Mize tilted his head, fingers absentmindedly tapping against Liam's chest.
"Then, next question…" His voice trailed off as he locked eyes with Liam, though just for a moment and he hurriedly averted his gaze away, cheeks flaring in red.
"When are we enrolling in the academy forces? Do we have to wait a bit longer or what?"
Liam regarded Mize's question with a ruffle to the hair, nodding slightly.
His fingers, ever brazen, reached up and poked Mize's cheek, pressing into the soft flesh just to see it squish.
"Yes, we do"
Mize shot him a glare, lips puffed into a pout, but Liam only chuckled, continuing to shamelessly prod at the adorable creature in his lap.
Having absolute control over Mize like this was an indulgence he wasn't planning to let go of.
"Once a person enters the warp, they officially begin their career as a Lord." His tone took on a serious edge, though his fingers kept on massaging Mize's cheeks from time to time.
"Then, the warp conducts a test, a 'newbie test' that separates the new Lords into their own isolated area"
"This area exists for a random period before merging with the main Lord zones"
Mize blinked, processing. "Newbie area? Old Lords' area? Newbie test?"
His expression shifted several times, his confusion evident with his eyes almost popped out of the sockets, seemingly trying his best to comprehend.
Liam had seen plenty of Mize's expressions over the past few days, but this? This was pure bafflement.
"Why does this sound like a game mechanic?" Mize finally asked, his lips pursed.
Liam smiled, but there was something deeper behind it, something far heavier than his usual playful expression. "Because it is."
Mize stiffened. "…What?"
"The warp itself is a massive game." Liam leaned in slightly, his voice dipping lower, "Everything about it, the rules, the requirements, the systems in place, no one denies this fact. The warp operates on strict mechanics, like an eternal, living game world"
Mize's pupils dilated.
He suddenly sat up straighter, his entire demeanor shifting, hands latched tightly against Liam's shoulder.
"So it really is?" Excitement buzzed in his tone, and for the first time, understanding clicked.
Finally, the last remaining brain cells connected for the very time since the beginning of this universe.
"No wonder." He exhaled, then repeated, voice rising. "No wonder everything about it is structured so rigidly. No wonder there are rules for everything. It's all based on a game-like system!"
Liam chuckled, amused by how quickly Mize latched onto the concept. "Not just a game, an infinite dimensional construct."
His gaze darkened slightly. "That's why many believe the warp itself is a sentient entity, one that created this 'game world' inside it."
Mize's excitement wavered slightly. He narrowed his eyes. "For what purpose?"
Liam went silent for a moment, his gaze drifting beyond the throne hall, beyond the floating orb, as if looking into something far beyond their comprehension. "…Nobody knows."
Mize stared at him, gears turning in his head, then suddenly. "Maybe it's just for fun."
Liam blinked, slightly taken aback. "Fun?"
"Yeah, fun." Mize nodded firmly, his expression surprisingly earnest.
His hands reached up, gently grasping Liam's, pulling it to his forehead. "If I were alone in an infinite space, with nothing to do, I'd probably create a game too, just to keep myself entertained"
"The warp must be so lonely for so many years"
Liam was silent for a moment, his palm resting against the smooth skin of Mize's forehead.
Then, a chuckle rumbled from his chest. "…I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Mize grinned, oddly pleased for some reason. He didn't know why, but something about his own answer felt right.
Liam exhaled, bringing them back on topic. "As for the newbie zones I mentioned earlier, let me clarify."
Mize perked up, listening attentively.
"New human Lords are placed in a separate, temporary area outside the current human-controlled zones," Liam explained.
"This 'special zone' exists at the border between human-controlled territory and the neighboring races."
Mize's brows furrowed. "So basically, it's a buffer zone?"
"Exactly. It separates us from the rest of the veteran Lords until the test ends, and we're forcibly merged into the established territories."
Liam then gestured outward. "Just to give you some perspective, on the right side of our human territory is the demon race."
Mize stiffened. "…Demon race?"
"A sub-species, yes." Liam nodded. "To the left is the elven race. And straight ahead… we have the Human Grass Clan."
Mize, who had been nodding along, suddenly froze. "Wait. The what?"
Liam smirked. "Human Grass Clan."
Mize slowly turned to face him, blinking. "…What?"
"Never limit your imagination in the warp, Mimi." Liam chuckled. "Anything can exist here. The Human Grass Clan is still, technically, part of the human race."
Mize rubbed his temples. "You're telling me there's a race of… grass people?"
"More like humans with slightly mutated genetics." Liam corrected. "Their hair and eye color are unique, but their ancestral lineage still ties back to humanity."
Mize exhaled. "That… sounds like a mutation."
Liam grinned. "A lot of things do."
"Then how about at our back?" Mize asked.
"At the back is the grand ocean"
"As for how long we have to wait, it's unknown," Liam said, his fingers lazily running through Mize's hair.
"The warp periodically releases information through events."
Mize's lips twitched. "Events? So it really is a game."
Liam chuckled. "Of course. Think of it like this, right now, we're in a three-day server. And according to standard game logic, the first big event will be on the seventh day."
Mize's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me… survive the horde?"
"Close," Liam smirked. "It's a killing event. Waves of monsters will attack every Lord's territory, one after another. The Lords who rack up the most kills and rank the highest will receive rewards."
Mize raised a brow. "And if you fail?"
Liam shook his head. "Not what you're expecting. If the waves become too much, a Lord can voluntarily forfeit to save themselves"
Mize huffed. "Game mechanics again."
"Indeed"
Just as Mize was about to ask another question, Elias approached, his steps crisp and precise. "My lord, everything is ready."
Liam nodded, then turned his attention back to Mize, who was still comfortably resting in his arms. "Are you ready?"
Mize pursed his lips. "Ready to be bound to you?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.
Liam's smirk widened. "Indeed. To be bound to me, forever."
Mize rolled his eyes, but his heartbeat picked up slightly.
He wasn't about to admit it, but the way Liam said it made something tingle down his spine.
Liam extended his hand, and a small, prismatic bead floated between his fingers, shifting colors like liquid light, from deep violet to shimmering gold.
"This is the Bead of Love," Liam said, his voice carrying an amused undertone.
Mize immediately gagged. "The what?"
Liam gave him a knowing look. "The Bead of Love. A rare artifact that allows two Lords to merge their territories into one."
Mize crossed his arms. "You could've picked literally any other name."
Liam laughed softly. "I didn't name it. It's an ancient artifact. It represents absolute trust, unity, and… an unbreakable bond."
Mize squinted. "Sounds an awful lot like a marriage contract."
Liam's lips curled. "And what if it is?"
Mize clicked his tongue, looking away. "Tch. Just get on with it."
Liam exhaled, then raised his free hand.
Behind them, the floating orb at the back of the throne pulsed, glowing brighter as the bead reacted to its energy.
A golden formation spread beneath their feet, circling the two of them in radiant light.
"Repeat after me," Liam said, his tone serious now. "With this oath, I intertwine my fate with yours. Our strength, our land, and our destiny united as one."
Mize took a deep breath, his voice soft but firm. "With this oath, I intertwine my fate with yours. Our strength, our land, and our destiny united as one."
Then...
The Bead of Love shattered into countless motes of light, swirling around them before sinking into their chests.
Mize shivered, feeling something click inside him as if his very soul had been tethered to Liam's.
The golden formation pulsed one last time before fading away.
Liam's hand caressed Mize's cheek. "It's done. From this moment on, you are mine, and I am yours."
Mize swallowed hard, refusing to meet his gaze. "Tch. You make it sound way more dramatic than it needs to be."
Liam leaned in, his breath warm against Mize's ear. "You'll get used to it, wife."
Mize promptly bit his hand.
Liam rose to his feet, effortlessly lifting Mize along with him as if he weighed nothing.
His grip remained firm yet gentle, securing Mize in place as he turned to Elias. "Any changes in the town?"
Elias hesitated for a second, his gaze distant as if listening to a voice only he could hear.
It took a moment before he nodded slightly, confirming something through his long-distance communication skills. "There have been some modifications. The Lord's summoning altar has expanded, the territory itself has grown slightly, and the capacity of the Lord's warehouse has increased."
Liam hummed thoughtfully, rubbing Mize's back absentmindedly. "I see. Attend to them at once. I'll have a private discussion with my wife first. After that, I'll come to check on the rest."
Elias gave a respectful nod. "As you wish, my Lord."
With that, he turned and strode toward the massive entrance.
The towering throne guards moved in unison, pulling the heavy doors shut behind him with a resonating thud.
The throne hall quieted.
Mize, still sitting comfortably in Liam's hold, turned his gaze toward the now-sealed exit.
Then, slowly, he looked back at Liam.
The man was smiling.
Too much smiling.
Too relaxed.
Too… suspicious.
"So…" Liam drawled, his voice rich with amusement as he adjusted Mize ever so slightly in his arms.
His golden eyes gleamed, sharp and unreadable. "Do you want to make babies?"
Mize's expression flattened into pure, unfiltered disbelief. "…"
He deadpanned. Started. Blinked.
Then, very slowly, he exhaled.
"Liam."
"Yes, wife?"
"Put me down before I bite your face off."