"Is there no problem? Now Galatea territory is a dangerous place so we can't just enter...."
"I don't know, but the three Kingdoms had made a big announcement that made the continent of Okeanos into a frenzy because the Galatea territory suddenly became a sacred territory."
"... But if we miss this opportunity, we will lose a lot. Too bad, isn't it?"
"...."
"U—Uh...."
Two middle-aged men were having a serious conversation, leaving the only young man in shock when he heard the phrase 'sacred territory'.
Originally, the Galatea territory was an empty and lifeless land, strewn with the remains of creatures. The significant aspect is that this place serves as the central battleground.
However, as the legend goes, 1.900 years ago, it's said that the Goddess Gaia descended to this world. Her first meeting with the Queen of Great Titaia occurred right in the Galatea territory.
That marked a pivotal historical moment when a seemingly frail human transformed in an instant into the mightiest human, earning the illustrious title of the 'Daughter of the Goddess'.
This brings us to the Galatea Territory, which came into existence through a fusion of the strongest human prowess and the direct power of the gods.
That transformation turned it into an incredibly expansive forest, teeming with fertility that surpasses ordinary limits. The abundant source and energy of nature in this place make it feel like an entirely different world.
Rumors have circulated that you can simply toss plant seeds without the need to bury them, provide water, or even fertilizer. These seeds will naturally grow robust and healthy.
Beyond its expanse of towering trees, this land is also home to various rare plants and animals. There are even spirit creatures that offer elemental blessings. Some tales even speak of sacred beasts dwelling somewhere in this place.
Galatea is known for the various forests surrounding its territory before entering the inner region.
Upon successfully navigating through the dense woods with five different layers without getting lost, a rewarding sight breathtaking view of a luxurious, shimmering palace, its entire structure supported by glass pillars.
A palace made of 100% pure glass material belonging to the Goddess Gaia which was taken from the world of the Gods for Her child.
That simple palace was very beautiful and so famous that it was classified as a mythical place because no one could enter except the ancestors of the three Kingdoms, who first managed to get the blessing from the first Queen Titaia.
That's the place where the Queen of Great Titaia always spends her day when she's not busy or doing anything.
Sometimes, Queen Titaia had to activate a special protective barrier that covered her entire land, even when there wasn't any big trouble happening on the continent.
For example, when Queen Titaia had to sleep long to accompany Goddess Gaia.
So the Galatea territory, which is almost filled with only safe dense forests, will become a very dangerous land.
That is what is called a Sacred Territory.
Tame animals will become wild and attack anyone who has evil intentions while in the forest area. Plants that aren't supposed to move suddenly spring to life, extending their roots to the surface and attacking anyone who tries to cross the established 'boundaries' in the forest.
Spirits, natural beings that normally shouldn't harm humans and instead safeguard the forest, will bestow a dreadful 'curse'.
Anyone who approached the territory not to seek spirits for contract or elemental blessings but for evil intent, would be instantly cursed to death.
Nobody knows the origin or nature of the curse. It is believed that the curse harnesses the energy from the afterlife, a realm dreaded by all living creatures.
Only the Queen of Great Titaia possesses the unique power necessary to break the curse.
In the end, it's just a story seen as a legendary myth, especially since 1,900 years have gone by without any bad occurrences.
The Okeanos Continent grew to be the largest landmass, enjoying peace without wars because the three powerful Kingdoms joined forces to safeguard it. The Queen of Great Titaia led as the highly respected supreme ruler, earning the admiration of all beings. Moreover, no one attempted to disrupt the world's harmony, unlike what happened 1.900 years ago.
However, the peace upheld by Queen Titaia and her people for a whole 1.900 years started to tremble, hinting at an impending significant event.
One month ago, the three Kingdoms made an announcement that made the entire population of the Okeanos continent into chaos and fear.
[The Queen of Great Titaia is currently in a deep slumber at a location unknown to us.]
!!!!!!!
The citizens from all corners of the Okeanos continent, whether or commoners, were looking at the enormous magic screen that was hovering above the sky with 3 honorable people on the magic screen that anyone would recognize.
They suddenly become panicked after hearing that from one of the Kings.
It was a King named Zephyr Vayu Ember from Ember Sirocco Kingdom, who had fire-yellow hair.
[Don't worry, the protection from the blessings bestowed by the Kings of Elemental Spirits is still securely attached throughout the Okeanos Continent.]
[... It's just that a sudden problem has led the Queen to enter a deep slumber.]
[The three of us, descendants of the great ancestors who helped save the world alongside the first Great Queen Titaia, along with the Church of the Four Elementals, pledged to do our utmost to obtain the latest news as soon as possible from Queen Titaia.]
There were many sighs of relief at the words spoken by one of the Kings.
[Therefore, because the owner of the Galatea territory was in deep slumber, the Galatea territory became a 'Sacred Territory'.]
The citizens of the 3 big capitals who had calmed down when they heard the blessings of the Kings of Elemental Spirits were still protecting the capital, became panicked again when they heard the phrase 'Sacred Territory'.
"No... How can we get an elemental blessing if the only place, the source of the blessings of nature becomes a dangerous place for us?"
"How will our children perform the Spirits Contract Ceremony in the future?!"
"We want our spirits and blessings!"
"The Kings as descendants of the 3 great ancestors should be able to do something!!!"
The citizen's cries of displeasure, disappointment, and fear made one of the Kings heave a heavy sigh.
Zephyr had expected their reaction to be like that, and his head felt dizzy when he had to announce bad news.
[Haaa....]
One of the Kings who had deep reddish-brown hair, Gauis Lithos Terranox, King from Terra Kingdom, patted the shoulder of Zephyr who sighed and took over the conversation.
[Please calm everyone. We've deployed Spirit Magicians to investigate Galatea's territory to if it's the forest that is dangerous for people who just 'want to come'.]
[And I got reports, that as long as you don't have evil intent or use any kind of magic or power to do something dangerous, then it's still a safe area even though it's a sacred territory.]
[... So, please stay careful.]
The young man recalled the announcement that greatly shocked the entire population of the Okeanos Continent a month ago.
"Ugh...."
The fear he felt when thinking about the highest ruler, the only human beloved by the Goddess, the world's savior on the brink of destruction due to the imbalance between the world of the living and the afterlife, now slumbering somewhere without clear reason, crawled through every inch of his body.
"We don't use magic or any kind of power! What we're using now is a magic tool that contains the elemental blessings, so we can't be targeted."
"Yes! Not just one, but four elemental types are contained within this magical tool!"
"With this magical tool, we might even be considered as individuals blessed with all elemental spirit powers, haha!"
The two middle-aged men laughed while boasting about the power of a magic tool shaped like a small twig that emitted a green light that looked sacred and mysterious.
It was a magic tool they found in the wreckage of a carriage that looked like it had been one month since an accident.
No one came to or inspected the wreckage of the carriage, so they thought that the people in the carriage had saved themselves.
But they managed to find a small twig that looked suspicious because emitted a faintly beautiful green light.
They also brought the suspicious small twig to the Appraiser to find out what it was, without expecting anything. But as it turns out, this is a magical tool brimming with blessings from all types of elementals!
The Appraiser even asked them to sell it to him, so that the small twig could be taken to the 'Ivory Tower' for the research.
The two middle-aged men greedily resisted and killed the Appraiser so as not to leak the magic tools they found into the Ivory Tower.
"Instead of receiving a meager profit. We'd better investigate directly what this magic tool is for."
"Who knows maybe we can get the 'real' elemental blessings!"
"... Or we can even discover the true secret behind why Queen Titaia fell into a deep slumber!!"
The greedy chatter of the two middle-aged men made the only young man because he felt that something bad was about to happen.
"Let's go inside the forest before the Guards find out three of us are here."
"I don't want to go in...." The young man muttered in a low voice.
"Hey you, hurry!"
"Y,Yes!"
The three of them entered a very dense forest with careful steps because even though it was convincing, they were still a little scared. After all, this area was becoming a sacred territory.
!
The tightly held magic tool fell to the ground because the shoulders of the two of them suddenly collided.
"Argh...! Sorry, it's too dark so I can't see the road properly."
"Careful. We're in a dangerous territory even if we have magic tools containing the elementals, it doesn't mean we'll be 100% safe."
"Yes, I'll be careful— what's wrong?"
One of the middle-aged men lowered his body and groped the ground like looking for something.
"No, the magic tool fell to the ground, and I couldn't see because it was too dark. Hey young man, turn on the flashlight."
"Y—Yes!" The young man immediately turned on the flashlight.
"Ugh, so annoying." The middle-aged man complained. Because they were in a forest filled with many twigs. So he had a hard time distinguishing which one twig was a magic tool.
But he didn't panic, because the twig he was searching for was a magical tool emitting flickering lights, something regular twigs didn't normally do.
When the flashlight was on, his eyesight was aided and he could see lots of twigs, but couldn't see which ones emitted a faint green light.
"Tsk! It's too dark! Hey, point the flashlight in the right direction!"
"Y,Yes!"
Flash!
"Uh, where the hell did it fall?" The middle-aged man grumbled again while groping the ground looking for a magic tool.
Usually, the twig emitted a distinct green light, making it easy to find even in dark places. However, this time, none of the familiar twigs were visible in his field of vision.
'Could it be that the magic tool didn't fall around here?'
Swoosh~
Snap!
Suddenly the surroundings became so bright that his eyes couldn't see anything
"Argh! Hey, young man! The light is too bright! I can't see anything!"
Swoosh~
Thud!
"What's that sound, young man? Huh...? Edy?"
The middle-aged man quickly stood up, ignoring his still-unfound magic tool, and searched for his friends, but unfortunately, he was already too late.
"Hey, Edy? Are you there?"
"There's no one here." A deep and full-pressure voice came from behind the middle-aged man before his body fell to the ground.
Thud!
Several black silhouettes moved very quickly carrying the three bodies which slowly disappeared like dust.
"Every day, more trash comes here with bad intentions."
He gazed deep into the pitch-black surroundings. He felt an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility.
Indeed, this place was rightfully referred to as Galatea, which held the meaningful significance of being a gift from the Goddess.
"Looks like the time for us to show up is getting closer."
"Aaaaahh!~ I don't want to appear because of those trash's wishes!!!"
A black silhouette with a deep and full-of-pressure voice suddenly disappeared as if it had never appeared after stepping on a few twigs.