished after saying some vague words. They were complicated and convoluted, but the interpretation was something along these lines of ‘the predicted winter is coming. Do not venture outside your safe haven.’

Davey had complained how little sense she made, but she had pretty much shut him out.

- A mere apostle cannot dare to infer the words of a God. Why don't you try guessing, oh great divinity?

“But winters come every year! Why’s she making a big fuss about this one in particular?”

Eventually, he completely dismissed what she had told him. He had said he would find a solution for Willow, but all he managed to do was find a few apostles to share her demanding duties. A fundamental fix still eluded him.

Woochi could descend more easily than other heroes because of the privilege of his authority. He could also do it because his soul had some kind of contract with Gumiho Bi-Yeon. However, that was impossible for Willow.

She was a goddess, but a special case compared to others.

His head kept throbbing as he tried to think of a solution, but he ultimately decided to just find peace for the moment and try again later.

“Papa!”

“Daddy!”

Having finished playing, Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon ran in and clung to him.

Davey had been using his authority of sacrifice to the fullest to create lasting embers while he organized documents.

They giggled faintly, pleased as he tickled her cheeks and purring like happy kittens.

Red Ribbon, her pronunciation slightly slurred but her voice cheerful, suddenly questioned, “Willow! Willow! When’s she coming?”

She didn't know the details of the situation, and didn't seem to care much. She only expressed a desire to play with her.

“Do you miss Willow?”

“Yes!”

“Good. You’ll be able to see her soon. For now... just sleep for a hundred nights. Can you do that for me?”

At the mention of a hundred days passing, Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon looked at each other. They then spread their small, white hands wide and began to count.

“H-hundred nights... hundred nights... One... two...”

When the five fingers on one hand weren't enough, they brought in the other. When that still wasn't enough, they exchanged glances.

Blue Ribbon then placed her ten fingers right next to Red Ribbon’s hand. They began diligently doing math together.

“T-twenty... Ugh! Is a hundred nights shortly after twenty?”

“No, you dummy... one hundred nights is v-very long!”

“Then we can’t see Willow for a long, long time?”

“We can’t!”

“Why?!”

Watching them debate with serious expressions, Davey recorded the two children in a video.

Upon finally realizing just how long a hundred days was, the two looked up at him tearfully.

“Daddy... a hundred days?”

“Y-yes,” he confirmed.

“Really?”

He couldn't bring himself to say it might be even longer. “Then, if you two really can't stand it, we’ll go see her ourselves.”

“We can go?”

“Sure.”

Aeria, who had entered with snacks and tea, reassured the children before asking Davey, “Are things going well with your work?”

“No big issues. But speaking of issues, are you losing sleep?” Davey asked with concern.

“Ah. I’m a bit sensitive to the weather...” She slowly set down what she was holding and moved her shoulder, as if it were stiff.

“Let me take a look,” he offered.

“Please.” She wore a troubled expression, clearly in a lot of discomfort.

When he placed his hands on her shoulder, she flinched intermittently.

“It’s very stiff,” he confirmed. “Did you have a rough night?”

“The weather was so volatile last night. It was uncharacteristically cold, then hot...”

“Hmm. I’ll loosen it up for you first.”

Just by looking at her condition, he could already confirm that she wasn’t lying about it.

Just then, the window flew open, and Rinne and Kouna entered. It seemed they had come back to visit after such a short time since returning from Earth.

“Why’d you come through the window when there’s a perfectly good door?” Davey asked, exasperated.

“Master Davey, Rinne detects a severe issue. There are reports from the Development Society and the Gourmet Research Society.”

“I’ll look at it later. Just leave it there.”

“Master Davey. Severe issue. Rinne evaluates its importance highly.”

She showed a resolute will not to back down until he looked at it directly.

Finally, he gestured for her to pass him the documents. It was already noteworthy that the two societies, who were usually rivals, were speaking in one voice.

Furthermore, given Aeria's sensitivity to climate change, he figured he’d read them right away.

The report the Gourmet Research Society submitted was so detailed that it vividly conveyed the current feelings of Yuria, the head of the society.

The documents stated that a series of ingredients being aged at specific temperatures had all been abruptly ruined due to an unknown weather anomaly.

He knew how Yuria had been enthusiastic about making new wine, so it was obvious how frustrated she must’ve been by such an anomaly.

‘First Aeria, then the Gourmet Research Society... Wait, that’s strange.’

“Rinne.”

“Command standby.”

“Didn’t Yuria age the ingredients inside Heins Territory?”

“Rinne reports it as taking place inside the territory.”

“But there’s a weather anomaly?” Sensing something odd, he immediately read the report submitted by the Development Society.

His eyes narrowed as he went further down the lines.

- XXX year XXXX at noon. Temperature sensors installed across the territory simultaneously detected anomalous phenomena.

- Confirmed that the geothermal heat of the ground is rising beyond nominal values.

- A large amount of metrot acid was detected in the water of the hot spring zone. Analysis suggests the problem arose due to a sudden climate anomaly. All hot spring zone operations are currently halted.

Though the last one was explained more professionally, the essences of the reports were the same. A sudden climate anomaly in Heins Territory had happened and posed a problem.

“Your Highness!” Amy burst in, looking tearful and rushed. “Your Highness! Something terrible happened!”

Davey wasn't sure how to respond. “...What is it now?”

“The moon grass... the moon grass!” Panting, she struggled to speak.

Davey clapped his hands together loudly to bring her composure back.

“Hic!”

“Calm down. Report slowly.”

“The moon grass seedlings are suddenly wilting on a massive scale...”

Another climate issue.

Heins Territory used a special ancient system to maintain a set climate throughout the four seasons. While it didn't completely block the climate itself, most areas, especially those like the moon grass cultivation fields, were supposed to change according to the set climate.

He wondered if the ancient system had a problem. He immediately took out the control mana stone he kept in the table drawer, activated it, and frowned.

“No abnormalities?”

He had no other option but to go see for himself. Davey got up and put on his coat. “I’ll be back.”

* * *

Looking only at its current state, the system managing the climate and earth energy in Heins Territory had no problems.

The climate control and earth energy management system couldn't create something from nothing, so they operated by drawing energy or rain from other areas. However, due to its own special circulation method, problems were typically a rarity.

Nonetheless, strange phenomena had begun occurring throughout the territory, such as sudden cooling or sudden heating.

Davey entered the ancient ruins and checked the state of the massive mana stone, but again found no problem.

‘Then is the problem external?’

He immediately investigated all areas closely influencing Heins Territory. Yet again, he found no abnormalities.

“What’s going on...”

There were no problems he could see, yet the climate was undoubtedly changing.

He directly inspected various places, wondering if someone had induced a problem in the territory. Surprise surprise, he found no problems.

He ultimately returned with no findings, but then discovered the problem was not limited to Heins Territory.

- Brother, it’s Baris. It’s quite cold in the capital these days. The temperature isn’t what one would expect for this time of year. I don’t know what’s going on, but I hope everything is fine in Heins Territory? Please take care of yourself, just in case.

A letter from Baris confirmed the expanded scale of the phenomena.

“The news from Pallan says that the regions that should be hot are in an uproar because the temperature is lower than expected,” one of them informed him.

The Lyndis Empire and the Contas Empire both experienced issues as well.

In other words, abnormalities were occurring across the entire continent.

That wasn't all, either.

* * *

“Is the weather really cold there? It’s fine here...” Evangeline muttered.

[Come to think of it, Boss, you’re not on Earth right now. I sometimes forget, since you stream so naturally.]

[Well, it’s always been happening, but people are saying the climate change this time is a bit unusual. Scientists are ******* freaking out, saying it feels like a precursor to an ice age.]

“Ahem, don’t swear! Also, it’s probably an overreaction. What kind of problem could Earth even have? And it’s not like we haven’t had problems with the weather getting a little colder or hotter, right? In fact, it’s common for flowers to bloom in the cold and then freeze to death.”

On the Earth, seen through Evangeline’s stream; the Yurgian Continent, where Evanov, who held a divine fragment, resided; the Heavenly Central Plains, where Isildi’s priests were; as well as Peslisa and Atrellia. Problems were occurring across all dimensions, without exception.

For the moment, it was simply at the level of a mild problem.

In truth, Heins territory, which had to forcibly maintain a fixed climate for its production industries, was suffering the most damage. However, there were clearly strange aspects to this kind of precursor phenomenon.

A change significant enough to affect even the ancient system that was functioning properly? To call such a thing simple climate change was utter nonsense.

Seeking to thoroughly investigate the situation, Davey summoned all the Spirit Kings.

“You know why I called you, right?”

[Contractor. We don’t know unless you tell us.]

[I’m dumbfounded that you call us after such a long time and expect us to suddenly accept it.]

The Fire Spirit King Ifrit and Earth Spirit King Gnoass spat out a barrage of complaints.

[The wind’s been a little weird lately.]

[Gnoass, aren’t you managing the earth properly? The lava’s too active lately, and it's destroying the marine ecosystem.]

The Water Spirit King Ellaim and Wind Spirit King Sylphid, on the other hand, seemed to have largely caught on. Sylphid was a coward who often messed around when things became difficult, but he was quick on the uptake.

[Everything’s normal on my side. Surely you’re mistaken.]

[Normal? Are you kidding me?]

[And I don’t manage everything, anyway. That’s ridiculous.]

[Huh...]

If even the Spirit Kings, who were closely connected to nature, were confused, Davey knew the issue was beyond all ordinary assessments.

He couldn’t think of the reason why the absurd situation was occurring now. The thought that Willow might’ve caused the problem crossed his mind, but she was currently waiting for him, continually adjusting the entire dimension in her sanctuary.

If she wasn’t the problem, he figured there was only one answer. A gigantic change was taking place!

First, he needed to meet Willow.

The moment he tried to open a rift and cross over, an iridescent wall refused and prevented his entry.

“What’s this?” he murmured in a dazed voice, only to wince in shock after realizing the identity of the power.

* * *

“Ugh! What’s wrong with this?”

While adjusting the flow of the entire dimension, Willow had discovered an anomaly. She had detected a large-scale change she hadn’t intended. She tried to use the authority she was basically born with to control it, yet for some reason, it didn’t work.

The strange phenomena continued. Places that should’ve been cold grew slightly warmer, and places that should’ve been hot cooled down.

In fact, in one of the dimensions that barely had any life, heavy snowfall began falling in its desert.

“What’s going on... What?!”

It hadn’t even been that long since she said she’d diligently do her job while waiting. Yet, something like this happened.

Even as her mind felt like it was breaking, she broke out in a cold sweat and desperately tried to adjust things. However, the changes were happening faster and in greater numbers than her authority could handle.

“This makes no sense! It’s the high-level authority of Goddess Freyja... Why is this happening?”

Panicking, she moved to call for the one she trusted most. However, an iridescent curtain unfolded around her. “What is this?! Get out of the way right now!”

The iridescent wall rippled, and a cluster of light gathered in front of her.

“Neltarid... You! What kind of trick are you pulling?” she shouted at them with an angry expression, but the wall didn’t budge at all.

Instead, the cluster of light grew larger and began to take the shape of a human. It was a divine form that others could not perceive. A form of a god that only she, as a goddess, could see.

Then, divine words that only she could hear surrounded her.

- He will not move, Willow.

“Why are you doing this? Are you picking on your junior because I made one mistake?”

After she complained, Neltarid spoke.

[Winter is coming.]

“Winter my ass! Are you messing with me? You’re the one doing this, aren’t you? Stop your games and fix it right now!”

Their form was clearly visible before her. Her expression hardened as she noticed something strange about them.

“What is it? This... You planned this.” Neltarid didn’t reply. “Are you seriously doing this because I stabbed you in the back? I’ll apologize for that. I was wrong, and I really didn’t think it’d turn out like that.”

Even if it wasn’t intentional, she had backstabbed them pretty hard. She should apologize for that, but Neltarid didn’t seem willing to let her off.

[The Goddess has tolerated your existence, yet your existence is a great harm to the world I protect.]

Their voice felt unusually dark and heavy.

Though Neltarid had existed for a long time, Willow had inherited the high-level authority of a Primordial God. Though she had existed only for a short time, she was still a high-ranking god with a special nature. That meant Neltarid wasn’t someone who could just order her around.

“So? What are you going to do to me?”

Neltarid slowly raised a hand and waved it. A massive power spread out, and she instinctively drew on her power to resist. However, her power was uncharacteristically weak for someone having the authority of a Primordial God.

Instantly overwhelmed by Neltarid, she couldn’t understand what was even happening.

She couldn’t understand why she was being suppressed without even being able to put up a fight, despite holding authority over all dimensions, not just one world.

At the same time, black walls began to wrap around her.

“S-stop! Stop it!”

[Your existence is a hindrance to the middle world I protect. I cannot make you perish. However, if you cannot fulfill your duty, you will disappear on your own.]

As they continued to suppress her, she shouted, “Stop! Stop it! Don’t you have a conscience?! Are you really going to stab the one who helped you destroy your other half and save the world in the back?!”

She kept shouting as the pressure tightened, but Neltarid only waved their hand with an expressionless face. The more they did, the more her power shrank, compressing her further.

After a short while, when she was almost completely subdued and her power nearly sealed—

“Wait a second.”

Neltarid paused, briefly halting what they were doing.

[What is it?]

“Don’t think I’m just going to take this! You damned bastard. I’ll tear you apart with my own hands when I get back.” Willow hurled curses and raised her middle finger at them. “Those are words from my dad.”

There was a saying that if someone slapped your left cheek, you should knock out every tooth on their right side.

“Just know this won’t end with your teeth.”

Unlike the gentle Super Ribbon, Willow’s personality was extremely rough. She was pulled into the darkness with a chilly expression.

With that, she completely vanished into the black rift.

Afterward, Neltarid silently stared at the place where she had been, then slowly turned and disappeared as they walked away.

[Answer to faith.]