Dancing on the golden ashes

The beasts around me roared with great ferocity, responding to my declaration. The people who first saw the beasts flinched, their reactions a mix of fear and awe. But once they realized the beasts belonged to me, they calmed down, their expressions shifting to one of admiration as they took in the sight of the powerful primal creatures.

The two dragons, in particular, captured the most attention. One was a golden flood dragon, radiating an aura of majestic brilliance, while the other was the dragon goddess, her massive molten body exuding a breathtaking, overwhelming presence that made many gasp audibly, their breaths caught in their throats.

"Are all of those yours?" Seong-Hoon asked, his expression a blend of disbelief and amazement, his mouth slightly agape as he scanned the sight of five thousand of my demon beasts. His reaction made me swell with pride.

"Haha, what do you think?" I replied, my voice brimming with confidence. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I glanced at the terrified faces of the rebels. Their fear only made my grin widen.

"This is amazing! No wonder you're my big sister. All of them are over level 40… with this many strong beasts, who would ever dare challenge us?" he exclaimed, his tone filled with excitement. As a general of war, I knew he was already strategizing the advantage such an army would bring.

"Demon! She's the evil demon! Look at this!" several of the rebels screamed, their voices trembling as they pointed at my beasts in a desperate attempt to sway the crowd.

"Shut them up for me, please…" I said casually, brushing my hand through the air as though dismissing an inconvenience. I didn't even bother to spare them a second glance.

"Yes, Empress." Several men and women summoned their weapons. The battle didn't last long—my side was far more powerful, quickly dealing with those who lacked the brains to realize their foolishness.

"Tonight, we feast!" Eun-Woo roared, his booming voice igniting cheers from the crowd.

"Glory to the Empire of Undying Flame! Glory to the Empress Lee Gaon!"

Chants erupted, the energy in the square surging with unity and excitement. It brought a genuine smile to my face. Somehow, in this place, surrounded by these people, the emptiness in my heart felt full for the first time. Here, I truly felt alive.

"Empress, if I may…" Choi Min-Jeong approached, bowing deeply before me. Her pink hair shimmered in the moonlight, making her youthful beauty all the more striking. Despite her age, she carried her role with the utmost seriousness, which I couldn't help but admire.

"Speak," I said, turning my gaze from the crowd now mingling and playing with the beasts. I had another surprise planned for them later, but for now, I focused on Min-Jeong.

"While the Empress was absent, we received many refugees," she began cautiously. "I did not dare to fully accept them into the empire without your guidance. Would you be able to provide direction on this matter?"

Her words made my heart sink. A harsh reminder of what it truly meant to be an Empress—a ruler who carried the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Fuck… Maybe I should've delayed my return just a little longer.

"Of course," I replied with a practiced smile. "But not tonight. Didn't you hear Eun-Woo? Tonight is for celebrating. Go party and have fun; you can think about running the empire again tomorrow."

I gently stroked her hair, and to my surprise, she leaned into it, allowing herself a moment of relaxation. What a strange girl.

As she left to join the others, inspecting the beasts and mingling with the crowd, I found myself standing alone with Malrang by my side.

"You've grown strong," she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that caught me off guard.

"Mhm." I nodded absentmindedly, but then a realization struck me like lightning.

"Wait a second…" My eyes widened as I turned to face her fully. "How the hell can you talk?"

She was speaking fluent human language. I had gotten so used to casually conversing with my beasts that it didn't register at first, but now it hit me—before I left, she couldn't speak at all.

"Haha," Malrang laughed mischievously, her cheeky grin full of mischief. "I'm not telling you!"

Before I could press her further, she dashed off to join the other beasts, leaving me dumbfounded.

That fox… she's really pushing it. Bullying me whenever she gets the chance…

But I couldn't help the warm smile that spread across my face. It felt good to be back.

With a single thought, all of my beasts shifted into their humanoid forms. Gasps and startled screams echoed across the square as the crowd took in the sight of them. The looks on their faces were priceless, and I couldn't suppress the laughter that bubbled up.

"My demon beasts have received a special trait—they are now half-human. This means they will take part in our daily lives, living here as citizens. Those against this idea, speak now. But let it be clear—any racism will be punished by me personally." My voice rang out, firm and unyielding.

I hated one thing about humanity: the rotten hearts that surfaced when faced with those who were different. I knew there would be those who harbored prejudice against my beasts, but I had to set the tone now. Planting a seed of fear in their hearts might not eliminate their hatred, but it would make them think twice before acting on it.

"This empire will be a haven for all who are willing to serve it—no exceptions."

I scanned the crowd, noting the sour expressions on a few faces. They didn't dare speak out, though I could see the conflict in their eyes. I didn't blame them entirely; everyone had their own morals and beliefs. But in my empire, my rules were absolute.

"We will live together in harmony, Empress. Do not worry." A woman stepped forward, her voice steady and reassuring.

"Yes, we promise to live in peace. But about the housing..." An older man spoke next, his expression complicated. He didn't outright oppose my decree, but it was clear he struggled with the idea. His tone was carefully measured, likely in an attempt to phrase his concerns without directly challenging me.

"No problem," I said, my tone calm but firm. "They will sleep inside my world, a space that belongs only to my beasts. But let me make one thing clear—they will work hard to build their own place. No one is asking you to lift a finger." My words carried weight, and I noticed the crowd's shift as angry glares turned toward the old man.

"But," I added, softening my tone slightly, "those who wish to help will receive beautiful rewards."

I didn't actually have any rewards planned yet, but I'd make sure Seong-Hoon came up with something. After all, I needed to teach him a lesson for grabbing my horns earlier.

As if on cue, his body shivered slightly, and I couldn't help but giggle. It was amusing how he always seemed to sense when he was in trouble. For some reason, being around him wasn't as bad as I liked to pretend—it was actually... comfortable.

As the night fell, the entire town erupted into celebration. Music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses filled the air as the festivities took over. People from neighboring towns poured into the capital, eager to welcome my return and introduce themselves to me.

I had taken a particular interest in the people governing the main cities. In the short time I was away, I learned that a total of thirty-two cities had been established. Many of these cities were designed to support people at starting levels, and apparently, the influx of newcomers hadn't slowed down. This world was still receiving more and more people from the outside, though it was clear that most of them had no gaming experience and were struggling to adapt to the system.

That was why the governor of Lurma City, Yoon Ha-eun, had stepped up as a leader. She had established academies to teach these people, accommodating students of all ages, from young to old. When I met her, I could tell immediately from her eyes—she was truly a kind-hearted person, someone who genuinely cared about others.

But, as always, good news came hand in hand with bad news. The bad news was tied to a neighboring force—a violent and bloodthirsty group that had been constantly raiding, robbing, and killing. Worse, they had kidnapped many women from our empire for reasons too vile to speak aloud.

I decided that once the party was over, and after handling several pressing matters, I would pay them a visit. I wanted to meet their so-called "handsome emperor," or whatever ridiculous title he had given himself.

It was the perfect opportunity to cement my leadership and show my people just how much I had grown.