I Was Reincarnated as the Prince in a Villainess Story, so I’ll Use My Cheat Knowledge to Create a Noble Lady Harem and Make Them All Happy - 60

Chapter 60: A Cheat That Can Even Trick the Gods

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The first thing that raced through him was a sensation as if the world were warping into a thin strand.

The edges of his vision wavered like ripples on water, and a breath later, Valis stood within a “dark dungeon” surrounded by stone walls and floors. The miasma stinging his nostrils was potent. However, the unpleasant coldness clinging to his skin was blocked by the faint aura of protection emanating from the “white vestments” Milia had entrusted to him, preventing it from penetrating deep within.

It’s working. I’m still alright.

When he turned around, the “warp in the mana vortex” he had used to enter left a small residue in the shadow of the wall. Valis searched for the “texture” of the “Communication Keystone” he had prepared with Archive Arts. After confirming that the “line” connecting him to the outside was indeed there, he exhaled a small breath.

Good. I can make contact. First, a report of my safe arrival…

Valis touched the keystone’s circuit and released a signal toward the outside. Relief should have slowly descended into his chest.

…Something was wrong. The path was connected. There “was” a response. Yet, he “could not hear it.” It was like distant thunder playing in fast-forward; the sounds were crushed and rendered meaningless.

“This might be…”

Valis immediately switched his spell formula.

“Archive Arts: Solitarius Script.”

He “transcribed” the inaudible information onto “recording paper.” The blank scroll began to run on its own, and ink-colored lines transformed into words like a surging tide. What emerged were “numerous confirmation messages” presumably sent from the outside—the same phrases were overwritten again and again, dozens of times, with slight time intervals.

“The flow of time is different inside and outside…”

The ratio derived from the density of the records was clear. “One day inside = more than ten days outside.” In other words, within these ruins, “the flow of time is extremely slow.”

It’s been five days outside since the wedding. Here, not even half a day has passed.

The tightness deep in his chest loosened slightly. His worst concern—”Reina’s debilitation”—was thin for the time being. This meant he could reach her before she hit the limits of her physical strength and hydration. However, a different concern reared its head.

“…Maintaining Amon for a maximum of two days means twenty days will pass out there.”

He had suppressed the small-scale activation of the heretical magic Valcode, performed in the lab to “open” Morrigan’s book, with barriers and isolation. But… that “pillar of dense miasma” that had shot toward the heavens the “moment the seal on the ruins was broken” must have been seen by someone.

“It will likely be difficult to gloss that over.”

Muttering this, Valis turned his gaze forward. The passage stretching into the darkness beyond beckoned him with streaks of cold wind.

“I cannot afford to take my time.”

He took a step, treading on the stone. His footsteps were quickly swallowed up, returning only a small echo.

＊　＊　＊

The Keystone Room, Royal Castle. The keystones lined up on the round table pulsed with a faint, lamp-like light.

“We received the signal that he made it inside, but his voice is skipping.”

The scholar operating the keystones looked up. Milia gripped the prayer symbol at her chest and listened intently. All that returned were fragments stripped of meaning. Just then, another scholar shouted.

“A ‘text message’ from His Highness Valis! The transcription was successful! It says, ‘Time flows more than ten times slower inside than outside!'”

The air suddenly relaxed. Both Milia and Feril breathed sighs of relief.

“…Thank goodness. Then, for Reina not even ‘half a day of our time’ has passed yet.”

However, immediately following that relief, another number rose up. “Two days inside = twenty days outside.” That was the form of the “actual grace period” remaining for Valis. As soon as they received the news, King Ars and Duke Elfein moved swiftly.

“Dispatch the knights to the borders of the Holy Kingdom. I shall head there myself.”

Ordering shortly, he turned back with Mina. Heavy footsteps left the Keystone Room one after another. Feril looked at Milia worriedly. Milia nodded slightly and said in a determinedly bright voice.

“It’s okay. If it’s twenty days, even if the people of the Holy Kingdom try to invoke a Holy War against Alveria, they won’t make it in time. Once Valis-kun brings Reina back…”

It would be the same as the incident with Beltea. If they “invited the inspectors in and let them confirm the elimination of heresy,” they could avoid the outbreak of war. Looking at it objectively, current Alveria was strong. The covenant with the Elven forest capital of Silva Haruna, the recovery of the harbors, and the defensive lines built through fortcraft. They were the strongest nation in the central lands in both name and reality.

However, the “doubts” stemming from that very strength had not vanished. There was malice suggesting that the Evil God incident in Beltea was a charade orchestrated by Alveria. If the “scent” of heretical magic Valcode being “used” in the Royal Capital leaked out, it would be like throwing oil on a fire.

That took shape two days later—which was only “a few hours” for Valis inside.

“The Holy Kingdom has declared the invocation of a Holy War.”

“Why so soon?!”

Milia unintentionally raised her voice. Duke Elfein’s face was grim.

“They likely maintained their preparations even after the pacification of Beltea. The surrounding nations are also sending troops. It’s only a matter of time before they march.”

Milia bit her lip. It wasn’t about whether they could win. It was that “what remains after winning” would be too heavy a price. A Holy War was a blessing meant to annihilate the “enemy.” It erased fear; it erased hesitation.

Even if Alveria wins, it would be predicated on the total slaughter of the soldiers affected by the Holy War. If that happens…

Reina won’t be able to come back.

Her best friend, the embodiment of Noblesse Oblige, could not bear to have people die in vain because of her own responsibility. Even if Valis rescued her, if the world that followed did not become “a place where Reina belongs,” it would be meaningless.

Even if Valis successfully saves Reina, it means nothing if there is no place for her to return to.

Milia had already thought of a way to prevent the war from happening, even taking into account the possibility of the Holy Kingdom invoking a Holy War against Alveria. However, if she used that method, the end result—that Reina would be unable to return—remained the same. Because she understood this, she fell into a dilemma. That said, since the levels of potential damage were too different, she ultimately had no choice but to take that path.

Though Milia thought this, she recalled the scene in the Forbidden Library. By utilizing the mana supply from Feril’s Amon, Valis had used a magic he normally shouldn’t be able to—severing time with Distortio Locus to gather knowledge. That method.

With this… I can clear everything.

Milia stood up and faced Duke Elfein directly.

“Father! Gather the nobles, including Lord Ars, right now!”

“H-Hey. What are you planning to do?”

“I’ll explain later!”

On her way, Milia went to Feril and explained the situation. Feril nodded after a single beat.

“I will prepare immediately.”

＊　＊　＊

At the royal council chamber. Major nobles, starting with Ars, were gathered. When Milia finished her proposal, a stir ran through the room. However, the agitation did not last long. Ars exhaled shortly and nodded.

“To think such a thing was possible…”

“With this method, we can avoid sacrifices on both sides. However, great confusion will arise within the country, so I need all of you to somehow keep it under control.”

The one who suddenly stood up at Milia’s words was Duke Rozheim.

“There is no problem. We already have ‘crisis management procedures’ that we have been preparing with His Highness Valis for such an occasion. I, Rozheim, shall follow the procedures and ensure no chaos ensues.”

Everyone nodded powerfully, and the council was decided.

＊　＊　＊

Two days later—about a few hours inside.

Within the temple of Alveria, Milia knelt, clad in the white vestments. Feril’s voice flowed from the “Temporary Keystone” beside her.

“Lady Milia, we are ready on this end. Lord Michel and Lady Marie are also here to assist me.”

This was a contact from Feril, who had headed to Silva Haruna by spirit locomotive. The composite spirit Amon, who possessed immense power, dwelt within Feril. Half of it remained with Feril, and its power was currently entrusted to Valis to save Reina. The other half resided beneath the World Tree of Silva Haruna, serving as the source for the nation’s spirit infrastructure.

Beneath the World Tree, the Elven King Michel and Queen Marie opened a temporary “line,” and Feril controlled the “vast spirit energy” to pour it into the keystone. The nation’s “spirit infrastructure” would temporarily halt, disrupting daily life. However, under Duke Rozheim’s command, the confusion was kept to a minimum through the crisis management procedures Valis had established.

Simultaneously, along the border, the knight orders led by Ars and Duke Balmut were deployed. All preparations were complete. Milia took a slow breath and placed words of prayer upon her lips.

“Call Arios: Descent of the Creation God.”

This was the highest secret of the Divine Arts, a sacred magic that originally required one’s own life as a “sacrifice” to bring down the Creation God Zai Arios—she “substituted” that missing piece with the “immense mana supply” from the World Tree and Amon.

“―Lord, I offer this body to you.”

The magic infrastructure had been refined with Valis’s knowledge using the power of Feril’s spirit Amon. The moment that cheat, which could deceive even a god, was established, a light pierced the heavens.

A sense of omnipotence became a torrent, rushing through Milia’s body. The world reflected in her eyes looked pure and clear, down to the smallest detail. She moved directly into the next incantation. Originally, this was ritual magic that would only be established after several high-ranking priests spent months preparing. The power of the Creation God made it possible instantly and single-handedly.

“―In the name of the Creation God Zai Arios

　I hereby swear, hereby offer, and hereby sacrifice

　to risk everything to destroy evil.

　I hereby declare the commencement of the Holy War.”

The light released from the temple in the Royal Capital fell upon the “home army at the border” with unerring precision. Blessings of empowerment and protection dyed Alveria’s battle lines in gold. The priests of the Holy Kingdom who saw this from the opposite shore turned pale.

A Holy War was a blessing to destroy the sworn enemies of the Creation God. To carry it out while “opposing” the Creation God was a “contradiction” in itself.

The tide of battle was decided in that very instant. The troops gathered from surrounding nations had no choice but to halt their advance. Within the light, Milia placed her hand on her chest and looked back on the words she once swore.

My feelings and my Divine Arts are for Reina and Prince Valis. For that sake, I would give not just this life, but even the Lord Creation God himself.

She did not give her life. Instead, she gave only immense mana to the god through a cheat.

“All that’s left is a happy ending once you come back, Reina. Valis-kun, I’m counting on you.”

The light of prayer covered the border and vanished into the sky.

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